Byrntroll proc does more damage than SS

Because we removed the passive stats to add the procs to some weapons in Icecrown we were a little more generous with what they could do to keep them interesting/fun even if a lot of players felt they would be terrible without the passive stats. The Nibelung staff can proc a lot of Val’kyr so this isn't a Bryntroll/melee specific topic.

Just to avoid surprises, procs like this are the kind of thing you will likely see a lot more of in order for gear to not to feel so predictable and boring from tier to tier.

As far as the PvP concerns, the classes that can use this weapon were already quite popular so we are keeping an eye on things and see if any noticeable impact happens on them.

Q u o t e:


Moving away from the nerf discussion and more on the subject of these kind of weapons in general--don't you think its a bit problematic (and contradictory) to be making items that basically have effects that can't really be measured until after you have the item? I mean, I thought the idea of toning down stats in Cataclysm was to make it easier to "eyeball" an item's worth, but items like these completely take away that possibility.

You are kind of mixing two different things together. Yes, it can be harder to eyeball and item's value with procs like this, but this is only one item slot (sure, two for those titan gripping folk) and pretty unlikely to be something that will be put on a character from head to toe. The "eyeball" of an item's worth also isn't intended to cut down every item to being a system of +1 to your previous item or anything like that, we still want decisions to be made.

The goal is to make them a little more fun and interesting and while players will figure out which one(s) are best, hopefully the interest in the proc alone will be a bit of a factor in the item. I know personally if I can spawn some random val'kyr, I'll take a small dps loss, heh.

Q u o t e:


why cant it spawn gnomes?

I want explode-a-gnomes that spawn with a large aggro radius, like my other desires I expect this one not to fly.

Q u o t e:



All QQ'ing aside, you did have to know that this weapon was going to be a problem, right? I mean, you surely saw this incoming?

Not trying to be an ass but follow the logical flow here:

People don't like losing, people like losing less to random number generators, people REALLY like losing less to broken random number generators..... This is not new. I mean, you did see this bomb as it was arriving on the plane right?

Are you guys in charge of the BCS too? I want a playoff. Make this happen.

We expected complaints about this item, and others, sure. That's why we are already keeping an eye on it and will make changes if we feel they are necessary. So far we haven't see any dramatic changes to the classes using it, but time will tell.

Q u o t e:


Are you concerned that "interesting" tends to be hard to balance? Just look at trinkets.

I would put this in the "ongoing challenges" category. Will it be difficult to balance? Sure. Is it still worth it to put them in the game? Yes.