Cataclysm stat changes

[Avellia]

I found this on the main boards, it provides a good summary for anyone who missed the blizzcon chat about this.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=23425636414&sid=1

Defense - Defense is being removed from the game entirely. Tanking classes should expect to become uncrittable versus creatures just by shifting into Defensive Stance, Frost Presence, Bear Form, or by using Righteous Fury.

I hope this doesnt mean more "tanks" in straight dps gear in pugs thinking they are ok 'cause they are in def stance, I guess we wil have to wait and see.

[Gaffa]

I'll reserve my judgement till the I get a chance to play with the new changes... but it's out with all that we know and understand around role balance and from the sounds of it we'll have to learn all over how we do what we do..

Do we see DPS with as much health as tanks? How do I figure mitigation now when block is a flat 30% and parry 50% ... why wouldn't we all simply stack dodge with it's 100%?

hmmm

[Kharlyn]

And what about all the cash spent on Defence gear and gems and enchants and stuff? hmmm

[Avellia]

And what about all the cash spent on Defence gear and gems and enchants and stuff? hmmm

The bigger question there is what does this mean for jewelcrafting/enchanting etc where half the stats they provide no longer exist. I expect a major overhaul here. Many of the gem cuts/enchants are going to have to "transform" into he new stats

[Glodson]

The bigger question there is what does this mean for jewelcrafting/enchanting etc where half the stats they provide no longer exist. I expect a major overhaul here. Many of the gem cuts/enchants are going to have to "transform" into he new stats

They did say some stats are changing gem colour. +hit is going from yellow to blue. Also, Attack Power and Spell Power will still exist on some items (rings and weapons), so it's possible there will still be AP or SP enchants or gems.

From what I read, I gathered that tanks would still have more health, but the difference between tank health and non-tank health won't be as great. Also, allowing dps DKs/Warriors/Pallies to switch to frost presence/def stance/righteous fury and be immune to crit actually makes those dps useful as hybrids. Currently any dps character may as well be wearing a paper bag, since they'll be smashed in 1 hit by any boss. With the new system, they'll be able to go tank mode, throw on a sheild and actually survive for a short period. Probably similarly to how a moonkin can throw some heals if the healer goes down.

The block changes make block much more useful for boss fights, and less totally overpowered on trash. Wasn't the parry change 50% damage from the current attack and 50% from the next? That would make it smoother than dodge (on health), but statisically equivalent (assuming flat damage).

[Valten]

Agreed Glodson;
It heavily depends on the rates you get block/parry/dodge from gear, but from a healers point of view;
parry > dodge as reducing the incoming damage by 50% for 2 hits let's you plan a big heal better knowing the tank won't suddenly explode on the next hit. This plays to Blizzards aim of making healers think about which heal to throw rather than spamming whicher one works out best.
I can see a mod or two looking to report the "tank parried" so healers can react to it if they want.

Block *may* end up better than dodge to. How?
Well if from gear you can get 1% dodge or 4% block, guess which one is better?
Blizzard may not make the difference that great, but the dodge/block/parry rates will be much lower than what they are now too - Blizzard has said they don't want people avoiding as much damage (means they don't feel the need to make bosses hit for 90% of a tanks health).

Keep in mind that each rating will decay as you stack more of it. So Tanks may stack parry to a certain value, then the focus will be on dodge, then block, etc. Or look to keep then at a certain ration of each other.

Lot of it will be "wait and see" though; as a lot of this could change.
Also notice they are talking about scaling bosses; ie an early raid boss hits like current ones; but as you move up content they start ignoring more and more of your avoidances and mitigations (this will effect dps classes too).

[Gaffa]

Like I said, changes are big so I'll reserve my main judgments (haha Pally joke) till I see it and get to play with it.. but Blizzard is up for a mountain of gear reworking and re-balancing.

Though you right, something to let heals know parry has happened might be useful for heals and tanks, both who need to think about when to pop abilities and gear.

The other good news for the expansion.... Dwarf Treasure Finding will be fixed and become totally OP.

[Hawk]

The other good news for the expansion.... Dwarf Treasure Finding will be fixed and become totally OP.

/cast Diplomacy :-D

So, what's happening to treasure finding?

[Glodson]

At Blizzcon someone asked about racials that suck, and used treasure finding as an example. Ghostcrawler indicated all racials are being review for Cata, and dropped the hint pretty strongly that treasure finding will be very useful for Archeology.

Of course, dwarves also have the racial trait "AWESOME!!!!11", so they'll have to balance the improved treasure finding against that.