So far on all the gear, Spell dmg and Healing is converted into 1 stat called “Spellpower” looks like a good idea on paper, but don’t know how its going to play out in PvP/PvE. In PvP some classes will benefit from it more than others (IE. Dreamstate druids will be kinda OP since they will have a lot more +spell dmg than before and will be able to nuke better. ) Every hybrid class will like this a lot in the sense if they need to farm and they usually are holy, they can go shadow and not lose +dmg or +healing and be able to farm like if they have had +dmg gear on *pre wotlk*.

Here is a quote but can’t find the source atm.

“”Spellpower: All items and effects which grant bonuses to spell damage and spell healing are being consolidated into a single stat, Spellpower. This stat will appear with the same values found on items which grant “increased spell damage and healing” such as on typical Mage and Warlock itemization. For classes which do not heal, they should see no change in the character sheet other than new tooltip wording. Healing characters will see their bonus healing numbers on the character sheet decrease, however, all healing spells have been modified to receive more benefit from spellpower than they received from bonus healing, with a net effect of no change to the amount healed by their spells. Some talents have had to be rebalanced to accommodate this change, but the amount healed will remain roughly the same. In addition, some talents will provide only healing spell power.”"

Tags: PvP · News

Update: Big patch today, so far I notice the energy regeneration smoothed down to 1 increment at a time instead of the 20 per tick! Hopefully more talents are working now, will update tomorrow as I check things out.

Summery of what I have experienced personally so far on beta realm as well as video #2 below:

Vimeo decided that they’re lame(and want to make a profit) and no longer supports ‘game videos’ right after their policy of not supporting porn videos(lol) so check comment 1 to download the normal looking version since filefront un-widescreens it.

General: All the new weapons are either faster or equal speed of TBC weapons, not sure if they plan on making the level 80 end game weapons to be even faster than TBC weapons. Instances are really easy right now, most likely cause everyone got purples from 70.

Mages: Frostfire bolt, slows and DoTs you - not so good if you want to sheep right after… Instant cast Arcane Barrage hits you for 2300 isn’t really fun btw.

Shamans: Thunderstorm’s knock back can be countered by Shadowstepping right after (so Intercept should own it as well), Enhancement Shaman hurts like hell and even their Shocks do significant damage.

Shadow Priest: Dispersion can buy valuable seconds for the next Fear as well as block out big DPS moves such as Shadow Dance. Also unlike other immunity moves, you gain a nice sum of mana and hp back in it’s duration (this actually makes a huge difference).

Warriors: 2 2handers = better than 1? I’m sure most will still go back to Mortal Strike + Bloodthirst as long as the games are still won by mostly healing debuffs at 80.

Death Knights: I think I see more ice in these guys than Mages atm. Imagine the insane amount of synergy they’ll have together when both of them have moves that do triple damage on frozen targets and can freeze for each other with ease. High armor targets are also no sweat for DK since they have a good amount of magic DPS. Only thing missing for DK is some sort of healing debuff. Their reversed Shadowstep will also give them an amazing role in Arenas.

Paladins: Everyone’s ret atm 10k 1 shotting things, not much else to say…

Druids: Things are looking pretty good for them, feral still does boat load of DPS while Resto with 1 second GCD on lifebloom is rocking harder than ever, only toped by the new heal Flourish which solves the multi-target healing problem as well as another burst prevention on top of Swiftmend and NS. Did I mention Tree form armor increase and no movement penalty? Expect a lot of ugly trees which you can’t sap running around in arena coming soon in 2009. The relief is that they won’t be getting Feral Charge with it being a 21 point talent.

Some Shadow Dance feedback: Even though it’s amazing for bursting (and much needed vs just about any non-clothie right now), I have the feeling once people are used to dealing with it, a lot of aoe spam deny will happen. Even now, it’s often that I miss out on 1 or 2 of the vanishes just because random aoe move or vanish being broken like usual. It’s also very weak against classes that have on demand damage reduction or immunity, especially the ones that can be used during stun.

You also want to come in to Wotlk with as much AP and as little crit as possible. level 70’s crit rating is garbage once you’re 72 or higher. Same applies to spell damage vs spell crit rating I would imagine.

Spec used in video: http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=f0ecoZZiMsshhRcxoguVo

Tags: Videos · Rogue

Since I went to blizzcon, I was given a key to the beta. I was able to copy my Rogue and Druid over and just started playing yesterday. (The download was 2 gigs, ouch!)
Well pictures speaks a thousand words and a video has plenty of those so let’s check this out:
1. Since I’m bad at leveling I’m still 70 at the time I made the video. At 71 with relentless strike, the build would be much stronger.
2. Mainly trying to show 51 subtlety with daggers as a viable spec, the other 2 51 points are still broken so not much to show there… I believe the ability to get 45 Energy Backstab/Ambush made a huge difference. (keep in mind I don’t have relentless strike or ruthlessness yet)

Original size was widescreen, see comment 1 for download link.

Here’s the spec used in video: http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=f0xfZZAMcshhR0xstuVo

Tags: Videos · Rogue

-  Shatter Shield  ( Trained )

Instantly shields you, absorbing 2000 Physical damage. Lasts 1 min. When the shield is destroyed, all enemies within 10 yards are frozen for 8 sec.
(1200 Mana, Instant, 30 sec CD)

I’m not sure this will make it out of beta the way it is . Most likely i see the CD going to 2 to 3 min. Seems over powered on a 30 second cd. Amazing ability for mages freezing every target in 10 yards and absorbing 2k damage.

- Deep Freeze  ( Frost Talent )

Stuns the target for 5 sec. Only usable on Frozen targets.
(1 Rank, 1.5 sec, 30 sec Cooldown)

This is 51 point talent in the frost tree. Stunning the target gives mages yet another cc. I just dont see many going that far. I’m sure most will pick up improved counterspell, improved blink and presence of mind in the arcane tree.

- Improved Water Elemental  ( frost talent )

Increases the duration of your Summon Water Elemental spell by 5/10/15 sec and increases the total health and mana of your water elemental by 10/20/30%.

Not sure how any mage can pass this up longer life equals more damage. Looks like 95 percent of all the mages will still be frost mages in wotlk. I just dont see anything in the other trees to make the switch worth it.

Tags: PvP · News

Each day i will try to write an article on upcoming changes in Wotlk to each class, and how i think the new ability or new talent can help this class in pvp.  Everyone jump in on the discussion and  put your two cents in . Remember of course all of this can change as its just beta. The abilities and talents i discuss are the ones i see as game changing to the class.

Shaman

 - Hex     (Trained ability)

Transforms the enemy into a random critter, reducing the target’s movement speed by 75%. While moving, the hexed target cannot attack or cast spells. Only one target can be hexed at a time. Only works on Humanoids and Beasts.
(0.5 sec Cast, 1 min Cooldown, 20 yd Range)

Wow a crowd control for shamans i dont see how this can do anything but help shamans.

- Astral Shift     (elemental talent) 

When stunned, feared or silenced you shift into the Astral Plane reducing all damage taken by 10/20/30% for the duration of the stun, fear or silence effect.

Taking less damage can only help your survivability.

- Thunder Storm    (elemental talent)

You call down a bolt of lightning, energizing you and damaging nearby enemies within 10 yards. Restores 5% mana to you and deals 595 to 679 Nature damage to all nearby enemies, knocking them back 20 yards.
Instant, 45 sec cooldown

This is at the bottom of the elemental talent tree but gives them another escape. Knocking all nearby enemies 20 yards will give them the extra second they need to get away.

- Ancestral Awakening  (Restoration Talent)

When you critically heal with your Healing Wave or Lesser Healing Wave, you summon an Ancestral spirit to aid you, instantly healing the lowest health friendly party or raid target within 40 yards for 20/40/60% of the amount healed.

This  kinda gives shamans an instant heal but in order for it to fire well they have to have a crit. heal .

- Tidal Waves  (Restoration talent)

You have a 20/40/60/80/100% chance after you cast Chain Heal to lower the cast time of your next two Lesser Healing Wave or Healing Wave spells by 30%, and your Healing Wave and Lesser Healing Wave spells gain an additional 25% of your bonus healing effects.

Interesting

- Spirit Link  (Restoration Talent)You link the friendly target with up to two nearby friendly targets, causing 50% of any damage taken to be distributed to the linked targets. If any target takes a blow greater than 30% of their health, or shared damage would reduce a target’s health below 20%, the link is broken. You can only have one link active at a time

I’m not sure what to think about this one yet .

Tags: PvP · News