Patch 5.3: Latest PTR build is a release candidate

Yesterday, we asked you what your best guess was for the arrival date of patch 5.3, and at the time the article was written, the PTR build was still a test. Since then, it has been updated, as many commenters mentioned, and is now a release candidate.What does this mean for a potential release date? Looking back at patch 5.1, WoW Insider reported that a release candidate was live on November 13th, and the patch released on November 27th, a fortnight after the first release candidate went up. Patch 5.2 went to a PTR release candidate on the PTR on February 26th, and the patch dropped on March 5th, just one week later. We can't really discuss earlier patches, thanks to Blizzard's new, improved patch cycle, but these two indicate that the patch may well drop within the next fortnight, so May 21st or 28th, perhaps the first week in June at the latest.

Of course, this is just estimation, we're doing research and gathering clues, but it's not a firm confirmation. While you're waiting, you can check out all our patch 5.3 coverage.

Tags: breaking, patch-5.3, patch-5.3-ptr, patch-5.3-release-date

Filed under: Mists of Pandaria

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Patch 5.2: No gear upgrading planned at release

One thing that we won't be seeing with patch 5.2 is the ability for the new gear to be upgraded via valor points. As Ghostcrawler explains in a tweet from this weekend:

@champlain1635 Our plan at this moment is upgrading only for patches without a new raid / PvP tier. That design could change.

- Greg Street (@Ghostcrawler) January 5, 2013

This makes sense in many ways; the primary focus of the "grind" should be acquiring new gear across all slots, not making minor incremental changes to the gear that you've already seen dropped. Valor points also will continue to be useful in the mid-patches with this philosophy (5.1/5.3), versus just becoming something you've got and are never going to use, which often happens during the later end of a raiding tier.

We're assuming here that Ghostcrawler's note will just apply to patch 5.2 gear, and not the total system. It would seem quite odd to just switch off the entire upgrading mechanic all the sudden. Tags: breaking, ghostcrawler, patch-5.2, valor-upgrade-patch-5.2, wow-patch-5.2, wow-valor-upgrade

Filed under: News items, Raiding

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Dawn of the Aspects Part 1 to release February 2013

Part one of World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects will see its release a little later than previous reported at NYCC last year. Simon & Schuster currently has the release date set for February 12, 2013. Unlike previous Warcraft novels, Dawn of the Aspects will be released in parts as an ebook rather than a print novel. Part one will be available for $1.99, with four more parts to follow over the coming year. And for those that can't wait, we've got an exclusive look at the full cover for the upcoming novel after the break.

Penned by Richard Knaak, Dawn of the Aspects explores the relationship between the proto-drakes of Northrend and the Aspects of here and now. Even though Deathwing has been taken care of and the Hour of Twilight has been halted, the question of what comes next for the Dragon Aspects is still unanswered. With their powers expended, how can any of the Aspects, or even dragonkind for that matter, hope to still make a difference in the world?

I have to admit, I'm pretty excited to see a book addressing the biggest issue I had with the end of Cataclysm -- what happens to the Aspects now? Where exactly Galakrond and the origin of dragonkind ties into all of this is a mystery to me, but it's one of those areas of Warcraft history that I've always wanted to see filled in. Richard Knaak is an excellent choice for this project, given his extensive work with the dragons and the Aspects over the years -- his first book, Day of the Dragon, pretty much set the stage for the Aspects back in 2001, and it's only fitting that he continue the tale.
From Simon & Schuster's website:

PART I

The former Dragon Aspects are on the brink of going their separate ways to forge new destinies. As Kalecgos ponders the uncertain future awaiting his kind, he uncovers a mysterious artifact that allows him to see through the eyes of his late predecessor, Malygos. Intense visions bombard Kalecgos, transporting him to a time when the original Aspects were no more than primitive proto-dragons. Across ancient Kalimdor's northern plains, they fought for survival against each other and a terrifying creature that dominated the era: the Father of Dragons, Galakrond. But many questions remain for Kalecgos. What are the origins of this strange artifact? Are its visions a gift, or a curse?

Part 1 of Dawn of the Aspects will be 90 pages, and will only be available as an ebook. While I prefer my Warcraft novels to be in print, it's nice to see Blizzard exploring other ways of presenting story material. I do hope we'll see this in print at some point in the future, but until then, I'll take my story however I can get it. Keep an eye on Simon & Schuster's official website for more information as it becomes available, and pick up your copy of Dawn of the Aspects on February 19. Tags: alexstrasza, cataclysm, dawn-of-the-aspects, day-of-the-dragon, dragon-aspects, dragonflights, eBook, ebooks, galakrond, hour-of-twilight, kalecgos, malygos, nozdormu, richard-knaak, simon-and-schuster, warcraft-ebooks, warcraft-novels, world-of-warcraft, world-of-warcraft-books, ysera

Filed under: News items, Lore

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Patch 5.1 Release Date? Let's Speculate!

I voted for December 11. I think Blizzard will want to get it out early enough before the holidays to have time to fix the bugs that arise, so that they don't need to work through Christmas. I find a Christmas day release highly unlikely.

They could push it back until January, but I'd be disappointed if they did that. It would really take the wind out of their whole "deliver content faster" mentality. My guess is that by mid-late December, most normal mode raiding guilds will be accessing Terrace of Endless Spring (which is short and, as far as I can tell, easier than the other two raids - on normal mode at least), so it'll be a nice way for Blizzard to ensure that there isn't any kind of gap in the content that players can do.

Also keep in mind that it will take some time to get into the Brawler's Guild for the masses, so if they just put it out in late January or something, there many be many players who will feel they have nothing to do while waiting for Brawler's Guild access.

Also I think Patch 5.2 (new raiding tier) in early March. The raid is probably already well under way, and I can only hope it's not a small raid.

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