Cataclysm Talent Calculator – Introducing WoWTal

Update #3 – Just regenerated all the trees, force refresh (ctrl-f5/cmd-f5) if you're seeing old talents.
Update #2 – Still hunting a few annoying bugs. (Hello missing talents) Just use the previews in the previous post as a reference if you're not sure about something.
Update – The servers are under a lot of stress, it will be fixed as soon as we're done using the heat to keep the coffee pot warm.

Cataclysm Talent Calculator – Introducing WoWTal
WoWTal.com is a new project we're launching for Cataclysm, it will ultimately replace the old talent.mmo-champion.com calculator. The class previews posted today are now available there!


I'm sure you'll find a lot of bugs, feel free to report them in comments!

Druid Cataclysm Talent Preview

Druid Cataclysm Talent Preview
Blizzard sent a preview of the talents of 4 classes in Cataclysm: the Druid, Priest, Rogue, and Shaman.

Quote from Blizzard staff
Balance Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Starlight Wrath (5 points) – Reduces the cast time of your Wrath and Starfire spells by 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5 seconds.
  • Genesis (5 points) – Increases the damage and healing done by your periodic spell damage, healing effects and Swiftmend by 1/2/3/4/5%.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Moonglow (3 points) – Reduces the Mana cost of your Moonfire, Starfire, Starfall, Starsurge, Wrath, Healing Touch, Nourish, Regrowth and Rejuvenation spells by 3/6/9%.
  • Nature's Majesty(2 points) – Increases the critical strike chance of your Wrath, Starfire, Starfall, Nourish and Healing Touch spells by 2/4%.
  • Improved Moonfire (2 points) – Increases the direct damage of your Moonfire spell by 5/10%.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Nature's Grace [TBR] (3 points) – All non-periodic spell criticals have a 33/66/100% chance to grace you with a Blessing of Nature, increasing your spell casting speed by 20% for 3 seconds.
  • Solar Beam (1 point) – You summon a beam of solar light over the enemy target's location, interrupting the enemy target and silencing all enemy targets under the beam within 10 yards while it is active. Solar Beam lasts for 12 seconds.
  • Celestial Focus (3 points) – Reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting Starfire, Starsurge, Hibernate and Hurricane by 23/46/70%.
  • Nature's Reach(2 points) – Increases the range of your Balance spells and Faerie Fire (Feral) ability by 10/20%, and reduces the threat generated by your Balance spells by 15/30%.

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Nature's Splendor(1 point) – Increases the duration of your Moonfire and Rejuvenation spells by 3 seconds, your Regrowth spell by 6 seconds, and your Insect Swarm and Lifebloom spells by 2 seconds.
  • Lunar Justice [NYI](3 points) – When you kill a target that yields experience or honor, a ray of moonlight will shine underneath the fallen enemy instantly restoring 2/4/6% of your base mana to you or the first ally who stands underneath it. Lunar Justice lasts for 15 seconds.

Tier 5 (Left to Right)

  • Brambles(3 points) – Damage from your Thorns and Entangling Roots increased by 25/50/75% and damage done by your treants increased by 5/10/15%. In addition, damage from your Treants and attacks done to you while you have Barkskin active have a 5/10/15% chance to daze the target for 3 seconds.
  • Starsurge(1 point) – Requires 1 point in Solar Beam – You fuse the power of the moon and sun, launching a devastating blast of energy at the target. Causes 622 to 691 Spellstorm damage to the target and knocking them down.
  • Vengeance (5 points) – Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Starfire, Starfall, Moonfire, and Wrath spells by 20/40/60/80/100%.
  • Dreamstate(3 points) – Regenerate mana equal to 4/7/10% of your intellect every 5 seconds, even while casting.

Tier 6 (Left to Right)

  • Gale Winds(2 points) – Increases damage done by your Hurricane and Typhoon spells by 15/30%, and increases the range of your Cyclone spells by 2/4 yards.
  • Lunar Guidance(3 points) – Requires 1 point in Starsurge – Increases the radius of your Solar Beam by 2/4/6 yards, and your Starsurge also instantly generates 5/10/15 Lunar or Solar energy, depending on which is greater.
  • Balance of Power(2 points) – Increases your chance to hit with spells by 2/4% and increases your spell hit rating by an additional amount equal to 50/100% of your Spirit.

Tier 7 (Left to Right)

  • Moonkin Form(1 point) – Shapeshift into Moonkin Form. While in this form the armor contribution from items is increased by 120%, and increases the spell critical strike chance of all nearby friendly and raid targets within 100 yards by 5%. The moonkin cannot cast healing or resurrection spells while shapeshifted. The act of shapeshifting frees the caster of Polymorph and movement impairing effects.
  • Improved Moonkin Form(3 points) – Requires 1 point in Moonkin Form. You also grant 2/3/5% spell haste to all nearby friendly party and raid targets within 100 yards while in Moonkin Form.
  • Euphoria (2 points) – When you critically hit with Wrath or Starfire, you instantly gain an additional 2/4 Lunar or 4/8 Solar Energy. When you reach a Solar or Lunar eclipse, you instantly are restored 6/12% of your total mana.

Tier 8 (Left to Right)

  • Owlkin Frenzy (3 points) – Requires 1 point in Moonkin Form – Attacks done to you while in Moonkin form have a 5/10/15% chance to cause you to go into a Frenzy, increasing your damage by 10% and making you immune to pushback while casting Balance spells. Lasts 10 seconds.
  • Wrath of Cenarius [NYI] (3 points) – While moving, the direct damage of your Moonfire spell is increased by 5% and its mana cost is reduced by 10% for 3 seconds. This effect can stack up to 3 times and lasts 3 seconds, but is refreshed as long as you are in movement. Your starfire spell gains an additional 8/12% and your Wrath gains an additional 4/6% of your bonus damage effects.

Tier 9 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Eclipse [NYI] (3 points) – Increases the amount of Lunar or Solar energy generated from your Starfire and Wrath by 12%, and when critically hit by a melee or ranged attack, you will instantly generate Lunar or Solar Energy. When you critically hit with Starfire, you have a 101% chance of increasing damage done by Wrath by 0%. When you critically hit with Wrath, you have a 61% chance of increasing your critical strike chance with Starfire by 0%. Each effect lasts 15 seconds and each has a separate 30-second cooldown. Both effects cannot occur simultaneously.
  • Typhoon (1 point) – Requires 1 point in Moonkin Form – You summon a violent Typhoon that does 400 Nature damage when in contact with hostile targets, knocking them back and dazing them for 6 seconds.
  • Force of Nature (1 point) – Summons 3 treants to attack enemy targets for 30 seconds.

Tier 10 (Left to Right)

  • Earth and Moon (3 points) – Your Wrath and Starfire spells have a 100% chance to apply the Earth and Moon effect, which increases spell damage taken by 2/5/8% for 12 seconds. Also increases your spell damage by 2/4/6%.
  • Fungal Growth [NYI] (2 points) – When your Treants die or your Wild Mushrooms are triggered, you spawn a Fungal Growth at its wake covering the area within 8 yards, slowing all enemy targets by 35/70%. Lasts 10 seconds.

Tier 11 (Left to Right)

  • Starfall (1 point) – Requires 1 point in Typhoon – You summon a flurry of stars from the sky on all targets within 30 yards of the caster, each dealing 303 to 348 Arcane damage. Maximum 20 stars. Lasts 10 seconds. Shapeshifting into animal form or mounting cancels the effect. Any effect which causes you to lose control of your character will suppress the starfall effect.

Feral Combat Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Sharpened Claws (2 points) – Icreases the damage caused by your Claw, Rake, Mangle (Cat), Mangle (Bear), and Maul abilities by 10/20%.
  • Ferocity (5 points) – Reduces the cost of your Maul, Swipe, Claw, Rake and Mangle abilities by 1/2/3/4/5 Rage or Energy.
  • Feral Aggression (5 points) – Increases the attack power reduction of your Demoralizing Roar by 8/16/24/32/40% and the damage caused by your Ferocious Bite by 3/6/9/12/15%.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Shredding Attacks (2 points) – Reduces the energy cost of your Shred ability by 5/10 and the rage cost of your Lacerate ability by 1/2.
  • Feral Instinct [TBR] (3 points) – Increases the damage done by your Swipe ability by 10/20/30% and reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while Prowling.
  • Thick Hide (3 points) – Increases your Armor contribution from cloth and leather items by 4/7/10%.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Feral Swiftness (2 points) – Increases your movement speed by 15/30% in Cat Form and increases your chance to dodge while in Cat Form, Bear Form and Dire Bear Form by 2/4%.
  • Predatory Instincts (3 points) – Increases the damage done by your melee critical strikes by 3/7/10%.
  • Feral Charge (1 point) – Teaches Feral Charge (Bear) and Feral Charge (Cat). Feral Charge (Bear) – Causes you to charge an enemy, immobilizing and interrupting any spell being cast for 4 seconds. This ability can be used in Bear Form and Dire Bear Form. 15-second cooldown. Feral Charge (Cat) – Causes you to leap behind an enemy, dazing them for 3 seconds. 30-second cooldown.
  • Improved Feral Charge [NNF] (2 points) – Increases your melee haste by 15/30% after you use Feral Charge (Bear) for 8 seconds, and Ravage will temporarly not require stealth for 3/6 seconds after you use Feral Charge (Cat).

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Nurturing Instinct (2 points) – Increases your healing spells by up to 35/70% of your agility, and increases healing done to you by 10/20% while in Cat Form.
  • Fury Swipes (3 points) – When you auto-attack while in Cat Form or Bear Form, you have a 4/8/12% chance to gain an extra auto-attack on th…

Priest Cataclysm Talent Preview

Priest Cataclysm Talent Preview
Blizzard sent a preview of the talents of 4 classes in Cataclysm: the Druid, Priest, Rogue, and Shaman.

Quote from Blizzard staff
Discipline Talent Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Unbreakable Will (5 ranks available) – Reduces the duration of stun, fear, and silence effects done to you by an additional 6/12/18/24/30%.
  • Twin Disciplines (5 ranks available) – Increases the damage and healing done by your instant spells and the damage absorbed by your Power Word: Shield by 1/2/3/4/5%.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Penitence (3 ranks) – Increases the critical effect chance of your Smite and Penance spells by 5/10/15%.
  • Improved Inner Fire (3 ranks available) – Increases the effect of your Inner Fire spell by 15/30/45%.
  • Focused Power (2 ranks avaialble) – Reduces the cast time of your Mind Control spell by 0.3/0.5 seconds, and your Mass Dispel cast time is reduced by 0.5/1 second.
  • Martyrdom (2 ranks available) – Gives you a 50/100% chance to gain the Focused Casting effect that lasts for 6 seconds after being the victim of a melee or ranged critical strike. The Focused Casting effect reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting priest spells and decreases the duration of interrupt effects by 10/20%.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Atonement (3 ranks) – When you deal damage with Smite, you instantly heal a nearby low-health friendly target within 40 yards equal to 15/30/45% of the damage dealt.
  • Inner Focus (1 rank available) – Instant   – 1.5 min cooldown – When activated, reduces the mana cost of your next spell by 100% and increases its critical effect chance by 25% if it is capable of a critical effect.
  • Improved Power Word: Shield (3 ranks available) – Increase the damage absorbed by your Power Word: Shield by 5/10/15%.

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Evangelism (2 ranks available) – When you cast Smite you gain Evangelism, increasing the damage done by your Smite, Holy Fire, Holy Nova and Penance spells by 2/4% and reducing the mana cost of those spells by 3/6% for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.
  • Mental Agility (3 ranks available) – Reduces the mana cost of your instant cast spells by 4/7/10%.
  • Improved Mana Burn (2 ranks available) – Reduces the cast time of your Mana Burn spell by 0.5/1 seconds.

Tier 5 (Left to Right)

  • Archangel (1 rank available) – Consumes your Evangelism effects, instantly restoring 3% of your total mana and increasing your healing done by 3% for each stack. Also allows you to channel Penance while moving. Lasts 18 seconds.
  • Enlightenment (3 ranks available) – Increases your total mana and total health by 2/4/6%.
  • Power Word: Barrier (1 rank available) – Requires 2 points in Improved Power Word: Shield – 13383 Mana – 40 yd range – 0.5 sec cast – 3 min cooldown – Summons a holy barrier on the target location that absorbs 293 damage done to party or raid members within it each time they take damage. While within the barrier, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. The barrier lasts for 15 seconds or until it absorbs 1955 damage.

Tier 6 (Left to Right)

  • Reflective Shield (2 ranks available) – Causes 22/45%% of the damage you absorb with Power Word: Shield to reflect back at the attacker. This damage causes no threat.
  • Soul Warding (3 ranks available) – Requires 1 point in Power Word: Barrier – Reduces the cooldown of your Power Word: Shield ability by 1/2/3 seconds, and reduces the mana cost or your Power Word: Shield by 5/10/15%.

Tier 7 (Left to Right)

  • Divine Aegis (3 ranks available) – Critical heals create a protective shield on the target, absorbing 10/20/30% of the amount healed. Lasts 12 seconds.
  • Power Infusion (1 rank available) – Requires 2 points in Enlightenment – 3294 Mana – 30 yd range – Instant cast – 2 min cooldown – Infuses the target with power, increasing spell casting speed by 20% and reducing the mana cost of all spells by 20%. Lasts 15 seconds.
  • Improved Flash Heal (3 ranks available) – Reduces the mana cost of your Flash Heal by 5/10/15% and increases the critical effect chance of your Flash Heal by 4/7/10% on friendly targets at or below 50% health.

Tier 8 (Left to Right)

  • Renewed Hope (2 ranks available) – Increases the critical effect chance of your Flash Heal, Greater Heal and Penance (Heal) spells by 2/4% on targets afflicted by the Weakened Soul effect, and you have a 50/100% chance to reduce all damage taken by 3% for 1 minute to all friendly party and raid targets when you cast Power Word: Shield. This effect has a 15-second cooldown.
  • Rapture (3 ranks available) – When your Power Word: Shield is completely absorbed or dispelled, you are instantly energized with 1.5/2/2.5% of your total mana, and you have a 33/66/100% chance to energize your shielded target with 2% total mana, 8 rage, 16 energy or 32 runic power. This effect can only occur once every 12 seconds.
  • Aspiration (2 ranks available) – Reduces the cooldown of your Inner Focus, Power Infusion, Pain Suppression and Penance spells by 10/20%.

Tier 9 (Left to Right)

  • Focused Will (3 ranks available) – After taking a critical hit you gain the Focused Will effect, reducing all damage taken by 2/3/4% and increasing healing effects on you by 3/4/5%. Stacks up to 3 times. Lasts 8 seconds.
  • Pain Suppression (1 rank available) – 1647 Mana – 40 yd range – Instant cast – 3 min cooldown -Instantly reduces a friendly target's threat by 5%, reduces all damage taken by 40% and increases resistance to Dispel mechanics by 65% for 8 seconds.
  • Grace (2 ranks available) – Your Flash Heal, Greater Heal, and Penance spells bless the target with Grace, increasing all healing received from the Priest by 2/4%. This effect will stack up to 3 times. Effect lasts 15 seconds. Grace can only be active on one target at a time.

Tier 10

  • Borrowed Time (5 ranks available) – Grants 5/10/15/20/25% spell haste for your next spell after casting Power Word: Shield, and increases the amount absorbed by your Power Word: Shield equal to 4/8/12/16/20% of your spell power.

Tier 11

  • Penance (1 rank available) – Enemy: 30 yd range – Friendly: 40 yd range – 3294 Mana   – Channeled   – 12 sec cooldown – Launches a volley of holy light at the target, causing 394 to 439 Holy damage to an enemy, or 1201 to 1354 healing to an ally instantly and every 1 second for 2 seconds.

Holy Talent Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Holy Focus (2 ranks available) – Reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting any Holy spell by 35/70%.
  • Searing Light (3 tanks available) – Increases the damage of your Smite, Holy Fire, Holy Nova and Penance spells by 4/8/12%.
  • Divine Fury (5 ranks available) – Reduces the cast time of your Smite, Holy Fire, Heal and Greater Heal spells by 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5 seconds.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Divine Accuracy (2 ranks available) – Increases the chance to hit with your Smite, Holy Fire, Holy Nova and Penance spells by 10/20%.
  • Empowered Healing (5 ranks available) – Your Greater Heal spell gains an additional 6/12/18/24/30% and your Flash Heal, Heal, and Binding Heal gain an additional 3/6/9/12/15% of your bonus healing effects.
  • Spell Warding (5 ranks available) – Reduces all spell damage taken by 2/4/6/8/10%.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Desperate Prayer (1 rank available) – 3706 Mana – Instant cast – 2 min cooldown – Instantly heals the caster for 4995 to 5876.
  • Improved Renew (3 ranks available) – Increases the amount healed by your Renew spell by 5/10/15%.
  • Inspiration (3 ranks available) – Reduces your target's physical damage taken by 3/7/10% for 15 seconds after getting a critical effect from your Flash Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, Binding Heal, Prayer of Healing, or Circle of Healing spell.

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Healing Prayers (2 ranks available) – Reduces the mana cost of your Prayer of Healing and Prayer of Mending by 10/20%.
  • Improved Healing (3 ranks avaialble) – Reduces the mana cost of your Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, Divine Hymn and Penance spells by 5/10/15%.
  • Blessed Recovery (3 ranks available) – Requires 1 point in Spell Warding – After being struck by a melee or ranged critical hit, Blessed Recovery heals you for 5% of the damage taken over 6 seconds. Additional critical hits taken during the effect increase the healing received.

Tier 5 (Left to Right)

  • Holy Reach (2 ranks available) – Increase the range or your Smite and Holy Fire spells and the radius of your Prayer of Healing, Holy Nova, Divine Hymn and Circle of Healing by 10/20%.
  • Spirit of Redemption (1 rank available) – Increases total Spirit by 5% and upon death, the priest becomes the Spirit of Redemption for 15 seconds. The Spirit of Redemption cannot move, attack, be attacked or targeted by any spells or effects. While in the form the priest can cast any healing spell free of cost. When the effect ends, the priest dies.
  • Deliverance [PH] (3 ranks available) – When you heal with Binding Heal or Flash Heal, the c…

Rogue Cataclysm Talent Preview

Rogue Cataclysm Talent Preview
Blizzard sent a preview of the talents of 4 classes in Cataclysm: the Druid, Priest, Rogue, and Shaman.

Quote from Blizzard staff
Assassination Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Eviscerate (3 points) – Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 7/14/20%.
  • Remorseless Attacks (2 points) – After killing an opponent that yields experience or honor, you receive a 20/40% increased critical strike chance on your next ability. Lasts 20 seconds.
  • Malice (5 points) – Increases your critical strike chance by 1/2/3/4/5%.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Ruthlessness (3 points) – Gives your melee finishing moves a 20/40/60% chance to add a combo point to your target.
  • Deadly Momentum (2 points) – Requires 2 points in Remorseless Attacks – After killing an opponent that yields experience or honor, Deadly Momentum gives you a 50/100% chance to refresh your Slice and Dice or Recuperate abilities to their original duration.
  • Blackjack (2 points) – Even after your Sap wears off, its effects linger on enemies, reducing their damage done by 25/50% for 5 seconds.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Puncturing Wounds (3 points) – Increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab ability by 10/20/30%, and the critical strike chance of your Mutilate ability by 5/10/15%.
  • Vigor (1 point) – Increases your maximum Energy by 10.
  • Lethality (5 points) – Requires 5 points in Malice – Increases the critical strike damage bonus of all combo point-generating abilities that do not require Stealth by 6/12/18/24/30%.

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Vile Poisons (3 points) – Increases the damage dealt by your poisons and Envenom ability by 7/14/20% and gives you 33/67/100% of the normal chance of applying poisons from your equipped melee weapons when you use the Fan of Knives ability.
  • Improved Poisons (5 points) – Increases the chance to apply Deadly Poison to your target by 4/8/12/16/20% and the frequency of applying Instant Poison to your target by 10/20/30/40/50%.

Tier 5 (Left to Right)

  • Fleet Footed (2 points) – Reduces the duration of all movement impairing effects by 15/30% and increases your movement speed by 8/15%. This does not stack with other movement speed increasing effects.
  • Cold Blood (1 point) – Instant – 2 min cooldown – When activated, generates 25 energy and increases the critical strike chance of your next offensive ability by 100%.
  • Improved Kidney Shot (3 points) – While affected by your Kidney Shot ability, the target receives an additional 3/6/9% damage from all sources.
  • Quick Recovery (2 points) – All healing effects on your are increased by 10/20%.

Tier 6 (Left to Right)

  • Seal Fate (5 points) – Requires 1 point in Cold Blood – Your critical strikes from abilities that add combo points have a 20/40/60/80/100% chance to add an additional combo point.
  • Deadened Nerves (3 points) – Reduces all damage taken by 2/4/6%.

Tier 7 (Left to Right)

  • Deadly Brew (2 points) – When you apply Instant, Wound or Mind-Numbing Poison to a target, you have a 50/100% chance to apply Crippling Poison.
  • Overkill (1 point) – While Stealthed, and for 20 seconds after breaking stealth, you regenerate 30 additional energy.
  • Improved Expose Armor (3 points) – Gives a 33/67/100% chance to refund all combo points used when performing your Expose Armor ability.

Tier 8 (Left to Right)

  • Focused Attacks (3 points) – Your melee critical strikes have a 33/66/100% chance to give you 2 energy.
  • Murderous Intent (3 points) – When you Backstab an enemy that is at or below 35% health, you instantly recover 10/20/30 Energy.

Tier 9 (Left to Right)

  • Master Poisoner (3 points) – Increases the spell damage taken by any target you have poisoned by 2/5/8%, your Envenom has a 33/66/100% chance not to consume Deadly Poison, and the duration of all poison effects applied to you is reduced by 17/34/50%.
  • Mutilate (1 point) – Requires 1 point in Overkill – 60 Energy – Melee Range – Instant – Requires Daggers – Instantly attacks with both weapons for 100% weapon damage plus an additional 215 with each weapon. Damage is increased by 20% against poisoned targets. Awards 2 combo points.
  • Turn the Tables (3 points) – Whenever anyone in your party or raid blocks, dodges, or parries an attack, your chance to critically hit with all combo point-generating abilities is increased by 2/4/6% for 8 seconds.

Tier 10 (Left to Right)

  • Cut to the Chase (5 points) – Your Eviscerate and Envenom abilities have a 20/50/60/80/100% chance to refresh your Slice and Dice duration to its 5 combo point maximum.
  • Venomous Wounds (3 points) – Each time your Rupture or Garrote deals damage to an enemy that is afflicted with your poison, you have a 15/30/45% chance to deal with 616/619/621 additional Nature damage.

Tier 11

  • Vendetta (1 Point) – Marks an enemy for death, increasing all damage you deal to the target by 20% and granting you unerring vision of your target, regardless of concealments such as Stealth and Invisibility.  Lasts 30 seconds.

Combat Talent Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Sinister Strike (5 points) – Increases the damage dealt by your Sinister Strike ability by 1/2/3/4/5% and reduces its Energy cost by 1/2/3/4/5.
  • Dual Wield Specialization (5 points) – Increases the damage done by your offhand weapon by 10/20/30/40/50%.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Recuperate (2 points) – Causes your Recuperate ability to restore an additional 1/2% of your maximum health.
  • Deflection (3 points) – Increases your parry chance by 2/4/6%.
  • Precision (5 points) – Increases your chance to hit with weapon and poison attacks by 1/2/3/4/5%.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Endurance (2 points) – Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 30/60 seconds and increases your total Stamina by 2/4%.
  • Riposte (1 point) – 10 Energy – Melee Range – Instant – 6 sec cooldown – A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 153 to 154% weapon damage and slows their melee attack speed by 20% for 30 seconds. Awards 1 combo point.
  • Aggression (5 points) – Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike, Backstab and Eviscerate abilities by 3/6/9/12/15%.

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Slice and Dice (2 points) – Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 25/50%.
  • Improved Sprint (2 points) – Gives a 50/100% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability.
  • Lightning Reflexes (3 points) – Increases your dodge chance by 2/4/6% and gives you 4/7/10% melee haste.

Tier 5 (Left to Right)

  • Blade Furry (1 point) – 25 Energy – Instant – 2 min cooldown – Increases your attack speed by 20%. In addition, attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 seconds.
  • Reinforced Leather (5 points) – Increases your armor contribution from cloth and leather items by 10/20/30/40/50%.

Tier 6 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Kick (2 points) – Gives your Kick ability a 50/100% chance to silence the target for 2 seconds.
  • Weapon Expertise (2 points) – Requires 1 point in Blade Flurry – Increases your expertise by 5/10.
  • Blade Twisting (2 points) – Gives your damaging melee attacks a 10% chance to Daze the target for 4/8 seconds.

Tier 7 (Left to Right)

  • Vitality (3 points) – Increases your energy regeneration rate by 8/16/25%.
  • Adrenaline Rush (1 point) – Instant   – 3 min cooldown – Increases your energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 seconds.
  • Nerves of Steel (2 points) – Reduces damage taken while affected by stun and fear effects by 15/30%.
  • Improved Gouge (3 points) – Increases the effect duration of your Gouge ability by 0.5/1/1.5 seconds.

Tier 8 (Left to Right)

  • Throwing Specialization (2 points) – Increases the range of Throw and Deadly Throw by 2/5 yards and gives your Deadly Throw a 50/100% chance to interrupt the target for 3 seconds.
  • Combat Potency (3 points) – Gives your successful off-hand melee attacks a 20% chance to generate 5/10/15 energy.

Tier 9 (Left to Right)

  • Unfair Advantage (2 points) – Whenever you dodge an attack you gain an Unfair Advantage, striking back for 53/106 to 54/107% of your main hand weapons's damage. This cannot occur more than once per second.
  • Surprise Attacks (1 point) – Requires 1 point in Adrenaline Rush – Your finishing moves can no longer be dodged, and the damage dealt by your Sinister Strike, Backstab, Shiv, Hemorrhage and Gouge abilities is increased by 10%.
  • Savage Combat (2 points) – Increases your total attack power by 2/4% and all physical damage caused to enemies you have poisoned is increased by 2/4%.
  • Sturdy Recuperation (2 points) – Reduces all damage taken by 4/8% while your Recuperate ability is active.

Tier 1…

Shaman Cataclysm Talent Preview

Shaman Cataclysm Talent Preview
Blizzard sent a preview of the talents of 4 classes in Cataclysm: the Druid, Priest, Rogue, and Shaman.

Quote from Blizzard staff
Elemental Talent Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Convection (5 ranks available) – Reduces the mana cost of your shock, Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Lava Burst, and Wind Shear spells by 2/4/6/8/10%.
  • Concussion (5 ranks available) – Increases the damage done by your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Thunderstorm, Lava Burst and shock spells by 1/2/3/4/5%.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Call of Flame (3 ranks available) – Increases the damage done by your Fire Totems and Fire Nova by 5/10/15% and damage done by your Lava Burst spell by 2/4/6%.
  • Elemental Warding (3 ranks available) – Reduces all damage taken by 2/4/6%.
  • Elemental Devastation (3 ranks available) – Your non-periodic offensive spell critical strikes will increase your chance to get a critical strike with melee attacks by 3/6/9% for 10 seconds.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Reverberation (5 ranks available) – Reduces the cooldown of your shock spells and Wind Shear by 0.2/0.4/0.6/0.8/1 seconds.
  • Elemental Focus (1 rank available) – After landing a non-periodic critical strike with a Fire, Frost, or Nature damage spell, you enter a Clearcasting state. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next 2 damage or healing spells by 40%.
  • Elemental Fury (5 ranks available) – Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Searing and Magma Totems and your Fire, Frost and Nature spells by 20/40/60/80/100%.

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Fire Nova (2 ranks available) – Increases the damage done by your Fire Nova by 10/20% and reduces the cooldown by 2/4 seconds.
  • Eye of the Storm (3 ranks available) – Reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Lava Burst and Hex spells by 23/46/70%.

Tier 5 (Left to Right)

  • Elemental Reach (2 ranks available) – Increases the range of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 3/6 yards, increases the radius of your Thunderstorm spell by 10/20%, and increases the range of your Flame Shock by 7/15 yards.
  • Elemental Mastery (1 rank available) – Requires 1 point in Elemental Focus – Instant – 3 min cooldown – When activated, your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning or Lava Burst spell becomes an instant cast spell. In addition, you gain 15% spell haste for 15 seconds. Elemental Mastery shares a cooldown with Nature's Swiftness.
  • Unrelenting Storm (3 ranks available) – Regenerate mana equal to 4/8/12% of your intellect every 5 seconds, even while casting.

Tier 6 (Left to Right)

  • Elemental Precision (3 ranks available) – Increases your chance to hit with Fire, Frost and Nature spells by 1/2/3% and increases your spell hit rating by an additional amount equal to 33/66/100% of your spirit.
  • Lightning Mastery (5 ranks available) – Requires 5 points in Elemental Fury – Reduces the cast time of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst spells by 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5 seconds.

Tier 7 (Left to Right)

  • Storm, Earth and Fire (3 ranks available) – Reduces the cooldown of our Chain Lighting spell by .75/1.5/2.5 seconds. In addition, your Earthbind Totem has a 33/66/100% chance to root targets for 5 seconds when cast, and the periodic damage done by your Flame Shock is increased by 20/40/60%.
  • Elemental Oath (2 ranks available) – Requires 1 point in Elemental Mastery – While Clearcasting from Elemental Focus is active, you deal 5/10% more spell damage. In addition, party and raid members within 100 yards receive a 3/5% bonus to their critical strike chance.
  • Wrathful Totems [PH] (1 rank available) – Causes your Fire totems to increase the spell power of your party and raid memebers within 100 yards by 10%.

Tier 8 (Left to Right)

  • Booming Echoes (2 ranks available) – Reduces the cooldown of your Flame Shock and Frost Shock spells by an additional 1/2 seconds, and increases the direct damage done by your Flame Shock and Frost spells by an additional 10/20%.
  • Acute Overload (3 ranks available) – Increases the damage dealt by your Elemental Overload spells by 7/14/20%.

Tier 9 (Left to Right)

  • Astral Shift (3 ranks available) – When stunned, feared or silenced you shift into the Astral Plane, reducing all damage taken by 10/20/30% for the duration of the stun, fear or silence effect.
  • Earthquake (1 rank available) – 20149 Mana – 35 yd range – 1.5 sec cast – 15 sec cooldown – You cause the earth at the target location to tremble and break, dealing 267 Physical damage every 1 second to enemies within a 10-yard radius, with a 40% chance of knocking down affected targets. Lasts 10 seconds.
  • Lava Flows (3 ranks available)  – Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Lava Burst spells by an additional 6/12/24%, and when your Flame Shock is dispelled your spell casting speed is increased by 10/20/30% for 6 seconds.

Tier 10 (Left to Right)

  • Shamanism (5 ranks available) – Your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning spells gain an additional 4/8/12/16/20% and your Lava Burst gains an additional 5/10/15/20/25% of your bonus damage effects.
  • Lava Surge (3 ranks available) – Gives your Flame Shock periodic damage ticks a 10/20/30% chance to reset the cooldown of your Lava Burst spell.

Tier 11

  • Thunderstorm (1 rank available) – Instant – 45 sec cooldown – You call down a bolt of lightning, energizing you and damaging nearby enemies within 11 yards. Restores 8% mana to you and deals 1794 to 2038 Nature damage to all nearby enemies, knocking them back 20 yards. This spell is usable while stunned.

Enhancement Talent Tree

Tier 1 (Left to Right)

  • Focused Strikes (5 ranks available) – Increases the damage dealt by your Primal Strike and Stormstrike abilities by 8/16/24/32/40%.
  • Ancestral Knowledge (5 ranks available) – Increases your maximum mana by 3/6/9/12/15%.

Tier 2 (Left to Right)

  • Improved Shields (3 ranks available) – Increases the damage done by your Lightning Shield orbs by 5/10/15%, increases the amount of mana gained from your Water Shield orbs by 5%, and increases the amount of healing done by your Earth Shield orbs by 5/10/15%.
  • Enhancing Totems (3 ranks available) – Increases the effect of your Strength of Earth and Flametongue Totems by 5/10/15%.
  • Improved Ghost Wolf (2 ranks available) – Reduces the cast time of your Ghost Wolf spell by 1/2 seconds.

Tier 3 (Left to Right)

  • Elemental Weapons (3 ranks available) – Increases the damage caused by your Windfury Weapon effect by 13/27/40%, the spell damage on your Flametongue Weapon by 10/20/30%, and the bonus healing on your Earthliving Weapon by 10/20/30%.
  • Shamanistic Focus (1 rank available) – Reduces the mana cost of your shock spells by 45%.
  • Toughness (5 ranks available) – Increases your stamina by 2/4/6/8/10%, and reduces the duration of movement slowing effects on you by 6/12/18/24/30%.

Tier 4 (Left to Right)

  • Anticipation (3 ranks available) – Increases your chance to dodge by an additional 1/2/3%, and reduces the duration of all Disarm effects used against you by 16/25/50%. This does not stack with other Disarm duration-reducing effects.
  • Flurry (5 ranks available) – Increases your attack speed by 6/12/18/24/30% for your next 3 swings after dealing a critical strike.
  • Ancestral Swiftness (3 ranks available) – Increases movement speed by 5/10/15%. This does not stack with other movement speed increasing effects.

Tier 5 (Left to Right)

  • Dual Wield (1 rank available) – Allows one-hand and off-hand weapons to be equipped in the off-hand.
  • Searing Flames (5 ranks available) – Causes the Searing Bolts from your Searing Totem to have a 20/40/60/80/100% chance to set their targets aflame, dealing damage equal to the Searing Bolt's impact damage over 15 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.

Tier 6 (Left to Right)

  • Dual Wield Specialization (3 ranks available) – Requires 1 point in Dual Wield – Increases your chance to hit while dual wielding by an additional 2/4/6%.
  • Spirit Weapons (1 rank available) – Gives a chance to parry enemy melee attacks and reduces all threat generated by 30%.
  • Frozen Power (2 ranks available) – Increases the damage done by your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Lava Lash and shock spells by 5% on targets afflicted by your Frostbrand Attack effect, and your Frost Shock has a 50/100% chance to root the target in ice for 5 seconds when used on targets at or further than 15 yards from you.

Tier 7 (Left to Right)

  • Unleashed Rage (3 ranks available) – Increases your expertise by 3/6/9, and increases all party and raid members' attack power by 5/7/10% while within 100 yards of the shaman.
  • Stormstrike (1 rank available) – 1874 Mana – Melee Range – Instant cast – 8 sec cooldown – Requires Melee Weapon – Instantly attack with both weapons, dealing 132 to 133% weapon damage. In add…

Vol’jin Calls for Zalazane’s Fall

Vol’jin Calls for Zalazane's Fall

Quote from: Zarhym (Source)
Not to be outdone by High Tinker Mekkatorque's showing of gnomish pride in calling for Operation: Gnomeregan to commence, High Chieftain Vol'jin of the Darkspear Tribe has announced his intention to see Witch Doctor Zalazane fall once and for all. With full backing from Thrall, the Darkspears have begun a series of ceremonies in Sen’jin Village while preparing to seize the Echo Isles and free them from the lingering dark voodoo of Zalazane's hexed followers.

We now bring you breaking reports of the Sen'jin ritualistic arrangements for seizing the Echo Isles – http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/3p9/echoisles2.xml

Operation: Gnomeregan – http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/3p9/gnomeregan2.xml

"Zalazane Must Fall!" Cries Vol'jin

Quote from: Blizzard (Source)
Embedded on the coast of Durotar, the tiny troll Village of Sen'jin is bursting with recent activity. In what some claim is a retort to the overblown assertions of the vertically-challenged High Tinker Mekkatorque, Troll Chieftain Vol'jin has announced his intention to "honor de ancestors n' take back da 'omeland, mon." The call has been given, and the scattered Darkspear tribe has begun to gather at the once-sleepy location. Now the primal rhythm of beating drums and strange clouds of acrid smoke drift aloft deep into the night, arguably a sign of celebration and preparation for an impending offensive.

With the full support of Thrall and his counterparts, Vol'jin is calling upon all factions of the Horde to prepare for an assault on Echo Isles and the twisted witch doctor Zalazane. He will pay for his crimes against the Darkspears and the land bestowed upon them by Thrall! As explained by Vol'jin in the demand for Zalazane's fall today, honorable members of the Horde passing through the village proper — whether they've never slain a boar in their lives or are the subject of every dragon's nightmare — will be given a chance to help their upstanding troll brothers in what will surely be the most brutal of attacks. But first there must be preparation. With the Echo Isles on the line, no detail is too small, no spoken word too trivial. And for that reason the noted troll shaman, Vanira, will get adventurers started on the monumental tasks ahead.

Using sacred totemic rituals, Vanira needs frogs for her agenda. It is unclear of her exact intentions with these amphibious lurkers of Sen'jin, but there appears to be a bat handler standing by. Could it be that frogs will soon rain down from the heavens upon the Echo Isles? When asked for further comment, Vanira only remarked that she's seeking "da perfect spies." It seems war is sometimes won with even the most unlikely of arsenals. Spying on the enemy, however, is only the beginning. Vol'jin has spoken of a most-trusted trainer of reinforcements, Champion Uru'zin, who will guide new recruits of all ranges of experience into battle-hardened Darkspear warriors. "Trollin' for volunteers," as Vol'jin remarked, will be a key component to building a strike force capable of overthrowing Zalazane's hexed Darkspears.

Vol'jin argues that the spirits are on the side of his Darkspear tribe. Can animistic beliefs truly manifest into proven battle leverage against Zalazane? Perhaps only Vanira and her beguiled spies can answer this. But it is rumored that, long ago, a tribe of troll druids once called the Echo Isles home. If ever there was a time for good omens such as this, it is now. Only if the spirits truly are on the side of the son of Sen'jin, reportedly only a phenomenon that Witch Doctor Hez'tok can decipher, then the assault will commence! Those who assist Hez'tok in his ceremony will be adorned with Darkspear Pride, allowing adventurers the ability to take on the form of an elite Darkspear Warrior during battle. Wearing such battle garb is an honor to the ancestors of a people long persecuted and plagued by war between tribes.

Should the spirits give their blessing to Vol'jin, Champion Uru'zin will call for all seasoned veterans of the Horde levels 75-80 to aid in the attack. If "at last, everythin' be ready," as Vol'jin put it, his plan is to launch a full assault from the shores of Sen'jin village. Vol'jin exclaimed in his call for such an assault today, "come, now! Join in de liberation of de Echo Isles! Zalazane will fall!" He's gone so far as to offer a particularly rare Sen'jin Overcloak to those who help bring Zalazane down. Even still, sources report that this foe possesses powerful voodoo and black magic.

Preparations for Zalazane's fall are underway, but will it be enough to best this witch doctor? It's time, proud members of the Horde, to stand with your disaffected troll brethren and recognize the full might of the Darkspear tribe!

MMO-Champion: The Cataclysm

MMO-Champion: The Cataclysm
Something is happening to MMO-Champion… Something catalysmic.

Very soon, we will be migrating the forums from SMF to vBulletin. This is going to be a very big update to the website and will require at minimum 10 hours of downtime to prepare for it. We're all working very hard on our end to get everything in place and ready for use, but there's some things that you can all do to pitch in and help us with the transition.
 
Avatars
As I'm sure you have all previously read our rules regarding avatar filesizes, you will be happy to know we are now enforcing these rules in a manner that cannot be accidentally broken. After the migration avatars will be uploaded to MMO-Champions webserver, where it will verify the filesize and type. What this means is that if your avatar is too big, you can't use it. No more angry PMs from moderators telling you that you've broken a rule that you probably didn't know about.

The good aspect of this avatar change is that avatars will probably be a lot faster to load now than some random picture dump site you grabbed it from. You also won't run into your bandwidth limit on photobucket or the like within minutes now.

The bad thing, however, is that this requires a total wipe of all avatars. They will not be copied with the transfer. We're really sorry that we're unable to do this, but it would require incredible amounts of bandwidth, will slow down the transition process to a matter of days and will probably have us receive a lot of angry emails from webmasters all over the world wondering why we're downloading hundreds of images from them. We just can't do that. On this note, we ask you all to make sure you have a copy of your avatar URL saved somewhere so that you can reapply it later.

Signatures
Nothing too drastic to report here, you'll be pleased to know. However, there's a slight tweak in how BBCode works in signatures so that people with custom font sizes will need to readjust their signatures post-migration. We'd recommend removing any custom size text before we migrate to save some time.

With the tweaks to the site design coming, quotes and blizzquotes may change in size. This can inadvertently cause your signature to go oversize and break the signature guidelines. We will not go crazy over any minor violations for breaking these guidelines so soon after the migration, however, so you will have a few days to readjust your signature as required.

Private Messages
We have hundreds of thousands of private messages stored in the database, most of which are not needed and stored only for archiving purposes by you guys (and girls). They take up a lot of time processing them for importing to vBulletin, so we have a request for all of you.

We really do not want to totally wipe private messages or not import them at all, but we do ask that anyone who has private messages that they do not need, please delete them from your inbox (don't forget to check your sent PMs too). There's a handy tool to delete old PMs but for some people we understand there may be one or two messages you just want to keep so it may not be advisable for all.

Please also note we are experiencing a little trouble perfectly importing all private messages and they may look slightly different or BBCode will not work for old messages. We're really sorry, but this can't be helped.

Custom Titles
Some users have custom titles. Just fun things given to them by admins that don't mean anything special other than just for giggles. These will not be imported to vBulletin and will be lost. Sorry!

Site Layout
We're not totally revamping the layout, but it's a close call! Unfortunately we have had a little difficulty with the site design on vBulletin and there may be a few quirks as we sort everything out post-migration, but please bear with us as we try our hardest to get it all fixed Smiley

Site Permalinks
Any links to topics, forums or users on the website might break. We're trying our hardest to make sure this won't happen and this is a very big priority for us, but we cannot guarantee everything will still link up fine. This is only a warning, unfortunately there is nothing you can do to help this.

Cookies
Are available on demand. Please see your local witchdoctor for more information.

Blizzard Survey, Remote AH, Blue posts

Blizzard survey hints at extra character slots … potentially
Earlier this week, a survey was sent to european players to gather data on … tons of things related to WoW. Hidden among the general WoW questions was a fairly interesting one :

Apparently, Blizzard is seriously considering offering more character slots to players but you might have to pay for that. Just keep in mind that this is just a survey for the moment and it doesn't accurately reflect what we will or will not get in the future.

Access the Auction House From Almost Anywhere
The beta test has ended and the Auction House is now a premium feature.

Quote from: Zarhym (Source)
So you're wondering how your auction for that rare blacksmithing pattern is going, but the game isn't installed on any computers around you. Well, starting right now, you can view the World of Warcraft Auction House from just about anywhere where you have an Internet connection, via the Armory website, the Mobile Armory app for iPhone® and iPod touch®, or the new Remote Auction House app for Android™. We're pleased to announce that with the new Auction House section of the Armory, World of Warcraft players are now able to browse their characters’ local Auction Houses with the same search functionality available in the game, as well as see the real-time status of each of their current bids and auctions: https://us.battle.net/login/login.xml?cr=true&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fus.wowarmory.com%2Fauctionhouse%2Findex.xml&app=armory

In addition, with a paid subscription to the new World of Warcraft Remote service (http://us.wowarmory.com/wow-remote.xml), also launched today, you’ll be able to use the Armory website or mobile app to:

  • Post items for sale from your character’s bag, bank, or mailbox on your faction’s Auction House or the realm’s cross-faction Auction House.
  • Place bids or make buyout purchases on the Auction House.
  • Collect the gold earned from a successful auction or reclaim the gold from an unsuccessful bid.

For more information about the new Armory Auction House functionality and the subscription-based World of Warcraft Remote service, check out the Web Auction House FAQ (http://us.wowarmory.com/faq-auction-house.xml) and World of Warcraft Remote FAQ (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?locale=en_US&tag=REMOTE&rhtml=true).

To download the free Mobile Armory app for iPhone and iPod touch, go here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/world-warcraft-mobile-armory/id321057000?mt=8

To download the free Remote Auction House app for Android, search for the "Remote Auction House" in the Android Market on your phone. To subscribe to World of Warcraft Remote, visit Account Management.

Blue posts

Quote from Blizzard staff
Existing Currencies/Badges in Cataclysm
We think it's fair to let you know what's going to happen to all of that old currency. It's not yet time for us to discuss that entire plan, but we'll do so in enough time for your to react.

Overall, you can expect that there won't be much motivation to hoard and even less to go out and farm old content in preparation for the Cataclysm launch.

We would definitely like to get some of that stuff out of your currency UI so you don't have to look at that lonely Badge of Justice for the rest of your character's career. (Source)

Masteries – Investing in multiple trees
Almost everyone at max level will want at least 51 / something / something to gain full benefit of their passive talent trees. A Shadow priest might be something like today's 14/0/57, (Maybe 21/0/55? Maybe 15/0/61?) because we're not giving them much reason so far to subspec Holy at all. A warlock or hunter at the moment (in Cataclysm) might choose a 51/10/15, meaning points in all 3 trees. This is all early though and sometimes players don't end up going with the builds we think they will and we want you to have more flexibility than you do today. (Source)

200% Spell Crit in Cataclysm
If so, does that mean smaller crits, or does that mean 200% spell crits baseline?
We're not sure yet. For the hybrid classes, having the 200% crits is a good way to distinguish the casters from the non-casters (jn terms of keeping healers or melee specs from doing quite so much damage with spells). For mages and locks there is less reason for them. (Source)

"Chaotic" world in Cataclysm
For all of the zones that take a turn for the worse, I would say there's an equal number of zones which improve in the chaos. Our goal is not to make the leveling experience dreary, or show you how much we can decimate familiar places. We want to add some vigor back into the old world in the wake of cataclysmic change.

[…] Just to clarify, in many cases there are different areas in each zone with different types of changes. So, maybe the Barrens has been ruptured in half and made a tumultuous place of battle between the Alliance and the Horde in the south, but there are areas of the Barrens that look more beautiful than ever before. The changes in cataclysm aren't being made to shift the scale toward ugly, unforgiving terrain. You'll find a multitude of differing environments within each zone, and within the overall world. (Source)

Armory: Guild Bank Logs Outdated
We are aware of an issue which exists presently on the World of Warcraft Armory site preventing guild bank logs from properly updating. We’re working to apply a fix for this issue and will provide an update when we have an estimated timeframe for resolution. (Source)

European Beta Guild Contest
This is pretty much the case; we'll just have to see. Obviously the EU has a lot more countries and laws to take into account. Anyhow, should we have any similar announcement to make, you won't have to ask here to find out about it. (Source)

Mage (Forums / Talent Calculator)
Arcane Missiles
The idea is to keep Arcane Missiles as a core mechanic that all mages want to use when it procs, but it's possible some spec may end up not using it if their other spells are propped up enough that you don't want to spend the cast time. We'll have to see when we get a little further in beta. (Source)

Warlock (Forums / Talent Calculator)
Warlocks in Cataclysm
Sorry, we just don't agree that that is a problem. It doesn't really matter if the talents are in a tree with a different name than your spec as along as the talents are useful, and those 15 certainly are.

To reiterate, we like Affliction using Shadow Bolt. We don't want Affliction to rely so much on Drain Soul because that feels a lot like a Shadow priest, and we don't like any class casting nothing but dots. So Shadow Bolt is sticking around. We also don't have a problem with Shadow Bolt being a Destruction spell and being buffed by the Destruction tree. Furthermore, we have no problem with Destro using something other than Shadow Bolt even though it's a Destruction spell. Finally, we don't mind that all of those talent points buff one spell. It's a really important spell! If you had to spend 15 points to buff a spell that was a trivial amount of your damage it would be a bigger deal, but then I'm fairly sure nobody would make that talent point investment in the first place.

All of those arguments seem like they offend your logic or something, which isn't enough grounds for us to want to change it. Different classes work differently. Mages focus on a school of magic while warlocks focus more on a source of damage (dots, pets and nukes) but even in that case, that doesn't mean they focus on their damage source to an extent that the mage focuses on Fire, Frost or Arcane (and in Cataclysm all mages will care a lot about Arcane Missiles in any event). We are really trying to resist class homogenization and having talent trees constructed similarly for every class works against that goal. Not similar is fine. Not functional is not fine.

What does bother us is having to get both Affliction and Destruction versions of hit, threat reduction, pushback resistance and range in addition to the crit damage from Ruin. Our plan is to put generic (affects all spells) talents for hit and pushback resistance in the first tier of Demonology and then just make the spells longer range so there is no need for a range talent. We're getting rid of all threat reduction talents. With the extra Cataclysm talent points, you should have more t…

Beta Contest, Flash Vulnerability, Curse Google Scam

Update – Remote AH Beta Test just ended.

Remote Auction House Beta Test – Update 06/07

Quote from: Bashiok (Source)
The beta has ended and the Remote Auction House is now live! Thank you to everyone who participated in helping us test this new feature. For more information on how to obtain the app and subscribe to the service visit http://www.wowarmory.com/wow-remote.xml

Cataclysm Beta — Guild Contest

Quote from: Zarhym (Source)
If you think you and your guildmates have what it takes to make invaluable beta testers, take a stab at our Cataclysm Beta — Guild Contest. All you need to do is tell us in a short essay why you and nine of your guildmates should be in the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta test. We’ll be picking 100 winning submissions each week for five weeks, for a total of 5,000 beta keys at stake!


For World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, we’re looking for a healthy handful of guilds to join us in the beta test process. If you think your guild would supply the perfect candidates for testing the limits of Cataclysm's content and systems, tell us why!

4. Entry in the contest.
Beginning on the Commencement Date, you can enter the Contest by emailing a short essay (50 to 250 words) elaborating on why the World of Warcraft guild that the entrant is the guild master of should take part in the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Beta Test to blizzardcontest@blizzard.com. Your submission must be in English, and must be between 50 and 250 words in length to be considered for the Contest. You are limited to one (1) entry in the Contest. Any entries or submissions which depict or glorify overly graphic, lewd, obscene, vulgar or profane behavior, or which utilize lewd, obscene vulgar or profane language, either as part of the submission or as the name of the submission, will be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor.

All you have to do is send an email to blizzardcontest@blizzard.com containing a short essay between 50 and 250 words explaining why we should bring you and nine of your guild mates on-board. We’ll be picking 100 winning submissions from eligible participants each week for five weeks beginning Monday, June 7th through Monday, July 12th.

Before entering the contest, be sure to read the full contest rules for details and eligibility.

Important – Adobe Flash Player Vulnerability

Quote from: Lucytr (Source)
A critical vulnerability has been discovered in Adobe Flash Player 10.0.45.2 and Adobe Reader/Acrobat 9.x, and could potentially be used to target World of Warcraft players and accounts. The newest available version of Adobe Flash 10.1, Release Candidate 7 (available at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashplayer10/), does not appear to contain this vulnerability, and we recommend that everyone upgrade their Flash player as soon as possible. Earlier versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically version 8.x, do not appear to contain this vulnerability, either.

For more information, please visit Adobe.com: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa10-01.html

Get an Authenticator if you haven't got one already. Get your very own guard dog and secure your account at the same time. Visit http://us.battle.net/security for more info!

I would also like to add that this is NOT a virus. The only way to protect yourself from this kind of vulnerability is to keep your system up-to-date in all ways, including Flash.

Curse Client Google Ad Scam
A few months ago a couple of people got hacked because of malicious google ads redirecting to fake armory pages. (See this news)

The same problem is now affecting the Curse.com client that many of you use to update and download addon.

Whenever you try to reach a popular WoW site (including mmo-champion) always type the URL in your browser's adress bar or bookmark it, don't click links from external websites or google them.

24H Maintenance, Korean Beta Contests, Comics

Extended (24H) Maintenance 06/08/10 – Select Realms
WoW will be down for 24 hours on some servers and we're all going to die. (Gnomes first.)

Quote from: Laetzin (Source)
We will be performing extended maintenance on the realms listed below on Tuesday, June 8th, beginning at 12:01 AM PDT. The maintenance is scheduled for 24 hours as we prepare for the upcoming expansion. These realms will be playable again at approximately 12:01 AM PDT on Wednesday, June 9th.

All realms not listed below will undergo scheduled maintenance beginning at 5:00am PDT and will be available for play at approximately 11:00 AM PDT.

Aegwynn, Akama, Aman'Thul, Arathor, Azjol-Nerub, Barthilas, Blackrock, Bloodscalp, Bonechewer, Boulderfist, Bronzebeard, Caelestrasz, Chromaggus, Crushridge, Daggerspine, Darkspear, Dath'Remar, Draenor, Dragonblight, Dragonmaw, Drak'thul, Draka, Dreadmaul, Dunemaul, Eitrigg, Eldre'Thalas, Feathermoon, Firetree, Frostmane, Frostmourne, Frostwolf, Garithos, Gundrak, Gurubashi, Hakkar, Jubei'Thos, Khaz Modan, Khaz'goroth, Kil'jaeden, Kilrogg, Korgath, Kul Tiras, Malorne, Mug'thol, Muradin, Nagrand, Nathrezim, Ner'zhul, Perenolde, Proudmoore, Rexxar, Runetotem, Saurfang, Scarlet Crusade, Sen'jin, Shadow Council, Shadowsong, Silver Hand, Silvermoon, Skywall, Smolderthorn Spirestone, Stonemaul, Stormscale, Suramar, Terenas, Thaurissan, Thorium Brotherhood, Tichondrius, Uldum, Vek'nilash, Windrunner

Thank you for your patience

Korean World of Warcraft Beta Contest
There is an ongoing contest on the official korean website.

After poking around on Twitter I finally found someone willing to translate the important part (thanks Kyiran!).

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Beta Test Invitation Event (basically, contest)
Period :  3 June 2010 ~ 12 June 2010 until 11:59 PM
Whom: World of Warcraft Members (like, subscribers)

How to Participate

  • 월드 오브 워크래프트 공식 홈페이지의 모험가협회 토론장에 방문하셔서 이벤트 글타래인 ‘대격변에서 고블린과 늑대인간의 캐릭터명으로 만들어 주고 싶은 이름은?’ 글타래에 답변을 남겨주시면 됩니다.
  • Visit the Warcraft Official Homepage's Adventurer Association Forums and leave a message in a thread "What will you name your Cataclysm Goblin and Worgen characters?"
  • 참여 하신 분들 중 총 1000명에게 추첨을 통해 대격변 비공개 베타 테스트에 참여하실 수 있는 초대권을 선물로 드립니다.
  • As a gift we will select 1000 people who participate and send them an invitation to participate in the World of Warcraft Closed Beta Test.

Announcement and Confirmation of the Winners Method

  • 당첨자 발표 일정 : 6월 15일 오후
  • Winners will be announced on the 15th of June in the afternoon
  • 초대권  발송 일정 및 확인 방법 : 당첨되신 초대권은 한국 비공개 베타 테스트의 일정에 맞추어, 월드 오브 워크래프트 공식 홈페이지의 [계정 관리] > [우편함]을 통해 개별적으로 발송될 예정입니다.
  • This part is a bit more difficult but it's basically about confirming participation at the official website via your mailbox (forum inbox?) (where you recieve the invitation) in the "Korean" closed beta test.  It specificies the beta test as "korean" here where it doesn't elsewhere.

This could be a fairly interesting information, especially because of the timing.

  • There is a beta contest, and winners will supposedly be announced on June 15th.
  • As far as I know, there is a WoW Press Tour @ Blizzard HQ this week for official fansites.
  • 5 Screenshots on the Day have been uploaded on Blizzard's site before the week-end. (= until Tuesday)

Don't get your hopes too high, especially since the korean page also clearly states that it doesn't mean that the beta will start on June 15th but the timing is definitely interesting and I will live in the hope of a beta/NDA lift for the rest of the week.

Comics
This week we have Dark Legacy Comic #241, Teh Gladiators #138 + #139 and a follow-up of last week's comic with Questionable Content #1680.