Blizzard issues Call to Arms clarification

Takralus -- Dungeon Finder Call to Arms
We've been following discussions and reading feedback on the Dungeon Finder Call to Arms feature, and appreciate everyone's opinions on the topic. We wanted to share a few items though that supplement the recent announcement:
The additional reward for completing the Dungeon Finder Call to Arms (called the Satchel of Exotic Mysteries) will be Bind on Account; able to be freely sent to other characters on your account once you receive it.
An error existed in the announcement regarding flasks and potions being picked based on your spec. This is not the case. If someone earns a Satchel of Exotic Mysteries, and if it rolls the random chance to provide a potion or flask, it will be a randomly selected. This helps ensure a broad array of available flasks and potions for all characters.
We also wanted to clarify, mounts that have a possibility to be found in a Satchel of Exotic Mysteries are found with the same rarity as if you had slain the dungeon boss that normally drops them.
The additional reward for completing the Dungeon Finder Call to Arms (called the Satchel of Exotic Mysteries) will be Bind on Account; able to be freely sent to other characters on your account once you receive it.
An error existed in the announcement regarding flasks and potions being picked based on your spec. This is not the case. If someone earns a Satchel of Exotic Mysteries, and if it rolls the random chance to provide a potion or flask, it will be a randomly selected. This helps ensure a broad array of available flasks and potions for all characters.
We also wanted to clarify, mounts that have a possibility to be found in a Satchel of Exotic Mysteries are found with the same rarity as if you had slain the dungeon boss that normally drops them.
The aim of the Call to Arms system is to get more tanks and healers into the dungeon finder as to facilitate faster groups. Since tanking and healing have become less forgiving in Cataclysm heroics, many players shy away from the added responsibility and pressure of performing in these roles. The result has been 30- to 60-minute DPS queues. Now, with incentives like the Satchel of Exotic Mysteries, hopefully tanks and healers will come back to the fold.
By making the rewards bind on account, players can reap rewards with an alt tank or healer from their DPS main without worrying about losing out on rewards. Hopefully this system will spur people into action to bring out those alt tanks and healers and get them running in heroics through these new incentives.
WoW Patch 4.1 is on the PTR, and WoW Insider has all the latest news for you -- from previews of the revamped Zul'Aman and Zul'Gurub to new valor point mechanics and new archaeology items.
Filed under: Cataclysm
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 11)
Thunderkiss_65 Apr 9th 2011 9:13AM
Wayne Rooney (wouldn't want your head to get too big for the box)
MattKrotzer Apr 9th 2011 10:54PM
If my head were as square as Wayne Rooney's, wouldn't that make it EASIER to fit in a box?
Prons Apr 8th 2011 2:08PM
I liked the change, but still doesnt solve the fact that healing and tanking now isnt fun like they used to be, and i really would love to see some changes in that :)
MattKrotzer Apr 8th 2011 2:11PM
In what way was it fun for you in the past that it isn't now? During what past time period are you referring? Is this time period due to vast imbalances that no longer exist?
There's a lot to "make it fun like before" that needs clarifying.
olivier.mireault Apr 8th 2011 2:12PM
I believe this is a matter of opinion. I feel healing is a lot nicer, since I can't just spam my spells and expect to win.
I actually need to make decisions in raids as for what heal is better? Should I use healing rain or chain heal?
I am leveling my tank now and honestly, Northrend is too easy. I chain pull and sometimes double pull, and never have to pay for it. I am looking forward to when I need to give out CC targets again.
evemartyn Apr 8th 2011 2:16PM
The reasons (for the most part) that Tanking and Healing aren't fun in PuGs is because of other players not because of game mechanics. When I get together with a group that works well together, listens and communicates it's very fun to Tank. I find it more rewarding than any other role personally. And unfortunately Blizzard can't fix players :)
Dumbguy Apr 8th 2011 4:05PM
This is a really old argument... but I'll be completely honest, the current healing model has a much higher fun value to me now than it did in Wrath (which I assume is what you are comparing to) or BC. You'll note that the shortage is still in tanks as opposed to healers.
It's more about "higher-level" planning and strategy than reaction time and latency. Wiping is more fun when I can either point to my empty mana bar or the black hole of instant incineration that everybody just fell into, rather than having to say "oops, wasn't precasting before the pull/lost focus for a second."
Yeah, I'm a bad player.
Tushar Bharadia Apr 8th 2011 3:49PM
See, now I have a great image of "fixing" players stuck in my head.
Snip Snip.
Saeadame Apr 8th 2011 4:04PM
Yep, a little toolbox will pop out of your WoW screen any day now to "fix" you.
Followed by a gnome or goblin.
... I expect most players would want the gnome. Less chance of being exploded that way.
loop_not_defined Apr 8th 2011 4:33PM
I'm having far more fun tanking and healing in Cataclysm than I did in Wrath. The only thing that makes it suck is tighter tuning in Heroic Dungeons COMBINED WITH impatient and arrogant jerks. If the latter disappeared, PUGs would be far more enjoyable.
Here's my experience with Wrath tanking/healing, btw:
Tanking with a sub-4000 GS on a Prot Warrior usually meant people were constantly pushing me to grab more and more (and die more and more) while constantly losing aggro to folks that are used to some ICC-geared Paladin and not even waiting a single second for me to build threat. It was incredibly frustrating. Not Fun.
Healing with a Holy Priest in Wrath Heroic Dungeons could be entirely summed up into one word: Renew. I spent far more time *DPSing* than healing on my Holy Priest. Not Fun.
I take serious issue with people that claim Blizzard needs to "fix" Cata tanking/healing. Wrath wasn't fun because of Blizzard's tuning. Cata isn't fun because of Wrath's tuning and the expectations it created. Now people complain about how Wrath created a whole generation of impatient jerks, then turn around and demand Blizzard "fix" Cata so that it's more like Wrath. What?!
Prons Apr 8th 2011 5:21PM
i just said that I dont enjoy it like i used to do in the past, thats it, simple :)
just my opinion
Necromann Apr 8th 2011 5:47PM
I ran a priest for heals and tanked with a pally and dk in wrath. I love healing in cata it is alot more fun then in wrath. My pally is now holy instead of prot and I'm loving it. Priest is still healing and my dk is siting at lvl 80 with his t10 on.
Vinyl Apr 8th 2011 9:19PM
IMHO, tanking is just as fun as it ever was, it's the people that make it miserable. I LOVE having to be strategic and taking my time marking things and crafting the perfect pull. It's when other people pull for me or break CC or say "lol tank sux" that it enrages me and I don't feel like tanking.
Mugutu Apr 8th 2011 2:10PM
Simple clarification that takes away any anger I had about this. Looks like my DK will get a lot more play time, and my mage will get every single bag. Poppa needs a brand new Deathcharger.
jealouspirate Apr 8th 2011 2:16PM
If you're after the Deathcharger, wouldn't it be much faster and easier to just solo strat with your mage?
Mugutu Apr 8th 2011 2:19PM
Hmm. Solo old content or do current content on an alt, and have a similar chance at the mount. I wonder which I should do.
jealouspirate Apr 8th 2011 2:27PM
Well, if the main point is getting the mount, soloing old content would be the much more efficient option.
Scomparsa Apr 8th 2011 3:14PM
This. My warrior will finally start tanking his heroics (he's geared to tank raids but because of the community I don't tank heroics) instead of eating the 45 minute dps queue and then send the bag to my rogue :D
Swifteye Apr 8th 2011 2:10PM
*waits for the DPS to find a way to carp about it anyway, despite the new BoA revelation*
Devin Apr 8th 2011 2:33PM
Every DPS'er has a tank/healing alt right?