3.3 Patch - Release

[TeaLeaf]

From World of Raids

Patch 3.3 Build 10952 (PTR - Release)

So, this is the release candidate build for patch 3.3 (was expected to be), which means the patch should be going live next week on December 8th in North America and December 9th in Europe assuming there aren't last minute issues. The image really says it all; stay tuned for any other changes as I go through things.

[Tirkad]

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!
At least we cleared the normal content before starting the new one.

[Bellanie]

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!
At least we cleared the normal content before starting the new one.

good point:)

[Jim]

Cool, I'll set up a usual 10 man run on release day like I normaally do, depending if people want to hit it on the day that is

[Bellanie]

Cool, I'll set up a usual 10 man run on release day like I normaally do, depending if people want to hit it on the day that is

Put my name on that list will you please jim:) me want to get in there and see the new content asap!:D

[valdeko]

Ill be on and would like to join Jim

[Jim]

Ill be on and would like to join Jim

depends if your connection holds

on a side note i'll make a proper thread for it 2 ticks

edit 3: Thread created

[valdeko]

depends if your connection holds

on a side note i'll make a proper thread for it 2 ticks

edit 3: Thread created

Haha very funny jim, but to your disappointment ive fixed the connection so ill be ready.

[TeaLeaf]

Just posting a summary of useful info on ICC here in case people missed Daelo's blue on 18 Nov. (source)

Icecrown Citadel testing has been progressing very well over the last few weeks, and this has been a huge help to the encounter design team. I want to thank everyone who has logged onto the PTR and tried the encounters there.

As we're now getting closer to the release of 3.3.0, I wanted to talk about our plans for access progression within Icecrown Citadel. Icecrown Citadel is going to be broken up into four distinct sections: The Lower Spire, Plagueworks, Crimson Hall, and Frostwing Halls. We plan on releasing these four sections of Icecrown Citadel over time and not all immediately when patch 3.3.0 goes live. At this point I can't give precise dates for these release dates as they are determined by when patch 3.3.0 goes live. Once dates are known with more certainty, I'll update the community so they can plan appropriately.

The first section that opens will include the Lord Marrowgar, Lady Deathwhisper, Icecrown Gunship Battle, and Deathbringer Saurfang encounters. Progress beyond that point will be prevented for several weeks. Then the Plagueworks will open with Rotface, Festergut, and Professor Putricide becoming available. After another period of time, the Crimson Hall will open and you can then fight the Blood Princes and Blood-Queen Lana'thel. The final Frostwing Halls unlock then occurs after that, making Valithria Dreamwalker, Sindragosa, and the Lich King available. We believe a staggered release of the content will allow players to experience Icecrown Citadel at a sustainable, measured, and ultimately more enjoyable pace.

There are other elements that gate access along the way. Players may not attempt any Heroic versions of 10 player encounters until they have defeated the Lich King in a 10 player raid. Similarly, players must defeat the Lich King in a 25 player raid before they can attempt a Heroic 25 player encounter. So players must master every normal difficulty encounter in Icecrown Citadel before attempting Heroic difficulty.

The Lich King may not be attempted until Professor Putricide, Blood-Queen Lana'thel, and Sindragosa are defeated. Furthermore, the Heroic difficulty of The Lich King encounter may not be attempted in any week unless the three aforementioned encounters have been defeated in Heroic difficulty that week.

The Ashen Verdict provides reinforcements and material for players to assault Icecrown Citadel, but this support is not endless. Raids will have a limited number of attempts total each week to defeat the four most difficult encounters in Icecrown Citadel: Professor Putricide, Blood-Queen Lana'thel, Sindragosa, and the Lich King. As these boss encounters are unlocked, the number of attempts available per week will increase. The initial number of attempts provided for defeating Professor Putricide is only five. When Blood-Queen Lana'thel unlocks, the amount of total attempts remaining will increase to 10. Then when Sindragosa and the Lich King unlock, 15 total attempts will be available to defeat all four bosses. After a raid has exhausted their attempts for the week, the Ashen Verdict must withdraw their support and the four most difficult bosses all despawn and become unavailable for the week. The limited attempt system is a feature of both Normal and Heroic difficulty.

There will be no explicit rewards for defeating the Lich King with a specific number of attempts remaining as there was with Trial of the Grand Crusader. There will also not be an achievement to complete Icecrown Citadel without being defeated by a boss encounter, or letting a raid member die. (i.e. A Tribute to Insanity).

In the weeks and months after all twelve encounters are unlocked, additional attempts against the final four boss encounters become available. This represents the Ashen Verdict growing more powerful and gaining a stronger foothold in Icecrown Citadel. To further help raids, Varian Wrynn and Garrosh Hellscream will begin to provide assistance by inspiring the armies attacking Icecrown Citadel. This is represented as an additional zone wide spell effect applied to all players that will increase their hit points, damage dealt, and healing done. This effect will also increase in effectiveness over time. Players may opt out of the spell's effect if they so wish.

[TeaLeaf]

Lower Spire
Lord Marrowgar
Lady Deathwhisper
Icecrown Gunship Battle
Deathbringer Saurfang

The Plagueworks
Festergut
Rotface
Professor Putricide

The Crimson Hall
Blood Princes (Valanar, Keleseth and Taldaram)
Blood-Queen Lana'thel

Frostwing Halls
Valithria Dreamwalker
Sindragosa

The Frozen Throne
The Lich King

[TeaLeaf]

From WoR (Source)

Blizzard listened to players with this tier of armor, giving a different color for each item level available. The sets also use a hybrid purchase model that combines multiple formats of the recent tiers.

The 251 version costs Emblem of Frost (95 for chest/legs/helm, 60 for shoulders/gloves) and is required to upgrade to further versions.

The 264 version requires the 251 version of that slot as well as a token from 25-player (and likely 10-player heroic) Icecrown bosses -- the Mark of Sanctification.

Finally, the 277 version requires your 264 version of the armor plus a heroic Mark of Sanctification, only found in 25-player heroic Icecrown Citadel.

Today's WoR front page has a nice gear tool allowing selection by instance type, raid size or class

[Bellanie]

Thanks for the write up tl, nice to have it in 1 place where all can see it:D

[TeaLeaf]

Patch 3.3

patch 3.3 should be going live next week on December 8th in North America and December 9th in Europe

This has been confirmed.  It is going live on the US servers today and we will get it tomorrow.

[Bellanie]

This has been confirmed.  It is going live on the US servers today and we will get it tomorrow.

:yahoo::yahoo: