Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsPatch 4.3: Zarhym clarifies tier 13 drop methods
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Sep 19th 2011 at 8:00PM
- All pieces will drop from multi-class set tokens. Ten-man raids will see a slight buff to drop rates to compensate for the lack of purchasable tier pieces.
- Valor point gear will feature a wider array of gear for a wider array of slots, meant both for people who are having trouble with token drops and for people who don't raid at all.
- There will be three tier 13 sets for each class: Looking For Raid level, normal level, and heroic level. Each will have a different item level, but you'll be able to mix and match pieces from all three sets for your set bonuses as needed.
ZarhymThe way tier 13 pieces will be obtained in the 4.3 raid won't be unlike raids past, meaning players will still need to roll on multi-class set tokens. That said, we'll be tweaking the tier 13 10-player drop rates a little bit (for the better) relative to the 25-player version, given that these tier pieces can't be purchased from vendors for Valor Points.
In addition, due to tier pieces not being offered for Valor Points, another thing you'll see in patch 4.3 is a much wider array of desirable non-set loot (covering more slots than prior patches) available from the vendors, for those players who are unlucky with specific token drops, or who aren't interested in raiding -- although, once you get more details about the Raid Finder, we hope you'll find interest in having a go.
I felt this warranted its own response in a separate thread, but for those who missed it, here's my response to the original thread about tier 13 pieces being raid drops only:
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3196022133?page=23#456
Quote:
Keep in mind we do intend to allow tier 13 set pieces to drop for those using the upcoming Raid Finder. Similar to the difference between normal and Heroic versions of tier sets, the Raid Finder set will have a lower item level than the normal and Heroic counterparts.
Set pieces from all three difficulty levels can still be mixed and matched for the 2- and 4-piece bonuses.
Keep in mind we do intend to allow tier 13 set pieces to drop for those using the upcoming Raid Finder. Similar to the difference between normal and Heroic versions of tier sets, the Raid Finder set will have a lower item level than the normal and Heroic counterparts.
Set pieces from all three difficulty levels can still be mixed and matched for the 2- and 4-piece bonuses.
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: Blizzard, News items, Raiding
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Ithrandil Sep 19th 2011 9:02PM
YES YES YES YES YES!!!!! You just made my day, zarhym! This is EXACTLY what I've wanted since T9! Having a tier set should MEAN something, and now it will again! And now people can actually get a full set of current raid-equivelant items instead of hoping to get a shoulder and helm token off the last bosses of a raiding tier. Non-tier dops inside raids will mean more since you can't just buy the tier piece with points. This is absolutely perfect. Oh happy day! Now if only half my raid team wasn't on the damn conquest token.
/2 WTB mages to replace our warlocks and a warrior to replace our pally tank! pst for invite!
Ithrandil Sep 20th 2011 12:40AM
I just don't understand the downvote.
This gives people earning gear only from dungeons their own cohesive-looking set for people that like getting their gear as drops. Same as current system.
--This gives people earning gear only from JPs more pieces to choose from and a cohesive look, and covers slots that aren't currently purchasable with JPs. Improvement over current system.
--This gives people earning gear only from VPs more pieces to choose from and a cohesive look, and covers slots that aren't currently purchasable with VPs. Improvement over current system.
--This gives people that don't currently raid for various reasons an easier way to get into it via raidfinder and another reason to do so. Improvement over current system.
--This gives raiders their own, iconic set that is only very very marginally better than VP gear statistically (only set bonuses). Improvement over current system.
--This gives you a reason to display new gear (tier gear or not) as a badge of "I did it" if you're into that, or you can just ignore it, look at the stats, and mog your gear to whatever cool set you want. Improvement over current system.
As a casual and sometime raider, this change makes me incredibly happy, it gives me somehting that I can look at and admire when those people more hardcore than I get it super quickly, and when I eventually get the pieces it'll mean a lot more. Something to work towards. And I'll have felt like I earned it. Right now it just feels like I'm playing ski-ball over and over again trying to get enough tickets for the stuffed pink dinosaur behind the counter. I love heroics (and ski-ball), but shoving in quarter after quarter and doing it over and over and over till I get the points/tickets is mind numbing and, personally, not very satisfying. I have no sense of accomplishment on any of my alts wearing 3/5 tier. they don't even look as good becuase the boots never match and they have troll shoulders. Blech. Coupled with transmogrification, this system solves every problem I have with gear. Every one. And if I care about an alt enough to raid finder them up a set of tier gear, then that's just fantastic. Or I can stick to VP or JP gear. Or I can stick to the new dungeon set. Or I can not care and mog them into an old, awesome looking set. The way I look at this, it's a win-win situation all around. If you want to downvote me after all that, fine, but as I see it this is the biggest win possible for casuals, for hardcores, for RPers, for alts, for twinks and for everyone in between.
I. LOVE. YOU. BLIZZARD.
/hug
rapsam2003 Sep 20th 2011 12:47AM
Indeed! This is definitely a good thing, in my opinion.
And if Casuals complain, guess what? There's LFR. You have no reason to complain.
Paul Sep 20th 2011 2:18AM
I think most people saw your last comment, assumed you were being sarcastic and/or pointing out that this change will force you to drop certain classes for some reason.
Embervii Sep 20th 2011 3:38AM
Pretty much sums up my feeling exactly. This is great.
MoarHeroisms Sep 19th 2011 9:06PM
So how will the LookingForRaid tier set be attainable when we're no longer able to queue for Dragon Soul via the LFR tool?
Noah Sep 19th 2011 9:18PM
I very much like this idea. The fact that running heroics daily and weekly allows people to get tier gear has never really sat well with me. I like the mentality that says "You can get gear that's CLOSE to as good as your tier set by using the LFG tool a lot, but if you really want that kickass-looking set that was made for your class, then you've got to sharpen your weapons, oil your armor and get into that green portal that gives the good stuff."
Though I still don't have any tier gear, it wasn't because I could never raid for it, it was because I used the LFG tool so little that I barely ever got valor points. Quite honestly, given how little VP's drop in raids (what is it, 35 to a boss or something?), it's actually more practical at the current time to just run randoms to get the VP's and buy your tier gear that way.
But this way is SO much better. The way I see it, this will split the player population into parts. Part of us (me!) will be willing to get into raids to get our tier gear and test our metal, while the other part will be intimidated by the challenge and stick to running LFG over and over, and as a result, be stuck with slightly lesser gear that doesn't fit their class (ever seen a druid wearing rogue T11 shoulders? It's not right, dude). Thank you Blizzard!
Spellotape Sep 19th 2011 9:20PM
If the set bonuses are particularly attractive to my class, all this really does is make me feel like I will need to do LFR raids. I wish they would just give it up already and separate 10/25-man lockouts, because this feels like the same thing except LFR is easier and the gear isn't as good as 10 used to be.
Marolas Sep 19th 2011 9:32PM
"Everyone in tier 9 ruined the tier set. It meant nothing to see somebody in tier 9, not a thing. When frost dropped in heroics the same thing happened with tier 10, all of my alts got full T10 and it meant nothing. Seeing other people walk around in T10 meant nothing. "
Transmogrification has invalidated this argument, stats are the only thing that will matter when a physical status symbol doesn't exist.
... Although I suppose the stats would therefore become the status symbol. Interesting.
Ithrandil Sep 19th 2011 10:02PM
actually, by making tier harder to obtain, it becomes a status symbol again and gives people a reason to display it proudly, even though they may like the look an older set more. Transmogrification makes it MORE important for blizzard to make good looking, meaningful new sets, not less. Otherwise nobody will want the new art and all that work the artists put forth goes to waste.
Ithrandil Sep 19th 2011 9:33PM
Your first paragragh has been my exact feelings since wrath, when I only did the occasional pug raid but could still could get a full set of tier gear for some reason. You can get the stats without raiding. You can get a cool look. But you cannot get your iconic, class specific look without sharpening your blades and going through the green portal.
Trasmogrification is the best thing to ever happen, becuase it means blizz can't be lazy with art assets or people will just put on their old stuff. They have to do stuff that makes you proud to wear it. I have full T13. I EARNED it. otherwise, it will mean nothing and people will just go back to their old stuff. for the first time since 4.0.3 hit, I feel like the players win, flawless victory.
Ithrandil Sep 19th 2011 9:34PM
grrr, that was a reply to Noah a few posts up. Stupid comment system!
tre Sep 19th 2011 10:09PM
Okay. I guess it means we will not have the same problems getting certain pieces that we did with other tiers? Cause farming bracers sucked.
Brock Sep 19th 2011 10:41PM
I am excited they are bringing back dungeon sets. Now heroic runners, casual raiders, average joes, and hard core raiders will all have a set of gear they can look forward to.
Ithrandil Sep 20th 2011 2:30AM
no, literally half the group my guild raids with is on conqeurer token, we usually have 2 pallies, 2 locks and a priest. Not a probem with the system, we just don't stack the "right" classes
dodgeballer2005 Sep 20th 2011 2:34AM
Multi-class set tokens have killed the game. They should drop the concept and try for something a little better, like class-detection and single-class tier tokens. This makes the former less ideal.
Revynn Sep 20th 2011 9:57AM
Yeah, the system they've been using since AQ40 has clearly killed the game.
Multi-class tokens were a HUGE step forward from the way it was in Molten Core and BWL, even if the AQ implementation was a nightmare. Anyone remember seeing yet another pair of Paladin Shoulders drop for your 40 Man HORDE raid?
A class-detection system might be nice, but a well balanced raid team shouldn't have any problem making use of any given token until you're fairly geared out, at which point you should be looking at trying the boss on HM rather than farming him for gear you already have.
Elladrion Sep 20th 2011 3:21AM
Yay, I Like this change a lot. Makes a full set for everyone no matter what your preferred style of play (raiding or just dungeoning) and keeps the tier sets as that cool thing that not everybody gets. At the same time, it's still within reach of anybody that wants to put in the time to get it.
New full sets from dungeons and points cool. Tier from dungeons not cool. Full tier sets from raiding cool. Easy way to get into raiding even if you don't have the schedule to join a raiding guild coolest!
Now they just need to make boss loot detect what classes are present.
TonyKP Sep 20th 2011 7:22AM
They're really doubling down on this "Raid or go home" thing...
Chris Sep 21st 2011 7:40AM
My questions is, will the LFR tool have an Item lvl requirement and will PVP gear be factored into the item lvl requirement?
PVP gear better not count.