Cataclysm Beta: Reputation rewards revealed

As the beta progresses and we get closer and closer to release, new details continue to pop up over on MMO-Champion. The faction rewards popping up recently should be familiar in concept to anyone who played through Wrath of the Lich King or The Burning Crusade.
So far, we have reputation rewards for Therazane the Stonemother in Deepholm, the Baradin Watchers and Hellscream's Reach in Tol Barad, the Wildhammers and Dragonmaw Clan in the Twilight Highlands, and the Ramakhen faction of Tol'vir from Uldum. Right now, all rewards are itemized for Alliance in the case of the Hellscream's Watch and Dragonmaw, but new models and names should come in a later build. While these are not necessarily the complete lists for each faction, you get an idea of what will be available.
Each faction continues the trends established in Wrath. Therazane is the Sons of Hodir-style faction, with a host of shoulder enchants available. It's interesting to note that while there's only one spell shoulder enchant available, there are two for physical DPS, one a strength DPS shoulder enchant for the plate DPS classes and one with agility for hunters, rogues, feral druids and enhancement shamans. It's also interesting that the agility enchant has mastery, while the strength one has critical strike rating. There are also a variety of rings available. One thing that I found interesting is that the tank ring has no more stamina than the DPS ring. If I were a feral druid, I'd definitely consider that DPS ring for tanking, in fact. Agility, hit and mastery all seem pretty solid.
The Wildhammer/Dragonmaw offer a strength physical DPS enchant for the helm, a solid-looking spell DPS neckpiece, and armor pieces from cloth to plate for almost any role. The Ramakhen offer the agility DPS helm enchant and various gear as well, but frankly, it's the camels I expect to be the big draw here. Get 'em in grey, tan and brown.
Tol Barad, meanwhile, looks to be the place you're going to go to get your starting weapons at 85. Whether you're looking for a 2H sword, a polearm, a staff, a melee dagger, a 1H axe, a crossbow, or a healing mace, they have you covered. However, in addition to all of that, there are five epic trinkets (strength melee, agility melee/physical, tank, spell DPS, healing), two epic mounts, and a noncombat pet to drive lots of interest and attention this way. While Therazane will be the faction you most likely have to grind, Tol Barad has the goodies to make you want to grind it.
It's possible there will be more factions and/or more items for each, so don't assume these lists are final in any way.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cataclysm






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Guilherme Furtado Sep 17th 2010 8:13PM
hmmm... nice farming!
Noyou Sep 17th 2010 8:13PM
That looks very sweet. My alts are all smiling. Seems like a one stop shop for all your offensive needs. It's so nice I won't even QQ about 1H tank weapons. The DPS and SP on those items looks crazy. Should be fun times ahead. Ahem did you say Camels?
Noyou Sep 17th 2010 8:27PM
I do recommend clicking on the MMO-Champion link and grabbing a paper towel or bucket to drool in. :)
lyons Sep 17th 2010 8:14PM
to be downranked
Noyou Sep 17th 2010 8:15PM
Grats. You are like a random shoe ad. :)
venomslife Sep 17th 2010 8:16PM
any datamined pics of the spectral steed yet?
Quill2006 Sep 17th 2010 8:15PM
Are we going to be able to get rep through the tabard/heroic dungeon combo that was used in Wrath? That was so much more fun than grinding by turning in hundreds of random tokens.
Ryan Bourret Sep 18th 2010 6:06PM
Lord I hope so. I loved that in Wrath.
erikheidje Sep 17th 2010 8:18PM
gues the Tank and the Strenght/Agility Physical melee trinket wil be a good solid base for any tanks out there,
althoug it will take some time to at least get to exalted O-o
Quill2006 Sep 17th 2010 8:19PM
Are we going to be able to get rep through the tabard/heroic dungeon combo that was used in Wrath? That was so much more fun than grinding by turning in hundreds of random tokens.
Apologies if this gets posted twice...stupid comment system!
Irin Sep 17th 2010 8:30PM
The camels actually look cool. And the drake looks much better than any from Wrath.
Evelinda Sep 18th 2010 10:15AM
oh god, that drake is so sexy... i want it right now!
kooda Sep 17th 2010 8:30PM
So has SP been changed? cause 1732 SP on a starting 85 weapon seems a bit well it seems insane o.O
Boobah Sep 17th 2010 8:57PM
The spellpower on the weapons compensates for the fact that you'll be getting less spellpower from the rest of your gear; intellect costs more per point than spellpower does.
Different topic: Why on earth would a bear take the tanking ring? In Cataclysm, as I understand it, they'll get more benefit from spirit than strength (No, mana regen isn't big concern for bears, but it's still more than strength'll do). Same stamina and mastery, and the agility on the DPS ring makes up for the dodge rating, more or less, and you'll be wanting some hit, so why not here?
Irin Sep 17th 2010 8:31PM
And didn't see it mentioned in article but Horde side gets a spectral wolf. :-)
John Sep 17th 2010 8:33PM
I said NO camels! That's 3 camels! Can't you count?
SaintStryfe Sep 17th 2010 8:57PM
::Shakes head::
Pure gold.
Kurash Sep 17th 2010 10:01PM
Compensation for my brother-in-law's car!
Deathknighty Sep 17th 2010 8:36PM
Anyone know why the agi trinket gives more of a more useful stat (agility=2AP+crit - str=2AP) than the strength trinket?
I mean, really, 2850 AP on one and 3210 AP and some crit on the other?
BLIZZ NERF!!!!!!11!!!
Ok, I'm not actually that bothered, but the forum trolls will be. :O
Blayze Sep 17th 2010 8:47PM
I think there were twenty-three factions in classic, then seventeen extra in TBC, then thirteen more in Wrath. Having seven more in Cataclysm--or eight, if our Guild faction counts--sounds about right. The most we're likely to see are either pointless factions like Sporeggar and the Kalu'ak, and/or additional factions released for raid tiers such as the Ashen Verdict.
I'd certainly do a dozen Sons of Hodir grinds if it gave me Silverwing Sentinels and League of Arathor rep, but that's another story entirely.