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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Not my rainbow gear!
by Nico Deyo 
Dec 8th 2010 at 8:00AM
Blizzard attempted to change the leveling process on many fronts -- easier XP, quests for dungeons at the beginning of said dungeon, and better quest flow. One of the more lively changes was quest loot being given more useful stats -- and more importantly, being made part of an overall more "matching" set. This meant that people who predominantly quest will find themselves looking put together, rather than wearing whatever scraps of material they roll over while trying to collect 20 bear bottoms. The sets may not always work with random "- of the X" drops, but overall, they look nicer and have a easily identifiable style and color scheme.
I'm quite impressed with this change. The strange mish-mash of leveling gear from questing was not only hideous to look at, it never matched and often had really terrible models with garish textures. The new questing gear looks regal and not prone to as much strange skin-baring, either. It looks like you're moving up the ranks of badassery as you are leveling up. This is a good feature! For those who are more inclined to roleplay, it gives you access to some easy outfits that you can wear around Stormwind or Ogrimmar and look trendy.
While I know this trend is going to stop dead in its tracks at Outland (which I will overcome by putting my heirloom gear back on), it is fun to see it present in the Azeroth leveling experience and further on in Cataclysm content. Are you happy about this change, or do you feel that the garish clown vomit outfits of years past were essential to people's game before the level cap?
| No, absolutely not. | |
|---|---|
| Yes, I liked the nutty factor. | |
| Yes, I liked having a progression into high-end sets. |
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
Chetti Dec 8th 2010 9:23AM
My night elf mage (although she'll be taking a "vacation" as I work my main through the new 80-85 areas) has gotten some nice looking, and surprisingly useful gear. And, I'm happy to report has yet to look like a stripper. :) I remember when I started my priest, in the lull before the shattering so that I could try a different healing class, and for quite a few levels she didn't look very "priest-ly" in her halter top and stripper boots.
Both my mage and my priest have tailoring as a profession, because with the priest I found I could make better things early than I would get with quest rewards.. with the mage I haven't seen that, my rewards are actually useful. Tailoring also gives those shirts that are pretty much useless except for color - i've used these to try to make the top half gear blend better, lol sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I keep one of each in my bank. (when I remember they're there).
I've been replacing gear on my main as well - who is wearing a mish-mosh of purple crafted gear purchased on the AH or quest reward blues and 2 horseman trinkets, and one actual purchased with JP purple (robe) that I will keep even when I end up getting another one because it took me forever (read: brewfest, horseman, and elemental bosses) to raise the JP (irrational fear of northrend dungeons). So far 3 pieces and the weapon have been replaced, and it doesn't look too bad - not quite as horrendous as before, but still a little mis-matched (which makes sense because its 2 different zones of gear.. plus crafted).
scherbaddie Dec 8th 2010 4:04PM
Do you remember the name of the boots? I'm building this RP set...
Nicholas Stickley Dec 8th 2010 9:26AM
Nope...
Ronin Dec 8th 2010 9:27AM
I'm ambivalent. It's nice to have sets of armor, but as soon as you get one set together, you start leveling in another zone, and adding in parts from a different set. Still, I guess you can put together a nice "around town" set this way, if you find one you really want to keep.
Then too, that cool set of armor isn't nearly as fun when you see other people wearing the exact same set.
One other problem: they changed some of the models of stuff I already had on my "around town" outfits. That wasn't a cool move IMO-- they shouldn't change armor you already have on your character, without at least giving you an option of keeping the old skin.
At least they didn't change the Haliscan set that my Inígo bank-alt wears!
Ronin Dec 8th 2010 9:31AM
Sigh. I forgot the comment section deletes anything it thinks is a tag. Like Inígo's guild name-- Montoya.
Bynde Dec 8th 2010 9:34AM
I don't know where else to post this, so forgive me for this way-off topic question but..
I cannot seem to get cata to load. When I put the disc in I get the message "Your version of DLA can read files on this disc but you will not be able to edit or add to them.".
What the hell is that?
MusedMoose Dec 8th 2010 10:24AM
I'd suggest finding a technical support or other computer-based forum for this, as you'll be more likely to find people who can solve your problem there. Good luck!
balaso Dec 8th 2010 10:30AM
If you posted it in Google, you would have been told to try this:
Open Window Explorer.
Right Click on the Drive Letter.
Properties, DLA,
Uncheck "Enable DLA on your drives".
Uncheck "Use with DLA"
And if that did not work, to uninstall any Sonic DLA program you may have.
Remember kids, Google is your friend.
Bynde Dec 8th 2010 10:49AM
"I'd suggest finding a technical support or other computer-based forum for this, as you'll be more likely to find people who can solve your problem there. Good luck!"
I tried the official WoW forums where the telephone number sends you. No luck there, so I figured some reader at wowinsider would know and I'd get my answer much quicker. If there was a tech issues thread here, I would have posted it there.
But , there isn't and I got my answer pretty quick anyway with no harm or foul, so all is good. Provided it works.
Nagaina Dec 8th 2010 10:21AM
Two words: Ravager's Woolies. I will *never* complain about the absence of flesh-toned mail pants.
Andrew Super Dec 8th 2010 11:22AM
I like the new matching gear but in the past at lower levels I would sometimes sacrifice a stat point or 2 to heighten my gear aesthetic. If I really hated the way something looked I would check AH from time to time to find a piece of gear that was similar in stats but also matched better. This is something I probably won't have to do in the future. I like that the new gear is more stylish but I'll miss shopping for matching gear at low levels.
Also, sometimes it was funny to look like a total clown.
AishaLove Dec 8th 2010 11:55AM
why does your poll not include my response
"I never noticed"
freebeatfly Dec 8th 2010 11:57AM
I liked the mismatched gear. At least it gave the character personality. Now we're just going to have an army of clones walking around in the same gear set. I liked the fun of putting my own random set together...it may not be perfect but at least its mine.
We'll be in matching tier gear at max-level anyway, why rush.
Tirrimas Dec 8th 2010 12:07PM
My Tauren Pally looks right sharp. All his gear looks like mail, the colors harmonize (well, except his "of the Bear" gloves - turquoise? Really?). It totally rocked that there was a shoulder reward in SFK for him. Of course, he's wearing that silly wizard hat, but he's a goof anyhow.
What kind of disappointed me was the Sunwalker weapon quest reward wasn't nearly as good as the axe I got from SFK the same night. It's a really neat model - I would have liked to have used it for a couple of levels.
Greatsword of the Sunwalker: http://www.wowhead.com/item=65474
Arced War Axe: http://www.wowhead.com/item=3191
Maribel Dec 8th 2010 5:32PM
I had the same problem. I used the Sunwalker sword anyway. It looks better, and the difference in quality doesn't make that much difference at 20, especially when I went on to replace it soon.
Rude Hero Dec 8th 2010 12:08PM
You can still look like you're wearing a clown suit- just run a few dungeons. All of the gear in them maintains the same appearance, which conflicts starkly with the neat greens you get from quests.
Joemama Dec 8th 2010 12:28PM
I know I'm posting under the wrong topic, but I need help quickly. I just bought a new computer, but want to maximize my cata playing time. What is the fastest way to get me back in the game? Can I just yank the hard drive from my old PC and connect it to the new one (both are SATA drives), or am I stuck downloading vanilla and 3 xpacs all over again?
JT Dec 8th 2010 1:38PM
You don't need to download Vanilla, just download and install the latest Cata client.
Dartania Dec 8th 2010 2:23PM
Now maybe my Pally can stop running from the fashion police! Although, it does give me more incentive to level, just to get myself OUT of the screaming bright red pants I'm currently wearing! Might as well put a bullseye on my butt while I'm wearing them!
Vilandra Dec 8th 2010 12:46PM
I am levelling a Warlock with heirlooms, and the pvp cloth shoulders are red/gold and the pve cloth chest is purple. I feel like a worgen-clown. And my worgen has a spectacularly large purple butt in my face. It is not amusing. It is sad.
I may reroll as a druid because I'd rather stare at bear butt for 85 levels.