Patch 3.2 has been announced, and shamans saw some changes. That's the short version.

Well, we've had the big patch notes bomb dropped on us, and they weren't kidding about changing restoration around, were they? Of course, if you're an orc shaman, you also got expertise with fist weapons added on to your racial, which is pretty neat all told. We also finally saw the debut of the new totem interface, which I can't say enough good things about. The ability not only to drop up to four totems in one GCD but to have up to three customizable sets of four totems for different uses (I plan on making a set just for when there's no DK's around and I can finally use Strength of Earth totem instead of freaking Stoneskin) just made the clouds part and a host of glorious angels descend upon me. Turns out they wanted some money, but still, for a moment it was pretty keen.

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Today I'm going to focus on an addon that is almost purely cosmetic. XLoot is one of those addons that people will see on screenshots and ask "ooh, what is that?" Essentially, it makes your loot frames much prettier, and somewhat more informative. You can see the default configuration in the screenshot.

It's extremely configurable, though; anything from background and border colors to whether the loot frame snaps to your cursor can be set with a simple "/xloot options." Personally, I like my XLoot to not snap to my cursor, since I use auto-loot and the movement is distracting. I also like to lighten it up a bit; glossy black isn't a great fit for my UI. But everyone should be able to find a look that fits.

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Lake Wintergrasp Changes in Patch 3.2
The patch 3.2 official notes have been updated with more changes to Lake Wintergrasp.
Quote from Blizzard staffWintergrasp

• To provide players with a more transparent notification of when Wintergrasp battles occur, as well as better control zone population and stability, several changes have been made.
• Players now have the option to queue for Wintergrasp from a Wintergrasp Battlemaster in any capital city or by simply entering the Wintergrasp zone.
• Queuing will begin 15 minutes before each battle. If chosen, you will automatically be teleported to the zone. Any players in the zone who have not been chosen from the queue will be teleported out when the battle begins.
• The queue system remains active for the entire battle. As soon as a player leaves, a new one will be chosen from the queue.
• Trying to enter Wintergrasp during an active battle for which you have not been chosen will teleport you out. Please note that, as you are now able to fly over Wintergrasp, you will only be teleported out if you try to land and join the battle.
• Level 80 players get higher priority in the queue than lower level players. In addition, a random selection of queued players will be taken from both the Battlemasters and the zone itself.
• The queue will accept up to 100 players from each faction, resulting in a maximum battle of 200 players at a time.


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Each week Arcane Brilliance sits down to write a column about Mages and all things Mageworthy. Big news this week in Mageville: Patch 3.2 is hitting the PTRs. And we all know what that means -- new Mage cat forms. Finally.

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Back at the very end of last year, the folks at MMO-Champion did their usual excellent work in mining up a heap of models from Ulduar. Now that it's six months later, I have to ask: what happened to all of them? Take the sword pictured above. If you've raided Ulduar, you've seen this model wielded by the Twilight's Hammer cultists in the hallway to the Descent Into Madness. Why, then, is it the case that there are four 2h swords available in 10 and 25 man Ulduar and none of them use this model? Furthermore, why do all four of them in fact use the same model instead?

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Our podcast returns once again to the virtual airwaves this afternoon, and this is going to be a good one: we're welcoming back both editor Lesley Smith and Rogue columnist Chase Christian, and as usual, Turpster and I will be on to answer your emails and chat live with you over on the Ustream page. We'll be talking mostly about patch 3.2, of which the patch notes hit our eyes just this week. There are some more details about the upcoming Crusaders' Coliseum instance, the Emblem system (that will definitely inspire some discussion), and all of the other changes that caught our attention in there. Plus, Midsummer Fire is almost upon us, so we'll chat about that as well.

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Here's a change that will probably be by turns amusing, exasperating, or a relief, depending on who you are and how you play: In a new section recently slipped into the official 3.2 PTR patch notes, Blizzard revealed that they plan to add a queue to Wintergrasp in Patch 3.2.

In short, you can queue up by visiting a Battlemaster or entering the zone within 15 minutes of the game start. Only 100 people will be allowed to fight on each side of the battle, to be chosen randomly from the battlemaster and from the zone, with level 80s receiving highest priority.

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Another week has brought us to another weekend, which means it's time for us all to work out what we're playing this weekend. The Midsummer Fire Festival begins today, but surprisingly enough, it's not what any of our crew seem to be looking forward to for weekend World of Warcraft entertainment. Leveling alts? Raiding Ulduar? Or, gasp, dare I say it, some kind of crazy life beyond the keyboard? How dull! There's summer to celebrate!

For what the WoW.com team is up to this weekend -- and to let us know what you're playing this weekend -- read on!

• Adam Holisky (@adamholisky): Collecting more badges and gear for my Ret Paladin. Maybe picking up the next alt to level to 80.
• Alex Ziebart (@aziebart): Two words: Polish Fest.
• Allison Robert: More office work on Saturday, Ulduar-10 if any guildies need me, and more (probably fruitless) farming for the elusive Turtle mount.
• Amanda Miller: Unpacking at my new place and heading to a Native festival on Sunday. Checking out the Greek festival tonight, and slipping in some Sims 3 when I can.
• Chase Christian (@madsushi): Will be going to Ulduar with two brand-new tanks, and will be yelling in vent a lot.
• Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb): Now that 3.2's been launched, I'm getting back in the swing of Argent Tournament dailies so I can hit Crusader title on my Death Knight and have new dailies to do. I also want to make the final push to 80 on my Druid so he can heal for the new wave of people LFG for dungeons for badges.
• Eddie Carrington (@Brigwyn): I doubt there will be any WoW for me. I'll be heading to Philly and picking up my 2 kids. During the layovers I'm going to dig deeper into the Patch 3.2 changes.
• Jennie Lees (@jennielees): is in London, and has discovered her laptop and WoW really don't go well together. Casual time for three weeks.
• Lisa Poisso (@eMused): Gonna rock out with my CoX out.
• Matt Low (@mattycus): will be taking a page from @adamholisky and will also be picking up some phat lewt for the Ret Paladin. I got a guildie in town too! Hopefully I'll get to see him sometime over the weekend so that'll be nice. Not often I meet other WoW players in person.
• Matthew Rossi: I haven't really decided yet, but I may try and transfer a horde toon to Zangamarsh.
• Michael Gray: My week-end will mostly be spent playing Father's Day for my own father and a good father friend. In between, I might spend some time with Arena.
• Mike Schramm (@mikeschramm): is finally going to buckle down and level his 54 Paladin. 60 or bust this weekend.
• Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel): Death Knights a gogo! I'll be hanging out with the gang at It Came from the Blog, working on getting my DK out of the starting area. A lot of people took my advice and made DKs for the events, so I won't be alone. Come join us!
• Zach Yonzon (@trymykungfu): NBA season's over, next MotoGP race is still next week, and our Internet has been utter garbage lately, dissuading me from even logging in to WoW. Thank goodness my wife and I are running the All-Terrain Race on Sunday, otherwise it'd be a pretty dull weekend.


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You can think of this as a prequel to yesterday's picture, taken just before the resto druds finally snapped. Feral druid Arradiana of <The Twilight Folk> on Dethecus decided to taunt her leafy brethren with their greatest fear. Be careful, guys. If I've learned nothing else from The Evil Dead -- and I haven't -- it's that trees cannot be trusted. (Thanks to Maisy of <The Twilight Folk> on Dethecus for the pic!)

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I've been killing Sarth for months and, oddly I still enjoy it. Sans the last half an hour which normally involves bickering and the following question: 'What's a raid roll?' repeated ad infinitum. However each time I enter the Chamber of Aspects, I find my eyes drawn to the other still-sealed portals and wonder when they will open. It's clear the Dragonflight portion of Wrath lore is still incomplete and I live in hope these new raids might be tied into patch 3.3 or even the new expansion.

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The Midsummer Fire Festival Begins
Quote from: Nethaera (Source)Each summer, the arrival of the Midsummer Fire Festival (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/events/midsummer/) signals a time of merriment and a chance to revel in the hottest season of the year by lighting celebratory bonfires across the land and sharing in what the elemental spirits have to offer. This year (beginning Sunday, June 21st and continuing until July 5), the festival features achievements. Learn more about the Midsummer Fire Festival content in our recently updated page, (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/events/midsummer/) which also includes a screenshot gallery. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/community/submission/screenshot-form.html) Once the event begins, submit your screenshots of Festival fun here. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/community/submission/screenshot-form.html)
Resilience Changes in 3.2
Quote from: Ghostcrawler (Source)Just to clarify, the change to resilience affects ALL player damage. This includes both normal hits and crits. We wanted to keep the proportion of damage coming from hits and crits the same and just reduce damage across the board. Crit damage is lowered twice, but will still contribute the same proportion of damage as it does today.

Dots do receive a slight relative buff since they are no longer taxed more than other forms of damage.

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