Was kinda depressing to see that the arena weapons are superior (base DPS wise) then the PvE counterparts in T6 quality. Not that I expected it to happen before, but its about time Black Temple items get revamped. Either a slightly higher iLvL (so the base DPS matches up) or redesigning items to be more min/maxed, like a lot of the new heroic loot (which is so beautifully itemized).

First 5 bosses down already, wonder how hard Zul'Jin is. Overall from what I've seen the design of Zul'Aman looks good. 2 Badges for each boss, 1 epic for each boss (possibly rare secondary drops.. like bear mount) and if you do it fast enough an additional epic.

*does a happy little Blood Elf dance*

That's just awesome, the mention of it being considered is enough to make me forget the limited amount of buffs we received so far. Although that screenshot with DS being popped by Arcane Shot made me giggle too.

*edit* Zul'jin down!

It seems the consensus (and quite frankly, the obvious) decision about badges is that the new loot should have a new currency, dropped by prince/NB and all of ZA. It is blindingly obvious that people wont buy the lesser cost rewards on their way to the higher ones. Players take the path of least resistance. They are blowing progression and invalidating a ton of content for no good reason.

I can't help but wonder at why they made this decision. Kara is a huge success, a large portion of players have run some/most of it and enjoyed it for a while. I can't imagine ZA will be anything but the same.

Hopefully this gets addressed on the PTR before it goes live.

Kara (sans NB and Prince), Heroics = Badges of Justice
Kara (NB and Prince), ZA and new Heroic challenge quests (do something obscenely hard in a heroic) = Badges of Valor

Badges of Justice = ilvl 105-110 stuff
Badges of Valor = ilvl 123-128 stuff

All the content in the game stays relevant, and the new, harder content has better rewards.

The new gladiator weapons are so ugly, it's unbelievable. I would understand if blizzard liked weapons made of wood, but i really can't understand why they use graphics like this:
New Bonegrinder

I'm pretty certain some of those are placeholders. A few of the graphics don't make sense

No 2.6speed weapons?

Decapitator is a 1-h, non-unique weapon on test.

Shaman rejoice.

Edit: Just confirmed, fool's bane is also a one-hand non-unique weapon.

Oooh Bloodlustier brooch!

That's enough reason to keep running zulaman for quite a while

Is that vial drop a quest turnin of some sort?

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in here, but are they butchering 2pc T5 for Priests like they are butchering 4pc T5 for Pallies and Shamans?

Best change ever. I don't suppose the same is true of Fool's Bane?

I haven't seen mention of any of the mainhand s3 weapons? They better be 2.6, if they go 2.7+ at that dps t6 weapons will need huge changes :P

Think it's safe to say whatever speed the Season 2 ones are now will match the Season 3 ones.

Arena weapons don't really go through huge transformations. They go up the appropriate ilvl, and redistribute the stats evenly, which is why they're so bloody "perfect".

Whats so bad about that? Whats the catch?

I guess we can expect to see a buff to T6 weapons within the coming weeks. I'm really glad they gave new models to weapons though. Here to no innate glows on the swords!

Is anyone surprised to see the s3 xbow is basically equal to the Archimonde/Illidan ranged weapons (minus a tiny bit of dps).

Will season 4 have a 2.9 speed xbow, I wonder? What does Blizzard want with these weapons in PvP, really?

Being I'm fairly sure that's the Mograine's Might graphic from SM:Cathedral it's probably safe to say placeholder.

I for one won't hold my breath. If it is anything like Season 2 vs T5 weapons they won't bother to change it until most top end guilds have sunwell on farm and nobody wants to do BT/Hyjal because the PvP weapons are superior.

Either way it is a dead horse with a 50-page thread already so lets not talk about it too much!

That shaman BP off Zul'Jin is insanely well Itemized... just wow.

EDIT:

Fixed.

Except that the weapons are better then t6?


Edit: Beaten :|

I haven't been a resto shaman for almost two years now. I looked at that bp and I was speechless. I'm SOOOOOO glad Blizzard's finally getting this itemization thing down. WotLK is going to have some CRAZY good stuff if this keeps up.

Additionally, I almost wet myself at those new bracers from Badges. Blow my Bands of Indwelling so far out of the water that it's hillarious.

By a huge margin? The season weapon curve has always been just slightly ahead of its respective tier. There's been another season update but no PvE update (25-man). There's your answer fishbulb. Season weapons being too good for the PvE environment or poor PvE weapon itemization from raid drops is a whole different can.

S3 look to be ilevel 146?

That's mograine's might, so I guess it's a placeholder