Now, first of all, it was “just” (3 days ago) announced that the Mastery and Talents was up for a bit change, by giving us less talent-points, but giving each of these more meaning, while – as we have known for some time – making all the boring stuff passive. The way I’ve built Thunderstruck, is basically by having a long list of what the various talents does, and add those bonuses to the base spell-values, which are then used to simulate a casts, based on the characters current statistics (as these can obviously change, by using trinkets, being under the effects of [Bloodlust] or otherwise). Less numbers flying around should make that a lot easier.

The fun part about masteries was indeed the Elemental Overload (basically just [Lightning Overload], where Lava Burst can now be triggered as well), which I’ve already covered the basics of. The way I’ve done it, is basically that Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Lava Burst, are all simulated with the same function, with the only difference (except different input numbers), is that the later has a variable set that doesn’t let it do Overload, but instead causes it to always crit. Now, this is something I can change, and completely leave out, as all of them will be able to do it.

In regards to statistical additions, there will be three additions/modifications: Spirit, Intellect and Mastery Rating. The first two are easy, however. Spirit will simply (as it stands now) be added as Hit Rating, and continue as that. Intellect will add a conversion-ratio for Spell Power (and that is possibly being changed to “Spell Power on weapon”). Lastly, there’s Mastery Rating – but do we know that works? Actually, it is quite simple – if my assumption is correct: Like any other Rating, Mastery translates directly into a percentage, from the basic rating formula. This percentage boosts your current Third Mastery (in this case: Elemental Overload), by that amount.

So, basically, let’s say the base percentage of Elemental Overload is 25% (as it looks now), and our Mastery rating translates into 38%, we’d end up having a 34,5% chance of Elemental Mastery doing its wonders. I like that – it’s going to give some nice theoretical wonders in determining which stat is the best, and how they’ll end up scale with each other.

Spirit -> Hit:
While it’s a thing I covered in my previous post, on the subject of Cataclysm Class-changes, we’ll be getting our hit from spirit, coming from an addition to the “Elemental Precision“-talent, that now causes 100% of our hit to be converted to Spell Hit rating. Of course, it’ll still be giving the flat 3% as well. However, if the talent-description is completely right… it’s 101% from spirit and 4% passive hit. I’m pretty sure that’s a rounding error however. The conversion completely fits with itemization, as they’re equally valued on items. For now, I sadly can’t find a good comparison, but it’s true enough at least.

However, there’s a hidden bonus, that most probably won’t see at the first glimpse: You also have some passive spirit. Granted, all spirit-buffs, or those giving base-stat bonuses, are being removed – but the passive is still there. For me, that’s a free 144 hit rating, which surely is quite a bit (which is 3.81% hit, if the rating system continue as it is now). It could however, very likely, be that base spirit is being wiped too, but that’s too early to say yet.

Lava Surge:
An interesting addition, that I didn’t really expect at first, especially combined with a fair bit of luck. Imagine an overloaded Lava Burst, followed by a Lava Surge proc, which is quickly used with Elemental Mastery and another Overload after that. That’s of course after an Unleashed Flametongue from the start. Ouch!

All the others…:
Earthquake, Acute Overload and Wrathful Totems aren’t really news, so I won’t really go into details with those, since I already covered it in my previous post. They sure look interesting, however. And, they somehow confirm the suspicion above of oddly rounded percentages.

Call Cpt. Obvious:
I can’t wait.

When did the Cataclysm happen?
The common misunderstanding is that new content is always happening after previous content. While this is indeed true for highlevel content, it’s certainly not true for all of it. We can use a good example from each of the existing expansions to support the claims I’m going to be doing.

Burning Crusade: Races was added, taking lore with them to explain how they joined their respective factions before or during the starting areas. As the levels progress, Emissaries are often spotted throughout the capitals, to represent that they had indeed “just” joined, and was seeking to aid their factions, in what way they can.

Wrath of the Lich King: Death Knights, the new class, was added – champions dying at the plaguelands, meant to be raised as The Lich King’s new order of Death Knights – and joins the respective factions at the time when the Dark Portal opens, and steps into Outlands. As the Draenei and Blood Elves were part of the factions, they could naturally die at that point in the timeline alongside the other races, and be raised. They could not be fallen of the Third War (Warcraft III), as Draenei wasn’t in Azeroth at that point, and Blood Elves weren’t aligned with the Horde yet.

Now, as said, the main point is to figure out when the actual Cataclysm takes place. Since it affects the world that the first part of the content happens, people will experience it already at level 1 (the two new races even seem to have a small time of their quests before, prior to “normal” WoW timeline). They can choose to be Death Knights as well, which meant some of them died and was raised before Arthas was defeated in Icecrown, and since they had already waded through the cataclysmed world, it must’ve happened before the whole of WoW’s storyline.

To back it up, the first few sentences of the Cataclysm Trailer, is as follows:

As the terrible war against the Lich King continues, the proud defenders of Azeroth fight to secure a lasting peace. But there can be no peace, when the world itself is devoured by rage.

First of all, the war against the Lich King has lasted pretty much since Warcraft III. Second of all, it’s not stated if the cataclysmic event actually happens at the time where we – the heroes – fight the Lich King. He’s merely the biggest immediate threat after the Legion had been pushed back in Outlands, and removed from there.

With the time aspect covered, the obvious question pops up fast: “But what about Deathwing?”. You see, Deathwing is smart. He didn’t strike at once, as he would otherwise had to deal with the Legion and the Lich King – so he plots his plans, while we do the dirty work. On the way, we have however already crushed some of his plans: The Twilight Dragonflight (a subject I’ve discussed not one or two, but three times), seen over 3 notable places. First, there’s the Netherwing-area of Shadowmoon Valley. Next, the events of Night of the Dragon. Third, the death of Sartharion in the Obsidian Sanctum. With these events spanning over the Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, while Deathwing was “hiding” below Grim Batol… further supporting that the Cataclysm must’ve happened before the final parts of the battle against the Lich King.

While all of the above is pure speculation, I’m wondering how it could be any other way, and still be presented in a believable matter. I’m surely looking forward to every small tidbit of information about it all at least.

On a brighter side of things, hot chocolate from Starbucks have helped a bit, even though my name (Emil, for those not knowing) was misheard/spoken/interpreted as… hang on… “Valamir”. No idea how it got that bad (although, it is rather smooth!), but something tells me that it was a good sign that I needed the warm chocolate.

Anyway, to get back on track (literally – keep reading!), the whole local time thing is based on the fact that I’m currently in Atlanta (Georgia, United States, Earth… yes, the airport) waiting for the plane to Guadalajara (I’ll NEVER learn to pronounce it correctly – EVER) in ~1 hour. The airport is cool however. Trains between the “Concourses”, that hold the different gates. For instance, I landed in E, had to go to D… or so I thought, as the gate had changed to A-something. Thus, I went all-out Sheldon, and hopped back on. Good stuff – it even beats the Metro I took many hours earlier today.

Better finish the chocolate and prepare for an additional 5 or so hours of traveling, before I can rest. ‘Till next time…

The first Blizzard Entertainment global creative writing contest ended on April 12, but that’s not the end of these epic tales. After over fifteen-hundred entries and millions of carefully chosen words, it’s now in the hands of the judges.
(…)
Look for an announcement with our chosen grand prize winner and runners-up on Friday, May 22. Good luck to all of the entrants!

Source.

Let’s hope for the best, I’m very excited at least. Mostly because I expected way more than “over 1.500″ submissions, but also by the sheer fact that the chance of me winning is bitter than the lottery – and since I trust my so-called talent, the chances should be even better.

I’ll probably go as far as to post my story here, once the announcement has been made, whatever the result. We’ll see.