12.01.06

Pre-2.0.2 Patch Update

Posted in Blogs, Druid News, Forum Watch at 1:40 am by tangedyn

In this update we have:

• More updates from the devs through our good friend Vaneras
• New TBC Beta Patch has been announced, we have some preliminary information about changes that affects us, more will be known later
• More information about our Tier 5 set
• Some information about feral druid viability from Kylista over in WorldofRaids forums
• Miscellaneous Stuff: Tributes!

According to Vaneras, the devs feel that 6% iLOTP is too strong

The developers felt that the Imp LOTP talent was too strong due to the increased health pool sizes in the Burning Crusade. Given the fact that bear tank health totals of 15000 or more, the Improved Leader of the Pack talent can be used to heal over 3000 health per minute, for just the bear, let alone the rest of the party, mana free. It is very similar in strength to Judgement of Light, but never wears off, costs nothing to apply, and will scale as players get better gear, unlike Judgement of Light.

If the developers find that feral combat Druids are actually non-viable in raids, they will find ways to improve them as necessary. This goes for all new talent specs that were previously underutilized such as the Retribution or Protection Paladin, the Elemental or Enhancement Shaman, etc.

Regarding Feral Form Epic Skins

We just got a little more feedback from the developers on this. As said before, the developers really like this idea, but their primary concerns at the moment are balance issues. Graphical and cosmetic improvements are important indeed, but not as important as correcting balance issues. There are no immediate plans to improve the ?epic? feel just yet.

Regarding Tree of Life

These limitations are a cost issue. The developers do not want the Tree of Life to be better in all ways at what the restoration Druid is already doing. They want there to be a time and place for the Tree of Life and still have a compelling reason to shift out of the form. The movement speed penalty and the inability to use healing touch in that form is a part of that reason.

Regarding Blizzard’s thoughts and vision for the druid class (same post as above)

As with many classes, the developers have made many talent/gear paths available for the Druid class, but ultimately they want Druids to be classical hybrids. They want them to specialize to a point and still be flexible enough to perform adequately in other roles when it is required. Recent changes have been geared towards improving that hybridization viability.

If you have followed the itemization closely in the Burning Crusade, you will see that the developers are itemizing all hybrids for making them able to follow any of the paths available to them in their talent trees. Druids, Paladins, and Shamans should all be able to choose from different specializations now, and have the itemization support they need to make it possible. Internal testing shows that the hybrid classes are able to perform nearly as well as the primary classes for each role, and yet retain the utility to change roles midway through a fight or raid as needed.

Regarding rideable druids

Even though this is a fun idea, I don’t think that we will ever see something like this implemented into the game… But I could be wrong of course as no one really knows what the future will bring

Antaris has found some information about our Tier 5 set, mainly the names and the set bonus

• Nordrassil Harness (Melee Set)
• Nordrassil Raiment (Healing Set)
• Nordrassil Regalia (Caster Set)

Druid Tier 5 Set graphics was released on the Worldofraids forum

Patch Update: What is known so far in the patch update (from various sources)

• Bear Form Mangle has been fixed, does around 30% more damage than a Maul
• Pounce range has been nerfed/fixed from 10y to 5y
• Barksin now castable when stunned
• Idol of the Wild now buffs Mangle (bear/cat) instead of Shred
• Curse of Weakness has been nerfed fixed to reduce by 350 attack power instead of a fixed amount of damage
• Teleport: Moonglade icon changed
• Thistle Tea diminishes as you gain level, you lose 2 energy per level after level 20
• Nurturing Instinct now convers 200% (!!) of Str into +healing
• No information about pots and procs yet

Kylista over at Worldofraids forums has posted a Karazhan preview movie with screenshots. She talks a bit about the raid group, with a mention about the feral druid in the raid.

As far as feral druids, feral tree and itemization got really buffed, to the point where a geared feral druid can out-dps anyone but the best geared rogues/warriors in instances. They can really put out some damage in bc. Not to mention 5% crit from leader of the pack helps your other melee, as well.

I’ve seen a very good and well geared (in level 70 epics) feral druid top #1 overall on damage meters many times in instances. They’re really no joke in BC

Shade of Aran is an interesting encounter. SPOILER WARNING When Aran is OOM, he will mass polymorph the whole raid, conjure water and start drinking. If you watch the video, you can see how this allows the feral druid in the raid to finish off the boss

Miscellaneous Stuff this update, a couple of tributes!

• Tribute to Vaneras
• The Warden Staff

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