This looks to be an even better expansion than WotLK with the streamlining.

Also, 2h legendary axe named Shadowmourne (for hunters, obviously).

Reforge items to reduce one stat for another - finally a way for proper plate dps items

Spell ranks are gone and spells will now just level on their own.

To be honest it sounds like this is more of a change to WoW 2 than a simple expansion to progress the game story.

Actually, the guy said First Legendary on deck would be for dps casters (in response to a complaint about lack of caster legendaries). The first legendary is going to be a 2h axe.

They also alluded to possibly making hit less of an issue for all classes, although it wasn't directly answered. All in all, the direction appears to be to simplify itemization choices for everybody.

One thing that worried me is the specifics of reforging: They stated that you would not be able to convert a useless stat to something that already existed on the item. That probably means that we're going to have to choose a stat other than our #1 stat. Casters generally don't have as many stats as melee do that directly affect our dps, so I'm thinking we're going to be at a slight disadvantage.

OF COURSE!

Or: Caverns of time is shattered and and the magics begin to take over southern Kalimdor/Tanaris is a bunch of random old-world phase zones mixed into one.

Daliy phases comes to mind: a new area each day with its own sets of dalies due to the instability caused by the cataclysm interacting with the CoT.

just random speculation.

With faction change now available, wonder if you could level a horde character to 80 now and change it to a worgen on the first day of the expansion.

Not sure how to think about the getting rid of so many different types of stats, I am hoping they do it well because I can easily see it turning itemization boring.

And the hunter changes, I likey, I am just worried since hunters are already at the mercy of the GCD that with the "spell gloat" we have and the new focus, we will be hurt. But I am sure Blizzard will do this well.

I thought you didn't get to choose what race you got to switch to? But I am sure they will give a time amount before they let you switch to worgen or goblins if they do allow it.

It's probably being done precisely because gear has gotten so jammed with stats.

I'm completely in favor of these changes, provided Blizzard doesn't mess it up. I feel like I need a PhD in mathematics just to figure out my gear upgrades. There was a time when I was willing to pour over spreadsheets and simulators for hours on end to find the optimal gear set, but that time is long gone. I really shouldn't need to spend hours outside of the game to play it well. If anything, that is what is really boring about the current itemization system.

No offense to those of you that enjoy crafting spreadsheets and simulators. Your hard work is always appreciated.

Yeah, but it seems there isn't going to be any way to have interesting items anymore. Especially for a class like mages/warlocks which apparently won't sue spirit, their items will look like: Stam, Int, crit/haste/hit; doesn't seem terribly exciting to me. Any thoughts on how they might remedy that? Not to mention haveing less stats means they'll probably have to redo the itemization formulas from the ground up, or have underpowered items for a while.

PS: For me at least, part of the excitement of getting into nicer, epic raid quality, gear was that it had more stats than the leveling blues and greens, which made them feel more powerful regardless of actual numbers. I can't say i really look forward to seeing my lvl82 of the bear with bigger numbers; though i suppose it won't necessarily go that direction

A dev mentioned today (my stream went out for a bit so this was via Tankspot's feed) that they'll be doing same-faction race changes after they make sure faction changes are working.

I understood that those lost stats in item budgets will be transferred to stamina (this is how they are planning on giving Mages and Warlocks as much health as a Warrior).