Round Table Meetings at Gamescom 2013, Blue Posts, What Creature of Sanctuary Would You Want As a Pet?
In-Game Real Money Beta Purchase Reward Clarifications, Buffs After Silence, Server Regions
Patch 5.4 - Heirloom Raid Weapons
Along with all of the other Siege of Orgrimmar loot, Patch 5.4 adds some Heirloom weapons that drop from Garrosh. These items do not drop in Raid Finder difficulty, only Flex, Normal, and Heroic.
Patch 5.4 PTR Notes Update - August 7
Originally Posted by Blizzard
(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Classes
Vengeance has received several changes.
So as not to affect Challenge Mode leader boards, the above Vengeance changes will not apply there. For Challenge Modes, Vengeance will continue to work as it did in patch 5.3.
Druid (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
General
Wild Mushroom for Restoration Druids now summons a single mushroom at the friendly target’s location. If the mushroom is recast, the mushroom moves to the new location and retains its accumulated bonus healing.
The amount of healing stored on a Wild Mushroom is now reduced by Battle Fatigue.
Talents
Dream of Cenarius has been completely redesigned to reduce complexity and increase usability, but maintain the spirit of the effects. Benefits now vary by specialization.
Guardian: Increases the amount healed by Healing Touch by 20%. Increases the critical strike chance of Mangle (Bear) by 10% and critical strikes of Mangle (Bear) have a 40% chance to make the next Healing Touch or Rebirth instant, free, and castable in all forms. Instant cast version of Healing Touch now benefits from Attack Power instead of Spell Power.
Monk (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
Talents
Rushing Jade Wind has been redesigned and replaces Spinning Crane Kick.
Rushing Jade Wind: The Monk summons a whirling tornado around them, dealing damage to nearby enemies (heals nearby allies for Mistweavers). Rushing Jade Wind has the same costs, Chi generation, and periodic rate as Spinning CRake Kick, but, deals 60% of the periodic damage or healing, lasts 6 seconds, is instant, and not channeled.
Paladin (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
Holy
Holy Insight now increases the effectiveness of Eternal Flame, Light of Dawn, and Word of Glory by 50%. Effectiveness of other heals are still increased by 25%.
Talents
Sacred Shield
Holy: Sacred Shield now applies its damage absorption shield immediately, can be active on more than one target at a time, but the talent now costs mana and has 3 charges with a 10-second recharge.
Protection and Retribution: Sacred Shield is 30% less effective.
Priest (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
General
Shadow Word: Death damage is now increased by 80% when used on enemies that have less than 20% health, but the cooldown is no longer reset if the target does not die.
Discipline
Grace can no longer be dispelled.
Class Armor
Discipline/Holy PvP 2-piece set bonus' (4-piece set bonus pre-Season 12) Holy Spark effect can no longer be dispelled.
Shadow PvP 4-piece set bonus is no longer an area-of-effect and only affects the character that dispels Vampiric Touch.
Warlock (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
Affliction
Nightfall now gives Corruption a 10% increased chance to generate a Soul Shard on the most recently applied Corruption.
Warrior (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
Arms
Slam now deals 50% more damage, but the Rage cost has been increased by 50% as well. While Sweeping Strikes is active, Slam will deal 35% of damage dealt against the primary target to all other enemies within 2 yards, and targets affected by Colossus Smash receives 10% more damage.
Quests
Wrathion's Legendary Questline
The first eight bosses in Siege of Orgrimmar have a chance to drop a Sigil of Power, Sigil of Wisdom, Secrets of the Empire, or Titan Runestone in addition to their normal loot for players on the appropriate step in the legendary questline.
Professions
Archaeology
Mantid Artifact Sonic Locator no longer randomizes digsites when acquired, and is more difficult to obtain. They can now only be purchased as part of a Mantid Artifact Hunter’s Kit, which includes a Lorewalker’s Map.
Blacksmithing
New Raid and PvP blacksmithing plans have been added. These new plans can be researched by crafting Balanced Trillium Ingot, allowing the blacksmith to learn a random new plan.
Plans for Balanced Trillium Ingot could be found as a drop from creatures in Pandaria.
Cooking
A number of new cooking recipes have been added, including new foods that give +300 to a primary stat and noodle carts. Some of these new recipes can be learned from drops in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, others from quests.
Enchanting
Items formerly obtained with Valor Points that now cost Justice Points as well as gear crafted from new PvP recipes or plans will now disenchant into Sha Crystal Fragments.
Multiple Sha Crystal Fragments can be combined into a Sha Crystal.
Engineering
Engineers that are able to acquire Chief Engineer Jard’s Journal can learn to craft Jard's Peculiar Energy Source; a new material used in a number of new engineering schematics. The journal can be obtained as a drop from creatures in Pandaria.
Blingtron 4000 Gift Package now has a chance to contain Lil’ Bling, a companion pet.
Fishing
With the lakes and rivers in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms drained of water, the Cloud Serpents carried little buckets of Jewel Danio and relocated them to the Timeless Isle so they can thrive once more.
Inscription
Many new glyph techniques have been added, and some existing glyphs have been changed. Some of the new techniques can be obtained from creatures anywhere in Pandaria, while others can only be found on powerful creatures that reside on the Timeless Isle.
A new technique to create Crafted Malevolent Gladiator’s Medallion of Tenacity can be found as a world drop
Leatherworking
New Raid and PvP leatherworking patterns have been added. These new patterns can be researched by crafting Hardened Magnificent Hide, allowing the leatherworker to learn a random new pattern.
Patterns for Hardened Magnificent Hide could be found as a drop from creatures in Pandaria.
Leatherworkers can find a pattern to craft Drums of Rage as a drop from creatures in Pandaria. The drums can be used by anyone to give their raid a minor bloodlust-like effect.
Tailoring
New Raid and PvP tailoring patterns have been added. These new patterns can be researched by crafting Celestial Cloth, allowing the tailor to learn a random new pattern.
Patterns for Celestial Cloth could be found as a drop from creatures in Pandaria.
Items
Trinket, enchant, set bonus, and legendary meta-gem effects whose triggered effect benefits from haste no longer also have their chance to trigger the benefit from haste. Activation chances and internal cooldowns for those effects and other trinket effects have been adjusted to compensate and will now be displayed on their tooltip.
Raid Testing Schedule - August 8-9
Originally Posted by Blizzard
(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
On Thursday, August 8, and Friday, August 9, we will continue testing raid encounters in the Siege of Orgrimmar raid. We're moving on to 10-player Heroic testing at this time, and then 25-player mode as the PTR cycle progresses.
Each encounter should be available at approximately the listed times below for all Public Test Realms.
Thursday, August 8
Immerseus - 10 Player Heroic - 10:30 PDT (13:30 EDT, 19:30 CEST)
Norushen - 10 Player Heroic - 16:00 PDT (19:00 EDT, 01:00 CEST)
Friday, August 9
Spoils of Pandaria - 10 Player Heroic - 10:30 PDT (13:30 EDT, 19:30 CEST)
Paragons of the Klaxxi - 10 Player Heroic - 16:00 PDT (19:00 EDT, 01:00 CEST)
As always, this testing schedule is very fluid and subject to the realities of a beta environment. We might have to change the time of a testing session, change the boss being tested, or cancel a test entirely, due to bugs, server hardware issues, etc. Keep an eye on this forum for the latest information, and thank you in advance for testing and providing feedback.
Blue Tweets
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Lore
Instead you did the exact opposite and went to a complete standstill. Main heroes mostly do nothing at all.
Characters like Garrosh and Jaina have a lot of presence in the 5.0 story. Now, you may not like them or wish we had included more. (Source)
Wotlk had the highest integration of players to the story. Cata and mop had arguably none or really week.
We also heard criticism that Arthas turned up every time you opened a closet. Risked making him feel more annoying than frightening. (Source)
Real question, what is the intrinsic value of content? Story/Aesthetic difficulty matters less.
Seeing content and seeing story are both rewards. In WoW, gear just tends to be a more motivating reward for many. (Source)
I have a feeling that y'shaarj is the true baddie in this expansion amirite?
He is dead. (Source)
How can Old Gods die if "They're outside the cycle"?
"What is dead may never die?" (Source)
stop saying u lose a leveling zone when u can phase for hight levels like u do on Theramor
Okay, so you're asking for Ashenvale to be phased at higher level to reinforce Alliance winning back some land? (Source)
Just trying to understand how the ongoing story makes sense after changes such as this - esp for lower level toons
We often have a problem with the lower level time flow. Arthas is dead 1-60 then alive 61-80 then dead again 80-90. (Source)
Why not turn TBC & WotLK into optional content that can be played in scenarios / cavern of times?
It's a neat idea. It just takes designer time away from other ideas (which doesn't mean it's off the table). (Source)
World
Can we get a list of to-be-joined servers in 5.4 so we can start matching guilds/arena teams up? Thanks!
There are no Arena teams any longer. We'll provide lists of connected realms when we have resolved which ones are affected. (Source)
50% Off Swift Windsteed Mount - This Week Only
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Whether trekking along the jagged trails leading to Kun-Lai Summit or galloping through the clouds, the Swift Windsteed always has a regal bearing. Now, for the first time you can grab the reins of one of these rare creatures for half off—but hurry, as this sale ends August 13, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Get yours now! (US / EU)
Hearthstone - State of the Game
There was a new Hearthstone blog post today that talks about the current state of the game. It revealed that beta is finally feature complete and still planned for the summer, but it won't be ready this week.
Players who purchase a pack of cards during the beta will receive a golden Gelbin Mekkatorque card. This card will not be disenchantable and only obtainable as a beta reward. Be sure to read the full blog post on Hearthpwn.
The Burdens of Shaohao
If you can't get enough of Lorewalker Cho's storytelling, this should be a fun week for you. Blizzard is releasing a six part series that looks at Emperor Shaohao as he progresses toward discovering the truth about his future.