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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPatch 4.3: Epic gems and more on the Deathwing encounter from Ghostcrawler
by Anne Stickney 
Sep 19th 2011 at 3:58AM
"The way we're hoping to set it up, and we kind of have this working but things could change before we go live, is when you kill a boss on normal or heroic mode, each player gets a geode, and when they open the geode there's a chance they may find an epic gem inside. If not, it'll have blue gems or something like that," he said. Along with the scoop on epic gems, Ghostcrawler talked a bit about the upcoming legendary daggers and how they will work, as well as the Deathwing encounter.
For those wondering if the Deathwing encounter will be challenging, it certainly appears so -- and Deathwing himself will change from how we've seen him so far in game. Rather than the plate-wearing, mammoth-chinned beast we're accustomed to seeing, Deathwing will be hurt and resemble something Ghostcrawler calls "Cthulhu Deathwing." The entry for the Deathwing raid will be in the Caverns of Time, along with all other 4.3 instances.
For more on the Deathwing encounter, epic gems, tank threat and other 4.3 information, check out Tankspot's full interview.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Look at what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back! Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Radium Sep 19th 2011 4:02AM
http://youtu.be/h-LbvFckptY
Natsumi Sep 19th 2011 2:02PM
Not sure why the Pointer Sisters would get down voted, perhaps it's because people don't understand the shortform web address that youtube gives now when you push the SHARE button. I think what Radium was trying to say (with music) was that "he's so excited, and he just can't hide it"
That, or it's just the dirtiest song in the history of the world. ;)
Knob Sep 19th 2011 4:04AM
If only I knew you guys were making separate articles for each interview, I would have made the comment in the below paragraph in this article instead of the first one about 4.3. :P Anyway, I'll post it here again since it's more appropriate here than in the other article's comments:
The Deathwing fights sound awesome! And GC mentions fighting off Deathwing's tentacles in one part of the fight....maybe Deathwing will become full-on Old God empowered before we take him down. We break open his plates hoping his fire consumes him from the inside but instead these writhing tentacles break out of him. Can't wait to see if that's actually the case.
trefpoid Sep 19th 2011 4:16AM
Well, he did call him "C'thulu Deathwing". I'm pretty sure he'll look pretty damn awesome. And the fight sounds just great, reminds me of a Final Fantasy fight, where you defeat gigantic bosses part by part until you finally get him down. Should be fantastic! looking forward to this very much!!
Therinor Sep 19th 2011 9:11AM
Aye, after all Metzen hinted at the appearance of another old god in Cata, the one that was the main one responsible for corrupting DW... and since there won't be many big content-patches anymore, I guess we will meet him soon (or the idea has been trashed).
So my guess is that he will kinda merge with said old god, or it will turn out that the old god has been a part of him for a while now, kinda merged into him at some point in the past... so kinda like Knob's idea. Will sure be interesting!
Kylenne Sep 19th 2011 11:00AM
If by "hint" you mean "drop 10 ton anvils", then yeah. We were told outright at Blizzcon last year that it's N'Zoth signing Deathwing's paychecks. Several large anvils have been dropped in game about it too (in Vashj'ir and again in Deepholm, just off the top of my head).
Then again, with how they inexplicably abandoned Neptulon's storyline, who the hell knows what they'll do.
goldeneye Sep 20th 2011 10:55AM
Or... while writing up Mists of Pandaria they noticed a plot part where Neptulon's story would be getting the spotlight he deserves !
I'm calling it: Ole Nepto is the end-boss of the next xpack. Or he's Azshara's bitch.
Fletcher Sep 19th 2011 4:15AM
In BC epic gems were found in mining nodes in the Hyjal raid (and probably other places). This seems like a more interesting way to distribute them than that, but I do kinda miss getting 'em out of titanium like in Wrath. Ah well, it means I won't have to regem all my toons with purple gems at least. Since I won't be able to get any purple gems to cut for them.
Noyou Sep 19th 2011 6:15AM
In Wrath we got purple gems from Titanium, transmutes, fishing dailies and honor points. I had no problems getting them at all. I hope we can still get them from transmutes at least. I hope to make a few gold on cutting them at least...
Tyler Caraway Sep 19th 2011 10:20AM
Correction:
Epic gems had a chance to drop from any trash mob in Hyjal, Black Temple, or Sunwell. There were also mining nodes spread inbetween the three bases in Hyjal which could contain epic gems.
A full clear of BT generally yielded around 10 - 20 gems.
DragonFireKai Sep 19th 2011 4:41AM
The excuse for making a class locked rogue legendary reeks. They don't want to make a tanking legendary because they're afraid of putting out a few of the tanking classes, and yet they're perfectly fine with blowing off 75% of the melee DPS out there with this legendary, and 50% with Shadowmourne. If they're going to make it BiS for combat rogues, why not make it so that Enhance Shamen could use them? Even the BC legendaries, while very limited in scope, were usable by multiple classes.
Artificial Sep 19th 2011 5:28AM
I'm sure they'll look fine hanging from the belts of many hunters. ;)
But seriously, it would be grossly unfair of them to exclude from ever getting legendaries any players who play a class/spec that isn't sufficiently homogenized to share their favorite toys with other classes. The only fair way to handle it is to make sure everyone gets a turn. This time, it's the dagger rogues' turn, not yours. Deal with it...
DragonFireKai Sep 19th 2011 5:44AM
Except that hunters can't equip them. That's the crux of the issue. It's not that they're subpar for hunters, or enhance shaman, or fury warriors. It's that none of those classes can even use them. Every other legendary was usable by multiple classes. This isn't a matter of Thori'dal being more useful to a hunter than a rogue, it's a matter of no one but rogues being able to obtain them.
Eyhk Sep 19th 2011 7:09AM
As if rogues didn't have enough legendaries. Seriously.
loop_not_defined Sep 19th 2011 7:31AM
How could they make a Rogue-themed questline involving pickpocketing and stealthing for Shaman or Warriors?
DragonFireKai Sep 19th 2011 8:01AM
The quest exists as a means for the weapon, not the other way around.
Hal Sep 19th 2011 9:17AM
I guess the reasoning is that, with a rogue legendary, nobody is going to stack rogues for their raids. But when you have, say, a 1h tanking mace as the legendary, you're likely to see a further imbalance in tanks brought to raids, mainly warriors and paladins at the exclusion of bears and DKs.
loop_not_defined Sep 19th 2011 10:16AM
@DragonFireKai
You're mighty full of assumptions today.
Angus Sep 19th 2011 10:20AM
Oh come on. I can't tell you how many boss drops were crystals because they were rogue daggers.
Enhance shaman are still having to pvp ( as rest usually) to get weapons. A 2% drop rate on 22 mobs for the only good drops (boe) is ridiculous. They claimed they wanted drops on bosses to be more generalized, yet rogues have always been catered to. Instead of giving shaman swords, they gave rogues axes and proceeded to make swords anyway.
So now they get a legendary. Yea, that makes sense.
Natsumi Sep 19th 2011 2:08PM
@loop_not_defined
Well, as a Warrior, when I want to pick someone's pocket, I smash them in the face with a large object until they are "sleepy" then I pick their pocket. As for stealthing.... well, making things "sleepy" keeps them from noticing me :D