A couple of reports back, we told you about the changes in the Elixir mechanics together with the changes in the raid dungeons. Today in the World of Warcraft forums, we found the alchemists in an uproar in answer to Blizzard blue Nethaera's announcement.

In a longish announcement, she said that how elixirs work will be changed in an upcoming patch. With the coming change, players will only be able to carry two types of elixirs - one offensive and one defensive. All the elixir types will be categorized into two and the elixir effects will stack with class buffs. The reasons for the Alchemy change?

First, the use of consumables in the raids have been an major issue especially since they seem to be essential to a raid's success. The strain of demand (both for the elixirs themselves and the materials needed to make them) on the guild alchemists were put into consideration. Also with regards to tuning raids, it allows them (the devs) to "design and balance encounters around it, keeping the difficulty in line with a clearer limitation of what each group member has at their disposal."

The changes will include the elixir effects stacking with class buffs like Arcane Intellect and they will be "introducing new recipes" that were not used in the past since their effects didn't stack with the class buffs. She also explained that they were cautious with adding new recipes as they would result "in a potential power increase for every member of a raid or group" and since the limit will be imposed, the release of new elixirs recipes wouldn't really have that much of an impact.

Flasks, on the other hand, will be able to take up "both the offensive and defensive elixir slots". So players will be limited to one flask in the new system. Potions will not be changed in the new system - which probably explains why the alchemists are asking to have a one time change in specialization.

In addition to this, Nethaera adds, "This change to elixirs and flasks also allows us to improve and expand the alchemy profession in new ways, and removes the need to design and balance encounters around the potential use of all possible elixirs." Also with regards to tuning raids, it allows them to "design and balance encounters around it, keeping the difficulty in line with a clearer limitation of what each group member has at their disposal."

It seems that the alchemists with the Mastery of Elixirs would be the most hard hit by the new mechanic. We can understand their pain as they really can't change mastery from Elixirs to say, Transmutation or Potions instead. Unless they drop Alchemy completely and start over. This change is expected to coincide with the dungeon and items re-tuning.

Hmm... Wonder when those new patchnotes are coming up. We're sure everyone will want to test this upcoming patch. And we're pretty sure there will be some great wailing, gnashing of teeth and infernal rain. Stay tuned for more World of Warcraft updates.