The Daily Blues
by Adam Holisky 
Sep 2nd 2010 at 9:00AM
In which glyphs changing rotations was a mistake.
Table of contents
Ghostcrawler
Ghostcrawler -- Warrior changesSome of those glyphs don't look correct. Colossus Smash is a major. Hamstring doesn't do that anymore. Shield Wall provides 60% damage reduction but on a longer cooldown. That's just off the top of my head.
Prime glyphs aren't going to be exciting in a "change up your rotation" style. We want primes to be unambiguous dps (etc.) increases so we figured they might as well be easy to understand rather than something so convoluted that everyone would just go to a fansite to see which 3 to pick.
The majors are more interesting, because they are either not dps increases at all, or dps increases in ways that are tricky to math out. We think players will debate and geek out more about which majors to use, and with the new glyph design, swapping them out once in awhile isn't very painful.
Minors are basically convenience or fun.
We don't want glyphs to change rotations. We feel that was a mistake in LK. Talents should affect your rotations, and glyphs should just provide a little bit of customization and power. We fixed some class problems with glyphs in LK, which was an easy solution to do at the time, but now is the time to undo all of that and let the classes stand on their own without the glyphs.
Prime glyphs aren't going to be exciting in a "change up your rotation" style. We want primes to be unambiguous dps (etc.) increases so we figured they might as well be easy to understand rather than something so convoluted that everyone would just go to a fansite to see which 3 to pick.
The majors are more interesting, because they are either not dps increases at all, or dps increases in ways that are tricky to math out. We think players will debate and geek out more about which majors to use, and with the new glyph design, swapping them out once in awhile isn't very painful.
Minors are basically convenience or fun.
We don't want glyphs to change rotations. We feel that was a mistake in LK. Talents should affect your rotations, and glyphs should just provide a little bit of customization and power. We fixed some class problems with glyphs in LK, which was an easy solution to do at the time, but now is the time to undo all of that and let the classes stand on their own without the glyphs.
Other
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Warcraft Twitter page: http://twitter.com/warcraft
SwagDog website: http://www.swagdog.com/armoryinterface.aspx
Through Tuesday, September 7, we'll be posting two questions every weekday on our Warcraft Twitter page that focus on key aspects of each World of Warcraft character class. For each of the ten class questions, we'll be selecting five winners at random from those who answer correctly to receive their very own SwagDog Class Icon custom t-shirt! The Class Icon line will be launching this Friday, September 3, and features re-imagined designs of your favorite class emblems. (Be sure to check the front page throughout the week for sneak peeks at all the upcoming icons.)
To learn more about this fashion-forward contest and how to participate, check out the full contest rules for details and eligibility.
Contest Rules: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/contests/10-08-swagdog/contest-rules.html
Warcraft Twitter page: http://twitter.com/warcraft
SwagDog website: http://www.swagdog.com/armoryinterface.aspx
Blizzard
- Blizzard: StarCraft 2 sold over 3 million in first month
- Best Protoss opening build orders: 4 Gateway
Filed under: The Daily Blues
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
thegatherer Sep 2nd 2010 9:11AM
Get m' som swag, ye scurvy dog!
Natsumi Sep 2nd 2010 9:22AM
Huzzah, let the classes succeed (or fail) on their own without glyphs propping them up. Then they can fix the completely broken stuff, like Warrior DPS :p
Stupid HS bug.
Continuum6 Sep 2nd 2010 9:31AM
"We fixed some class problems with glyphs in LK, which was an easy solution to do at the time, but now is the time to undo all of that and let the classes stand on their own without the glyphs."
Please let this mean Glyph of Shadowflame is gone. I hated that glyph.
"Oh yeah, and uh... we forgot to give warlocks an effective kiting tool after nerfing Fear (a hundred times) sooo.... [Glyph of Shadowflame] There ya go! :D"
Effective, but still: worst fix EVAR. At least just make the snare baseline in the spell, ya know? I will be so glad if that glyph is gone.
ScorchHellfire Sep 2nd 2010 1:49PM
Doubt it... in fact since they removed the fear effect from shadowflame I wouldn't be surprised if they added it as a glyph instead...
I just hope this doesn't mean them trying to change glyph of conflagrate again... the last time it happened the qq was epic and for good reason...
Artificial Sep 2nd 2010 4:39PM
Yeah, I think in the context of that post, he means it was a mistake to fix DPS balance problems with glyphs. Things like a fear effect sounds exactly like the kind of thing he *likes* as a glyph effect.
Myles Sep 2nd 2010 9:45AM
If the devs don't add in a minor Tree of Life glyph to let players keep their old Tree of Life form like we have in WOTLK and use it in cata as part of adding a glph for "convenience or fun", then I have officially lost all faith in Blizzard.
http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/708599-Glyph-of-Tree-of-Life
Rhabella Sep 2nd 2010 12:01PM
WTB Glyph of the Nexus Treant for fun ONLY!
Clearly, I second this request.
niko Sep 2nd 2010 11:15AM
i agree 1000%
maybe even a little more than that, too.
yeah, maybe 1004%.
Avan Sep 2nd 2010 12:09PM
Can glyphs even add abilities? The way I understand the ToL change, that's what the glyph would have to do. And then what happens when you activate the cooldown?
I don't mean to be a party pooper, but I really don't see it happening. Too many hurdles to jump just to keep a bland aesthetic.
Myles Sep 2nd 2010 12:27PM
Actually Avan it would be very easy to implement.
The reason for this would be because Ghostcrawler confirmed (**) that the current ToL model will change to a new model, thus making the WOTLK treeant model obsolete.
If you think about it, it would be plausible to add a glyph which keeps that Tree of Life shapeshift ability (that leaf you can click in your action bar, next to your other forms) when both in combat and out of combat, and then you shift into your 'new' tree model if you activate the new ToL cooldown.
Once the Tree of Life effect dissappears, you could then return to your WOTLK ToL model.
Effectively all the devs need to do is turn this into a minor glyph which is activated by having talent points in the resoration spec, and then remove the numbers associated with the current Tree of Life form to make it purely aesthetic.
As for adding abilities, if they can add the below glyphs then it is surely not beyond their capabilities to add the above suggested glyph:
Mage Glyph -->
Monkey: Your Polymorph spell turns the target into a monkey instead of a sheep.
Shaman Glyph -->
Arctic Wolf: Alters the appearance of your Ghost Wolf transformation, causing it to resemble an arctic wolf.
**
See below for GC's confirmation that the model will be changed.
==
Ghostcrawler:
"Restoration druids are actually getting a fair bit. For one, Tree of Life is getting a whole new model (think Ancients of War) and will also “morph” some of your spells to do crazy things while in the form, such as cause Regrowth to be instant, or Lifebloom to apply two applications at once. Tranquility will be raid-wide. We’re also touching nearly every Restoration druid spell to make sure each has a niche and feels good. In general, playing a Restoration druid should feel a lot different (better!) in Cataclysm than it does today."
Scunosi Sep 2nd 2010 12:35PM
As much as I wanted glyphs to change Druid forms (before the barber shop stuff was announced; during the Wrath beta) now that ToL is becoming a CD I just can't see the good that would come from a permanent glyph. Maybe one to change what it is when you do use it, but look at it this way: if you were a rogue, would you attack a Resto Druid who was in Tree form (soon to be mega-cd) or in caster form? So being in your uber tree form at all times could create a lot of confusion and be used to trick opponents. Sure, it marks you as a healer, and thus a big target, but a healer popping all their CDs isn't as tempting a target as the caster-form Druid.
Avan Sep 2nd 2010 12:41PM
Ah, but those two glyphs change existing abilities, Ghost Wolf and Polymorph. How would a minor glyph change the Tree of Life ability, as it would exist in Cataclysm (as a cooldown)? The only solution would be to have a minor glyph that adds a new ability that gives the tree form aesthetic, and glyphs can't add new abilities.
Zaros Sep 2nd 2010 1:45PM
Glyph of Growth: If you activate your thorns on yourself it lasts an additional 5 seconds as well as increasing your armor for the duration as well making it indispellable. If you are a restoration druid each time you cast thorns you gain "blessing of life" Changing you into a tree-ant for one hour. This effect cannot be dispelled
Snuzzle Sep 2nd 2010 2:50PM
Or they could just bake it into TOL talent, and make it a no-cooldown, no-benefit cosmetic change like Two Forms.
Tree of Life: The druid transforms into a Tree of Life causing blah blah yackety smackety. Five minute cooldown. Also allows the druid to take on the guise of a treeant whenever s/he wishes.
VOILA DONE.
Rhabella Sep 2nd 2010 3:14PM
“As much as I wanted glyphs to change Druid forms (before the barber shop stuff was announced; during the Wrath beta) now that ToL is becoming a CD I just can't see the good that would come from a permanent glyph. Maybe one to change what it is when you do use it, but look at it this way: if you were a rogue, would you attack a Resto Druid who was in Tree form (soon to be mega-cd) or in caster form? So being in your uber tree form at all times could create a lot of confusion and be used to trick opponents. Sure, it marks you as a healer, and thus a big target, but a healer popping all their CDs isn't as tempting a target as the caster-form Druid.”
First, since the ToL is a metamorphosis like ability, changing into a treant is purely cosmetic. We aren’t talking about it replacing the cooldown, we are talking about it replacing the ability to heal resto in caster (normal) form only. Personally, I hate the male night elf casting animations, but since the first druids were night elves and the males are, historically, the druids, I chose a male night elf. I really don’t want to heal in with those hideous animations especially since I love the tree so much.
Second, I think you are missing the point on the PVP implications. No one, at least not that I have understood, wants ToL cooldown to be replaced with the new war of the ancients to the old treant. I, personally, would prefer to heal in treant form, and then pop the ability ToL for the transformation into the ancient. Still balanced in PVP from that perspective, and very similar to the change they mad to the ToC 5 man trinket when the proc looked like a paladin had placed blessing of protection on you. It would impact neither side of PVP since the aggressor would know a tree and a caster druid as one and the same and the healer would not have any advantage in treant form, which for the sake of sanity in this discussion, should not really be referred to as ToL form.
MightyMuffin Sep 2nd 2010 10:40AM
I think GC's comments about glyphs needing to be unambiguous is a bit off. Sure, we currently have about 3-5 glyphs that are absolutely necessary to our set up in order to produce the best dps, and I don't like that model. But, the idea that people will stop going to theorycrafting websites (or to your favorite WoW blog...*clears throat* wowinsider) in order to find the "optimal" glyph. We still have trolls and actual players asking what is the best spec for dps in the forums. It is a hopeful and positive outlook to think that all players will magically want to make their own decisions...but some players don't want to wait for the uberness; they want their epics and their awesome dps up front.
I for one believe glyphs should not be used for balancing, but are made to make unique "buffs" to spells. But the devs should then realize that 5-6 will be what end game players will use. Then plan the rest of the glyphs to work well for leveling players, pvp players, etc. Find ways to make it so that no glyph is made and collects dust from day one.
Also...Glyph of Tree of Life Graphic for Warchief!
Someone Sep 3rd 2010 7:06AM
Nobody said players will magically start choosing glyphs by themselves and forget throeycrafting sites. What is expected is having those theorycrafting sites write something on the lines of that:
"For Spec A, Glyph 1 is good all around, Glyph 2 is good however it can be replaced with Glyph 3 if you have mana problems and for the last slot Glyph 4 is good if you are having trouble with fights with a lot of movement while Glyph 5 is ideal for static fights".
What Blizzard is trying to do is to give us a choice. Glyphs, as they are right now, are just another "leveling up", there's no choice involved, no thinking required, just hit the AH, press buy 3 times, go to a floating book and gz, you are 10% more effective. There's no thinking involved.
I for one am all for the changes to glyphs and, if implemented right, I am positive that it will have a good impact on the game.
Sorry for lolgrammar.
niko Sep 2nd 2010 11:14AM
we don't have to "go the floating book" anymore... hasn't been like that since 3.2 or even earlier?
MightyMuffin Sep 2nd 2010 11:46AM
@someone
I agree that Glyphs in wrath r bad. But to expect players to not mimic the best around and simply choose three random glyphs is bad.
I wannt change, but a change that is realistic, not perfect world feeling. So yay to change, but hope they realize that players won't stop going and asking for best three glyphs everyday. Only dif may be 1 or 2 glyphs per spec, imo.
Snuzzle Sep 2nd 2010 2:58PM
@MightyMuffin
That is not what Someone said at all. The point was that the goal for glyphs in Cataclysm is for them to be situational so that players will have a choice. Glyphs are going to be more like set bonuses or like relics used to be. Situational things that might be great for this fight or playstyle, but not so great for another. Instead of the Grand Poobah End-All-Be-All Three, you might benefit from getting a different glyph than someone else. And they're both good choices.
It's like what Blizz is attempting to do with the talent trees. I might take a glyph that, say, decreases the coolodown of my spell X because I use it a lot, whereas you may take another one that increases the effectiveness of your spell Y because you use that more. Neither choice is OMG WRONG.
That, at least, is the goal. Understand now?