Patch 4.0.1 on test realms

[Benggal]

If you want to find out how you'll have to adapt to your class once Cata hits, you can copy your char over to the Test Realm and try out the changes.  This is basically the patch that will hit live before Cata comes out.  Haven't had a chance to check out the Hunter changes yet, but I plan on doing it today.

Locks and especially Paladins should do the same.

[hiih]

OK. I have never done that before.

So can you tell me where to go, and what to do, to try it out? (and Zan keep it clean).

Thanks.

[Benggal]

Go to http://www.worldofwarcraft.com and click on the link in the list that says Public Test Realm.

Follow the instructions there and you're in.

Of course the instructions include downloading and installing the PTR client, which is over 15gb, so start that up, then while you're waiting for that to download/install you can go back to the Public Test Realm site and follow the instructions to have a couple characters copied over to the PTR.  It says that the average waiting time on that is 4 days, but I doubt that sincerely.  I've never had it take more than a day.  It's probably just saying that because it's a weekend and there's nobody there to do it.

Once the client is done installing and your character is copied over (it'll show up on the character select screen once it has) you can log in on them and feel like a total noob again as you relearn your class.

[Zanzier]

Keep it clean? Hiih, I'm wounded by that.  :P

I did all that this morning just to take a gander. Of Course, checked back a few hours later and my toon still isn't copied, yet. Oh well.

I did manage to start a toon to see what the newbie scene would be like. LOTS of extra help that really just gets in the way. Tried turning them off in settings, but there's still some I couldn't get rid of.  One intresting thing is that now, when you go to your class abilites, it tells you at which level you gain them at. That's a tad useful when starting a class you're not totally familiar with. Blizzard is REALLY trying to put as many features in that the most popular addons do.

Still waiting to see how different I'm going to have to set up Zanz as far as spells, rotation, talent spec, and general chants/gem replacement.

[hiih]

Thanks for the help.

Installing the Test realm now. Unfortunately the Character Copy que is full, so waiting for that to clear so I can copy over Shaddam.

[Ultimus]

Its been predicted that Cat will be a November release... 

4.01 on the test servers illustrates that possibility (although expansion have been delayed before: TBC)..



Will set up to test it ;).. thanks for the heads up

[Benggal]

I check in with MMO-Champions daily to see what's new.  I've been steering clear of some of the major spoilers for Cata, but I was too curious about the opening play of goblins and worgens to keep from spoiling some things for myself.

I only got to fiddle around with Benggaul on the PTR for a few minutes before they went down today, but I am DEFINITELY going to have to relearn my class.  I may even start a new hunter just to get a feel for it from the ground up. 

My biggest concern is whether or not I'll be taking a big dip in DPS once this hits.  I used to be top of the charts all the time, but with crit being nerfed a bit in Cata (yes, heads up on that as well...your crit% will likely be fairly low once you start leveling again) and hunters getting a completely new resource system, I'm scared of how bad I'll suck.

[Zanzier]

I was in the PTR server this morning when it went down too.  All talents have been  reset and the new trees are up.  Looks like I'll be surfing the net for info on what the best choices/rotations are by people who thrive on number-crunching.

As far as Hit/Crit/etc......we all know that once we have to start leveling again, the bars for caps and standard percentages will be raised with each new level. Sort of makes me thankful that Zanz is well above hit cap (not by choice) so that can be left on the back-burner for now.

At this point, trade chat on the PTR has been chatter with health going way up and dps being lower than expected. I'm sure Blizz will be recalibrating the formulas to correct this in the coming weeks.


other:
I have been worried that if the changes are too dramatic that they change the game play too much, I might not be able to enjoy it as I have been. Case and point with EQ. When it changed too much, too fast (expansions every 6 months), I dropped out. When I saw what EQ2 was like, when it came out, it held no intrest for me. I'll give the new system a shot, but if it doesn't meet/beat my expectations, I might not be around to see it flurish. Just my 2cp worth.

[Kaelianna]

I agree with you Zanz.  I am getting my computer set to copy Kael to the test realm to check it out.  But if the changes seem to get too complicated, dramatic, mundane, etc. then I too will probably quit playing. 

Thats why I left Ultima Online.  Maybe Nek, Slim and  a few others have the right idea by getting away for long period of time so it feels new again.

[Benggal]

Everyone will really have to re-examine their gear once it goes live, at any point, since some stats are being changed or are disappearing entirely.  Also certain gems are being transformed into others (ArP is going away, so ArP gems are being changed into crit gems if you have them socketed, for example) so I think the first couple of weeks will be a flurry of shifting, experimenting and readjusting anyway (JC'ers and inscribers will probably make a fortune).

It will all take a lot of getting used to, but I don't think it's being changed too dramatically, overall.  I think that the majority will be able to enjoy it, at least.  There has been a very positive reception in the beta from the changes, overall, from the standpoint of all the classes. 

I won't blame those of you who feel the need to move on as long as you give it a decent chance to grow on you.  I'll probably be with WoW for a long time to come regardless, even if it means I have to scrimp on food to pay for two subscriptions at once (when SWTOR comes out).

[Kaelianna]

I would definately give it time.  I may not be as addicted as I once was, but I still get times that sitting at the computer mindlessly mashing buttons is the only thing I want to be doing.  =P

[hiih]

Transferred my character this morning, and now 3 hours later he still does not show up on the server.

Any clue if I should patiently wait, or maybe I messed up?

[Benggal]

Patiently wait.  Mine wasn't on the server until the next day.  Right now there's a massive queue of people trying to get on to check it out, and this is the first workday for them after the weekend.

[Zanzier]

For Zanz to get transferred took roughly 20-24 hours from the time I submitted it.

[Kaelianna]

They now say the wait time is as much as 3 days to even apply to copy a character.