homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea?

Nosforat · August 19, 2008, 01:22 PM

It seems the general player base is fine with the changes coming to gear in Wrath of the Lich King and how now the gear that drops can be used by multiple classes.

However A few things bother me a great deal regarding this change.

For one now there will be more competition for a piece that drops there then was before as different classes will all be rolling on it. I understand the idea behind making gear that drops usable by more then one class and how some say it will increase your chances to get gear but I don't agree. I think it will be be same or even less.

2nd, does this mean that warlocks, mages and priests will all look the same? If so this is horrible. Does this not bother anyone else? Perhaps I'm wrong on this one as I am not in the beta. Can someone in the beta confirm that the gear looks the same across all classes?

3rd. Take my two points above and don't you get the idea that the developers have gotten lazy when it comes to loot? I fail to see how this change benefits anyone other then maybe rouges and hybrids who will see the greatest benefits from this change as there will not be much competition for leather and the sp changes seem to benifit hybrids mostly.

What are your thoughts?

Verfallen · August 19, 2008, 01:41 PM

If you are concerned with competing for drops, I'm not sure thats a necessary issue. The gear may fit more classes/specs, but there will also be more instances of those TYPES of items.

For example, in BC or vanilla WoW there maybe two mail items in an instance, one with agility (for hunters) and one with strength (for shaman). In Wrath of the Lich King, I believe there will instead now, be two mail items both with agility (shaman itemization has been changed for AGI instead of STR).

Mages/Warlocks/Spriests all roll on nearly the same gear as it is right now. With the changes holy priests will also be rolling on this gear. But instead of there being 1 healing gear and 1 damage gear, there will be 2 spellpower items.

MorbidMike · August 19, 2008, 02:02 PM

I just hope this won't influence the huge amounts of Stamina on our Warlock gear... if we all get the same gear we will only get as much Stamina as a Mage and that would be like wtf?

And we need better looking stuff than they get. :P

Verfallen · August 19, 2008, 02:06 PM

There will still be 'flavors' of gear. Higher spirit(for priests), higher stam(for locks), less crit(for affliction), more crit(for destro) etc.

omega_unit · August 19, 2008, 02:12 PM

Anyone who played Diablo 2 for any length (like me) isn't playing WoW for the itemisation anyway. My nan could optimise gear in WoW (which was probably their aim, fair enough).

As for homogenisation of style. I wear FSW and ride past clones all day long anyway.

Both of these things are 'bad things about WoW' that they have chosen to amplify somewhat instead of fix. But hey, one mans bad is another's good and there are millions of us I suppose.

It annoys me far less then the prospect of being forced to use dots, demons, or mage-fire. I did it for 70 levels what more do they want? I just want to hurl evil shadowy death at stuff; they could just ban me if they don't want me to play why go to these lengths :P

*Shuts up before wandering too far off-topic*

Coud · August 19, 2008, 08:34 PM

there's a simliar debate going on in this thread

Spirit and upgrading lock gear in WotLK - Page 3 - The Warlocks Den Forums

so I won't repeat what i've said...

just reply to point #2... regardless of what raiding level you're at now... there's no individual looks left....

T4 => most are in FSW
T5 => badge gear / ZA items are the norm
T6 => your T6 mixed with gear from the lower tiers.

my warlock doesn't look any different to the other warlocks i raid with that stands 10feet away from me. the only difference is hairstyle sex and race

Necros666 · August 19, 2008, 10:49 PM

AHHHH bad i dea if you ask me i wanted to roll a death knight and was wondering what kind of awesome looking gear the evil necromatic death knight would get i hope if this is true they change it fast i agree sounds like blizz is just getting lazy now we have to deal with sets that won't match or have to share looks with some warrior or if your playing your lock shareing looks with a mage or preist do ANY of THAT sound good no!

Nosforat · August 20, 2008, 10:43 AM

It was one thing to have other locks look just like you. But now priests and mages also. Thats a step backwards if you ask me. Its a change I really don't like.

I hope as mentioned a few posts up that there will still be some differences in the stats per piece such as some have more spirt and stamina. But if spell power is the new end all stat for casters well them i'm betting all casters will be rolling on a piece as long as it give more sp then what they have currently.

Fail to see how this is an improvement.

RomaGoth · August 20, 2008, 10:59 AM

I have already ranted in other threads about the direction that Blizzard is going in numerous areas (RAF, level 55 DK starting), so the gear is no different. I am wondering where the innovation is coming from at this point, when it appears that everything the devs are doing is really just dumbing down the game even more. Mages, Priests, and Warlocks all looking the same now? Yippee. How exciting that not only will I look like other warlocks, but now I can look like the mages and priests as well. I also don't like the increased importance of spirit. This will come at a cost, but what will that cost be? Less stamina? Then you have the destro tree going even more fire heavy. We are being turned into fire mages and shadow priests and I am not sure how many of us even realize it. Well, I do and I am not happy about it. Every run through an instance will be a competition for who gets the + spirit/+ sp gear.

It is really too bad the direction that Blizz is taking WoW. They are making some serious mistakes with some of these changes imo.

Necronomis · August 20, 2008, 11:31 AM

Gear really only matters in end-game where you will use Tiered items that are specifically matched to your class.

I don't think it's a good or bad thing. On one hand you might lose a roll to a healer, but the other hand that same piece of gear will drop a lot more often so no big deal.

August 19, 2008, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nosforat Lurker	homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea? It seems the general player base is fine with the changes coming to gear in Wrath of the Lich King and how now the gear that drops can be used by multiple classes. However A few things bother me a great deal regarding this change. For one now there will be more competition for a piece that drops there then was before as different classes will all be rolling on it. I understand the idea behind making gear that drops usable by more then one class and how some say it will increase your chances to get gear but I don't agree. I think it will be be same or even less. 2nd, does this mean that warlocks, mages and priests will all look the same? If so this is horrible. Does this not bother anyone else? Perhaps I'm wrong on this one as I am not in the beta. Can someone in the beta confirm that the gear looks the same across all classes? 3rd. Take my two points above and don't you get the idea that the developers have gotten lazy when it comes to loot? I fail to see how this change benefits anyone other then maybe rouges and hybrids who will see the greatest benefits from this change as there will not be much competition for leather and the sp changes seem to benifit hybrids mostly. What are your thoughts?

August 19, 2008, 01:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Verfallen Registered	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id If you are concerned with competing for drops, I'm not sure thats a necessary issue. The gear may fit more classes/specs, but there will also be more instances of those TYPES of items. For example, in BC or vanilla WoW there maybe two mail items in an instance, one with agility (for hunters) and one with strength (for shaman). In Wrath of the Lich King, I believe there will instead now, be two mail items both with agility (shaman itemization has been changed for AGI instead of STR). Mages/Warlocks/Spriests all roll on nearly the same gear as it is right now. With the changes holy priests will also be rolling on this gear. But instead of there being 1 healing gear and 1 damage gear, there will be 2 spellpower items.

August 19, 2008, 02:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
MorbidMike Member Character Info Morbidmike 80 Undead Warlock Spinebreaker Euro PvP Guild: Ashkandi Talent Spec: 0/41/30	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id I just hope this won't influence the huge amounts of Stamina on our Warlock gear... if we all get the same gear we will only get as much Stamina as a Mage and that would be like wtf? And we need better looking stuff than they get. :P

August 19, 2008, 02:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Verfallen Registered	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id There will still be 'flavors' of gear. Higher spirit(for priests), higher stam(for locks), less crit(for affliction), more crit(for destro) etc.

August 19, 2008, 02:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
omega_unit Registered Character Info Aberron 70 Undead Warlock Outland Euro PvP Guild: Olympian Spirit Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/21/40	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id Anyone who played Diablo 2 for any length (like me) isn't playing WoW for the itemisation anyway. My nan could optimise gear in WoW (which was probably their aim, fair enough). As for homogenisation of style. I wear FSW and ride past clones all day long anyway. Both of these things are 'bad things about WoW' that they have chosen to amplify somewhat instead of fix. But hey, one mans bad is another's good and there are millions of us I suppose. It annoys me far less then the prospect of being forced to use dots, demons, or mage-fire. I did it for 70 levels what more do they want? I just want to hurl evil shadowy death at stuff; they could just ban me if they don't want me to play why go to these lengths :P Shuts up before wandering too far off-topic

August 19, 2008, 08:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Coud Member	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id there's a simliar debate going on in this thread Spirit and upgrading lock gear in WotLK - Page 3 - The Warlocks Den Forums so I won't repeat what i've said... just reply to point #2... regardless of what raiding level you're at now... there's no individual looks left.... T4 => most are in FSW T5 => badge gear / ZA items are the norm T6 => your T6 mixed with gear from the lower tiers. my warlock doesn't look any different to the other warlocks i raid with that stands 10feet away from me. the only difference is hairstyle sex and race

August 19, 2008, 10:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Necros666 Lurker Character Info Necros 30 Blood Elf Warlock Madoran US PvE Guild: Rooster teeth Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/21/0	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id AHHHH bad i dea if you ask me i wanted to roll a death knight and was wondering what kind of awesome looking gear the evil necromatic death knight would get i hope if this is true they change it fast i agree sounds like blizz is just getting lazy now we have to deal with sets that won't match or have to share looks with some warrior or if your playing your lock shareing looks with a mage or preist do ANY of THAT sound good no!

August 20, 2008, 10:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
Nosforat Lurker	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id It was one thing to have other locks look just like you. But now priests and mages also. Thats a step backwards if you ask me. Its a change I really don't like. I hope as mentioned a few posts up that there will still be some differences in the stats per piece such as some have more spirt and stamina. But if spell power is the new end all stat for casters well them i'm betting all casters will be rolling on a piece as long as it give more sp then what they have currently. Fail to see how this is an improvement.

August 20, 2008, 10:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
RomaGoth Lock of All Trades Character Info RomaGoth 70 Human Warlock Durotan US PvE Guild: Ultima Forsan Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/8/53	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id I have already ranted in other threads about the direction that Blizzard is going in numerous areas (RAF, level 55 DK starting), so the gear is no different. I am wondering where the innovation is coming from at this point, when it appears that everything the devs are doing is really just dumbing down the game even more. Mages, Priests, and Warlocks all looking the same now? Yippee. How exciting that not only will I look like other warlocks, but now I can look like the mages and priests as well. I also don't like the increased importance of spirit. This will come at a cost, but what will that cost be? Less stamina? Then you have the destro tree going even more fire heavy. We are being turned into fire mages and shadow priests and I am not sure how many of us even realize it. Well, I do and I am not happy about it. Every run through an instance will be a competition for who gets the + spirit/+ sp gear. It is really too bad the direction that Blizz is taking WoW. They are making some serious mistakes with some of these changes imo.

August 20, 2008, 11:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
Necronomis Member Character Info Necronomis 70 Undead Warlock Ysera US PvE Guild: Teamsters Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/21/40	Re: homogenization of gear.. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad id Gear really only matters in end-game where you will use Tiered items that are specifically matched to your class. I don't think it's a good or bad thing. On one hand you might lose a roll to a healer, but the other hand that same piece of gear will drop a lot more often so no big deal.