Update: 9/27 (Thanks Kirk)
Drysc wrote:
Fear Ward will be available to all priests at level 20, but there are some changes in addition. Current plans are to reduce duration to 3 minutes, and increase the cooldown to 3 minutes.
To give the dwarves and draenei something else to even it out, they’ll see a new ability called Chastise (also given at level 20) which will cause holy damage and incapacitate the target for 2 seconds.
Drysc clarifies the numbers for converting +healing to +spell damage as a new mechanic for healers.
Drysc wrote:
No, it’s about a third. So 1500 +heal would give about +500 +spell damage.
Priest
Nethaera on Pain Suppression and Meditation improvements!
Nethaera wrote:
For instance, Pain Suppression is getting changed a bit to have more utility beyond personal use. You’ll be able to cast it on a friendly target and it will do a couple of things. First it’s going to reduce the target’s threat by 5%. and next it’s going to reduce the damage that person takes by 40%. The cooldown is also going to be reduced to 2 minutes. The intent is to give it more utility while still making it viable for multiple targets. When you’re trying to protect an AoEing mage in a raid, this could become a very useful tool.
Meditation is also going to get a bit of a bump up and it will increase to 10/20/30% mana regen as well.
Nethaera on Power Word: Shield.
Nethaera wrote:
On the survivability end, we’re going to be having Power Word: Shield gain additional benefit from spell damage and healing bonuses. Base absorb values for ranks 10, 11 and 12 have been reduced though to go with that as a balancing factor for it. Unfortunately I don’t have any concrete information on what the values will end up being right now.
Shaman
Eyonix wrote:
An example of one helpful adjustment surrounds shamanistic rage, which will also reduces all damage taken by 30% for the duration of the ability (30 seconds), in addition to its current effect. Spirit Weapons will also reduce melee threat by a total of 30% rather than 15%. More improvements should be expected as well.
Eyonix says improvements will be made to all talent specs.
Eyonix wrote:
There will be changes that benfefit the elemental and restoration shaman as well. And yes, more enchancement improvements are absolutely going into patch 2.3.
Shaman can train 2-handed axes and maces without talents!
Eyonix wrote:
Yes, all shaman will be able to equip 2-handed axes and maces (proper training required of course), without having to spend a talent. In it’s place, a seemingly solid replacement talent called elemental focus. Basically, what it offers is this — after landing a melee critical strike, you’ll enter a “focused state”. The focused state will reduce the mana cost of your next shock spell by 60%.
Frost Shock no longer subject to diminishing returns!
Eyonix wrote:
You’re welcome. No changes to those abilities, and while not the same, in patch 2.3 frost shock will no longer be subject to diminishing returns. This should prove useful.
Source: Curse
Lots of more things to look forward to especially as healers. That top change will raise many eyebrows and I suspect that the converted healing bonus to spell damage will draw some debate.
Late for Stats… more on this later as well as the next series in Loot Management. Thanks to all the birthday well wishers!
You missed a priest one that’s also causing much discussion.
Drysc wrote:
” Fear Ward will be available to all priests at level 20, but there are some changes in addition. Current plans are to reduce duration to 3 minutes, and increase the cooldown to 3 minutes.
To give the dwarves and draenei something else to even it out, they’ll see a new ability called Chastise (also given at level 20) which will cause holy damage and incapacitate the target for 2 seconds.”
a new update of info can be found at http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=1016252424&sid=1 . To quote Salthem:
* Elune’s Grace (Night Elf Priest Racial) effect changed to reduce chance to be hit by melee and ranged attacks by 20% for 15 seconds. There is now only 1 rank of the spell.
* Power Word: Fortitude, Divine Spirit, Prayer of Fortitude and Prayer of Spirit will have their mana costs reduced.
Now, as a Night Elf priest I just got happy. Ranged was always, well, shrug. But MELEE? 20%? heh.