Posted by Heartbourne on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 - 38 Comments
Tags: dual spec, flying mount, hybird
 Image via WoWInsider.com |
There has been much hoopla over one of the capstone changes in patch 3.1: dual specs. In short, it allows a level 80 character who has “learned” dual spec to switch between specs easily. Essentially, this means finding a Lexicon of Power or using an item made by scribes to start a ritual that requires 3 players to be present for on the spot switching, aimed at raids. It instantly changes all your talent points between 2 configurations, switches between two sets of glyphs, remaps hotkeys, and reconfigures action bars.
Well, there is a price to pay for everything. Our friends at WoWinsider received a tip from a player on the PTR that training for dual talent specialization currently costs 1000g. This is precisely the cost of training Cold Weather Flying, which enables players to fly in Northrend. This is not cheap, but currently players who switch specs 2+ times a week for raiding and other reasons, such as PvP, heroics, or just experimenting with other specs, have to pay 50g per switch and have to replace all their glyphs (an additional cost) as well as perhaps reconfigure their action bars and hotkeys. I think the 1000g will be much cheaper in the long run for serious players and will allow players to have a lot more flexibility in experimenting with new specs.
Many people are excited about this, and there has been a lot of speculation about the implication of a dual spec feature. There are the issues of it mainly only appealing to players who both PvP and PvE, its availability being restricted to level 80 players, and the new complication of loot drops for players with multiple specs. However, as a rogue, I am excited to be able to switch between my Hunger for Blood raiding spec and Mutilate/Prep PvP spec, as well as explore Shadow Dance.
This should be taken with a grain of salt as it is coming from information obtained on the public test realm. This cost is subject to change, but I think the 1000g cost is right where Blizzard wants it.
What do you think? Too expensive, or just right? Useless, or the panecea to the healer and tank shortage?
Related Posts: Dual Spec: No Reagent, No Cooldown, Requires Level 40, Ghostcrawler Eases Some Fears On Dual Spec, Making The Patch 3.1 Cut - Equipment Manager Delayed, Switching Specs: Is It Worth It?, Respec,
By Tezaro on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
wow cool wonder what should I do lol
By Whodinie - Tha' slacker on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
seeing that i am a mage, this would be a rather bad solution :p
) So a in a longer term 1000g, why not?
beside that, a lot in my guild are told to respec for every raid, due to PvP, or just other needs in raid (especially druids with gear for all 3 specs
It just aint anything for me :p
By Rogue4Life on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Well as you said, being the rogue it gives us a chance to have to ways to dps for pvp/pve. I look forward to it as I am needing to get back into pvp/bg’s/arena, but been doing so many instances of late I don’t dare mess with my spec and my “button mashing”, lol.
I love being able to go back to daggers, swords was cool and i certainly understood the numbers crunch, but daggers are what make a rogue. (maces just look cool).
Not sure about how much i like the cost. I understand it can’t be too cheap, but I only have so much play time and tend to get tired of dailies (ever since the Isle days). I know there are a ton of different ones to do, but i really enjoy instances and want to get back into BG’s so i will have to depend on my LW skill to get me the Gold i need. I have 350 LW recipies and all of the ones from Dalaran, so I think I will be ok.
I’m not too worried about the PTR, i can wait till it goes live and enjoy the surprise!
nice post.
By Shizzman on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
having a lv80 druid this will help alot meaning that i can now heal/tank wich seems to be what there is a shortage of now adays
By Kevin on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Is it just 1000g and then free after that?
By Ryan Kubo on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
For the time being it is useless but it is still nice to see changes like this being made
By swanzo on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
do you think they will start dual specing armor? giving different bonuses depending on you current spec?
By Justin on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Having a level 80 druid i am really looking forward to this. I am currently resto but i would like to try my hand at tanking to. I just wish that it would be available to characters below level 80. Trying to find healers and tanks for lower level instances is a real challenge right now. (Especially with all of the DKs.) I would like to be able to have a leveling spec as well as a heal spec so we could actually run instances without getting a high level to run us. just a few of my thoughts.
By Juggynaut on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I’m not too upset. Of course, once 3.1 comes out, I’ll be ready to pay for dual spec almost regardless of how much it costs, simply because of how much utility and convenience it will give me.
1000g? Well worth it to me.
By Sean on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Once you pay the 1000 gold is it free after that?
By Rale on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
1000g is a good price. In the long term, it would only take 10 weeks (or 2 1/2 months) of respeccing twice per week (raid spec/ pvp spec for example). Many people I know respec much more than that. My only gripe with it is that it’s limited to level 80 players only. Tried to find a healer or tank for regular anything below level 80 recently?
By Rale on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Oh, and Juggy, does this mean that you’ll actually spec Resto for PL episodes now?
By Dumdrakk, Executus on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
The downfalls i see are the cost and level restriction. One of the reasons it was exciting for me was so i could level a hybrid class and quickly respec for tanking or heals for instances. I feel one of the reasons for the lack of tanks and healers in the game are simply because they are tough to level spec’d prot or holy…. It would help with longevity of player life to have it available at a lower level as maybe more people would roll a tank or healer alt…
By Juggynaut on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I think I’ll have to, Rale
By Joenips on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
when i first heard of duel speccing i thought it would cost 1000g….yes it is free after the 1000g but you have to be by a lexicon of power to change spec…or the only cost you will spend is buying the portable lexicon of powers from scribes
By Lee on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Tim is bad at WoW.
Haha
1000g is reasonable I think.
By Raknor on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I dont mind the 1kg cost, but needing 3 players just to switch ur own spec sounds like a super pain in the butt. What if you just wanna get in some quick BGs cuz all ur guidlies are offline, but ur stuck in tank form or something. You should be able to switch specs on ur own, requiring other people is just a stupid waste of time.
By elion on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
the price bites 1000g for having to have to go to the lexicon power if you wanto switch specs whats stoping you teh 50g? donnt get me wrong i think duel spec idea is great but why is their allways such a big catch its grain of salt its a whole bag i just dont think being able to switch between specs in raids not having to do pve as a tank or healer is worth 1000g i thinnk the price shooould be cut in 1/2 like the epic land mound being able to fly oround not having to fight the mob in yoyur way flying over mountains is worth 1000g being able to move faster get to whearr you kneed is 500g and switching specs in raids andd saving a few hundred gold that is allso 500g it whould 1000g if we could do any whear any time no special crap reguired what we supostu all become inchanters thats gointo cost a prity penny and tkaae up a profession spot put us into a bigger hole and add some more salt
By elion on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
i just tthought of somthing ellse your only allowed switch back forg between 2 specs what if you wanto change that do you have to another 1000g
By HerofTime on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Oh wow. Thats much cheaper than I could have ever hoped for. I just switched guilds, and according to my new guild’s needs, specced holy. i now have two WoW addictions, one to healing and the other to Mag’har Grainbread…. anyway, i would love to be able to tank in naxx for certain fights and then respecc quickly for fights like heigan the unclean. this is going to be awesome. thankyou blizzard.
By kiley on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
goddammit, (really 1000g isn’t too much but still) it is rather annoying having to fork over 900g here 5000g there another 1000g for cold weather flying and now another 1000g for duel spec. i mean damn i hate paying bills in real life inorder to do thing none the less in a video game. Fuck. For those of us with alts and dk’s it’s def gonna add up. I’m not saying i was expecting a miracle but it woulda been nice to not have to pay for something for goddamn once.
By Zaraken on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
1000g sounds reasonable. Being a dps DK means I get a lot of tells asking if I’m a tank. One thing I been working on is developing my tank set of gear for when this comes out. Hopefully it be heroic level by that time at least so with the option for tank position available as well it make those waits for heroics/raids a lot shorter.
Although can only imagine how my pally wait time be if get to 80 with tank and healer option which cover 95% of what is usually looked for.
While this may lessen the need for tank/healer crisis, the who gets gear thing may be a bit more debated. Personally I say main spec need over secondary spec would be a nice rule.
By CappyG on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Seriously? 1000g is too much? 6 dailies in Icecrown or Storm Peaks will get you that in a week between mob loot & quest rewards.
Requiring level 80 kind of bites, but the 1000g price tag does make it pretty much out of reach for everyone else.
By Sardit on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
New in, 1000g lvl requirement lvl 40 and no reagents or other stuff needed able to respec everywhere as long as your not in combat, in a bg or an arena. 5 sec cast selfspell
By chucknorriss on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Looks like wow gold sellers are going to like the boost in business. I think blizzard and them have some partnership going on
By Voldenmist on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Really? 1k? This is something more for more experienced players in all forms and now your gonna have nubs switching from dps to healing just b/c they think they can gt more gear that way. 1k is WAY too CHEAP! Yes you heard me, CHEAP, should be 5k imo. Like epic flying is meant for the most hardcore players, I think this is should be as well. and for all you nubs that say 1k is too expensive, try stopping running around Dal countless times and actually do somehting for a change, I usually make 1k a day, that’s w/ 2 hours famring, dailies and the ocasional heroics. And more if I raid that day.
By kiley on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Vold the fact that you think 1k is cheap and that you make 1k a day tells me you do nothing else in your life but play wow. And who the hell has time to put in 2 hours of farming in?? jeeze i’d like to be able to play a game without having to fucking ‘clock-in’ and grind for gold for a couple hours.
By pala on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 at 4:01 am
will have to carry the 2nd gear set with us when we switch? or will it be under a new tab in character or something?
By yeshallbe on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Another thing to realize is that now drops will be fought over even more so for those that dual-spec and want their “alternate” gear
By disgruntledPVPer on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
This is fracking terrible news. I have 40g, I PVP and occasionally raid. I absolutely will not grind quests for gold, that shit is lame. They need to make dual-spec’s purchasable by all WoW currencies, not just gold for the farmers.
boooooo
By oaky on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I think they need to put it at around 350g becus Seriously who wants to blow 1000g and if they screwed up or want to cahnge there talents to Unholy Blood from Blood frost or from the paladin tree of 35 5 31 and Prot to Prot and holy u have to spend another 1000g
By Heartbourne on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
@oaky So that isn’t actually true. Standard respeccing costs (50g at most) apply for changing one of your dual specs.
By hiya on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
…hmmN… i have rogue that good in ..pve and pvp..and i dont need it ^^lol
By hiya on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
i have a rogue..and ..my rogue is good ..in pvp pve…raid …anything lol^^peace yo!!
By Taz on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 12:49 am
1000g is ridiculous. Maybe not for those of you who’ve been sitting at 80 since a week after Lich King launched. But for those like me who are just playing the game, it sure would be nice to be able to have my leveling druid, or priest, or paladin to swap to a more group friendly talent build when going into dungeons. But my highest character is 75, and she’s not even back to 1000g after buying the slowest flight skill, much less has gold to toss around to other characters for dual spec - the irony is that as a rogue, there’s no need to buy it for her anyway.
At the very least, they should have it scale to levels like haircuts. Because looking at the reactions here (and auction house prices) a money sink for those at max level already seems like a good idea. But asking a level 40 (or 50) to fork over 1000g so maybe they can play outside of the single build that’s all but required to level is just insane.
By AjAtkinson on Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Let’s face it guys, BLIZZARD CARE ABOUT YOUR MONEY! NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS! Why do you think it takes forever to get Revered or Exalted reputation? Why do you think flyers and “cold weather” training are SO expensive? It is a fucking shame honestly. I try not to think about it and just enjoy playing, but you can’t do shit or have shit in the game worth doing or having without spending countless hours playing and playing! Why does it take so long and what does this have to do with greediness? THE more you have to play to achieve something, the longer blizzard gets your $30 a month. Plain and simple. Think about it!
1. To get good PVP gear, you need shitloads of honor and marks
2. To get good raid gear, you must play for hours waiting for that one item to drop.
3. Mounts cost money and money = time playing.
4. People who play more are encouraged and rewarded: i.e.(Achievements, factions rewards, etc)
5. And now, dual speccing of chars that costs $1000 gold @ lvl 40! Just another reason to play more!
And for you guys that do dailies for 2hrs or more a day, imagine if you had spent just 1/2 of that time reading, how much smarter would you be by now?
And that’s my 2 cents!
By DDodge on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 at 5:59 am
yet another time sink by blizzard that a lot of characters will need to do just to keep up with the joneses. My friends have families and real life. I may have time for raising cash ingame for this sort of thing but they dont. They will quit the game eventually out of frustration.
If Blizzard keeps hosing casual players it will eventually drive them away. And if my real life friends leave it will be an incentive for me to look elsewhere as well. I like warcraft but the grinding for certain near-required items is a little silly.
Also, I dont think this is fair for certain classes (like warriors or mages) who have far more need of this feature than other classes, who wont need it quite as much. The cost should either scale with your current level or be for a set period of time on the server. An occasional payment to keep it active might work as an alternative (like 150-250 gp per character every 6 months to keep the second spec available).
By DDodge on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 at 6:07 am
They should also just put in a fee to allow people to legally buy fast mounts or dual spec.
I have a suggestion that might work.
My friends might have the cash but not the time to grind. Why not Blizzard just put in some optional extra fees in to allow players to legally buy the “hours of grinding” or gold required to obtain the mount and/or dual spec etc.
That way blizzard sets the price, takes money from the plat sellers (and blizzard makes more money) and the players get what they want and avoid the silly amounts of grinding if they have the real life cash.
Then people would be more cognizant of how much time they spend grinding to get the added features LOL (That might not be good for blizzard).