First note that “Hydra doesn’t PvP”, since 3.0.2 was released, since before Wrath, I have not set foot into Arathi Basin. So Kinna and I went in to check out what was going on in the Basin together.
What I found was annoying, but expected. I have no PvP gear. But I have all epic PvE gear. Over 1500 health and 2100 spell power self buffed. I couldn’t last through anything.
Cloth gear? It felt more like paper. I was being two shot, by non-crits. In the time it takes me to cast an instant spell or two I was dead. (Still wondering if the emblem gear, Savage Gladiator's Felshroud, would be worth how little I PvP.)
But I had fun… I realized I had to completely change how I played AB.
Pre-Wrath
I could hold a resource all by myself and outlast until help came to me.
Post-Wrath
I was the help.
This is one way I play my hunters. Not only watching the map (shift+m) but also using track humanoids to watch player movement.
As a lock I only had the two maps to use as a guide. But players are the same. Most players do not modify their play style in the middle of the game they are … predictive.
I watched the battleground stats to see who the cappers were and who the major killers were. I disrupted their plans.
I was there to back up defense before they had to call for help.
I used /s when I knew there was a stealthie around.
I was constantly on the go. I used Kinna as my second eyes where she was fighting. This made not having tracking like a hunter bearable. I was able to put that spell power and my fear to some good use.
I had a great time.
Thanks Ratters for loaning Kinna out to me. We killed together. She did well.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
My Secret Harlequin Crush
I read a lot. My mother has read Harlequin novels for as long as I can remember. I read a lot of hers. They are my guilty pleasure. They have gone nicely next to the science and engineering periodicals. Sometimes you just need something that you know will have a happy ending.
I heard from someone, who heard from someone else, that Harlequin is celebrating 60 years with 16 free ebooks.
Now you know what I will be doing during auction house scans. *giddy*
I heard from someone, who heard from someone else, that Harlequin is celebrating 60 years with 16 free ebooks.
Now you know what I will be doing during auction house scans. *giddy*
WTB Bag Space
I went to dump stuff into my bank to go farm shards. I ran into a little problem.
I really need to get rid of some gear. There are hats, shoulders, trinkets, rings, and tabards galore.
A lot of level 70 gear in the bank. That for me has been the hardest. The guild and I worked hard for that gear. Some pieces I wore for over a year. It is familiar like a comfy old blanket. A lot of bosses and mobs died while I was wearing that gear. *sigh* The memories.
I am on my last stack of tooth picks and my last five wands from the Hollow’s Eve. I actually helped a guildie finish up their achievement it was the last they needed for the title. See having a bank full of useless crap is good for something.
...but not good for shard farming.
I really need to get rid of some gear. There are hats, shoulders, trinkets, rings, and tabards galore.A lot of level 70 gear in the bank. That for me has been the hardest. The guild and I worked hard for that gear. Some pieces I wore for over a year. It is familiar like a comfy old blanket. A lot of bosses and mobs died while I was wearing that gear. *sigh* The memories.
I am on my last stack of tooth picks and my last five wands from the Hollow’s Eve. I actually helped a guildie finish up their achievement it was the last they needed for the title. See having a bank full of useless crap is good for something.
...but not good for shard farming.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Summoning Stone
… or Evil TV?
It really is cool looking. It looks like something fabulously evil is going to happen.
*passes out popcorn*
I just wish Blizzard would have told us that it was going to be broken for a week.
*munches on popcorn*
I know this was going to be a bad evil show.
*throws a handful of popcorn at the summoning stone*
Someone just summoned the horror of all horrors... A MAGE.
/Y Someone change the channel quick before they multiply.
It really is cool looking. It looks like something fabulously evil is going to happen.*passes out popcorn*
I just wish Blizzard would have told us that it was going to be broken for a week.
*munches on popcorn*
I know this was going to be a bad evil show.
*throws a handful of popcorn at the summoning stone*
Someone just summoned the horror of all horrors... A MAGE.
/Y Someone change the channel quick before they multiply.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
My Add-ons
“It would be nice if you'd make a post about what add-ons you are using. Could you do that?” –Jakob
WIT (Warlock-in-Training) Jakob asked this as a very nice comment. WIT Jakob is now called a WIT because he made me giggle. No worries Jakob we are all WITs.
Normally I would ignore and not answer. But decided that I could call WIT Jakob a WIT and that would make me laugh more. Plus he was not the first to ask. With add-ons post 3.0 out a while things have stabilized in the add-on area.
I use wowmatrix.com program to update all my add-ons. Some people do not like it, but I update two computers. During a big patch day this has saved me from taking things and throwing them out a window. It is up to your own research on if you like it to use it or not.
Before I use any add-on I go to the actually developer site or if not found to the download site. I scan issues, bugs, and last few update notes. This gives me an idea if it will be around for a while, currently being updated, if things are just getting refined, etc.
Presenting my very long list…
Interface:
XPerl – I love it. Having my toon, target, target of target shown below my character is something I have gotten very use too.
Chatter – An easy to use and modify chat window. Two things it does for me is the ability to copy text and change height and width easily.
RicoMiniMap – Gives me a square, can modify position, and I can change the size of the minimap.
Class Specific:
Necrosis (warlock only)– Gives me my most used warlock abilities a click or two away. I use it to make SS, stones, or summon my minions including other raid/party members. *grin*
Nudge (hunter) – Shows when my hunters are in range of target.
RuneWatch (death knight only) – To help me figure out how to play my Death Knight.
Tools During Battles:
Omen – Tank aggro here I come!
Proximo – Used in Arenas I am not as good as other players so this helps me keep track of who I am up against.
Recount – Damage meter to see my …well… damage.
Deadly Boss Mod – Yes. We know and love it for the dungeon and raids. I like it for battlegrounds also.
DotTimer – This is finally back to being as customizable as I liked it. I am constantly changing it a bit here and there. This is where my eyes are at in a fight.
Additional Info:
Fubar (+plugins) – I am not all that excited about. I used titan panel pre-wrath. I had it showing the gold I had on the current character and the drop down showed total. Currently I am looking at total gold, but I want only gold on the current toon shown. But over all not so bad.
Atlas & AtlasLoot – Atlas give me ingame dungeon maps…since I still get lost in Gnomeregon and Wailing Caverns.
Auctioneer Advanced –If Auctioneer suddenly no longer existed… I would seriously have to consider if I was going to continue to play WoW or not.
EasyMail – Empties my mail box with one click.
Enchantrix – It is part of the full Auctioneer suite. This tells me what things may disenchant into.
DoubleWide – Makes my quest pane into two larger easier to read areas.
TomTom – This shows me my coordinates when I am out and about. Used with LightHeaded and put a big arrow in the direction I should be going. I love this add-on.
LiveStock – Mount and non-combat pet randomizer. Really easy to use and highly recommend it.
RatingBuster – In game gear calculator, I use it as a guide for gear comparison. Only you can determine with your other gear if it is an actual upgrade.
Outfitter – Lots of fun for my toons. I wait till they are max level or gear has stabilized.
LightHeaded – wowhead.com in game. Partnered with TomTom (clickable blue coordinates) I can get less lost in questing.
TourGuide – I use this to level alts. Partnered with LightHeaded and TomTom the three make leveling easy.
LoggerHead – Turns on and off my combat log. Unfortunately I have it turned on somewhere over Theramore Isle and when I fly over it always turn on. I have yet been able to figure out how to fix that. Otherwise it does exactly what I need it to do.
...and I am still looking at some other add-ons.
WIT (Warlock-in-Training) Jakob asked this as a very nice comment. WIT Jakob is now called a WIT because he made me giggle. No worries Jakob we are all WITs.
Normally I would ignore and not answer. But decided that I could call WIT Jakob a WIT and that would make me laugh more. Plus he was not the first to ask. With add-ons post 3.0 out a while things have stabilized in the add-on area.
I use wowmatrix.com program to update all my add-ons. Some people do not like it, but I update two computers. During a big patch day this has saved me from taking things and throwing them out a window. It is up to your own research on if you like it to use it or not.
Before I use any add-on I go to the actually developer site or if not found to the download site. I scan issues, bugs, and last few update notes. This gives me an idea if it will be around for a while, currently being updated, if things are just getting refined, etc.
Presenting my very long list…
Interface:
XPerl – I love it. Having my toon, target, target of target shown below my character is something I have gotten very use too.
Chatter – An easy to use and modify chat window. Two things it does for me is the ability to copy text and change height and width easily.
RicoMiniMap – Gives me a square, can modify position, and I can change the size of the minimap.
Class Specific:
Necrosis (warlock only)– Gives me my most used warlock abilities a click or two away. I use it to make SS, stones, or summon my minions including other raid/party members. *grin*
Nudge (hunter) – Shows when my hunters are in range of target.
RuneWatch (death knight only) – To help me figure out how to play my Death Knight.
Tools During Battles:
Omen – Tank aggro here I come!
Proximo – Used in Arenas I am not as good as other players so this helps me keep track of who I am up against.
Recount – Damage meter to see my …well… damage.
Deadly Boss Mod – Yes. We know and love it for the dungeon and raids. I like it for battlegrounds also.
DotTimer – This is finally back to being as customizable as I liked it. I am constantly changing it a bit here and there. This is where my eyes are at in a fight.
Additional Info:
Fubar (+plugins) – I am not all that excited about. I used titan panel pre-wrath. I had it showing the gold I had on the current character and the drop down showed total. Currently I am looking at total gold, but I want only gold on the current toon shown. But over all not so bad.
Atlas & AtlasLoot – Atlas give me ingame dungeon maps…since I still get lost in Gnomeregon and Wailing Caverns.
Auctioneer Advanced –If Auctioneer suddenly no longer existed… I would seriously have to consider if I was going to continue to play WoW or not.
EasyMail – Empties my mail box with one click.
Enchantrix – It is part of the full Auctioneer suite. This tells me what things may disenchant into.
DoubleWide – Makes my quest pane into two larger easier to read areas.
TomTom – This shows me my coordinates when I am out and about. Used with LightHeaded and put a big arrow in the direction I should be going. I love this add-on.
LiveStock – Mount and non-combat pet randomizer. Really easy to use and highly recommend it.
RatingBuster – In game gear calculator, I use it as a guide for gear comparison. Only you can determine with your other gear if it is an actual upgrade.
Outfitter – Lots of fun for my toons. I wait till they are max level or gear has stabilized.
LightHeaded – wowhead.com in game. Partnered with TomTom (clickable blue coordinates) I can get less lost in questing.
TourGuide – I use this to level alts. Partnered with LightHeaded and TomTom the three make leveling easy.
LoggerHead – Turns on and off my combat log. Unfortunately I have it turned on somewhere over Theramore Isle and when I fly over it always turn on. I have yet been able to figure out how to fix that. Otherwise it does exactly what I need it to do.
...and I am still looking at some other add-ons.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Loque'nahak ... Died
We asked...
Asked in guild.
Asked off our friends lists.
Asked in Sholazar Basin.
Waited around for quite a while.
Not one hunter wanted to come tame the Spirit Beast.
We asked...
Really we did.
Then we kill Loque'nahak.
I got the achievement. 
All I have to say to all the hunters still searching...
DEAD KITTY!!! BAHAHAHA
*clears throat* I meant ... Sorry?
Asked in guild.
Asked off our friends lists.
Asked in Sholazar Basin.
Waited around for quite a while.
Not one hunter wanted to come tame the Spirit Beast.
We asked...
Really we did.Then we kill Loque'nahak.
I got the achievement. 
All I have to say to all the hunters still searching...DEAD KITTY!!! BAHAHAHA
*clears throat* I meant ... Sorry?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Summoning BORKED
Really. I went to Molten Core and tried to use our new and improved Ritual of Summoning. No go. I couldn't summon any fancy summoning stone. On top of that I had a TWO MINUTE COOLDOWN.
.
..
...
I was not a happy lock.
Not at all.
The poor guys on vent. For the next two hours whenever the new patch came up, I brought up how they broke summoning. BROKE!!! Snapped a perfectly working spell.
But now you can see Draenei able to ride Mechanostrider.
.
..
...
I was not a happy lock.
Not at all.
The poor guys on vent. For the next two hours whenever the new patch came up, I brought up how they broke summoning. BROKE!!! Snapped a perfectly working spell.
But now you can see Draenei able to ride Mechanostrider.
Patch 3.0.8... Finally
First off, I feel like locks are a patch behind. I see a lot of "fixes" to things that should not have been broken. So instead of doing actual lock balancing as a class with other classess we are getting things fixed. Most of the changes are fixes and/or utility changes. I hope to see more information on actual class balancing in the near future.
Remember these are things that I care about. There was a lot going on in this patch. Get the full patch notes elsewhere.
General
Racial restrictions on mounts have now been lifted. Night Elves on mechanostriders? Tauren on raptors? You’re not seeing things. //I get to ride everything, but I have a Draenei guildie that is VERY excited about getting a mechanostrider.
Tapping: All player spells which cause a creature to become aggressive to you will now also immediately cause the creature to be tapped. //CoA with it's one second cast time will now make a mob MINE. I shall have to go farming in WG and see how fast I can piss someone off. I think it will not take long. *giddy*
All Silence spells now have diminishing returns. This includes: Arcane Torrent, Garrote silence effect, Improved Counterspell effect, Improved Kick effect, Silence, Gag Order, Silencing Shot, Spell Lock, and Strangulate. //This will make those Felpuppies with autocast Spell Lock even less effective. But we would not be one of thouse would we. *whistles in guilt*
Dispel Resist talents have changed to protect only beneficial spells and damage over time effects. //Fear is effected by this but this was an over all change and affected most classes somehow.
Shield Wall, Barkskin, Guardian Spirit, and Divine Protection are now off the Global Cooldown.
A new mailbox is now available at the Crows Tavern in the Dalaran Sewers. //Someone still needs to explaim to me why a floating city has a sewer. It better not be drinking water because I have seen what the druids do in that water.
We have added over 60 new graveyards to Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. //*Raises glass* Here is to know knowing where a single one is located.
The run speed in spirit form has been increased by 50%. Night Elves in Wisp form will now move at a bonus 75% speed.
Reputation rewarded for killing mobs will no longer automatically deprecate. This means trivial mobs will continue to give out their full amounts of reputation on kill for the majority of cases in the game (level 70 creatures in Stratholme, for example, will continue to award the full amount of rep to level 80 players seeking to boost their Argent Dawn faction). //Timbermaw reputation may not be so bad to grind out now.
World of Warcraft now supports 3-D imaging. Visit http://www.nvidia.com/object/GeForce_3D_Vision_Main.html for more information.
PvP
Vehicles can now be affected by most player spells, except CC, snares and roots. //*clears throat* More DOTS!!!
Battlegrounds
Lake Wintergrasp
Wintergrasp Commendations can now also be purchased for the low low price of 9 Wintergrasp Marks of Honor. Players can visit their respective Wintergrasp vendors and put those Marks of Honor to use!
Wintergrasp PvP vehicles have had their health increased. //Shadowbolts to the drive shaft. It is what I do.
The Orb is now instantly clickable.
Elementals should now always despawn when the battle begins. //Forced stoppage of farming FTL. At least the elements will not put me in combat so I cannot mount.
Wintergrasp now extends further south so that more revenants can be reached.
Strand of the Ancients
Antipersonnel Turrets will now gain vehicle immunities, use falloff damage, and damage increased to 4000 + 200 per level to compensate for falloff.
The Strand of the Ancients Demolisher has had its health increased.
The Strand of the Ancients tower cannon has had its health increased.
Seaforium charges have been moved closer to the graveyards on the 2nd tier.
Death Knights
//A whole bunch of things changed but you didn't really know how to play one anyway. Really there is no difference.
Druids
Aquatic Form is now available from druid trainers at level 16. //Once again there is a loss of a special quest for a class. This makes me sad.
Feral Attack Power: All weapons now have the potential to grant feral attack power based on their dps (as compared to the best superior-quality weapons available at level 60). Players will see their existing feral weapons grant roughly the same attack power as they did before (+/- 2 or so), but many new weapons will be options for the feral druid. Some feral weapons have had strength converted to attack power to be more appealing to other classes able to equip them. All druids will see the amount of feral attack power granted by an item in the item tooltip, if it grants any, but other players will not see that information. //Hunter loot to druid loot and druid loot to hunter loot. Good idea.
Growl: Range increased to 30 yards.
King of the Jungle - The Bear effect is now physical, and thus cannot be dispelled.
Nourish: Wild Growth applied to a target now increases the healing done by this spell by 20% like other heal over time effects.
Polearms: Now trainable by Druids. //More Looting, less shardage.
Primal Tenacity: Now reduces the cost of Bear Form, Cat Form, and Dire Bear Form by 17/33/50% in addition to its previous effects.
Protector of the Pack: No longer changes value based on party size.
Savage Roar: The buff now persists outside of Cat Form but only provides its benefits while in Cat Form.
Survival of the Fittest: This talent now grants 22/44/66% bonus armor in Bear Form and Dire Bear Form in addition to all of its previous effects.
Swipe: Swipe (Cat) has now been added at level 71, dealing 260% weapon damage, costs 50 energy with no cooldown. All talents affecting the Bear Form version affect the Cat Form one as well.
Wild Growth now has a 6 second cooldown.
Hunters
//*shoos you away* Go see Mania.
Mages
Slow Fall is now castable on others. //All I have to say about this is ... splat. Learn what this buff looks like prior to jumping off into a pool of water. I have a feeling that there maybe some devious uses of this ability. Not sure what. But there must be.
Paladins
Hand of Reckoning(NEW): Available on trainers at level 16. It’s a 30 yard range taunt that causes Holy damage. //If I actually ran with tanky pallies this might be important. But it is just note worthy.
Priests
Levitate is now castable on others. //For some reson I don't have the same fealing about this as I do with Mage Slow Fall. Maybe Priests are a better class of players then Mages. That must be it.
Rogues
Cheap Shot: This ability no longer has diminishing returns against anything other than itself.
Fan of Knives: The cooldown has been removed. In addition, now deals 150% of weapon damage when used while daggers are equipped. //This is a nice change. May make all the daggers out there worth a look at.
Feint: Rank 8 now reduces the damage taken from area of effect attacks by 50% for 6 seconds in addition to its existing effects. //With Jack of All Trade ability this was a rarely used anymore. The addition of the reduced damage is significant to make this useful again.
Kidney Shot: This ability now has diminishing returns against all other stuns.
Shaman
//Stuff changed go see full notes.
Warlocks
Curse of Agony will now scale better when used with the Glyph of Curse of Agony. Ticks beyond the original duration will do 33% more damage than the ticks that preceded them. i.e. 74 -> 145 -> 217 -> 290. //I am good with more damage. Maybe I should check what glyphs I am even using.
Demon Armor and Demon Skin: Armor increased by approximately 120%.
Demonic Circle: The teleport now clears all snare effects. //*sings rejoicefully* Fun. I need to play with it more. You have been laying one down randomly correct? That way you can think of useful ways to use it.
Drain Mana: Now drains a percentage of maximum mana. //We will see if this is significant enough to be useful. I am not to sure yet.
Emberstorm: Now works with Conflagrate.
Ritual of Summoning: Will now create a summoning portal object which can be re-used for multiple summons for 5 minutes. //Looks like they reduced it from six minutes. Odd. But workable.
Warriors
//A few things changed.
Professions
Alchemy
All flasks no longer require an alchemy lab to create.
The Cooldown on Transmute: Titanium has been reduced to 1 day, and the materials required have been simplified. //Cheeper.
Reduced the cooldown on Northrend Alchemy Research from 7 days to 3 days. //Same mats so the herbs maybe in more demand. More importantly individuals will have more of the potions.
The chance to discover a Northrend transmutation has been increased.
Changed the Crazy Alchemist Potion so it always gives health and mana. It also grants the benefit of another random potion effect.
Potion of Nightmares functionality changed. You can now move to interrupt the effect, and damage taken is no longer increased while you are under the effects of this potion.
Added a new recipe for Ethereal Oil to grand master alchemy trainers.
You can now discover a recipe for the Elixir of Water Walking with Northrend Alchemy Research. //I WANT IT!!! Water walking makes fishing so much more fun.
Blacksmithing
//Blah Blah Blah
Enchanting
Many high level enchantment recipes have had the amount of Infinite Dust and Greater Cosmic Essence requirements significantly reduced, but with Dream Shards being added to them. //I will be re-enchanting most of my gear in the next week.
Added a new recipe to enchant bracers with Stamina. You can buy this recipe from Vanessa Sellers in Dalaran. //I seem to remember there being more recipes but they look to have been removed.
Engineering
//Blah Blah Blah
Inscription
Jessica Sellers, a new vendor in the Dalaran inscription shop, will sell most inscription inks for the cost of one Ink of the Sea. She also sells Snowfall Ink for multiple Inks of the Sea. //For those milling to make inks to make the cards this is huge. This lets all those white inks be turned into usful ones. Should make cards easier to make.
Jewelcrafting
Added a new recipe to convert a frozen orb and some green quality gems into several superior quality gems. //Interesting idea. On one server I play on there were Frozen Orbs for 22 gold. I was going to resell them I will have to look into seeing if this is a viable money maker.
Leatherworking
The epic leg armor patches now require a Frozen Orb in addition to their other materials. //More Frozen Orb usage.
Mining
Mining veins and deposits no longer require multiple hits to receive all the ore. Players will receive around the same amount of ore, stone, and gems they would have received from multiple hits. //One hit. All loot. All win.
Skinning
Increased the critical strike rating granted by ranks 5 and 6 of Master of Anatomy.
Tailoring
Reduced the cloth required to make a Bolt of Imbued Frostweave. //Cloth prices dropped significantly. I don't see the need for this change, but it is here.
Simplified the materials required for Shining Spellthread and Azure Spellthread.
Reduced the eternals required to make Brilliant Spellthread and Sapphire Spellthread, but increased the number of Iceweb Spider Silk.
Greatly reduced the materials required to make the self-only tailoring leg enchants (Master's Spellthread and Sanctified Spellthread), but these recipes no longer grant any skill gains. //Cheeper works for me.
Reduced the training cost for the normal Flying Carpet. //I only have seen this once. I didn't even make one to level. Seemed like a waste of material.
Ebonweave now requires the tailor to be in the Maw of Neltharion in Dragonblight to creating it. //I liked falling down the rabbit hole to make my Ebonweave. *sad*
Spellweave now requires the tailor to be at the Azure Dragonshrine in Dragonblight when creating it. //I need two of these. I may have to go check things out.
Quests
//Blah Blah Blah
Dungeons and Raids
The Obsidian Sanctum
Players will now be affected by Twilight Residue when they leave the Twilight Realm. Twilight Residue grants immunity to Fire and Shadow damage for a few seconds. //I am NOT ok with this at all. I hate getting "immune" when I try an DOT players.
User Interface
Chat frames can now be made “Noninteractive”. When in this state, they will ignore all clicks.
Various filters can now be applied to Achievements.
A special UI for chatting with GMs has been added.
For additional notes on Lua and XML changes please visit the UI & Macros forum.
Items
Emblems of Heroism can now be purchased at a 1 to 1 rate using Emblems of Valor.
The Darkmoon Faire exotic vendors have been updated with new items.
Living Lashers can now properly be skinned with Herbalism. //Keep Northrend Clean.
Players can now open clams while riding a vehicle, sitting, mounted, stealthed, and invisible. //That invisible clam bake is so on now. WOOT!
The white Polar Bear mount is now the proper (larger) size.
Glyphs
Glyph of Conflagrate now makes it so your Conflagrate spell no longer consumes the Immolate or Shadowflame spell from the target. //Well now that seems to be a buff. Unexpected.
Glyph of Death and Decay has been changed to grant 20% additional damage instead of its current effect.
World Environment
Several creatures in the Construct Quarter of Naxxramas did not have Heroic values for hit points and damage. //Well since I have only done the 10 man version, this does not effect me at all. Good luck.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug with a Wild Mustard plant that was under the ground in Dalaran. //Yea. Quite annoying.
Racials
Berserking: Can now be used properly while under the affects of Hand of Protection.
Heroic Presence: Now works properly in Ghost Wolf Form.
Shadowmeld: This ability will now properly restore threat when it is cancelled. In addition, it will correctly remove a player from combat if it is active when that player is the last person left alive that the creature hates. This ability is now also unusable while affected by Faerie Fire. //Have to say that it was a bit OP prior. No one should be surprised this was comming. Looks like there are still good uses for it in combat.
Will of the Forsaken: Using this ability while disoriented would trigger it’s cooldown to no affect; it is no longer useable while disoriented.
Classes
Death Knights
//Bunch of changes.
Druids
//Bunch of changes.
Hunters
//Bunch of changes.
Mages
//Bunch of changes.
Paladins
//Bunch of changes.
Priest
//Bunch of changes.
Rogues
//Bunch of changes.
Shaman
//Bunch of changes.
Warlock
Warlock Pets: Some pets were not properly classified to receive correct creature scaling for Wrath of the Lich King. Their health and damage done will now be higher. //I was getting anywhere from 120-170 dps from my imp depending on buffs. We shall see what this higher damage will look like.
Corruption will now gain the correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target. //Did I miss the memo that Corruption had creature specific damage? This makes me suspicious of changes to come.
Create Healthstone: Attempting to create a healthstone when you already have one no longer consumes mana or triggers the cooldown of this ability.
Demonic Circle: Teleport: the button for this ability will now darken when the Warlock is out of range of the Demonic Circle and will light up when the Warlock is in range.
Demon Power Scaling: Spell power gained from spirit via the Fel Armor ability will now properly affect the scaling of spell power and attack power on summoned demons. //We shall see how much damage is gained in these changes.
Drain Mana: This spell will no longer cancel when the target’s mana poll is low or the caster’s mana poll is full. It also now generates a very small amount of threat instead of no threat.
Everlasting Affliction: Will now calculate correct damage values for Corruption when it is refreshed in all cases.
Haunt: Will now gain correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target. In addition, this ability is now limited to a single target as intended. This also now works properly when refreshed on its current target.
Mana Feed: This talent will no longer sometimes fire for warlocks who do not have the talent.
Master Conjuror: Tooltip revised to indicate it does not increase the damage bonuses of Firestones or Spellstones.
Metamorphosis: The bonus armor effect from this ability will now calculate properly and interact correctly with armor buffs and debuffs. //Where is my Saccy female form??!!!
Ritual of Doom: A Doomguard summoned with this spell will now scale properly from its master’s stats.
Shadow Embrace: This ability will now create a separate debuff stack for each Warlock with the talent, and each warlock will benefit properly from his or her own debuff. //This is a huge fix. I was requesting not to be put in with other locks if they were attending a 10 man raid. That doesn't matter now.
Soul Siphon: Will now gain the correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target.
Unstable Affliction: Will now gain the correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target.
Warrior
//Bunch of changes.
PvP
The Wintergrasp Aura should now properly update in all instances, transferring the buff when the zone control changes.
Arena: Dalaran Sewer: The Flush effect which pushes players out will now also remove the ability to use Demonic Circles summoned during the arena start time.
Items
//Bunch of changes.
Remember these are things that I care about. There was a lot going on in this patch. Get the full patch notes elsewhere.
General
Racial restrictions on mounts have now been lifted. Night Elves on mechanostriders? Tauren on raptors? You’re not seeing things. //I get to ride everything, but I have a Draenei guildie that is VERY excited about getting a mechanostrider.
Tapping: All player spells which cause a creature to become aggressive to you will now also immediately cause the creature to be tapped. //CoA with it's one second cast time will now make a mob MINE. I shall have to go farming in WG and see how fast I can piss someone off. I think it will not take long. *giddy*
All Silence spells now have diminishing returns. This includes: Arcane Torrent, Garrote silence effect, Improved Counterspell effect, Improved Kick effect, Silence, Gag Order, Silencing Shot, Spell Lock, and Strangulate. //This will make those Felpuppies with autocast Spell Lock even less effective. But we would not be one of thouse would we. *whistles in guilt*
Dispel Resist talents have changed to protect only beneficial spells and damage over time effects. //Fear is effected by this but this was an over all change and affected most classes somehow.
Shield Wall, Barkskin, Guardian Spirit, and Divine Protection are now off the Global Cooldown.
A new mailbox is now available at the Crows Tavern in the Dalaran Sewers. //Someone still needs to explaim to me why a floating city has a sewer. It better not be drinking water because I have seen what the druids do in that water.
We have added over 60 new graveyards to Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. //*Raises glass* Here is to know knowing where a single one is located.
The run speed in spirit form has been increased by 50%. Night Elves in Wisp form will now move at a bonus 75% speed.
Reputation rewarded for killing mobs will no longer automatically deprecate. This means trivial mobs will continue to give out their full amounts of reputation on kill for the majority of cases in the game (level 70 creatures in Stratholme, for example, will continue to award the full amount of rep to level 80 players seeking to boost their Argent Dawn faction). //Timbermaw reputation may not be so bad to grind out now.
World of Warcraft now supports 3-D imaging. Visit http://www.nvidia.com/object/GeForce_3D_Vision_Main.html for more information.
PvP
Vehicles can now be affected by most player spells, except CC, snares and roots. //*clears throat* More DOTS!!!
Battlegrounds
Lake Wintergrasp
Wintergrasp Commendations can now also be purchased for the low low price of 9 Wintergrasp Marks of Honor. Players can visit their respective Wintergrasp vendors and put those Marks of Honor to use!
Wintergrasp PvP vehicles have had their health increased. //Shadowbolts to the drive shaft. It is what I do.
The Orb is now instantly clickable.
Elementals should now always despawn when the battle begins. //Forced stoppage of farming FTL. At least the elements will not put me in combat so I cannot mount.
Wintergrasp now extends further south so that more revenants can be reached.
Strand of the Ancients
Antipersonnel Turrets will now gain vehicle immunities, use falloff damage, and damage increased to 4000 + 200 per level to compensate for falloff.
The Strand of the Ancients Demolisher has had its health increased.
The Strand of the Ancients tower cannon has had its health increased.
Seaforium charges have been moved closer to the graveyards on the 2nd tier.
Death Knights
//A whole bunch of things changed but you didn't really know how to play one anyway. Really there is no difference.
Druids
Aquatic Form is now available from druid trainers at level 16. //Once again there is a loss of a special quest for a class. This makes me sad.
Feral Attack Power: All weapons now have the potential to grant feral attack power based on their dps (as compared to the best superior-quality weapons available at level 60). Players will see their existing feral weapons grant roughly the same attack power as they did before (+/- 2 or so), but many new weapons will be options for the feral druid. Some feral weapons have had strength converted to attack power to be more appealing to other classes able to equip them. All druids will see the amount of feral attack power granted by an item in the item tooltip, if it grants any, but other players will not see that information. //Hunter loot to druid loot and druid loot to hunter loot. Good idea.
Growl: Range increased to 30 yards.
King of the Jungle - The Bear effect is now physical, and thus cannot be dispelled.
Nourish: Wild Growth applied to a target now increases the healing done by this spell by 20% like other heal over time effects.
Polearms: Now trainable by Druids. //More Looting, less shardage.
Primal Tenacity: Now reduces the cost of Bear Form, Cat Form, and Dire Bear Form by 17/33/50% in addition to its previous effects.
Protector of the Pack: No longer changes value based on party size.
Savage Roar: The buff now persists outside of Cat Form but only provides its benefits while in Cat Form.
Survival of the Fittest: This talent now grants 22/44/66% bonus armor in Bear Form and Dire Bear Form in addition to all of its previous effects.
Swipe: Swipe (Cat) has now been added at level 71, dealing 260% weapon damage, costs 50 energy with no cooldown. All talents affecting the Bear Form version affect the Cat Form one as well.
Wild Growth now has a 6 second cooldown.
Hunters
//*shoos you away* Go see Mania.
Mages
Slow Fall is now castable on others. //All I have to say about this is ... splat. Learn what this buff looks like prior to jumping off into a pool of water. I have a feeling that there maybe some devious uses of this ability. Not sure what. But there must be.
Paladins
Hand of Reckoning(NEW): Available on trainers at level 16. It’s a 30 yard range taunt that causes Holy damage. //If I actually ran with tanky pallies this might be important. But it is just note worthy.
Priests
Levitate is now castable on others. //For some reson I don't have the same fealing about this as I do with Mage Slow Fall. Maybe Priests are a better class of players then Mages. That must be it.
Rogues
Cheap Shot: This ability no longer has diminishing returns against anything other than itself.
Fan of Knives: The cooldown has been removed. In addition, now deals 150% of weapon damage when used while daggers are equipped. //This is a nice change. May make all the daggers out there worth a look at.
Feint: Rank 8 now reduces the damage taken from area of effect attacks by 50% for 6 seconds in addition to its existing effects. //With Jack of All Trade ability this was a rarely used anymore. The addition of the reduced damage is significant to make this useful again.
Kidney Shot: This ability now has diminishing returns against all other stuns.
Shaman
//Stuff changed go see full notes.
Warlocks
Curse of Agony will now scale better when used with the Glyph of Curse of Agony. Ticks beyond the original duration will do 33% more damage than the ticks that preceded them. i.e. 74 -> 145 -> 217 -> 290. //I am good with more damage. Maybe I should check what glyphs I am even using.
Demon Armor and Demon Skin: Armor increased by approximately 120%.
Demonic Circle: The teleport now clears all snare effects. //*sings rejoicefully* Fun. I need to play with it more. You have been laying one down randomly correct? That way you can think of useful ways to use it.
Drain Mana: Now drains a percentage of maximum mana. //We will see if this is significant enough to be useful. I am not to sure yet.
Emberstorm: Now works with Conflagrate.
Ritual of Summoning: Will now create a summoning portal object which can be re-used for multiple summons for 5 minutes. //Looks like they reduced it from six minutes. Odd. But workable.
Warriors
//A few things changed.
Professions
Alchemy
All flasks no longer require an alchemy lab to create.
The Cooldown on Transmute: Titanium has been reduced to 1 day, and the materials required have been simplified. //Cheeper.
Reduced the cooldown on Northrend Alchemy Research from 7 days to 3 days. //Same mats so the herbs maybe in more demand. More importantly individuals will have more of the potions.
The chance to discover a Northrend transmutation has been increased.
Changed the Crazy Alchemist Potion so it always gives health and mana. It also grants the benefit of another random potion effect.
Potion of Nightmares functionality changed. You can now move to interrupt the effect, and damage taken is no longer increased while you are under the effects of this potion.
Added a new recipe for Ethereal Oil to grand master alchemy trainers.
You can now discover a recipe for the Elixir of Water Walking with Northrend Alchemy Research. //I WANT IT!!! Water walking makes fishing so much more fun.
Blacksmithing
//Blah Blah Blah
Enchanting
Many high level enchantment recipes have had the amount of Infinite Dust and Greater Cosmic Essence requirements significantly reduced, but with Dream Shards being added to them. //I will be re-enchanting most of my gear in the next week.
Added a new recipe to enchant bracers with Stamina. You can buy this recipe from Vanessa Sellers in Dalaran. //I seem to remember there being more recipes but they look to have been removed.
Engineering
//Blah Blah Blah
Inscription
Jessica Sellers, a new vendor in the Dalaran inscription shop, will sell most inscription inks for the cost of one Ink of the Sea. She also sells Snowfall Ink for multiple Inks of the Sea. //For those milling to make inks to make the cards this is huge. This lets all those white inks be turned into usful ones. Should make cards easier to make.
Jewelcrafting
Added a new recipe to convert a frozen orb and some green quality gems into several superior quality gems. //Interesting idea. On one server I play on there were Frozen Orbs for 22 gold. I was going to resell them I will have to look into seeing if this is a viable money maker.
Leatherworking
The epic leg armor patches now require a Frozen Orb in addition to their other materials. //More Frozen Orb usage.
Mining
Mining veins and deposits no longer require multiple hits to receive all the ore. Players will receive around the same amount of ore, stone, and gems they would have received from multiple hits. //One hit. All loot. All win.
Skinning
Increased the critical strike rating granted by ranks 5 and 6 of Master of Anatomy.
Tailoring
Reduced the cloth required to make a Bolt of Imbued Frostweave. //Cloth prices dropped significantly. I don't see the need for this change, but it is here.
Simplified the materials required for Shining Spellthread and Azure Spellthread.
Reduced the eternals required to make Brilliant Spellthread and Sapphire Spellthread, but increased the number of Iceweb Spider Silk.
Greatly reduced the materials required to make the self-only tailoring leg enchants (Master's Spellthread and Sanctified Spellthread), but these recipes no longer grant any skill gains. //Cheeper works for me.
Reduced the training cost for the normal Flying Carpet. //I only have seen this once. I didn't even make one to level. Seemed like a waste of material.
Ebonweave now requires the tailor to be in the Maw of Neltharion in Dragonblight to creating it. //I liked falling down the rabbit hole to make my Ebonweave. *sad*
Spellweave now requires the tailor to be at the Azure Dragonshrine in Dragonblight when creating it. //I need two of these. I may have to go check things out.
Quests
//Blah Blah Blah
Dungeons and Raids
The Obsidian Sanctum
Players will now be affected by Twilight Residue when they leave the Twilight Realm. Twilight Residue grants immunity to Fire and Shadow damage for a few seconds. //I am NOT ok with this at all. I hate getting "immune" when I try an DOT players.
User Interface
Chat frames can now be made “Noninteractive”. When in this state, they will ignore all clicks.
Various filters can now be applied to Achievements.
A special UI for chatting with GMs has been added.
For additional notes on Lua and XML changes please visit the UI & Macros forum.
Items
Emblems of Heroism can now be purchased at a 1 to 1 rate using Emblems of Valor.
The Darkmoon Faire exotic vendors have been updated with new items.
Living Lashers can now properly be skinned with Herbalism. //Keep Northrend Clean.
Players can now open clams while riding a vehicle, sitting, mounted, stealthed, and invisible. //That invisible clam bake is so on now. WOOT!
The white Polar Bear mount is now the proper (larger) size.
Glyphs
Glyph of Conflagrate now makes it so your Conflagrate spell no longer consumes the Immolate or Shadowflame spell from the target. //Well now that seems to be a buff. Unexpected.
Glyph of Death and Decay has been changed to grant 20% additional damage instead of its current effect.
World Environment
Several creatures in the Construct Quarter of Naxxramas did not have Heroic values for hit points and damage. //Well since I have only done the 10 man version, this does not effect me at all. Good luck.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug with a Wild Mustard plant that was under the ground in Dalaran. //Yea. Quite annoying.
Racials
Berserking: Can now be used properly while under the affects of Hand of Protection.
Heroic Presence: Now works properly in Ghost Wolf Form.
Shadowmeld: This ability will now properly restore threat when it is cancelled. In addition, it will correctly remove a player from combat if it is active when that player is the last person left alive that the creature hates. This ability is now also unusable while affected by Faerie Fire. //Have to say that it was a bit OP prior. No one should be surprised this was comming. Looks like there are still good uses for it in combat.
Will of the Forsaken: Using this ability while disoriented would trigger it’s cooldown to no affect; it is no longer useable while disoriented.
Classes
Death Knights
//Bunch of changes.
Druids
//Bunch of changes.
Hunters
//Bunch of changes.
Mages
//Bunch of changes.
Paladins
//Bunch of changes.
Priest
//Bunch of changes.
Rogues
//Bunch of changes.
Shaman
//Bunch of changes.
Warlock
Warlock Pets: Some pets were not properly classified to receive correct creature scaling for Wrath of the Lich King. Their health and damage done will now be higher. //I was getting anywhere from 120-170 dps from my imp depending on buffs. We shall see what this higher damage will look like.
Corruption will now gain the correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target. //Did I miss the memo that Corruption had creature specific damage? This makes me suspicious of changes to come.
Create Healthstone: Attempting to create a healthstone when you already have one no longer consumes mana or triggers the cooldown of this ability.
Demonic Circle: Teleport: the button for this ability will now darken when the Warlock is out of range of the Demonic Circle and will light up when the Warlock is in range.
Demon Power Scaling: Spell power gained from spirit via the Fel Armor ability will now properly affect the scaling of spell power and attack power on summoned demons. //We shall see how much damage is gained in these changes.
Drain Mana: This spell will no longer cancel when the target’s mana poll is low or the caster’s mana poll is full. It also now generates a very small amount of threat instead of no threat.
Everlasting Affliction: Will now calculate correct damage values for Corruption when it is refreshed in all cases.
Haunt: Will now gain correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target. In addition, this ability is now limited to a single target as intended. This also now works properly when refreshed on its current target.
Mana Feed: This talent will no longer sometimes fire for warlocks who do not have the talent.
Master Conjuror: Tooltip revised to indicate it does not increase the damage bonuses of Firestones or Spellstones.
Metamorphosis: The bonus armor effect from this ability will now calculate properly and interact correctly with armor buffs and debuffs. //Where is my Saccy female form??!!!
Ritual of Doom: A Doomguard summoned with this spell will now scale properly from its master’s stats.
Shadow Embrace: This ability will now create a separate debuff stack for each Warlock with the talent, and each warlock will benefit properly from his or her own debuff. //This is a huge fix. I was requesting not to be put in with other locks if they were attending a 10 man raid. That doesn't matter now.
Soul Siphon: Will now gain the correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target.
Unstable Affliction: Will now gain the correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target.
Warrior
//Bunch of changes.
PvP
The Wintergrasp Aura should now properly update in all instances, transferring the buff when the zone control changes.
Arena: Dalaran Sewer: The Flush effect which pushes players out will now also remove the ability to use Demonic Circles summoned during the arena start time.
Items
//Bunch of changes.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Death Knight: A Remedial Lesson
Queklain over at The Stoppable Force did a great post for me called Runic Power and You.
I was reading and tried not to be confused. As I was reading I was missing something VERY basic. Then I had my Death Knight epiphany moment.
You must spend your runes to gain runic power.
A death knight starts off with six runes to spend on their abilities. A death knight gets two unholy, two blood, and two frost runes to spend. This is unlike a rogue who has to create combo points to spend on their abilities.
When an ability calls for "1 blood" rune the death knight must have an available blood rune to spend. Once it is spent that one blood rune has a ten second cooldown. But there is a second blood rune available. Once that is spent also, the death knight has spent all available blood runes and cannot use an ability that requires "1 blood" rune until that first rune is off its ten second cooldown.
Using the two unholy and two frost runes are done exactly the same way as blood. Your runes give you a total of six abilities that can be used in a sequence in the ten seconds before the first rune is off cooldown.
When you use a rune for an ability it gives you runic power.
Each rune used gives you ten runic power. (The amount may change but at this time it is the case.) You can create up to 100 runic power (more with talents) to spend on additional abilities. This is unlike a warrior who has to create rage by being hit to spend on their abilities.
At this point Queklain's post made perfect sense.
I was reading and tried not to be confused. As I was reading I was missing something VERY basic. Then I had my Death Knight epiphany moment.
You must spend your runes to gain runic power.
A death knight starts off with six runes to spend on their abilities. A death knight gets two unholy, two blood, and two frost runes to spend. This is unlike a rogue who has to create combo points to spend on their abilities.
When an ability calls for "1 blood" rune the death knight must have an available blood rune to spend. Once it is spent that one blood rune has a ten second cooldown. But there is a second blood rune available. Once that is spent also, the death knight has spent all available blood runes and cannot use an ability that requires "1 blood" rune until that first rune is off its ten second cooldown.
Using the two unholy and two frost runes are done exactly the same way as blood. Your runes give you a total of six abilities that can be used in a sequence in the ten seconds before the first rune is off cooldown.
When you use a rune for an ability it gives you runic power.
Each rune used gives you ten runic power. (The amount may change but at this time it is the case.) You can create up to 100 runic power (more with talents) to spend on additional abilities. This is unlike a warrior who has to create rage by being hit to spend on their abilities.
At this point Queklain's post made perfect sense.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Footman Mitch Exists
After the fishing contest (I was two fish and a hearth this week) I took the boat from Stormwind to Valiance Keep in the Borean Tundra. I got off the boat and while standing around I SAW them.
After getting off the boat I stopped in front of the inn. I was talking about my new boots and how I want to get minor speed put on them. I could get boar's speed to match Aurum's boots but really. I think the minor speed increase will be just fine.
Then I remembered that this is where the Footmen are suppose to be. Suddenly three of them popped up right in the inn doorway. I followed Footman Rob, Footman George, and Footman Chuck into the inn. I watched as they had some beer.
*The three Footmen walk into the inn*
[12:48:16]Footman Rob says: One last drink before we head to the front?
[12:48:22]Footman George says: Sure, why not?
[12:48:40]Footman Rob says: Barkeep! Bring out your strongest ale. We're off to the front.
[12:48:47]James Deacon says: You lads know the drill. No alcohol to servicemen on duty. You want the general to kill me himself?
[12:48:54]Footman Rob says: You'll surely make an exception for us, eh? We might not come back.
[12:49:00]James Deacon says: All right, all right... but you didn't get these from me!
*Footmen drink the beer*
[12:49:36]Footman Rob says: I guess that's it then. Off we go.
[12:49:43]Footman Chuck says: That was the worst beer I've ever had.
*The Footmen laugh. The three walk out of the inn, joined by a fourth.*
[12:50:03]Footman Mitch says: Hey, guys! Wait up!
*The four Footmen disappear to the front lines.*
I listened in on their conversation. Footman Mitch does not partake in the pre-duty drinking. He is so cute.
After getting off the boat I stopped in front of the inn. I was talking about my new boots and how I want to get minor speed put on them. I could get boar's speed to match Aurum's boots but really. I think the minor speed increase will be just fine.Then I remembered that this is where the Footmen are suppose to be. Suddenly three of them popped up right in the inn doorway. I followed Footman Rob, Footman George, and Footman Chuck into the inn. I watched as they had some beer.
*The three Footmen walk into the inn*
[12:48:16]Footman Rob says: One last drink before we head to the front?
[12:48:22]Footman George says: Sure, why not?
[12:48:40]Footman Rob says: Barkeep! Bring out your strongest ale. We're off to the front.
[12:48:47]James Deacon says: You lads know the drill. No alcohol to servicemen on duty. You want the general to kill me himself?
[12:48:54]Footman Rob says: You'll surely make an exception for us, eh? We might not come back.
[12:49:00]James Deacon says: All right, all right... but you didn't get these from me!
*Footmen drink the beer*
[12:49:36]Footman Rob says: I guess that's it then. Off we go.
[12:49:43]Footman Chuck says: That was the worst beer I've ever had.
*The Footmen laugh. The three walk out of the inn, joined by a fourth.*
[12:50:03]Footman Mitch says: Hey, guys! Wait up!
*The four Footmen disappear to the front lines.*
I listened in on their conversation. Footman Mitch does not partake in the pre-duty drinking. He is so cute.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Ghostcrawler Asks for Warlock Feedback
Posted today was this question by Ghostcrawler:
Affliction:
Curse of Doom – With the speed of boss fights, it does less damage than CoA. I have yet cast this on a Mob post 3.0. (Interesting thought would be to have this a “no threat spell” In some cases the less damage but no threat would make me consider using CoD.)
Curse of Recklessness – The non-stacking of buffs killed this.
Curse of Elements – If this doesn’t benefit 3 or more high dps in the raid my CoA does more damage. (I am still doing more math where that change over is. Maybe someone else my have this already done.)
Curse of Tongues – PvE bosses are immune to this curse in Wrath. (It was useful for Caribdis (Karathress)) Since then I have not used it except in very few cases of BG PvP.
Curse of Weakness – I have used this once since Wrath, in an extremely limited case since it was for an Achievement in Halls of Stone. Also used in BG PvP on rare occasions.
Drain Mana – I have not used at all. I find it more time and mana efficient to make a target use up their mana in heals or casts then to use this spell.
Demonology:
Demon Skin – Needs to be combined as a lower rank of Demon Armor.
Inferno & Ritual of Doom – I have never summoned an Infernal. The one time I did summon a Doomguard was for healer practice prior to Wrath. (But with the low level of damage our current minions have, I thought about using the Infernal in a heroic or two, but only for an achievement.)
Summon Succubus & Summon Voidwalker – No buffs to lock or party, insignificant damage, few uses of CC in Wrath, and low survivability. At least a Succy sac spec pre-Wrath made her a useful minion. Same for VW for PvP. Now nothing.
Soulshatter - Cooldown really needs to be reduced, four minutes would be nice. In a boss fight Shatter at 2 min and 6 min. I could work with that currently I have one chance. I do use this spell all the time.
Destruction:
Incinerate – Trying to time this in addition to the affliction spells… well lets just say that this spell is not even on my bars.
Chaos Bolt, Conflagrate, and Shadowfury - I have not speced Destro for a while. But they were useable to me at the time.
Shadowflame – Barely usable. I would like to see a cooldown reduction to 7-10 seconds. It is a spell I use to get agro off my healers in add situations like COT: Culling of Stratholme. A DoT with 3 secs to start damaging is not fast enough. But Shadowflame works well.
What are your thoughts? Go tell GC so you can be a part of the process.
Topic: Warlocks, which spells do you never use?My rundown on the topic:
Feel free to explain why or just list the spells. Typical explanations might be something like "The damage isn't competitive" or "I can't afford the talent points."
For purposes of this thread, please confine your discussion to this specific question and don't belabor the point with other class issues. - Ghostcrawler
Affliction:
Curse of Doom – With the speed of boss fights, it does less damage than CoA. I have yet cast this on a Mob post 3.0. (Interesting thought would be to have this a “no threat spell” In some cases the less damage but no threat would make me consider using CoD.)Curse of Recklessness – The non-stacking of buffs killed this.
Curse of Elements – If this doesn’t benefit 3 or more high dps in the raid my CoA does more damage. (I am still doing more math where that change over is. Maybe someone else my have this already done.)
Curse of Tongues – PvE bosses are immune to this curse in Wrath. (It was useful for Caribdis (Karathress)) Since then I have not used it except in very few cases of BG PvP.
Curse of Weakness – I have used this once since Wrath, in an extremely limited case since it was for an Achievement in Halls of Stone. Also used in BG PvP on rare occasions.
Drain Mana – I have not used at all. I find it more time and mana efficient to make a target use up their mana in heals or casts then to use this spell.
Demonology:
Demon Skin – Needs to be combined as a lower rank of Demon Armor.Inferno & Ritual of Doom – I have never summoned an Infernal. The one time I did summon a Doomguard was for healer practice prior to Wrath. (But with the low level of damage our current minions have, I thought about using the Infernal in a heroic or two, but only for an achievement.)
Summon Succubus & Summon Voidwalker – No buffs to lock or party, insignificant damage, few uses of CC in Wrath, and low survivability. At least a Succy sac spec pre-Wrath made her a useful minion. Same for VW for PvP. Now nothing.
Soulshatter - Cooldown really needs to be reduced, four minutes would be nice. In a boss fight Shatter at 2 min and 6 min. I could work with that currently I have one chance. I do use this spell all the time.
Destruction:
Incinerate – Trying to time this in addition to the affliction spells… well lets just say that this spell is not even on my bars.Chaos Bolt, Conflagrate, and Shadowfury - I have not speced Destro for a while. But they were useable to me at the time.
Shadowflame – Barely usable. I would like to see a cooldown reduction to 7-10 seconds. It is a spell I use to get agro off my healers in add situations like COT: Culling of Stratholme. A DoT with 3 secs to start damaging is not fast enough. But Shadowflame works well.
What are your thoughts? Go tell GC so you can be a part of the process.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Why Not Four Healers
That was the solution someone gave me for Sapphiron.
Right now we run 10-man Naxx with 2 tanks, 3 healers, and 5 dps. This person actually told me that they drop a tank and bring in a fourth healer for the Sapphiron fight.
.
..
…
I like my tanks.
I like my healers.
So you are telling me we should drop someone and replace them?
…
On paper it works (if you are a heartless @$$), but in a raid? Let’s look.
Tank – They just took the hatefuls on Patchwerk. They timed their refresh of the Death Knight Understudies to perfection. They switched at three debuffs on the Four Horsemen like clockwork. And you are dumping them.
Healer – They received no loot from the other quarters 13 bosses. They didn’t get one badge from the other wings. They will be saved to raid ID and cannot even find a PuG later. And you are taking them.
…
Heck I am considered cheap. I am known for it. I will farm for a lot of things before I spend gold on it. I will store a lot of mats indefinitely in the off case that I can use it later.
No one said that raiding was cheap. You have never heard me ONCE complain that it was expensive (granted I don't wear plate). If any of my guildes want help to make the frost resist gear I will help. But like any craftable gear it just takes effort on the part of the raider. It can be done.
I cannot think of any other reason then pure cost and laziness that would make a raid leader go this route.
All a fourth healer will be doing is healing the damage the raid is taking that would be mitigated by crafting three pieces of frost resist gear… gear that is available for cloth, leather, mail, or plate.
I am so glad this person is not in my guild.
What a goober.
Right now we run 10-man Naxx with 2 tanks, 3 healers, and 5 dps. This person actually told me that they drop a tank and bring in a fourth healer for the Sapphiron fight.
.
..
…
I like my tanks.
I like my healers.
So you are telling me we should drop someone and replace them?
…
On paper it works (if you are a heartless @$$), but in a raid? Let’s look.
Tank – They just took the hatefuls on Patchwerk. They timed their refresh of the Death Knight Understudies to perfection. They switched at three debuffs on the Four Horsemen like clockwork. And you are dumping them.
Healer – They received no loot from the other quarters 13 bosses. They didn’t get one badge from the other wings. They will be saved to raid ID and cannot even find a PuG later. And you are taking them.
…
Heck I am considered cheap. I am known for it. I will farm for a lot of things before I spend gold on it. I will store a lot of mats indefinitely in the off case that I can use it later.
No one said that raiding was cheap. You have never heard me ONCE complain that it was expensive (granted I don't wear plate). If any of my guildes want help to make the frost resist gear I will help. But like any craftable gear it just takes effort on the part of the raider. It can be done.
I cannot think of any other reason then pure cost and laziness that would make a raid leader go this route.
All a fourth healer will be doing is healing the damage the raid is taking that would be mitigated by crafting three pieces of frost resist gear… gear that is available for cloth, leather, mail, or plate.
I am so glad this person is not in my guild.
What a goober.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Last Quarter – Lock tank FTW!
Sunday we had a shorter raid time but went and cleared out the Military Quarter. After that we took a look at Sapphiron.
I lock tanked the ranged bosses for Four Horsemen! Apparently you CANNOT Curse of Element, Siphon Life, Haunt, and Drain Life yourself through the damage. Even at 2,000 spell power self buffed I could not do it. At least I could not make it work.
The other ranged “tank” needs to help keep the warlock topped off. Not much is needed but some healing to keep ahead of the damage. The druid kept hots on me and we had no problems.
Since we can go back there prior to pull I was able to use the markings on the ground to ensure I was in range of hots. Keeping in mind the pillar so that I was in line of sight at all times.
We had to communicate in vent on our switch. Switching in the back is not the same as the front group. There is a lot of communicating in vent for this fight. We were over lapping instructions.
Instead of announcing “switching” I started to say my druid’s name. “Druid switch” or “Druid I have three stack” which if the first word was not caught then maybe the name would work. Once I did this we had no problems.
For my first tanking of the Four Horsemen I won my second tier piece, Heroes' Plagueheart Robe. YES!!! I waited to buy my chest piece. I even have the 250 emblem achievement. I could have got it ages ago. My Egg Sac Robes were working for me with the +19 spell power gems. Also, I want to spend my emblems on PvP gear. Which I have yet to do. *shrug*
This was my first week that I finished the four wings of Naxxramas. I really like the variety of the fights over all. From tank and spank to move or you will die.
The only thing that still concerns me is soul shard management. I have seen my glyph of drain soul work one time ever. This one time was three weeks ago. Some of the areas in Naxx have so little trash or they die so quickly I am having trouble replenishing. My choice during trash is really get a shard or dps. I have not been able to effectively do both.
We took a look at Sapphiron.
This was my second time doing this. From our first attempt we learned a lot. From that experience a lot of us went and crafted our frost resistance set. The tank and majority of the dps had frost resist gear. Not knowing that they were coming to raid Sapphiron that night, none of our healers had the resist gear made.
Glacial Robe +115 Frost Resistance
Glacial Slippers +86 Frost Resistance
Glacial Waistband +85 Frost Resistance
I made the three pieces to get the 286 frost resistance. A pally frost resist aura gives 130 frost resistance. In total that put me at 416 frost resistance. I would resist the full 600 constant damage throughout the fight.
I gemmed for survival and hit rating, Veiled Huge Citrine and Glowing Shadow Crystal to get the additional stamina from the socket bonuses. Over all I didn’t lose much hit. I lost about 200 spell power but it is a long fight about survivability.
In our last attempt we got him to 44%. We know what we need to do now. He will be another dead boss for us soon.
I lock tanked the ranged bosses for Four Horsemen! Apparently you CANNOT Curse of Element, Siphon Life, Haunt, and Drain Life yourself through the damage. Even at 2,000 spell power self buffed I could not do it. At least I could not make it work.
The other ranged “tank” needs to help keep the warlock topped off. Not much is needed but some healing to keep ahead of the damage. The druid kept hots on me and we had no problems.
Since we can go back there prior to pull I was able to use the markings on the ground to ensure I was in range of hots. Keeping in mind the pillar so that I was in line of sight at all times.
We had to communicate in vent on our switch. Switching in the back is not the same as the front group. There is a lot of communicating in vent for this fight. We were over lapping instructions.
Instead of announcing “switching” I started to say my druid’s name. “Druid switch” or “Druid I have three stack” which if the first word was not caught then maybe the name would work. Once I did this we had no problems.
For my first tanking of the Four Horsemen I won my second tier piece, Heroes' Plagueheart Robe. YES!!! I waited to buy my chest piece. I even have the 250 emblem achievement. I could have got it ages ago. My Egg Sac Robes were working for me with the +19 spell power gems. Also, I want to spend my emblems on PvP gear. Which I have yet to do. *shrug*
This was my first week that I finished the four wings of Naxxramas. I really like the variety of the fights over all. From tank and spank to move or you will die.
The only thing that still concerns me is soul shard management. I have seen my glyph of drain soul work one time ever. This one time was three weeks ago. Some of the areas in Naxx have so little trash or they die so quickly I am having trouble replenishing. My choice during trash is really get a shard or dps. I have not been able to effectively do both.
We took a look at Sapphiron.
This was my second time doing this. From our first attempt we learned a lot. From that experience a lot of us went and crafted our frost resistance set. The tank and majority of the dps had frost resist gear. Not knowing that they were coming to raid Sapphiron that night, none of our healers had the resist gear made.Glacial Robe +115 Frost Resistance
Glacial Slippers +86 Frost Resistance
Glacial Waistband +85 Frost Resistance
I made the three pieces to get the 286 frost resistance. A pally frost resist aura gives 130 frost resistance. In total that put me at 416 frost resistance. I would resist the full 600 constant damage throughout the fight.
I gemmed for survival and hit rating, Veiled Huge Citrine and Glowing Shadow Crystal to get the additional stamina from the socket bonuses. Over all I didn’t lose much hit. I lost about 200 spell power but it is a long fight about survivability.
In our last attempt we got him to 44%. We know what we need to do now. He will be another dead boss for us soon.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Three Quarters
Saturday we cleared three quarters in Naxxramas, the Construct Quarter, the Plague Quarter, and the Arachnid Quarter.
I received my Construct Quarter achievement on Grobbulus. I didn’t go the full week before. I attended the last day of clean up so I killed Thaddius the week before.
What made this a fun fight was once again my fellow raiders. All I have to say is that some tanks had their Raid Warning privileges removed for their excessive use of…
/RW POOP
Well ... because ... that is what Grobbulus does and if you drop your poop on your friends … they may not be your friends much longer.
It was unexpected for me that we went and cleared the Plague Quarter next. I had no idea that was where we were off to next. But our RLs were good about explaining it to us. OK maybe reading it too us.
The Dark Shroud of the Scourge dropped and I lost it to a /roll of a 15. A 15!! Evidently I didn’t want it at all. *smacks head on desk*
Somewhere in there I won my token for my shoulders, Heroes' Plagueheart Shoulderpads. My first tier piece. I am very excited about that. My newly exalted status with the Sons of Hodir (last Wednesday) will now be used.
To finish off the night we ran through the Arachnid Quarter in about an hour. We have been to that wing a few times. The fights have minimum explanation. Starting to get a farming grove on. It was a very good run.
I received my Construct Quarter achievement on Grobbulus. I didn’t go the full week before. I attended the last day of clean up so I killed Thaddius the week before.
What made this a fun fight was once again my fellow raiders. All I have to say is that some tanks had their Raid Warning privileges removed for their excessive use of…/RW POOP
Well ... because ... that is what Grobbulus does and if you drop your poop on your friends … they may not be your friends much longer.
It was unexpected for me that we went and cleared the Plague Quarter next. I had no idea that was where we were off to next. But our RLs were good about explaining it to us. OK maybe reading it too us.
The Dark Shroud of the Scourge dropped and I lost it to a /roll of a 15. A 15!! Evidently I didn’t want it at all. *smacks head on desk*Somewhere in there I won my token for my shoulders, Heroes' Plagueheart Shoulderpads. My first tier piece. I am very excited about that. My newly exalted status with the Sons of Hodir (last Wednesday) will now be used.
To finish off the night we ran through the Arachnid Quarter in about an hour. We have been to that wing a few times. The fights have minimum explanation. Starting to get a farming grove on. It was a very good run.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Tale of Winter Vale in Orgrimmar
Near Winter Vales end I had this insightful conversation…
[Me] I’m sorry. I was turning in a Winter Vale quest in Ironforge. You were attacking. I must defend!
[Horde friend] I understand. I got what I wanted Pattern: Red Winter Clothes.
[Me] … you can buy that from the vendor? You can talk to them?
[Horde friend] They are goblins. So yes you can.
[Me] I can go to Orgrimmar and buy Pattern: Green Winter Clothes?
[Horde friend] Yes. Just don’t tell anyone because you know you will have “friends” show up. =)
So Iridium did some reconnaissance of the area. Made sure I had the information I needed to be quick. It was the girl goblin on the left, next to the auction house. The pattern was on the first page bottom right. Was only 50 silver to buy.
I plotted by myself. In trafficking a route to Orgrimmar, I informed my Rogue and Mage on what I was doing. Since Mage did a lot of fishing there, he knew the most direct route. Sure why not, it was a raid of Orgrimmar of three.
We ran in and since I had not been there we hit up Ragefire Chasm.
Then the odd thing happened.
No one attacked me in Orgrimmar. I was flagged. But none of the guards were attacking. I could see my two group members dieing. I could see their dots on my map. I could not see them.
I ran around checking out Orgrimmar. Maybe it was the chicken mount. But all the vendors were out of place.
Then I saw them. Forsaken refugees.
I could not RAID ORIGRIMMAR because my-lazy-self-didn’t-finish-the-quest-line-in-Dragonblight. I stopped at Reborn From The Ashes.
*growls in uncontrollable rage*
I couldn’t kill Horde.
The Horde cannot kill me.
I cannot buy my pattern because I am phased. STUPID MAGES. Stupid Jaina. I know it is her fault. That is what I get from laughing every time she disses Athras in The Culling of Stratholme.
So I go to Stormwind and then go with Jaina to talk to Thrall.
I get a little fishing in since I am there.
Eventually this leads me to Undercity where I get to fight alongside King Varian. (Hot… came to mind during this fight.) The numbers flashed all over my screen.
Then it was about to happen Thrall and Varian the big Face Off. LET ME WATCH.
That Jaina ruined my voyeurism. Brut force man action!!! Missed. Stupid mage. But she did help me have some big numbers.
Well I did my task. I finished off being an ambassador and annihilating anything of a truce I had in Orgrimmar. Back I went to Orgrimmar all by my gnomish self.
I died once to get to the vendor, then used my soulstone so I could by my pattern, then stood there and died again.
I can now make Green Winter Clothes.
[Me] I’m sorry. I was turning in a Winter Vale quest in Ironforge. You were attacking. I must defend!
[Horde friend] I understand. I got what I wanted Pattern: Red Winter Clothes.
[Me] … you can buy that from the vendor? You can talk to them?
[Horde friend] They are goblins. So yes you can.
[Me] I can go to Orgrimmar and buy Pattern: Green Winter Clothes?
[Horde friend] Yes. Just don’t tell anyone because you know you will have “friends” show up. =)
So Iridium did some reconnaissance of the area. Made sure I had the information I needed to be quick. It was the girl goblin on the left, next to the auction house. The pattern was on the first page bottom right. Was only 50 silver to buy.
I plotted by myself. In trafficking a route to Orgrimmar, I informed my Rogue and Mage on what I was doing. Since Mage did a lot of fishing there, he knew the most direct route. Sure why not, it was a raid of Orgrimmar of three.
We ran in and since I had not been there we hit up Ragefire Chasm.
Then the odd thing happened.No one attacked me in Orgrimmar. I was flagged. But none of the guards were attacking. I could see my two group members dieing. I could see their dots on my map. I could not see them.
I ran around checking out Orgrimmar. Maybe it was the chicken mount. But all the vendors were out of place.
Then I saw them. Forsaken refugees.
I could not RAID ORIGRIMMAR because my-lazy-self-didn’t-finish-the-quest-line-in-Dragonblight. I stopped at Reborn From The Ashes.*growls in uncontrollable rage*
I couldn’t kill Horde.
The Horde cannot kill me.
I cannot buy my pattern because I am phased. STUPID MAGES. Stupid Jaina. I know it is her fault. That is what I get from laughing every time she disses Athras in The Culling of Stratholme.
So I go to Stormwind and then go with Jaina to talk to Thrall.
I get a little fishing in since I am there.
Eventually this leads me to Undercity where I get to fight alongside King Varian. (Hot… came to mind during this fight.) The numbers flashed all over my screen.
Then it was about to happen Thrall and Varian the big Face Off. LET ME WATCH.
That Jaina ruined my voyeurism. Brut force man action!!! Missed. Stupid mage. But she did help me have some big numbers.
Well I did my task. I finished off being an ambassador and annihilating anything of a truce I had in Orgrimmar. Back I went to Orgrimmar all by my gnomish self.
I died once to get to the vendor, then used my soulstone so I could by my pattern, then stood there and died again.I can now make Green Winter Clothes.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I am a Death Knight
I was reborn to the Horde. (First as a Draenei…Then told to reroll as Horde. So I made an Undead, then a Troll, then a Tauren (who I kinda liked), but sorry, I still ended as a Blood Elf. /sorry) They could spit on me. They could throw bananas. They could throw apples. They could cower in fear at my presence in Orgrimmar. But nothing they could do could prepare me for the worst of all things while entering into the city.
The cruelty.
The pain.
The horrible words.
I was not prepared for it. I was in shock.
It could be none other then…
TRADE CHAT!!!
*FYI: Death Knight: A Remedial Lesson*
Ahn'Qiraj at 80
As I said on the Twisted Nether Blogcast, we did a guild run of AQ 20 and AQ 40. I had a lot of fun wiping on the Twin Emperors. I don't think anyone had seen passed this fight at 60 so it was a great opportunity for the group.
In AQ 40 we had a bad initial start with C’Thun where someone (*cough*rogue*cough*) went in and the boss saw through stealth for a wipe.
I was able to mount inside the raid instance. The raid members were able to repair using my traveler's tundra mammoth. It is much handier then I expected. (FYI everyone starts at neutral and cannot gain reputation but they can become hated.)
We cleared AQ 40 with fun had by all. I'm alive!
We will absolutely go back to continue farming those glove enchants, Fire , Frost, and Shadow. If we actually get any of these to drop I will be very ecstatic.
In AQ 40 we had a bad initial start with C’Thun where someone (*cough*rogue*cough*) went in and the boss saw through stealth for a wipe.
I was able to mount inside the raid instance. The raid members were able to repair using my traveler's tundra mammoth. It is much handier then I expected. (FYI everyone starts at neutral and cannot gain reputation but they can become hated.)
We cleared AQ 40 with fun had by all. I'm alive!
We will absolutely go back to continue farming those glove enchants, Fire , Frost, and Shadow. If we actually get any of these to drop I will be very ecstatic.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Enchanting Mats Reduced 3.0.8
I have been choosing enchants on the cheap. Using Enchant Cloak – Speed for 6x Infinite Dust instead of the Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed for the 24x Infinite Dust and 12x Greater Cosmic Essence.
With how much enchanting mats were going for in the AH the +8 increase in Haste was not going to make a difference. But the gold will!
MMO Champion posted a list of the reduced price of the Wrath enchants in 3.0.8. With this change I will be upgrading all of my enchants.
So if you are leveling your enchanting wait until 3.0.8. But stock up on shards now, because they are reducing the drop rate on dream shards.
Truth. I have not sold one stack of infinite dust. Primarily because I was leveling my tailoring. I also helped others with their tailoring and the big one enchanting. I have only sold some GCE to make up the cost of some of the greens I buy and get DE into enchanting mats.
What am I going to do now? SELL SELL SELL.
I believe the current price of infinite dust is artificially high. With 3.0.8 we will have an increase in dust from Northrend greens (reducing the chance of shards) partnered with the reduced mats from enchants. Also right now the rush for leveling professions is tapering off. I suspect there will be a spike in dust prices (people re-enchanting) and then a stabilization to a lower point then the current price.
… but I maybe incorrect.
*sings* A little gold in my pocket. Right out of yours. A little gold in my pocket. So I can take more of yours. *hums some more*
With how much enchanting mats were going for in the AH the +8 increase in Haste was not going to make a difference. But the gold will!
MMO Champion posted a list of the reduced price of the Wrath enchants in 3.0.8. With this change I will be upgrading all of my enchants.
So if you are leveling your enchanting wait until 3.0.8. But stock up on shards now, because they are reducing the drop rate on dream shards.
Truth. I have not sold one stack of infinite dust. Primarily because I was leveling my tailoring. I also helped others with their tailoring and the big one enchanting. I have only sold some GCE to make up the cost of some of the greens I buy and get DE into enchanting mats.
What am I going to do now? SELL SELL SELL.
I believe the current price of infinite dust is artificially high. With 3.0.8 we will have an increase in dust from Northrend greens (reducing the chance of shards) partnered with the reduced mats from enchants. Also right now the rush for leveling professions is tapering off. I suspect there will be a spike in dust prices (people re-enchanting) and then a stabilization to a lower point then the current price.
… but I maybe incorrect.
*sings* A little gold in my pocket. Right out of yours. A little gold in my pocket. So I can take more of yours. *hums some more*
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Bag and Faire Time
Sartharion dropped the Dragon Hide Bag just for me. Bigger bag = more shards.
Soiled Trousers … should that have been a gray item? 
A friend linked to me some gear. I don’t know what I was thinking based on who it was being linked by…
I am holding onto a Prism Deck and waiting patiently for the Darkmoon Faire to get here. Off to Thunder Bluff I go tonight!
*giddy*
Darkmoon Card: Illusion should push me over 2000 spell power self buffed.
Soiled Trousers … should that have been a gray item? 
A friend linked to me some gear. I don’t know what I was thinking based on who it was being linked by…
I am holding onto a Prism Deck and waiting patiently for the Darkmoon Faire to get here. Off to Thunder Bluff I go tonight!
*giddy*Darkmoon Card: Illusion should push me over 2000 spell power self buffed.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Winter Vale for the (Prairie) Dogs
This is winters vale is over. But for me it was great fun.
My Husband’s mother made us some great desk calendars as gifts.
This year was the year of the prairie dog. I smuggled not ten or twenty of these to Alliance side, but EIGHTY (80) prairie dogs through the goblins this year. I also smuggled thirty snowshoe rabbits over to horde side. After all was passed out I ended up with only seven prairie dogs left.
It was fun exchanging in-game mail with so many people. I got a chance to say hi to to a few I had not chatted with in ages. I received a lot of buff food in return. It was sweet of them and much appreciated. The kind letters really warmed my heart.
I can tell you that "Merrymaker" is a title that I may have earned... but I will never show.
But I Hit the jack pot with my jewelcrafter! Two +19 spell power gems!!! I saved them for something special.
I thought hard on what to use them in. Then I won it!
My new belt was socketed with yummy goodness.
Being nice is sometimes hard. This just reminds me that it can be … "profitable"... well it is true.
My Husband’s mother made us some great desk calendars as gifts.
This year was the year of the prairie dog. I smuggled not ten or twenty of these to Alliance side, but EIGHTY (80) prairie dogs through the goblins this year. I also smuggled thirty snowshoe rabbits over to horde side. After all was passed out I ended up with only seven prairie dogs left.
It was fun exchanging in-game mail with so many people. I got a chance to say hi to to a few I had not chatted with in ages. I received a lot of buff food in return. It was sweet of them and much appreciated. The kind letters really warmed my heart.
I can tell you that "Merrymaker" is a title that I may have earned... but I will never show.
But I Hit the jack pot with my jewelcrafter! Two +19 spell power gems!!! I saved them for something special.
I thought hard on what to use them in. Then I won it!
My new belt was socketed with yummy goodness.
Being nice is sometimes hard. This just reminds me that it can be … "profitable"... well it is true.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
The Warlock Den Forums
There is great stuff on the Warlock Den forums.
I enjoy the community. I am just not a contributor. I would have to think about what I was writing and where is the fun in that. I only get so much time to write and I would much rather post here and be all rambly.
I like this post on raid specs. There is still not a cookie cutter spec yet. I like that. The section on “Final Thoughts” is very informative. Give you idea of things to keep tabs on.
With the warlock centric focus community you get some solid information. But like all things you have to consider your own play-style, gear, and goals. Test something out for yourself because that is the only way you will truly know.
Two gems of wisdom I enjoyed…
“Use the power of the SEED Luke.” - jesterlock
“I would be surprised if you played a Warlock to be liked.” - Zragoll
I enjoy the community. I am just not a contributor. I would have to think about what I was writing and where is the fun in that. I only get so much time to write and I would much rather post here and be all rambly.
I like this post on raid specs. There is still not a cookie cutter spec yet. I like that. The section on “Final Thoughts” is very informative. Give you idea of things to keep tabs on.
With the warlock centric focus community you get some solid information. But like all things you have to consider your own play-style, gear, and goals. Test something out for yourself because that is the only way you will truly know.
Two gems of wisdom I enjoyed…
“Use the power of the SEED Luke.” - jesterlock
“I would be surprised if you played a Warlock to be liked.” - Zragoll
Friday, January 2, 2009
Iron Boot Flask
In patch 3.0.8 the Iron Boot Flask is going to cost 250 Relic of Ulduar. If you want it and can pick one up now, buy it for the ten (10) Relic of Ulduar. It is a fun item.
Tale of a Spell Non-Rotation
I have always enjoyed Affliction warlock spec. Running around putting DoTs up on every thing/one in a 40 yard radius. I LOVE glancing behind me and seeing them fall over like dominoes… one … after … another. *wistful sigh*
Right now I am having issues. I feel spastic. It is like I am waiting for them to take me away. I am franticly trying to find a comfortable grove in a long fight. Just to give you an idea what my spell “rotation” is like right now by just the keys I am hitting …
= 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 1 6 7 = 3 2 1 1 6 7 = 3
An excreta was not added at the end of the string because it constantly changes. THAT is why I am feeling spastic.
* with Bane
There are a lot of things that change all the cast times and the Global Cooldown (GCD). I have instant spells that I can move while casting but depend on the GCD. There are the cast spells of 1.5 seconds (the same time as the GCD). Shadow Bolt is at a respectable 2.5 seconds with talents.
Full 5 talent points in Bane reduces the casting time of Shadow Bolt to 2.5 seconds and Immolate to 1.5 seconds.
Amplify Curse reduces the global cooldown of your Curses by 0.5 sec. After casting a curse you can cast another spell quicker.
Everlasting Affliction lets Drain Life and Haunt spells reapply Corruption. This is a must have talent. It is important to make sure you reapply Haunt. I am trying to remember that drain life also reapplies Corruption with this talent. I need to think on when it would be more of a benefit to use Drain Life verses reapplying Haunt. It maybe simply a “mob is going to die in the next 5 seconds” scenario.
Another talent is Eradication that has a chance every 30 seconds to increase casting speed by 20% for 12 seconds. Faster casting can let DoTs override eachother. That is bad for Curse of Agony. So something I need to watch for before reapplying my curse.
Haste is not something I have a firm grasp on yet. Because most of our spells are instant or at the 1.5 GCD it was not a very useful stat. As of patch 2.4 spell haste affects GCD. Enough haste can reduce the GCD to 1 second.
My gear spell haste influences spellcasting and the GCD of my instants. Until wrath I have not had a lot of haste gear but it seems to be on everything. My natural collection of gear has lead me to have some haste. So the actual cast time for my 1.5 sec spells are actally less.
So with gear and talent procs my spell cast speed can change at any moment.
Why is there NOT a spell rotation?
1. Different cast times
2. Different durations
3. Talent procs different cast times
4. Trinket use causes different cast times
5. Human “opps didn’t see that DoT fall off”
All we can do is establish priorities.
1. Haunt
2. All the other DoTs that drop off.
3. Shadow Bolt
I keep Haunt up on target above all other spells. As DoTs drop I reapply. If I am not sure what to reapply yet I automatically hit my Shadow Bolt. That gives me 2 seconds to figure out what is dropping off next and be ready for it.
After chatting with another warlock at a Holiday Party, he told me as a destro lock he hits three maybe four keys. Well that is up from the curse and Shadow Bolt spam from BC. Still … if I wanted to roll a fire mage I would have. QQ
Right now I am having issues. I feel spastic. It is like I am waiting for them to take me away. I am franticly trying to find a comfortable grove in a long fight. Just to give you an idea what my spell “rotation” is like right now by just the keys I am hitting …
= 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 1 6 7 = 3 2 1 1 6 7 = 3
An excreta was not added at the end of the string because it constantly changes. THAT is why I am feeling spastic.
| Spell | Cast Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Corruption | Instant | 18 sec |
| Curse of Agony | Instant | 12 sec |
| Siphon Life | Instant | 30 sec |
| Immolate | 1.5* | 15 sec |
| Unstable Affliction | 1.5 | 18 sec |
| Haunt | 1.5 | 12 sec |
| Shadow Bolt | 2.5* | N/A |
There are a lot of things that change all the cast times and the Global Cooldown (GCD). I have instant spells that I can move while casting but depend on the GCD. There are the cast spells of 1.5 seconds (the same time as the GCD). Shadow Bolt is at a respectable 2.5 seconds with talents.
Full 5 talent points in Bane reduces the casting time of Shadow Bolt to 2.5 seconds and Immolate to 1.5 seconds.
Amplify Curse reduces the global cooldown of your Curses by 0.5 sec. After casting a curse you can cast another spell quicker.
Everlasting Affliction lets Drain Life and Haunt spells reapply Corruption. This is a must have talent. It is important to make sure you reapply Haunt. I am trying to remember that drain life also reapplies Corruption with this talent. I need to think on when it would be more of a benefit to use Drain Life verses reapplying Haunt. It maybe simply a “mob is going to die in the next 5 seconds” scenario.
Another talent is Eradication that has a chance every 30 seconds to increase casting speed by 20% for 12 seconds. Faster casting can let DoTs override eachother. That is bad for Curse of Agony. So something I need to watch for before reapplying my curse.
Haste is not something I have a firm grasp on yet. Because most of our spells are instant or at the 1.5 GCD it was not a very useful stat. As of patch 2.4 spell haste affects GCD. Enough haste can reduce the GCD to 1 second.
My gear spell haste influences spellcasting and the GCD of my instants. Until wrath I have not had a lot of haste gear but it seems to be on everything. My natural collection of gear has lead me to have some haste. So the actual cast time for my 1.5 sec spells are actally less.
So with gear and talent procs my spell cast speed can change at any moment.
Why is there NOT a spell rotation?
1. Different cast times
2. Different durations
3. Talent procs different cast times
4. Trinket use causes different cast times
5. Human “opps didn’t see that DoT fall off”
All we can do is establish priorities.
1. Haunt
2. All the other DoTs that drop off.
3. Shadow Bolt
I keep Haunt up on target above all other spells. As DoTs drop I reapply. If I am not sure what to reapply yet I automatically hit my Shadow Bolt. That gives me 2 seconds to figure out what is dropping off next and be ready for it.
After chatting with another warlock at a Holiday Party, he told me as a destro lock he hits three maybe four keys. Well that is up from the curse and Shadow Bolt spam from BC. Still … if I wanted to roll a fire mage I would have. QQ
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