Mana Cost

WTF?

 

This is not a bug.

 

In the latest WotLK beta push, we made a large change to the mana cost of spells. All player spells now cost a percentage of base mana rather than a fixed cost. Base mana is a special value determined by the player’s level and class, regardless of any effects or items that increase intellect. It is the size of a player’s mana pool if the player has zero intellect.

 

This change was made primarily to prevent downranking, as it's a technique that was never quite intended. Rather than continue to find ways to penalize players for casting low-rank spells, we decided to essentially make doing so obsolete. If rank 5 and rank 6 of a spell cost the same amount of mana, but rank 6 does more damage/healing, then there is no reason to consider casting rank 5.

 

So, each spell line (eg. Frostbolt, Shadowbolt, Greater Heal, Rejuvenation, etc.) has a fixed percentage of base mana that it costs for most of its ranks. That means each time a player gains a level the cost will go up some. The percentages were picked to attempt to keep the costs relatively similar to what they are currently in World of Warcraft. For most spells, that percentage will drop some when the player receives their highest-rank spell in existing Burning Crusade content. This was done to better fit the existing cost curve, and to keep the mana cost for level 70 players as close as possible to existing costs. Level 70 characters will see most of their maximum rank spells change in cost slightly up or down, but not by significant amounts.

 

We anticipate there being some balance concerns due to this change, and our development staff will be ready to implement new spells, abilities, or talents to resolve those issues as the testing process continues.

this sounds stupid as hell

Meh. It's a percentage of base mana so it won't be a huge deal. Like if you have 5000 mana totally naked and the rate is 6% your spell will be 300 mana no matter how much Int you stack on top of it. Unless I am reading it wrong or misunderstanding what the objection is.

its to eliminate the "are you downranking?" question that happens after a wipe when the priest goes OOM. so now healers cant be blamed for not being mana efficient, its everyone elses fault!

That's lame. If they don't want you using lower ranking heals, why do they let you have them in your spellbook when you gain a new rank?

Meh... Can't downrank as a Feral Druid anyway.

srsly i just got dire bear form and i cant even use regular bear form!

Hahahaha

What is this "feral druid" you speak of? Ew.

By the looks of alot of the new abilities, mana won't really be an issue. Seems like pretty much every mana using class is getting improvements in that regard, so maybe down ranking won't be needed for saving mana.

 

I always like the idea of down ranking personally, those who used it correctly , usually showed more ability at healing ( for healers) they adjusted their spells as the fight went on.

What is this "feral druid" you speak of? Ew.

 

Me when WotLK hits... If I play.

Hate this change. Might as well go dps when we are given this limited mana to actually heal raid.

 

You probably won't notice a difference Andrie.

Yeah the amounts are minor, its nothing you'd notice really =D

It proves a valid point though, why bother with previous ranks in a spell book if using them has NO benefit. Rogues/warriors/non mana users all get their old ranks replaced in the book.

OK trust you guys for now. If i cannot heal then i am playing dps class pew pew

 

Shadow Andrie as the backup and i believe every tanks will hate me.

Edited August 16, 2008 by Andrie

Andrie I think it's impossible for anyone to hate you =P

The hell I can't!