Now that patch 2.2 is live on the World of Warcraft realms, you're probably one of many curious as to what's coming next for 2.3. Fortunately, Blizzard community managers have been updating what should make the cut for version 2.3 day in and day out, leaving an almost constantly updated (and growing) changelist for the next patch.

Aside from the Zul'Aman 10-man raid dungeon and numerous character fixes, players are anticipating tons of changes to class talent mechanics and class equipment, as World of Warcraft's third year rolls on. There's a number of changes listed beyond this point, so be forewarned that you could get lost in the wall that follows:

General

• All Disarm immunity effects in the game were changed to 50% disarm duration reduction (non stacking).
• Auction's duration have been changed to 12, 24 or 48 hours. Also deposit prices for all duration will be the same.
• Auction House will now sort server side. If multiple pages exist you will be able to sort across all pages.
• You will now be able to ctrl-click a recipe to preview the item the recipe will create in the dressing room.
• Ogri'la Faction Vendor: This vendor now sells potions usable anywhere for a large number of Apexis Shards. 50 shards, as good as super mana/heal pots.
• New Flying Mount added. Requires 2,000g and Exalted with Cenarion Expedition. 280% Speed.
• Healing Reduction effects now affect all Drain spells and abilities (i.e. Mortal Strike vs Drain Life)
• Level 20-60 Quest EXP has been increased, while EXP to Level has been decreased.
  
• Guild Banks added to the game.
• New Arena Relics have been added for more talent specs, and existing Relics have been renamed to create a more consistent naming convention.
  
• 1/3rd of +Healing will count as +Dmg

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First off, we're letting the players know that World of Warcraft's Harvest Festival has recently kicked in. This event, lasting from September 24 to 27, will have players honoring their particular faction's fallen heroes: Uther Lightbringer, for the Alliance, and Grom Hellscream, for the Horde. Players interested in taking part in this event's corresponding quest journey either of these fallen heroes' tombs, where they will leave a tribute.

Completing this quest rewards players with four pieces of Harvest Bread - a consumable that heals your character's HP bar by 2% per second for 25 seconds. Pretty handy for your next dungeon dive. Come this year, however, it doesn't look like all of Azeroth's resident races will be able to partake of this festival. As platonic over at livejournal  explained, it seems that the Alliance's Draeneis are unable to complete the quest line, and hence couldn't enjoy its rewards.

The player ticketed GM Darondyn regarding the problem. The GM explained that since the Harvest festival quest was an "Old World" quest, it probably had issues working with WoW's new races. What this basically means is that aside from the Draenei being unable to pay tribute to Uther, the Horde's Blood Elves will be unable to do the same for Grom. This issue's already been forwarded to Blizzard, and should hopefully be addressed soon.

Of course, you can still partake of the other goodies the festival has to offer, such as the buffets being set up over at Orgrimmar (Horde) and Ironforge (Alliance). Aside from being able to toast a mug to your ancestor's spirit in the said areas, you can also pick the up the Harvest Boar, Harvest Fish, and Harvest Fruit, unique (20) items. These consumable have the same 2% heal effect the bread carries. Mages can also drink up the Harvest Nectar,which gives you a 2% mana regeneration per second for 30 seconds. On an off-topic note, this festival coincides with the upcoming patch 2.2.2. Eat, drink, and be merry - there is much to look forward to come you next maintenance!

Today's trip the World of Warcraft Forums has brought us an off topic discussion about lore and mounts. Eldrick from Black Dragonflight observed that the Draenei in one of the Warcraft books mentioned that they used Talbuk mounts and not Elekks.

By the way, Talbuks are mounts that can be bought from the Kurenai faction at exalted (Alliance) while Elekks are Draenei mounts. After some... er - discussion, Blizzard poster Bornakk dropped by the said thread and here's what he had to say:

If I remember right the Orcs also rode wolves in the book. Just because they are riding the wolves right now doesn't mean they don't have the skill to ride the talbuks.

The Draenei have traveled to many different worlds, the talbuks are probably just one of a number of creatures they have encountered that could be trustworthy mounts. The group known as the Kurenai who remained on what became the shattered world of Outland have retained access to the talbuks.

There's one explanation. Upon some research, we found that both Elekks and Talbuks are native to Draenor. What do you think? Would you rather have an Elekk or a Talbuk in the World of Warcraft?

There's an interesting thread over at the official forums for World of Warcraft regarding mounts. One player brought the topic up and asked whether Elekk War mounts will be available in the future.

Elekk, for those who are not aware, is a species of large elephant-like creatures that the Draenei usually use as mounts. Blizzard's forum moderator Bornakk was able to pick up the thread and revealed that Blizzard will be making the said mount as a PvP reward in a future patch.

The same will be done, the blue poster continued, to the Chocobo-like Hawkstrider. Bornakk further explained that the latter will not be available to Taurens:

For clarification, as Taurens can't use the in-game Hawkstriders, I would not expect them to be able to use the PvP version. This has not been finalized though and we will have to wait for the mount to be implemented for further details.

Blizzard has yet to name an exact date when the next patch for World of Warcraft will go live. Some of the features already announced to go live with it include voice chat as well as changes to some abilities and skills.

Suspension of disbelief, no more? Hyperbeam over at the World of Warcraft threads opened up an interesting post regarding the Caverns of Time Instance, specifically about an idea for an Old Felwood area instance. Felwood, prior to being corrupted by the Burning Legion (under the late Archimonde), was a patch of pristine forest that also served to be the first meeting between Illidan and Arthas.

What makes Hyperbeam's suggestion for the area instance is its claimed lack of "lorelol" - the colorful bits of content that makes parts of a story a little harder to swallow, even for the most stalwart of fans.

For the dudes in WoW, it means Blizzard's constant explanation of events in the CoT being caused partly by the Infinite Dragonflight. Another example from WoW's storyline is the Draenei's "spaceship" that crash-landed on Azeroth.

The instance's progression would have players taking on legions of demons as Arthas and Illidan duked it out, followed by the players helping a now-weakened Illidan defeat Tichondrius. In story canon, Illidan eliminates the said dread lord personally. This appears to be the bare-bones basic idea behind Hyperbeam's lorelol-free instance idea. Guys who'd like to check out the idea in full can drop over to the WoW forums (via the source elink)

  
 

Remember those DC Unlimited action figures of the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade displayed at the DC booth during the San Diego Comic Con? Well, they're finally being showcased on the Blizzard website. Alongside with the first set of the series, the entire line of action figures made by DC Unlimited seem like a pretty collection you'll definitely want to display on your personal trophy shelf.

Here's the entire list of collectible characters from the website:

DC UNLIMITED: World of Warcraft: Series 1

• BLOOD ELF ROGUE: VALEERA SANGUINAR Collector Figure
• DWARF WARRIOR: THARGAS ANVILMAR Collector Figure
• ILLIDAN STORMRAGE Deluxe Collector Figure
• ORC SHAMAN: REHGAR EARTHFURY Collector Figure
• UNDEAD WARLOCK: MERYL FELSTORM Collector Figure

DC UNLIMITED: World of Warcraft Series 2

• DRAENEI PALADIN: VINDICATOR MARRAD Deluxe Collector Figure
• GNOME WARRIOR: SPROCKET GYROSPRING Collector Figure
• HUMAN WARRIOR: ARCHILON SHADOWHEART Collector Figure
• NIGHT ELF DRUID: BROLL BEARMANTLE Collector Figure
• TROLL PRIEST: ZABRA HEXX Collector Figure

Check out their website if you feel like taking one of these babies home. Personally, I already have my eye out on the "hawt" Blood Elf Rogue.

Here's more World of Warcraft patch 2.2 updates coming your way. As expected, the current patch on the Public Test Realm has brought about not only bug fixes and other changes, but aesthetic ones as well. Phosphorus from the World of Warcraft Forums noticed that Draenei shoulders look "a lot smaller and ridiculous."

Blizzard QA Hortus was quick to reply that the change was intended as "Male Draenei shoulders were larger than intended before." If you can tell from the images above, the change is actually slight. Players expressed mixed reactions to the change. Some were thankful, while others thought that the change was... well, ridiculous.

(This writer can't help but think the same thing, what's with the shoulder changes anyway?) We'll see what other changes will come with the WoW patch 2.2. In the meantime, check out the images above, courtesy of Bloodocean.

 

World of Warcraft has been more than just leisure for some, after Blizzard Entertainment's massively multiplayer (and successful) online RPG launched just a few years ago. Some gameplay styles of classic RPG-goers never grow old, and if you're one of those who loves to create an elaborate avatar collection, the news of a new hero class probably tripped an alarm inside your head.

But don't worry, you're not alone. Plenty of other folk have been wondering if the new hero class will need one of your precious (and possibly occupied) character slots. Waxxy community manager Nethaera graced the forum thread of curious Solvair of Hyjal and had this to say about the issue:

The new hero class will take a character slot. We have no plans to add more character slots. So, much like with the addition of Draenei and Blood Elves, my suggestion would be strategic deletion if you want to add the new Death Knight to your repertoire.

Blizzard did not wish that players' most prized characters be "given up" just to play a new hero class, but it appears this approach might change that view altogether. What if all your characters were equally prized; which one will you choose? Ponderous decision, indeed.

Want to have The World of Warcraft Diorama #1 unveiled at Comic-Con 2007? Well, you're in luck because collectible figures manufacturer SideShow Collectibles has just started taking pre-orders for the said item. In case you missed our coverage on this, note that it's a sculpture of a Blood Elf female going up against a Draenei Paladin.

The diorama will cost US$ 299 and is expected to ship during Q2 2008. This 20-pound work of art is made out of high quality polystone and each one has been hand-casted as well as hand-painted to match Blizzard's standards for World of Warcraft. Diorama #1 was sculpted in approximately 1:9 scale.

Those who are planning to pre-order the item from SideShow Collectibles will also get the exclusive accessory Netherwelp for free. According to the company, this is a celebration of the non-combat pet released in-game with the Collector's Edition of The Burning Crusade.

Our Read link below should take to the SideShow's product page where you can purchase the item now. Note that the company maintains a quantity limit per person, household, credit card, and billing address so technically, you can just order one.

You've seen the first batch of DC Unlimited action figures for the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, right? Well, if you were impressed with the (hawt) Blood Elf and the others, you might want to take a look at what's to come next year.

At the San Diego Comic Con 2007, IGN was able to take a number of pics of the action figures from the DC booth. Amidst the mini-statues of DC heroes and villains were figures of Azerothian and Outlandian denizens. We see a Mechanostrider-riding Gnome warrior (Sprocket Gyrospring), a Troll priest (Zabra Hexx), a night elf who has a striking resemblance to Malfurion Stormrage (Broll Bearmantle), a Human warrior wearing Dreadnaught Battlegear (Archilon Shadowheart), and a Draenei paladin (Vindicator Maraad).

Anyway, one of the pictures showed a date - February 28 - quite possibly the release date for the said figures. We'll keep you posted, in the meantime, feel free to gawk at the images.

More drool-inducing images after the jump!