-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
World of Warcraft
- Thread starter Cerebral Palsy
- Start date
- Status
One other thing I forgot is the removal of fire nova totem and the replacement with a regular old fire nova spell. Yet another decent aoe for elemental shamans to cast, especially if they get to drop searing/magma totem at range.
Just as an example of possible talent changes, without knowing really how all the new cataclysm talents will work, a cookie-cutter elemental build (possibly outdated, but I don't think so and I don't want to wade through google to find a new one) right now is like this: http://www.wowhead.com/talent#hEh0qcdItGfzAo0xxco:MbpoMz
With the cataclysm changes, 5 points from Concussion are freed up, Lightning overload might be gone (because it's the new passive mastery bonus and also applies to lava burst) and Thundering strikes from enhance is also going to be gone. So that's at least 10 points, more likely 13, free to spend on utility skills that are actually pretty awesome but don't provide a pve/dps advantage like Astral shift, Reverberation, Elemental warding, Improved shields (it also increases the mp5 from the spell) and so on.
Resto is similar. They will probably gain another 5+ points from the current build that they can spend on cool but not so useful talents like Nature's guardian or Improved reincarnation (if that still exists in cataclysm) or Shamanistic focus (I've heard they are working in a kind of holy paladin-esque gimmick where using a shock will empower a resto shaman's healing for several seconds) and so on.
The one area where I am still concerned is enhance, because 1) dual wield and parry shouldn't be talents (just give it to the class by default because it won't break them in any way, they are already designed around dual wield dps for melee and it's impossible to dual wield caster stuff for elemental/resto, and the parry nerf will amount to a zero-sum survivability change for resto/ele in anything but solo/5 man content) and 2) it will be getting gutted and redone almost entirely in cataclysm. Just look at the talents - nearly all of them are the type blizzard's doing away with (passive crit increases, buff increases). This either means enhance becomes awesome or it becomes a serious work in progress that will take a lot of patches to fix. So in my case, my shaman's healing spec is looking like it will be even more awesome in cataclysm. But I have to decide what to do with my dps spec, based upon which one I like more. I almost wish there was a tri-spec so I could have all three and change whenever I want, although really I can just respec ele if I want to change my dps spec and not have to worry about gear that much.
Just as an example of possible talent changes, without knowing really how all the new cataclysm talents will work, a cookie-cutter elemental build (possibly outdated, but I don't think so and I don't want to wade through google to find a new one) right now is like this: http://www.wowhead.com/talent#hEh0qcdItGfzAo0xxco:MbpoMz
With the cataclysm changes, 5 points from Concussion are freed up, Lightning overload might be gone (because it's the new passive mastery bonus and also applies to lava burst) and Thundering strikes from enhance is also going to be gone. So that's at least 10 points, more likely 13, free to spend on utility skills that are actually pretty awesome but don't provide a pve/dps advantage like Astral shift, Reverberation, Elemental warding, Improved shields (it also increases the mp5 from the spell) and so on.
Resto is similar. They will probably gain another 5+ points from the current build that they can spend on cool but not so useful talents like Nature's guardian or Improved reincarnation (if that still exists in cataclysm) or Shamanistic focus (I've heard they are working in a kind of holy paladin-esque gimmick where using a shock will empower a resto shaman's healing for several seconds) and so on.
The one area where I am still concerned is enhance, because 1) dual wield and parry shouldn't be talents (just give it to the class by default because it won't break them in any way, they are already designed around dual wield dps for melee and it's impossible to dual wield caster stuff for elemental/resto, and the parry nerf will amount to a zero-sum survivability change for resto/ele in anything but solo/5 man content) and 2) it will be getting gutted and redone almost entirely in cataclysm. Just look at the talents - nearly all of them are the type blizzard's doing away with (passive crit increases, buff increases). This either means enhance becomes awesome or it becomes a serious work in progress that will take a lot of patches to fix. So in my case, my shaman's healing spec is looking like it will be even more awesome in cataclysm. But I have to decide what to do with my dps spec, based upon which one I like more. I almost wish there was a tri-spec so I could have all three and change whenever I want, although really I can just respec ele if I want to change my dps spec and not have to worry about gear that much.
I wrote up the changes to shaman talents based on the leaked trees from a while back somewhere.
Ah, here it is.
Clearly unfinished, but that'll give you something to chew on.
edit: One interesting bit that isn't mentioned there is that Dual Wield was moved up to the 21-point spot. Which is primarily nice for Enhance, but I can't help but wonder how the theorycrafting will work out to toss a spellpower enchant and Flametongue/Earthliving on a melee dps offhand for the caster trees instead of using a shield. And how quickly Blizzard will nerf it.
Ah, here it is.
Clearly unfinished, but that'll give you something to chew on.
edit: One interesting bit that isn't mentioned there is that Dual Wield was moved up to the 21-point spot. Which is primarily nice for Enhance, but I can't help but wonder how the theorycrafting will work out to toss a spellpower enchant and Flametongue/Earthliving on a melee dps offhand for the caster trees instead of using a shield. And how quickly Blizzard will nerf it.
Well, I read somewhere that static shock no longer consumes lightening shields. That's a good first step, but they need to do more the clear up enhancement's convoluted dps rotation; especially since unleashed weapon is going to be in the mix now. They also need to increase the damage from abilities so they matter more in enhancement's overall dps. As it is now, ~70% of the overall damage comes from effects the player has no control over (random procs, autoattack, etc.). That would also help in pvp (having more reliable damage), but they have survivability issues that also need to be addressed in that arena.
Resto is getting some awesome additions. All three of the new abilities will be useful in some form. I'm seriously considering playing as one come expansion time.
I don't mess around with Elemental much to comment, but having an AOE they can cast without having to run into melee range is a plus.
Resto is getting some awesome additions. All three of the new abilities will be useful in some form. I'm seriously considering playing as one come expansion time.
I don't mess around with Elemental much to comment, but having an AOE they can cast without having to run into melee range is a plus.
It won't be worth it because there are almost no dual wieldable caster weapons, except for I think one or two weapons from the CoT Hyjal raid. Which are obviously going to be useless by level 80, much less 85. Unless I'm missing something that happened around the time of the 3.0 patch, but I could have sworn all caster weapons are designated as main hand.Sciz said:
Yeah, I know. The question is whether or not an enchant+imbue is more useful than an enchanted shield, even on a physical dps weapon. I don't seriously expect it to survive to live or to last long there if it does, but it's an interesting quirk that's currently viable.firex said:
Earthquake is interesting. It's more like Magma Totem in being fire-and-forget unlike every other channeled aoe in the game, and consequently there's still plenty of time to run in, drop MT, and start using FN, CL, and FS like normal before the cooldown is back up. It'll be a massive mana drain, but an elemental who uses every available ability is going to do absolutely ridiculous damage.falastini said:
Oni Link 666
Member
Has there been any talk of improving the Druid UI? Specifically the cat form UI? They could really use a stealth bar and a real stealth button like Rogues. I'm leveling a feral druid and that's my biggest problem with them.
Oh yeah, I didn't think of it like that. I'm pretty sure it won't be an issue, but I also have a feeling the base FT/EL weapon buffs will be changed a little bit to reflect the int->spell power conversion. Even if they aren't, they will probably come up with a different solution for shamans instead of moving dual wield back down to 31 points.
This actually makes me think that enhance would be better served just sticking with 2h and using druid staves/maces and the occasional hunter axe (for orcs) by design, though. Although I'm almost positive they went to dual wield so they could up shaman dps without having to nerf/break the WF buff, since lucky WF triple crits were part of the popular shaman hate in classic WoW. I wonder now if slow/slow will still be best for shaman? I'm guessing yes because the lava lash change just reinforces it, but I'm not sure. Still kind of wish they could come up with a good use for the frostbrand imbue since it's so useless.
One thing to get from that earthquake spell description is it doesn't say how long the channel is. I forget if channels are boosted by haste or not, but if so then that makes sense. But they said from the beginning that earthquake is meant to be a channeled aoe, so it'll be more like a shaman's version of blizzard or rain of fire, or maybe more like hurricane. But between earthquake and fire nova, elemental looks like it can finally be more well-rounded. Right now it's a pretty boring spec (to me) because you really only have to worry about keeping flame shock up and casting lava burst on cooldown, and otherwise you just press the lightning bolt button in the interim. Sometimes you can use chain lightning, like on an aoe pull, but it's not really a standard part of the rotation, especially for raiding. But giving elemental some more stuff to do should be fun, and I hope that idea to drop fire totems at range goes through so they can drop down a searing totem on boss fights.
This actually makes me think that enhance would be better served just sticking with 2h and using druid staves/maces and the occasional hunter axe (for orcs) by design, though. Although I'm almost positive they went to dual wield so they could up shaman dps without having to nerf/break the WF buff, since lucky WF triple crits were part of the popular shaman hate in classic WoW. I wonder now if slow/slow will still be best for shaman? I'm guessing yes because the lava lash change just reinforces it, but I'm not sure. Still kind of wish they could come up with a good use for the frostbrand imbue since it's so useless.
One thing to get from that earthquake spell description is it doesn't say how long the channel is. I forget if channels are boosted by haste or not, but if so then that makes sense. But they said from the beginning that earthquake is meant to be a channeled aoe, so it'll be more like a shaman's version of blizzard or rain of fire, or maybe more like hurricane. But between earthquake and fire nova, elemental looks like it can finally be more well-rounded. Right now it's a pretty boring spec (to me) because you really only have to worry about keeping flame shock up and casting lava burst on cooldown, and otherwise you just press the lightning bolt button in the interim. Sometimes you can use chain lightning, like on an aoe pull, but it's not really a standard part of the rotation, especially for raiding. But giving elemental some more stuff to do should be fun, and I hope that idea to drop fire totems at range goes through so they can drop down a searing totem on boss fights.
Read it again.firex said:
I suppose it could be that there's a 1.5s ramp-up cast and then you start channeling like everything else (and then cast a CL while you wait on the cooldown), which is the sort of arbitrary silliness I should expect from Blizzard by now.
How about one of you guys in the alpha clarify it, eh? :lol
Yeah, there's a reason why I switched to enhance as my primary spec. Unleash Weapon and Lava Surge ought to spice up the rotation, though.firex said:
Vigilant Walrus
Member
Oni Link 666 said:
They are doing the sun and sun thing? looks sorta complicated:/
So after Burning Crusade came out, I borrowed someone's account and put a character on it then paid for it via pre-paid cards. I let it lapse ages ago.. don't remember the info. My profile on the armory now doesn't exactly work when I click it. Does anyone know if they eventually delete characters or could I maybe get him back?
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Lothar&cn=Meier
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Lothar&cn=Meier
HarryDemeanor
Member
Meier said:
They never delete characters so you're fine. As for getting him back you're going to have to remember what the account information is.
a cast time and a channel makes it seem like they intended it to last a lot longer than it does now or something. I don't know. I'll still take it because it'll get fixed, and earthquake is too iconic anyway. Fire nova is more of a set and forget spell so I can see that being useful, too.
half a moon
Banned
What should a 5100 DK do with frost emblems? I'm in mostly 232 T9.
Yeah it does seem weird the way it's set up now.Tacitus_ said:
Perhaps it has a nice long range so you can cast it, say, on a flag in AB and be out of most interrupts' range?
Still excited to see Shaman changes
, I main a resto draenei I can't give you the best advice personally, but do you need tanking or dps gear?half a moon said:
You can check: http://www.tankspot.com/ or http://elitistjerks.com/f72/
ciaossu said:
I was thinking, casting that right in a doorway in WSG might really screw up an incoming surge. Drop that as they run in, have your ranged classes slide out and nuke em while they're on their asses?
Of course, that would require people to know how to execute strategies in WSG other than Fighting in the Middle. :lol
ShallNoiseUpon
Member
LK10 down.
Not a bad point, it must have something to set it apart from Hurricane and similar spells if it's getting the cast time and cooldown. Maybe it's very expensive and powerful so making sure that you're aiming properly is huge.firex said:
I still can't make up my mind as to whether or not I want to be in the Beta or wait until it launches. Not like I'll get in... but :lol
notworksafe
Member
Woo! Go us!ShallNoiseUpon said:LK10 down.
Also, where you been TurtleSnatcher? Now's the time to join.
Huge congratulations!ShallNoiseUpon said:LK10 down.
My guild is still stuck on Sindragosa 10 right now, everything up to that we one shot but people just lose coordination when she goes into 'Phase 2' at 35%. The whole fight is flawless up until then too ~_~, people seem to forget about the ice blocks. I'm hoping we down her and get some LK time this coming Wednesday
.KefkaTaran
Member
ShallNoiseUpon said:LK10 down.
FUCK THAT KING, HE IS SO DAMNED SLAYED.
half a moon
Banned
Tacitus_ said:
DPS. Not having luck with VOA or finding raids in general. Only have 88 emblems total. With my luck I'd spend them on something and see an instance replacement.ciaossu said:Yeah it does seem weird the way it's set up now.
Perhaps it has a nice long range so you can cast it, say, on a flag in AB and be out of most interrupts' range?
Still excited to see Shaman changes
I can't give you the best advice personally, but do you need tanking or dps gear?
You can check: http://www.tankspot.com/ or http://elitistjerks.com/f72/
half a moon said:
You'll want to buy the Tier set in 2's. Meaning, get 2 pieces at once, so you're taking away one set bonus (T9 4pc), while acquiring a new one (2pc T9, 2pc T10). That's what I did at least. Buy the gloves in the 2nd group of gear in case you get a voa drop on them in the mean time. Get the four pieces without the legs. You'll want the crafted 264 legs if you don't have access to 25mans or 10man hard modes.
After that, probably get the cloak, belt, or trinket. whichever needs the greatest amount of help. Cloak is nice for the large chunk of expertise. The sigil is the last piece to buy when you have nothing better to burn the emblems on, as it's a minor AND situational dps boost pending on the fight. I swap my sigils back and forth for different encounters, if there's a lot of movement for example with off time for the boss, then Sigil of the Hanged man isn't that good due to the stacking properties of the buff.
More changes
- Re-applying FF/BP before it runs out adds 2 seconds to it's current duration.
- FF/BP damage ticks no longer clip when re-applying diseases.
- Horn of Winter now increases your total strength and agility by 419 (up from 155).
- Death and Decay now costs 1 Unholy Rune.
- Scourge Strike now costs 1 Unholy Rune.
- Howling Blast now only costs 1 Frost Rune.
druids
- Skull Bash - New: (1 rage/25 energy 8 yard range, 10 second cooldown): You charge and skull bash the target, interrupting spellcasting and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.
palas
- Consecration now deals 205 damage over 10 seconds down from 736, now has a status bar similar to totems and may now be canceled early
- Re-applying FF/BP before it runs out adds 2 seconds to it's current duration.
- FF/BP damage ticks no longer clip when re-applying diseases.
- Horn of Winter now increases your total strength and agility by 419 (up from 155).
- Death and Decay now costs 1 Unholy Rune.
- Scourge Strike now costs 1 Unholy Rune.
- Howling Blast now only costs 1 Frost Rune.
druids
- Skull Bash - New: (1 rage/25 energy 8 yard range, 10 second cooldown): You charge and skull bash the target, interrupting spellcasting and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.
palas
- Consecration now deals 205 damage over 10 seconds down from 736, now has a status bar similar to totems and may now be canceled early
half a moon
Banned
I'll hold off for now. Those frost emblems were burning a hole in my toons pocket. lol.J-Rzez said:
half a moon
Banned
as melee, i'm having problems using keyboard movement and keybindings at the same time. any tips?
a speed pad seems like it'd be good for me. thumb movement. don't want to spend money on that now tho.
a speed pad seems like it'd be good for me. thumb movement. don't want to spend money on that now tho.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
With the 20% buff you can just zerg Sindragosa with a single tank (obviously your DPS has to clear their Mystic Buffet stacks (usually every 2 blocks). Given that your main tank now always has 65000 health, you can just be a douche and just heal him through the MB stacks that he's getting. The tank will have to SW through Frost Breath, of course.ciaossu said:Huge congratulations!
My guild is still stuck on Sindragosa 10 right now, everything up to that we one shot but people just lose coordination when she goes into 'Phase 2' at 35%. The whole fight is flawless up until then too ~_~, people seem to forget about the ice blocks. I'm hoping we down her and get some LK time this coming Wednesday
Well yea but you're not holding the forward button all that much in there anyway. I thought you meant flying or mounting out in the field somewhere.HixxSAFC said:
So I've decided the Blood Quarter in ICC has my least favorite and most favorite fight in the dungeon before Sinda and LK:
I HATE Blood Princes, but Blood Queen is really fun.
ciaossu said:My guild is still stuck on Sindragosa 10 right now, everything up to that we one shot but people just lose coordination when she goes into 'Phase 2' at 35%. The whole fight is flawless up until then too ~_~, people seem to forget about the ice blocks. I'm hoping we down her and get some LK time this coming Wednesday
If you guys are having this kind of problem, one of your more aware players are going to have to call out who's getting ice blocked and to which leg they're running to. When I say that, I mean they should be in line, not next to, with the front leg for the first block, rear leg for the second, back to front for the 3rd, etc.
You also have to tell people it's important that they move asap, not wait until the end of their rotations.
Thanks for the answers, folks. Can't believe it has been over 3 years since I played WoW last.. that's crazy! Hopefully I can get a hold of the guy again.. can't believe Lich King is still $40 and/or there isn't a Battle Chest that has both expansions. Not keen on spending $80 if I can't get the old guy back..
- Status