Feral Megathread - Page 10

Falk · 10/12/07, 3:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dalamar

I am kind of annoyed at this point, am I the only one that thinks Feral Loot should be better DPS than the rogue alternative when properly gemmed and enchanted? With the changes and the nerfs to shapeshifter's now I am forced to pull out up to several rogue loots to reach the hit cap while looking for expertise that no feral gear has. Is it time for a reitemization of feral loot? Well other than sticks, cuz those have needed a fix for several months now.

Part of me shares your viewpoint (You probably can find some old posts on the Feral threads telling various people why making feral spec have an AP multiplier vs a Strength multiplier was a 'bad idea') but as it is, there are more options.

Feral loot almost universally has int and armor tacked on. Previously, even with those drains on item budget, it came out around to 'the same' DPS value as rogue loot due to the fact that Strength was 20% better (not counting kings/sotf yet) and AP was just plain shit.

Now that Str and AP are more balanced in terms of DPS value, rogue loot with no item points spent on AC/int will definitely come out farther. It doesn't make aforementioned feral-specific loot obsolete though, just shifts its focus more clearly into a tanking or hybrid raid role.

After I got over lamenting the death of the feral druid's itemization niche, it really seems that much better to have -guaranteed- itemization in future, regardless how many upgrade tiers go in the game.

Valerian · 10/12/07, 3:31 PM

Originally Posted by falkon2

Now that Str and AP are more balanced in terms of DPS value, rogue loot with no item points spent on AC/int will definitely come out farther. It doesn't make aforementioned feral-specific loot obsolete though, just shifts its focus more clearly into a tanking or hybrid raid role.

The real problem is that the extra armor on items is rare so these are invariably our tanking items...yet they all have int on them which is completely useless if you're raid tanking (its pretty useless as raid dps too in fact...I have more than enough mana to powershift, Bres, innervate and tranq as needed).

Dalamar · 10/12/07, 3:40 PM

I would really like to see Int become something useful for actual Feraling, not just being able to shift and "heal", expertise seems like the perfect stat to turn Int into. Perhaps a redesign or addition of Preditory Strikes to change Int into Expertise at like a 25% rate, or just items with int = expertise in feral forms.

Hmm one can dream.

On a side note, just got on the test server. Yes one button shifts with pots and other no gcd abilities do infact work on a one button macro. It appears as an instant shift and I do see a mana bar during any point.

I really think it is time for a legit blizz made addition of Druid Bar for us..

Valerian · 10/12/07, 3:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dalamar

I would really like to see Int become something useful for actual Feraling, not just being able to shift and "heal", expertise seems like the perfect stat to turn Int into. Perhaps a redesign or addition of Preditory Strikes to change Int into Expertise at like a 25% rate, or just items with int = expertise in feral forms.

Hmm one can dream.

On a side note, just got on the test server. Yes one button shifts with pots and other no gcd abilities do infact work on a one button macro. It appears as an instant shift and I do see a mana bar during any point.

I really think it is time for a legit blizz made addition of Druid Bar for us..

Have you tried powershifting? Curious as to if its a single button press to essentially set your energy at 40 (which would be sweet). Also if you start a shift during the global cooldown does the 1 button switch fail?

ari_druid · 10/12/07, 4:09 PM

Why on earth would they not give it expertise as a trade stat for Shapeshifter Signet? Perhaps the change over is not complete. I hope so otherwise the ring is now only worth vendor fodder.

<read the followup posts - appears this is a wait and see that is likely to be in our favor - happy to have several expertise items within reach versus 1 or 2 FCR items>

xyruul · 10/12/07, 4:10 PM

I can't get the single button macro to shift me back into cat form. I'm using /cancelform /cast Cat form and it still requires two clicks. Same with stopcast thrown in there.
That aside, I believe the [Idol of Terror] has a 10s cooldown. I couldn't get it to refresh even once over a hundred mangles. However, it does indeed seem to be 85% proc change. It will take a lot more testing to verify but it was up on my first mangle on 19/20 mobs.

Edited another round of mobs in.

xyruul · 10/12/07, 5:16 PM

After a little bit more testing, you can only shift from one form to a different form via macro. It just drops you to caster form if you try to go from cat->cat or bear->bear.

Valerian · 10/12/07, 5:27 PM

Originally Posted by xyruul

After a little bit more testing, you can only shift from one form to a different form via macro. It just drops you to caster form if you try to go from cat->cat or bear->bear.

Hmm thats kinda pointless then...I suppose it has some PvP usage but almost NO PvE usage. Is it the same if you try shifting and doing something in between the shift (like pot?)

Laith · 10/12/07, 5:55 PM

more then likely youd just have to put in something along the lines of [stance=nostance] to shift back into the same form

Valerian · 10/12/07, 5:59 PM

Also, since I cant get on to test it myself, make sure you remove the Safe Shifting or whatever that option is that doesnt let you shift too quickly in cases of lag. That could do it too :P

xyruul · 10/12/07, 6:10 PM

Yes, you can go bear to cat and drink a pot all with one click. I tried [nostance] and various other things as well as disabling the secure ability toggle. No luck :/

Malazaar · 10/12/07, 6:25 PM

http://www.worldofraids.com/news/oct...rena/staff.jpg

Vengeful Gladiator's Staff
62 Stamina
46 Strength
22 Hitrating
46 Critrating
33 Resilience
1110 FAP

Also, there's a BB like trinket from Zul'Jin which is 150 ap average that might be better than current endgame trinkets for us (at least it's a viable alternative).

Cuer · 10/12/07, 6:32 PM

Originally Posted by Allev

BTW-- does this change make [Shoulderpads of the Stranger] really, really good? Am I putting my Shadowprowler's in the bank so I can use my T4 chest for the set bonus instead of shoulders?

Between the Expertise and HOTW changes, it does seem nicely itemized for cat DPS:

Whether it's worth swapping out other items, to deal with the tier4 bonus, will no doubt have to be calculated out.

Malazaar · 10/12/07, 6:50 PM

It's better than T4 but worse than T5, not worth breaking any setbonus for imo.

seminarca · 10/12/07, 7:44 PM

Originally Posted by Venomia

Wow, pillar still got str which is the most awesome stat for tanking ... oh wait, maybe not.
So they just upped AP but still left it as a sidegrade to wildfury, sigh. Why cant they just change the str into agi to make it really nice staff.

Maybe it's going to require us to spam report suggestions on the PTR for them to change the Str to Agi on Pillar of Ferocity. We had to do it for T4 gloves, worth a shot for this too.

edit: The funny thing is, changing the Str to Agi would not only make it better for tanking, but for DPS also =x