the changes being made to Ashenvale in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm as the Warsong Outriders and the Silverwing Sentinels continue to vie for domination of the region. Quest designers Eric Maloof and Steve Burke sat down with us to discuss what it’s been like iterating on a familiar yet evolving Kalimdor territory.

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This addon will add a section to Titan that shows WorldDefense attack info. If there has been an attack in the last 40 seconds the bar will show the area and number of attacks seen there. The tooltip gives details on areas attacked, number of attacks seen, and time of the last attack. You can view attack by most recent or most frequent, by subzone or main zone (Crossroads = subzone, The Barrens = Main zone)

Local attacks are marked as such. Note that the mod does not know what zones all the subzones are in. It will monitor LocalDef and all zone changes and save any new zones to your savedvariables. I ask you post new zone data here if you have it.

This mod will autojoin WorldDef and LocalDef. You can turn off the chat window option to show WorldDef and LocalDef if you wish (I do it myself), but nonetheless you still need to be in the channels.

Features

• Adds a button to Titan that shows WorldDefense attack info. If there has been an attack within the last 40 seconds the bar will show the area and number of attacks seen there.
• Eliminates ‘zone is under attack!’ spam in chat.
• Tooltip gives details on areas attacked, number of attacks seen and time since the last attack.
• You can view attacks by most recent or most frequent, by subzone or zone (Crossroads = subzone, The Barrens = zone)
• Local attacks are marked as such. Note that the mod does not know all zone subzones. It will monitor LocalDef and all zone changes and save any new zones to your SavedVariables. Please see How You Can Help below.
• Will autojoin WorldDef and LocalDef. You can turn off the chat window option to show WorldDef and LocalDef if you wish (I do it myself), but nonetheless you still need to be in the channels. All output can be suppressed and is so by default.

Install Instructions:

Download TitanDefense-3.0.7.30200 WoW Addon . Click on a file link to start the zip file download. You would “open” the downloaded file or you can double click zip files to open them on Windows.

You unzip the downloaded zip file to the Game’s Interface\Addons folder and you are done.

Look at the shortcut (right click the Warcraft icon and select properties) you use to start Warcraft to get the path to where the game is installed.

Typical locations for the AddOns folder:

Windows XP: “C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Interface\AddOns”
Windows Vista: “C:\Users\Public\Games\World of Warcraft\Interface\AddOns”
Mac: “Machintosh HD/Applications/World of Warcraft/Interface/AddOns”

Warcraft only finds addons when it starts. Close Warcraft before you install an addon.

Warriors have the choice of three talent trees: Arms, Fury, and Protection.

Arms is known for Mortal Strike and Bladestorm which makes it popular for PvP, along with Juggernaut, which allows you to use charge while in combat.

Fury is known for Titan’s Grip and has higher sustainable single target damage than Arms, making it popular for PvE DPS, as well as PVP.

Protection is the tanking tree. The introduction of Shockwave as part of WotLK has increased a Warrior’s ability to simultaneously tank multiple targets and, combined with Warbringer, removed the “PVE-only” tag from Protection tree.

Arms Warriors use one 2H weapon, whereas Fury Warriors dual-wield 1H or 2H weapons. Protection Warriors use one 1H weapon and a shield.

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We’ve applied some finishing touches to the new cat and bear forms available to troll and worgen druids in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. We’re excited to share them with you today. Have a look .

WorldOfWarcraft.com News

The Goblin
This panel began by taking a close look at the two new playable races being introduced for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. The goblin race, available to the Horde, will be able to choose from all classes except paladin and druid. Goblins also have some very interesting racial abilities, including a rocket belt that allows players to activate one of two rocket abilities every two minutes. The first ability enables the player to jump up to 20 yards, while the other shoots rockets at an enemy player within 30 yards. Additionally, every 30 minutes the goblin can summon a pack hobgoblin, which will act as a personal servant granting bank access. Goblins also gain a bonus to their alchemy skill, and should a player decide to become an alchemist there will be an increased benefit from drinking health and mana potions. Additional passive goblin racials include a permanent 1% increase to attack and casting speed, and because of their knack for mercantile affairs, goblins will always receive the best possible gold discount regardless of reputation.

The Worgen
The worgen, our new Alliance race — has both a true form and a human form. The true form is purely cosmetic, and provides no combat bonus. A player may remain in either form when out of combat, but are automatically placed in their true form upon entering combat. Worgens have a racial ability called Darkflight, which allows the worgen to temporarily increase their movement speed by 70%, and can be used every three minutes. This activated ability, like entering combat, will also force the worgen into its true form. Other worgen racials include a passive 1% increase to all damage, reduced duration from the effects of curses and disease, and a bonus to skinning, as well as the ability to skin faster. Worgen will have access to all classes except paladin and shaman.

New Class/Race Combos
We’ve also opened up additional class/race options for existing playable races. New Horde options include troll druid, undead hunter, orc mage, tauren paladin, tauren priest, and blood elf warrior. New Alliance options include human hunter, dwarf mage, night elf mage, gnome priest, and dwarf shaman.

Warlocks
The soul shard system is receiving a massive revamp, and will now become a core feature of the warlock class. Soul shards will no longer act as an inventory item, but rather exist as a resource, and appear below the warlock’s health and mana bar. A new spell, Soul Burn, will be the only warlock ability to cost a soul shard, and will empower most of your other spells to behave differently. For instance, when combined with Fear it causes the spell to become instant. Other examples include: guaranteeing your Searing Pain spell three critical hits, increased horror effect and additional healing from Death Coil, and instant summoning from your summon demon spell. Soul shards will regenerate quickly upon leaving combat, and you may also be able to use drain soul as a “soul shard evocation.”

Hunters
Also receiving a massive overall are hunters. The hunter’s need to rely upon mana is completely gone, and instead they will use focus. This means hunters will no longer care at all about Intellect, mana regen or Aspect of the Viper. Focus will regenerate continually, similar to how rogues or feral druids regenerate energy. For comparison, rogues regenerate approximately 10 energy per second, whereas hunters will regenerate 6 focus per second. However, Steady Shot can also be used to improve focus regen, and bring the rate at which hunters regenerate focus to 12 per second. The hunter will have a maximum of 100 focus, and shots might cost 30 or 60 focus, with fewer cooldowns on abilities. Another exciting and long-awaited change regards the ammunition system. Ammunition will become an equipable item, and will no longer be consumable. More details on that later!

Items
In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, there are plans to streamline the statistics found on items. We want to remove all unnecessary stats, make all existing stats understandable, and make all “core” stats more appealing. Here are some examples of such plans.

MP5: This will be removed from items and replaced with Spirit. All healers will be given a meditation-like ability.
Spell Power: Spell Power is being removed from items as well. Don’t panic, we’ll be improving Intellect so that it provides mana and Spell Power.
Attack Power: We’re removing Attack Power from items as well. Instead, we’re allowing Agility to provide the necessary Attack Power for leather and mail wearers. Strength will provide the appropriate amount of Attack Power for plate wearers. This means leather and mail items will no longer be desirable for plate wearers.
Defense: The Defense statistic is also being removed from items so that players no longer have to worry about juggling around “the cap.” Tanks will receive the necessary anti-crit from talents, like Survival of the Fittest.
Armor Penetration: This ability is too confusing and “mathy.” It is being replaced with Mastery, a stat that makes you better at what you do. More on that later!
Haste: Will also increase the rate at which you gain energy, runes, and focus. Retribution paladins and Enhancement shaman will have a talent that allows them to take advantage of this benefit.
Block: Block Value is being removed. Blocking will now always mitigate a percentage of damage.
Stamina: Players will notice more Stamina on gear as Defense, Spell Power, Attack Power and Armor Penetration are removed.

New Legendary Item
There will be a new legendary two-handed axe available for death knights and hunters in Icecrown Citadel.

Archaeology
Archaeology is the new secondary profession that will be joining the ranks of cooking, fishing, and first aid in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Archaeology allows the player to unlock new abilities and rewards by discovering ancient treasures throughout the world. Each archaeologist uses the profession to uncover clues hidden in the world around them, such as troll relics or map fragments, and decipher their meaning, enabling the clever archaeologist to manipulate pieces of the past, learning the location of a treasure cache or valuable artifact. Such artifacts are highly sought after by the Archaeology Society, and they pay in gold and items for their return. Those who have mastered archaeology can find Titan artifacts, earning special currency used to unlock character paths and allowing the player to further customize their character.

Reforging
Reforging affords tailors, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, engineers, and jewelcrafters the opportunity to customize any player’s gear, including their own. Specifically, they can reduce a single statistic on applicable items and convert the lost points into another stat not already on the item.

Be sure to check out the information from our other World of Warcraft panels.

Strand of the Ancients (originally called Sands of Ulduran, but sometimes spelled Sands of Alduran), is a battleground located off the southern coast of the Dragonblight. It may be synonymous with the Northern Islands, though this is speculation. It was introduced in Wrath of the Lich King. This battleground consists of 3 walls which have to be destroyed to continue, capture points and a graveyard after each wall. The overall goal is to be the faster team to break through the last wall and capture the relic inside.

• Style
  Base capture and defense played in alternating turns
• Location
  Dragonblight
• Level Brackets
  71-79, 80
• Maximum players per team
  15 Horde/15 Alliance
• Win Conditions
  Break through the defenses and capture the relic faster than the opposing faction

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Battlegrounds are instanced areas used for player versus player combat. Each classic battleground (Warsong Gulch, Arathi Basin and Alterac Valley) has two red instance entrance portals: one for the Alliance, and one for the Horde. Crossing these portals was originally one of the ways to enter the queue for their respective battlegrounds. Now, to enter the queue for any battleground, the player must seek out a Battlemaster, which can be found at the portal or in any capital city, or do so through the Player vs. Player tab. Once inside the instance, the two teams will engage in large-scale PvP, with various objectives determining the winner. Players will earn honor points making PvP rewards available.

If a character goes AFK, he/she will leave the battleground and gain the Deserter debuff. This prevents entry to another battleground for a 15 minute duration. You can report an inactive player by right clicking the player’s portrait and selecting “Report AFK”. When enough reports are registered, a 60 second debuff will begin to count down. Once the timer is up a new debuff will appear that will prevent the player from gaining any honor or marks while it is on. This debuff can be negated as soon as the player engages in PvP combat. This system is often abused, since a player can have good reasons for not participating in PVP, for example when he is defending.

The two initial Battleground areas, Alterac Valley and Warsong Gulch, went live June 7th, 2005. Arathi Basin was added to the list in Patch 1.7 on September 13th, 2005. A fourth battleground, named Eye of the Storm, was released with the Burning Crusade. A fifth battleground, the Strand of the Ancients, was added in Wrath of the Lich King. The sixth battleground, the Isle of Conquest, was added in Patch 3.2 on August 4th, 2009.

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Alterac Valley is a battleground in the continuing war between the Horde and the Alliance. The two opposing sides are the Frostwolf Clan (led by General Drek’Thar) and the Stormpike Guard (also known as the Stormpike Expedition, led by General Vanndar Stormpike), both of whom lay claim to this secluded territory. Alongside the Generals are their two Captains, Captain Galvangar and Captain Balinda Stonehearth, respectively. Aside from Lake Wintergrasp, Alterac Valley is generally considered to be the battleground that delivers the most Honor points per battle. You can queue for Alterac Valley(AV) from level 51.

• Style: Destroy the enemy NPC general or reduce the enemy reinforcements to 0
• Location: Eastern Kingdoms (Alterac/Hillsbrad Foothills)
• Limits: Level 51-80 players (level range breakup: 51-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80)
• Maximum players per team: 40 Horde/40 Alliance
• Minimum players per team: 10 Horde/10 Alliance
• Win Conditions: Kill the enemy’s General or Reduce enemy Reinforcements to 0

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Dungeon Finder is the Looking for Dungeon system Blizzard has introduced in patch 3.3.0. It is only used for 5-man dungeons, not raids or groups in general for high-level quests. The Dungeon Finder selects players to form a party from all servers in the battlegroup, so there need not be a full group of players on one specific realm.

The first screen players see shows the role selection toggles and the type of dungeon desired. By default, the selection is for a random dungeon. This can be changed via the Type dropdown to such options as Random Lich King Heroic, Random Burning Crusade Dungeon, or Random Classic Dungeon. Running a random dungeon confers additional rewards in the form of emblems and gold.

Note that it is not possible to queue for dungeons outside of the player’s level bracket or expansion level; e.g. level 80 players cannot queue for classic or Burning Crusade dungeons.

Selecting a specific dungeon or dungeons can be accomplished by choosing the very first option in the Type dropdown. The UI changes to show a list of dungeons, all of which are selected. To narrow the list, click the checkbox next to the category line to select/deselect all dungeons in that category. Players can also collapse categories of dungeons by clicking the +/- box just to the left of the category checkbox.

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A tank has to do three things to be an effective member of a team. First and foremost, they must generate more threat than the healer on all targets. (Threat is the numerical value which is used to establish priority on the aggro table. The character at the top of the aggro table will be the focus of a mob’s attention.) The healer will generate threat on all enemies when they heal the tank, and it’s the tank’s responsibility to keep the enemies off the healer by staying ahead of them on threat. Second, they must survive. Survival is (at minimum) a two-person job; both the tank and the healer are responsible for survival. For the tank, survival comes either by avoiding hits, reducing the severity of incoming damage, or establishing a vast pool of hit points (thereby increasing their longevity in battle). Survival and out-threating the healer partially go hand-in-hand – with better mitigation the tank will require less healing, which means less threat for the healer. A tank’s third responsibility is generating extra threat on the primary target to allow the damage dealers to kill it effectively. Note that it is not the tank’s job to generate more threat than the damage dealers, it is their job to stay below the tank’s threat.

The first two of these are the most important as if they fail at them then the tank or the healer will die and the group will wipe very shortly after. The third is also important in the long run, as if the damage dealers have to hold back then the enemies will die too slowly and the healer will run out of mana.

Another issue that many DK tanks have is the desicion to dual wield tanking swords or use a DPS 2-Handed Weapon. Originally, before patch 3.3 the only real DK tanking enchant available to runeforging was Rune of The Stoneskin Gargoyle, which enchanted 2-handers, making 2H the DK tanking weapons. However, with Patch 3.3, Rune of the Nerubian Carapace was added, giving a near equivalent enchant to 2 1-handers. Essentially, either works, but when dealing with hit-miss ratios and threat building, it is recommended to use a 2 hander.

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