Cataclysm: Hunter information and Twitter Development Chat Summary

Cataclysm: Hunter information and Twitter Development Chat Summary

Up for discussion today is a feature I, as a Huntress, have been looking MOST forward to *drum roll* the new and improved Stables! *cheers*  Now on Beta they stated this feature was still incredibly buggy but I hope they get it all worked out because I would hate for Blizzard to take it out because it doesn’t work right.  So without further ado…..*points to image on the left*  Judging from the image it seems there are 2 pages each holding 10 pets as well as an additional 5 that have the ability to be active.  That means 20 to ‘store’ and 5 for active duty for a total of 25 pets!  The restrictions to this new feature is you can only switch out your pets out of combat and if at any time you want to call a pet that is stored, you’ll need to visit your nearest Stable Master  I will be a taming fool once this feature is live because I get tired of looking at the same pet each day and considering my stable is full of Spirit Beasts I can’t use while raiding….it’s a pain to dismiss my current pet and level another pet within a day to be good for a raid.  So I am VERY excited for this feature.

Another feature coming out for combat pet owners is the “Move to” command.  It works very simple and I can imagine that in a PvP or even a PvE situation that needed some pet tanking (or pet surprising!) it will come in very handy!  Simply push the “Move To” button, use the mouse to pick the location you need your pet to go, click, and it’s done!  I think it would be pretty funny on a PvP server to use this new feature.  Why?  Well, it’s not very nice mind you but still – you’re in a zone and you hide your pet and the minute a player crosses your pets path…BOOM!  Can you imagine a new player running along all happy questing and feeling ‘safe’ to then be eaten alive by this pet that came out of no where?  I did say it wasn’t very nice hehe.

Thanks to warcraftpets.com for this info, a new confirmed Cataclysm pet has been released!  No no, not the Collectors Edition pet but an Alliance chain quest (Remembrance of Auberdine) pet.  It’s a little Treant named Whithers.  As far as a Horde only chain quest pet it’s not known but hopefully something just as cute!

The next thing I’d like to talk about is the Twitter Development Chat that Blizzard has.  I won’t be going over everything that Zarhym talked about since it’s HUGE but feel free to go there and read about Blizzards thoughts on a lot of questions, it really is worth looking at.  What I DID want to talk about was one question from the long list:

“Q: What are your thoughts on there being guild housing as a possible guild leveling reward?
A. Our design dilemma with guild housing relates to what players might do in a guild house. If you generally hang out there, and have vendors and banks and Auction House access, then you stay there all the time and it makes the cities feel pretty dead. In a game with instanced dungeons and now phases, we are reluctant to provide more reasons for players to not see other players. It’s a social game! If we can come up with a good role for guild houses then we’ll definitely do them in the future.” – Blizzard

Wow can I talk about this!  My partner and I had a good chat about it today but I want to break down what we talked about for you to read.  Why?  Well, if it’s something you think is cool perhaps enough excitement can be generated that Blizzard will do it, if you don’t know anything about Guild Housing then you can learn, and as always – perhaps all of us have thought about an idea that Blizzard hasn’t yet! (well it sounded good hehe).  Before the list though, I do understand what Blizzard sees as a con to guild halls and the cities.  Easiest way to remedy that is keep portals, vendors, and Auction Houses out of the guild halls.  They could always put a Stable Master in there, token vendor, repair vendor, and a guild banker only.  Then the guild hall has a minimum amount of amenities but it would still require you to visit the bigger cities.

Ideas on Guild Housing (GH):

• Completely agree that GH COULD be a reward in the Guild Leveling system.
• GH would be a good way to give a guild a sense of pride.
• GH would be a great way to show off a guilds accomplishments.

I want to talk about that last point (guild accomplishments) for a moment since that is a BIG one.  In other MMO’s that have player/guild housing there is a certain feature I am in love with – the Trophy System.  Once a guild kills a boss they are rewarded with a mount (not a riding mount but think like a taxidermy mount) of the bosses head.  That Trophy is then placed in the guild hall for all to see.  Okay HOW COOL IS THAT?!  Seriously.  How neat would it be to go into your top guild hall on the server and see their trophies especially if you’re not a raider or have never defeated the boss?  Not only that, think of the pride it would give a guild (or your guild) to have something to work towards?  This Trophy system would work hand in hand with the Achievement system because the game is able to track what you’ve done or will do via the Achievement system so imagine in your guild hall there is a special vendor.  This vendor stands in your Trophy Hall holding all the Trophies you COULD obtain (and their requirements) so you can go in there and see what you could get.  Why is it important to see what you could get?  Something to work towards, something to train hard for, something to be proud to have.

So here comes Cataclysm (this next scenario is purely make believe and in no way reflects what Blizzard is going to do) and you have your new guild hall.  Inside your guide hall you have access to previous Trophies (aka bosses that have been downed) and you begin to decorate.  Then one guildie on /gchat writes “ZOMG GUYS!!! LOOK AT PAGE 5 OF THE TROPHY VENDOR!!!!!”.  So everyone crowds the vendor and there it is…the Trophy for defeating Deathwing as a SERVER FIRST.

Now reading that, dear players and readers, you can’t tell me for a moment you weren’t excited.  What could it be?  What would be so amazing to receive that would make a guild push themselves to obtain that achievement other than a title?  My partner and I went through this scenario (since we’re raiders as well) and besides a taxidermy mount for your guild hall (like Deathwings head or a mini replica of the Demon Soul?) what could be obtained that no other players could have?  True, if you’re server first you get a special title in something and if you’ve completed the achievement without being server first you get a title/mount or what have you.  But what could a guild hall get that would make Blizzard see it as worth while?  Well first of all did you guys see the Tabard Deathwing wears in his human form?  A Deathwing mount? An even more unique title?   You can see the possibilities right?

Blizzard is always wanting new things for their game to keep players playing and to entice new players to play.  True there are always cons to all the pros or neat ideas thrown around but there is always a way to access everything.  I can see Blizzard saying that only hard core raiders would be able to get the things I’ve talked about in the guild hall rewards.  Well true but isn’t it hardcore raiders now who get the special mounts and titles as it is?  Just like PvP, isn’t it the hard core PvPers who get those special mounts and titles?  I know we can talk about it and have a millions ideas but who knows….maybe one day there will be guild halls.

What say you?

Happy Hunting!

Cataclysm: User Interface and Primary Skills

Cataclysm: User Interface and Primary Skills

Not only will Cataclysm change how we see the World of Warcraft it will also change how we interact with it as players!

Spellbook and Character Panel

Our spellbooks are completely revamped and it looks so good with an appropriate tab for all of our professions.  Highlighted are now spells that you can immediately train in which is nice to see since all of our spells and training level are listed.

The minute you hit your “C” button you will notice an immediate change with all your stats posted on the side, yes ALL your stats, and not to mention you’ll look rather smart as well!

Talent Frame and Trainers

The Talent Frame will now show all supported Masteries as well as all three talent trees, no more hitting tabs!

Profession and Talent Trainer frames got a “respec” as well.  The choice is yours but I think it looks nicer with this new layout and as far as function well…that’s left up to you.  Also updated is a Professions filter

PvP and Mini-Map/Multi-Tracking

The PvP frames are still having the kinks worked out with them and this MIGHT not be the final look to them but for all of you PvPers – Enjoy!

The Mini-Map will now have the ability to track several things at once – Finally!  Though what am I complaining about?   A Hunter usually has their profession on tracking as well as their mobs hehe.  Though it will be nice to track humanoids, fish, and other things if you needed!

Last but surely not least, fellow players and readers, make sure you check out the new Primary Skill list available thanks to Blizzard and MMO-champion.

Oh, this time a final note, promise!  New loading screens and maps are also available.  Who doesn’t like new pretty pictures? Excited!!!

Happy Hunting!

Cataclysm: Videos and Talent/Mastery Systems

Cataclysm: Videos and Talent/Mastery Systems

A lot more information has been released for Cataclysm, which makes me extremely happy, though how did everyone like the Ruby Sanctum?   I am asking right now since I’ve finally gotten around to doing it and first time was 25 man.  A very fun fight especially in the Twilight stage and I like the idea of the big meteors as well.  I am really hoping for the ArP Trinket that drops….

There are a lot of videos of the new zones out for Cataclysm thanks to all the BETA players so make sure you check them out (thanks to MMO-champion.com):

SPOILER ALERT!!! DO NOT WATCH THESE VIDEOS IF YOU DON’T WANT ANY SPOILERS – YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

• Starting Zones for Goblins/Worgen, Blackrock Caverns
• Orgrimmar/Stormwind/Throne of Tide Dungeon

What seems to be a hot topic is the new Talent and Mastery System Blizzard has been talking about lately, thanks to Zarhym, who goes into a very detailed description in their post.  Feel free to read the original post but there was one part I wanted to talk about today.

“To Recap
When players reach level 10, they are presented with basic information on the three specializations within their class and are asked to choose one. Then they spend their talent point. The other trees darken and are unavailable until 31 points are spent in the chosen tree. The character is awarded an active ability, and one or more passive bonuses unique to the tree they’ve chosen. As they gain levels, they’ll alternate between receiving a talent point and gaining new skills. They’ll have a 31-point tree to work down, with each talent being more integral and exciting than they have been in the past. Once they spend their 31′st point in the final talent (at level 70), the other trees open up and become available to allocate points into from then on. As characters move into the level 78+ areas in Cataclysm, they’ll begin seeing items with a new stat, Mastery. Once they learn the Mastery skill from their class trainer they’ll receive bonuses from the stat based on the tree they’ve specialized in.

We understand that these are significant changes and we still have details to solidify. We feel, however, that these changes better fulfill our original class design goals for Cataclysm, and we’re confident that they will make for a better gameplay experience. Your constructive feedback is welcomed and appreciated.” – Blizzard.

A few people I have talked to (guild mates) really are not excited about this new change but I really like the idea.  I like that you put in 31 points into 1 tree, instead of all over the place, because it makes you really learn your class – as well as spec.  When you get ‘bigger’ your rewarded by being able to put more points into another tree which will make you more than likely feel more powerful than just your first 31 points.  When you begin to reach the height of your ‘age’ you’re once again rewarded by the Mastery system.  Is it just me who sees that as awesome?

I like the idea that they are wanting you to focus more on the spec you chose, to make you level just as you are – to make you a better player, and as you reach new levels you’re rewarded with more options.  True you’re pretty much cookie cutter until you’re rewarded but when you’re ‘little’ everyone is pretty much the same as it is.  But!  I am hoping they nail the system down after that disappointment with what they took out of Cataclysm.

UPDATE:

• Remember the tiny skeletal raptor pet from a previous post?  That is a possible contender for a vanity pet for Archaeology.
• The Mastiff (will be classified under “Wolf” Family):  From BETA Testers they confirm that it is the Worgen Hunter starter pets and can only be tamed by the Worgen.  I am unsure at this moment if upon official release of Cataclysm if it will change or stay the same.
• The Monkey (will be classified from the newly made “Primate” Family): From BETA Testers they also confirm that this is a Goblin Hunter tamed pet.  Once again, unsure if this will stay or change upon the release of Cataclysm.
• Hunters begin the game with is known as starter pets and depending on their race, they are designated a pet to accompany them until level 10.

Let me know what you think!

Happy Hunting!