tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post8307161299203821755..comments2024-03-27T07:57:48.010-04:00Comments on The Grumpy Elf: Monday Random ThoughtsTheGrumpyElfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-55068952866094475142013-11-14T15:19:14.912-05:002013-11-14T15:19:14.912-05:00I think the 20M design is going to be awesome for ...I think the 20M design is going to be awesome for the heroic raiders. I intend to write a post about it. I think it could be the best thing that has ever happened to the game on the end game setting for that 0.1%.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-3029570347579132682013-11-14T15:17:59.771-05:002013-11-14T15:17:59.771-05:00I love hitting the bag phase, they do sell and are...I love hitting the bag phase, they do sell and are worth making.<br /><br />Heck, they go for 400g or more on my server. Sometimes as much as 600g. Not bad to make profit on and even better when you were just making them for the skill points.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-31669162363287542442013-11-14T15:16:30.840-05:002013-11-14T15:16:30.840-05:00I think an undead expansion would be kind of cool ...I think an undead expansion would be kind of cool and is being built up to with what is going on.<br /><br />I could dig some more bugs, I could dig a complete titan world sort of thing, love that design. But orcs, it is not like I have anything against them as the focus, but three expansions in a row. That is a bit much.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-24031952460226007072013-11-14T15:04:22.117-05:002013-11-14T15:04:22.117-05:00I've since seen (on Matticus' site, I thin...I've since seen (on Matticus' site, I think) that Mythic won't be available until the 2nd week... not sure if it'll require a Heroic clear first. My week one comment seems to be wrong if Matt is right about that.<br /><br />If anything, having only 20-man fights to work with should let Blizzard tune the fights even harder without worrying about screwing 10s that have bad comp... I'm expecting world first races to take longer even if they were available first week.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-47104818525423091442013-11-14T15:01:31.098-05:002013-11-14T15:01:31.098-05:00One thing about the Frostweave/Embersilk phases fo...One thing about the Frostweave/Embersilk phases for Tailoring, though... even today, I'm selling those bags at a significant profit even just buying the base mats off the AH. Unlike any other profession in those ranges, you'll actually potentially MAKE gold during the periods where bags get you ticks and do it through through to grey. I don't think any other profession has the potential to profit during any pre-MoP leveling periods.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-21694274609785285532013-11-14T14:56:39.708-05:002013-11-14T14:56:39.708-05:00I've said this before but at least for me, Orc...I've said this before but at least for me, Orcs >>>>> Trolls >> Bugs.<br /><br />I'd much rather deal with Orcs than either of those two. I'd like to be done with Trolls, permanently, and I've had more than enough bug factions, too, between AQ, Nerubians, Klaxxi and whatever bugs Cataclysm had (can't think of any off-hand but I'm sure there were some).<br /><br />Somewhat off topic, note that two of those are Horde factions... and I think we're all expecting a future expansion (probably not too far down the road, I was hoping it might be THIS one) to feature Undead heavily. Not even sure when Alliance will actually be able to get an expansion where they're the plot focus... you know, a HUMAN bad guy as the big bad for a change. Or maybe the Iron Dwarves! Hell, I'd even take a "Valen is evil" expansion at this point. Who knows, maybe WoD can turn into that one...<br /><br />(and if that actually happens, you saw it here first)Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-52080414239873007542013-11-14T10:23:54.708-05:002013-11-14T10:23:54.708-05:00I've seen a few comments from top guilds, 10s ...I've seen a few comments from top guilds, 10s hate it, 25s aren't all that excited for it but can deal with it. At least that is the impression from the comments I have read around.<br /><br />I hope, for their sake, to make their play time more meaningful, that if they can do it on day one, it is a lot harder, so it lasts longer for them. Would such to burn through content in one week. Even for them.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-61244942142636202622013-11-13T16:43:07.737-05:002013-11-13T16:43:07.737-05:00I think they just want it to be consistent, if not...I think they just want it to be consistent, if nothing else the world race guilds are all about taking advantage of any minor variance so the more than Blizzard can do to level the playing field, especially between 10s and 25s, I think the better. I haven't seen any feedback from the top raiding guilds about the change (which is a bit odd, you'd think there'd be some interviews floating around by now) but I'm expecting them to be generally pretty happy with the change, BOTH 10s and 25s. Especially if, as it sounds like (I think I read something somewhere), they can get into Mythic on day one of content being released.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-6070547418207011932013-11-13T07:56:14.844-05:002013-11-13T07:56:14.844-05:00Yeah, the drop rates are horrible on those bonus t...Yeah, the drop rates are horrible on those bonus things.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-82107680169385851712013-11-13T07:47:18.814-05:002013-11-13T07:47:18.814-05:00Gem slots are going to be bonus stats. Like they ...Gem slots are going to be bonus stats. Like they were originally intended to be.<br /><br />Back when they first started appearing they were a bonus. Things were not designed around having gems and enchants on. After time they started designing with the idea that people would have gems and enchants.<br /><br />Enter LFR where most didn't, and it was designed as if they did, and now you see part of the reason for the massive under performing people. <br /><br />So they are going back to gems being a bonus, a buff if you will, and not designing content with the idea every will have them in.<br /><br />This will make LFR better, it will make all raiding better (at the lowest levels) where people might not be gemmed or enchanted. Because those things are pure bonus stats now.<br /><br />Like you, I don't see how they are going to make secondary stats interesting. If it is a choice between agility or anything else of equal value, for me I will always take agility.<br /><br />But then again, maybe that is their design idea. Not only to simplify, but to overly simplify.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-22726013989012053812013-11-13T07:42:28.623-05:002013-11-13T07:42:28.623-05:00I like that people can use the new normal/heroic t...I like that people can use the new normal/heroic to recruit for the mythic. It is going to be all about how well the guild officers go about recruiting and testing people.<br /><br />I think they want mythic to be "special". Remember those really hard core raiders need to feel special or they will cry all over the forums and then their tears will short circuit the internet and we would have no warcraft. So blizzard is protecting the 99.9% of the player base so the 0.1% can continue to feel special.<br /><br />Okay, that was a little overboard joking, but that is the idea. The want it to be different and special to show it is the pinnacle of game play. They do not want it to follow the pattern.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-44416801651303803002013-11-12T20:39:25.147-05:002013-11-12T20:39:25.147-05:00I just kill the mobs that I need drops from when d...I just kill the mobs that I need drops from when doing the kill 20 daily and I kill whatever rares are around during that time. I'm not going to grind it out though.Jaegernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-21264142493815394732013-11-12T16:44:42.830-05:002013-11-12T16:44:42.830-05:00Yeah, I had that same thought, make the secondary ...Yeah, I had that same thought, make the secondary spec-specific items the ones to take gems and enchants... but I'm not really sure what that gains. They've said that socket bonuses won't be part of the stat budget so I'm trying to think of the point of even having gem sockets. If you have main stat gems, there'll be no choice, if it's an Agi piece, you'll use an Agi gem. Whee? If it's secondary stats in a world without reforging, they'll all have to be pretty close in value for all specs (I'm expecting that major stat differences - crit vs haste for warriors, haste vs mastery for monks) will be going away in favour of more balance, in which case it won't really matter what secondary stat you put in. And it won't be of much/any help with hitting soft breakpoints if they're as significant as they're implying (I'm imagining 1500 of a secondary stat in today's game, as an example)... only being able to tweak in chunks that large won't really help with gear tetris.<br /><br />But we'll see, I'm not going to worry about this stuff until actual details start getting out... in late Jan when the beta starts. ;)Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-62234922617991426692013-11-12T16:39:46.378-05:002013-11-12T16:39:46.378-05:00Right, that's exactly my point, in today's...Right, that's exactly my point, in today's game a 10-man group looking to move to 25 will have to basically run a 10-man normal run with x recruits and 10-x normal raiders... in WoD, they'll be able to run their usual core 10, plus any recruits... it's a much more inclusive way to recruit and it gives all the core members equal ability to gauge the talents of the recruits and gives the recruits a full slate of regulars to compare themselves against.<br /><br />Remember... in 6 or 9 months connected realms will be much more fully formed, if not completely formed. Your experience today will be much different than it would be if you recruiting for WoD closer to its release.<br /><br />Yeah, you could be right, but I'm not sure why they wouldn't make it available at that difficulty if they're doing it for the others... probably not a lot of additional coding.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-86867749284766454992013-11-12T16:06:47.033-05:002013-11-12T16:06:47.033-05:00The new flex heroic (normal) is what 10s will have...The new flex heroic (normal) is what 10s will have to use as a testing grounds to build their 20 man mythic team. An active guild leadership should have no problem building up a team. But it will take them a lot of work.<br /><br />And for servers like mine with only one real heroic raiding team it will be really hard.<br /><br />I don't think mythic will ever be personal. It will keep the old school raid rules it seems, all around. No facts to back that up, but I believe it to be how they want it.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-50012200080666370162013-11-12T16:03:55.479-05:002013-11-12T16:03:55.479-05:00Maybe a pat on the back is not deserving because o...Maybe a pat on the back is not deserving because of how I came to the conclusion calling cataclysm just a patch they extended into an expansion. But I guess, however I came about it, it was right.<br /><br />There can't be trolls as there were none on the planet, but if there is a way for blizzard to squeeze them in, they will. :P<br /><br />A friend of mine had an interesting idea for gems and enchants. Being neck, rings, trinkets, will still be spec based, he said only they will have gems and enchants now. So they are gemmed and enchanted spec specific. I guess I could get behind that. Makes some sense. But I do not see them completely dismissing gems from tier pieces, that seems like something that will always have at least one gem slot.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-58474637252199968242013-11-12T15:01:31.514-05:002013-11-12T15:01:31.514-05:00I'm looking at the 20 Mythic raiding this way....I'm looking at the 20 Mythic raiding this way... it should make things easier for a lot of current 25-man Heroic raids and, as another blogger pointed out, it'll allow them to bring their bench along to Heroic flex runs. Basically, all 20-25 raiders will have a chance to see and execute the strategies that the chosen 20 will implement during the Mythic run. I think it'll be great for 25s in general. For 10s it will be a struggle at first, for sure, but at least it's only 20 and not 25 and they'll get the same benefit from Heroic flex runs, they'll have a chance to test out additional raiders without having to sit core members. Overall, I think it'll work surprisingly well when we look back on it, even if the next 6-12 months might be somewhat painful for some.<br /><br />Regarding gear, one thing I haven't seen mentioned is that with master looter being the default loot type for the new Normal/Heroic with personal being a selectable option, I wonder if personal will also be an option for Mythic. I don't expect most Mythic raids would WANT to run that, it'll be sub-optimal, but if loot distribution is an issue for current 10-man raids, personal loot (if available) might be a way to transition in and get comfortable with having to be accountable for the gearing of twice as many players.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-35564769921339574302013-11-12T14:55:42.023-05:002013-11-12T14:55:42.023-05:00I'm with you on the 10 level thing, it seemed ...I'm with you on the 10 level thing, it seemed obvious to me for ages, too, and I took that 90-100 heirloom thing as confirmation, not new info, but we're in the minority who said it publicly. I think I saw 3 bloggers, total, predict 10 levels... almost all predicted 5 again for various reasons. So as obvious as you think it was, give yourself some credit for noticing, very few did. I'm still patting myself on the back based on my full set of predictions, I did really, really well. ;)<br /><br />Well, there's an upside to an Orc-based expansion... hopefully it means no Trolls or bugs. I'd much prefer killing nothing but Orcs than having to deal yet again with Trolls or bugs. I've had more than enough of both.<br /><br />You could be right about transforming gems, that would only make sense... but they also talked about making gems more rare and significantly more powerful so they may be revamping the whole gem system entirely. I don't expect my JC will have anywhere close to the 100 or so cuts she has this expansion... under 10 would be much preferred.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-73169008123765771062013-11-12T08:21:59.143-05:002013-11-12T08:21:59.143-05:00The orc over kill is really getting to a lot of pe...The orc over kill is really getting to a lot of people, even people that play horde. Not sure what blizzard obsession with orcs is, but they need to get over it and realize that while it might have a place in the game, it should not be the single center of attention every expansion.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-26580226656970754182013-11-12T08:19:36.648-05:002013-11-12T08:19:36.648-05:00The lore is "screwed" but I think they a...The lore is "screwed" but I think they also did this so they could screw with the lore. Alternate realities means lore means nothing. So it makes it easier on the writers because they can do anything they want. Lets face it, their writers can convey a decent story but they are not top tier writers, they have no clue about continuity. This allows them to bypass their weakness without fearing the wrath of the fanboys.<br /><br />The adding OQ to the game is both good and bad. OQ was fine when only the dedicated players that wanted to do stuff used it. Now that blizzard keeps mentioning in, the bad players are filling the place and it has become more LFR and less LFG of old. Anything that they allow access to the masses to, like OQ now, goes down hill. An in game one will surely be horrible because anyone would have access to it.<br /><br />Not trying to sound elitist or anything, but lets face it, a mage pulling 30K in 530 gear has no business in organized group content, not even LFR.<br /><br />I am fine with fewer new features as long as those features are good. They are running out of ideas so I would prefer they make the few ideas they have fantastic instead of just trying to add new things for the sake of adding new things.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-7852969084095207902013-11-12T08:08:30.788-05:002013-11-12T08:08:30.788-05:00I feel for the 10 mans that want to push progressi...I feel for the 10 mans that want to push progression. I run 10 and 25 and I can tell you one thing, I would not mind pushing with my 10 but I would rather quit than push with my 25. Big groups suck, too much drama, to many personalities, to much waiting for one person or another. 10s are just more enjoyable so I understand their feelings.<br /><br />With that said, the change was needed. I might never step into a heroic (mythic) again, but I support the change.<br /><br />I, like your friends, just like smaller groups and will be happy to do the new heroic (normal) as my max level content.<br /><br />We still have not fished it off. We can only get 12 deep and we are blowing through it at record speed. We are thinking of extending one week, just to finish it, because I do not think we can get 14 in the time we play. So the only way we kill the last boss is by extending.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-63933330298555926092013-11-12T08:03:22.974-05:002013-11-12T08:03:22.974-05:00The frostweave and embersilk time was hard on my l...The frostweave and embersilk time was hard on my last one too because you level through those zones WAY to fast to ever get close to getting enough.<br /><br />I think I got a total of 26 pieces of embersilk from 80-85. I remember making a joke about "how am I supposed to keep tailoring up with this".<br /><br />I have 8 characters sitting at or near 3K valor also. Sure, many I can upgrade 522 stuff, but why waste the valor on something I am gone to replace.<br /><br />They should remove the valor cap now that there is nothing to buy with it. This is just beyond stupid.<br /><br />I stopped even trying for the bigger bag. At least actively trying. Spending more time on alts instead of killing the same rare 90 times and still got getting the stupid drop. They need to fix this random is random stuff because at a point it is not longer "fun" to try to get it, it is only frustrating when it doesn't drop.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-90652022997890083652013-11-12T07:57:41.828-05:002013-11-12T07:57:41.828-05:00I guess it comes down to what you expect from it. ...I guess it comes down to what you expect from it. From what I expect it seems near done. Maybe you are looking for more. The garrisons are done, and that has to be the single largest addition, the squish is done, and that has to be the single largest data management issue, and the dungeons and at least 3 of the zones are done. Yeap, to me it is near done already.<br /><br />This parallel universe thing opens a million doors for them. They can just keep rolling out "what if" expansions. Not sure I could dig that, but there are a few what ifs I would love to see. In a caverns of time dungeon however. ;)TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-52900555926697539442013-11-12T07:54:28.981-05:002013-11-12T07:54:28.981-05:00I think most heroic raiders that are complaining (...I think most heroic raiders that are complaining (and most heroic raiders are 10 man raiders) are not upset with the design aspect. I am sure they love that. I think they are more upset they now have to recruit more people.<br /><br />I can agree. I personally prefer 10 man. easier to manage the people. But for top level raiding, even if I would prefer 10 man I personally think it is an awesome idea.<br /><br />Most definitely level a horde one with the free 90. I level on both sides to see the story and I can tell you, the horde side of pandaria is completely different from the alliance one believe it or not. And they get MUCH more story as well. Too bad you can not do the barrens horde side now, that was really good.<br /><br />I too think I will make another horde. I do not have as many high level horde as I do alliance.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-23828556726438669252013-11-12T07:50:09.068-05:002013-11-12T07:50:09.068-05:00I wonder about the gems and enchants as well. If ...I wonder about the gems and enchants as well. If I had to make a complete guess it would be one of two things. 1) They do not change at all. Meaning you would still need 2 sets of gear. 2) Main stat gems and enchants change only. So strength would become intellect going from ret to holy. But stamina would stay stam going from prot to holy or ret. And secondary stats would stay the same. Meaning, you "could" use the same gear, but having individual sets would still be best.<br /><br />I agree, as long as the play is good the story can be secondary. That is why I said it does not bother me as the game play sounds like it will be good. But just like people get tired doing the same content over and over, fighting orcs over and over will just feel like doing the same content over and over. Lore or not, orcs are stale already. Time to move on.<br /><br />They did such an amazing job keeping things under wraps before blizzcon, they can be keeping the alpha under wraps as well. Not to mention, last time they said they would not be doing F&F any longer. So throw that out the window even if they could change their mind.<br /><br />Add to that the comment that we will NOT be getting a 5.5 because it would slow down the expansion. 5.5 would be coming out soon, if they kept their pattern up. So if they do not believe they need something soon to hold us over, and their track record for things being faster this time around, I do not see another last tier raid going for 10 months like the last 2. It will be sooner than later. I am sure of it.<br /><br />I too nailed the 10 level thing. WAY WAY WAY before they showed the heirlooms from SoO lasted 10 levels.<br /><br />It was actually an easy predication. Cataclysm was never meant to be an expansion. That and mists were supposed to be one full story for 10 levels. So they did two small expansions of 5 each and would be going back to 10. Before mists even came out I said "the next expansion will go back to being 10 levels". Cata was filler and it threw everything off. 5 per expansion was never intended. They mistakenly backed themselves into it.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.com