Drysc wrote:

No, it's about a third. So 1500 +heal would give about +500 +spell damage.

Drysc wrote:

Well to start we'll just let everyone know that the arena ratings required for the season 3 items will be 1850 for the weapons, and 2000 for shoulders. Now, most people have expected the weapon rating since we announced it at BlizzCon, and it's a bit lower than we had initially said, but the shoulders are obviously going to raise some questions. The shoulders for any set are commonly the most visually representative, they're the most visible at any distance, and as they allow a lot of space compared to say a leg or bracer item, we commonly take them and really create something visually impressive. We want that visually impressive item to represent what a player has achieved, and so the achievement of being a contender in the arena at a higher level will be visually distinguished. The shoulders are also average in the benefit they provide, as compared to a chest or leg item for example, and without them the set bonuses can still be completed.

This raises the question of a player finding a team that is of a skill level higher than their own, and simply buying the item with points they've gained at a lower rating. To restrict this we're implementing a personal rating system in patch 2.3. This is an additional arena rating that is unique to each character for each team they belong to. This rating rises and declines using the same formula as the arena team rating, but only in games that character participates in. You'll also be able to track this rating through the PvP interface. The personal rating will be used for purchasing items that require a specific rating, and also be used to determine eligibility for the end of season rewards. So, a player will have to achieve a specific rating, and not just get into a team to see the rewards that are meant to visually distinguish the high-rated players.

Eyonix wrote:

We're adding new relics to support all talent trees in patch 2.3 for Shaman, Paladins and Druids. In addition, (not that this will sweep you off your feet), most of the arena-system relics have been renamed so there is a more consistent naming convention.

Eyonix wrote:

We're adding something better, well, at least in my opinion. Those who completed the attunement process will have access to the title "Champion of the Naaru". Also, the plan is to hard-cap it at 70, meaning you can't go back at 80 and "cheese" the title.

Bornakk wrote:

Hmmm... we will make it so.

Bornakk wrote:

We want to whack the cooldown from 30 minutes down to 20 minutes.

Drysc wrote:

There are quite a few changes in 2.3 for all classes, even Hunters. They're not all nerfs even!

For example, Serpent Sting, Immolation Trap and Explosive Trap are going to gain additional damage based on ranged attack power. I think everyone enjoys scaling.

Drysc wrote:

Well it's not going to hit everything you want, but we are planning to change Wyvern Sting so that it will be instant cast.

Drysc wrote:

Arcane Shot (ranks 6+) will dispel 1 magic effect in addition to the normal damage.

Drysc wrote:

The only change I'm aware of for Evocation in 2.2 was so you're always guaranteed four full mana ticks, as it was possible to only get three if timed correctly (incorrectly?). It's always possible a fix may affect something else, but there was certainly no intended change. I'll look into a bit further.

It may not matter for much longer though as we're changing Evocation in 2.3 to instead restore 15% of your total mana every 2 seconds, instead of being a Spirit-based mana regen increase.

Drysc wrote:

It's called Ritual of Refreshment and will allow players to pick up their own stacks of food/water, similar to a Soulwell.

Drysc wrote:

Obliterated. Damage coefficient reduction removed from Improved Fireball/Frostbolt.

Drysc wrote:

It's been a while since I've asked, but I don't believe any sweeping Spirit based changes are planned for 2.3. I'll have to check. They're still planned, but I believe it's for a patch after 2.3.

Drysc wrote:

Well along with a few other Ret changes we're putting the benefits of Improved Seal of the Crusader right into the base spell, and the talent will instead give the benefit of Sanctified Crusader. That of course means Sanctified Crusader needs something else, and it's being renamed Sanctified Seals, which will increase your change to critically hit will all spells and melee by 1/2/3% and reduces the chance your Seals can be dispelled by 33/66/100%

Drysc wrote:

We're pretty much focused on Retribution with 2.3, but some more general changes are being made like lowering the mana cost for Exorcism, Holy Wrath, and Hammer of Wrath.

Another Ret change (just to keep the momentum going) will be an increase to the duration of Vengeance to 30 seconds.

Drysc wrote:

You're amazing, that's absolutely correct.

Drysc wrote:

Fear Ward will be available to all priests at level 20, but there are some changes in addition. Current plans are to reduce duration to 3 minutes, and increase the cooldown to 3 minutes.

To give the dwarves and draenei something else to even it out, they'll see a new ability called Chastise (also given at level 20) which will cause holy damage and incapacitate the target for 2 seconds.

Nethaera wrote:

For instance, Pain Suppression is getting changed a bit to have more utility beyond personal use. You'll be able to cast it on a friendly target and it will do a couple of things. First it's going to reduce the target's threat by 5%. and next it's going to reduce the damage that person takes by 40%. The cooldown is also going to be reduced to 2 minutes. The intent is to give it more utility while still making it viable for multiple targets. When you're trying to protect an AoEing mage in a raid, this could become a very useful tool.

Meditation is also going to geta bit of a bump up and it will increase to 10/20/30% mana regen as well.

Nethaera wrote:

On the survivability end, we're going to be having Power Word: Shield gain additional benefit from spell damage and healing bonuses. Base absorb values for ranks 10, 11 and 12 have been reduced though to go with that as a balancing factor for it. Unfortunately I don't have any concrete information on what the values will end up being right now.

Nethaera wrote:

In addition to what I didn't mention, Prayer of Healing, Circle of Healing and Holy Nova (healing effect) will gain additional benefit from damage and healing bonuses.

Circle of Healing is having a change to the base amount of healing though, and will be reduced but it will have the increase in the bonus it receives from bonus healing effects. So if you have more than 1338 healing, you'll see it heal for more. Less than that, you will see a reduction. Please keep in mind that these numbers could change on further testing but this is where we are as of right now for the patch.

Drysc wrote:

I'm not sure why the change may have been implemented and then removed, there could be any number of reasons. I don't think it's really an important question at the moment though as the change is still planned to go in.

In 2.3 Blind will no longer require a reagent. It will also be changed to a physical attack, will share the same diminish category as Cyclone, and diminish in PvE as well as PvP.

Kalgan wrote:

Technically it's still a ranged attack that is part of the nature spell school, it just isn't a poison anymore.

(edit) Scratch that, we've updated it to be a ranged physical attack (also no longer counts as a poison).

Drysc wrote:

I'm glad you asked, we actually have some changes coming in 2.3 for Deadly Throw. The speed at which it travels is being increased significantly, so it will reach your target much faster, and the snare duration is being increased slightly. One second longer if I remember correctly. It will, however, no longer have the ability to trigger Ruthlessness.

With that Ruthlessness mention I'll elaborate that we'll be changing it so that Ruthlessness will only affect melee finishing moves as a whole.

Drysc wrote:

Do you mean the amazing change to Shadowstep so that it can now be used at any time, not only while stealthed? In addition, after use of Shadowstep threat caused by the next Ambush, Garrote or Backstab will be reduced by 50%. The cooldown will however be increased to 40 seconds.

Also on the Subtlety front is a change to Dirty Deeds so that it will also be increasing damage of special attacks by 10/20% against targets that are below 35% health.

We're also taking a look at bumping up Hemorrhage a bit, but no details yet on what that may be.

Kalgan wrote:

It won't be able to activate Ruthlessness anymore though, no more chain deadly throws.

Kalgan wrote:

Fleet Footed will now be a 15% speed increase instead of 8%.

Eyonix wrote:

An example of one helpful adjustment surrounds shamanistic rage, which will also reduces all damage taken by 30% for the duration of the ability (30 seconds), in addition to its current effect. Spirit Weapons will also reduce melee threat by a total of 30% rather than 15%. More improvements should be expected as well.

Eyonix wrote:

There will be changes that benfefit the elemental and restoration shaman as well. And yes, more enchancement improvements are absolutely going into patch 2.3.

Eyonix wrote:

Yes, all shaman will be able to equip 2-handed axes and maces (proper training required of course), without having to spend a talent. In it's place, a seemingly solid replacement talent called elemental focus. Basically, what it offers is this -- after landing a melee critical strike, you'll enter a "focused state". The focused state will reduce the mana cost of your next shock spell by 60%.

Eyonix wrote:

You're welcome. No changes to those abilities, and while not the same, in patch 2.3 frost shock will no longer be subject to diminishing returns. This should prove useful.

Nethaera wrote:

The one thing I can give you for the next patch right now is that there is a change for Ritual of Souls which will significantly reduce the time to cast and complete it.

Bornakk wrote:

Yes, we do plan to reduce the chance for Mace Specialization to occur in patch 2.3, but it will provide 7 rage instead of 6.

Bornakk wrote:

We also plan to have healing reduction effects affect all drain spells and abilities. As the example that most people bring up, Mortal Strike will affect Drain Life.

Bornakk wrote:

While arms/fury warriors aren't meant to be as good as protection warriors at tanking, we do plan to make an additional to Tactical Mastery that may help them out. This talent will grant greatly increased threat from Mortal Strike and Bloodthirst when in Defensive Stance.

Bornakk wrote:

It may also simplify things a bit to when we make Devastate combine the effects of Sunder Armor into it's effect and be affected by all talents and items that affect Sunder Armor. We plan to make this happen in 2.3.

Bornakk wrote:

And for your dedication, flying mounts for engineers only will be available in patch 2.3. There will be normal and epic versions of this mount for you to parade around and show how proud you are to have passed all the exams and call yourself an engineer.

Bornakk wrote:

I also heard this rumor that some Gan'arg Analyzers in Blade's Edge Mountains stumbled upon plans of a new Field Repair Bot and are hoarding them for their own purposes. Anybody plan to investigate this in patch 2.3?

Drysc wrote:

Awesome, yeah it's good to see those going in and getting a good reaction. They're not huge, amazing, awesome changes, but they're those little fixes that just make playing that much more enjoyable and easy.

You might be pleased to learn about some fishing changes planned for 2.3 then too!

Fishermen, and Fisherladies, will be able to track fishing nodes, similar to herbalism and mining. The ability will be learned from a journal you can find in fished-up crates.

There will also be a couple new types of fish found near Karazhan and Zul'Aman, with associated cooking recipes, one of which is a mana-regenerative soup on-par with Purified Draenic Water, but with a well-fed buff to boot.