MLG Columbus

[Falaras]

Starts later tonight, stream can be found: http://events.mlgpro.com/takeovers/p...site_id=mlgpro

Gonna be pretty crazy, S8 gear + 264 or lower ICC gear is all allowed so DFOs and Deathbringers all around. Only one team (Orangemarmalades) is running RMP which is a first. There's also some WLDs but it seems everyone is going wizard cleave with Prot backup teams.

[medze]

Was really rooting for Arenapwange, the team consisting of Talbadar, Novoz, and Drmayo. Kinda sucks they lost their first match against Loaded.Black (aka button bashers). Still going to be an exciting weekend. Lots of good teams playing and if you stay up on the arena scene, you'll see a lot of familiar names. GO WOUNDMAN =D

I like how MLG improved their normal quality stream. Last time, it was nearly impossible to watch with the horrible quality (unless you buy the HD stream). This year, the quality is definitely watchable, from the couch even, though we still have to deal with technical delays. Oh well, still a big improvement.

[Falaras]

Was really rooting for Arenapwange, the team consisting of Talbadar, Novoz, and Drmayo. Kinda sucks they lost their first match against Loaded.Black (aka button bashers). Still going to be an exciting weekend. Lots of good teams playing and if you stay up on the arena scene, you'll see a lot of familiar names. GO WOUNDMAN =D

I like how MLG improved their normal quality stream. Last time, it was nearly impossible to watch with the horrible quality (unless you buy the HD stream). This year, the quality is definitely watchable, from the couch even, though we still have to deal with technical delays. Oh well, still a big improvement.

The technical problems are pretty terrible, hope its all fixed soon. As far as that match went, I was definitly rooting for the only RMP to win (Along with orangemarmalade, I mean who doesn't love that guy) and they didn't disappoint. While tournaments with 100% RMP representation are very boring, seeing wizard cleave just 1 shot whoever they target is even worse.

Edit: Also very surprised that all the casters are using DFO or Phylactery over heroic Reign of the Unliving.

[Inactive]

Was hoping Nerdstompers would do better than a 3-1 loss to Fnatic but RLS is really strong right now and I don't see a warrior in any comp other than TSG living through that damage. Still pulling for Arenapwnage but we'll see how that goes.

DFO's 1k spellpower (especially as a lock/spriest) beats an extra 2k burst every so often. Not to mention the passive 155 haste.

[medze]

Yeah, the RLS versus Nerdstompers series was really good (aside from the silly disconnects at the beginning). I definitely feel like RLS had the advantage here but hoodrych is a beast so I wouldn't have been surprised at all if they pulled it out.

Yeah, and DFO is actually for the passive haste mostly. Phylactery proc is insane but longer ICD. When it procs, you're basically a god. Reign isn't bad by any means but I imagine the proc is lackluster after resil, at least compared to dfo/phylactery procs.

Oh and... that spellcleave fight (MLS v MLD) was one of the most boring matches I've seen. I went to make food because of how tiring it was to watch.

[Dezzimal]

Was hoping Nerdstompers would do better than a 3-1 loss to Fnatic

They're not going anywhere with Yes healing them.

[Falaras]

I'm actually very surprised about the amount of different teams (even RLS) at this event. I haven't been following much since the ESL final last year but looking at last years competitions I never thought I would see Enh Shaman, Ele Shaman, or Shadow Priest at any event ever. Seems wizard cleave is really helping bring some lesser-played classes back. Now we just need a reason to bring Ret Paladins.

[Itsnoriss]

Who's this other announcer guy on the far right?

[Eaglestrike]

I'm actually very surprised about the amount of different teams (even RLS) at this event. I haven't been following much since the ESL final last year but looking at last years competitions I never thought I would see Enh Shaman, Ele Shaman, or Shadow Priest at any event ever. Seems wizard cleave is really helping bring some lesser-played classes back. Now we just need a reason to bring Ret Paladins.

As much crap everyone gives these "cleave" teams and such...it's wonderful to see more than 90% RMP teams at tournaments.

[Falaras]

Anyone else find it funny that for all the QQ that goes on on the official forums about humans being ridiculously overpowered, only like 2 people out of the 40 something players are running humans? Even the warlocks/mages/priests that run alliance are opting for things like Gnome and Dwarf(??)
Edit: The armories are up now if anyone wants to see: http://www.gotfrag.com/wow/story/44891/
Some odd choices on the mages like Orange is using Sanc Robe over Meteor Chasers or a heroic ICC 10 choice.

[Eaglestrike]

Anyone else find it funny that for all the QQ that goes on on the official forums about humans being ridiculously overpowered, only like 2 people out of the 40 something players are running humans? Even the warlocks/mages/priests that run alliance are opting for things like Gnome and Dwarf(??)

I honestly don't know why you'd go gnome before human. It's what a 15s cooldown difference and works on almost everything for human? And the 5% int isn't going to mean jack with PvP gear.

Dwarf racial protects from bleed/disease/poison? I can see why that's useful in an arena.

[Falaras]

I honestly don't know why you'd go gnome before human. It's what a 15s cooldown difference and works on almost everything for human? And the 5% int isn't going to mean jack with PvP gear.

Dwarf racial protects from bleed/disease/poison? I can see why that's useful in an arena.

It is very odd, I assume the gnomes are for Escape Artist and the mana. Looking at the armories of some of the mages you can see Venruki is running a Heroic Solace for mana so it may be a big deal. Actually all 3 mages in the tournament are running different trinkets: Venruki is running Solace, Pookz is running heroic Reign, and Orange is running DFO.

The dwarf was VERY confusing though, I forget the team names but there was a Shadow Priest wizard cleave fighting Beastcleave and the shadow priest was running dwarf. I guess getting Serpent Sting off is that important....? As far as stoneform being useful in arena, it definitely is, such as Hydra runs Dwarf primarily to stoneform off rogue poisons.

[Itsnoriss]

Maybe Viper sting or snake trap poisons?

[Falaras]

Oh my god I am so happy Loaded Black won that, fuckin beastcleave and their ability to 1 shot mages.

[medze]

To answer your question, certain classes can only play certain races. Priests for instance can either be undead or dwarf. The only classes who can be human on MLG are warriors, DKs, and mages. Don't ask me why this is, it's just the way it is.

I'm sure Talbadar would've played a human or troll if given the choice but instead we see him as a dwarf.

[Falaras]

To answer your question, certain classes can only play certain races. Priests for instance can either be undead or dwarf. The only classes who can be human on MLG are warriors, DKs, and mages. Don't ask me why this is, it's just the way it is.

I'm sure Talbadar would've played a human or troll if given the choice but instead we see him as a dwarf.

Not too sure about that, I don't beleive MLG has any race restrictions. I also know that at least two rogues are human.

[medze]

You're right. I guess someone lied to me. I think my buddy told me they did an interview with Talbadar and asked him why he was dwarf, and that was his response. Yet, I also have seen various other humans since then so I guess that's wrong!

[Falaras]

Saw this posted on the facebook discussion, I lol'd
http://www.govillainous.com/lol.jpg

[Inactive]

I was under the impression that the race/class combo's were predetermined. I've yet to watch an MLG/ESL since TBC where the players were able to pick their races. I could be 100% wrong but hey idk

[Krye]

I honestly don't know why you'd go gnome before human. It's what a 15s cooldown difference and works on almost everything for human? And the 5% int isn't going to mean jack with PvP gear.

Dwarf racial protects from bleed/disease/poison? I can see why that's useful in an arena.

Escape Artist doesn't share a cooldown with pvp trinkets, Every Man For Himself does.

Here's an example: RMP saps me and stunlocks our holy paladin, our warrior needs to negate as much damage as possible but the mage catches him in a frost nova. Our gnome warrior can escape artist out without wasting his trinket, charge stun, interrupt the mage, disarm the rogue, and our paladin doesn't have to blow divine shield to survive the opener.

The human racial allows you to have a second damaging trinket, but using a pvp medallion with 150 resilience allows you to use more PVE gear in other slots. I've played somebody else's dwarf recently and it's really nice being able to full heal if you can get away from a rogue for a second or wipe DK diseases especially since they can't be cleansed normally anymore. The human racial allows you to put out more damage, but most good teams set-up their kills to where they have more than enough time to score a kill. I much prefer shadowmeld, stoneform, arcane torrent, warstomp, escape artist, will of the forsaken, etc. racials that provide utility instead of a small dps increase and allow you to take your game to a whole other level.

An example of me putting shadowmeld to good use: As a priest, I can shadow word: death polymorphs to break it and put poly on diminishing returns. A good mage might blanket silence me first and then try to poly me, which I can counter with shadowmeld. His silence falls off, I break stealth and now I can death his next polymorph and free cast heals because he wasted counterspell. If I wasn't a night elf, I'd be sitting in a 9 second poly followed by a 4 second poly, followed by a 2 second poly and one of my teammates could easily have been killed.

A second example: Warlocks, hunters, and death knights can send their pet after you and pull it back to glitch themselves into combat, preventing a sap. But I can shadowmeld which prevents them from being able to send their pets in and allows my rogue partner to sap somebody and give us an immense advantage often resulting in us scoring a kill during the opener of a match.