Addon Spotlight: Mists of Pandaria Beta UI upgrades
by Mathew McCurley 
Mar 29th 2012 at 3:00PM
As one of the fortunate few with a Mists of Pandaria beta invite at this time, I have been excitedly snapping screenshots of some of the UI changes coming in the next expansion. While we still have not yet seen the Pet Battle system interface, arguably the biggest UI reveal this go-around, there are still a few tweaks to the game that are deserving of being pointed out. More quality of life improvements than anything, the changes to WoW so far in the Mists beta have been straightforward and welcome additions.
I figured that since this is the beta process that we as a community can provide some feedback even if you haven't had a chance to see these tools in action. Since the tools are mostly quality-of-life improvements and not "boots on the ground," experience-dependent changes, these changes are something we can discuss and hopefully make better before the launch.
Since this is the beta, things can and will change dramatically. This is only a quick look at some of the features and changes coming in Mists of Pandaria. As new features open up, like the aforementioned Pet Battles, I will be more than happy to show them to you. If you are in the Mists of Pandaria beta and want to help me out with some UI testing and screenshots or you're an addon developer looking to talk about your new Mists of Pandaria addons in the works, send me an email at mat@wowinsider.com.
Having two windows for both the Dungeon and the Raid Finder was a quick fix for the time being, but we knew it could never last. Blizzard has smashed together both the Dungeon and Raid Finders into one interface element and tacked on the Scenario Finder and Challenge Mode interface. Now, if you want to do random PvE content, be it groups, raids, scenarios, or challenges, you only have to press one button.
I feel like this is a long time coming for most of WoW's systems. Since I've never been a fan of drop-down menus because they hide information from you, I've always wanted WoW to move toward this type of tabbed window approach for these elements. The character pane, while not the best example, is a better example than nothing. The tabbed browsing makes each section unique, while still letting you know that all of these window options are available to you. One of the biggest reasons I love the new reforging interface is because the drop-down menus are gone and now, in plain sight, I have every one of my options available to me.
Temporary verdict Anything that gets rid of multiple windows and frames is good in my book. Pressing I on your keyboard, by default, is the new "Let's do some random PvE" button. You'll be pressing it often.
The spellbook has a new layout that clumps all of your skills together into two categories, active and passive. Active skills are those that are triggered or activated through a click or action bar press. Passive skills are those that you get from talents or specialization that change the way your character interacts with stats and abilities, but you don't have to activate them -- the game will. When those Blizzard notifications pop up that an ability is ready because you did a special crit or another ability refreshed a different active's cooldown, a passive has done its work.
Blizzard has split these active and passive abilities and spells into two catgories to alleviate some player confusion about which abilities go on the bar and which stay in the book. I'll be honest, it's very hard to get people to read stuff in this game sometimes.
Temporary verdict Go further with the spellbook. Active and passive is a good first start, but more categories could help a lot of players who just want to know which buttons hurt and which buttons help.
Discovered only recently because of the new beta patch, Blizzard has implemented a vendor filter system that allows players to sort through the various items a vendor has available for purchase. Players can search by their spec to only get the gear that has stats pertinent to that role, or by Bind on Equip, making searching for items on heirloom or valor point vendors to send to alts easier than ever. This quality-of-life type of upgrade has been in game for some time now via addons, most notably Gnomish Vendor Shrinker and Goblin Vendor Filter.
Temporary vedict WoW has the unique advantage of players being able to fix issues like this before Blizzard can. Players want to fix these issues because they want their community and game to grow. Blizzard gets more hands on deck, as it were, for the little things, and players get to exert control over the world they choose to be a part of. Win win. There is no temporary verdict here -- this rules. Expand it more, please.
Ghostcrawler's insightful blog post detailed the meat of the matter: Mists of Pandaria will pare down the number of buffs players can bring to a raid to eight. These eight buffs include:
- Stats (+5% strength, agility, intellect)
- Stamina (+10% stamina)
- Attack Power (+10% melee and ranged attack power)
- Spell Power (+10% spell power)
- Haste (+10% melee and ranged haste)
- Spell Haste (+5% spell haste)
- Critical Strike (+5% ranged, melee, and spell critical chance)
- Mastery (+5 mastery)
Below the consolidation box is a counter letting you know how many of the eight buffs you currently have cast on you. If you're still sitting at six of eight when the pull is called, you better let your raid leader know he gets to fire someone tonight. (It was probably a priest -- let's be honest.) More combinations of classes will be able to provide the full spectrum of buffs, making fielding raid groups a bit more forgiving.
Temporary verdict I like the simplicity of the new buff design and especially the UI element for it. "There are empty places on this UI element where there should be things," says the player, "so I shall strive to fill them." The new interface says, "You should pay attention to this" without hard, confusing lingo. Also, the addon potential for these eight buffs and the little window seems good.
The beta has only just begun, and more is on the way. As new interface elements sneak their way into the beta, I'll be sure to show them off for you guys. Until then, if there is anything you'd like to see from the Mists of Pandaria early beta test and content, please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email to mat@wowinsider.com. I'll try my best to accomodate as many requests as I can, potentially as an Addon Spotlight column.
See you guys next week.
Addons are what we do on Addon Spotlight. If you're new to mods, Addons 101 will walk you through the basics; see what other players are doing at Reader UI of the Week. If there's a mod you think Addon Spotlight should take a look at, email mat@wowinsider.com.
Filed under: Add-Ons, AddOn Spotlight, Mists of Pandaria
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dalrint Mar 29th 2012 3:04PM
...We can't unconsolidate our buffs?
While I like the idea of a more organized buff system, I can't say I'm thrilled with that change. I like glancing up at seeing the little squares and knowing immediately what I have and don't have.
staffan.johansson Mar 29th 2012 3:40PM
They've said that unconsolidation is coming in a later beta patch.
EVOXPISCES Mar 29th 2012 3:46PM
I agree although its something I can get used to.
Cephas Mar 29th 2012 4:05PM
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/4254515845
Jeff (Not that one ^ ) Mar 29th 2012 3:07PM
The vendor filter and the buff interface is a most welcome change.
Javs Mar 29th 2012 3:15PM
Love your writing Matt, but don't rub our noses in the fact you're playing the beta. LOL
First paragraph starts with "As on of the few fortunate". Second paragraph starts with: "I figured since this IS the beta process". And the third starts with: "Since this is the beta".
We get it. You're playing in the beta and we are not. Gotcha!
Cos Mar 29th 2012 4:29PM
You'd be surprised how many people even after reading the multiple references to beta, will still log in on the live servers and reply here saying "wtf, why are the raid and dungeon finders in separate places??"... It's human nature, it happens.
He's not bragging, he's just giving us a spotlight from "present day" so we don't get lost in the awesome of MoP info.
Neuro Mar 29th 2012 3:37PM
The buff consolidation is fine but it is missing one thing. Who can provide the buff that you are missing?
Sure I can see what buff is missing but who do I need to ask or get into my raid group to get the buff that I am missing? If they can get this into the game then I think this feature would be more worthwhile.
Shinae Mar 29th 2012 3:50PM
Maybe it's just me and my obsession with WoW, but it's not that hard now, and it will not be hard in Mists, to be familiar with what raid buffs all the classes provide. When in doubt, ask the hunter to bring out the right pet for the task. ;)
I admit I have no clue which class(es) will provide a mastery buff.
Nathanyel Mar 29th 2012 4:44PM
Especially if it will be easier to determine a group member's spec through Lua, this will be a great spot for addons to step in. There already are "buff watcher" addons anyway, which would need an overhaul for MoP, with the opportunity to hook into this new UI element.
Aurix Mar 30th 2012 9:39AM
Monk Provides the mastery buff.
madmerick Mar 29th 2012 4:03PM
Would be nice to mouseover a buff you currently don't have and see if someone in your group should be able to provide it.
Shepherd57 Mar 29th 2012 4:29PM
If I were Blizz, I would make the dark grey indicate no buff and no one to provide the buff. Light grey with no checked box indicates buff provided by a group member, but not currently buffed. Lastly Light grey with box checked would indicate buff available and active.
jfofla Mar 29th 2012 5:21PM
There is a LFG Tool for Challenge Modes?
Oh that will end badly
Paul Mar 29th 2012 5:44PM
I think the Challenge tab on that window is the way to see your times, what medals you have and where you are situated on the realm ladder.
That window is not "just" a group finder window.
The other giveaway is that if Challenge modes were to be on a group finder system, it would be listed in the 'Group Finder' tab, yet it's clearly not there.
Jebediah54 Mar 29th 2012 6:08PM
I'm not sure if it will match you up with random people, or if it's just an easier way to get into challenge modes with the group you're in. If it is like the dungeon finder, I'd expect a significant amount of forum posts about how challenge modes are impossible with random people.
JP Mar 29th 2012 6:46PM
The fact that Challenges is on a tab separate from Group Finder suggests that there isn't a LFG tool for Challenge Modes. But beta is beta.
cmichaelcooper Mar 30th 2012 12:35AM
Am I wrong for being bothered Blizzard officially giving buffs the checklist treatment? I know as class abilities have become more homogenized since Burning Crusade that players have essentially done this already, and add-ons have further cemented the mentality, but I feel like this is the wrong way for Blizzard to adopt add-on functionality.
Lets examine the stamina buff. The only reason you would ever need more stamina to survive would be in a group content situation: dungeon, raid, pvp. Any minimally competent group would never move forward without having it. So what makes it compelling? Why do we need to press the button? Why not just make it a passive buff from being in a group? Better yet, why not just design the content so that the extra required 10% health isn't necessary?
I think a better idea is to approach buffs like talents. You make a choice, and forego your other options. For example, say you have to choose between attack power and stamina. You make the choice to either hit harder, or have increased surviveability. These choices would become tactical choices rather than just required stat ballooning.
I think the point is that buffs have become an uninteresting method of ballooning stats so that damage and healing numbers can be bigger in raids. But homogenizing class buffs so that almost any group composition can provide all of the buffs in the checklist, and essentially making all buffs mandatory (and meaningless), you might as well just pass them out automatically and save players the effort...
I am sure there are many more possibilities for interesting buff mechanics that could be added to the game, and as many possibilities for playing them against each other so that groups of players have to make play style choices with buffs that individual players are going to be making with talents.
karatesmashunhurt Mar 30th 2012 12:01PM
"Am I wrong for being bothered Blizzard officially giving buffs the checklist treatment?"
Yes. It's already a checklist, adding this feature just means that it's easier to track that checklist. It's somewhat annoying having to remind people that they need to buff the raid. I'm really glad they've added this quality of life improvement.
Remembering to click the buff has got nothing to do with being "minimally competant", it's about having corspe-run back a minute quicker than the slowest raider, cast your buff then not noticing the slow-coach doesn't have your buff.
Having to choose between a raid-wide buff for stamina or AP would just cause unneccessary conflict between healers/tanks and dps. Having to make choices like that on an individual level is good e.g. choosing between Inner Fire/Will, cause you can change the buff as you need it and it adds depth to the class. But I don't see the benefit of making that choice on a raid wide level.
Kenmoe Mar 30th 2012 4:41AM
I hope they add the search feature to vendors and the mailbox