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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Queue: When is the MoP beta starting?
by Adam Holisky 
Feb 23rd 2012 at 11:00AM
Today's Queue has a question for you, as well as some of my thoughts on the issue. When is the Mists of Pandaria beta starting?
A press tour is happening next month. Some sort of internal alpha testing is going on now, and assuming a mid- to late-summer release, my guess is that the beta test will happen some time in April, which would give three to four months of testing before it's released (July or August).
And that leads directly to the first question in The Queue today ...
Skozz asked:
Any chance that the press event might be the time that Blizzard says, "Hey, it's Mists of Pandaria Beta time!"? Seems like a decent enough reason to not leak information. Something like how, at E3, companies go, "And you can download it TODAY!"
I doubt it. We know Blizzard's got an internal alpha going on that's most likely only accessible within Blizzard HQ, and we know that Mists was in a nicely polished state at BlizzCon 2011. However, that's a long way off from a public beta, especially one that more than 1 million players from the Annual Pass are going to be playing. As I said above, I'd think April (or May at the high end).
Puntable asked:
Why can't all loot be deposited directly into your bags, like it does with loot from bosses?
There are a couple of good reasons.
First, it stops gold farmers and botters from easily farming massive piles of mobs. Of course, computer-aided clicking gets around this, but that kind of behavior is detected a lot easier than one click to loot everything would be.
Second, it provides a natural pause in the gameplay. While you might not like such breaks, the pauses are necessary in order to have a good flow. You want action, then a break, then some action, then a break, and so on ... Without it, you'll get constant killing and play, and that will lead to burnout both in the short and long term. It's to Blizzard's advantage to have some natural low points in the action, and this is one of them. (So are turning in quests, transportation, selling grays.)
Saikoujin asked:
Whatever happened to WoW x64? I know there was a big hullabaloo about it when the patch dropped a few weeks ago, but was it ever *actually* released? I seem to recall it being pulled. Or is it there, but only as a 'use at your own discretion, not yet fully supported' feature? I'd love to use the x64 version, but only once it's been fully vetted.
It's out, but it's just in a beta state. Take a look at our post for the download links. I've been running it constantly, and I'm having no problem. In fact, I've noticed a frame rate increase and overall faster loading times. Quite nice for my raids.
Puntable also asked:
Do you think the portals to the Cata zones will be removed from Stormwind and Orgrimmar when MoP launches?
No. They're necessary to get to the places without having to pull your hair out. Think of trying to get to Vashj'ir on your own, without a portal. I'd rather not, in a big way.
Blizzard removed the other portals from Shat and Dalaran so players wouldn't use them as their home cities anymore. Players are never going to use Vashj'ir as their home base, so there's no real reason to remove them. They'll end up being used in MoP in the same way the portal to the Dark Portal is used now.
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 8)
Noyou Feb 23rd 2012 2:53PM
I am leveling a female warrior and I noticed that almost all their armor is skimpy. Not that I mind at all- just saying- all the chest armor I got so far shows skin. I also came to the realization that all my farming toons will be female Draenei's. :p
Bapo Feb 23rd 2012 7:17PM
Booty shorts from Zangar marsh or go home.
Jamey Feb 23rd 2012 12:21PM
I'm sure it was forever ago and I just never noticed, but does anyone know when blizz allowed you to have both alliance and horde toons on the same pvp server?
I didn't know you could do this until cata came out and I started a goblin just to see the starting zone.
Drakkenfyre Feb 23rd 2012 1:09PM
I think around 3.2.
Allan Feb 23rd 2012 12:18PM
The day cata hit i was impatient to wait on the boat so i felw to vashjir. With 280 i got there a second or two before I died. Its not that bad in all fairness.
monkeyhouse Feb 23rd 2012 1:38PM
there is a flight master (one for each faction) on the small sandy beach above Vash that links to main land hubs. It is also next to a seahorse so it is pretty easy to get places in Vash without a portal.
I think you need to discover the flight master first.
Arrohon Feb 23rd 2012 3:57PM
You USED to need to discover them. That was before the stealth change so that you automatically have all FPs relevant to your level.
Noyou Feb 23rd 2012 8:23PM
There are a few exceptions, such as the Badlands. Not sure what level you need to be before they appear to you, but at the level you get the quest to go there, you have to actually go to EPL and take a rocket to get there. Once there, you have to click on the FP to learn it. I made the mistake of going there and not learning the FP.
benjuswar Feb 23rd 2012 12:19PM
just a heads up but yesterdays Que did not show up under Queue when you click on it under daily features
Luotian Feb 23rd 2012 12:26PM
Crossing my fingers and toes for an April 2nd release for Beta (April 1st is my birthday, you see, but as it is reserved for idiotic jokes I'd be happy to wait a day).
I'm just curious, how many 85s would you say people have on average? I have...3 belfs, an orc, a dwarf, and a nelf so....6. I'm thinking I might be right with the curve, but I could also be deluding myself in to thinking I don't have waaaay to much free time (ftr, only one of those is LFR capable).
Shinae Feb 23rd 2012 12:44PM
How about April 3rd, since it's a Tuesday? I'm also really hoping for the beta sooner rather than later. I would love to see the expansion release near my brithday, which falls near Labor Day (go fig).
It's become more common, at least among players who have been playing for at least a couple years, to have multiple max-level toons. Some people, like myself and my fellow guild officers, want to have a max-level toon of each class, so we can be familiar with all classes' talents and abilities.
Actually, I'm not quite there yet, my hunter is 83 and my warlock is 51. Pet classes aren't my thing, but I want all 10 classes at 85.
Twill Feb 23rd 2012 1:17PM
In Wotlk, I only had one 80 (although many toons in 50-75 range). Now, I have 7 level 85s, and a 75 and a 80. The only class I don't have above 75 is a warrior. It's definitely because:
1- Endgame content in this expansion is lacking. Granted, I'm an achievment crazy person on my main, and I'm at 11k points, so I'm running low on things to do.
2- Leveling is much better than it used to be. (Although I mostly level in BGs, but its balanced now after level 25. (If you prepare appropriately!))
Noyou Feb 23rd 2012 2:57PM
I tend to inflate the average. I have 9 85's and a 63. I am also working on a DK on my alt server. There's no hope for me :p I know a good amount of people (including guildies) who have 5+. Apparently my condition is contagious :P
Arrohon Feb 23rd 2012 4:17PM
I have 4. 2 pallies, a warrior, and a DK. When I decide to play again, I'll work on my 61 shadow priest. I've never been able to get a shaman to level 20. I'm sure that they're fun, but they can't hold onto me. I'm a bit better with Locks, but I've never liked them. I hated them in Vanilla when I didn't even have a reason to.
jdryner Feb 23rd 2012 12:32PM
I wonder, if you create a character in the MOP beta, and later buy the game, will the character still be there to play, or do you have to start from scratch?
-Finneous (Drenden, US-A)
slim1256 Feb 23rd 2012 12:34PM
Start from scratch.
Toons from the beta will not be carried over to live servers.
kingslayervetriz Feb 23rd 2012 12:31PM
"Blizzard removed the other portals from Shat and Dalaran so players wouldn't use them as their home cities anymore."
You see, I can understand that. New expansion, new areas to explore and it just didn't feel right that the factions capitals were deserted. What I don't understand is why they had to take away portals period. Why couldn't they just put portals in Stormwind and Ogrimmar? I mean, no one enjoys a trip to Darnassus these days and even though it's not a long trip, I personally would rather skip trips to Iron Forge if I have to.
Hmm, and now other races capital cities are dead. Even more dead then they were back in Wrath of the Lich King. For what? So people will explore the world again? How many more times do I have to explore the spaces between Hyjal and Darnassus and the fatigue bar I that I have gotten used to seeing when crossing the sea before Blizzard realizes this was a bad decision? People aren't really exploring, flight paths aren't really being used and people are all around avoiding these places because they're too far out of the god dang way!
On top of all that, what is wrong with player choice? What is wrong with the player deciding where they want to set their hearth stones? I mean, what is the point of setting our hearthstones anyway? Why doesn't Blizzard just remove that option to choose where your hearthstone is set since they want to dictate where we should be setting our hearthstones anyway? You know what I would like to see in addition to portals to returning? Portals in all the capital cities (including Shattrah and Dalaran)! Let people CHOOSE where to set their hearthstones! Let people spend time in whatever capital city they want! I mean are Darnassus and Thunder Bluff still capital cities if their population is generally 1 player or 2 players at any given moment? The only point of these cities are for the leveling player to give them a place to go that leads them to Stormwind and Ogrimmar like everyone else.
I would actually TRADE old world flying for portals! In fact, I feel like I explored the world MORE when I had only a ground mount and portals to all my capital cities.
Anyway, that's my rant. Blizzards response to us when we ask about portals? We're not bringing them back so stop asking about them.
slim1256 Feb 23rd 2012 12:39PM
Pretty much, this (though, as a Cata baby, you better not pull my old world flying - in the first place, that would pretty much be the nail in Archaeology's coffin).
However - this is a huge quality of life change. Let people spend more time PLAYING as opposed to "I just missed the damn boat to Northrend, and now I have to wait 10 minutes for the next damn boat to come in!"
It might "trivialize" some of the holiday dailies (I'm looking at you, stupid bracelet grind from Love is in the Air), but - honestly, they're just tedious anyway. Remove tedium!
Sinthar Feb 24th 2012 8:15AM
And destroy my trade in selling portals? No thanks! :)
Seriously tho = theres very few mages that now sell portals, because there is easy ways to get places. Need to get to Darnassus from SW, easy - take MH portal and taxi there. Costs about 2.5g and takes 5 mins - probably quicker and easier than finding a mage, and definately cheaper.
Need to get to exodar, use same trick (theres even a portal in Darnassus to get straight there).
Well now ive completely wrecked my own portal business, I better find another way to make 5-10g every 20 mins or so........:)
If you NEED speed, mage portals are the best. But tip em generously - cos people dont, and thats why you rarely find any mage selling them. The same with enchanters, the chants cost a HUGE ammount - but you get maybe 10-20g tip for doing them. That means they have to do about 500 chants to break even. Now do you see why you can yell in trade for one, and they rarely reply? btw the best way to get a portal is to do a /who mage and /w one in the city you are in. The best way to get a chant is to ask for the particular chant you need, stating if you have mats, and what tip you are prepared to give. As a chanter I am NOT going to waste my time, advising you on what chat to get, waiting while you log 3 different toons and visit the AH, and then do the chant for a 5g tip.
wow that turned into a bit of a rant - sorry guys n gals. Too many bad experiences, and wasted times to be 'trade friendly' i guess
Elmo Feb 23rd 2012 1:06PM
You think blizz will fix some of the cataclysm damage for MoP?
I already had more than enough of glowing towers, lava rivers, elemental infested villages and broken dams already and I think it would be out of place after the cataclysm has settled down and Deathwing is dead.