Comments on: BETA: The Dawning of the Death of Downranking http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/ Practical advice for World of Warcraft healers and leaders Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:13:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Mana Efficient Priest : World of Matticus http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10584 The Mana Efficient Priest : World of Matticus Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:06:52 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10584 [...] I wrote this piece BEFORE the news announcement about down-ranking spells in WotLK. I anticipate that this will make a tremendous impact on mana-regen, along with the [...] [...] I wrote this piece BEFORE the news announcement about down-ranking spells in WotLK. I anticipate that this will make a tremendous impact on mana-regen, along with the [...]

]]> By: Garde http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10501 Garde Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:04:31 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10501 I don't understand why they'd get rid of downranking... I think one of the most useful aspects (at least in PvP) for downranking is the reduced cast time. I am not experienced in healing at the least, however, I do have an interest in learning to heal and am currently leveling two Priests with some friends who have just started playing on different servers (and I stumbled upon this site only a few days ago and have LOVED every post I've read). Anyway, since I haven't played any caster above level 36 or so (my 60-70 characters are Hunter, Warrior, Rogue), I can only go from my limited understanding of Mages and Priests. To my understanding, downranking was a way to generate less threat, quicken the cast of a spell (although its effect is weaker), and in some cases, conserve mana when it would be unnecessary to use a more powerful level of the spell (a creature only has half the amount of hp of your highest rank firebolt, so you use a lower rank that will still guarantee the kill but it will come out faster and cost less mana). Also, casting a level 1 frostbolt is useful for kiting monsters and it's also useful to slow enemy players quickly (although this is probably the part that was unintended). One thing that I'm not sure of is how +spell damage or +healing works with spells where the ranks don't affect the cast time. I know there is a coefficient based on cast time that the +healing/+spell damage are subject to, but I don't think there is anything like that for lesser ranks of spells (provided the cast time is the same between ranks). So I can see the developers having a problem with that as you can basically cast lower rank spells with much greater effect than was intended (though I personally think making a coefficient based on lower ranks for +spell damage/+healing would be a better route so that they are still viable choices, they just aren't as beneficial). My brother also brought up a good point. If downranking wasn't intentional, why did they not remove the spells from your spellbook when you acquired a greater rank, just like what happens for Warriors and Rogues? I don’t understand why they’d get rid of downranking… I think one of the most useful aspects (at least in PvP) for downranking is the reduced cast time. I am not experienced in healing at the least, however, I do have an interest in learning to heal and am currently leveling two Priests with some friends who have just started playing on different servers (and I stumbled upon this site only a few days ago and have LOVED every post I’ve read). Anyway, since I haven’t played any caster above level 36 or so (my 60-70 characters are Hunter, Warrior, Rogue), I can only go from my limited understanding of Mages and Priests.

To my understanding, downranking was a way to generate less threat, quicken the cast of a spell (although its effect is weaker), and in some cases, conserve mana when it would be unnecessary to use a more powerful level of the spell (a creature only has half the amount of hp of your highest rank firebolt, so you use a lower rank that will still guarantee the kill but it will come out faster and cost less mana). Also, casting a level 1 frostbolt is useful for kiting monsters and it’s also useful to slow enemy players quickly (although this is probably the part that was unintended).

One thing that I’m not sure of is how +spell damage or +healing works with spells where the ranks don’t affect the cast time. I know there is a coefficient based on cast time that the +healing/+spell damage are subject to, but I don’t think there is anything like that for lesser ranks of spells (provided the cast time is the same between ranks). So I can see the developers having a problem with that as you can basically cast lower rank spells with much greater effect than was intended (though I personally think making a coefficient based on lower ranks for +spell damage/+healing would be a better route so that they are still viable choices, they just aren’t as beneficial).

My brother also brought up a good point. If downranking wasn’t intentional, why did they not remove the spells from your spellbook when you acquired a greater rank, just like what happens for Warriors and Rogues?

]]> By: PVP, Downranking, Hitting Goals « Low Level Achievement http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10500 PVP, Downranking, Hitting Goals « Low Level Achievement Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:53:20 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10500 [...] is big news these days. I don’t have much to say about it myself (for better analysis, check out http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/ for info on [...] [...] is big news these days. I don’t have much to say about it myself (for better analysis, check out http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/ for info on [...]

]]> By: I Do Not Approve This Message « Hoof n’ Healz http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10497 I Do Not Approve This Message « Hoof n’ Healz Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:56:11 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10497 [...] one from chain chugging mana pots is making me wonder where my mana is going to come from.  Matticus has some thoughts, but he is much more positive than I [...] [...] one from chain chugging mana pots is making me wonder where my mana is going to come from.  Matticus has some thoughts, but he is much more positive than I [...]

]]> By: Shyraia - Icecrown http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10492 Shyraia - Icecrown Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:51:12 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10492 [quote]It should be noted that chain potted has been re-actived on the current beta (potion sickness is gone), but no word on if this is intended or not.[/quote] It is not gone. Only the debuff icon is gone. Basically if you use a pot while in combat the cooldown on the pot won't start until you leave combat. (this is at least cleveryly done so using abilities that get you out of combat still make you wait till your potion cooldown is back up). I still have faith in Blizz balancing the encounters around all the new stuff. There will be many classes with mana regen, it just means rethinking how to set up your raid, and when to cast which spell. [quote]It should be noted that chain potted has been re-actived on the current beta (potion sickness is gone), but no word on if this is intended or not.[/quote]

It is not gone. Only the debuff icon is gone. Basically if you use a pot while in combat the cooldown on the pot won’t start until you leave combat. (this is at least cleveryly done so using abilities that get you out of combat still make you wait till your potion cooldown is back up).

I still have faith in Blizz balancing the encounters around all the new stuff. There will be many classes with mana regen, it just means rethinking how to set up your raid, and when to cast which spell.

]]> By: zupa http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10491 zupa Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:02:25 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10491 You are going to need 450 skill in the expansion Matticus! zupas last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Automagica/~3/363662931/not-site-admin.html" rel="nofollow">not site admin.</a> You are going to need 450 skill in the expansion Matticus!

zupas last blog post..not site admin.

]]> By: sid67 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10487 sid67 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:18:16 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10487 <i> I suspect raid compositions and raid specs will shift slightly from a DPS optimization build towards raid mana endurance. An example would be bringing classes that can help restore mana (Shamans, Druids, Shadow Priests, etc). </i> The other thing is that physical DPS is made more desirable since most of those classes use little to no mana. In a prolonged fight, you never need to worry about a Rogues or Deathkinght running out of mana. I suspect raid compositions and raid specs will shift slightly from a DPS optimization build towards raid mana endurance. An example would be bringing classes that can help restore mana (Shamans, Druids, Shadow Priests, etc).

The other thing is that physical DPS is made more desirable since most of those classes use little to no mana. In a prolonged fight, you never need to worry about a Rogues or Deathkinght running out of mana.

]]> By: Squirrel http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10484 Squirrel Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:53:29 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10484 The beta isn't done yet, and haven't seen level 80 yet. X Fingers crossed for more mana regen? The beta isn’t done yet, and haven’t seen level 80 yet. X Fingers crossed for more mana regen?

]]> By: Cherlas http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10482 Cherlas Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:16:38 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10482 I fail, I typed my comment before coffee and spelt growns instead of groans... I fail, I typed my comment before coffee and spelt growns instead of groans…

]]> By: Cherlas http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/comment-page-1/#comment-10480 Cherlas Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:06:37 +0000 http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2008/08/14/beta-the-dawning-of-the-death-of-downranking/#comment-10480 "max rank spell now costs more than a down ranked spell" I'm confused, shouldn't that be less now? With the example you gave I think it is less mana cost for max rank as opposed to downrank....maybe I read it wrong. I am one of those rare priests that does not do a lot of downranking to begin with, but I also rarely go out of mana so I don't see a need to. *insert growns and mumbling from the crowd here* “max rank spell now costs more than a down ranked spell” I’m confused, shouldn’t that be less now? With the example you gave I think it is less mana cost for max rank as opposed to downrank….maybe I read it wrong.

I am one of those rare priests that does not do a lot of downranking to begin with, but I also rarely go out of mana so I don’t see a need to. *insert growns and mumbling from the crowd here*

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