Patch 4.1 PTR: Wintersaber mount grind goes daily
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Feb 28th 2011 at 10:00PM
In patch 4.1, this will stand no longer. The Wowhead blog is reporting the Wintersaber grind is being turned into a series of daily quests that put you in charge of the care and feeding of a Winterspring Cub on the PTR. After 20 days worth of dailies which earn you Winterspring Cub Whiskers, you'll be able to turn in the They Grow Up So Fast quest for your very own set of reins. In addition, you can buy a Winterspring Cub permapet from a vendor in Everlook. It's Bind on Equip and sold by a neutral vendor, so even Horde and Bloodsail Admirals can get thier hands on it.
Savvy players will probably recognize this revamp as bringing the Winterspring Trainer grind in line with the Venomhide Ravasaur grind for the Horde. It's easier and less tedious, but it takes a regular time investment. Luckily, said investment shouldn't be too hard, since you can teleport to Hyjal from Stormwind and fly to Winterspring relatively easily.
With this change, we can probably expect the Winterspring Trainer faction to go the way of the Shen'dralar and the Zandalar Trolls. If you want to grind it, you'd better get on it now. But if not, you can have fun with a new set of relaxing and rather cute dailies on your way to another mount come patch 4.1.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Zune Feb 28th 2011 10:05PM
*cheers*
Camaris Mar 1st 2011 5:56AM
*high-fives*
Bionic Radd Mar 1st 2011 7:09AM
Oh thank god! I made it to honored with the Wintersabers before I couldn't take it, anymore. It isn't hard, it's just freakin boring.
Thundrcrackr Mar 1st 2011 9:15AM
So will those already at exalted be able to buy the pet right away or are we going to have to go through all the quests first?
Magden Mar 1st 2011 10:40AM
I did the grind a while back and got my mount back in June.
I just checked on the PTR and I was able to purchase the mount from the Quest Giver, but it's the exact same mount so I can't learn it again. It's a little upsetting they're using the same mount for people who do this 20 quest version as those of us who did the grind. A slight recoloring would be very nice, as it would also allow us to get both. A little perk for those who put in the time back in the day.
Also, I was able to purchase the Pet (no indication there is any restriction on it) and I mailed it to another character without a problem.
Fjaweru Feb 28th 2011 10:09PM
While I find this tremendously awesome, this was the one thing Horde had it easier over Alliance on.
Still, maybe my Alliance Loremaster-in-the-making will be able to quest on a Frostsaber in the future.
Drakkenfyre Feb 28th 2011 10:14PM
I thought several times of doing the Wintersaber grind, but decided against it after seeing the 750+ turn-ins it took each time. Even with an Epic mount it took like 40 hours of constantly running back and forth before they upped the rep.
Glad I did. Because if I had done the grind, I would have been PISSED when I saw this.
Jeremie Mar 1st 2011 7:22AM
PISSED!!!!
Luis Alluren Mar 1st 2011 8:09AM
I did it from Friday to Sunday... Don't ask how many hours... But it's enough for a mage to do it: team up to speed village and giants kills, run to giants, kill stuff on your way, trinket to town, kill bears on your way back deliver, go to giants, heartstone to town, village and bears on your way back, rinse and repeat...
wutsconflag Mar 1st 2011 12:56PM
You forgot that this change would be a...
"...slap in the FACE!!!"
:p
Drakkenfyre Mar 1st 2011 1:07PM
I am not that kind of person.
I said I would be pissed. I wouldn't be pissed at Blizzard, I would just be pissed in general.
Getting pissed at Blizzard for making a change to a 6 year old rep grind, and is being brought to parity with the Horde equivelent? No. If I had just finished it, I would be pissed I didn't wait just a little bit longer.
musicchan Mar 1st 2011 7:21PM
I'm not pissed, man. This is totally "old school cred" in the making. "Oh, I did the wintersaber mount quest when it was HARD."
Took me four years to get my rep. I got up to honored before they raised the amount of rep you got for doing quests. I don't care if people have an easier time. I will always know that I did it back when it was a real grind and got the reputation. That's enough for me!
RogueJedi86 Feb 28th 2011 10:11PM
With the Wintersaber Cub pet selling on a neutral vendor, giving the pet access to the Horde, will they also add the Ravasaur Hatchling as a pet for us Alliance players?
Ametrine Feb 28th 2011 11:05PM
you already have it - it's a drop from a nest in Ungoro.
Chetti Feb 28th 2011 11:06PM
That would be awesome. My Tauren Pally (which I call my horde main, though its really my latest alt) got the ravasaur mount last week, I'd love to have a little white cub running behind it.. while my Night Elf Druid (my alliance and true main) has a wintersaber mount with a ravasaur hatchling running behind it.
Marbles Feb 28th 2011 11:15PM
The Venomhide hatchling uses the same model as the Obsidian Hatchling, which has long been available from the neutral pet vendor in Dalaran.
Compare the pictures at:
http://www.wowhead.com/item=48120
http://www.wowhead.com/item=46362
Interestingly, there is in fact a Ravasaur Hatchling (which is green, not black), which is also obtained neutrally - though this is found from a nest in Un'goro rather than a vendor.
BridgitKiido Feb 28th 2011 10:15PM
This is awesome~
kmarcy1729 Feb 28th 2011 10:16PM
Any word on a Feat of Strength or anything for those of us that did the grind?
Skarn Feb 28th 2011 10:56PM
There might be one for "Winterspring Trainers Exalted rep"
cygnus Mar 1st 2011 9:19AM
I think it is only fair, and as they did (or will do) with the ZG mounts, that they change at least the name of the mount, maybe some details on the model. A different process should award a different mount.
I have mixed feelings about this change, this grind is a legacy from vanilla, I know it was stupid and boring, but still, Im not sure I want absolutely everything to be 'Cata-style'... there was a reason 12 Million played before Cataclysm.
I know the argument 'its stupid and boring please don't take it away!!!!' sounds retarded, but I for one felt all the grind was worth it as soon as I first summoned my Frostsaber, I was level 60, so the whole thing took me 35 hrs. I wasn't getting another mount, I was getting THAT mount and very few times have I rode a different land mount.
All I'm saying is, I don't have a problem that people that want another mount have it, I just want that those who go THAT mount keep it.