Blizzcon 2013: Part 6 - Itemization

Itemization

·         Many stats are being removed that no longer feel like bonuses: Hit, Expertise, Dodge, Parry. Avoidance should be cool mechanics, but not as a stat on items.

·         Reforging is also gone--there is too much modification required when you currently get an item. It sounded good on paper but drags down the excitement of getting a new item.

·         Armor itemization is greatly improved. Your gear changes primary stats and set bonuses based on your spec. There is no "strength plate" or "intellect plate"--simply plate that changes based on your role.

·         Secondary stats will remain unchanged when switching between specs, and accessories like amulets and rings may have more niche itemization, like armor for tanks or spirit for healers.

·         Fewer items can be enchanted, and the goal is to have enchants feel like a bonus instead of something mandatory.

·         Meta gems and socket bonuses are removed. Many fewer items will have sockets in Warlords of Draenor.

·         Tertiary stats are being added, such as Sturdiness (no durability loss), Movement Speed (will stack), Lifesteal (% of damage converted to health), Avoidance (Absorb % of AE damage), Cleave (Increased AE damage). These will not be on every piece of gear and will take a while to farm up a complete "set." These are also considered bonus stats and aren't part of an item's regular stat budget.

·         The item squish is coming, but this will not affect players' ability to solo old raids or make players feel weak. It will not reduce the current power of relative players--Siege of Orgrimmar will suddenly not feel impossible when the item squish goes in. The item squish is to simplify the combat log so abilities don't have tons of zeros.

Now this might be my favorite news of the entire expansion.  Itemization being dumbed down a whole fucking bunch!  I know I sound like a jerk when I say it like that, but I mean it!  This is very exciting.

No longer do you have to worry about wasting loot.  Drops aren’t wasted, someone can use it.  By removing requited tank and DPS stats you allow the player to focus on the item, more than the stuff on it.  Gearing will become easier because pretty much everyone will be able to find a use for the gear.  Gearing a Paladin, Shaman or Druid just got way easier. =D  Removing the “required” stats is great, too!  When I’m overflowing with Hit and have reforged all of my gear it isn’t fun to get a piece of gear that is an upgrade WITH EVEN MORE HIT ON IT.  That sucks.

Which leads to my next favorite part.  GOODBYE REFORGING.  Now instead of having to run to reforge a piece of gear before I can even put it to good use, I can use it.  Sure I’ll want to gem it (even though they said gems will be less common) and enchant it (even though they said enchants will be only available on certain gear slots) before I go, but I don’t have to play pick the right piece to reforge for the most benefit.  Trying to mull over an equation before putting on a piece of loot is not fun.  Ever.

The addition of the extra stats is very exciting in the sense that we actually get to USE the stats.  It’s fun to use them.  I just picked up a Cleave trinket and haven’t put it on yet, but the effect seems amazing.  I look forward to finding those items.  I hope they appear more often and aren’t as rare as they want to make it seem.  I’d love to get a set of Lifestealing gear and Evasion tank some dungeons for fun. =D