What should I do to prepare for the release of Cataclysm? [closed]
I'd like to prepare for cataclysm being released in terms of clearing my bags / bank and also spending / saving / acquiring 'currency' (gold / honor / emblems etc) but am not sure where to start. The kind of things I'm thinking of are where 'currency' changes from one expansion to the next:
- Badges of frost / heroism etc. Should I spend them on heirloom items, or save them if they get converted to something usable in Cata?
- Honor - similar question - spend now or save?
- Crusader orbs / Frozen Orbs - sell now?
- Sell trade mats (at now rock bottom prices)? Or are some expected still to be in demand in Cata?
Also I have a few thousand gold saved, but not sure what the 'exchange rate' is likely to be - is it worth taking advantage of being able to get gold easily now, or are quests like to pay out more than the current level 80 quests once we start levelling again?
Solution 1:
If you think you will be interested in leveling some new characters post-cataclysm, you should spend your Triumph and any lesser emblems on Heirloom gear. With the conversion of the current currency to Justice Points, the cost of the heirlooms actually goes up quite a bit. As can be seen here: http://playervsdeveloper.blogspot.com/2010/10/401-ptr-heirloom-prices-increased-5x.html
Yes there are new heirlooms coming out that can be used up to level 85, but they are gained through the Guild leveling system. If you are not in a guild that will level to that point, then definitely purchase them now. Otherwise it's your choice.
The justice point cap when patch 4.0.3 goes live is 4k. Any points that you have accumulated over that value will be converted to gold. That 4k Justice points will get you at most 2 pieces of Rare lvl 85 gear in Cataclysm. Maybe it's worth not spending your emblems and letting them be converted so you have that justice point bonus going into end game Cataclysm. My thoughts are that if you cap out your JP's now and run dungeons while leveling, you're going to be missing out on those points (as you'll be capped). I'm planning on spending as much of my emblems as I can on things I want, and whatever I have left over I'll go into Cataclysm with as JP's.
As for Frost emblems, depending on the going price of Primordial Saronite on your server, you might consider converting them to that and selling it off for some gold.
I've heard rumored that the Gem vendor who sells epic gems for honor is going away come the 4.0 patch. Some gold could be gained now by converting your honor and stone keeper shards into epic gems, get them cut and sell them for profit.
As for other things to do. There are a number of achievements that are being removed/converted to Feats of Strength. If that's your kind of thing you might consider doing those quickly.
Sell off anything and everything you can if it looks like the going rate for it is high. Cut gems especially. Some things like enchanting materials and cloth may actually go up in price as new characters reach the 70-80 stretch and are leveling their professions. It takes a ton of Frostweave (for instance) to level LK tailoring. I imagine that stuff will get rather scarce when not everyone is running around Northrend. So if you have some bank alts, it might benefit you to save some of that stuff for a little while.
Solution 2:
I suggest you get/save:
All the Frost Badges / Thriumph that you can. Don’t buy Heirloom now as it will be replaced anyway. Badges will be converted. Use this calculator to estimate how much you will get.
Cap your 75.000 honor unless there’s something you need. (I.e. you have a green chest from questing, go get the furious one). But always try to end the season with as much as you can get close to 75k.
These are not going to be converted as far as I know, but eventually replaced. I’m not 100% sure. Sell them anyway.
Save them if you have. There will be a lot of leveling and the need for “power level” certain professions.
Solution 3:
As far as getting gold is concerned, you're at an advantage right now because you earn the normal gold for the quest as well as a bonus payment for the XP that you would have gained. After Cataclysm, you won't have the same bonus until you reach 85. The benefit varies by quest, anywhere from 25% to 100% more gold.
Wowhead - Cataclysm lists the quests and their rewards. For example, it looks like the quests in Mount Hyjal - the 78-82 zone - reward gold and XP very near or slightly better than those in Icecrown. 77-80 quests in Icecrown give rougly 7g 40s (13g 23s at level 80); similar quests in Hyjal reward 7g 80s (16g 53s at level 85). So in the short term you'll be getting about 45% less gold. However, by the time you're in the later zones (levels 82-84) the quest payouts should be closer to what you're now getting at 80 through the XP bonus.