Patch 4.0.1: Armor mitigation values nerfed
by Matthew Rossi 
Oct 19th 2010 at 5:30PM
Ghostcrawler - GC, physical mitigation changes intentional?We looked into your findings, and the armor numbers reflect an intentional change meant to cover the armor increases players would get between levels 81 and 85. We should have been more explicit with the rest of the announced Cataclysm changes that physical damage would go up. (It only affects creatures higher than level 80 -- bosses in this case -- so this change has no current PvP ramifications.)
Now that our live class balance changes are slowing down* and players are starting to learn their class changes, we can get a better idea of whether players are struggling more on content that they used to be able to clear. We've made some Icecrown and Halion changes already and we may need to make more.
Nice job on the analysis.
Now that our live class balance changes are slowing down* and players are starting to learn their class changes, we can get a better idea of whether players are struggling more on content that they used to be able to clear. We've made some Icecrown and Halion changes already and we may need to make more.
Nice job on the analysis.
No word yet if boss damage in ICC will be tuned down to reduce the streaky factor on incoming damage or not. But it's nice to know we're not all insane.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Warrior, Analysis / Opinion, News items, Death Knight, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Baba Oct 19th 2010 5:38PM
Goddammit, I had just got tough enough for ICC hc :/
FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
SR Oct 19th 2010 9:34PM
Meh... I wish I wasn't getting hit by Archavon Warders for 46k a pop, though.
Or, on that day, I wish I didn't. :(
Darky Oct 19th 2010 5:39PM
This along with the threat changes makes life difficult for anyone who would like to start tanking now... I think I'll wait til cata.
nomoremisterniceguy Oct 19th 2010 5:54PM
actually threat generation has been severly increased. Along with the damage. I tryed icc 10 the other night with some buddies and the only reason why i wanted to try cat form was to see if i could match the dps i was doing in bear form.
MysticalOS Oct 19th 2010 6:02PM
eh, increased over time threat, especially in ICC where the 30% buff just means 30% more vengence for tanks, it's OP. but initial aggro is defintely much lower, and aoe threat is about non existant. dps pretty much tank/kite adds on valithria and deathwhisper now unless you happened to have a rogue on both sides with a tricks always up, the adds die then before the temporary threat wears off.
Skarn Oct 19th 2010 7:04PM
Actually, new tanks would probably be better off. They don't have any habits gained from the old style and they don't know what threat used to be like, good or bad. Someone brand new to tanking could do quite well. Probably better than some of the current tanks that can't adapt.
Darky Oct 20th 2010 12:19AM
Well I'm finding that I constantly pull threat on my unholy death knight on bosses in ICC 10, but that could be due to the fact that tanks weren't use to their rotations and i was (i was on the ptr).
Armill3 Oct 20th 2010 9:45AM
Threat is fine now, even AoE threat. Paladins were playing with an unimplemented talent for a while that effectively nerfed Hammer of the Righteous damage for a bit, but that's fixed now. Between Hammer, Holy Wrath, and Avenger's Shield, we're more than capable of holding threat on those trash packs at the beginning of ICC and in the Plaguewing Halls.
Getting nailed for half my health at a time by the LK is another story. :)
Cbeefman Oct 19th 2010 5:45PM
i knew i wasnt going crazy
i noticed that my priest bubbles were falling off a LOT faster than before but my priest was only 80 for about 1 day prior to the patch so coughed it up to me just being new to heroic healing on that toon. sometimes it drops off so fast it looks as if it was the debuff alone that i cast on my target
have any other priests noticed this or am i just too new to priest healing?
i was also Holy spec before the patch but am now rocking Disc because i just love the giant bubble
i have been spoilt by my shaman it seems
Sleutel Oct 19th 2010 6:54PM
Bubbles shouldn't be affected by armor. At all. They should absorb a static amount of damage, an amount that will be the same for each caster no matter who the shield is cast on. This armor change has nothing to do with what you're experiencing.
Rakah Oct 19th 2010 7:33PM
Rule of thumb. Static mitigation before active mitigation. ergo Armour before absorbs.
Iree Oct 19th 2010 5:52PM
now that explains alot
Dawnawar Oct 19th 2010 5:57PM
Clothaclysm!
Jack Spicer Oct 19th 2010 6:01PM
I'm sick of all the whining already. If it isn't armor, its broken DPS, or broken Heals, or broken whatevertheheck.
I'm not saying that people don't have legitimate complaints, but I think Blizzard should have just waited and foisted the changes on everyone when the actual expansion launched.
bloodfyr Oct 19th 2010 6:23PM
And then we'd be bitching about broken quests, phasing issues, and problems while levelling in the new and old zones IN ADDITION to everything you've mentioned above.
Doing it this way makes sure that the basic things are in place and fixed before then up and dump another bucket of changes on our heads. Doing them both at the same time is just crazy.
If you don't like dealing with the hassle of changes as they're implemented then buffed and nerfed into balance, wait until Cata's launched.
uncaringbear Oct 19th 2010 6:29PM
Couldn't agree with you more. I'm sick and tired of hearing, "Oh, the 4.0.1 changes are meant to be balanced for lv85. Just suck it up for now." Or, "We're waiting to see how the players go with these fundamental changes and will make changes as needed:.
Why the hell should we be acting as beta testers for Blizzard on the live realms. Shouldn't this sort of crap be sorted out on the beta and PTR realms before it lands on the masses? Are we supposed to just grin and bear over 2 months of effed up and unbalanced game play?
What is the point of trying to learn my character's new talents and rotations when it's largely irrelevant and will be changing again after the expansion lands?
uncaringbear Oct 19th 2010 6:33PM
My above comment was for Jack Spicer.
@bloodfyr
I expect our gameplay experience on Live to approach something approaching a finished state. 4.0.1 is not that. If Blizzard wants us to beta test for them, do it on beta realms where it belongs. Don't subject the entire player population to half-assed unfinished work.
I totally agree with you about waiting til after Cataclysm drops before playing the game again to any serious extent. In fact, I'd recommend waiting a month or two after Cataclysm before rejoining. It'll give Blizz enough time to fully digest their screw ups and get things in a semi-working state again.
Hollow Leviathan Oct 19th 2010 6:41PM
Since it's been 11 months since ICC came out and it's not exactly new content, now is the best time to stress test changes that they tested internally and then on beta. We're finding bugs that would really limit enjoyment of Cataclysm during the twilight of WotLK. I think it's a fair trade-off, and it lets us all get used to our new abilities prior to stepping into a raid for the first time with them.
bloodfyr Oct 19th 2010 7:02PM
@uncaringbear
To be blunt, if you don't like the service you're receiving: stop paying for it. Go play other games and come back when Cata's out and things are "fixed" (and I use that term in quotes because this is an MMO, things are never 100% fixed, and there are always patches that tweak and rebalance things. There are just MORE of them after major patches like this because this is a seriously major patch, just like the pre-Wrath one was, and the pre-BC one). I enjoy these transition periods between expansions because they give me a chance to learn how my class plays without worrying about questing, levelling, and gearing at the same time.
I would much rather them dump these systems changes on us now and iron them all out so that I can hit the ground running in Cata and enjoy that expansion rather than having these issues putting a damper on my fun PLUS whatever issues the expansion itself is going to bring.
Dyz Oct 19th 2010 7:14PM
of course they listened to the beta tests on the PTR and Catac: Beta, but that is just a tiny percentage compared to the whole wow player base, most of the time people in the beta are the "dedicated" people who are really devoted to maximize and learn( if not relearn their class). on the Live realms you have the QQ people that if you shove off even a mere 2 dps from their rotation from the old patch would QQ like crazy, and believe it or not blizz also has to address those concerns. a million more semi-beta players are better than a thousand or two fully pledge beta players, I suggest just leave it be, if you want stop playing the game for a week or two, that would give blizz enough time to get their statistical data and balance things out.