First 3.3 impressions

So, I came home yesterday from work, did my chores and sat down to my PC. Started the thing up and clicked the WoW launcher icon. Wee, patching has begun! After patching was complete I spent some time updating all my addons and then, finally, started the game. Gah EULA. Anyways, I spawned in Dalaran and it was obvious this is THE DAY. Shadowsong is quite populated server, but the streets of Dalaran were crowded for the first time. If this game had implemented body collision system, getting to bank from emblem quartermasters would be nearly impossible.

While idling in Dalaran and looking around, I poked one of my buddies on ICQ to query about the new instances… I was told he loved them and I am gonna enjoy them (knowing him for quite long I knew I should start to worry). Few guildies popped on and we made an arrangement for running normals and heroics later in the evening.

So, I decided to try out the thing I was looking for the most – the new LFG tool. I must say I am a bit disappointed by the “matching” system. Sure my gear might not be the best around, but being matched to 3 half-blue people who scored their Heroic Nexus achievements on that run? Besides this the system works nice – took about two minutes to get a group and a pop-up to teleport to instance. Most of the people were pulling 1.5-2K dps, tank was taking reasonable damage for a PuG. What surprised me was all four QQing about the new emblem change ruining their game. I didn’t quite get that and no, I am not convinced they were just hardcore raiders alts. Well, we finished it in reasonable time with no one dying and I collected my emblems and got ported back to Dalaran.

sidenote: The “DE greed” is great thing, even for greens – I don’t have to DE them manually to make room in inventory.

I spent quite some time browsing different tier models in Atlasloot, putting them on and I noticed that the regular 25M tier colouring is the best so I should really do some ICC10 hardmodes. The thing that struck me the most is that the tier chest actually has great cleavage. Like, totally awesome. And the moose helmet does not look that bad afterall.

The time came to venture into the new five men dungeon. We got our own tank, our own mage, our own hunter and me, our own shaman. For “LFG 1 dps for normal runs!” we got three replies, a DK, a shaman and a warrior (who whispered too late). Party vote brought the DK in and damn, the guy was pro. He actually asked us why are we clearing the trash.

We loaded in and started dying. Nah, not really, but our dear tank charged off to whack mobs and our mage got onto them too – I was in middle of thinking what totems are best to go with, absolutely unprepared, when I noticed the arcane missiles are flying the WRONG way. Our dear mage fried himself on the very first pull. We both agreed it was our mutual fault and we looked out for those mobs from that point on.

The first dungeon was interesting (yay for Reliquary redone). We went in without knowing a single thing about the instance. Not even boss count, nothing. We had to improvise our way through, intercept patrols and chainpull and although I realised serious healing is needed even on normal, not having tank I know and who is well-geared might’ve turned the evening into painful experience. We finished it with just the DK dying on RoS boss and run through the portal to next instance.

My first impression of the next instance was that we were spawned somewhere in Icecrown and not in instance. Then Jaina came and I realized we ARE in instance. Booooya! Fortunately we picked the right way through and freed the workers. Had some great fun with the guys dragging the plague carts (why not pull 4 of those  just for fun) and engaged the mini-boss. It was fun encounter nonetheless and the last few seconds when he spawned the mines I was running around with my jaw dropped down making incomprehensible sounds. For the giant boss, I have no idea what to do, but I healed through. Same for the wyrm as last boss. Collect loot, portal to next hc.

Fuck a duck. Isn’t that a Frostmourne there? It is. We lost the DK by now and PuGed a rogue. I accidentally talked to Jaina and the fun begun – waves swarming us and tank DCs. Well we ressed and decided to wait 10 minutes for the tank to come back, he was guildy afterall. He did not return and the rogue left. After another 20 minutes we decided to PuG a tank and a dps, we got them instantly and finished the instance. If you haven’t done these yet, go for it. Being chased by Lich King who sends waves of scourge at you, you have to fight for your life and protect the sissy human caster melting the icebergs was… epic. The ending though, however expected, came out cheap. But no more spoilers now.

All in all, I loved the new instance. Trash! Bosses! New fights! And I was actually using my mana bar!

Oh, I must say I like the new Elemental and Reincarnation cooldowns. And the Fire Nova is nice too. So far I am excited about the patch, can’t wait setting foot inside the Citadel itself or trying the new instances on heroic. I already altered my keyboard to the new heroics.

So, how do you feel about the new content so far? Let’s skip ICC in evaluation, because I think we need more time and more wings to have better view on it. But are you using LFG tool extensively? How do you like the new shaman changes in practice?

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