The Queue: My "Glimpses" prediction
by Adam Holisky 
Aug 12th 2011 at 11:00AM
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky, senior void corespondent, will be your host today.
The above screenshot was released yesterday as a teaser to upcoming content. Be it patch 4.3 or the next expansion, we don't know. My bet would be for patch 4.3. What do the NPCs do? Here are my thoughts:
Transmogrifier Transmogrification is the processes of changing one thing into another. My guess is that it's going to switch around enchanting materials, change the sex of the warlock pet (something we've heard about), or dye your armor (unlikely to be patch content, I think).
Void storage This is the most interesting NPC. It wouldn't be out of the question for WoW to get an account-wide bank. That would take care of things like cross-server heirloom distribution. The other possibility for this is as a gear closet to store your tabards (which we've been hearing about forever) and your old sets of gear.
Fun speculation, but until someone leaks the info or Blizzard comes out and outright tells us, we don't know.
Lord Gavin asked:
I'm ready for a WoW sequel not expansion. It's kinda daunting to see the level cap at 100. I know a few people who have thought about picking up the game and see that the top level is 85 and decide it's too much for them.
That's a good point about people picking up the game, seeing that it's level 85 until they reach the cap, and then walking away. That is something Blizzard is going to have to deal with.
But Blizzard's not going to do a sequel. One of the greatest mistakes ever made in (the short) MMO history thus far was the splintering of EverQuest's fan base. When EQ2 came out, people left in droves for it; but when they didn't like it as much, many returned to EQ1. What you had was a splintered fan base, half playing EQ1 and half playing EQ2. Sony really screwed up. If it had played the cards differently, it's likely the MMO landscape would be different today. EQ2 was and in many respects is a great game -- except for one crucial factor: It doesn't have the massive fanbase WoW does.
I've had this conversation with a Blizzard person before, and Blizzard is not at all interested in splitting up the players in WoW. Blizzard will make a new game (Titan) instead.
Shinyaaah asked:
Are there any plans to update the guide for "The Insane"?
That's a good idea. I'll put it on my list of things to get updated, but it probably won't happen for a while. So few people actually try it that it's a low priority for us to have a guide for it, but it'll get updated soon.
Svylva asked:
Question: Why do the non-combat pets stay summoned upon relogging for some of my toons but not for others?
I'm guessing that you're talking about the haunted memento, which will always show if you've got it in your inventory. Noncombat pets shouldn't stay out once you've logged. If others are staying out, it's a bug.
Noselacri asked:
I noticed I couldn't use a potion in TB. I asked a GM, thinking I broke something. The GM response was that there was a dev change to treat TB as a Rated BG in regards to tinker/pot/brez restrictions, except without the rewards for doing rateds.
Uh...any speculation as to why?
I'm having connection problems with WoW at the moment so I can't verify this, but if this is true, then I'd assume it has something to do with leveling the playing field. An extra flask or potion or two can really make a difference between two equally well-geared and well-skilled players. Blizzard is all about that balance, and it'll enforce that as much as it can. Don't surprise me too much.
Arrohon asked:
Is shaman pronounced shay-man or sham-on?
I'm terrible with words ... which is a bad thing to be in my position. Instead, I'll just link you the dictionary reference for it, that has some audio you can play. It's: sha-mahn.
Pattycrackers asked:
How many gnomes could a green orc punt, if a green orc could punt gnomes?
37, in a row.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column. Leave your questions in the comments, and we'll do our best to answer 'em!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 14)
laim Aug 12th 2011 11:03AM
A question for my fellow Mage friends:
At what percentage of crit is it smart to move over to the second tier of hot streak. I've searched everywhere, but I can't find when it would be the optimal time to stop with the random Pyro's, and go with the double crit ones.
Thanks =D
Saukylly
Mugutu Aug 12th 2011 11:30AM
I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the talents. I hope you're not level 85 and considering this question.
Tier 1 Hot Streak gives your crits a chance to give you a free instant Pyroblast. Tier 2 Hot Streak, IN ADDITION TO TIER 1, gives you a 100% chance at a free instant Pyroblast when you crit twice. You don't lose Tier 1 by putting talent points into Tier 2.
Matt Aug 12th 2011 11:37AM
You have to have Hot Streak to have Improved Hot Streak, so you wouldn't LOSE the random procs.
That said, why wouldn't you pick up Improved Hot Streak as part of your talent spec? Even if you don't have a great crit %, you could still get 2 in a row...
Sidenote: My mage is only lvl 45 so I don't know all that much about mage specs... but Imp Hot Streak seems rather important to take in any fire mage build...
hicks Aug 12th 2011 11:50AM
While we're on the topic, anyone else noticing Hot Streak double-procing? I have an addon that tracks how many I use in combat, and I'm constantly losing them here and there when it double-pops. I suppose it's the random chance overlaid with two crits, but it's a little annoying feeling like I "lost" one when it happens.
And it's not the addon bugging, the client's own "Hot Streak!" animation and flames (sweet, beautiful flames) pop twice in quick succession.
Noyou Aug 12th 2011 12:22PM
"I hope you're not level 85 and considering this question."
He's asking a legit question about his spec. Lay off the douche-aid. Many people, myself included play a totally different spec while leveling so yeah at 85 we still might have a question or 2 about our current or other 2 specs. Thanks.
Moonfaxx Aug 12th 2011 2:22PM
As your crit percentage increases, you most certainly DO lose T3 Hot Streaks as you spec into T4 Hot Streaks. This is a hidden mechanic that is intended by Blizzard as a way to keep the number of instant cast Pyroblasts under control. It is at roughly 46% crit that T3 Hot Streak will no longer proc.
To answer your question, it is generally accepted that a fire mage should always spec into both T3 and T4 Hot Streak. However, if you would like to estimate its value for yourself, take a look at this chart: http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/378/t3vst4chancedetail.png
You'll notice that your crit percentage must be extremely low (~8%) to see very little benefit from T4. But perhaps most importantly, what are you factoring in as your opportunity costs on those two talent points? What talent(s) would you gain?
To provide a general answer to the general fire mage population: Always spec into both T3 and T4 Hot Streak.
Swifteye Aug 12th 2011 3:35PM
For your consideration, Mugutu, here are two of the most common new Mage questions and their most common answers:
Q: "I want a Mage, what spec's best for leveling?"
A: "Frost all the way; it's the most mana-efficient spec, has a shield, a pet, and more slows and snares than you'd believe... you'll have SO much less down time to eating/drinking and corpse-running as Frost compared to any other spec!"
and
Q: "Hey I just hit 85 and I want to start raiding, what spec should I raid as?"
A: "Dear God, ANYTHING but Frost! Frost is the PvP spec; it SUCKS for raids!!"
As far as the disparity between good leveling specs and good raiding specs go, a remarkably similar argument could be made for BM Hunters and Subtlety Rogues, among others.
I absolutely do not judge anyone for not knowing everything (or even hardly *any*thing!) about their raiding spec at max level, when they spent the first 85 levels as a spec that plays *completely* different. I would suggest you not be so quick to judge yourself.
Moonfaxx Aug 12th 2011 3:58PM
Just to get this on record...
Frost is one of the best PvE specs in the game. I'd take a good frost mage before most other classes/specs, and yes, that's in PvE content.
So why is frost not considered viable? A number of reasons. It's largely been considered a PvP-only spec for several years. It typically doesn't show up on WoL parses or DPS comparison sites. You pretty much never see a decent frost mage in your pug. And while it's one of the best DPS specs in the game, it's inferior to arcane.
Frost is in a great place right now, and if arcane gets even slightly nerfed, frost will be the "go to" spec. Tell your friends.
restodr00d Aug 12th 2011 5:15PM
@ Swift
IMO, and please read IMO, I had no issue (and still don't) soloing as Arcane even in bgs is fun HOWEVER frost does have a lot of survivability and a lot of "stay there while I kill you lol" spells I would honestly recommend to try the 3 specs although Fire lacks any real snare/slow/root spell and the only one that is 100% secure is Frostbolt (The Horror!) but still you go and try them.
rhorle Aug 12th 2011 11:05AM
"I'm guessing that you're talking about the haunted memento, which will always show if you've got it in your inventory. Noncombat pets shouldn't stay out once you've logged. If others are staying out, it's a bug."
That doesn't seem to answer the question asked. To me they are asking why only some of their characters re-summon the same mini-pet after re-logging. So it has nothing to do with pets staying out once you've logged, but everything to do do with the semi-recent change to mini-pets staying out between zone changes and the like.
Puntable Aug 12th 2011 11:09AM
I'm guessing that Adam has not used many vanity pets lately.
MattKrotzer Aug 12th 2011 11:12AM
Since 4.2, my non-combat pets stay out when zoning, as well as re-summoning when I log in. It's quite nice, actually, to see Faela, my panther cub (named in honor our guild's fail-panther) bright eyed and ready for adventure, every time I log in.
loop_not_defined Aug 12th 2011 11:13AM
I wonder if it has to do with an add-on. I know Blizzard recently changed pets to make them stay out more frequently (like after taking a flight path), but I've been using the add-on PetLeash for so long that I don't know when a pet should or shouldn't be out. They just always are.
Hierakles Aug 12th 2011 11:19AM
I'm running the usual suite of addons (DBM, Omen, Recount etc) but not PetLeash or any other minipet/mount controlling addons, so I don't think it's that. Hopefully it's just an intended feature.
Rai Aug 12th 2011 11:21AM
Of course Adam hasn't used any vanity pets recently. I reckon someone bought him a Pandaren Monk and he can't take the chance he'll summon it by accident.
Vjax Aug 12th 2011 11:22AM
Whatever non-combat pet I have out when I log off is still summoned when I log on, been that way since 4.0. So, if I log out with Core Hound Pup out, Core Hound Pup is still out when I log back in.
Draig Aug 12th 2011 11:23AM
When I log in my last-summoned pet always reappears, which I believe is due to a change in a recent patch as others have said. I never used to use non-combat pets but now I have to because otherwise my last-summoned pet is the guild herald I used to vendor some junk and I burn his long cooldown the instant I log on. Very annoying.
Siaperas Aug 12th 2011 11:23AM
I don't use any add-ons, and my pets are with me every time I log in. I'm guessing the pets staying summoned has something to do with the recent changes to pets. When you zone, your pet stays with you, so I guess it makes sense that when you "zone" into the game, the pet would be there anyway.
Cambro Aug 12th 2011 11:56AM
It's a bug that needs to be fixed. If I bring out my Argent Squire or Guild Herald and then don't dismiss it but let it disappear on its own, the next time I log in to that character, the squire or herald comes out on their own, wasting the cooldown. Sometimes I don't see the herald, but I see the icon with its 4 hour cooldown.
Shadowwind Aug 12th 2011 12:17PM
It's definitely a bug, but with the non-combat pet changes, what precisely the bug IS isn't clear. It's also definitely not an addon. I run the same addons account wide, and my death knight's Cornish Rex cat is out 100% of the time unless she's in the air on her flying mount. Pet reappears the instant she gets off of the flying mount (or off of the flight path, or logs in, or....you get the idea.) The ONLY time I have to resummon the kitty is when Pam dies, and the pet resumes 100% uptime once resummoned.
By contrast, my shaman's noncombat pets are showing pre-patch behavior. If I fly somewhere, log in, zone in, whatever, I have to resummon the pet. For the record, I would like to say that I hope my DK's cat's behavior is the intended one and that my shaman is bugged.