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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Queue: Why I welcome the Dragon Soul nerf and why you should, too
by Adam Holisky 
Jan 19th 2012 at 11:00AM
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky (@adamholisky) will be your host today.
The progressive Dragon Soul nerf that was announced last night should have been expected by everyone. It's something Blizzard has done constantly, and I'm a tad surprised that so many people feel like it came out of the blue.
The progressive Dragon Soul nerf that was announced last night should have been expected by everyone. It's something Blizzard has done constantly, and I'm a tad surprised that so many people feel like it came out of the blue.
The biggest complaint I've heard is that the Raid Finder was meant for the easy modes. The Raid Finder, while good, isn't for everyone. Some people really hate pugging -- so much so that they'd rather not play the game than have to pug. There are some people who are just interested in running content with their guild, and if their guild doesn't want to run the Raid Finder, then it's normal modes.
The Dragon Soul raid nerf will do nothing more than allow a wider base to see more content -- and that's a good thing for the game, for the community, and for the future of WoW. And that is something we should all be supportive of. Even more so, there are groups struggling on various aspects of normal and heroic Dragon Soul. If you're not, that's awesome. Pat on the back, tip of the hat. But ... not everyone is so lucky.
If you're hardcore and don't want raid with the progressive nerf active, just turn it off at the entrance. Problem solved; now let's all go kill some internet dragons.
Philster asked:
What pop culture references should make it into Mists of Pandaria, and what shouldn't?
Anything about Doctor Who shouldn't make it in. Everything about SeaQuest DSV should.
Thundrek asked:
What's the Blizzard take on the SOPA bill? What would it mean if it passes for sites likes these?
Blizzard hasn't taken any official stand, and neither has Activision.
What would it mean for a site like WoW Insider? To be honest, I don't know. I do know that our parent company, AOL, has lawyers who would be heavily consulted to determine the feasibility of running content like WoW Moviewatch or Around Azeroth. We have a good relationship with Blizzard, so I don't think anything would happen on that front, but could P Diddy Puff Mommy get upset that some artist is making fun of his/her stuff in a WoW movie parody? Yup. And could that mean we'd be in trouble with SOPA/PIPA? Yup.
Either way, if it happens, we'll just have to wait and see what the particular results are.
Also, all this should only be taken for my own ramblings and not in any way a statement by the site or our parent company.
Robert asked:
How much time does a person have to spend staring at their own armory before they can be considered a narcissist?
After 11 hours. Ten hours doesn't count. It doesn't.
Grimmwrath asked:
Not sure if anyone noticed this, but a major retailer's website (wal-mart) advertised a "pre-order" of MoP, citing a ship date of April 1st. The picture wasn't even a finished box cover. What gives?
That information is horribly inaccurate and should not be trusted. Best Buy reached a new level with this when it even put out a sign advertising Diablo III's release date as Feb. 1 but later had to take it down because it was wrong. Blizzard is the only source you should trust (and well, us, when we report on what Blizzard says).
The box art itself isn't an indicator of anything, either. It's just whatever their internal graphic artists came up with. Probably made in MS Paint.
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 5 of 12)
Derek Jan 19th 2012 12:19PM
I would pay real money for a daily quest where you took the part of said dwarf and repeatedly went around punching said NPC's in the face. . . . especially if they stopped sparkling, fell down, and cried when you did so.
ravyncat Jan 19th 2012 2:03PM
What if it turned out her conflicted San'layn boyfriend was actually wanting to date his Orc best friend? The Worgen just seems to be amused by it all and he isn't interested in her either. Where does that leave her?
Hmm...why does this version sound vaguely familiar?
aenerion Jan 19th 2012 11:19AM
Why didn't wowinsider go black and join the protest?
kingoomieiii Jan 19th 2012 11:31AM
Because Wikipedia and Reddit going dark pretty much got the word out?
Check out @herpderpedia on twitter. HILARIOUS.
Caliea Jan 19th 2012 11:32AM
see Adam's comment here: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/the-queue-research-like-its-1995/#continued
and joystiq's editorial here: http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/were-not-blacking-out-today-but-we-still-dont-like-sopa/
bethontheharbor Jan 19th 2012 11:34AM
Did AOL?? Then they wouldn't if AOL didn't.
aenerion Jan 19th 2012 11:36AM
thnx Caliea
Caliea Jan 19th 2012 11:51AM
No problem.
It was an honest question, folks. Enough with downvoting. It's not like he said 'U guyz suk cuz u didnt blackout" O.o Such a harsh crowd here!
Killik Jan 19th 2012 12:15PM
I think people interpreted it as an accusation. Still, at least his comment blacked out in SOPA/PIPA solidarity :)
Utakata Jan 19th 2012 1:56PM
I don't know about you aenerion...but your comment is looking pretty black right now. Just saying.
VegetaPrime Jan 19th 2012 11:21AM
"Anything about Doctor Who shouldn't make it in. "
To take a term from the great comedy "Half Baked":
"Boo this man!"
Noyou Jan 19th 2012 11:25AM
Q4tQ:
Why are there lots of class trainers in one spot? Is it for effect or is there some other reason. In the portal room in Ironforge there are like 4-6 mage trainers on the main level and another 4-6 on the upper level.
kingoomieiii Jan 19th 2012 11:32AM
Flavor. There are three hunter trainers each in Org in TB, all within a 20-yard range.
Caliea Jan 19th 2012 11:33AM
They like hangin' with their homies.
Drakkenfyre Jan 19th 2012 1:52PM
A long time ago, each trainer would only teach you so far.
Apprecentice Hunter Trainer: "Ok, you have learned what I know, go to the Experienced Hunter Trainer."
Experienced Hunter Trainer: "I have taught you all I could. You need to go to the Master Hunter Trainer."
Insert appropriate trainer title and name.
Back then I eventually was told on my Mage, roughly, "You have learned all I can teach you. There is a trainer across the sea who can teach you more."
And that's why to this day I train my Mage stuff at the Mage trainer in SW. That, and she's right there at the port-in site (well, most Mage trainers are.)
Now all trainers can train to max level.
Drakkenfyre Jan 19th 2012 2:03PM
Apprentice*
And yes, even trainers standing next to each other did this. When you were told to go a long distance, you were given a quest. Just like any other breadcrumb quest given in the game.
I guess the intention was not only flavor, but to get you out in the world. Profession trainers did the same thing. And it was infuriating once you hit a certain level in Enchanting because the ONLY trainer for that range was in Uldaman. You had to get a group, get to the middle, clear the scorpions, she would spawn, and you could train there. But you had to take ALL the mats you needed for like those 50 points, because otherwise you needed to make multiple trips.
Noyou Jan 19th 2012 2:25PM
@Drakk
Ty sir. I totally forgot that. I think that changed sometime in wrath.
AltairAntares Jan 19th 2012 11:28AM
I'm one of the people who welcome the nerf. My guild is probably exactly the kind of people targeted by the nerf- we're composed of people who are very definitely casual, we raid one night a week, for 3 hours. We've been stuck on normal Zon'ozz for 3 weeks now simply because it's much harder to learn the encounter when you have so few limited attempts. We've come agonizingly close to killing him, and this is will probably be enough for us to push it over the edge.
The goal of these raids is for people to be able to give a new set of people a challenge. The people who will find this too easy have already left the bosses way behind and are either stuck on harder bosses or are done, now it's time to let everyone else have their time at enjoying a challenge instead of feeling like they are just wasting their time.
Nina Katarina Jan 19th 2012 12:01PM
I'm welcoming the nerf, too.
Our raid group never did some of the hardmodes and achievements in Tier 11 and Tier 12. I'm hoping we'll find time in our schedule sometime before Mists is out to go back and see Sinestra. I hear she's still a pretty hard fight, even with T13 gear. But we're not going to do that until we've sucked the marrow out of DS.
robsmith77 Jan 19th 2012 12:03PM
The good news is that once you've mastered Zon'ozz, Yor'sahj and Hagara are somewhat easier to learn. Unfortunately you then hit the brick wall that is Ultraxion :(