The Mists of Pandaria panel is about to go down, we'll be live blogging it as it unfolds.
Liveblog
- 12:30PM PDT They agree with Cataclysm criticisms. They want to create new things to do rather than rehash the old. They hope challenge modes will help.
- 12:32PM PDT "Let's get players back into the world." They're sick of Stormwind and Orgrimmar idling. Picture of outdoor raid mob as indication of things to come.
- 12:34PM PDT They want to make character progression more fun and balanced for all types of players--from the hardcore to the casual.
- 12:35PM PDT They want you to "geek out with more interesting character builds." They streamlined it too much in Cataclysm.
- 12:36PM PDT There will be five new zones (plus a new starting zone); it will be a single unified conttinent like TBC and WotLK. They felt like Cataclysm was too broken up.
- 12:37PM PDT No flying until max level.
- 12:40PM PDT Pandaria has been shrouded in a mist. The alliance and horde wash up on the shores of Pandaria during a naval battle. They immediately want it for their own for the war--so they are going to destroy the pandaren to get its resources!
- 12:42PM PDT The starting zone is a giant turtle. Literally.
- 12:43PM PDT You will choose your faction at level 10 as a pandaren. You cannot go back.
- 12:45PM PDT Jinyu are fish type creatures you kill in Pandaria.
- 12:45PM PDT Hozu are a monkey type of race that you also kill.
- 12:45PM PDT Verming are a new take on kobolds and you will face them throughout. Instead of candles, they're after vegetables.
- 12:47PM PDT Mantids will be an insect race that will be featured in dungeons & raids. They are not like the Silithid, they are intelligent and use weapons.
- 12:48PM PDT The Mogu were the original race twelve thousand years ago and they want the island back from the pandaren.
- 12:49PM PDT The Sha will be negative energy and it will be a shadow form that players fight; the alliance & horde will actually increase this.
- 12:49PM PDT Moving onto zones. First zone is Jade Forest.Lush rainforests and stone spires.
- Temple of the Jade Serpent will be the first dungeon (85-86).
- The Brewery will be the second dungeon.
[*]12:59PM PDT He's just going over what we've talked about below (the racials we broke).
[*]1:00PM PDT Three specs for monks! They can be healers!
- Brewmaster - Tank
- Mistweaver - Healer. It should be like an intense Disc priest, they want it to damage AND heal.
- Windwalker - Melee DPS.
[*]1:04PM PDT Chi (energy) for Jab and Roll. Jab generates Light and Dark force, which is used for everything else.
[*]1:05PM PDT Monks have no Auto Attack!
[*]1:05PM PDT Now he's breaking down Cataclysm's failures and the new talent tree.
[*]1:07PM PDT Talent trees should let you be different, no more cookie-cutter builds. No hybridization is in-game, either, and they're sorry for that. Everyone is the same currently--they want to fix that!
[*]1:09PM PDT They're making spells spec specific, for example, immolation will now be destruction only.
[*]1:11PM PDT Only one talent tree per class now. You earn a talent every 15 levels. Every talent you choose one of three, you cannot go back (so each level is important).
[*]1:12PM PDT They are letting you change talents as easily as glyphs. FINALLY. Here's an example of the UI:
[*]1:15PM PDT PvE scenarios. They are glorified group quests only cooler--more elegant to group up and explore the world.
- Example scenario: You and some friends must kill kobolds, then you must find children they stole, then kill the boss responsible for it all. In an essence, they're more epic quests that give VP/JP.
[*]1:24PM PDT Pokémon for World of Warcraft. OK, OK, they didn't say that--but pet battles will be your vanity pets fighting!
- Works with most existing pets.
- Wild pets will be a new type to collect--they may only spawn with raining or during the Spring or in a certain location. Like maybe one pet will only spawn in Orgrimmar at night on Friday's.
- You will have builds and items they can hold, too.
- The Pet Journal will let you manage your pets.
[*]1:37PM PDT There will be 3 raids at launch, featuring Mogu and Mantid. They will have Raid Finer, Normal & Heroic difficulties. World raid bosses will be brought back, too!!!
[*]1:41PM PDT They are adding new battlegrounds and coming up with new ideas. They are talking about ones they have in inception stage, such as Stranglethorn DIamond Mines (payload); Valley of Power (Murderball); and Azshara Crater (DoTA).
[*]1:42PM PDT STV Diamond would be a mine with multiple tracks; the first team to get the cart to the end would win. Players would have to move carts, split the tracks, and escort the carts.
[*]1:44PM PDT Valley of Power would be located in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. Murderball where you hold the object for as long as possible, taking more damage the longer you hold it.
[*]1:45PM PDT Tol'vir Arena would be like Nagrand, only sandy.
[*]1:46PM PDT Back to Greg. He's now talking about achievements. ACCOUNT LEVEL ACHIEVEMENTS. ALLOW ACHIEVEMENTS WILL BE SHARED ACROSS ACOUNTS. This will let them introduce new achievements.
[*]1:47PM PDT Major class changes.
- Resilience. It will be a base stat, so as you level you get some. PvE gear will not be the best, but you will be able to use it for entry-level PvP.
- Ranged Weapons. Hunter minimum range is gone. Hunter melee weapon is gone. Ranged slot for all classes gone. Relics are gone. Wands will become actual weapons, like mainhands.
- Warlocks will now have a unique resource for each spec. Affliction - Soul Shards. Demonology - Demonic Fury. Destruction - Infernal Embers.
- Shaman will no longer have buff totems. All totems will be redone. Earthgrab totem - roots> Repulsion totem - repels. Bulwark totem - absorbs.
- Druids now have four specs. feral - cat DPS. Guardian - bear tank.
- Spell books for all classes are changed; rotations improved; and more.
- It's a wrap!
