WoWJuju Home

Cataclysm Exploration - Episode 6

07-27-10 17:44 - 7 comments

Published: 07-27-10 17:44

Another new feature of the new expansion is this new guild leveling system. At first, an entire talent guild talent tree was planned but Blizzard dropped that and this is how these Guild Perks were born.

The entire Guild panel UI was changed and if you'll check the screenshots you'll know what I mean. I'm sure there are more things to come but you can still get an idea about how these things were changed.
Anyhow, these Perks are the most interesting part for now. Each guild can get up to level 25, each level unlocking a new perk. To keep it simple, everything you'll do in WoW will help your guild level up. Leveling, PvE, PvP, questing... most of the things will give you guild-exp (guild-exp? I really don't know how to call those points).

These are the current Guild Perks. Like I always say, anything can change and maybe some more levels are going to be added...

Fast Track (Rank 1) - Experience gained from killing monsters and completing quests increased by 5%.
Mount Up (Rank 1) - Increases speed while mounted by 5%. Not active in Battlegrounds or Arenas.
Mr. Popularity (Rank 1) - Reputation gained from killing monsters and completing quests increased by 5%.
Cash Flow (Rank 1) - Each time you loot money from an enemy, an extra 5% money is generated and deposited directly into your guild bank.
Fast Track (Rank 2) - Experience gained from killing monsters and completing quests increased by 10%.
Reinforce (Rank 1) - Items take 5% less durability loss when you die.
Hasty Hearth (Rank 1) - Reduces the cooldown on your Hearthstone by 15 minutes.
Reinforce (Rank 2) - Items take 10% less durability loss when you die.
Chug-A-Lug (Rank 1) - The duration of buffs from all guild cauldrons and feasts is increased by 50%.
Mobile Banking (Rank 1) - Summons your guild bank.
Mr. Popularity (Rank 2) - Reputation gained from killing monsters and completing quests increased by 10%.
Honorable Mention (Rank 1) - Increases Honor points gained by 5%.
Working Overtime (Rank 1) - Increases the chance to gain a skill increase on tradeskills by 10%.
The Quick and the Dead (Rank 1) - Increases health and mana gained when resurrected by a guild member by 50% and increases movement speed while dead by 100%. Does not function in combat or while in a Battleground or Arena.
Cash Flow (Rank 2) - Each time you loot money from an enemy, an extra 10% money is generated and deposited directly into your guild bank.
Guild Mail (Rank 1) - In-game mail sent between guild members now arrives instantly.
Everyone's A Hero (Rank 1) - Increases Heroism points gained by 5%.
Honorable Mention (Rank 2) - Increases Honor points gained by 10%.
Happy Hour - Increases the number of flasks gained from using a flask cauldron by 100%.
Have Group, Will Travel - Summons all raid or party members to the caster's current location.
Chug-A-Lug (Rank 2) - The duration of buffs from all guild cauldrons and feasts is increased by 100%.
Bountiful Bags (Rank 1) - Increases the quantity of materials gained from Mining, Skinning, Herbalism, and Disenchanting by 15%.
Bartering - Reduces the price of items from all vendors by 5%.
Everyone's A Hero (Rank 2) - Increases Heroism points gained by 10%.
Mass Resurrection - Brings all dead party and raid members back to life with 35 health and 35 mana. Cannot be cast when in combat.

With this new guild leveling system I think less people will switch guilds randomly. Keep in mind that there are going to be guild rewards also...
These Guild changes are going to affect you and your gameplay in any way?

7 comments - make a comment

Authenticator on Forums - Blizzcon 2010 Stream

07-24-10 16:57 - 13 comments

Published: 07-24-10 16:57

Official Forums Requiring Authenticator Code

If you login on the official forums now and you are using an authenticator you'll have to enter the code also. If your account does not have an authenticator attached nothing will change...

As a part of our ongoing dedication to account security, players who utilize authenticators on their account will now be asked to enter it upon their first time logging into the forums, and then periodically thereafter. By ensuring that, even if their account is compromised, without the attached authenticator their login credentials can’t be used. This additional security layer helps to better protect players in all services accessed by logging in with their account and password.

We’d like to urge all players who don’t already use one to please consider attaching an authenticator to help protect themselves and their accounts. Information on how to obtain an authenticator as well as additional account security information can be found at: http://www.battle.net/security/

BlizzCon 2010 Virtual Tickets - On Sale

Starting today you'll be able to buy yourself a virtual ticket for the BlizzCon 2010 Stream. $39.95 USD each ticket and unlike the tickets for participating to the actual event, thee are not in limited supply.

Want to experience the panel discussions, tournaments, game-related announcements, and all the excitement of BlizzCon from the comfort of your own home? The BlizzCon Virtual Ticket multi-channel Internet stream is now available to order around the world for $39.95 USD (pricing may vary by region). In addition, new DIRECTV subscribers in the United States who sign up for DIRECTV service between now and September 24 through www.blizzard.directv.com will receive this year's BlizzCon Virtual Ticket coverage for free. Existing DIRECTV customers will be able to purchase the event on DIRECTV Pay Per View for $39.95 beginning October 9.

Anyone who orders the event will also receive this year's BlizzCon-exclusive World of Warcraft in-game item. In addition, for the first time, BlizzCon 2010 Virtual Ticket holders will have access to exclusive BlizzCon merchandise.

To order or learn more, visit the BlizzCon 2010 Internet stream or DIRECTV sign-up offer pages.

13 comments - make a comment

Cataclysm Exploration - Episode 5

07-24-10 10:49 - 15 comments

Published: 07-24-10 10:49

Blackrock Caverns, because this is what are we going to talk about in this episode, was the first dungeon I went into since starting Cataclysm Beta. I think I was too busy flying around aimlessly and enjoying the flying mounts in Azeroth.

The first thing I noticed was the AoE. There is no more: Pull ze mobs, AoE them all, Repeat... Maybe, with a bit of gear from the Cataclysm Raids you'll be able to do this again, but not now. In my opinion that's great.
There is not too much trash around, but it will take you some time to clear it. I couldn't notice anything amazing with that trash...
With the bosses, there is a different story. No more tank and spank (mostly).
There are 5 bosses in there.

Rom'ogg Bonecrusher
This is the first boss of the instance. Not much of a struggle. The only thing you should worry about is when he pulls the whole party to him, chains everyone and starts casting some nasty spell. Then you have to release yourself and run away from him. Something like the Heroic Blood Furnace last boss, but now some chains are involved.
Corla, Herald of Twilight
This boss is interesting. It reminded me a bit of Netherspite from Karazhan. There are three adds, next to the boss and when the fight starts they will each be hit with some beams from the imprisoned dragon from the middle of the room. If they reach 100 stacks they will transform into some dragonkin beasts. You don't want to see them all three transformed at the same time, because your tank will most likely die. That's why you'll have to "grab" those beams and let only one ad transform. Watch it, if you get to 00 stacks you'll transform yourself and attack your party members. When you reach 70-80 stacks another party member should take your place until your stacks reset. You should kill the first transformed ad asap. Then take the next one and in the end the third one. The boss after that will be easy as pie. I'm sure that this whole beam-catching-mess wont be required when you'll have better gear.
Karsh Steelbender
Before starting with this boss you should kill the fire elementals that patrol around it. After that the tank should pull him into that fire, so its armor buff gets lowered. You should keep it in fire only 2-3 ticks then drag him out or the group damage will become unhealable. Also, beware of that middle ring, it will create a wall of fire every time you pull the boss out of the middle fire pillar.
Beauty
Now this one is tank and spank mostly. You only have to face it away from the party and all of you should spread out. Oh, about its pups, even if they are lovely and they play around, you should kill them before you pull the boss.
Ascendant Lord Obsidius
This is the last boss. I don't think this is the way blizzard wanted to do this fight, but it's pretty simple as it is now. The tank tanks everything, including those two shadows. Their aggro are like the Nucleuses aggro in ICC. When the tank is about 40-50% on health a rand dps should pull the shadows off him. After the tank is healed back he should grab the shadows again.

To put it simple, I was impressed. There is "something" different with this dungeon. The look and the textures took me back also. It seems that I'm back to UBRS and LBRS. I can't wait to hear the music of this place.
Here are some screenshots I took while running around in there. I think I'll update them because I feel the need to have more pics of this place.

Now tell us, are you going to miss the WotLK instances and their gameplay?

15 comments - make a comment

Gamescom - Starcraft 2 - Blue Posts

07-22-10 21:32 - 4 comments

Published: 07-22-10 21:32

First of all, a quick reminder, do not miss our Cataclysm Beta Keys Giveaway contest!!!

Blizzard at Gamescom 2010 in Cologne

We're pleased to announce that Blizzard Entertainment will be at gamescom 2010 next month. Visitors to the Blizzard Entertainment booth, located in Halle 6, B21 & B31, will have the opportunity to play our upcoming games and hear our latest news and information.

From Thursday 19 until Sunday 22 August, gamescom in Cologne, Germany will be open to the public. Find out more about the show and how to get there at http://www.gamescom-.../home/index.php

Starcraft 2: Ghosts of the Past Trailer

We rarely post something about other games, othen than World of Warcraft ofc, but now I think this should hit the first page.

Cataclysm Dungeons Access

Currently, come Cataclysm, in order for a character to gain access to the majority of dungeons through the Dungeon Finder, that character will need to first discover them via normal travel. While this may seem like an arduous task at first glance, keep in mind that there will still be numerous ways for low level characters to traverse long distances—namely zeppelins, boats, and taxis, as well as mounts for characters level 20 and up.

There are certain dungeons, however, that are not currently planned to require exploration before becoming available. These dungeons are either low level or notably difficult to travel to for one or both factions (for example, Ragefire Chasm and Stockades)

Upcoming Cataclysm Warlock Changes

Here are a few upcoming changes you'll see in the next beta build:

Improved Drain Soul and Dark Pact have been cut / redesigned.
Aftermath is a 100% chance to proc with 2 points. That is just a tooltip error.
Soul Fire’s base cast time is reduced to 4 sec, and Emberstorm takes it down to 3 sec.
Demonic Aegis back to 15/30%.
Drain Life will do more competitive damage.

Cataclysm and it's Guild Perks

We care about all of our players. We consider many different factors before implementing new systems especially when they may affect a lot of our players. That said, we do have to design and implement what we feel is best for the game. As a random example off the top of my head, players tend to dislike nerfs, but if one class is ahead of others we will nerf that one class and not buff 9 others.

A lot of players are also afraid of change. Before they even test things out or while it's in an early stage, they will declare the world has imploded. (See talent tree changes.) None of this means we don't care about our players. We understand that things will get shaken up, this won't be the first time gets shaken up and it won't be last, but we still need to design things the way we feel they are best for the game. Players can either choose to try it out or avoid it in favor of their own style.

There may be an impact on the economy, there may be an impact on recruiting, there may be an impact on guild sizes - but the end result is likely to be very positive on the game. We aren't designing it to cripple solo players and I haven't seen anybody provide a valid example of this so far. We have made a lot of changes recently to help support both smaller and larger guilds and want players to feel special for being part of a cool guild in this multiplayer game. We are looking forward to testing this feature with the thousands and thousands of players who are (and will be) in the beta and make it the best it possibly can be for as many of our players as possible.

Leveling in Cataclysm Reconsidered

In the next beta build the minimum level for entering and questing in Mount Hyjal and Vashj’ir will change from level 78 to level 80. All associated creatures will have their levels increased to match the new flow.

Additionally, after careful review and consideration we've decided to increase the hit point values of level 80+ Cataclysm creatures. The new hit point values are roughly double their previous values.

Level 80 (OLD)
16400

Level 80 (NEW)
31000

Players will also now need to be level 80 in order to use the Dungeon Finder System for Throne of Tides and Blackrock Caverns.

4 comments - make a comment