Official Blizzcon 09 thread (high quality stream inside)

[ManaByte]

The final expansion will reset everyone back to level 1 and wipe all gear.

It'll be called World of Warcraft: OMGWTFBBQ?

[Phoenix Dark]

Nagas belong in slave pens.

[ManaByte]

Apparently no one at GAF reads MMO Champion. They're arguing over the whole Garrosh leading the Horde thing saying it isn't true. Well, Blizzard confirmed it in the Preview Panel when showing the Zoram Strand and what Garrosh has done to it.

The posters are GAF don't understand where it puts Thrall, because they are missing the big piece - Thrall is made the new Guardian of Tirisfal, and leaves the Horde in Garrosh's hands.

[Phoenix Dark]

BattleNet sounds fuck awesome. Can't wait for SC2

[ManaByte]

Thrall is made the new Guardian of Tirisfal,

That's a pretty big deal, isn't it?

Yes, but it makes sense for it to be Thrall after how he started out in War3. The first time you ever see Thrall, Medivh comes to him in a vision. Medivh was the last Guardian of Tirisfal.

[ManaByte]

http://www.wow.com/2009/08/21/blizzcon-2009-cataclysm-zones-video/

Water looks great now, but people will bitch.

[OptimoPeach]

BattleNet sounds fuck awesome. Can't wait for SC2

Gimme a summary, I couldn't stand to watch that stream anymore.

[Phoenix Dark]

BattleNet sounds fuck awesome. Can't wait for SC2

link? abstract?

http://www.justin.tv/ukimpact

-achievements
-achievements unlock avatars, custom icons that appear on your units in game
-you create game accounts like in WoW, so you're always online
-IM chat in/out of game
-after a few matches it recognizes your skill set and puts you in an appropriate ladder of similarly skilled players
-social network can keep you in touch with friends playing WoW, Diablo
-party system like WoW. so you can create/join a 2 man (or more) party and then compete in team games.
-friends list allows you to specify who people are, so you don't forget. plus you can specify who's a real life friend, who's an online friend, etc
-map publishing
-marketplace of maps so you can browse them, rate them, etc
-free and premium maps...premium maps you pay for, and if people buy your map you can make money...

Looks pretty nice, reminds me of Steam

[OptimoPeach]

-you create game accounts like in WoW, so you're always online

What do you mean by this?

[Phoenix Dark]

link? abstract?

-you create game accounts like in WoW, so you're always online

What do you mean by this?
[/quote]

You sign into the game with your account like WoW (account/password). After you sign in you're connected to BattleNet, allowing you to do various things like play a game, chat with friends, create games/maps, etc. The game can be played offline, but you'd only be a "guest" - therefore not allowed to get achievements, chat with friends etc.


In the Q&A: If caught cheating your account can get banned, meaning you'd have to buy another game to play online. Plus they mentioned the possibility that cheaters might jeopardize their accounts in other Blizzard games like WoW and Diablo.

[OptimoPeach]

Ohh I see, so your CD key will now be tied to your account Ughhhhh

Most of the other stuff doesn't really seem all that exciting (or even new), but the map marketplace thing sounds great. It really sucked having to track down old custom maps on terrible Geocities sites and the like. I don't know if I like the idea of having to pay for maps though.

[ManaByte]

D3 2011 

And that's surprising...how?

We always knew 2010 was sc2 and wow.

[ManaByte]

Why? Not like you'll actually install it.

[etiolate]

I don't understand why they don't allow in faction race changes. People can switch factions twice to change race, so why not just let them do it to start with?

[Phoenix Dark]

    * Casters will finally get a Legendary item in one of the first raids of the expansion.
    * Cataclysm will change the ways abilities are learned. Abilities ranks are gone and ability will just scale progressively with levels instead.
    * Most of the Talent Trees will be changed dramatically, a lot of the passive bonuses will be removed and talent trees should be more fun. (No more "Hurray! Level up! I just got 1% more hit!)
    * There is no plan to allow players to train more than 2 profession.
    * There is no plan to allow more than 2 specs with the dual-spec system.
    * Bags might get slightly bigger with Cataclysm.
    * You will never be able to cleanse the Corrupted Ashbringer.
    * Developers want shaman to be good AE healers and might buff Chain Heal even more.
    * Multi-passenger flying mounts could be added in the future. They might also allow crafters to craft 310% flying mounts if they already completed an achievement rewarding one.
    * Every healer class can now dispell magic, the niches will other debuffs.
    * Engineers might be able to craft bows in the future.
    * If you already own a 310% mount, you might be able to boost the speed of all your 280% mount to 310% just to let you use the one that you prefer.

Itemization
In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, there are plans to streamline the statistics found on items. We want to remove all unnecessary stats, make all existing stats understandable, and make all "core" stats more appealing. Here are some examples of such plans.

    * MP5: This will be removed from items and replaced with Spirit. All healers will be given a meditation-like ability.
    * Spell Power: Spell Power is being removed from items as well. Don't panic, we'll be improving Intellect so that it provides mana and Spell Power.
    * Attack Power: We're removing Attack Power from items as well. Instead, we're allowing Agility to provide the necessary Attack Power for leather and mail wearers. Strength will provide the appropriate amount of Attack Power for plate wearers. This means leather and mail items will no longer be desirable for plate wearers.
    * Defense: The Defense statistic is also being removed from items so that players no longer have to worry about juggling around "the cap." Tanks will receive the necessary anti-crit from talents, like Survival of the Fittest.
    * Armor Penetration: This ability is too confusing and "mathy." It is being replaced with Mastery, a stat that makes you better at what you do. More on that later!
    * Haste: Will also increase the rate at which you gain energy, runes, and focus. Retribution paladins and Enhancement shaman will have a talent that allows them to take advantage of this benefit.
    * Block: Block Value is being removed. Blocking will now always mitigate a percentage of damage.
    * Stamina: Players will notice more Stamina on gear as Defense, Spell Power, Attack Power and Armor Penetration are removed.

wat

[demi]

lol, sounds like they are dumbing it down to Free Realms category

[ManaByte]

No they're trying to reduce the loot fights. They specifically mentioned the attack power thing for an example of no more tanks taking a rogue/hunter item.

[Phoenix Dark]

No they're trying to reduce the loot fights. They specifically mentioned the attack power thing for an example of no more tanks taking a rogue/hunter item.

It'll increase loot fights. What will stop shamans/rogues/etc rolling on tank items now? Taking defense from weapons sounds like a clusterfuck waiting to happen. Unless they're keeping dodge/parry I guess

[pilonv1]

No +block on shields will create problems with Pallys/Shaman too. There will always be loot fights.

And it is dumbing down, you'll end up with the same items for each class, just with slightly different stats. Rogue/Hunter will be +32 Agility, Warrior will be +32 Strength. Making the core stats more interesting = making it easy for noobs to understand what is happening.

Cant imagine many tanks who spent a lot of time getting the best +Block and +Defense gear will be too happy.

What a shitty expansion. bags may get bigger, engineers may be able to craft bows, passive abilities gone. smh

[etiolate]

No they're trying to reduce the loot fights. They specifically mentioned the attack power thing for an example of no more tanks taking a rogue/hunter item.

It'll increase loot fights. What will stop shamans/rogues/etc rolling on tank items now? Taking defense from weapons sounds like a clusterfuck waiting to happen. Unless they're keeping dodge/parry I guess

they are upping the ap from agility for those classes so they're less likely to roll on strength items.

the real test is gona be dps plate and tank

[CrystalGemini]

BLIZZCON!!!! 

People at BlizzCon love to say "BLIZZCON" very loud in public.   

[Phoenix Dark]

No +block on shields will create problems with Pallys/Shaman too. There will always be loot fights.

And it is dumbing down, you'll end up with the same items for each class, just with slightly different stats. Rogue/Hunter will be +32 Agility, Warrior will be +32 Strength. Making the core stats more interesting = making it easy for noobs to understand what is happening.

Cant imagine many tanks who spent a lot of time getting the best +Block and +Defense gear will be too happy.

What a shitty expansion. bags may get bigger, engineers may be able to craft bows, passive abilities gone. smh

Yup. I've been building a decent block set for heroics/Ulduar trash. When I do Hodir and have to wear frost gear, I break out some of my older trinkets like this or this to ensure I'm def capped. I have threat gear for certain situations - are expertise and hit understandable for casual players, or are they being cut out the game as well.

Interesting article on this:
http://www.wow.com/2009/08/22/blizzcon-2009-the-future-of-tanking/

There's also reforging to consider. We saw it mentioned in the Class, Items and Professions panel, and it has the potential to be a real force in tanking itemization. Since Engineers, Leatherworkers, Blacksmiths, Tailors and Jewelcrafters will all have their own Reforging specializations, each tank will have the potential to alter certain drops. With the ability to reduce points in one stat on a drop and put it into a stat that the item of gear doesn't currently have, an item like the Breastplate of Frozen Pain could be turned from a DPS chestplate to a tanking one by, say, removing the critical strike rating and replacing it with Expertise or Dodge (if Dodge stays as itemization) or what have you.

Keeping dodge/parry will help keep people honest, but I wonder about reforging being used as an excuse to ninja gear.

[ManaByte]

10:26AM Guild leveling system. How will you make an old system like that fit WoW? J. Allen Brack: "You mean how we did achievements?" Stockton: They have a lot of ideas for what they can do with it, it will make people feel better about being in guilds and make it feel more important than glorified IRC. There will be details at this afternoon's systems panel. "We'll have a guild talent tree, can the others say that?"

See! Proof that no one played WAR, despite Mythic's boasting!

[CurseoftheGods]

Enchanters can't reforge? That's so fucking gay.

At least I'll start using Engineering again when the XP hits.

[ManaByte]

They're bringing back the old PVP system honor titles with the rated BGs!!

[OptimoPeach]

They're bringing back the old PVP system honor titles with the rated BGs!!

How fucking STUPID. I don't even play anymore and that shit makes me rage.

[border]

They're bringing back the old PVP system honor titles with the rated BGs!!

How fucking STUPID. I don't even play anymore and that shit makes me rage.

They're just bringing back the titles, not the stupid "You must play 16 hours a day or else you lose your rank" system they used to have.  It's going to be like Arena rating system.

[Phoenix Dark]

http://www.aionsource.com/forum/culture-media/38314-just-wow-catclysm-stole-90-aions-ideas.html

[ManaByte]

Aion fans are the Twilight fans of the MMO world.

Meaning they need to be gassed. All of them.

And coming in 3.3 (tentative) CROSS SERVER LFG!!!!

1:43PM There will be a reward system for it. If you're the leader of a PUG and you complete the dungeon successfully, you will be rewarded. Tentative release is 3.3.0, definitely before Cataclysm.

1:42PM It's designed to make it easier to PUG.

1:42PM You can LFG for 5-man instances with players from other realms. "The tech supports raids, but we're going to kick it off with only 5-players." It will work off of battlegroups, like battlegrounds.

1:41PM Cross Server LFG!

[etiolate]

eh WoW has aped others from the start, nothing new about that


I think the multi server LFG will allow for easier dungeoning in the lower level brackets

[OptimoPeach]

They're bringing back the old PVP system honor titles with the rated BGs!!

How fucking STUPID. I don't even play anymore and that shit makes me rage.

They're just bringing back the titles, not the stupid "You must play 16 hours a day or else you lose your rank" system they used to have.  It's going to be like Arena rating system.

Hah, that's why I'm mad. Those titles are a relic of preBC, and now all the nubs will just associate HWL/GM with Cataclysm. I want people to know that I wasted an entire summer with my friend rotating 12 hour shifts to farm ~700k honor per week, goddamnit. I'm fully aware that the old honor system totally advocated the poopsock mentality, but rehashing the old titles like this really denigrates what Rank 14 meant. I know it was like walking around with "NO-LIFER" above your head, but I want my credit :'(

And I mean, you really had to have no life to make it up there. I was still in highschool back then, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I spent 90% of my awake time that summer running premades in battlegrounds And there was 2 of us doing that!

Would it be that hard for them to come up with some new titles?

[OptimoPeach]

On the other hand, it's cool that battlegrounds will (kind of) matter again.

[etiolate]

I think they might make new titles for the BGs.  I hope my Warlock doesn't lose its old title rank.

[ManaByte]

No they specifically said they were the old titles.

[Phoenix Dark]

Aion fans are the Twilight fans of the MMO world.

Meaning they need to be gassed. All of them.

And coming in 3.3 (tentative) CROSS SERVER LFG!!!!

1:43PM There will be a reward system for it. If you're the leader of a PUG and you complete the dungeon successfully, you will be rewarded. Tentative release is 3.3.0, definitely before Cataclysm.

1:42PM It's designed to make it easier to PUG.

1:42PM You can LFG for 5-man instances with players from other realms. "The tech supports raids, but we're going to kick it off with only 5-players." It will work off of battlegroups, like battlegrounds.

1:41PM Cross Server LFG!

Someone in my guild just mentioned this, I didn't believe him. Niiice

[Phoenix Dark]

[youtube=560,345]joNPrnY4K_4[/youtube]

holy fucking shit

[ManaByte]

Stormwind gets a new Worgen district. And Bliz said just about every old world area is affected in some way. Northrend is also affected but not as much as the old world zones.

[ManaByte]

Also with Wetlands being obliterated by Deathwing (that's where the entrance to Deepholm is on the map) the IF area HAS to be changed.

[Phoenix Dark]

So I'm guessing Deathwing won't be the last boss of any Cataclysm raid at launch right?

[ManaByte]

Yea he'll be like Illidan/Arthas.

[Ellrick]

No mention of new classes? I thought this expansion was supposed to have the new hero class.

[OptimoPeach]

lol no. It took them nearly a year to properly balance Death Knights, and it's hard enough when they're adding new talents for every other class. I'd be surprised if they ever add a new class again, especially for how hard they've been pushing to get arena recognized as an e-sport (won't ever happen)

That map editor video is insane. UMS are going to be great.

[Phoenix Dark]

http://www.wow.com/2009/08/23/blizzcon-2009-how-far-along-is-the-development-of-cataclysm/#continued

Any guesses on the release date for Cataclysm?

Nov: Onyxia
December (?): IC
...

Cataclysm in March, summer, or do they wait for the holiday season?

[ManaByte]

March/April/May for Cataclysm.

November for Starcraft II to capitalize on holiday sales and obliterate all other releases in that timeframe.

[ManaByte]

lol no. It took them nearly a year to properly balance Death Knights, and it's hard enough when they're adding new talents for every other class. I'd be surprised if they ever add a new class again, especially for how hard they've been pushing to get arena recognized as an e-sport (won't ever happen)

That map editor video is insane. UMS are going to be great.

They said at Blizzcon they are going to add new Hero classes, just not with every damn expansion. So the fourth expansion will likely be a new class, but no new races.

[cubicle47b]

http://www.aionsource.com/forum/culture-media/38314-just-wow-catclysm-stole-90-aions-ideas.html

Blizzard is re-doing their water and has invisible walls that you can't fly through!  Why must Blizzard rip off all of Aion's features?

Anyway, the expansion looks awesome as does the little I've heard about the Icecrown Citadel raid.  I'm so happy they're completely revamping Azeroth.

[etiolate]

Judging by the way they handled WoTLK,  each Cataclysm update/news/release will coincide with a competitor's release.

[ManaByte]

Judging by the way they handled WoTLK,  each Cataclysm update/news/release will coincide with a competitor's release.

They were only reacting to Mythic's arrogance and WoW bashing back then. Now they have no real competitor to worry about because Blizzard knows Aion will be a flop just like it was in Korea over a year ago.

[Phoenix Dark]

It flopped in Korea? I assumed it would do decently/meh in the US while doing very well in Korea

Either way I doubt Blizzard is sweating.

[ManaByte]

Doing "well" in Korea is lost on Aion fanboys. All MMOs do "well" in Korea, but none come close to Lineage, Lineage II, and WoW.

To do "well" in Korea, your MMO needs to stay online for more than a month. That's the qualification of "well".

It's also pre-release hype for the US version that NCSoft is spewing because if Aion flops here, they're pretty much done. They've had to shut down two of their MMOs; and Tabula Rasa was a HUGE HUGE budget one for them. So NCSoft is out there saying that the game is a big hit in Korea and as such YOU MUST CANCEL YOUR WOW ACCOUNT AND ONLY PLAY AION.

Once people find out Aion has EXPERIENCE LOSS ON DEATH (which is archaic by 2005 standards), they'll never touch it again. It's also an extreme Asian-MMO-style grindfest.

[Phoenix Dark]

In short it's more hardcore than the masses want. Should be interesting.

Competition is normally good. Madden would be a better game if there was still a cheaper, more innovative football title to compete with it. I'd imagine Blizzard would be inspired even more if there was some fantasy mmo out there with even half of WoW's userbase.

Cataclysm sounds utterly awesome though, and it's not a product of competition. LK excited me, mainly because I finally had the time to really explore the game; I barely did anything in TBC due to computer problems and getting used to college. I'm less of a casual WoW player now, compared to when LK came out; then I was having fun leveling, no guild to deal with, no anticipation or knowledge about raiding etc. Good times, but by now I definitely feel like I've explored LK almost as fully as I can/could

[Phoenix Dark]

I don't know whether you're being serious or trolling

[Phoenix Dark]

Didn't know you play/played WoW