No real news from test-server Druids that I could find, but this was the best I could do.
Overall, looks like an extremely underwhelming patch.
Edit again: I just used "Paladins Doomed" because most every Paladin is crying reroll at this point. I have no further comments about Paladins than I have had in the future.
Edit: Almost used the NE tag! Mr. Parcelan fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 02:52 AM.
Now he can do so and actually get some use out of it. The improvement to Blood Rage doesn't suck either.Paladin players are talking doom and gloom about this Seal of Command change, but I seriously doubt the class is going to suffer a massive drop in power. It amazes me how so many players (of any class) can be so inflexible that they say the sky is falling when a single ability is weakened (or even just changed). Sentow, Maybe fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 03:07 AM.
I'm Holy spec anyway; maybe I should've played a Priest...
Most Paladins screamed and wailed when Crusader was fixed, as well, so no big deal there.
The Warrior changes look like a nice start, but that's all it is. Heroic Slap is still left pretty useless and Thunder Clap's effect is pretty negligible unless in mass-combat. If you're in mass combat, though, you're usually in Defensive Stance, nullifying Thunder Clap.
Hell, if it's true that SoC can only be resisted and not parried/dodged/whatever, I'm happy about the change.
I've been lucky enough to spend some time on Test over the last few days and have drawn the following conclusions:
Warriors - The changes to warriors do appear underwhelming at first, but they're a step in the right direction for a change...so I'm hopeful it's just a start of things to come. Caydiem's recent interview at WCRadio would seem to indicate this as well.
Paladins - The majority I've come across on Test seem relatively relaxed about their changes (they expected to be hit with the nerf bat at some point). I do hope it forces some of the 'easy mode' Paladins to re-consider their choice of character...diversity is a good thing.
Druids - 
Whilst the *base* DPS of catform hasn't been increased much at all (I still get a higher DPS out of my bearform), the addition of a DD finisher dramatically increases the overall DPS per fight. Barkskin (15s duration, 20% damage reduction, no interrupts to spells via damage *but* +1s casting time to non-instant spells) is helpful in dire situations, especially in conjunction with nature's swiftness (instantly cast your next nature spell). Also, the bearform rage -> health ability (it works on rage generated, not just what you had when you activate the skill), when coupled with both the rage generating ability and the test server modifcations to rage gain, has proved extremely useful: I suddenly have hate? Rejuvination + Bearform + new skill.
New content : Oooh boy. Dire Maul is absolutely fantastic. The wings work in the same way as SM (get a key from the first to proceed to the rest) and are as diverse and interesting as Maraudon. The storyline/quest series is very compelling...that's all I'll say on that.
I've yet to try the two raid encounters, though from what I can gather Azuregos needs a bit of tweaking... (she? was killed on the PVP test server yesterday, where the main tactic involved fighting her close to the graveyard...)
There's also been a number of epic quests added, with at least one involving Azshara.
Anyway that's my take on the patch in its current form. I'm not sure if you have anyone else on the test server, but if not I'd be happy to try and answer any questions or concerns you might have with the changes.
/lurk. Mord fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 06:02 AM.
This is definitely not a fix for Warriors or Druids, but they look like good indicators. I didn't hear Caydiem's interview, so I'll just assume that it was good news.
Any word on Rogues? If the easy mode Paladins change classes, they'll definitely go for Rogues. The entire Alliance side is inundated with them and almost 75% of all Undead are Rogues. Considering that they're currently the undisputed kings of PvP, that could spell horrible news.
quote:
Mr. Parcelan impressed everyone with:
Thanks for the information, Mord.This is definitely not a fix for Warriors or Druids, but they look like good indicators. I didn't hear Caydiem's interview, so I'll just assume that it was good news.
Any word on Rogues? If the easy mode Paladins change classes, they'll definitely go for Rogues. The entire Alliance side is inundated with them and almost 75% of all Undead are Rogues. Considering that they're currently the undisputed kings of PvP, that could spell horrible news.
You whiny hyperbole in every single thread involving WoW classes is becoming tiresome, especially since you play one of the classes who has the easiest time finding an instance / raid group in the entire game and you're getting a decently sized upgrade still. You are vital to every 40+ instance run and raid in existance and people beg you to come online while hordes of rogues and paladins and whatever class you're hating on currently are sitting around LFG, quit crying already, as long as you have a monopoly on high-level tanking your class could involve your groupmates being kicked in the nuts by their computer every time you press taunt and they'd still group with you because you'd still be more useful than some poor-ass hunter and his trained train-pulling platypus. This is not even touching on some specific 2h+crit based warrior builds who can be very good damage dealers if put together correctly.
Rogues are the best single-target damage dealers (even after the SF nerf), which is their job, they are also good soloers, which is rather irrelevant. In group PvP they're not that great, in one on one pvp they are very good, the PvP that will matter (battlegrounds) will most likely not center around being extremely good at killing half-hp warlocks while they are farming raptor claws. If anything we need some better survivability against AE abilities so that we can actually do damage without soaking our healer's mana dry within seconds.
Seriously, take the "EASY mode paladins RUNING alterac BLUE PLZ"-posts back to the Blizz forums, they'd fit in perfectly. Mod fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 08:51 AM.
quote:
Blackened obviously shouldn't have said:
Parcelan: Stop using those horrible forums as your sources for opinions and information. They're practically useless. All people do there is whine and bitch.
Amen 
quote:
Blackened had this to say about Jimmy Carter:
Parcelan: Stop using those horrible forums as your sources for opinions and information. They're practically useless. All people do there is whine and bitch.
Yeah, I liked the guy only a couple posts down the first page:
quote:
I wonder if they consider the psychological effect of putting so much time into a character that starts out as having real potential, but is slowly picked apart until it's not longer fun.
Guess hitting the IWIN button isn't fun anymore.
quote:Saying Paladins have a "WIN" button is both foolish and wrong, showing you really have no clue what effect it has on PvP currently. It should stop.
Delphi Aegis was naked while typing this:
Guess hitting the IWIN button isn't fun anymore.
Blackened fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 11:56 AM.
quote:
We were all impressed when Blackened wrote:
Saying Paladins have a "WIN" button is both foolish and wrong, showing you really have no clue what effect it has on PvP currently. It should stop.
But it's so hip and trendy!
quote:You're right.
Addy wrote this then went back to looking for porn:
But it'sso hip and trendya great excuse for lack of skill and knowledge!
quote:
Blackened had this to say about Optimus Prime:
You're right.
I'm always right.
quote:
When the babel fish was in place, it was apparent Addy said:
I'm always right.
Wrong.
quote:Right.
From the book of Delidgamond, chapter 3, verse 16:
Wrong.
quote:
Addy's account was hax0red to write:
I'm always right.
Hahahahahahahaahahahahahaha
quote:
Blackened had this to say about Duck Tales:
Right.
Any news if they changed shadowcraft's looks? Or is it just devout/wildheart/elements right now?
quote:
Talonus attempted to be funny by writing:
Hahahahahahahaahahahahahaha
I hate you Addy fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 12:05 PM.
quote:
Addy said this about your mom:
I hate you
<smacks Tal for Addy> ^.^
quote:
Addy probably says this to all the girls:
I hate you
You just know I'm right. 
quote:
Verily, Katrinity doth proclaim:
<smacks Tal for Addy> ^.^
We tell each other to die all the time. Nobody gets physical though! Thanks Kat. 
quote:
Talonus got all f'ed up on Angel Dust and wrote:
We tell each other to die all the time. Nobody gets physical though! Thanks Kat.
<hugs Tal and feeds him a special Druid Cookie, fortified with 100 herbs and vitamins!> ^.^
quote:
Katrinity had this to say about Robocop:
<hugs Tal and feeds him a special Druid Cookie, fortified with 100 herbs and vitamins!> ^.^
Oh geez, Kat, you shouldn't have done that. Dammit.
While it's kind of sadf that i won't be seeing the big crits anymore (399 with my Burning War Axe. the random blue drop off a green STV tiger) being able to have more reliable damage so that an 18.3 DPS 1h axe with Righteousness won't blow my 27.7 DPS 2h Axe with Command out of the water DPSwise.
I don't do PvP much so i can't comment too much on that aside from the fact that i think bitching about "OMG ur shield whore!" is going to get worse since i'll have to actually do that more since i won't be able to obliterate any given rogue with a SoC crit.
Oddly, I have yet to need to shield or heal in any duels. All of which have been against people at least 2 levels higher.
quote:
Katrinity stumbled drunkenly to the keyboard and typed:
<hugs Tal and feeds him a special Druid Cookie, fortified with 100 herbs and vitamins!> ^.^
Wee, got to insult Addy AND I got a cookie. WIN!
quote:
Check out the big brain on Addy!
Oh geez, Kat, you shouldn't have done that. Dammit.
<does the same for Addy> 
quote:
Talonus had this to say about Jimmy Carter:
Wee, got to insult Addy AND I got a cookie. WIN!
I lose.
quote:
Mod Model 2000 was programmed to say:
...some poor-ass hunter and his trained train-pulling platypus.
Hey, my pet only ever caused one train and it wasn't my fault. He hit some funky ass pathing in Uldaman while I was trying to deal with a mess of scorpions.
Normally if my pet goes out of control I just feign death and let whatever he pissed off kill him and go back to where they came from.
quote:
Talonus stopped staring at Deedlit long enough to write:
Wee, got to insult Addy AND I got a cookie. WIN!
<smacks Tal again for tricking her> 
quote:
There was much rejoicing when JooJooFlop said this:
Hey, my pet only ever caused one train and it wasn't my fault. He hit some funky ass pathing in Uldaman while I was trying to deal with a mess of scorpions.Normally if my pet goes out of control I just feign death and let whatever he pissed off kill him and go back to where they came from.
Routinely hunters/warlocks are told to kill their pets in certain parts of raids where the pathing sucks or where they need to make a jump. If a pet bugs out in BRS/Strath, it can cause an entire raid wipe easily.
quote:
Katrinity wrote this stupid crap:
<smacks Tal again for tricking her>
I didn't expect a slap or the cookie! She's just manipulating you. Talonus fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 12:26 PM.
quote:
And I was all like 'Oh yeah?' and Talonus was all like:
I didn't expect a slap or the cookie! She's just manipulating you.
I'm hurt.
quote:
Talonus had this to say about Cuba:
I didn't expect a slap or the cookie! She's just manipulating you.
<hugs Tal again> I am so confused! Stop playing with my heart strings you two!
quote:
Katrinity wrote, obviously thinking too hard:
<hugs Tal again> I am so confused! Stop playing with my heart strings you two!
No! I you, I'd never manipulate you, dear. Let's end this confusion and run off, and bake cookies. Together!
quote:
There was much rejoicing when Talonus said this:
Routinely hunters/warlocks are told to kill their pets in certain parts of raids where the pathing sucks or where they need to make a jump. If a pet bugs out in BRS/Strath, it can cause an entire raid wipe easily.
I know to dismiss my pet before I make a jump and where I know pathing is bad, but to know the latter I actually have to experience it since no one ever tells me "Hey, the pathing for pets is bad here."
quote:
Addy had this to say about Robocop:
No! Iyou, I'd never manipulate you, dear.
Let's end this confusion and run off, and bake cookies. Together!
Alright! ^.^
<frolics away with Addy to bake some delicious cookies to share>
quote:
Katrinity wrote, obviously thinking too hard:
<hugs Tal again> I am so confused! Stop playing with my heart strings you two!
Its all Addy. I just laughed at Addy's joke. She wants to hurt me.
quote:
JooJooFlop enlisted the help of an infinite number of monkeys to write:
I know to dismiss my pet before I make a jump and where I know pathing is bad, but to know the latter I actually have to experience it since no one ever tells me "Hey, the pathing for pets is bad here."
Also depends on the raid leader. Some raid leaders prefer no pets period. A lot of hunters use raids as a chance to level up pets since they're not of much use anyway, and that just creates trouble.
Other times the pathing for a pet may be fine 9 times out of 10, and then the 10th time it'll cause a raid wipe. If that happens, you had better apologize ASAP and keep your head down for a few days while folks are angry at you. Your reputation won't recover if you cause a raid wipe on Rend or the Baron because of your pet.
quote:
Blackened got bored and wrote this:
Saying Paladins have a "WIN" button is both foolish and wrong, showing you really have no clue what effect it has on PvP currently. It should stop.
Twelve people attacking one man. Does he die? Nope. Pops a shield and runs off.
I call that a fucking "IWIN" button.
quote:
Delphi Aegis had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
Twelve people attacking one man. Does he die? Nope. Pops a shield and runs off.I call that a fucking "IWIN" button.
YOU SUCK. Blackened fucked around with this message on 03-14-2005 at 12:52 PM.
quote:
Everyone wondered WTF when Delphi Aegis wrote:
Twelve people attacking one man. Does he die? Nope. Pops a shield and runs off.I call that a fucking "IWIN" button.
Wait, how is that "IWIN?" Wouldn't winning mean killing off all those twelve people? 
quote:
Delphi Aegis obviously shouldn't have said:
Twelve people attacking one man. Does he die? Nope. Pops a shield and runs off.I call that a fucking "IWIN" button.
If the paladin pressed a button and killed one of you and ran off, you'd be right, it'd be an "IWIN" button.
People bitch because they see "IMMUNE" and start crying. I'm sorry, but about 95% of my PvP fights end in either my death, or nobody's death. In order for me to survive, there has to be a town within running distance of my invulns' duration.
Paladins are actually pretty weak in 1v1PvP.
Paladins only become valuable when teamed with other classes.
The rate at which we put out damage, and the steadiness of such, tends to give pretty much any class a chance to run away. I'm willing to put money that if you died to a Paladin one on one, it's because you were too stubborn to run when you started losing.
Paladins are an awful class in one versus one PvP. Count the number of times a rogue has jumped out from behind a tree and ganked you and compare it to the number of times a Paladin has done so.
Not the number of times a Paladin has TRIED to do so.
Group PvP is where Paladins shine, because they can serve as a healer in some sense to other classes, while they themselves are a good bit more difficult to kill/distract than other healers. This doesn't carry over into solo PvP obviously.
I'm on a time limit so I won't touch PvE right now.
