Here comes the next content patch (3.2)

[Xeyi]

I will cut you.

My main problem with it is that my hair sticks through the mask.  This always seems to happen though, maybe I should just go bald.

[Dren]

I imagine part of the reason we haven't seen housing in any form yet is they do not think the envy generated by someone having a better house than you will generate more revenue than the costs of the server hardware upgrades and development costs.

It's hard to show off your envy-generating house-bling when it's all instanced. That, and all the people who would be able to program such a huge bolt-on to the main game are elsewhere doing other projects.

The benefit of instanced housing goes beyond envy generation.  I'm now playing Wizard 101 with my kids and just that simple little side-line in the game is enjoyable.  My kiids and I get a kick out of what we can find and how we dress the room up.  I'm saving up for a real house (start out with a dorm) so I can plant my tree!

If they put in a system like FFXI had with certain items giving boosts to certain attributes or having the arrangement of furniture unlocking some kind of buff, etc....  There seriously is a lot there that they are blowing yet there is all this talk about the color of your cat form's hair.  Missing the boat....

[Lantyssa]

Fuck you, Blizzard.

My thoughts, too.

[kildorn]

Are you mad? The Priest t8 helm is one of the worst I have ever seen.

It's actually really pretty, it just doesn't work in the engine. Same thing happened with the T7/oldnaxx shoulders. It's a 2d image on a 3d model that goes all wonky when you rotate your camera.

It's additionally annoying on certain models that it goes down too far and doesn't work with the shapes of the models. Cool concept, looks silly on things it wasn't directly modeled for (humans and orcs, seemingly)

[Mattemeo]

It's actually really pretty, it just doesn't work in the engine. Same thing happened with the T7/oldnaxx shoulders. It's a 2d image on a 3d model that goes all wonky when you rotate your camera.

The magic fairy wings Priest Naxx gear? Yeah, looks good on paper, looks bloody daft in game. I don't get why in this day and age they're slipping in 2D objects into the game and expecting them to work. Last time I looked, we'd moved on from Doom. Either make it a 3D static particle effect (like the Naxx halo in the same damn set) or don't bother at all.

[Ingmar]

Now with hair/skin color matching:



EDIT: Oops, missed Fordel's post. Well, here it is without having to follow a link. 

[kildorn]

That's a lot of half naked cows.

[Koyasha]

It's apparent that Blizzard really believes that their success is largely due to the cool stuff you can get from raiding and others aspiring to get cool stuff.  As long as you have people continually reaching for something (that may be unattainable), they'll continue to pay you money for the honor of doing so.  And a big part they figure is the noticeable appearance of the desirable gear.  I think that they'd honestly equate an appearance tab with a loss in monthly revenue.  As long as something is 100% visible and tied to advancement or grinding, it's important to Blizzard.

That doesn't account for the fact that you'd have to obtain the item before being able to choose it as part of your appearance.  I'm fine with having to get the items I want to appear to be wearing, I'm not fine with statistical upgrades looking worse than something that I already have.

From time to time I've looked at my options for high level armor of a particular class and thought they looked horrible.  This has reduced my motivation to play that class because I know if I ever get good I'll have to wear that ugly stuff.  I should never have a reason to go 'well this is better but if I upgrade I'll look horrible'.

[Khaldun]

The more I look at it, the colder the description of 3.2 leaves me. I feel like my engagement with WoW is a kind of downward spiral with brief, intense periods of stasis. I was having fun with the crazy time sinks of achievements until the Argent Tournament basically threw cold water on my face and said "STUPID MOFO THIS IS NOT FUN" and I was like, "waaah? you're right, it isn't". I was having fun running Naxx with my guild and Naxx-25 with my guild and one other and then Uld came and my guild is basically too casual to do anything beyond the first four (we're working on Assembly of Iron, but we have about eight people who totally can do it and then 15-20 who really can't, and you need ten, really.)  And the other guild we were working with on 25 Naxx doesn't want to do 25-Uld until we have 10-14 people who are good through to Freya or so. So that's kind of done, I think. I like Uld, mind you, but it's not enough to get me to log on a lot. Then pugging for everything else has ground to a halt, so there's no point to looking for OS-25 or Arch-25. Even if a pug forms, it's very very awful because the good players have all gone to ground in raiding guilds, whereas before they were floating around doing that stuff while doing Naxx-25 with their own guilds. I just can't get up the energy to fish for turtle mounts, hunt for other rare things, and so on. I go through this with WoW (and other MMOGs) but it feels sharper and more disaffecting on every expansion when it comes.

I really feel the need for something completely different which is still recognizably a MMO in some way.

[Oz]

So i think i'm one of the few that likes the new model changes to druid forms...but unless i missed something isn't the NE ones tied to hair color and the Tauren ones tied to fur color?  If so, this sucks b/c NE can change their hair color, but Tauren can't change their fur color at the barbershop (i tried yesterday, horn shape, horn color, and beard only).  Seems kinda  to me.

[Sjofn]

They're adding the option for taurens to change their fur color in the druid form patch.

[pxib]

They're adding the option for taurens to change their fur color in the druid form patch.

A full-body dye job from a goblin? Those taurens are brave.

[Simond]

Less painful than a full-body Brazilian, though.

[Mattemeo]

3.2 Mount changes...

Apprentice Riding (Skill 75)

    * 60% land mount speed
    * Requires level 20
    * Cost: 4 gold
    * Mount cost: 1 gold
    * Mail will be sent to players at level 20 guiding them to the riding trainer

Journeyman Riding (Skill 150)

    * 100% land mount speed
    * Requires level 40
    * Cost: 50 gold
    * Mount cost: 10 gold
    * Mail will be sent to players at level 40 guiding them back to the riding trainer

Expert Riding (Skill 225)

    * 150% flying mount speed; 60% land mount speed
    * Requires level 60
    * Cost: 600 gold (faction discounts now apply)
    * Mount Cost: 50 gold
    * Can now be learned in Honor Hold (Alliance) or Thrallmar (Horde)

Artisan Riding (Skill 300)

    * 280% flying mount speed; 100% land mount speed
    * Requires level 70
    * Cost: 5,000 gold (faction discounts now apply)
    * Mount Cost: 100 gold

Cold Weather Flying will remain unchanged.

(information taken from WoW.com)

Uh. Refunds please, Blizz (Yeah, like that'll happen :p)!

Still, economy/wallet woes aside, this is a big boost to QoL for those with altitis (mount speed while questing in Duskwood... Ashenvale... Wetlands...!) and makes Expert Riding viable in Northrend for those who can't muster up 5000g easily

[EDIT = apparently mount casting time is being halved, too. That's a considerable change...]

[Draegan]

My Priest main is almost 40 and I don't have a lot of gold.  This would be awesome if it would servers by the time I hit 60.  Veryvery doubtful though.

[Lantyssa]

Uh. Refunds please, Blizz (Yeah, like that'll happen :p)!

/headdesk

Sorry Mattemeo.  Looks like I could have jumped right to Expert if we had been patient.

I wonder how this will affect Druid/Paladin/Warlock quests.  Will DK's get an upgrade, too?

[Lakov_Sanite]

Uh. Refunds please, Blizz (Yeah, like that'll happen :p)!

/headdesk

Sorry Mattemeo.  Looks like I could have jumped right to Expert if we had been patient.

I wonder how this will affect Druid/Paladin/Warlock quests.  Will DK's get an upgrade, too?

warlocks paladins and druids had the quests taken out several patches ago, they can just train in their mount spells now for a slightly lesser cost than buying them on a vendor.

[Selby]

warlocks paladins and druids had the quests taken out several patches ago, they can just train in their mount spells now for a slightly lesser cost than buying them on a vendor.

Yes they can, but not until 61 for Warlocks & Paladins with epic land riding and 68 for Druids & flying.  Will they move the quests down to the appropriate levels?  I hope so...

[Rendakor]

The quests were not taken out, they are just no longer mandatory. You can still do the quest and recieve your mount and skill that way; I know because one of my guildies drug me to Strath the other day for the Pally one.

[Nevermore]

In 3.2, the following changes will be made to druid movement forms:

Travel Form: Requires level 16
Flight Form: Requires level 60 (150% flight speed)
Swift Flight Form: Requires level 70

[Mattemeo]

Uh. Refunds please, Blizz (Yeah, like that'll happen :p)!

/headdesk

Sorry Mattemeo.  Looks like I could have jumped right to Expert if we had been patient.

I wonder how this will affect Druid/Paladin/Warlock quests.  Will DK's get an upgrade, too?

It's fine, I offered to help and honestly you made better use than I would - I'm like a dragon, I just hoard gold, no idea what to do with it!
And from the looks of what Nevermore just quoted, at least when you hit 60 you'll be able to fly at 150% for free!

[Lantyssa]

You mean when they patch.  I hit 60 which is why you lent me gold.

Thought flight form still had to buy trying though, so it'll be 500 gold again...

[DraconianOne]

The quests were not taken out, they are just no longer mandatory. You can still do the quest and recieve your mount and skill that way; I know because one of my guildies drug me to Strath the other day for the Pally one.

Whether they'll drop the costs of the mats, however, is still a question that remains. Cost me ~300g the other day to get my Paladin's charger. Also, both the 'lock and pally quests require going to level 60 dungeons and pissing around in level 60 zones (Pally needs to go to EPL, Tyr's Hand, Strat. Lock needs to go to Scholo and Mara DM) so don't know how they intend to change that if they do. In a way, I hope not because the final quest for the 'lock dreadsteed in Mara DM is awesome sauce.

EDIT: Got my unvisited old world dungeons confused.

[K9]

Isle of Conquest (BG) Preview.

An island somewhere off the shores of Northrend. A rock, hardly worth a second look. But as insignificant as it may seem, this is no ordinary place. A sound of thunder as waves crash endlessly against rocky cliffs; a sound of fury as swords clash on the blood-stained fields of this island on the edge of forever.

Welcome to the Isle of Conquest.

The ongoing struggle between Horde and Alliance has turned many once peaceful (and some not-so peaceful) places into theaters of constant war. The Isle of Conquest is the latest such place, set to be the location of a battle of epic proportions over the island's precious resources.

An Alliance and a Horde general are fighting for dominance, overseeing the action from the safety of their keeps. Whichever side manages to eliminate the enemy general first will triumph on the island; failure to protect your leader will bring shame, dishonor, and defeat. There is no peace accord here, and it’s an all-out war between the factions.


Once More into the breach...

Isle of Conquest, a new battleground scheduled to make its debut in the upcoming content patch, Call of the Crusade, will pitch teams of up to 40 players against each other in a massive battle over this small island off Northrend's northern coast. To win, your team will need to make use of the island's unique strategic locations including an oil derrick, a siege workshop, and a fully equipped airship hangar. You will deploy devastating siege weaponry on the field; Light have mercy on anyone caught between you and your ultimate target, the general holed up in the enemy keep.

There are five points of interest on the Isle of Conquest for the factions to battle over. Each one offers its own benefits and strategic value. Which one will you claim for your side, and will it be enough to ensure victory?


Capture Locations

Consider your options before storming out of your keep to confront the enemy head-on. Spread throughout the Isle of Conquest are several capturable locations (as seen on the map), each granting a unique strategic advantage to your team.

The Oil Derrick: Located on the northwestern end of the island, this smudge in the Frozen Sea produces enough black gold to run a thousand siege engines. Taking this resource garners precious reinforcements and a continuous flow of honor to the side that controls it.

The Cobalt Mine: This snow-covered assembly, located on the southeastern end of the island, hides untapped supplies that must be harvested. Taking this resource grants reinforcements and a continuous flow of honor to the side that controls it.

The Docks: The western shore's docks will further expand your selection of siege weapons with the devastating new Glaive Thrower and the Catapult. Unleash the destruction of the Glaive Thrower upon the walls of the keep, or launch your invading party over the walls to assault the keep from within.

The Airship Hangar: This sturdy steel structure stands on the peak of Mt. Conquest overlooking the eastern side of the island, allowing players to board the airship docked there. This devastating weapon of war is capable of raining death upon the heads of your enemies and destroying enemy defenses. Once onboard the airship, players will find it comes equipped with parachutes enabling a strike team to drop into the enemy keep from above.

The Siege Workshop: Situated right between the Alliance base and the Horde base, this siege workshop occupies a strategic hot spot. Seizing it grants the controlling party the ability to utilize an arsenal of siege vehicles perfectly suited to reducing the enemy keep’s walls to dust and ashes.

Graveyards: There are five graveyards in the Isle of Conquest that are attached to different points of interest on the map: the Horde base, the Alliance base, an oil spill island in the center of the map (attached to the siege workshop), the northeast corner (attached to the airship hangar), and the southwest corner (attached to the docks).


Main Objectives

The Keeps: The Horde and Alliance keeps sit at opposite ends of the island. These citadels host four easily accessible defensive cannons set on the ramparts, capable of unleashing hot fury onto oncoming attackers. Additional explosives sit safely stowed in the base of the keep along the back wall. At least, they’re safe as long as they don’t fall into enemy hands. If they do, though, they can be employed to bring the stone walls down from within.

The General: Holed up behind the keeps' massive walls, the generals command their forces from a position of relative safety. Should the keep fall and the general be slain, the Isle of Conquest will fall to the victor.

Reinforcements: Isle of Conquest uses a reinforcements system similar to that of Alterac Valley. The clock is ticking and every individual counts. If too many of your comrades fall to the enemy the battle will end in defeat. Killing enemy players will reduce their reinforcements by one for each kill, Once your faction’s reinforcements reach their limit, so too does your bid for control of the island and the wealth of resources you’ve fought so hard over.

An island somewhere off the shores of Northrend. A rock, hardly worth a second look. A test of strength. A chance to prove your might, to crush your enemies, to make a difference, a chance for endless glory and conquest.

Will you seize it?

So, WG meets AV. Personally I think it sounds pretty good. My only worry is that multiple objectives will turn out to be worthless, and it will just be a flat out race; hopefully they will balance it such that the objectives are an incentive to capture.

[Nevermore]

Is that official or the one that's been floating around that's apparently off a WoW Taiwan site?

[Lakov_Sanite]

That's official, on mmo champion atm.

Just as said above, sounds fun if they can keep it from becoming a stale zerg where half the objectives are ignored every fight because capturing them isn't efficient.

[WindupAtheist]

Another BG for the Alliance to lose 80% of the time while everyone runs to the general and stares at him and goes "Who can tank?" I'll probably cancel when my current sub ends.

Also, could they write that shit any douchebaggier? IN A MIGHTY THUNDER OF BLOOD AND ASHES, MIGHTY MIGHTFUL WARRIORS FIGHT OVER A TINY ROCK NO ONE GIVES A MIGHTY FUCK ABOUT! WILL YOU BE THE ONE TO CAPTURE THIS MIGHTY ISLE? YOU'LL BE TRYING EVERYDAY FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS, ODDS SAY YES!

[Lakov_Sanite]

Another BG for the Alliance to lose 80% of the time while everyone runs to the general and stares at him and goes "Who can tank?" I'll probably cancel when my current sub ends.

Also, could they write that shit any douchebaggier? IN A MIGHTY THUNDER OF BLOOD AND ASHES, MIGHTY MIGHTFUL WARRIORS FIGHT OVER A TINY ROCK NO ONE GIVES A MIGHTY FUCK ABOUT! WILL YOU BE THE ONE TO CAPTURE THIS MIGHTY ISLE? YOU'LL BE TRYING EVERYDAY FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS, ODDS SAY YES!

Shitty writing aside, which battlegroup are you in because if you think alliance are losing 80% of the time you can't be on mine.

[Fabricated]

Could be my battlegroup (Bloodlust I think?) because we still get steamrolled constantly in all the current BGs I think.

[Fordel]

Another BG for the Alliance to lose 80% of the time while everyone runs to the general and stares at him and goes "Who can tank?" I'll probably cancel when my current sub ends.

You're a paladin in PvP gear, you could tank!

[Simond]

But his DPS! 

[Mattemeo]

IN A MIGHTY THUNDER OF BLOOD AND ASHES, MIGHTY MIGHTFUL WARRIORS FIGHT OVER A TINY ROCK NO ONE GIVES A MIGHTY FUCK ABOUT! WILL YOU BE THE ONE TO CAPTURE THIS MIGHTY ISLE? YOU'LL BE TRYING EVERYDAY FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS, ODDS SAY YES!

So what you're saying is this BG is in fact a classic Blizzard pop-culture reference to the Falklands war?

[Merusk]

Could be my battlegroup (Bloodlust I think?) because we still get steamrolled constantly in all the current BGs I think.

Could be Rampage as well.  Alliance only win EoTS with any regularity.  WSG and AB are pretty even, and SOA and AV are horde-dominated in their entirety.. you only log in there as Alliance if you need tokens or have a premade.

[Rendakor]

They're adding Epic Gems next patch as well, and upping all other professions to compensate for the buff this gives to blacksmithing.

Sauce

[Fabricated]

They're adding Epic Gems next patch as well, and upping all other professions to compensate for the buff this gives to blacksmithing.

Sauce

Man, I have a JC and this is gonna be expensive. Looks like I'll be running a lot more heroics since Titanium is going to prove to be hard to find.