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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBashiok explains why the MoP talent calculator is out already
by Michael Gray 
Nov 23rd 2011 at 5:00PM
Of course, Mists of Pandaria is a long time away. We've got an entire content patch to get through first. Bashiok hit the forums today to explain why the talent calculator is available so early.
He points out that these talent trees are definitely going to change; we're still in a pre-alpha stage of development. Since many of those changes will happen in response to player feedback, getting the dialog started early is a good thing. More importantly, the hope is that by revealing the early talents, players can get a better idea of the design philosophy behind changes.
Whether you dig those reasons or not, we're all clearly very excited to get our hands on the talents. Check out what Bashiok said behind the cut.
We wanted to take a moment to give some context to why the calculators were posted, and the permanence of the data shown. A lot of times we say things like "not final" and "may change" as verbal wiggle room should we decide we need to go a different direction, or are unable to complete something in time. In this case of the Mists of Pandaria calculator data is essentially pre-alpha, and will absolutely change in many ways.
It was important for us to get this stuff in front of you as soon as possible though (and as a work in progress as it is) to get your feedback, which will in no small part influence that change. We also wanted to present everything on a single page to give you a fuller context for the initial talent changes we announced at BlizzCon, and to see how the overall structure of core abilities, spec abilities, and talents will function, with concrete examples.
The calculator contains elements that are experimental, still in the process of implementation, or in some cases outright failed experiments that we already intend to revise or replace. Odds are good that if it looks like we've forgotten some critical piece of a particular class toolkit, it's either accounted for elsewhere, or simply a data glitch (e.g., Prayer of Healing is currently absent from the calculator – we are not taking Prayer of Healing away from priests, and Devastate for warriors probably won't sunder armor 453%). Our hope is that revealing the calculator in this state will shed light on the philosophy behind our talent overhaul, and let you get a sense of how pieces of your core rotational gameplay, such as Hot Streak, Riptide, or Sudden Doom, fit into the new system.
The different classes are also at very different stages of design and implementation, and the fact that some mechanics changes we discussed at BlizzCon and in recent Q&As are not yet present does not mean that we have abandoned those ideas.
Any and all feedback is very welcome, but please keep all of the above in mind when considering the information in the talent calculator, and please keep feedback consolidated in the Mists of Pandaria forum: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/2592425/
It was important for us to get this stuff in front of you as soon as possible though (and as a work in progress as it is) to get your feedback, which will in no small part influence that change. We also wanted to present everything on a single page to give you a fuller context for the initial talent changes we announced at BlizzCon, and to see how the overall structure of core abilities, spec abilities, and talents will function, with concrete examples.
The calculator contains elements that are experimental, still in the process of implementation, or in some cases outright failed experiments that we already intend to revise or replace. Odds are good that if it looks like we've forgotten some critical piece of a particular class toolkit, it's either accounted for elsewhere, or simply a data glitch (e.g., Prayer of Healing is currently absent from the calculator – we are not taking Prayer of Healing away from priests, and Devastate for warriors probably won't sunder armor 453%). Our hope is that revealing the calculator in this state will shed light on the philosophy behind our talent overhaul, and let you get a sense of how pieces of your core rotational gameplay, such as Hot Streak, Riptide, or Sudden Doom, fit into the new system.
The different classes are also at very different stages of design and implementation, and the fact that some mechanics changes we discussed at BlizzCon and in recent Q&As are not yet present does not mean that we have abandoned those ideas.
Any and all feedback is very welcome, but please keep all of the above in mind when considering the information in the talent calculator, and please keep feedback consolidated in the Mists of Pandaria forum: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/2592425/
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is the next expansion, raising the level cap to 90, introducing a brand new talent system, and bringing forth the long-lost pandaren race to both Horde and Alliance. Check out the trailer and follow us for all the latest MoP news!
Filed under: Mists of Pandaria
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
Pata Nov 23rd 2011 5:54PM
I still think it's on track for a late spring or early summer release. Blizzard is usually a few builds ahead of whatever they show us. As Bashiok said, some things in the calculator is already listed as a failed experiment, and they're already working on something else.
Also, the different aspects of the expansion can be all be at different stages of completion, just like certain classes will be more fleshed out compared to others. The most time consuming aspect of an expansion are the art assets, which they would have started working on a long time ago; they should already be in a near-beta state. System changes like talents will be farther behind they are heavily reliant on player feedback. However, once they get enough feedback it shouldn't take them long to make the adjustment needed and move onto a beta state for player testing.
Noyou Nov 23rd 2011 6:02PM
I took it the other way. Pre-Alpha, as in we are about to start Alpha. Maybe I was reading into it, but I got the vibe that Alpha could be starting in weeks. It wouldn't make sense to release this info if Alpha was months away. We shall see.
Methuus Nov 23rd 2011 8:50PM
If one thing that all my years in the World...of Warcraft have taught me it is this: assume Blizzard will take longer than you think they should, and you won't be disappointed.
MoP will be in fall. Sorry.
trefpoid Nov 23rd 2011 5:51PM
I really hope they listen to our feedback, 'cause the mage talents and spells are so bad I'm think of playing a... a... war...lock. Suddenly I wanna go buy eyeliner and look for a nice cave to live IN. LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ME BLIZZARD, GIVE ME AWESOME TALENTS LIKE DKS OR WARLOCKS OR I MIGHT START SLASHING MY WRISTS AND SACRIFICE BUNNIES.
I'm a sad mage right now, I know it's all pre-alpha state but it still hurts a lot.
Ilmyrn Nov 23rd 2011 5:52PM
As Retribution, I feel the same way about the DK tree.
Astoreth Nov 23rd 2011 6:00PM
Oh darling, it's not so bad. We knew you'd join the dar-err, the winning side someday.
Here, have a green cookie. You'll feel *so* much better.
Noyou Nov 23rd 2011 6:08PM
I think they have been doing a good job listening to our feedback the last 6 mo or so. They already took cone of cold off the talent portion and brought back to being learned at the trainer. I am all for spreading our tools out for everyone, just don't make it where we have to pick between 2 we had as one spec. I noticed they did that with mages in a couple areas.
trefpoid Nov 23rd 2011 6:11PM
D8!!! *blinks away* I know those are boogers and not cookies!!
see that blizzard?! they are already recruiting us!! help us stay true to the arcane.
Animaneth Nov 23rd 2011 6:30PM
im glad i'm not the only one to feel this way.
At least in this version they swap the lvl90 talents with the previous tier, because it was kind of depresing seeing all the other pure dps get new toys but us got 3 abilities we already had, (slow, blastwave and dragonbreath) Now I also feel sorry for hunters with their 3 options at 90 related to traps, specially frost ones wich are the CC traps not DPS ones :/
Bellajtok Nov 23rd 2011 6:30PM
Look at Alter Time. Look very closely. Realize that it is the most awesome spell since Blink itself. Once again, we prove our mastery over time itself.
trefpoid Nov 23rd 2011 6:55PM
Alter Time is really cool, that's true. I'm just glad this is all pre-alpha, so there's a lot of room for change. Blizzard has never let me down, so I'm going to trust them.
Andrew Nov 23rd 2011 10:29PM
I don't think I'll be happy with Alter Time unless it comes with a 1% chance of you being one-shot by a bronze dragon after the cast.
Harvoc Nov 23rd 2011 10:56PM
@ Noyou
Not just for mages. Every class and spec got something taken away to be restricted to one or two specs or put in as a talent. You either lose it or you need to spend 1 out of your 6 talent points to get it back even if there's a new spell that you'd much rather have.
iadamson Nov 23rd 2011 6:02PM
Oh good so resto shamans may still get their cleansing waters and blessing of the eternals talents worked in. Perhaps even healing stream totem will return.
Excited for new spells!
They should just turn the earth ele into a healing pet that puts mini earthshields that absorb dmg on raid members...
Chetti Nov 23rd 2011 6:23PM
I'm not panicking... yet. :) Looking over the shadow priest stuff, most of it looks ok. Not sure about the level 30 choices, and I really don't like having to choose between (dark) evangelism (which I'm currently specced into and love to have) and the from darkness comes light thing that could make mind blast instant and cost no orbs. I'll sacrifice wings for that if I have to though. I won't be happy about it, but I'll do it. I'm interested to see the way they are going to handle orbs. I read shortly after blizzcon that they're going to be less rng like they are now, and that will be nice.
I did notice that devouring plague is gone, I'm hoping that is an oversight and its just missing, not something they've decided to take out.
Boobah Nov 23rd 2011 7:54PM
If none of the talents in a tier are close for you, then they've done it wrong.
It looks to me like Mind Melt isn't very nifty for instances, while Twist of Fate and Power Infusion are very shiny, for example. But for questing, Mind Melt suddenly gets all kinds of compelling, since if you're taking quest mobs one at a time Mind Spike/Blast/SW:Death are the spells you use.
Yeesh, another example of not-done-yet: Discipline doesn't have access to either Heal or Atonement currently, which makes no sense; the only reason I can conceive of for leaving Heal out of Disc is that Holy Fire/Smite healing is supposed to replace it.
rapsam2003 Nov 24th 2011 12:08AM
They've already stated that, if it isn't in the talent trees, it's baseline to the spec. So, disc will probably get Heal and Atonement simply for being Disc.
valadarium Nov 24th 2011 9:16AM
@rapsam2003
Did you even go to the MoP talent calculator. If so, go there again, click priest, then click holy. If you go to the specialization part, you see heal is holy specialization only. Disc doesn't get heal. Heck, the only straight up heal that is class specific, and not spec specific, is Flash Heal (and LoF, but since it's on such a long cd, don't really consider it.) Every other heal (Heal, Greater Heal, Binding Heal) is spec specific atm, though Greater Heal is both Holy and Disc specific.
Again, this is alpha, there is a huge possibility that all this will change, but atm, Boobah is correct, disc priests don't have access to Heal.
Mal Nov 23rd 2011 6:47PM
DAT WARLOCK EVERYTHING
valadarium Nov 23rd 2011 7:21PM
Most of it looks pretty interesting, but I'll say this. I hope they change the druid ability Revive. At current (11/23/11) revive is a restoration druid only spell, meaning if feral/balance/guardian want to revive? They have to use Rebirth instead.
It just seems kinda odd to me to make revive a resto only spell, when resurrection/ancestral spirit/redemption are all baseline abilites for their classes, not tied into their healing spec.