Patch 3.2 PTR unveils Tier 9 sets
by Zach Yonzon 
Jun 24th 2009 at 3:00AM
Whatever happens, we players win. So take a gander at pieces of the Tier 9 sets, which are available on the Tournament Grounds on the PTR for a token piece and small change (and purely for testing purposes, Michael Sacco notes that one vendor is giving away tier sets for a song). While there aren't any models for the gear yet -- they're currently using Tier 8+ placeholder graphics -- it's interesting to note that there are two sets of gear for each spec. They're identical items, just named differently for the Horde and the Alliance because, as Blizzard revealed, Patch 3.2 marks the return of faction-specific gear. Even cooler, Blizzard departs from the old tier set naming convention by naming the sets after notable figures in Warcraft lore. Check out all the items in the gallery Alex and Adam painstakingly put together. You know you want to.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
subtotal Jun 24th 2009 3:06AM
interesting, can't wait
Mane Jun 24th 2009 8:18AM
Interesting? I'd say..yes blizzard, let's give Shaman chest piece SP,Crit and Haste, then give it the Resto Shammies.. WTF! I won't be surprised to see MP5 on the Elem gear. IF there even is any. Another "interesting" EPIC FAIL Blizzard.
Mane Jun 24th 2009 8:23AM
Wait, I digress. Elem get Hit Rating. Too a little bit to actually find the piece on that oh so well laid out item page.
subtotal Jun 24th 2009 3:57PM
wait a sec, just found some of the ret gear... ArP WTF?!?
Aethix Jun 24th 2009 3:29AM
I'm pretty upset that the most famous member of my class is a level 22 humanoid. :'(
Lemons Jun 24th 2009 3:43AM
Rogues...there's never been a proper Rogue hero in the Warcraft Universe. They should just take Jim Raynor and throw him into Warcraft...he would be a Rogue.
Just be glad we didn't get Garona *shudder* I've never really seen what was so special about that bitch. Oh noes...she killed the king...she didn't mean to...gggaaaaahhhhh....confliction!
Docrev Jun 24th 2009 5:57AM
Horde rogues did get stuck with Garona: http://db.mmo-champion.com/i/48233/garonas-breastplate-of-triumph/
Drahliana Jun 24th 2009 9:23AM
Garona is also the main reason that Khadgar survived Medivh. That counts for something too.
She's a complicated figure, being at turns both an important actor on the world stage and at the same time a pawn of Gul'dan's mechinations. (She might also be a product of Medivh via astral insemmination, given that he had claimed to have visited Draenor spiritually before the Dark Portal and showed rather significant interest in her. so I suspect ol' Sargy maneuvered Gul'dan to her as well)
She's also essentially the person who literally wrote the Ravenholdt guide to Assasination. Initially she was going to be a Ravenholdt NPC but was pulled during beta.
Lemons Jun 24th 2009 3:31AM
Yea, too soon. Ensidia barely downed Algalon and they're already releasing a new content patch? If 3.3 is released with the same speed I'll be stepping into the Crusader's Coliseum for the first time when I hear "ZOMG did you see the tier 10 sets?"
and don't forgot "Sweet, new mounts pets we can buy with Chamions Seals! I guess I'll be grinding these dailies UNTIL I DIE."
The Claw Jun 24th 2009 6:36AM
Well, actually, they're not "already releasing a new content patch". They're starting the very first phase of what will no doubt be an extremely long testing process on a new content patch.
novusalias Jun 24th 2009 3:35AM
"Dawn of the Casual Age of WoW"
The casual age of WoW dawned with the release of Wrath of the Lich King, which might as well have been called "Moderate Anger of the Scary King". One can only hope that by the time they release 'Nicecrown' Citadel (CwS reference), all of the casual bads will be still too busy choking on Naxx-25, Emalon, and Ulduar-10 to even step foot into 3.3. Let's just hope that's what Blizzard's plan has been all along - to flood the casual baddies with so much content that they'll be too busy climbing up the ladder to ever experience current end-game content.
SaintStryfe Jun 24th 2009 3:46AM
Please do me a favor, could you cry your QQ tears into this bottle, so I can enjoy them later?
Hint, being clever takes some work. Put some work in.
Avan Jun 24th 2009 3:47AM
Oh, boohoo. The changes to badges don't hurt us core raiders, doesn't hurt the hardcore raiders, and certainly doesn't hurt the casual raiders. This patch isn't doing anyone harm, outside of the class changes.
thorn.branynos Jun 24th 2009 3:45AM
"Blizzard departs from the old tier set naming convention by naming the sets after notable figures in Warcraft lore."
Ermm
Druid Tier 4 Malorne after the White Stag father of Cenarius
Druid Tier 2 Stormrage after Malfurion Stormrage (or maybe Illidan)
Nothing new about using lore figures in the naming convention (they're even reusing Stormrage)
SaintStryfe Jun 24th 2009 4:00AM
yeah, druids have had it like that. But there's never been Armor named after a Shaman, and definitely not after an Alliance Shaman. But now we can wear gear named after the head alliance Shaman, which is cool.
rmanzero Jun 24th 2009 3:51AM
How about the Horde?
Surely it would be inappropriate for the names such as Wrynn and Turalyon to be stamped onto Horde gear. The horde has always been abundant of great warriors (Broxigar or Grom, for example), and Lady Liadrin seems appropriate for Blood Knights.
Here are some of my suggestions:
Warrior- Broxigar, Grom
Shaman- Thrall, Drek'Thar
Death Knight- Koltira
Paladin- Lady Liadrin
Warlock- Gul'Dan
Hunter- Rexxar (greatest BM ever), Sylvanas
Rogue- Garona
Mage- Kael'Thas
Druid- Hamuul
Priest- ?
SmokeTheBear Jun 24th 2009 5:48AM
Lady Sylvanas' last name (when she had one) was Windrunner. Her sister happened to also have been named Windrunner. Thus Windrunner is a perfectly good bi-faction name for the hunter set.
Seraph Jun 24th 2009 8:46AM
Or you could just go to MMO Champion where they have most of the items up.
Death Knight - A: Thassarian - H: Koltira
Druid - A: Stormrage - H: Runetotem
Hunter - A/H: Windrunner - Appears to be the same for both factions as Alleria and Sylvanas share a name...
Mage - A: Khadgar - H: Sunstrider
Paladin - A: Turalyon - H: Liadrin
Priest - A: Velen - H: Zabra
Rogue - A: VanCleef - H: Garona
Shaman - A: Nobundo - H: Thrall
Warlock - A: Kel'Thuzad - H: Gul'dan
Warrior - A: Wrynn - H: Hellscream
Veras Gunn Jun 24th 2009 3:53AM
I've been wondering who they're going to do for horde for the Warrior T9 set. Three families occur to me, all orcs. Doomhammer, Hellscream, and Saurfang. Saurfang seems less likely because of the other two having more vital positions in WoW lore. Doomhammer would seem likely in that he's one of the most influential Orc warriors, but the Hellscreams seems like the quintessential Warriors to me.
Veras Gunn Jun 24th 2009 3:54AM
Seems like I was right actually. I checked MMOchampion's item database, and found Hellscream battleplate of triumph.