Patch 3.0.2.

[Andreja]

The new changes to WoW considering stats are just:

AWEFULL!

Fusing +heal and Spell damage is idiotic making hybrids that can heal much more usefull in raids and arena, while doing the same amount of DPS as pure DPS classes.

Fusing Haste + Spell haste, Hit rat. + Spell hit, Crit + Spell crit is to OP and stupid.

Windfury Totem is now a flat 20% melee haste totem. All ranks have been modified.
Like Enh shamans werent nerfed enough.


WTB Pre-TBC

[Mecheon]

Fusing +heal and Spell damage is idiotic making hybrids that can heal much more usefull in raids and arena, while doing the same amount of DPS as pure DPS classes.


Uh... How is that bad? Or are you suggesting that hybrids who want to DPS and heal should have to lug around two sets of armor, just cause you hate them too much?

Sides, they can never out DPS pure DPS classes

Also, you completely missed the biggest complaint of this patch. I'm not gonna mention it, I'll wait for someone else to pick up on it

[~Void~]

WoW is awful already. The expansion ruined it.

[Angry_Bovine]

Also, you completely missed the biggest complaint of this patch. I'm not gonna mention it, I'll wait for someone else to pick up on it

What, Ret pallies are OP? No, wait, they already got nerf-batted. Why can't you just tell us? =3

[IamtheRper]

WoW was awesome untill TBC, I really wish they removed ALL of TBC and Outland, then moved to Northrend. I mean they dont even have a Draenor battle in Caverns of Time, i mean seriously! If you have Outland you gotta have the original in CoT, just like Hyjal in CoT.

[The_wand_mirror]

Paladins are imba anyways. Priests with 16000 hp and plate armor =p

[Gilles]

Also, you completely missed the biggest complaint of this patch. I'm not gonna mention it, I'll wait for someone else to pick up on it
Everyone complains about something different. So far mine is Ret Paladins.

[Mecheon]

Retadins it is :P

Also, I spoke with some casters, and they all LOVE the spellpower/healing change, so you're probably just whining about it cause you got killed

Also, guess the other big complaint this patch. I'll give you a hint: It is BIG

[Kwaliti]

Spell downranking removal and -30% health to all BC raid creatures and bosses, I presume? Or perhaps the early removal of Champion of the Naaru/Hand of A'dal titles?

Too bad my subscription expired in September, else I'd be testing the Warrior changes. I'm buying a new card on WotLK day together with my copy of WotLK.

[IamtheRper]

New titles will probobly be:


Fist of the Lich King
Bringer of Wrath
Destroyer.
Dreadbringer
Death Baron.



something like that.

[Mecheon]

Spell downranking removal and -30% health to all BC raid creatures and bosses, I presume? Or perhaps the early removal of Champion of the Naaru/Hand of A'dal titles?

Nah. The Core Hounds. They shake things up a bit too much

Imagine having something following you and constantly shaking the screen. Welcome to the nightmare of hunters

[Kwaliti]

New titles will probobly be:


Fist of the Lich King
Bringer of Wrath
Destroyer.
Dreadbringer
Death Baron.



something like that.

Nah, they're all achievement related, like Elder <name> for the Lunar Festival, or <name>, Champion of the Frozen Wastes for completing some raid instance first on the server. I'm not really informed about the titles.

[Angry_Bovine]

Nah. The Core Hounds. They shake things up a bit too much

Imagine having something following you and constantly shaking the screen. Welcome to the nightmare of hunters

But what about the cute little Amani Warbears? They're extinct now... at least, in the wild (better known as ZA).

[~Void~]

Um, devilsaurs?

[Huurka]

Devilsaurs should have stealth. So they can stealth like they do in the wilderness.

[Angry_Bovine]

Devilsaurs should have stealth. So they can stealth like they do in the wilderness.

Ninjasaurs! You know they're coming after you when you don't hear them.

[Serbianbeast]

Windfury Totem is now a flat 20% melee haste totem. All ranks have been modified.
Like Enh shamans werent nerfed enough.

You don't play shamans now do you?
Merging spell and physical ratings, like haste crit and hit, is awesome for us, shamans. Having high spell and melee crit rate along with high spell and melee hit rate, at a same time is precious. Windfury totem now affects the shaman himself, thus increasing his attack speed too. And by merging grace of air and str of earth totem in one, adding spell power to flametongue totem and removing tranquil air, we'll finally be able to max out our dps while buffing the raid aswell. Besides we've got maelstrom weapons which means instant spell every now and then, lava lash which is another good thing and vastly increased AP (due to mental dexterity) and +9% chance to crit with melee while having devastation up, which will happen a lot due to flametongue, lava lash, shock and lava burst crits since our crit ratings have been merged. So wotlk will do many things, except nerfing us again...

Edit: and did I mention how druids benefit from WF totem now aswell? And that you don't need to remove your poison/sharpening/counterweight from your weapon to gain bonus from WF totem? Think about it...

[Gilles]

Nah. The Core Hounds. They shake things up a bit too much

Imagine having something following you and constantly shaking the screen. Welcome to the nightmare of hunters
You know I never thought about that. I bet Blizzard will get rid of it next patch, or at least I hope so since I'm a Hunter. :P

[Angry_Bovine]

You know I never thought about that. I bet Blizzard will get rid of it next patch, or at least I hope so since I'm a Hunter. :P

They did get rid of it (to the great relief of corehound owners). Good luck spamming steady shot to top DPS!

[PurgeandFire]

Some people must hate this patch, because as far as I know it isn't downgradeable xP

Or at least using the usual technique. But yeah, retail version is vastly superior to private servers in my opinion. But I'm not going to renew my subscription until december. My subscription ended about 1 week before patch 3.0 began. D:

[Serbianbeast]

Mine expired on 6th of June, and I'm not renewing it til 13th of November.

[Kazer]

I find it gay cause how long it takes to update oto your computer it takes like 6hrs on my computer mind you my computer sucks XD

[Huurka]

So Gay = Bad.

:<

[Angry_Bovine]

For those of you that are gonna renew your subscription on the day of the release of WotLK, I'd actually advise doing so a day before... that way, you get your long ass patching up do date. That, or you can manually download em to save some time, otherwise, you'll have to wait quite a while for the patch to dl.

[Serbianbeast]

You're forgetting one thing my friend. By installing WOTLK you wouldn't need to download that patch since wotlk already includes it.

[Angry_Bovine]

You're forgetting one thing my friend. By installing WOTLK you wouldn't need to download that patch since wotlk already includes it.

You sure about that? =( If so, then I take back my previous statement. I've obviously never tried to install the next X-pack without its associated "Before the Storm" patch.

[Huurka]

I suggest renewing the subscription some days later. Massive laggs and queues.

[Andreja]

You don't play shamans now do you?
Merging spell and physical ratings, like haste crit and hit, is awesome for us, shamans. Having high spell and melee crit rate along with high spell and melee hit rate, at a same time is precious. Windfury totem now affects the shaman himself, thus increasing his attack speed too. And by merging grace of air and str of earth totem in one, adding spell power to flametongue totem and removing tranquil air, we'll finally be able to max out our dps while buffing the raid aswell. Besides we've got maelstrom weapons which means instant spell every now and then, lava lash which is another good thing and vastly increased AP (due to mental dexterity) and +9% chance to crit with melee while having devastation up, which will happen a lot due to flametongue, lava lash, shock and lava burst crits since our crit ratings have been merged. So wotlk will do many things, except nerfing us again...

Edit: and did I mention how druids benefit from WF totem now aswell? And that you don't need to remove your poison/sharpening/counterweight from your weapon to gain bonus from WF totem? Think about it...

I apologise after some researching i realised that WF wep and WF totem have diffrent effects.WF wep still has the same effect and it will be buffed more as levels progress so say hello to "Revange of The Windfury".And WF totem was changed.As for crit hit and haste ratings i didn't say it was bad i said it was OP.(Although i shouldn't be complaining).I intend to level a shaman.But yes enh is once again a pownage spec.

[Serbianbeast]

I apologise after some researching i realised that WF wep and WF totem have diffrent effects.WF wep still has the same effect and it will be buffed more as levels progress so say hello to "Revange of The Windfury".And WF totem was changed.As for crit hit and haste ratings i didn't say it was bad i said it was OP.(Although i shouldn't be complaining).I intend to level a shaman.But yes enh is once again a pownage spec.

I really, really hope you're right about the "pwnage" spec since we were so underpowered in TBC. They better make us leveling worthy once again, or else... or else I'll quit wow once again :D

[Gilles]

You sure about that? =( If so, then I take back my previous statement. I've obviously never tried to install the next X-pack without its associated "Before the Storm" patch.
Yes, WotlK will have the patch.

[Huurka]

Rogues have recieved a great buff from this patch.

I can kill vengeful geared shamans, frost and fire mages, warriors and priests.
In my PvE gear :>

[Kwaliti]

Speaking of which, today's the day two of the zombie infestation.

If anybody noticed, Invincible's (Arthas' steed) grave is empty.

[Andreja]

I really, really hope you're right about the "pwnage" spec since we were so underpowered in TBC. They better make us leveling worthy once again, or else... or else I'll quit wow once again :D
Well the sole fact taht we got the same spell and melee crit, Instant Lightning bolts, chain lightning ,heals, Pets taht can sprint, stun and lifesteal.
Well i don't think you'll need to quit WoW once again.

[Serbianbeast]

Well the sole fact taht we got the same spell and melee crit, Instant Lightning bolts, chain lightning ,heals, Pets taht can sprint, stun and lifesteal.
Well i don't think you'll need to quit WoW once again.

Ye that's my guess 2. I just renewed my subscription and pvp fights are way easier, except with ret pallys >.> I get to kill them, but so do they.

[Andreja]

Good thing im leveling a ret pally :p.They also reduced Xp needed for leveling by 30% or are about to do it.But Pala's really need a nerf.

[Gilles]

Good thing im leveling a ret pally :p.They also reduced Xp needed for leveling by 30% or are about to do it.But Pala's really need a nerf.
No doubt. I watch my friend play his, and he can use a ton of spells and never run out of mana now! wtf?

[Andreja]

Indeed 33% of base mana when i cast Judgment and 0.25% of base mana per second for 10 seconds.Plus sheathe of light gives em some good judgment damage.

[Instant Ramen]

Rogues have recieved a great buff from this patch.

I can kill vengeful geared shamans, frost and fire mages, warriors and priests.
In my PvE gear :>

And you get owned by a humble survival huntard like me. :> (Well, Dismantle is a pain... :<)

[Huurka]

Hunters are a pain. They just walk and shoot.

[Serbianbeast]

And you get owned by a humble survival huntard like me. :> (Well, Dismantle is a pain... :<)

You were made to dispatch shamans, so that's actually expected, but, shouldn't you annihilate locks aswel?

[Instant Ramen]

Hunters are a pain. They just walk and shoot.
All you do is shiv crippling poison and stunlock.

You were made to dispatch shamans, so that's actually expected, but, shouldn't you annihilate locks aswel?

Survival hunters were meant to deal with melee classes, so yeah, I suppose. (Wyvern Sting is a nice caster CC also, however.) I have a hard time killing 'locks, though. They have fear, siphon life, and as much health as a tank. They may be clothies, but they have a lot of ways to heal themselves. (Especially in AV, when they spam Siphon Life on the bridge and just go "ololol i r invincublez")

[Serbianbeast]

You were made to dispatch shamans, so that's actually expected, but, shouldn't you annihilate locks aswel?

Missclicked quote, I wanted to quote Huurka, and ye, your class is also a pain in the, well you know. And ye, I know you have big problems dealing with locks, I saw how a friend of mine kills hunters. He's a sl/sl lock

[Huurka]

You were made to dispatch shamans, so that's actually expected, but, shouldn't you annihilate locks aswel?Before the patch I had problems with better geared shamans. But now, they're easy as hell.

Affliction locks are easy.

Demon locks are harder.

[VGsatomi]

Well, all classes are pretty much easy-mode for a rogue, minus maybe certain specs of warriors- especially Orc ones...

Ret pallys were nice, but they're getting nerfed "To the ground"- the exact words from the paladin class representative. they're dps will about as low as it was pre-patch. Good thing I never left the Holy tree.
-VGsatomi

[Andreja]

Damn :<

[Instant Ramen]

Well, all classes are pretty much easy-mode for a rogue
Yep, it sure is easy to kill someone when they can't fight back.

[PurgeandFire]

You can avoid stunlocks if you are actually smart. Hunters, pop a flare every now and then. Mages blink. Warlocks fear once you have the chance. :P Shammies should use an insignia/medallion if they want to avoid some of the locks and they should kite it away. Also pop a poison cleansing totem to remove all those annoying poisons on you. ;) Druids should barkskin (I think it is useable even in shapeshift forms now [it was always useable in moonkin form though because it is a balance spell]). Death knights, I have no idea because I've never had one. xP Warriors melee pretty much so yeah. It is pretty tough for priests. They should instantly put on an absorb and heal once they can. Paladins would probably just survive through the thing. I've never really seen a rogue beat a pally, I think. But a smart rogue could probably.

I would carry around an insignia/medallion until I find something better. But I think the insignia/medallion is awesome for pvp. Enh shammies may have it a little tough, but I'd shaministic rage and maybe feral spirits. Then I'd let the pets do the work and I'd heal meanwhile or something... :P Ele shammies should thunderstorm once they get the chance to send the rogue back a whopping 20 yards. (really fun to do ;)) and if you love PvP I would spec in Astral Shift (http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=51479) to reduce the dps quite well. Resto's should have an earth shield on them and they should kite and run a lot.

It is fun attacking rogues though, I have like 5k health on my 59 enh shammy and I can kill a lot of classes with ease, even though I am not really a twink. :P (I don't have a 70 main, that char is my main. I decided to bg before my subscription expired)


Lol these are just my noobish opinions. They are pretty obvious but some people are too stupid to realize that they should use them. Some twinks think they can just dps stuff to death, but if you don't even use your abilities well, you will die a lot. Especially once your reach 70 (or 80 later on)

[Huurka]

Yep, it sure is easy to kill someone when they can't fight back. I hate being kited. Try to kite me. When you get poisoned. Make sure I don't have a dot on me and ice trap and disengage. There you go. You got me in your horrible death zone.

[Serbianbeast]

Trust me, the only way enh at lvl 70 can get away from rogue is insignia, cause you can't do anything else when stunned, so don't expect to pop shamanistic rage, ghost wolves or poison cleansing totem since you're stunned. You'll see when you get there...

[Andreja]

I don't know if i preffer Ele or Enh or maybe Resto every kind of shaman is great for me >.>

[Instant Ramen]

I hate being kited. Try to kite me. When you get poisoned. Make sure I don't have a dot on me and ice trap and disengage. There you go. You got me in your horrible death zone.
That's why I have Deterrence, Counterattack and Disengage. It makes it (slightly) possible to kite you while poisoned.

[Huurka]

Team up with a shaman/paladin/druid or anyone that can cure poisons. Or get action potions.

[Instant Ramen]

Or get action potions.
Damn straight. I never go into PvP without Action potions and Swiftness potions.

[Campir]

Just PvP'ed on my 69 enhancement shaman, and I gotta' say, not much better! Heres how it generally went:

Me vs Rogue: Stunlock, dead.

Me vs Paladin: Epic fail.Basically there all retribution now and for some reason retribtuion is extremely buff now... I hope they nerf it because it was embarassing losing to a retadin.

Me vs Warrior: I won! took me feral wolves and alot of instant casted healing waves but I pulled it off!

Me vs Mage: Well, I have a 22.02% crit chance (which I consider good), and I managed to pop a huge WF crit when I got close enough, I then instant casted chain and won!

Me vs Lock: Fear, dot, dot, dot, leave me at 10 hp, starts to dance, /mock, /mock, melees me with staff, dead.

Me vs Druid: Feral, I pwnt. Resto, took me nine hours but I pwnt. Balance, I pwnt!

Me vs Hunter: Loss for me :(.

Yah give shamans another buff jesus... Hell I'd settle for a slight buff on WF for crying out loud!

[Serbianbeast]

Just PvP'ed on my 69 enhancement shaman, and I gotta' say, not much better! Heres how it generally went:

Me vs Rogue: Stunlock, dead.

Me vs Paladin: Epic fail.Basically there all retribution now and for some reason retribtuion is extremely buff now... I hope they nerf it because it was embarassing losing to a retadin.

Me vs Warrior: I won! took me feral wolves and alot of instant casted healing waves but I pulled it off!

Me vs Mage: Well, I have a 22.02% crit chance (which I consider good), and I managed to pop a huge WF crit when I got close enough, I then instant casted chain and won!

Me vs Lock: Fear, dot, dot, dot, leave me at 10 hp, starts to dance, /mock, /mock, melees me with staff, dead.

Me vs Druid: Feral, I pwnt. Resto, took me nine hours but I pwnt. Balance, I pwnt!

Me vs Hunter: Loss for me :(.

Yah give shamans another buff jesus... Hell I'd settle for a slight buff on WF for crying out loud!

Me vs rogue: half-half, depending if I have insignia ready or not
me vs mage: win
me vs lock: win
me vs warr: 50-50, depending of his gear
me vs drood: win
me vs hunter: ...op class, loss
me vs retadin: 50-50
me vs priest: pure win
so ... It isn't so insignificant as it might seem. You just need to get used to it

[Andreja]

And Retadins aren't so OP.They're just stronger now and people are trippin' that they're so OP cus they can actually kill now.
Also don't expect to win so easily on 69 with Enh shamans, they're very gear dependant.

[Angry_Bovine]

No, Ret is definitely OP. 9k crits in 1 white swing isn't OP? (Yes, with seal of command and crusader strike included.)

[Serbianbeast]

Also don't expect to win so easily on 69 with Enh shamans, they're very gear dependant.

Very true.

[A.R.]

@VG: damn, that's depressing. It's nice that Ret pallies *for once* dish out a respectable amount of hurt... If they kill the new mana efficiency thing though, I'm just gonna cry :(

[Instant Ramen]

me vs hunter: ...op class, loss


Lies and slander, I say.

[Andreja]

Actually, Hunters shouldn't be able to kite Shamans now.If you have spec'd Imp Ghostwolf and the Earthen Power talent (that removes all movement emparing effect's when activating Earthbind totem) you would just need to Frost Shock him,put down a Earthbind totem and go Ghost Wolf and you'll catch him.

EDIT:
Yah give shamans another buff jesus... Hell I'd settle for a slight buff on WF for crying out loud!

Yeah on level 72 or 74 WF is getting increased damage and more proc chance.So ^^

[Serbianbeast]

Lies and slander, I say.

Let me put it this way: I've been defeated, quite a few times, so eventually I've quitted trying beating them.

[Instant Ramen]

Actually, Hunters shouldn't be able to kite Shamans now.If you have spec'd Imp Ghostwolf and the Earthen Power talent (that removes all movement emparing effect's when activating Earthbind totem) you would just need to Frost Shock him,put down a Earthbind totem and go Ghost Wolf and you'll catch him.
I can Wyvern Sting you and CC you for 12 seconds. I just need to reestablish range, place a frost trap, and just shoot you as you come running. You get frozen, rinse, and repeat.

[Huurka]

And Retadins aren't so OP.They're just stronger now and people are trippin' that they're so OP cus they can actually kill now.
Also don't expect to win so easily on 69 with Enh shamans, they're very gear dependant. They have the extremely overpowered burst. They are going to nerf it.

[Kwaliti]

As far as I can see, recent nerfs brought Palas back to 2005, although I could be wrong (frozen account yay) :P

[syltman]

I like this patch since Imma RPer
new harbor + Barb was great!
and so was achivments!

[Andreja]

they Have The Extremely Overpowered Burst. They Are Going To Nerf It.

Nevah!

EDIT:

And so the time of OP ret Pallies is gone since 3.0.3 went live today.
BUT we can still dish out some hurt!
Also Elemental Shamans slightly buffed.
And thats about all that i read.

[Andreja]

I can Wyvern Sting you and CC you for 12 seconds. I just need to reestablish range, place a frost trap, and just shoot you as you come running. You get frozen, rinse, and repeat.

Well i can insignia myself out of it or better yet i put down a Tremor totem before u Wyvern sting me.Then get Feral Spirit ,Sprint ,stun.And a WF or 2 proc.And you should be dead by then.

[Instant Ramen]

Then get Feral Spirit ,Sprint ,stun.And a WF or 2 proc.And you should be dead by then.
Insignia, Deterrence, Disengage.

[Gilles]

Just PvP'ed on my 69 enhancement shaman, and I gotta' say, not much better! Heres how it generally went:

Me vs Rogue: Stunlock, dead.

Me vs Paladin: Epic fail.Basically there all retribution now and for some reason retribtuion is extremely buff now... I hope they nerf it because it was embarassing losing to a retadin.

Me vs Warrior: I won! took me feral wolves and alot of instant casted healing waves but I pulled it off!

Me vs Mage: Well, I have a 22.02% crit chance (which I consider good), and I managed to pop a huge WF crit when I got close enough, I then instant casted chain and won!

Me vs Lock: Fear, dot, dot, dot, leave me at 10 hp, starts to dance, /mock, /mock, melees me with staff, dead.

Me vs Druid: Feral, I pwnt. Resto, took me nine hours but I pwnt. Balance, I pwnt!

Me vs Hunter: Loss for me :(.

Yah give shamans another buff jesus... Hell I'd settle for a slight buff on WF for crying out loud!
Don't you have to fight 70's? If so, how cna you even compare a geared 70 and a 69?

[Serbianbeast]

Don't you have to fight 70's? If so, how cna you even compare a geared 70 and a 69?

True, as some1 already mentioned before, enh shaman is very gear dependant class and btw

Yeah on level 72 or 74 WF is getting increased damage and more proc chance.So ^^

woot?

[Andreja]

Insignia, Deterrence, Disengage.

Damn you, you're good -.-"

EDIT:
Ok i repeat Frost Shock>Ghost Wolf>Melee range again.
If you concussion i use Earthbind totem.It pulses I'm freed.Set up a tremor for Anti-Wyvern sting.And get close to you again.

[Gilles]

Damn you, you're good -.-"

EDIT:
Ok i repeat Frost Shock>Ghost Wolf>Melee range again.
If you concussion i use Earthbind totem.It pulses I'm freed.Set up a tremor for Anti-Wyvern sting.And get close to you again.
You can think of all this now, it's the player that can act quickly enough to use all these in the game. If one player is better than another, they will usually win.

[Andreja]

We're having a TheoryCraft battle.And yeah tahts true Gilles.

[Angry_Bovine]

Not completely true. Warlocks can face roll their way to >2000 arena rating. That's not skill IMO. That's just the abilities of their class.

[Huurka]

Funny.


Shamans used to be the greatest class.

[Campir]

Don't you have to fight 70's? If so, how cna you even compare a geared 70 and a 69?

69 is a far better way to judge how good your class is then 70. 70 you can go up against a full brutal and get raped no matter how good you are at playing your class. 69 no one really cares about the current gear as much as they do about the gear they have for 70, so the 69 bg's are actualy quite competetive and fun, as opposed to the 70 bg's/arenas where epix = win. SO... Basically in a 69 bg you are exemplifying the true power of your class where as in 70 you are exemplifying the true power of being an arena hugger.

[Andreja]

Yes well the power of the Shaman sucks without Epix.

[Serbianbeast]

69 is a far better way to judge how good your class is then 70. 70 you can go up against a full brutal and get raped no matter how good you are at playing your class. 69 no one really cares about the current gear as much as they do about the gear they have for 70, so the 69 bg's are actualy quite competetive and fun, as opposed to the 70 bg's/arenas where epix = win. SO... Basically in a 69 bg you are exemplifying the true power of your class where as in 70 you are exemplifying the true power of being an arena hugger.

You're saying that trying to beat up a bunch of twinks or being a twink shows of a real power of a class? Oh cmon, you can't be serious. We're talking about being s3-s4 geared and facing other classes of same gear.

[Campir]

You're saying that trying to beat up a bunch of twinks or being a twink shows of a real power of a class? Oh cmon, you can't be serious. We're talking about being s3-s4 geared and facing other classes of same gear.

Did you even read my post? The 69 queue has 0 twinks. What made a twink was the fact that the twinker had the funds to buy enchants and clefthide that the none twinkers had no access to. What kinda' 69 can't afford clefthide? I've rolled 3 characters to 70, and have BG'ed at 69 a ton, and no matter how much people wanna' beleive there 1337 69 is a twink, it's not. Therefore at 69 you have people on a relativley even playing field. If your class is OP, you'll dominate, if you're class is underpowered, you'll... failinate. However in 70 it's more like, if you have full brutal you'll dominate, and if you have full epic greens you'll falinate. So... 70 Bg = Gear, 69 BG = Class Balancement
Understand?

[Gilles]

69 is a far better way to judge how good your class is then 70. 70 you can go up against a full brutal and get raped no matter how good you are at playing your class. 69 no one really cares about the current gear as much as they do about the gear they have for 70, so the 69 bg's are actualy quite competetive and fun, as opposed to the 70 bg's/arenas where epix = win. SO... Basically in a 69 bg you are exemplifying the true power of your class where as in 70 you are exemplifying the true power of being an arena hugger.
But some classes need gear, so your so called "level playing field" isn't level at all. Call if dumb if you want, but it's the truth. Look at pre-BC. When the new talents came out, some classes were way overpowered, but that's only because the game was only balanced out at 70. It would require a shit load of work to make the game balanced at all levels, and I really could care less. Blizzard should only focus on making 70 balanced. Or 80 as it soon will be.