Posted by Juggynaut on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 - 36 Comments
Tags: Addons, dual spec, gear manager, ghostcrawler, glyphs, inscription, lexicon of power, ptr, talents
In this interview with Nethaera, Ghostcrawler has revealed a lot of the specifics about the upcoming dual spec system. Up to this point we’ve been given hints about how the system will work and what will be included, but this time GC has unveiled much more specific information. Some of the key points from the interview:
- Only level 80 characters will be able to purchase a second spec. This may be changed based on feedback.
- The Lexicons of Power located in major towns are required to switch specs. Additionally, scribes can create an item that allows a group of players to summon a temporary lexicon of power. The only other restriction (so far) is that specs cannot be swapped in combat or in arenas.
- Paying for a respec will only clear talents from a character’s active spec.
- A Gear Manager is going to be added into World of Warcraft. This will not automatically change the character’s equipment after a spec change, but will be configurable to quickly change weapons, trinkets, or entire outfits. Sounds like an integrated Outfitter or Itemrack.
- Hunters will no longer have to pay a trainer to respec their pets. Blizzard didn’t want an extraneous step for hunters to have to go through to change their pets’ talents. Hunters will also be given a new spell (on a long cooldown) that will allow remote access to the stables.
- As we’ve heard before, glyphs and action bars will both be tied to the talent spec, changing along with the talent switch.
- Talent points will be configurable before the get saved. This allows players who are respeccing to allocate talents with the ability to double check and avoid having to respec again just to move a couple of points.
- It is indeed Dual Spec, not Tri or Quad spec, for now. In the future, they may allow for more than two specs to be used in the system.
All of this is pretty exciting news. With a lot more of the details hammered out, it seems like this may be coming even sooner than I had thought. We’ll still have to see how the whole dual spec system has shaped up when it comes up on the PTR, but I am very enthused about the idea of having more than one talent build available.
Related Posts: Dual Spec: No Reagent, No Cooldown, Requires Level 40, Ghostcrawler Eases Some Fears On Dual Spec, Dual Talent Specialization to Cost 1000 Gold, BigRedKitty: PTR Dual Spec Video, Switching Specs: Is It Worth It?,
By Valfire on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
This is a great idea, and I am also enthused about this prospect. I especially like the idea that Talents can be configured before they are saved… could save me some money.
By Alkaid on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Seems nice the only thing i have a concern for is the cost of being able to create a second spec. hopefully it wouldn’t cost an arm or leg or two.
By Eric Drake on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Very cool. Looking forward to trying it out!
By Virago on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I’m glad they’re going to allow the hunters to have remote access on the stablemasters (okay, it has a CD, but still). I hate having to go all the way to a stablemaster just to switch pets when the whole team is waiting.
By Ranger Joel on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Won’t believe until I see it in game.
By Wyndgem on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I’m thinking the second spec would cost something like an epic mount or riding training or something like that. Hopefully it’s not 5000g but 1000g for the second spec. It would be even better if it was relatively cheap, like 25-50g.
By Eventime on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I doubt it’d be that cheap. I’d probably expect something more along the lines of 1000g or so. At 80 that really isn’t too terrible an amount but it still is enough that you need to work at it to earn enough for a dual spec.
By Belias on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
This will actually be pretty nice…my only critic is about the level…if all levels were able to do this spec. change, it would be easier to run low level instances and right after it return to your grinding/questing spec. …
By HerofTime on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
This sounds awesome. I have been a tank for my entire raiding career and would love to try dpsing or healing. Thanks Blizz!!!
By Rogue4Life on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I can’t wait for this to get into the game. first reason is that rogues true weapon is daggers (just me). However, i also understand the numbers and using duel swords, maces, or fist weapons or a combination there of. I am starting to get a better feel for the mutilate build, working on the rotation is taking a bit of time. Combat swords still seems to be up there on the dps charts so until i win a damn roll on some of the epic weapons i’ll stick with the combat build.
The other cool thing is that you will be able to pick your talents and then save. now if i miss click a talent I can take it back (i have spent way too much to redo because of misplacing my points).
Looking forward to it and thanks for keeping us in the loop Juggy!
By hordesucks on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
love the idea only..why only 80s…i think it should be more like 60 or up or even lower=[ butdefinatly make it cost at least 1000g so some players have to work for it
By bullrog on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
wooo finally, im a pally and currently do all of my PVP and soloing in ret but i heal for raiding with my guild so atm im respecin once or twice a day atleast just so i can enjoy the experience of doin shed lodes of dmg in wg with tenacity (divine storm crits 12k FTW) and holy light crits of 21k in naxx so this will save me so much money and time
Dwarf pally
(karazhan eu)
By Josh(the Original one) on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
As a prot warrior I have been dreaming of this since the first day I heard about it. I can not even tell you how much I have spent in respeccing fees because I want to pvp or dps and then go tank something. I have spent well over 2000g doing this and I dont feel like spending all my money on this. So this will be a lifesaver for me and i am welcoming the change.
By Valentinex on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Oh hell yeah. I want this to get released ASAP. I’m quite sick and tired of having to fork over 50g for every time I respec. As a Paladin I tend to collect a lot of gear, be it DPS, tank or healing gear.
Despite main-speccing in Holy for raids I like to tank or just plain pewpew in instances because healing in heroics is just plain BLEH to me, but I usually have to wait when my guild doesn’t have any scheduled raids for 2 or more days to make use of the respec.
This’ll save a helluvalot of money in the long run for me, wracking up 2.2k gold on respecs don’t look good D:
By JV on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
i feel that even though it is a great idea it will make all hybrid classes (shammys, warriors, pallys, druids, and preists) so much more viable in PVE that they will be chosen over pure classes (every other class not including Dks because all their specs are basicly hybrids) in raids.
By Nerdbomber on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Sweet!! Even if i dont have an 80 this is going to save me a load of money, in the long run. Will probably need alot of money for secondary spec items and glyphs though. But most definitally worth it.
By Sidias on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I feared they would announce a “one time fee”, that you have to pay twice. You know it’s going to be at the very least 1kg. So when you hit 77 on your alt ( in my case several) you’re greeted with the prospect of paying for flight/epic flight, cold weather flying, dual specs x 2 (at 80), on top of repair bills and other faction rewards.
Charging these amounts is just a synthetic way of getting people to go out and farm/quest and the last thing you want to do when you hit 80 is farm/quest. By far the most frustrating aspect of the game for me.
By Brawnyhippo on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Okay im reading the comments and none of them really describe what dual specs are so im a little confused.
Is it like you pay for the second spec and you get enough points for a second spec or is it like you go to the lexicon of power and click a bottom and you instant change spec….
any clarification would be nice
By ellendi on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
thank god, now if ur doing a heroic instance like strom peaks (at 80) and they need a tank then switch prot or feral or something, then if they need dps just be likte: ret!
By Twest on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
To Sidias> y not take care of flight/epic flight (or start savin for epic) around 70, seeins how u can get/use both in outlands, then at 77 knock out cold weather flight and maybe epic if u haven’t by then, and at 80 worry bout duel spec cost.
To Brawnyhippo> Basically u would have 2 talent builds, grinding spec, then PvP Spec or raid spec. U r given enuf Talent points for both, but only 71 in each of course at 80. Go to Lexicon or Scribe’s summon to switch.
To ellendi> That’ll be nice, however we will have to wait and see what the cost, if any, will be to switch back and forth. If there is no cost other than mats for summon, fuckin sweet.
By Sidias on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 12:12 am
I’ve saved every penny since Outlands, currently 75, and have about 2200g. Not even close to the 7000g I need for norm/epic flight and cold weather flying.
I’m QQ’ing a bit to be sure, but I think I made a valid point.
By Angel on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 2:47 am
I’m for cheap, it’s annoying that all the new stuff assumes you’ve been playing every day for 5 years.
By Naasuk(Andrew) on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Dual spec will be great, but it’s kind of a let down that you can only be 80 to use it.
One of the major reasons why I wanted it is to be able to go into The Nexus or something and then respec to holy while I’m in the instance and then switch to Ret when I’m done.
By Pete the Geek on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 7:07 am
As someone who spends at least 300g a week speccing from Ret (raiding) to Prot (heroics) and vice versa, I cannot wait for Dual specs to be added.
I also like how Blizzard is starting to take addons that are popular and build them into the game as features. Hopefully, their version of Outfitter is robust enough that I can stop updating my addon every patch
By Aesino on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Well I’m glade they are finally come out with the dual spec but its also kinda sad that you have to be level 80 to get it since my 80’s don’t spend that much for respecing while my druid who is level 74 has spent over a 1,000 gold between respecing from Balance (to level) and Resto ( to heal for instances cuz nobody wants to).
I think should atleast expand it to lvl 70’s since there are still people who don’t have wrath and want to enjoy the same benifits.
By cocopuff on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 10:18 am
its a geat idea but blizzard has ways of making us excited and than put a big obsticle infront of us i use to look forwar to patch 3.9.0 hunters have a remote excess to the stables but i bet their gointo like a day long cool down got forbit make the game to good duel spec great whould be great 1k g cost not so great and thats if we are lucky we work for the real life money and give it to them why not give the gold them to whats a 1000g as if 11,000,000 times15 a month not anough
By cocopuff on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 10:20 am
and is that a picture of GC wow
By cocopuff on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 10:20 am
the famous GC
By Alayea on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I’m utterly confused here since this the first time I’ve heard something about “dual-spec system”. What is that? Being able to switch a spec without having to go to the class trainer???
By Dumdrakk, Executus on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 9:03 am
The only let down i saw was the level 80 req for dual spec… i was looking forward to dual speccing low level alts for questing, then switching to heals for instances… come on blizzard, make it for all levels! Or at least for 30 or 40 +… and no more 5kg cost stuff… it should be easily accessible to enhance the game.
By Madrox on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 11:31 am
To everybody asking about why only 80s can get the dual spec……
From what i read GC said that most people starting the game have hard enough time trying to learn it without the implementation of the dual speccing.
As most of us know we can argue back several different points my main thing is if we have it pre 80 that gives us more of a chance to learn different specs without having to go off by ourselves and try to figure it out because we have our whole lvling expierience trying different specs but if we have to wait till 80 we have to take time away from heroics or raids or pvp to figure out the new spec were trying out. you could also argue the point that they have 11 million players if they had trouble learning the game then why do they still have 11 million players lol.
By Dibullba on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
many of u r talking about how pre 80 toons should get dual spec, but the reason blizzard does not do this is because there would be a lot of bugs and complications with saving specs. If u specced ur character at lvl 40 one way and then dual specced another way, u would not be able to add talent points without it costing more purely based on the fact that u had 29 talent points at that time and does not put into account the other talent points thus acting almost like a cheat for respeccing fully without paying. Example: putting one talent point in a normally used in any spec and another talent point for duel spec for another talent that is generally used in any spec leaving any lvl with left over talent points ranging from 1-60 that then could be placed anywhere else thus the reason they can not do that.
By nick on Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at 7:56 am
will they also be refunding the 5 bagillion gold i spent moving 1-2 misplaced talent points?
By Dan on Monday, February 16th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Duel Specs is going to be this expansions required money sink. I’m thinking it will cost more than the epic flying forcing players to choose between either faster flying or duel spec trees.
This huge gold sink will force guilds to pool money together to allow certain players to have both their specs available for raids. Pally’s and Druids as tank/healers option for raids will become a required thing in the near future……
By Jaime on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 2:32 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 Chompomptees on Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I’m so excited for this to come out. I’m a 80 rogue and I’m a hardcore PvPer but i stil love to do raids. Its gonna be awesome just to go to lexion of power to change from pvp/raiding spec. will save me a ton of money