#81 - June 27, 2010, 3:58 a.m.
Q u o t e:
I was more asking if we will have any strength one handers in 4.0 before Cataclysm hits.
There will be that strange and wonderful period in between changing over the classes but before the world changes. That is always an interesting time, but balance will have to be adjusted in so many different ways that we're not too worried about what will happen if Str one-handers do or don't exist. You'll probably replace any level 80 items long before balance really matters again.
Q u o t e:
Kind of off topic but could we see there daggers being the the only fast weapon in cata? Combat no longer needs 2 swords or axes or what have you because specializations are gone and enhance still wants nothing to do with fast weps. No one likes cluttered loot tables bro.
That's something we have discussed (only fast daggers), but the valuation of weapon speed is heavily tied into combat mechanics and those might still change. For example, we've been considering that nasty ICD on Windfury weapon again....
Q u o t e:
Intriguing. Either you've mis-spoken, or you've decided to reverse yourself re: Resto and Ele shaman. One-handed caster weapons (as opposed to Main Hand) would be rather attractive to those specs come Cata.
Elemental and Restoration won't dual wield in Cataclysm.
Q u o t e:
Question? Will there still be tank weapons since Defense as a stat is going away?
We will still make weapons with Stamina and perhaps hit on them. They may not be as valuable as tanking weapons are today without defense, but that's probably not a bad thing. We won't make a ton of them in any case since half the tank classes don't want them.
Q u o t e:
Will there be int one handers with spirit on them? I like swords.
There will be healer weapons, but those are unlikely to be swords since 3 healing classes can't use them. Mages and locks will have no need for Spirit.
Q u o t e:
Currently holy paladins have the option of wielding a caster mace or sword. Why don't they itemize a 2handed healing mace (usable by everyone except priests) or allow them to wield 1 handed daggers?
The intent is that Holy paladins use a mace and shield to heal. There may be occasional more unusual weapons -- we made a spellpower fist in Naxxramas for instance.
Q u o t e:
i just don't understand why they don't just remove AGI and STR from weapons and just put Attack Power on them that way you won't have to design as many items plus you won't have all the QQ like you do with Holy Paladin armor when it drops.
There's a bit of art to the design. On one extreme, you make weapons for each unique spec -- Frost and Fire mages might want different weapons. On the other extreme, you make say 4 types of weapons (as we often do with trinkets) and make them usable by lots of characters. It comes down to there being a sweet spot to loot design (and I don't pretend we always nail it), where you can be lucky or unlucky or you can want an item for which there is lots of competition or an item which nobody else but you really wants. If loot is too predictable then it gets boring and if it's too random then it gets frustrating.
Q u o t e:
I disagree with this. They should do the reverse: Make all skills' damage dependent on the weapon's DPS, not its damage. That way you can use a weapon of any speed and still do the same overall DPS.
There are definitely times we talk about just doing away with weapon speed. We ultimately don't want to though because we have precious few ways to make one item distinct from another as it is. We're cool if there is a certain weapon speed that you really want because that can mean certain items are particularly desired. It's only a problem when a 0.1 change in weapon speed can trump an entire tier of extra stats, which can definitely happen.
