Patch 4.3 PTR: New valor point weekly caps, dungeon point rewards
by Mathew McCurley 
Sep 28th 2011 at 11:40AM
End Time, the first instance in the sequential set of 5-mans, took my group about 20 to 25 minutes to make our way through. Three bosses and only about seven to eight trash packs later, we were happily finished and 150 valor points richer. This time frame is radically different than the Zul' heroics we are currently used to, making the play experience, in my experience, more fulfilling in a shorter amount of time. We have not yet run the other two dungeons, but if they are as streamlined as End Time, valor points will be a less stressful experience in the future. We will have more information as it becomes available.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into 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: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RS Sep 28th 2011 11:42AM
Yay! Faster Dungeon runs....
Heck of a lot easier to fit in 20-30 minutes to 45-60...
Sarahjane Sep 28th 2011 12:11PM
I do love a good dungeon crawl, but sometimes a nice, short run (regardless of difficulty) is a welcome breath of fresh air. Most Cata dungeons were well designed, but we didn't have any really short ones a la Violet Hold.
jfink114 Sep 28th 2011 12:22PM
I second this!!! I hate running current heroics cuz I just don't have time for anything other then a perfect run most nights.
DarkWalker Sep 28th 2011 1:06PM
THIS is the change that might bring me back to WoW.
Well, this and the LFR.
Given how close we are to Blizcon, though, I will wait to see what Blizzard's plans for the future are like. If short dungeons are the new direction the game is taking, and not just a fluke, there's a good chance I might return.
Donhorn Sep 28th 2011 2:09PM
The long dungeons have been precicely why I haven't been doing them much at all recently, I don't have the time I used to. In fact my Priest has turned to PvP for free time fun because it's much quicker to get through and win or lose I still get honor. My poor Druid has gone to the back burner waiting for something more compelling for PvE to do (read: Darkmoon Fare retool). I remember I always loved the ICC 5 mans, I need to get on the PTR and see how these new ones are for myself before I get myself hyped up, but faster dungeons are the way to go. The long trecks should be the actual raids at this point. The way I see it LFD should be "I have a half hour to burn, let's go LFD!"Fanfics while LFR should be "I have a few hours to burn and it's not a raid night, let's go LFR!"
Skarn Sep 28th 2011 5:27PM
Mixed bag, in my opinion. I absolutely understand the desire for a quick dungeon run, but I'm not a fan of speed over quality. I despised the "blaze through dungeons while seeing nothing" in Wrath. Especially because it made them all feel the same with little variety. (Amusingly, one of the Cataclysm complaints is "not enough dungeons.") Obviously, I've not had a chance to try the new dungeons so they might be very fun, yet brief experiences. We'll see how the balance all plays out.
Bapo Sep 28th 2011 11:44AM
I may have missed it, but are there regulars for these?
(cutaia) Sep 28th 2011 12:06PM
Not on the PTR right now. Probably won't change either.
SR Sep 28th 2011 2:48PM
:(
I really liked having the regular/heroic versions of the ICC 5-mans, since I didn't really have to step foot into the outdated regular heroics just to waste my time : /
wow Sep 28th 2011 11:50AM
Let's hope that the LFR rewards are similarly stress-free to obtain ^^
DarkWalker Sep 28th 2011 1:09PM
My hope for the LFR is that it's mostly stress-free, and progression-free for what matters, as well as being at least as efficient as running random heroics on it's VP per hour (if not even more efficient).
REDMJOEL Sep 28th 2011 4:06PM
@darkwalker. Those two goals (stress free and efficient for valor) are mutually exclusive. The gogogo mentality is extremely stressful for those of us playing a game rather than competing for world first.
Siaperas Sep 28th 2011 11:53AM
Thank you god! I know people complained about the ease of Wrath dungeons, but I loved that I could just burn threw them quickly and help prep my characcter for raiding if I didn't have much time in the day.
ravyncat Sep 28th 2011 11:53AM
What iLevel is needed to enter?
I know you are likely heroic raid geared. Can people who don't raid get into these new dungeons?
Cyno01 Sep 28th 2011 12:00PM
I'd guess 353 at least, since you had to be @ 346 iirc, the level of drops from the Previous tier, to get into the zuls.
Guessing the drops will be 365 also.
Ailuvan Sep 28th 2011 12:02PM
^^^This^^^
Are we save in assuming that we should be Trollroic-geared to run these in a normal amount of time?
iangroenlund Sep 28th 2011 12:29PM
No idea what the iLevel requirment is going to be, but I know the new dungeons are going to drop 378 ilvl gear and weapons - If their are not going to change that before lunch :)
You can watch a dungeon run of End Time on OMFGCATAs YouTube-channel :)
loop_not_defined Sep 28th 2011 12:41PM
I was able to queue for End Times, and my average is currently 350 something.
Cephas Sep 28th 2011 1:37PM
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3278898510?page=4#62
^ Everyone read Zarhym's post here, including Mat - it wouldn't hurt to update the post with this info. Valor point rewards and caps, vendors, and item level restrictions are ALL still being worked on.
dodio359 Sep 28th 2011 12:02PM
Was there a min item level needed to enter the new 5mans? Do the bosses drop any loot? Curious as the item level dropped.