Filed under: Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, The Burning Crusade, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King

World of Warcraft has four classes that can heal and four classes that can tank. Two of the tanking classes are classes that can only tank or DPS, and two of the healing classes are classes that can only heal or DPS, leaving two classes as jacks of all trades who can heal, tank or DPS. In general, of WoW’s 10 classes, we have therefore six or so classes that can perform at least two, if not three, roles. This leaves four classes with three talent trees each which only perform one role, that being DPS.

Should this be the case? Or should the remaining four ‘pure’ DPS classes… the Rogue, Mage, Warlock, and Hunter… be given the same ‘hybrid’ flexibility as the other six? We’ve seen great changes from the old days especially with the release of Wrath of the Lich King bringing real viability for hybrid classes to fulfill whatever role they spec and gear for, especially with tanking and healing: each tanking class can perform the MT role, for instance, although each can be said to have strengths and weaknesses to some degree in certain aspects (Warriors and Druids struggle with AoE tanking compared to Paladins and DK’s, for instance). Some healing classes excel at group healing, others at tank healing, but all should be more than capable of solo healing a five man and all are valuable in raids.

Continue reading Should every class be a hybrid?

Should every class be a hybrid? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, The Burning Crusade, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King

World of Warcraft has four classes that can heal and four classes that can tank. Two of the tanking classes are classes that can only tank or DPS, and two of the healing classes are classes that can only heal or DPS, leaving two classes as jacks of all trades who can heal, tank or DPS. In general, of WoW’s 10 classes, we have therefore six or so classes that can perform at least two, if not three, roles. This leaves four classes with three talent trees each which only perform one role, that being DPS.

Should this be the case? Or should the remaining four ‘pure’ DPS classes… the Rogue, Mage, Warlock, and Hunter… be given the same ‘hybrid’ flexibility as the other six? We’ve seen great changes from the old days especially with the release of Wrath of the Lich King bringing real viability for hybrid classes to fulfill whatever role they spec and gear for, especially with tanking and healing: each tanking class can perform the MT role, for instance, although each can be said to have strengths and weaknesses to some degree in certain aspects (Warriors and Druids struggle with AoE tanking compared to Paladins and DK’s, for instance). Some healing classes excel at group healing, others at tank healing, but all should be more than capable of solo healing a five man and all are valuable in raids.

Continue reading Should every class be a hybrid?

Should every class be a hybrid? originally appeared on WoW.com on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Warrior, Patches, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, The Burning Crusade, (Warrior) The Care and Feeding of Warriors, Wrath of the Lich King

It’s been a remarkably grueling month for me, so I can’t say I’ll be sorry to see April finally end. As much fun as the new content is, a lot of personal issues (including a sick rabbit,vet trips and the like on the top as a kind of panic frosting to everything else) have made it hard to squeeze in the time to do anything but raid nowadays. I fell asleep trying to do the Argent Tournament dailies. I picked up the saddest ring ever last night (let the search for a sadder ring commence) and got to thinking about the peculiar way warriors have to rely on loot luck. (Yes, I’m aware all classes have to rely on luck for drops.) Since frankly I don’t want to write the often threatened nerd rage post over fury (and I’m starting to be discontented by arms’ performance, as improved as it is) I thought talking about gear less from a ‘here are the stats of every drop you want in Ulduar’ way could be interesting.

We all know eventually I’ll be doing that, too. But since the instance still hasn’t revealed all of its goodies, Ulduar loot discussions are always an exercise in finding out you missed something. It seems worth it to me to wait for more things to be discovered before tackling that job.

Continue reading The Care and Feeding of Warriors: The Luck Of The Drop

The Care and Feeding of Warriors: The Luck Of The Drop originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Warrior, Patches, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, The Burning Crusade, (Warrior) The Care and Feeding of Warriors, Wrath of the Lich King

It’s been a remarkably grueling month for me, so I can’t say I’ll be sorry to see April finally end. As much fun as the new content is, a lot of personal issues (including a sick rabbit,vet trips and the like on the top as a kind of panic frosting to everything else) have made it hard to squeeze in the time to do anything but raid nowadays. I fell asleep trying to do the Argent Tournament dailies. I picked up the saddest ring ever last night (let the search for a sadder ring commence) and got to thinking about the peculiar way warriors have to rely on loot luck. (Yes, I’m aware all classes have to rely on luck for drops.) Since frankly I don’t want to write the often threatened nerd rage post over fury (and I’m starting to be discontented by arms’ performance, as improved as it is) I thought talking about gear less from a ‘here are the stats of every drop you want in Ulduar’ way could be interesting.

We all know eventually I’ll be doing that, too. But since the instance still hasn’t revealed all of its goodies, Ulduar loot discussions are always an exercise in finding out you missed something. It seems worth it to me to wait for more things to be discovered before tackling that job.

Continue reading The Care and Feeding of Warriors: The Luck Of The Drop

The Care and Feeding of Warriors: The Luck Of The Drop originally appeared on WoW.com on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Events, Blizzard, Expansions, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King

This week information about the final boss of Ulduar has slowly been revealed, thanks to the guild Wraith on EU-Ysondre. We never got to meet Algalon the Observer on the PTRs so this encounter is one of the most mysterious, both in terms of tactics and of lore.

From what I’ve seen it’s also one of the most gorgeous, but then again, I like stars and floating planets. Algalon himself is an entity composed of stars, a spectral being who is not uncompassionate to the heroes who have come to kill him. He just has a job to do. A job which could see our world being put in serious - even cataclysmic jepoardy.

Needless to say, from here on in, there be SPOILERS about the actual boss fight so read on at your own peril!

Continue reading What happens if Algalon isn’t defeated?

What happens if Algalon isn’t defeated? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Events, Blizzard, Expansions, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King

This week information about the final boss of Ulduar has slowly been revealed, thanks to the guild Wraith on EU-Ysondre. We never got to meet Algalon the Observer on the PTRs so this encounter is one of the most mysterious, both in terms of tactics and of lore.

From what I’ve seen it’s also one of the most gorgeous, but then again, I like stars and floating planets. Algalon himself is an entity composed of stars, a spectral being who is not uncompassionate to the heroes who have come to kill him. He just has a job to do. A job which could see our world being put in serious - even cataclysmic jepoardy.

Needless to say, from here on in, there be SPOILERS about the actual boss fight so read on at your own peril!

Continue reading What happens if Algalon isn’t defeated?

What happens if Algalon isn’t defeated? originally appeared on WoW.com on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, The Burning Crusade, Lore, NPCs, Wrath of the Lich King

Once upon a time, when the World of Warcraft was all shiny and new, things were simple: the Horde hated the Alliance and they, in turn, despised the Horde. It was a simpler time, but this wasn’t just some game mechanic to facilitate PvP and hours of ganking, oh no, it was integral to the lore of Azeroth.

Now, it’s also worth remembering that there’s no black and white in Azeroth either. The Horde aren’t evil for just being the Horde, neither are the Alliance all pure as newly fallen snow. Each faction has done its fair share of pure and evil acts depending on the actions of individual heroes and the motivations of their leaders.

But now we’re post patch 3.1, it’s time to rexamine the state of relations between the two factions. Times have changed quite drastically since we first entered Azeroth and the addition of The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King have only made things much more complicated. The Wrath Gate cinematic gave us some glimpse of how the two factions are getting on in the continually evolving lore of Azeroth. While the recent trailer for the Secrets of Ulduar offered an even more promising glimpse at the deterioration of that tenuous peace.

Continue reading The state of the Horde and the Alliance

The state of the Horde and the Alliance originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, The Burning Crusade, Lore, NPCs, Wrath of the Lich King

Once upon a time, when the World of Warcraft was all shiny and new, things were simple: the Horde hated the Alliance and they, in turn, despised the Horde. It was a simpler time, but this wasn’t just some game mechanic to facilitate PvP and hours of ganking, oh no, it was integral to the lore of Azeroth.

Now, it’s also worth remembering that there’s no black and white in Azeroth either. The Horde aren’t evil for just being the Horde, neither are the Alliance all pure as newly fallen snow. Each faction has done its fair share of pure and evil acts depending on the actions of individual heroes and the motivations of their leaders.

But now we’re post patch 3.1, it’s time to rexamine the state of relations between the two factions. Times have changed quite drastically since we first entered Azeroth and the addition of The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King have only made things much more complicated. The Wrath Gate cinematic gave us some glimpse of how the two factions are getting on in the continually evolving lore of Azeroth. While the recent trailer for the Secrets of Ulduar offered an even more promising glimpse at the deterioration of that tenuous peace.

Continue reading The state of the Horde and the Alliance

The state of the Horde and the Alliance originally appeared on WoW.com on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Patches, Events, Blizzard, News items, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King, Forums

The seasonal revamped extravaganza that is Noblegarden is due to start tomorrow and the Blues have revealed a little more about the new week-long festival. Yesterday night Zarhym posted on the official forums, revealing some new details as well as linking to a revamped festival page on the official site.

The new Noblegarden (which starts tomorrow) has its origins in a druidic festival, but the modern peoples of Azeroth seem more interested in egg-hunting and scoffing chocolates. Focusing on the starter towns like Brill and Goldshire, it’s one of those great festivals which is aimed at newer players as well as die-hard level 80s.

Zarhym promises egg hunts and new daily quests as well the chance to find cool items within brightly coloured chocolate eggs. There’s also a stack of new achievements (you know you want that Violet Proto-Drake) and if you get sick of eating chocolate you can also use them as currency to buy awesome Noblegarden swag.

WoW Insider will have guides and galleries up tomorrow. Noblegarden runs through next Saturday.

Revamped Noblegarden revealed originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Patches, Events, Blizzard, News items, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King, Forums

The seasonal revamped extravaganza that is Noblegarden is due to start tomorrow and the Blues have revealed a little more about the new week-long festival. Yesterday night Zarhym posted on the official forums, revealing some new details as well as linking to a revamped festival page on the official site.

The new Noblegarden (which starts tomorrow) has its origins in a druidic festival, but the modern peoples of Azeroth seem more interested in egg-hunting and scoffing chocolates. Focusing on the starter towns like Brill and Goldshire, it’s one of those great festivals which is aimed at newer players as well as die-hard level 80s.

Zarhym promises egg hunts and new daily quests as well the chance to find cool items within brightly coloured chocolate eggs. There’s also a stack of new achievements (you know you want that Violet Proto-Drake) and if you get sick of eating chocolate you can also use them as currency to buy awesome Noblegarden swag.

WoW Insider will have guides and galleries up tomorrow. Noblegarden runs through next Saturday.

Revamped Noblegarden revealed originally appeared on WoW.com on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments