After recently receiving a repeal of their damage-tax, in the latest build on the PTR mages are now also getting the Hypothermia debuff reverted back to 30 seconds. While confirming that the Hypothermia changes were deliberate, Kalgan also made a surprising reveal:

“Since I’m here, I’ll also make a small pre-emptive strike against the incoming “what about other mage concerns!” replies I’m about to get and say the following.

Two things we’ll be making improvements to in the near future (although these aren’t likely to make it in on time for 2.3) are having iceblock be trainable (to make sure all mages have it as a tool for pve encounters and to open up other trees as being more viable options for pvp), and to-be-finalized improvements to mana issues in longer fights.” -Kalgan

While I’m sure the manamana changes are welcome, I know PvP mages have dreamed about trainable ice block for a long time. There are many mages who’ve stopped PvPing competitively in the arenas because they refuse to play “pro or noob” with frost vs. the other trees.

Coincidentally, this news comes on the heels of our first mage article by Lipstick (who did a great job btw)… so for those begging for “other” class content around here, let’s keep dialogue going. How do you guys feel about the mage forecast now? What are some new specs that you guys will be trying out if this change goes in?

Aimed Shot Being Tweaked
Everyone’s heard by now about the MS component (50% healing reduction) added to the Hunter’s aimed shot. While the buff makes a lot of hunter opponents shudder, I was surprised at many hunters dismissal of the new ability. The biggest complaint? the 3.5 second cast time for aimed shot.

Well good news for hunters, it looks like Blizzard really wants to make this ability work. Cast time for Aimed Shot is now going to be reduced to 3.0 seconds — with Eyonix already adding that a further reduction in cast time is possible.

Tags: News

19 Responses to “Mage Forecast Suddenly Brighter, Hunter MS Tweak”

1. Reinhold Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am

   Back to 30 second cheese. Soon to be AP/POM/Pyro and then sit in an iceblock.

   Mortal Strike from range with a reduced cast time. Not to mention a purge and no deadzone.

   The rich keep getting richer in this game. I hate to be one of those people who harps on the fact that Arenas are ruining the game balance… especially since I am an arena whore myself… but I am suddenly understanding what they weretalking about. Changes like this will continue to make other aspects of this game unbearable. Hunters are already god mode in BGs and Mages have been a top tier pvp class (BGs, duels, world pvp) forever.

2. Austin Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 10:27 am

   Ice Block being trainable would be completely different, what would take place in that talent point. etc. Maybe longer Ice Block? Who knows but anyways I’m going to still try frost/silence 17/0/44 for S3 but other than that I’m not too sure.

3. Phate Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 11:20 am

   The rich keep getting richer in this game.

   exactly the phrase i was looking for.

4. Dan Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 12:07 pm

   And the best they can give ret paladins is a threat reduction… Once again pushing the button to make all paladins go holy to have any chance in arena. Blizz please get a hint that holy isn’t the only thing going on here.

5. Emokk Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 12:46 pm

   i completly agree with a trainable iceblock more diversity with specs makes the game more fun. as of now warriors are all still MS and pallys are all holy hopefully well see some options with these classes as well. not a buff but a variation of play style for arenas.

6. shyst Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 1:54 pm

   personally i think hunters needed a buff…although i don’t think they were as bad as people made them out to be. Mages on the other hand….have always been good in all aspects of the game including pvp… Well regardless of whether or not certain classes are over/under powered…the beauty of MMOs is that they can always change things.

7. TMAC Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 1:56 pm

   I think Blizzard needs to take this direction for multiple classes. Certain classes need abilities to compete in high end arena. Warriors MUST have MS, mages must have Iceblock, Priest must have BR (though they are changing that!). But my point is that opens up the game with so many possible combos, makes it more exciting. Kinda of a bore to automatically know that mage is frost.

8. Breaky Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 2:00 pm

   There is a very interesting forums post about this topic of mages and Iceblock, check it out and see what you guys think

   http://www.pvpsource.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=534

9. Hitman Says:
   November 8th, 2007 at 2:26 pm

   Rogues have been asking for Shadowstep trainable for 3+ months and they go and make ice block trainable.. gg bliz

10. Oranmana Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 5:57 pm

    “Rogues have been asking for Shadowstep trainable for 3+ months and they go and make ice block trainable.. gg bliz”

    Yea… and who got Cloak of Shadows trainable when it was a 41 point talent?

    Honestly, I think this is a good change. Every mage who wants to be viable has to go at least 44 points into frost. I know many classes are in the same boat, but especially coming from other DPS class standpoints, like rogue and locks, where there are several viable arena specs, mages need this change.

    Hopefully soon Blizz will make at least two specs viable for all classes rather than the pigeonholing that classes like mages, warriors, and paladins are trapped in.

11. Sheriff Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 6:37 pm

    Mages deserve this.

    Most veteran mage players will greet it - or so I think… and when I say this, I’m meaning it.

    Any mage player that sits down and views this with absolute certainty and not out of being biased toward their own class will more than likely, whole-heartedly say, “Hey, it’s about time.”

12. Krigaren Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 8:30 pm

    When I played a mage I wanted trainable Iceblock for a long, long time. At this point in the game, especially with arena, I’m not sure it’s that great of an idea. As someone already pointed out, we’re just going to see another dirge of AP/PoM/Pyro mages who’ll drop their damage and then wait out heals and their cooldowns in an Iceblock.

    It’s not going to “diversify” mage talent builds. The survival arena build is Frost. Period. It’s no different for many other classes who MUST spec one way and have no alternative (warriors must spec MS, paladin must spec Holy, druids must spec Resto). At least mages can still be deep Fire or AP/PoM/Pyro right now in heavy DPS teams and still be effective. It’s all a matter of composition.

    As for hunters, they got a LOT in 2.3 and yet they still complained about Aimed having a 3.5 second cast? Please. They’re going to absolutely destroy casters and healers in 2.3 and they’ll still be weak against the classes they’ve always been weak against - namely warriors. As long as high-end arena is dominated by warlocks, rogues and warriors, hunters still won’t have a chance.

13. frozen for life Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 11:51 pm

    Gj I can see it already 5v5 ap/pyro mage party with a 10 second “Oh shit! button” the whole point of speccing into frost is to ensure control and survivability (the elemental is deffinatly a bonus though:)) you cant just give pitty buffs to mages who dont deserve it. If they are going to give the ap/pyro mages IB I want to see us frost mages get PoM…. ya and while your at it destro locs deserve a good sl as well.

14. Skel Says:
    November 9th, 2007 at 5:58 am

    Arent mages suppose to be burst dps with downtime? Now they are burst dps with sustainability and basically a free pally bubble. Yeah im QQin.

15. Mustangsally Says:
    November 9th, 2007 at 8:07 am

    “Yea… and who got Cloak of Shadows trainable when it was a 41 point talent?

    Honestly, I think this is a good change. Every mage who wants to be viable has to go at least 44 points into frost. I know many classes are in the same boat, but especially coming from other DPS class standpoints, like rogue and locks, where there are several viable arena specs, mages need this change. ”

    Actually every rogue knew that CloS was a placeholder for Shadowstep until TBC came out and that CloS would be trainable at lvl 66. It was never a “free” 41 point talent.

    Diversity is nice but the 2 current builds you see in 5v5 arenas (Combat maces, Mutilate) are mediocre at best compared to options for other classes. Those specs won’t be any better in 2.3. They buffed the damage in our 3rd tree that no one serious about pvp or pve takes. I’d rather Blizzard focus on giving classes at least one competitive build before giving more options for mediocrity.

16. Skel Says:
    November 9th, 2007 at 8:25 am

    Almost every class with the exception of a couple use the exact same cookie cutter build to be viable in arena. I think mages did need a change but I dont know if this is it. I guess we will see soon.

17. Alegold Says:
    November 9th, 2007 at 8:41 am

    Bought time hunters got some love i say. As for the comment that hunter will still be weak against warriors. If as a hunter you cant beat a warrior you need to reroll or L2play. Hunter & Ele Shammy with Ns is gonna own in 2.3

18. ripley Says:
    November 9th, 2007 at 9:28 pm

    how about less qq from u ppl who have no idea. i play a hunter and these buffs are needed. why take a hunter to arena now? viper sting frost trap? thats it.. thats why if u look at the graph hunters r by far the worst performers. mages need iceblock. NEED it. get over it all u QQ rogues

19. Runamuk Says:
    November 15th, 2007 at 10:52 pm

    Hmm so the warrior should be able to train MS cause arms is our only viable arena spec? Then Fury and prot tree would open up cause now we can MS in all trees. Am i right?

    The warrior class really is the only class where the 3 trees are so defined where other classes have some real options on game play.

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