Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsThe Queue: Milk argument
by Michael Sacco 
Sep 16th 2011 at 11:00AM
Anime. Anime. Milk. Argument.
lazymangaka asked:
Does the cost to unlearn talents still decay over time?
Yes, it does, but it takes a while. I'm admittedly not sure of the exact amount of time it takes to decay, but it will definitely decay past the Cataclysm maximum of 66g down to 33g or lower.
chaosdefined asked:
Can a level 85, raid ready Elemental Shaman solo a level 70 raid like Kara or Black Temple, or is it best to get at least a 5 man party?
Karazhan is soloable, minus the chess event, which is very difficult without two people. Black Temple and other BC raids may require two or more people depending on particular fight gimmicks (Solarian MCs several people, for example). Sunwell Plateau is definitely not soloable by a shaman.
Josh asked:
is there a way to get more helms that look like http://us.battle.net/wow/en/item/24970? It's sooo friggin awesome. On my Worgen DK it makes me look like a tiger w horns. It's soooooooo amazing. Anyone else know of cool helms w horns for transmorg? Other colors than green?
Here are about a dozen of them.
Miranda Kali asked:
Whilst pondering the vexing issue of MH, and OH weapons for the use of glorious transmogfrication, I stopped to wonder..Why are there even Main Hand, and Off Hand weapons? Why are they not simply all One Hand weapons, and equitable in either slot?
This is actually an art thing most of the time. Weapons that are strictly main-hand- or off-hand-only are usually restricted because their models would look odd if equipped in a different hand. In order for, say, a main-hand fist weapon to also be used off-hand, a new model has to be created. One-hand weapons are usually symmetrical or close to it, allowing them to be wielded by either hand without any weird model issues.
Hal asked:
What's the intended role for heroic raids? As the next step of progression between tiers? Or just an optional challenge after completing normal modes?
I ask because, as I prepared to lead my raid group into Firelands, I kept hearing that having an ilvl of 359 would make most of the initial encounters just barely doable. Which seems odd; I mean, yes, there's the crafted/quest/daily gear you can pick up, but it strikes me as strange that those encounters would be tuned such that you need heroic gear from the previous tier to suitably handle regular content in the next tier.
Normal mode raids are intended to be attempted and completed with gear from the previous tier's normal modes. Heroic raids give you an extra challenge if you've fully completed normal modes, and the gear gives you a leg up when attempting bosses in the following tier's normal mode. 359 is fine for Firelands on normal mode.
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!
Filed under: The Queue
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 11)
wow Sep 16th 2011 1:12PM
In the best David Lister Voice:
"If a Death Knight comes near me. I will rip his nipples off!" --- Clawdya (Worgen BM Hunter, Clawla (Worgen Feral Kitty
This is in response to playing Pin-the-tail-on-the-Worgen. Plus, my Worgen DK has a few things she'd like to discuss with you.
*Extends Claws*
"Say hello to my little friends."
Shinanji
Drakkenfyre Sep 16th 2011 1:33PM
Amaxe, not ALL of them are dead. Just the player character ones are. Even Arthas, until his heart was torn out, was alive.
Being dead is not a requirement. The original Death Knights were dead. Dead human knights with the souls of dead Orcs placed in them. But second generation ones, like Arthas, do not need to be dead. There are a few alive ones still in the game. You can be given the powers. Some Paladins have turned themselves over to the Scourge, and become one.
As to the original question, unless you were Undead to be begin with, as far as players go, the day you were risen and the day you were made into a Death Knight are the same day.
Despard Sep 16th 2011 1:33PM
Amaxe,
I think it can be argued that DKs are dead and accepted by the Alliance while the Forsaken are not due to differing political situations.
The original rejection of the Forsaken due to disgust with their undeath drove them into the arms of the Horde and in the intervening period the attitude of the Alliance towards them has only hardened due to the antagonism between the two factions as a whole. But then the Northrend campaign happened, and individual DKs - heroes of the Alliance - were freed from the Lich King's control, and once again offered their service to their original faction. They were seen as potent allies against the Lich King.
More importantly, by this time everyone had got used to the idea of the undead. Perhaps some Lordaeronians still harbour sympathies for the Forsaken but the fact is that they have allied themselves politically with the Horde. SImilarly DKs are undoubtedly held in disgust by members of the Alliance at all levels but accepted due to political necessity.
tl;dr It's all politics, baby.
Amaxe Sep 16th 2011 2:08PM
The problem is, if the acceptance of DKs is expedience, well I'm sure the Alliance can also use Forsaken warriors, priests, rogues, locks etc. (In other words, this defense of Blizz doesn't actually refute the objection I make).
It seems to me however, that we don't need to assume that every PC DK is dead. yes, the starting zone shows us in Acherus being raised. However, if this is everyone's experience then every human starts in Northrend Abbey, every dwarf in Coldridge, every Nelf in Teldrassil and every goblin was the #2 Goblin in Kezan.
But what if you are a 1000 year old elf (remember elves were immortal until around 5-10 years ago)? You can't have started in Teldrassil. A middle aged dwarf would have had a different experience etc. Not all Gnomes started as irradiated in Gnomergan.
Personally, I say ignore the starting zone for background unless it inspires you for your own backstory. It's especially the case if you did a race change at 80 or 85. Your past is a blank slate and there is a lot of places such a person could have been.
Again, I know I am the one at odds with Blizz. I just think Blizz is not being realistic if they want to insist all player DKs are dead to start with.
TL:DR, since DKs don't have to be dead, why demand it of players?
(As further proof of my heresy, I'd personally say "only humans and forsaken should be DKs btw)
icepyro Sep 16th 2011 2:28PM
There is a difference between DKs and undead - the functioning of their bodies. I view the DK rising thing much like vampirism in our world. Technically vampires are undead, but without really getting close or doing a physical, it's easy to overlook. Forsaken? Well they are undead and dang proud of it too. ON top of that, their bodies are rotting even as they "live". There is no denying they are undead and that is just unnatural.
I don't think the Alliance really look closely at DKs. Varian doesn't know what happened at Light's Hope or how you came to be, and Tirion saw an alliance could be forged and decided to keep is flippin mouth shut for once. You are jeered and thrown rotten veggies at because you are an agent of the LK, not because you are undead.
Drakkenfyre Sep 16th 2011 2:36PM
The difference being there are thousands, and thousands of Humans. Dwarves, ect.
While there are only a handful of Death Knights, according to the storyline. Remember at the end of the starting zone, you take the note to your respective leader, and at least Wrynn says "If it not were for this specific person, I would strike you down where you stand." So it took the word of one of the people he trusts the most to get you accepted.
That was one of the whole defining points of a Hero class. You have an involved, intricate backstory. Whereas with any other race and class, you can take the beginning areas as a general story, and apply your own changes as you wish, the starter zone specifically tells you that you were a hero who died in combat, was risen, and turned.
You may, of course, RP your character the way you want. If you want to say you are still alive, go for it. Just don't pick the undead skin option. If you want to say your character is still hated by your faction, go for it, But you shouldn't say "The backstory shouldn't say we're all dead."
Player choice is what decides your backstory for the most part in RP ("I'm a half Night Elf, half dragon, I was born after a dragon decided to have a one-night stand with my mother!" will get you frowned at) but for DK's, the involved backstory is one of the defining chararistics of the class.
Skarn Sep 16th 2011 2:46PM
Despard is correct, it's primarily politics. Death Knights weren't exactly welcomed with open arms when they first waltzed into Stormwind. It was Tirion Fordring's influence that allowed the Acherus faction the opportunity to work with the Alliance. They've since shown that they can be trusted...at least somewhat.
This doesn't mean that all members of the Alliance automatically accept them. You can see that in the Thassarian quests in Borean Tundra. Many of the NPCs don't like him because he's a DK, though the men in his little brigade have learned to trust him despite that. It would be completely appropriate to roleplay a member of the Alliance that does not trust the Death Knights.
The Forsaken really are a substantially different faction. Not just in game mechanics, but in story and politics. Including the actions they've taken, specifically the Wrathgate. Some members of the Alliance, including Varian Wrynn, realize that the Death Knights of Acherus are different and so give them a chance. While the Alliance realizes that not all undead are evil, the Forsaken have shown nothing but animosity towards them. At this point, it's probably more political than er "racist." I'd wager most members of the Alliance don't like Death Knights any more than the Forsaken anyway. Regardless, there are still vast political differences between the Forsaken and Acherus. Their situations are extremely different.
icepyro Sep 16th 2011 2:47PM
As for OP (I forgot my answer), I would choose the day they were risen as Forsaken. Being turned DK may be celebrated quietly, but to me it would be much akin to celebrating the anniversary of you and an ex. Sure you quietly reflect on happier times, and it is the mark of something that changed your life, but you are free to be yourself again, so do you really celebrate it??
Being freed as Forsaken on the other hand, well that is a second birth (and remember, Forsaken DKs are now the only way to start a new Forsaken and be a freed Forsaken rather than risen by Valkyr). You are still Forsaken, even as a DK. It's the life you go back to when you break free from the LK (again).
As for your first birth, you might remember your living, but it is certainly no longer important to you. That human was weak, especially to be controlled by the LK twice. You are better than that now and you can never go back to that life, but why would you want to? You are part of a new society.
Candles are unimportant, because really, time is unimportant. The celebration is remembered simply as "on this day in the past". I imagine there is a candle or two to hold with tradition, but Forsaken are practical enough to realize you could celebrate 200 years from now, so why keep count? Remembering is the important thing.
And yes, Forsaken have lungs so why would they not be able to blow out the candles?
Any living being is an acceptable pinata for a Forsaken, but gnomes are preferred because they are small and easy to capture, they are of a different faction so no political fallout, and who really misses them anyways?
Usually, once the "pinata" is busted open, most Forsaken get sidetracked investigating what makes them tick, or making new games up like Operation, and thus forget about any other game, especially something as weird as pin the tail on some animal like beast. If a tauren is a really good friend, they may round up a centaur and play pin the tail on that prior to making them a "pinata". Lot's of fun, that.
Silversol Sep 16th 2011 2:51PM
Shaman-
Glyph of Reincarnate - minor glyph, upon using the ability you are granted 2 stacks of Mana Cake and everyone in vent must sing happy birthday.
What? Like blizzard doesn't have the mind control technology to pull that off. It would make for really awkward moments if someone were afk though. They're just off randomly singing.
Al Sep 16th 2011 4:07PM
"then the whole Alliance aversion for the Forsaken because they're dead falls apart."
The Alliance tried working with the Forsaken early on. They got double-crossed and butchered. Count up everything the Forsaken have done since, and it's not so much "Get a grave, deadie!" as "Oh crap, those things are out to kill us!"
AudreyR Sep 16th 2011 6:44PM
Death Knights do not celebrate birthday parties. They have deathday celebrations with rotten food, black streamers and Moaninig Myrtle.
Then the spotlight is totally yoinked by those arrogant Headless Hunt jerks and their fully-removed heads.
And then Snape kills Dumbledore.
Holytune Sep 16th 2011 11:05AM
Question
Why does the knockback from Rag in mvp hit so damn hard? Makes it tough to solo kill him even at 85.
Holytune Sep 16th 2011 11:14AM
Damn spell check, not mvp but molten core.
Killik Sep 16th 2011 11:12AM
Because it's fall damage and thus proportionate to your health. Equip a parachute, Slow Fall or, if you're a warrior, have your fingers hovering over Intercept.
Narayana Sep 16th 2011 11:21AM
Alternatively, you should adjust where you are standing. It used to be that you wanted your tank to land on ground so he could quickly get back in position. Now, landing on the ground is horrible. Stand in a place that will cause you to land in the lava when he knocks you back and you'll have a much easier go.
Marius W. Sep 16th 2011 11:46AM
Molten Core was only a setback. You are not prepared!!
Let this be your first lesson. Ragnaros has no love for you or your people.
Tonight, things are not what they seem, for tonight, your eyes may not be trusted.
West Sep 16th 2011 1:19PM
you want to tank him so the knockback sends you flying on top of the rock before the lava. you will take minimal fall damage when done correctly. was very doable at 80, even easier at 85. good luck!
Amanda A. Sep 16th 2011 1:54PM
It's not the knockback, it's the fall damage when you land. Try to position yourself so you land in lava if you don't have slow fall or some other trick.
Silversol Sep 16th 2011 2:52PM
Yah. Falling doesn't hurt. Landing does.
Nathanyel Sep 16th 2011 11:04AM
And isn't it so that caster weapons are main-hand only, because else shamans could dual-wield them?
Btw funny thing I noticed yesterday: as a Fury warrior with Titan's Grip, you can put offhand weapons into your mainhand.