Project Lore: Five dudes. Four cameras. One World of Warcraft.

Posted by iTZKooPA on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 - 46 Comments

Tags: dual spec, ghostcrawler, healing, homogenization, hybrid, non-hybrid, patch 3.1, PvE, tanking

Comments

By Steven Stytle on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:11 pm

wow cant wait to try it:)

By Rugi on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:18 pm

Well, as a hunter, I really think the Dual-spec system is going to help me with my PvP-PvE syndrome.

But I do get your point about the loot, there is definetly going to be fighting over the gear with off-speccers. But in the end, it’s not about Blizz, it’s about how players do to get along with the changes. If off-speccers are going to be retards running around and taking pieces of gears, it shouldn’t be because of Blizzard, it’s because of those arses who just can’t get along with others.

By Aldei on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

Guess there are always 2 sides to a coin in this matter, although dual speccing allows classes like pallies to either tank/heal or heal/dps, etc there are classes that can only rely on DPS, maybe warlocks can now rely on their stronger than before Affliction tree to help boost their DPS along with Destruction tree, or have a stronger demon pet helping the DPS and melting faces with Affliction or Destruction tree.
Don’t know bout rogues, but Hunter for sure can have added bonus from their Beast Mastery tree for a more reliable pet while relying on Marksmanship or Survivability themselves.

Although getting my hunter nerfed is already a stab in the heart for me Q_Q

By Voldenmist on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

You know, that puts a different perspective on this. I have been looking forward to the dual-speccing feature so it would give me an “entrance to PVP” but if my hunter becomes obsolete in raids, then I may just end up PVPing for good.

By Eventime on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:26 pm

For the gear problem, I can only hope that people would be smart enough to let main specs roll on something first before offspecs, just like it should be right now. I’ve picked up quite a nice healing off-set (normally a retradin) with even an epic or two because nobody else needed them, but I’d never roll on them if a real healer or tank needed them first.

By saxonn on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

I personally dont think its going to solve alot. I think its one of those band-aid fixs that seems really cool at first but turns out to be just another thing for everyone to keep themselves occupied with. Also getting loot is going to suck now too cause instead of just maybe rolling against 1 or 2 people you could be rolling against 5+ people which means people become geared alot slower. sure theres always “Main spec first” but theres always that one person who doesnt play by the rules.

I myself play a ret pally and am not looking forward to the new duel spec mechanic. I guess we will all just have to see how it plays out

By elfennau on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:35 pm

As someone with a shaman healer main, I can’t wait for this. For me, it means much less frustration in doing dailies for money and rep.

By Reeper on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

Well, first i want to say that i love PL. But koopa, seriously, get real. I have been a rogue since day 1 wow and if you think that duel spec isnt going to benefit a dps class then you need to re roll.

I do it all. Raid, instance solo and pvp. PvP, i prefer a sub spec, utilizing shadowstep for all its greatness.
Raiding these days when done right for a rogue truthfully, i prefer combat or or a mutilate spec but sub can work when used right. I’am one of those players who enjoys the game for all it has to offer. My favorite way to make gold is running instances solo. I love it. dailies are also nice atleast until you get the rep you desire. Point is: combat is the absolute best spec for instance soloing and dailies. ESPECIALLY since we got fan of knives.

Now imagine how much I must hate when I want to pvp or even go mutilate and have to dump my farming spec (which i use almsot everyday to stay in gold ) to go to a sub spec. HELLO, DUAL SPEC!!!!

And I also have 2 level 70 mages. Hmmm I love frost, however, arcane and fire have alot to offer and its not the same from one spec to the other.

I’am 39 yrs old and have been gaming and writing now and again for the last 25 yrs. I manage a buisness, pay a mortgage, married with 3 kids. My point. I know what I’am talking about. So please, rethink your comments next time. Also, I grow so very weary of hearing people “bash” blizzard for this bug or that bug, this unbalanced class or that etc. etc. etc…

I have always had the attitude that for what we pay and the great service we get, against the problems that occur. Its not a big deal. WOW has saved me money, time, my 2 sons play so WOW has added time with my kids. I dont go out to bars ( which my wife hated), and i dont deal with the other idiots on the road. 15.00 per month = .50 cents a day. We spend more then that on a trip to dunkin donuts on 1 cup of coffee and deal with more hassles im sure (i know i do).

HUGE GAME WORLD, GREAT GRAPHICS, SYSTEM REQUIRMENTS RELATIVELY LOW, TONS OF SERVERS AND FEATURES, TONS OF CONTENT FREE VIA PATCH, ( i played UO for 9 yrs and you payed for EVERYTHING and it was no where near WOW). Point is, there are going to be issues but against what we spend as players and what we get and save in return I wish people would seriously just stop crying.

Thanks for listening. again, love PL.

But think about what I have just said.

By Jaime on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

well what bugs me is its lvl 80 only and isnt it to help create more tanks and healers? how can it create more tanks and healers if lower lvls cant use it?

I’m lvling as a shadow priest and once i get to 80 im going holy. It would be more helpful to me if i could use it when i run an instance to switch over to heal so i wouldnt have to lvl holy. What’s the point of having the dual spec system if you cant use it while lvling? I would understand if they only gave it to lvl 60 and above but my opinion still stands.

By Dieoxide on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

Actually, for warlocks, this is a some what good thing. My main spec is a Demonology/Destruction Hybrid, but some Naxxramas boss fights is better for an Affliction warlock.

By Jasper on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Im a paladin, in tbc i was always a healer. but i respecced tank sometimes to run 5-mans with my girlfriend (she is a healer). Since then ive taken a liking to both, i run 5 man as prot and heal in raids with the rare raid as prot. i just checked my statistics and i’ve respecced 25 times since patch 3.0. Since that was almost always at the 50g max you get the idea… add to that the cost of changing some glyphs (didnt do that every time)

I welcome dual-spec, not because i can switch during instances or anything. just because it will save me a crapton of gold on respecs. but also glyphs Yes i know there will probably be a decent cost to buying your dualspec, but for someone like me that will be totally worth it. and it will be alot quicker and eassier to respec due to saved action bars, trees and glyphs

By Fuegogrande on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

As a mage I love this. I do not feel like spending the cash on constant respecs so I roll Arcane for soloing and raids. I am a HUGE fan of running frost but as it is not currently up to par for raiding and so I have to use arcane (or frostfire) all the time. With dual spec I can now solo as deep frost and raid as Arcane/Icy Veins spec. Also with the addition of Inscribers having portable Lexicons I can switch to my frost build for amazing control of Zombie Chow in the Gluth encounter.

By Conxcore on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

im pumped! no more 50g respecs

By Alex on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Well i think it’s a good thing in a way. i like the idea behind it. we’ll see what actually happens once it’s implemented. only people who i think it’ll hurt are those that play multiple accounts practicing the art of multiboxing. i forsee alot of bugs kinda like 3.0 (lag heaven) an like 3.0.8 (server crash heaven).
there’s always 2 ways of looking at everything but that’s the point there’s always pros an cons to everything, even life. just be glad that blizz is still around to continue supporting the game. they could be like the rest of the world and laying people off or ultimately going bankrupt and closing down.

By Burcemage on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

As a mage i know what you mean, im Aracane/Frost at the moment for Raiding. But if i could just Duel too Full Frost too just Farm quicker and take like 20 mobs at the time, this would make it soooo easyer too farm cloth or stuff like that.
I cant wait

By Alex Fugate on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 6:45 pm

You said “what about the non hybrid classes such as :mages warlock rogues and hunters?” Well most of them are better at one then the other.

As an affliction lock I am only really good against bosses and healing through aggro, which is nice but my pet or my shadow bolts do not do a lot and that severely bumps you up on the dps charts.

Rogues, seeing as you play one, you must know that combat and assassination are way better for pve then subtlety is, subtlety straight pvp

Mages also, not as much but some mages do better better say in frost for pvp or fire for pvp or arcane for pve etc, the line is a lot thinner there.

So dual specs will be helpful so that it isn’t like “damn I’m specced affliction cause I went to go pvp now I have to respec demon(or destructo…shudder) to do some pve”

By Crusade on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 8:38 pm

i dont see a gear problem…. most people already have something they call an “offspec” all this changes is you dont have to pay for it. most guilds will keep the main spec first rule

By David on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

I admit, dual spec is going to be epic, yet many of the problems you’ve mentioned will become a reality. As a BM hunter, I see no need for dual speccing but many of my buddies will, as they are hybrid classes. and what do you mean by pet tanking is going bye bye???!??!?!

By Hatell on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 9:20 pm

I’m excited for Duel spec to come out. I mean, they’re not making it easy where you can switch whenever you feel like it. They’re saying you need a Lexicon to switch and that Inscribers can make temporary Lexicons for raids and such. You can’t switch while in battle so you can’t have a healer die and a DPS who can also heal will switch to better healing.

But I can see where the strictly DPS crew are going to have issues with it. I would say that they could then have a PvP and a PvE spec, but those classes really don’t need it. So I can see it as a plus and a minus. However, if you don’t need it, then you won’t use it. /shrug It’s just that easy.

By Brian on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

I think it is a stupid idea the whole point of a spec is that you SPECIALIZE in a certain thing how can you be fluent in both Fire and Ice Demo and Afflic…ect.. single spec made it more fun now when everyone can be anything that not only takes away from the role playing aspect but the speicalization aspect of the game.. I’ve been a Demo Lock since I started playing and Demo lock is what Ill remain I just love being the Master Demonologist of the realm…and I dont see a point in being the Master Demonologist/Affliction Lock

By Reeper on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 11:16 pm

Well Koopa, with the exception of the last post, I think I made my point and the masses have spoken. And damn right be glad blizz is still around. I personally love WOW as do my sons so lets not piss off the big dogs so then end up like the rest of the wanna be’s. Let blizz do there thing. And seriously, you play a rogue? As much as I love PL, with that post, i’m starting to wonder.

Thanks again.
I’ll be back, rest assured.

By QQ on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 2:04 am

This will be a great change, for classes that only DPS, you can have a raid and a PVP spec, bonus for you, expand your mind try more of the game. As for loot… “Raid Spec only loot” tell your group, makes sure they know before you start problem solved. Great change in my opinion
.

By Slinkz on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 6:47 am

With the exception of Saxonn, it seems that a lot of you missed the OP’s point. KooPA knows that all classes will see benefits from PvE/PvP swapping or PvE solo to raid spec. It’s just that most of the commentators (and possibly Blizzard) are not be seeing the big picture, what the change will do to the metaverse of WoW.
Most players are narrow–minded and just see 50g in savings or shaving off a few minutes from grinding because they can switch off healer spec to a dps spec for dailies.
As someone said, a band-aid fix, yet everyone cheers for it because they get a minute time saver.

By cocopuff on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 11:25 am

i dont fully understabd this duel spec but my main is a DK the one bad thing about DK is their so many of them its hard to find a guild or a raid guild i hope duel specing will make DK more wanted cause they can dps and tank

By elion on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 11:29 am

i still say blizz is gointo do something we wont like so the duel specing isnt so good

By lulz on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 12:38 pm

btw people it is DUAL not DUEL, they are different words with different meanings.

By kiley on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

it seems obvious that the change will help out (and def not solve) the lack of tank/healer issues. I also don’t think it’s going to be much of a problem for non-hybrid classes. In fact i think a lot more people are going to go for the pvp/pve duel spec choices. Simply cause unless you have experience tanking and healing in raids suddenly switching from dps to a MT/OT and a healer in a raid could cause some SERIOUS problems. Maybe not, but if people wanna do the whole tank/healer duel spec switch they better be prepared for what ppl are gonna ask of them in a 10 or 25 man.

By philosu on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

I think it could help the tank and healer search problems, but at the same time I know plenty classes who can be a healer or tank but don’t because they’d rather do damage. So even if they have the other spec for one of the two it doesn’t mean they’ll do it. This change isn’t only for hybrid classes either, I know i was told many times that i would have to be affliction with my lock to run kara, but I usually played demo, so I think this will benefit everybody, but nothing will be fixed totally. Cant get rid of the qq’ers.

By Abadaboo on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

For the pure-dps classes like the Rogue and Warlock, they can play their favored spec two different ways; one solely for causing massive damage in PvE with little focus on defensive talents, or the usual PvP based spec that focuses more on survivability. It also allows them to test out another spec without having to respec every time.

The one thing I’m worried about is people trying to grab gear for both of their specs at the same time, because I know some people who would love that.

By Why? on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 6:26 pm

/Pushes Reeper off his soap box

There, that’s better…

Anyways, I’m a Hunter and I don’t think they’ll ever do away with us in raids. I’m the highest dps in my very casual raiding guild by more than 300, and in any pugs it nearly the same. So, while I may run into the players that reallly know how what they’re doing, a pure dps class, will hopefully always be better than a class that can do many rolls, such as a pally.

By Shala on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 1:20 am

I beileve most you have valid points and concerns, but for me I think most of you guys have missed the point of dual spec. Brian (with the warlock post) is the example to my point, and that is about raiding. Yes, I get what everyone is talking about when it comes to PVP/PVE but if you guys can piece together everything we know about 3.1 you may come to realize that this new mechanic is due to the soon to be released content. We’ve been promised a lot with the new Uludar raid and it’s many new fights, that it makes perfect sense for the need to switch roles per encounter is going to be the key to succes.

Now, being a Druid I will FULLY utilize all of my abilities allowing me to tank/heal, melee/caster dps or any two of the four druid abilities combined whenever my guild needs me as opposed to my usual Laser Chicken diet.

For Example, Take HoS and HoL. HoS is favorable to caster and range dps classes while HoL maybe more melee classes. And with those both being the starters into Uludar’s story, it makes sense that this is a major reason for dual-spec.

Now, for the looting issues… Who DOESN’T use master looter in a raid??? I see NO issues at all with looting and dual spec. Plain and simple your main spec is priority, DUH! If your master looter doesn’t know the difference between gear stats for a class then pick another one. Thanks guys I hope you’re pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down.

By Keri of Mal'Ganis on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 5:59 am

I would like to start by saying I see your point. It sucks for those DPS classes who don’t do both PvP/PvE content. But the majority of well-rounded and skilled DPS players I know cannot wait. Take one of my really close friends who’s main is a rogue. He has his Black Proto drake achievement and yet is able to maintain a solid 2k 2v2 arena team. So, every Tuesday, he respecs from his PvP back to his PvE spec, and then once raids are done on Wednesday, he specs back to his PvP spec. That’s a lot of gold, let me tell you.

Another friend of mine, a DK in my guild, respecs constantly from PvP to PvE, probably more than he should, and has a respec total tab of over 2k g. This is probably one of the main reasons he does not have his epic flying training like the rest of us.

And then there is me, a holy paladin. I’ve done my fair share of raids and PvPing. But I don’t fall for the respec trap - my job is to heal, and that is what I do, so I don’t change my spec when I go from one to the other, even when people tell me I would perform much better if I were to have. The PvP/PvE respec isn’t what excites me about this change. It is being able to go ret.

What the hell, right? A holy paladin, a saver of lives, wanting to go ret? The face-roll, forehead-on-keyboard-two-shot class? Yes. I’m holy. Do you know how much it sucks to quest in Northrend, and even Outlands, and to be a healer? So of you may not agree with me, but I have a very decent Ret offspec set sitting in my bank, unused, because I am usually called on to heal this heroic or that 10-man raid. It just would not be cost effective. I can do my basic amount of dailies as holy fine, but seeing the prospect of switching on my ret gear and face-rolling the Scourge in Icecrown makes me want this more and more every day.

My vote is yes for Dual-Spec, 3.1.

By pohs on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 9:04 am

having the new dual spec thingy to be out soon is exciting but i really think that blizzard should like make in in a way so that players wouldnt really be able to switch specs so often till it becomes like hybrids are everywhere. What i was thinking that they could have setbacks like pros and cons for dual spec-ing in the sense that u Major in a spec and sort of Minor in another. An that “cooldowns” would be implemented for interchanging the specs so very often.

By Fuegogrande on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 11:07 am

In regard to pohs comment:
You have to have a Lexicon of power to switch, also people who have inscription can make a portable one, but as I understand it , it will have a long cooldown so you can’t switch all the time that easily.

Basically it allows for people like one of my guilds priests to, if need be, switch from being a spriest to a healer, and one of our warriors to go from his normal dps roll to tank without me dropping a port and the lock summoning them back after they cash on respecing.

I don’t see it becoming a big issue, at least in my guild.

By Crashovride on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

as a resto druid this new dual spec is going to be VERY good for me. i am unable to do dailys as resto because of my low DPS and low health, with the new duel spec i wont have to pay the amount i get from dailys to respec back and forth from balance to resto. now ill have to pay a 1 time fee to be able to dailys while doing heroics/raids without paying the constant 50g

By lightyears on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

i think they should just scrap dual spec and make re-speccing free. seriously why should we have to pay to respec anyway? Blizzard doesnt have to make us work for EVERYTHING. and as far as the comment of “who would u rather take, a pure dps or someone who can respec heals if a healer leaves.” well you still need to have the gear. paying to respec and collecting 2 (sometimes 3; maybe even 4 if ur a druid) sets of gear takes some of the fun out of being a hybrid, as it is much more expensive and its difficult/time consuming to level holy or resto or prot. and face it, 9/10 people who play a hybrid class switch specs often.

By saq on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 1:46 pm

well dude i rly think ur right bout the gear… as a hunter ill always lose my gear to shammys that want to dps

By Rottenagenda on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

Well the face that remains to be unseen is that this is going to cost your character an assload to do. Everything that is new and exciting to wow takes time and money and then when you finally get there it either sucks or has some limiting factor. But everyone will want this and i am sure guilds will start equiring this. So if you don’t quite have enough for that epic mount yet you might wanna pull out the old 60%er and beat a few more years out of it.

By Jaime on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 2:40 pm

answer me this:

Who spend more time looking for healers people in lower level instances or higher level instances? Who will dual spec benefit more higher levels players or lower level players in the long run? Who spends the most money on respecing and during what levels (hint: healers/tanks and lower levels)?

I have a priest as my main and it bugs me that only lvl 80s can get it. They say they will may change it but i doubt that. Also other people are saying that its cause it will get bugged well they can test it in PTR.

By Dre' on Friday, February 20th, 2009 at 8:50 am

i have an 80 hunter and druid both dps the change would be awesome for my druid but not 4 my hunter

By Magealitious on Thursday, February 26th, 2009 at 5:01 am

i’m a mage (duh, check my name) and i’ve heard loads of other mages saying “can’t wait for dual spec” etc…

BUT i am not one of those mages. I’m a deep arcane spec, with points in frost just to get down to channeling (increased hit, decreased mana for all spells), and i constantly sit 1st-4th on the dps tables in raids, but i also do well in pvp with this same spec!! Why do i need dual spec? it’s just going to hinder my groups when we get a fresh tank/healer for an instance who has made themselves a few blues/epics and thinks they can tank/heal heroics based on their gear - i can’t stand bad healers, moreover, i HATE bad tanks.

So Koopa, i agree with you entirely.

By Bith on Monday, March 2nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm

I think, as far as fighting for loot goes, that you say what you want your main spec role to be and what you want your off-spec role to be (no matter how much time you spend in either role; or you could limit it to what role you have been playing in).

This is a nice addition because I’m tired of paying 200g a week just to be able to get into our guild’s raids (a healer on 25man and a boomkin in 10man; I love both roles but I would like to just be a healer for both, but it doesn’t always works out the way I want).

For people that have to fit multiple roles, this is a wonderous addition.

Of course it goes without saying that if you don’t think you’ll benefit from the Dual Spec, THEN DON’T WASTE YOUR GOLD. Stop complaining, save your gold for something else, and let us people that have been painfully awaiting Dual Spec have it.

By Ardor on Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm

I have both a hunter and a druid that share main time. I only PvP by accident and when forced by the game. I’m looking forward to Dual Spec for both.

My hunter is 80 and mid level Naxx geared. While not a hard core raider by any definition I do raid … which means flexibility is vital. At the same time she is also my bread and butter money gatherer so both a grinding and a raiding spec will be very convenient. Given my time is in short bursts convenience is important.

My druid will be 80 this weekend and will either bounce between tank/healer or tank/caster as the guild needs. What better way to play with folks you like than by being able to be flexible without going “broke”?

WoW crossed the barrier between game and social club a long time ago. Maximizinf the amount of time we get to spend with friends is all it should really be about.

By Prower on Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pm

I only see the idea helping the guy with a lvl 40 preist, who wants to heal.
atm there are no lowbie grps, no tanks no healers everyone is specced to solo!

it is those same players that will wipe you due to lack of expreance, get cursed and go back to the dps they practiced.

a lvl 80 that cba to spend 50G, I couldnt care less …. blizzard making a system to get more tanks + healers…
… then making it too expencive for the ones we need to encourage both, lowbie atls, & mains…. a complete and total faliure of logic!

By Joshy on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 9:12 am

So I have taken my time to read each post on this board… Alas I have wasted my time.

I have 2 mains, a Pally and a hunter. So I think I grasp everyone’s perspective on the situation.

My solution, stop crying. You are wasting your time bc this is something that WILL be implemented.

For my hunter, I will use this to be MM and Surv for raid utility. Not my fav thing, but something that I will do. Also provides pvp options depending on arena/bg.

On my pally I have over 5k gold in respec costs on the stats page, c’est la vie. I am a T7.5 tank and healer… This is my raid utility toon.

So no, honestly it is not going to be earth-shaking to have dual specs. But if you can’t use it then why fight it?

Also this is simply stupid for lowbies as most hybrid classes can effectively heal/tank until at least 60 without spec’ing into it.

People just open your minds ffs.

By kels on Saturday, April 25th, 2009 at 6:20 am

i think dual spec is good for priest or druids that sometimes have to go a different spec in the raids caz we dont have enough healers or to many tanks for that one particully boss and what not.

but i dont really see the point for it with my hunter
other then to get an exotic pet with best…theres no real point with it. blizz should try to make it abit more useful for the pure dpser’s so we can have some fun too.