TBC Beta – What we know so far

• Author: Taladril
• Date: March 25, 2021
• Updated: March 25, 2021
• Expansion: TBC Classic

The beta has been out for a few days and the news is pouring in from people wanting to see the changes from Classic and what’s been nailed down from the different patches of TBC. Much is what we were expecting however there are some surprises as well. Note that it is a beta so nothing is set in stone and can change as we get closer to release.

• Leatherworking Drums. This is the biggest change so far, with an actual addition of new never before TBC’d items. There are now sets of Greater Drums that take more materials to make and require a higher leatherworking skill to craft. The greater drums are the same stats as the previous TBC drums, while the original drums are lesser versions of the original. It is unclear what Blizzard is trying to do with this “fix” as this doesn’t do anything to limit players feeling the need to take this profession for access to these items. Blizzard had initially said that they were going to nerf the item in some way to lower the appeal, however an increase in cost for obtaining isn’t a nerf, simply a greater barrier for entry. With how people treat the current use of world buffs, we know that a barrier for entry is simply more work, not a deterrent.
• Primal Nethers are currently not BOP. This is how the game was in 2.4 as a way to help with catchup mechanics for new raiders. However this will allow for selling these extremely important items on the auction house. Primal Nethers are used to craft many high end items and having them be able to be sold changes the effect of the work to obtain them. Especially with the economy as it will be with the large amount of amassed gold people have from Classic, this could have a significant impact on the economy.
• An LFG tool is in the game. Stow your pitchforks though as this is not a group finder, only a way to limit trade chat spam. This tool was actually also in the original TBC. What got all the hate was the automated cross-faction group finder with added rewards that was included halfway through Wrath that players disliked and this implementation is not that.
• Zul’Gurub coin turn in will not be a viable method for leveling from 58+. There is no xp that is given so this will not work.
• Mooncloth creation has no cooldown.
• Guild Banks are in so we can expect them to exist in phase 1.
• Engineering goggles are not in so we can expect them to not be in phase 1.
• Mail is still not instant between same account characters.
• Totems of Wrath crit bonus stacks