Tuesday Morning Post: Patch 4.0.6 PTR edition
by Alex Ziebart 
Jan 18th 2011 at 7:00AM
All right, all right. I wouldn't call it old and busted, but patch 4.0.6 is bringing a lot of change to an already change-filled expansion. Classes, quests, and dungeons are all being buffed, nerfed, and fixed. Follow us behind the cut below to check out WoW Insider's top posts of the last week -- patch news and otherwise.
Hot news and features
- Wondering where our warlock columnist went? Or our retribution and protection paladin columnist? Don't miss this letter from Dan O'Halloran, WoW Insider's editor-in-chief, explaining the missing links.
- Josh Myers discusses why it's okay for your class to be average.
- Man, Cataclysm heroics are hard! Ghostcrawler, what's up with that?
- Mat McCurley, WoW Insider's addon specialist, details three makeover suggestions for the default UI.
- Are you new to the PTR? Are you unsure how that whole thing works? Hunter columnist
ClarissaBrian Wood explains it all. - Our guest series to the daily quests of Cataclysm continues with the quests of Tol Barad.
- How you accrue guild experience in dungeons is changing for the better in patch 4.0.6.
- RIFT, an upcoming MMO, is the most recent in a very long list of games that have taunted World of Warcraft in its advertisement. It's a great tactic for getting people talking about your game, but is inviting comparisons to WoW such a good idea?
Class news and guides
- Arcane Brilliance digs through the patch 4.0.6 patch notes for mages.
- Lichborne lays out basic tips and tricks for the rookie death knight.
- Scattered Shots makes a bold claim: Hunters are better than every other class in the game, and here's why.
- Spiritual Guidance has a guide to Mind Control for shadow priests and a deep look at the patch 4.0.6 changes for healing priests.
- Shifting Perspectives: Balance edition looks at the state of the spec on the patch 4.0.6 PTR. Over on the restoration side of the pond, the final installment of the gearing for resto series has been released.
- Encrypted Text teaches you about the tools of the trade. Psst, that means weapons.
- Totem Talk helps you choose which race you should play as an enhancement shaman. Also, restoration shaman get new spell effects in patch 4.0.6.
- Blood Pact helps warlocks through Blackwing Descent.
- The Care And Feeding of Warriors also looks at the patch notes of patch 4.0.6.
- The Light And How To Swing It. Holy in patch 4.0.6. Go!
- In Raid Rx, patch 4.0.6 continues to be the talk of the town with a look at the state of healing on the PTR.
- Ready Check brings you a guide to the Throne of Four Winds.
- Gold Capped discusses the impact mega-blogs may have on your chosen market.
- The glorious tale of Throgg and Lolegolas continues in Phat Loot Phriday. This week's episode: Attack of the candy kingdom.
- The OverAchiever takes its first look at the Glory of the Cataclysm Hero achievement.
- Eye of the Storm rated battleground strategies is the subject of this week's Art of War(craft).
- On the arena end of things, Blood Sport discusses the removal of Drain Mana and its ramifications.
- Addon Spotlight highlights Raeli's Spell Announcer.
- Know Your Lore: Honor, Krom'gar. Forsake it only occasionally. Also, Baine Bloodhoof.
- The Lawbringer tackles the topic of net neutrality and its effect on MMOs.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from leveling up a new goblin or worgen to breaking news and strategies on endgame play.Filed under: Realm Status, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nirva Jan 18th 2011 7:33AM
Buff ret.
JoeHelfrich Jan 18th 2011 9:36AM
While I agree with your sentiment, you fail at reading. Ret is getting buffed--mastery change, Divine Storm, new talent to reduce damage where REbuke is now...
Pinto Jan 18th 2011 11:41AM
Problem is that it's a barely noticeable dps increase right now. Also Hammer of Wrath is, for unknown reasons, hitting for 50% of what it does on live. On top of that, inquisition doesn't affect the new mastery yet, which only just about makes up for the loss of Holy Power generation from divine purpose. Parses I have seen have shown somewhere around a 5-7% dps increase, although some people have actually reported a dps loss.
Bapo Jan 18th 2011 12:41PM
Will Divine Storm ever generate a holy power? : /
anderson.horn Jan 18th 2011 3:35PM
I feel as though I should downrate your comment of "buff ret", since it's like you didn't see the patch notes.
To you, the person who feels that although things were buffed, you aren't buffed enough. I have 2 comments
1. You're doing it wrong
2. Please don't say they haven't properly buffed ret just because of some bugs to skills or that mastery isn't exactly adjusted right after the changes....they are still fixing bugs, so just give them some time, and by the time it's live, you'll be rockin.
Also, just my own ret exp, I am NOT the last in most groups I join, I am typically top dps with about 10k in heroics. I've never done raids, but I do feel like my dps is respectable, this is all on live ofcourse. Similar gear to others in the group, but every so often a hunter, shammy, or mage will crush me with 13k (I'ma blame aoe though)
refaal Jan 18th 2011 7:58AM
And how about some love for the feral dps druid players?
last post about them was from Oct 12th 2010!
themightysven Jan 18th 2011 8:10AM
Also covered in the editor's address
Astru Jan 18th 2011 10:43AM
I second the feral druid comment. Either dps OR tank just give us SOMETHING!
Kurash Jan 18th 2011 12:11PM
To all the people calling for articles on their class:
Be patient! You get to read this material FOR FREE! The editors know what their publishing plan is, and the reasoning that each writer has for not covering a certain topic on any given day -- and we, as readers, don't know any of this.
Please stop complaining and just be patient. They have not forgotten your class and spec.
refaal Jan 18th 2011 4:16PM
No, i won't "be patient" at something i consider unfavorable for me and for the site as a whole. About your "free content" commentary, i won't even consider replying it, because judging by its tone, you seem to know little about internet based business.
Kurash Jan 18th 2011 4:32PM
Okay, then don't be patient; in the mean time, all your complaining will not do anything to hurry along the appearance of the articles you want. All it will do is make you look like an impatient whiner.
Here's what I know about the "free content": You are not paying anything -- beyond your normal internet bill -- to come to this site and see all its articles. Or, if you are, then I feel bad for you, because I come here for free. Oh, and if you "don't consider replying it [sic]" but then *give a reason*, then you did, in fact, consider it.
Also, for someone complaining about a supposed lack of professionalism, you might want to work on your presentation: I'd start with capitalization, if I were you.
anderson.horn Jan 18th 2011 3:39PM
I thought this was a cute little round up of all the 4.0.6 talk, and in general I am very excited about this patch. From the Sub buffs to the Disc balancing, all the way to the Ret mastery redesign...and even as far as feral mobility nerf, it just all looks good from my pov.
I hate new expansions right out of the box with regards to balance, and I looove the sweet taste of warrior/druid/(not sure, usually changes) tears after their attacks/abilities get in line with the rest of ours as the X.0.5 or so patch comes out.
Thank you for those links on classes I don't typically play, they were enlightening.