A major bit of news for Mages - quite possibly the biggest change that could be made for the class. Kalgan announced in a forum post today that Ice Block will become trainable some time after 2.3, in the near future (so probably 2.4). There was also an additional change to Aimed Shot announced, so here's a quick recap of today's blue posts.
Ice Block to be trainable in near future!
Kalgan wrote:
It's a deliberate change. We initially felt like it was too quick at 30s and decided to test it out at 45s, but after playing with it for a while we felt like it opened mages to focus fire a little too much so we decided to keep it at 30s. It's worth pointing out that making changes like this and later un-doing them is not at all uncommon, it's just most of you generally don't see that process in action since it often happens before the patch even gets to the PTR.
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.
Mana Gems will receive a buff as well.
Kalgan wrote:
We do plan to buff mana gems, although I don't see that as a "fix", just an improvement that needs to be made regardless.
Aimed Shot cast time reduced by 0.5 seconds in 2.3.
Eyonix wrote:
In patch 2.3, aimed shot will not only reduces healing done to the target by 50% for a ten seconds, but we're also reducing the shot time by 0.5 seconds.
Bon appetite!
So what is the deal with Malygos in Northrend? Tell us, Bornakk!
Bornakk wrote:
Malygos is supposed to be the Guardian of Magic. After ignoring the world of mortals for so long he realizes he may have failed and is trying to right his mistake.
The fate of Malygos however remains to be seen...
So then Malygos isn't killed, hah!
Bornakk wrote:
This guess you made is one option, the other is that he is killed, not exactly a long list of possibilities here.
So give us some 2.4 info then, if no Lich King!
Bornakk wrote:
I know waiting can be a bit frustrating, but this, like many Wrath of the Lich King topics/questions, is just too early to have an answer for.
If you want information on something soon, assuming patch 2.3 is launched next week as we announced, we should have details on patch 2.4 available in the near future. ;)
There's also new Fan Art available on Blizzard's Fan Art Gallery section. Check them out through the links below!
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Comments
Hunters are not useless in PvE! The damage they can add to the raid is immense if played correctly, just use the brain instead of clicking buttons randomly! Its good to make Aimed Shot more usable, since it doesnt do that much more damage for the time and mana it costs to cast, so making it faster cast and reduce targets healing is a big bonus to the raid and the hunters too. Only criticise a hunter if you play one and not one from pre-TBC, one that you have taken into Karazhan and SSC/Gruul, then make comments.
҉in the search for perfection, one often stumbles upon the disfigurd and buggy, kudos on patch 2.3
Dude, if they increase the duration, and that's it, I'm totally going fire, even though I have to not only respec, but respec my tailoring and farm lots of mats into my spellfire set, and socket them, and enchant them, too. (just kidding -- I'm too in love with the water elemental. Now if they make HIM trainable, then I'm all over fire spec!) I don't block and just try to sit out the fight while the rest of my group gets pummeled -- as soon as the dots are off me, as well as the agro, I cancel the buff, and get right back into the action.
Actually, I can't really think of what I'd replace it with though. Decreasing the cooldown might be nice, but even if it went down to 3 min., I mostly only use this in emergencies and cold snap keeps it available to me at least twice in any given boss fight / arena. I doubt they'll decrease the duration of hypothermia enough for this to actually help me survive a warlock encounter...
Maybe they'll replace ice block with the next level of our mana gem. A little unorthodox, but not entirely impossible, I think.
There is a special place in hell for spitters. Cheers.
Yeah, you're completely right. Mis-direct isn't important in boss fights or pulls or anything. Not to mention being about to put out ~800 DPS.
Yeah. Hunters are a waste in PvE.
aw so cute all this people QQing some more about Hunters :) i spit on you all,cheers.
dude.... frost mages need frozen orb!!!! D2 ftw!!!! frozen orb ftw!!!! rawr
They will really need to replace it with something good because this really is a big reason for going frost should replace it with a frost version if PoM so they can instant cast a frost spell then cold snap and do it again hehe. and im not a mage =P
Looking forward to rolling a mage eventually, I guess...
5yard range, and aimed shot is now 3.0 second casting time. go check elitist jerks for info, or not, but anyway: for dps aimed shot still sucks ^^ not to claim "we're fine, no need to nerf *goes on going pewpew*", since whether hunters are fine or OP remains to be seen when 2.3 goes live
hunters imba??? naaahhhhhhh we still dont really have a significance in raids even with all that. only thing we do is pull ='(
I take this change that other classes too will receive buffs to make 'other trees more viable for PvP' then?
OMG! Nref!
0.5 second on aimshot. heh.. quite imba.. and.. they're getting 1y range.. i mean.. heck hunters are going to be imba.
Possibly an Imp Ice Block talent. Likely reduce the CD or increase the duration or both.