Leveling Changes for Patch 3.3 : Icecrown on the PTR

Patch 3.3 is just around the corner so I figured I would look over the current PTR patch notes and see if any changes have been made regarding leveling in general.  Blizzard seems to be attempting to ease the passage to level 80.  So far on the test realm we have a few changes that seem to target new toons leveling from 1-10.

Not sure these changes will really have much of an impact, but here they are regardless:

• “Dazed: Creatures attacking a player from behind can no longer cause players level 1-5 to be dazed, and have a reduced chance to cause players level 6-10 to be dazed.”

I’m not sure why Blizzard found this important enough to add.  I guess it is frustrating to become dazed when you are trying to run away from the 5 passive mobs you stabbed and aggroed? I suppose this will make the game slightly less annoying for new players who have found themselves in a dangerous situation.

• “Default Equipment: Starting weapons are now more uniform. Rogues now start with a pair of daggers equipped. All other classes except shamans start with a 2-handed weapon equipped and the required skill already known. Shamans start with a 1-handed weapon and a shield, as they benefit more from the shield than they would from a 2-handed weapon.”

I do like this change.  I will enjoy feeling a little less naked on a new toon.  The possibility of dual wield coming standard with my baby rogue also sounds like a lot of fun. Rogues and Shamans will benefit the most from this. Mobs will drop faster for a Rogue and  Shammies will gain a bit of survivability. Maybe it will do something to increase the population of those classes on my server, which are currently low.

• “Spell Mana Costs: These costs have been reduced for almost all lower level spell ranks. In general, if a spell decreased in cost with a higher level rank in patch 3.2.0, that spell now has the decreased cost at all ranks. In addition, spells learned before level 20 with reduced cast times and/or durations have even further reduced mana costs, proportionate to their reduction in cast time or damage.”

I am excited about the potential mana cost changes in the Icecrown patch.  I am currently leveling a low level Mage and I often go OOM. Personally, I do not like to stop in the middle of questing to drink to full mana.  It just ruins my momentum.  I would rather start meleeing instead until my bar is full again! This should be a welcome change to my Mage and Warlock.

• “Health and Mana Regeneration: These regeneration rates have been increased by up to 200% for low level characters. As a player’s level increases, the regeneration rates gradually reduce, returning to normal rates at level 15.”

Again, this will speed up the grind from 1-15.  I am excited about not having to stop to drink so much. Who knows, I may not even have to Conjure Water again until after level 15!

Generally 3.3’s patch notes seem to follow Blizzards current theme of making the game more accessible for new players. Honestly, I can’t complain, these changes certainly won’t make the game any less fun. If they do get implemented, they will only help me level that much faster! Woo!

As always, the Test Realm Patch notes can be found here