5 months is a pretty reasonable amount of time. After that it gets a tad drab.
It's only fair that the great guilds are going to get The Cutting Edge.
World of Warcraft |OT4| "Why do we keep playing? It is simply in our nature."
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5 months is a pretty reasonable amount of time. After that it gets a tad drab.
It's only fair that the great guilds are going to get The Cutting Edge.
Trickster
Member
Let's be honest here though, blizzard gated the shit out of the content, took almost 2 months before terrace was made available. I don't think anyone will argue that was not done to artificially lengthen the content.
However I think it's very positive that blizzard seems to be doing a good job getting content out this expansion.
2 months is a bit pushing it, wasn't even a month and a half really. That said the more important thing to note is Blizzard gave basically 4 months to clear heroic hof/terrace. I think that might be a tad on the short side for "middle-tier" guilds, but, just barely. For me I think 5 months is about right. Still, vaults existed before that and it's not like most "middle-tier" guilds was done with that by the time hof came out anyway.
However, personally I am glad the patch is coming, the "newness" of 5.1 has been gone for a while now, it feels really old at this point and I want some new stuff to do. I almost wish they would have added another small patch in the middle of January or so. I finished up 5.1 stuff at the end of December (minus a few more brawler guild fights I've been dragging my feet to do) and I was pretty slow with it. I would have not been opposed to another gated story like the shieldwall/dominance one that introduces us to the new raid and then a couple new scenarios or something. Wouldn't even have to be a daily hub either, I'd be cool with some random NPC I talk to every couple of days to do another step of the story.
BriareosGAF
Member
Yeah I'm a little surprised by the ilvl bump being so large, you'd think they could just extend the content, giving everyone more chances on marginally higher ilvl, somewhat like ToS vs HoF. Not a big deal either way, I still don't have my tupping Elegon trinket drop.
Trickster
Member
MoP came out september 25th, terrace unlocked november 13th. That's more than 1½ month.
The gating has done two things to lengthen content. It's delayed how fast people were able to get gear, and it's given players less time to learn the bosses.
I think it's quite a joke that normal mode gear will be higher ilvl than fully upgraded heroic gear from HoF and ToES. Lfr gear being equivelant to heroic MSV is also stupid as hell. Just make it ilvl 500 or something.
That's only true if you choose to ignore vaults. The sorts of guilds we're talking about were not done with heroic vaults by the time heart of fear came out, it's not like there was nothing to do. Yes they had less time to learn the 4 bosses in terrace but that would barely be different if this tier was just 1 big raid with 16 bosses in it. By the time most guilds like this would be seriously attempting the later harder bosses we would be a few months into the tier.
Look back to heroic Ulduar, none of that raid was gated and it took months for the average guild to actually get to a point where they were seriously attempting stuff like heroic Mimiron.
Still though, if you want to ignore all that and focus entirely on Terrace, Blizzard has given players close to 4 months to clear an instance that is only 4 bosses long and has next to no trash, that is more than enough time for that one raid.
I just hit 87 and discovered farming in Valley of the Four Winds. I'm going to become hooked to this, I know it. It's Runescape / Harvest Moon all over again.
Oh, and if anyone uses Raptr, they're going to be giving away free Alliance / Horde shirts for Xbox Avatars on Thursday.
Trickster
Member
If all 3 raids had been available at the start, people would have had 16 bosses to get gear from each week, rather than 6.
And yes, most guilds didn't have MSV heroic cleared when HoF came out. But again, all heroics progress would have been faster if people had better gear due to 16 bosses being available each week.
Guilds would also have had bigger freedom to choose what bosses to attempt on heroic.
Carpe Libertatem
Member
How is PvP right now, specifically for Discipline Priests? I haven't seriously played either arena or battlegrounds since WotLK. I'm used to being pretty terrible at mana and getting rushed by a Warrior every game, so if there's any changes at all (especially in regards to mana) that would be helpful to know.
I played casually in Cataclysm, meaning just random battlegrounds and occasional arena (I never got up to where I was in WotLK, though). I've already leveled to 90 in MoP and thought the leveling content was absolutely phenomenal. Did like the first LFR and stopped because of university. Thinking about picking the game up again this summer for casual PvP with some of my old arena partners. The new battlegrounds sound pretty cool, too - I enjoyed what I played of Twin Peaks and Battle for Gilneas (at least compared to SotA and IoC). I'm a WSG/AB kinda guy (more so the former), so not sure how the new ones compare.
I played casually in Cataclysm, meaning just random battlegrounds and occasional arena (I never got up to where I was in WotLK, though). I've already leveled to 90 in MoP and thought the leveling content was absolutely phenomenal. Did like the first LFR and stopped because of university. Thinking about picking the game up again this summer for casual PvP with some of my old arena partners. The new battlegrounds sound pretty cool, too - I enjoyed what I played of Twin Peaks and Battle for Gilneas (at least compared to SotA and IoC). I'm a WSG/AB kinda guy (more so the former), so not sure how the new ones compare.
Chie Satonaka
Member
Yeah, so I've been going to MSV every week for the past two months. We finally down Elegon, no trinket. Week after, no trinket. This week, we did it for the hell of it. Trinket drops. Monk who's been 90 for two weeks wins the roll.
Fuck Elegon, fuck MSV. The sooner 5.2 gets here, the better.
I'm sure he'll outroll me on loot then, too. 
Chie Satonaka
Member
I won't disagree, but that's how they do things, so, whatever.
It's frustrating, but 5.2 is in two weeks.
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/7909111142#1
Keep your valor for 5.2 after all!
Makes sense, since they're not converting the current valor items to justice points.
Keep your valor for 5.2 after all!
Makes sense, since they're not converting the current valor items to justice points.
Sir Abacus
Member
The problem has never been Blizzard getting the first bit of content out the door. Firelands was out the door in seven months, Naxx to Ulduar was five months, Ulduar to ToC was less than four months.
The problem that Blizzard have consistently had, and which bleeds them dry, is two fold:
1) End of expansion is just doldrums. It's a holding pattern of non-stop farming for at best case 8 months, at worst the better part of a year. It's just a shit time to be a WoW player with the content tap shut off for an entire year.
2) Blizzard has this habit of making content irrelevant by releasing new tiers. Since normal mode new tier is typically better than old tier heroic there is absolutely no reason for a guild to stick around in old shitty when new hotness is there and has new fights along with better loot.
The first content drops have become much faster but the doldrums haven't improved. If we're stuck in SoO for the better part of a year or, worse still, it's a fucking terrible raid instance and we're stuck in it for the better part of a year, it's not going to be pretty. Blizzard would be wise to remember this but since they've done it twice already I don't really expect them to.
There are so many terrific ways to extend raid content and make it more challenging. But there's been absolutely no innovation in this area besides Thunderforging which is just making RNG even more frustrating.
Chie Satonaka
Member
Wait...
Is there even anything you can buy that isn't tied to faction with valor in 5.2 anyway?
I haven't been paying super close attention, so I might have missed something.
Is there even anything you can buy that isn't tied to faction with valor in 5.2 anyway?
I haven't been paying super close attention, so I might have missed something.
Sir Abacus
Member
There's a 522 neck and a trinket available at Shado-Pan Assault neutral for 3000 VP. One would be advised to stock up on valor and buy them the day 5.2 lands.
Otherwise, yes, everything valor is tied to faction in MoP.
Otherwise, yes, everything valor is tied to faction in MoP.
Finaika
Member
Nooooooooo!!!
Chie Satonaka
Member
Killer. Thanks for this!
Are you sure? I thought the Shado-Pan Assault was only tied to rep, not valor?
Shado-Pan Assault has only valor gear which is tied to rep.
Sunreaver/Kirin Tor have gear tied to rep, and gear tied to valor. There's 476 gear you can buy for gold, and 496 gear you can buy with valor (these were just added).
Finally got the Sky Mirror vanity item. Hooray! Now to do super damage in tree or bear form on my DK. If no druids in group... drop group!
Sunreaver/Kirin Tor have gear tied to rep, and gear tied to valor. There's 476 gear you can buy for gold, and 496 gear you can buy with valor (these were just added).
Finally got the Sky Mirror vanity item. Hooray! Now to do super damage in tree or bear form on my DK. If no druids in group... drop group!
Few very unlucky months have completely turned around in the last week, guess I'll keep my sub for a while!
1. Drake of West Wind from Tol Barad (couple of months of dailies as we never hold TB on my server)
2. Vial of Sands - finally saved up the 30k required to buy
3. Raven Lord mount (66 attempts!)
4. Onyxia mount (~5 attempts) I literally sat looking at my screen for a full minute as my brain couldn't take it in. Not expected at all considering the drop rate. I had to triple check that it wasn't a pet that I didn't know about.
5. Crackling dagger and Sha touched dagger from LFR (same run!) - I'm not quite there yet for normal mode
All in all, great week or so. Hopefully some of you guys who have had varying levels of luck are rewarded in the same way.
(Don't mean to brag, guild didn't seem to care so just wanted to tell someone)
1. Drake of West Wind from Tol Barad (couple of months of dailies as we never hold TB on my server)
2. Vial of Sands - finally saved up the 30k required to buy
3. Raven Lord mount (66 attempts!)
4. Onyxia mount (~5 attempts) I literally sat looking at my screen for a full minute as my brain couldn't take it in. Not expected at all considering the drop rate. I had to triple check that it wasn't a pet that I didn't know about.
5. Crackling dagger and Sha touched dagger from LFR (same run!) - I'm not quite there yet for normal mode
All in all, great week or so. Hopefully some of you guys who have had varying levels of luck are rewarded in the same way.
(Don't mean to brag, guild didn't seem to care so just wanted to tell someone)
Congrats! I am very jealous.
I still cannot decide wether I was really lucky for having two Warglaives drop in two weeks or very unlucky as it was the main hand both times.
In the end it was a sad day leaving Illidans dead body with a Glaive on him.
Thank you!
Sounds pretty lucky to me! No matter how drop rates have changed or whether we are now able to farm older content I still get the same feeling as if the item had dropped back when it was current content - keeps things fun for me otherwise it would just feel like a tick in a box.
Know the feeling of leaving something like that behind, it hurts.
Sounds pretty lucky to me! No matter how drop rates have changed or whether we are now able to farm older content I still get the same feeling as if the item had dropped back when it was current content - keeps things fun for me otherwise it would just feel like a tick in a box.
Know the feeling of leaving something like that behind, it hurts.
BriareosGAF
Member
Yeah, so I've been going to MSV every week for the past two months. We finally down Elegon, no trinket. Week after, no trinket. This week, we did it for the hell of it. Trinket drops. Monk who's been 90 for two weeks wins the roll.
Fuck Elegon, fuck MSV. The sooner 5.2 gets here, the better.
I'm sure he'll outroll me on loot then, too.
Two girdles from him, one on regular drop one on bonus roll. I'm dying here. F that guy.
RepairmanJack
Member
Damn, the sale on MoP is making me think about jumping back in. Damn you Blizzard.
The Lamonster
Member
Hi All,
I'm fairly new to WoW; have only been playing since the start of Cata, and I guess I fall into that very casual player category. I'm not comfortable doing dungeons with strangers and am fine with only seeing that content when I'm well overleveled and can solo the instances (or handle them with one or two friends). Now I'm in a guild with 4 like-minded friends & friends of friends, all at lvl 90, and am super excited that I can finally experience some of Pandaria's dungeons now.
I'm not used to paying attention to gear or stats so I don't know how much of a difference proper gear can make (although I'm slowly learning just from personal experience). I also know that ilvl doesn't necessarily correlate to skill level, and I'm certainly not trying to turn our little guild into a "must have ilvl ###" kind of place.
That said, we have a very skilled player, a Death Knight, who's still in quest greens and blues with some Contender's Spirit plate. I have a blacksmith who could make him the Contender's Revenant armor (as well as the purple chest and gloves once my alchemist makes more living steel). Since, as a group, we only have a couple of hours on the weekends to try to do a dungeon, I'm thinking that the better geared we are, the better our chances of success within that time window. We did Shado-Pan Monestary last weekend and tried twice to get past Taran Zhu and then had to call it quits. We're slow; we're casual. Don't mock us! ;-)
Two questions: Will switching the Contender's Spirit plate for Revenant make a noticeable difference for a Blood DK? Also, he's currently using a 2 handed green quest sword. Can DKs use a 2 handed axe, like Master Spiritwork Decimator (or something else that my blacksmith might be able to make)? And any thoughts on how to approach the subject without causing offense? Dude is a seriously nice guy, so I don't want to be, like, "Here, wear this."
Ok, that was three questions. Any and all guidance much appreciated.
I'm fairly new to WoW; have only been playing since the start of Cata, and I guess I fall into that very casual player category. I'm not comfortable doing dungeons with strangers and am fine with only seeing that content when I'm well overleveled and can solo the instances (or handle them with one or two friends). Now I'm in a guild with 4 like-minded friends & friends of friends, all at lvl 90, and am super excited that I can finally experience some of Pandaria's dungeons now.
I'm not used to paying attention to gear or stats so I don't know how much of a difference proper gear can make (although I'm slowly learning just from personal experience). I also know that ilvl doesn't necessarily correlate to skill level, and I'm certainly not trying to turn our little guild into a "must have ilvl ###" kind of place.
That said, we have a very skilled player, a Death Knight, who's still in quest greens and blues with some Contender's Spirit plate. I have a blacksmith who could make him the Contender's Revenant armor (as well as the purple chest and gloves once my alchemist makes more living steel). Since, as a group, we only have a couple of hours on the weekends to try to do a dungeon, I'm thinking that the better geared we are, the better our chances of success within that time window. We did Shado-Pan Monestary last weekend and tried twice to get past Taran Zhu and then had to call it quits. We're slow; we're casual. Don't mock us! ;-)
Two questions: Will switching the Contender's Spirit plate for Revenant make a noticeable difference for a Blood DK? Also, he's currently using a 2 handed green quest sword. Can DKs use a 2 handed axe, like Master Spiritwork Decimator (or something else that my blacksmith might be able to make)? And any thoughts on how to approach the subject without causing offense? Dude is a seriously nice guy, so I don't want to be, like, "Here, wear this."
Ok, that was three questions. Any and all guidance much appreciated.
Oof.
1. DKs have absolutely zero use for caster stats such as int and spirit. Switching it for something with melee stats would absolutely be an improvement in every aspect.
2. DKs can use 2 handed Axes, Maces and Swords which are typically reserved for melee in itemization. He might have a preference for one depending on his race and an expertise bonus, but it doesn't matter all that much, as long as the item is an upgrade. If you can make him the masterwork axe it'd be an improvement over almost any questing item.
2b. Blood in particular uses 2-handed weapons and they're the only plate tank to do so. Death Knights can dual-wield, but only Frost is supposed to.
3. As for that, I couldn't tell you. Wearing proper gear will make a HUGE difference, even if it's not the best, but upgrades are always nice. Teaching him what you're learning about his class, even just opening up with "Hey, I was doing some reading online..." might work, but it all varies from person to person!
1. DKs have absolutely zero use for caster stats such as int and spirit. Switching it for something with melee stats would absolutely be an improvement in every aspect.
2. DKs can use 2 handed Axes, Maces and Swords which are typically reserved for melee in itemization. He might have a preference for one depending on his race and an expertise bonus, but it doesn't matter all that much, as long as the item is an upgrade. If you can make him the masterwork axe it'd be an improvement over almost any questing item.
2b. Blood in particular uses 2-handed weapons and they're the only plate tank to do so. Death Knights can dual-wield, but only Frost is supposed to.
3. As for that, I couldn't tell you. Wearing proper gear will make a HUGE difference, even if it's not the best, but upgrades are always nice. Teaching him what you're learning about his class, even just opening up with "Hey, I was doing some reading online..." might work, but it all varies from person to person!
He's a Worgen. Not sure if that factors in.
I can definitely frame it in this context, especially since I have a lvl 60 DK that I'd actually like to learn to play at some point so the character can have a function other than bank alt.
Thanks much!
Worgen have a crit bonus rather than a expertise bonus, so he'll have no preference about weapon type.
Anoregon
The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
Adding to what Bero said, I think the best way to approach getting your DK buddy learned up good and proper is from the standpoint of "hey, I read about X Y and Z things that might make things better/easier/cooler for you." Everyone wants to feel badass, after all. Going from totally inappropriate gear to gear that specifically caters to his class/spec should immediately make him see bigger damage numbers or noticeable defensive bonuses, which always feels good. Getting better is essentially it's own reward in that respect, so I doubt you should have much to worry about from the standpoint of pushback/resistance.
Also, it would probably behoove you to understand how and why Item A sucks for him while Item B rocks, so that you can effectively explain "spirit does not provide any benefit to you at all, while every point of strength increases your damage and ability to hold aggro on monsters" (since blood is tank spec).
Also, it would probably behoove you to understand how and why Item A sucks for him while Item B rocks, so that you can effectively explain "spirit does not provide any benefit to you at all, while every point of strength increases your damage and ability to hold aggro on monsters" (since blood is tank spec).
Aye, learned this the hard way with my paladin. I play the dps spec, but I was thinking of my pally as a caster and using spirit/intell plate. Coming from a hunter/warlock/rogue background, the sort-of-melee, sort-of-caster feel of paladin confused me. (I'm slow, but I'm learning.) Switched my pally to str plate at the suggestion of a friend and noticed a huge difference right away. All of a sudden, it didn't take me ages to kill something. Genius!
Deputy Moonman
Member
Tonight I become exalted with the Hydraxian Waterlords. What a painfully slow rep grind, especially with all my subscription breaks. Tomorrow I hit exalted with the Celestials. It will be nice to have the majority of my rep grinds out of the way. But I didn't realize the Klaxxi have an exalted rep questline similar to the shado-pan that awards an epic ring for completion. I've been needing to replace my blue heroic ring for a while now and had no idea about the quest-line. Now I have to go back and figure out the quests that i never finished in the Dread Wastes, so that the quest-line will show up.
Also, I finally got the companion Chuck from the Shattrath fishing daily. It should not take 2 years to get that after getting the other 3 fairly quickly..... So dumb. I can't remember the last time i had a rare anything drop within the actual estimated percent chance drop rate. I'm still remembering killing over 4000 dark whelplings just for one when other people have gotten like 4 in 1000 kills. This game hates me. And still no Raven Lord mount. When that finally drops it will feel so unsatisfying and irrelevant.
EDIT: Honestly, land mounts feel so irrelevant. They are only used at the beginning of new expansions and when afk'ing in a home city. They need to just make all mounts flyable. Add a vendor or npc who can upgrade your pets for a price or a quest-line or something. I want my flying camel dangit. If the shado-pan riding tigers were able to fly, i'd use nothing else, ever.
Also, I finally got the companion Chuck from the Shattrath fishing daily. It should not take 2 years to get that after getting the other 3 fairly quickly..... So dumb. I can't remember the last time i had a rare anything drop within the actual estimated percent chance drop rate. I'm still remembering killing over 4000 dark whelplings just for one when other people have gotten like 4 in 1000 kills. This game hates me. And still no Raven Lord mount. When that finally drops it will feel so unsatisfying and irrelevant.
EDIT: Honestly, land mounts feel so irrelevant. They are only used at the beginning of new expansions and when afk'ing in a home city. They need to just make all mounts flyable. Add a vendor or npc who can upgrade your pets for a price or a quest-line or something. I want my flying camel dangit. If the shado-pan riding tigers were able to fly, i'd use nothing else, ever.
The Lamonster
Member
100% agree. I wish my Dreadsteed could fly. It would make the hurt of not having the Horseman's Reins much less painful
Pretty sure this is part of the reason why Thunder Isle and the Isle of Giants don't allow flying. There's always somewhere for ground mounts to be relevant at least.
eudaemonic
Member
Deputy Moonman
Member
Ah that's true. I guess it's been a while since I've leveled a new toon. Didn't think about that. But, at max-level, it is a bit sad to see most of your land mounts collect dust. Thunder Isle is a good addition. Kind of reminds me of the Isle of Quel'danas. Probably what blizzard was going for anyway.Like when you start up a new character.
keeblerdrow
Member
Is there a viable way to gear up a character for raiding in 5.2 without having to do a single daily quest? I hate dailies more than anything else in the game but I like raiding. Can I do one without the other?
Well you can do heroic dungeons to get yourself a full set of 463 gear which will then let you queue up for LFR. From there you can get gear in 476-483 range. You need 480 to entire the 5.2 LFR. It's entirely possible to do this quickly but you are relying on a lot of luck...
Trickster
Member
You might get geared to be able to hit the 480 ilvl requirement to do lfr by doing current lfr and buying/crafting gear. But if you want to raid properly with a guild. you probably can't get geared properly in time for 5.2. You'd probably need over 490 ilvl for most guilds to accept you
I honestly spend more time on ground mounts than flying mounts, I don't see a reason to use a flying mount in town unless I'm in a hurry or something, and, I think a large portion of the flying mounts in the game aren't as cool looking as a lot of the ground mounts. I actually prefer flight paths to flying mounts nowadays a lot too, kinda nice to kick back and browse the internet as the game takes me somewhere.
I'm glad that the trinket that turns you into a troll for strength users appears to be BiS for 2h Frost, and my other BiS trinket is from valor vendor since I don't raid. Hooray for one less item to rely on RNG for! I'm a little disappointed there's no Mastery caster trinket, and far too many crit related ones.
Finally got the damn Sha Gun to drop last night! WOO!
Was finally able to take that +500 Agility gem out of the bank and use it.
Just gotta finish the 6k VP quest now.
It's viable, but don't expect it to be fast. I imagine it'll get quicker in 5.2 when the drop rate increases for the 5.0 LFR Raids.
If you're talking about doing Normal mode and beyond, I imagine they'll want you in 489+ gear at the very least. (Probably higher, but who knows.)
5.2 LFR right now appears to have ilvl 502 gear, Normal has 522, and Heroic 535-541.
They can also use Spears/Polearms, though there's a lack of good Strength Spears right now...
Was finally able to take that +500 Agility gem out of the bank and use it.
Just gotta finish the 6k VP quest now.
It's viable, but don't expect it to be fast. I imagine it'll get quicker in 5.2 when the drop rate increases for the 5.0 LFR Raids.
If you're talking about doing Normal mode and beyond, I imagine they'll want you in 489+ gear at the very least. (Probably higher, but who knows.)
5.2 LFR right now appears to have ilvl 502 gear, Normal has 522, and Heroic 535-541.
They can also use Spears/Polearms, though there's a lack of good Strength Spears right now...
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