It’s always strange when one of the more interesting beta developments for Protection warriors has nothing to do with, you know, Protection warriors. Yet in amongst the raft of recent changes, a possible look to the future can be found when mulling over the paladin notes. Because they fill the role of “beardless, shield-toting cissies”, a look over their notes will occasionally hint at a route that the developers might be likely to take with us, the superior shield bearers WITH beards.
The latest beta patch was just such an occasional hint.
Of course, many will recall my recent post regarding how Protection warrior mastery is now a gutter stat, relegated to the naughty step for one minute per each year of its life, but there is potentially some good news in the offing. In fact, I’d go as far to say that mastery is potentially about to become our best stat again.
Running wild through Azeroth from the perspective of a Protection warrior.
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Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Latest changes for warriors (Protection focus).
The latest beta changes actually have quite a significant impact on warriors of the Protection variety. Though some of the changes appear largely innocuous, they do provide an interesting insight into how the developers see the class evolving over the course of the beta and into Mists of Pandaria.
For the sake of clarity, I’m not going to go through the changes one by one; this is because some of the changes appear to be flat, savage nerfs when not viewed in accordance with other things. Other than a couple of tweaks and some pretty random jiggery-pokery, there’s a lot to love here.
All told, however, I think Protection warriors have been buffed a little in general, with one significant change for the better.
Let’s get at it.
For the sake of clarity, I’m not going to go through the changes one by one; this is because some of the changes appear to be flat, savage nerfs when not viewed in accordance with other things. Other than a couple of tweaks and some pretty random jiggery-pokery, there’s a lot to love here.
All told, however, I think Protection warriors have been buffed a little in general, with one significant change for the better.
Let’s get at it.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Official active mitigation thread.
Just so you guys can keep on top of the discussion I managed to spawn on active mitigation, here's the link to the thread on the official forums where Ghostcrawler himself got involved.
There's tons of good commentary here but the calamitous crab's next input is going to be vital. Either he shows that he understands the concerns, or he doesn't and three of the five tanks are going to be garbage.
Fingers crossed.
There's tons of good commentary here but the calamitous crab's next input is going to be vital. Either he shows that he understands the concerns, or he doesn't and three of the five tanks are going to be garbage.
Fingers crossed.
Friday, April 20, 2012
"Active mitigation" is a flop, Part Deux.
I must admit that I’m honestly surprised to see Ghostcrawler post such a detailed response to my original article describing active mitigation as a flop (thanks to Albert the Fish for republishing it on the beta forums). What I’m not surprised to see is that he’s come close to ignoring the content of it, as well as the other feedback, and simply said an awful lot about what the developers are going to do, regardless.
What’s downright alarming is that this is like the Cataclysm beta all over again and either Ghostcrawler himself, or his team, have learned absolutely nothing from that experience.
His first paragraph is an attempt to correct a definition of active mitigation that he feels has gotten mixed up with what players think it should mean. But the non-DK tanking community isn’t telling him that they don’t understand the design intent.
They’re telling him that they don’t like the design intent.
What’s downright alarming is that this is like the Cataclysm beta all over again and either Ghostcrawler himself, or his team, have learned absolutely nothing from that experience.
His first paragraph is an attempt to correct a definition of active mitigation that he feels has gotten mixed up with what players think it should mean. But the non-DK tanking community isn’t telling him that they don’t understand the design intent.
They’re telling him that they don’t like the design intent.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Is blogging dying out?
It’s widely considered that Cataclysm is Blizzard’s worst World of Warcraft expansion to date. I’m not going to go into another diatribe about that because it’s cliché by now, but its impact on server communities, guilds, 25-man raiding, PvP balance and freedom of questing is all well documented by now.
What isn’t well documented is the impact on the community outside of the game, specifically on bloggers. While “blogging” is a bit of a paragon term for podcasting, videocasting and the writing of web logs themselves, it appears to me that all of these mediums have taken pretty significant hits in volume.
It would appear that “the cataclysm” has struck outside of game, too.
What isn’t well documented is the impact on the community outside of the game, specifically on bloggers. While “blogging” is a bit of a paragon term for podcasting, videocasting and the writing of web logs themselves, it appears to me that all of these mediums have taken pretty significant hits in volume.
It would appear that “the cataclysm” has struck outside of game, too.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Panther Pleading.
Though I’m excited about the new jewelcrafting panther mounts, particularly for a guild mate of mine who’s a collector, I have to admit that the recent comment from Wryxian made my blood run cold. Specifically this little gem (gem? Get it?):
”These will be Jewelcrafter recipes and we're not actually completely decided on whether there will be a recipe for each colour, or whether the creation of one will produce one of the four colours at random.”
Please, please, please do NOT make these random. I understand why you might take that route, but it would be monumentally stupid to make a hugely expensive mount and then see someone spend a fortune getting three yellow ones in their aim for the black.
Seriously. Don’t do it. It’s not compelling, interesting, or fun to throw gold away, particularly when (like me) you can’t generally be arsed farming it.
Separate patterns only. You know it’s the right thing to do.
”These will be Jewelcrafter recipes and we're not actually completely decided on whether there will be a recipe for each colour, or whether the creation of one will produce one of the four colours at random.”
Please, please, please do NOT make these random. I understand why you might take that route, but it would be monumentally stupid to make a hugely expensive mount and then see someone spend a fortune getting three yellow ones in their aim for the black.
Seriously. Don’t do it. It’s not compelling, interesting, or fun to throw gold away, particularly when (like me) you can’t generally be arsed farming it.
Separate patterns only. You know it’s the right thing to do.
Monday, April 16, 2012
"Active mitigation" is a flop.
Like many warriors whose opinion I cherish, I was really excited when the concept of “active mitigation” was announced. I’d long agreed with folks like Veneretio when he spoke about tanks being judged on the damage they take, rather than the damage they do. With threat buffed to pointlessness (something I still disagree with), the idea that big changes were coming was the only comfort when I could suddenly charge in, press Rend, Thunderclap and Shockwave, and then do something else for the duration of a pull.
Active mitigation was the way ahead.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, I’m now looking at a promising expansion in Mists of Pandaria, but wholly disappointing gameplay from my warrior. I didn’t reckon with the power of bad design and the impact it could have on such a good idea. Essentially, as far as warriors are concerned, “active mitigation” is turning into a nasty belly-flop where we’re potentially going to end up MORE passive than we are now.
How?
Active mitigation was the way ahead.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, I’m now looking at a promising expansion in Mists of Pandaria, but wholly disappointing gameplay from my warrior. I didn’t reckon with the power of bad design and the impact it could have on such a good idea. Essentially, as far as warriors are concerned, “active mitigation” is turning into a nasty belly-flop where we’re potentially going to end up MORE passive than we are now.
How?
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Return of the Zell.
So, er, yeah. I suppose it’s worth making official, seeing as it’s true:
FINALLY, Zell has come BACK to Azeroth…
I’ve said some harrowing things in the past, in many cases mounting up to downright nastiness regarding the game I’ve been playing for such a long time. And funnily enough, to much of my past commentary, I stand true and ever shall. But changes in my personal circumstances have dictated a return to the game – namely that my fiancée and I don’t geographically live together now, with her at our home in Scotland and me working in England. As a result, it’s much easier for me to “spend time” with her during the week in game rather than being on Skype all the time.
But there are other factors here.
FINALLY, Zell has come BACK to Azeroth…
I’ve said some harrowing things in the past, in many cases mounting up to downright nastiness regarding the game I’ve been playing for such a long time. And funnily enough, to much of my past commentary, I stand true and ever shall. But changes in my personal circumstances have dictated a return to the game – namely that my fiancée and I don’t geographically live together now, with her at our home in Scotland and me working in England. As a result, it’s much easier for me to “spend time” with her during the week in game rather than being on Skype all the time.
But there are other factors here.
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