Wrath of the Lich King made a number of fundamental changes to the game, many of which went through so many iterations that it can be difficult to get the facts. You can find a summary of these changes as related to the Restoration Druid in this extensive FAQ!
In response to a player inquiry about when we could expect to see Dire Cat Form added to the beta, Blizzard Poster Koraa responded with the following:
We have no plans to implement a “Dire Cat” form at this time. “Dire Bear” exists for the sole purpose of upgrading the Feral Druid’s armor value to match the Warrior/Paladin etc. (Druids get no shield)
We do, however, intend to allow Druids to be able to use items and enchants with procs in forms, which I believe will work in the next beta build (don’t hold me to it though).
One player immediately responds with claims about Dire Cat Form having been mentioned at the Worldwide Invitational, to which Koraa responds:
I think what Kalgan meant was that we intend to do different texture variances for Druid forms, including Cat form. Which is true, though not sure how soon we’re going to get that. They may come from a repeatable quest, or through inscription.
Regarding the “Feral Range Bug,” that really is not a bug. Have a Warrior, Rogue or any melee class play without using a snare and you’ll encounter the same issue. The issue is that the server and client are not sync. When you try to do damage to the target, while your client shows him on your screen, the server disagree’s and gives you an error. Snares help alleviate the problem, which is what we’re giving Feral Druids in the form of “Infected Wounds” for the expansion.
If you encounter the same thing (not being able to hit your target) while playing a Rogue or a Warrior if you don’t use their snare, perhaps it would have made sense to give Cat Form a snare, too?
And what Kalgan meant was that Druids would be getting something called a Dire Cat Form that would be considered an “upgrade.” The direct quote can be heard by watching video footage from the Developer Q&A Session via WorldofWar.net. You can skip to the relevant portion by moving the video cursor to 29:00. (Note: WorldofWar.net is unresponsive this morning so I’m unable to confirm.) Here is a transcript of what was said:
Question: Will feral for example get male or female options for forms?
Answer: Frank Pierce: We’re thinking about swapping out flight form for male and female forms in the feral. No? (jokingly)
Answer: Tom Chilton: Hello, we do plan to do is actually put a new model for the Dire Bear Form, um, we also plan to release the Dire Cat. So um at the very least those should get some new upgrades.
Given the small pool of beta testers, this issue hasn’t generated the outrage that it would have otherwise, though there’s currently a 12-page thread in the official, non-beta forums. I am personally quite frustrated that they would pretend that this was never promised. This was not some tested whim on the Alpha or Beta servers. This was a change specifically mentioned at an official Blizzard event by the lead developer!
There was a considerable amount of frustration from beta testers at Koraa’s dismisal of the “Cat Form range bug” as something needing to put into quotes, despite the fact that the internal bug report at Blizzard dates back to 2004. In response to player outcry over the validity of this concern, she wrote:
Is this on a creature that is not moving? If so, please take a video of it occurring and post it on the bug forums.
When you reference the “cat form range bug” you could mean many different things:
- Fighting a creature for a set amount of time and your specials (i.e. Mangle) are not able to hit, but your white attacks (auto attacks) can: White attacks and specials have two different ranges, sometimes your combat range and spell combat range can be different. We’ve added AI for the creature to re-align itself when you shift into cat form, moving him within ideal range of your special/combat abilities. If the mob is rooted or stunned etc, you can still experience problems. (If you notice instances where you are within range to auto-attack, but not use Mangle for instance, try moving your character slightly. If the mob does not re-align, or it does not resolve the issue, please take a video and post it on the bug forums).
- You are chasing a player or creature at equal speeds. Your client (your WoW) shows you within range (even on top of) the target, yet it says you’re out of range: This is in result of latency/delay with the server and the client. The server says you are out of range, yet your client says you are on top of them. The server makes the decision whether you’re allowed to hit the target or not, and as far as it’s concerned you are out of range. You can test this yourself by having two WoW clients open or side by side and have one of them walk, and observe it on the other WoW client. You’ll notice a delay. We actually added some “slush” between the server and client, where the server will actually extend your range if you’re moving.
- Cat form’s “hitbox”: From what I can understand, this is setup correctly.
I just had a chat with our programmers and we do have some new tech for WOLK intended to help solve the melee range issue. The server will try to “predict” the range between you and your target, which we hope will make the issue less evident. This has not yet been implemented in beta, but I’ll let you know when we do finally put in the change.
Btw, there is no need to rant that we are “ignoring” or “don’t understand” the issue… we are actually quite aware of it, as I’m looking at our internal bug report on this exact issue dating back to 2004.
So apparently they are trying something else to correct the issue. Given the fact that the issue is four years old, I can’t say I’m particularly optimistic.
On a somewhat related note, it seems that shapeshifting out of a Feral Form after activating one of a couple of specific abilities — Berserk and Dash — does not cause you to lose those effects if you shift back into the form where they were activated. Though this does not appear to apply to the Enrage effect, it hasn’t been determined whether this applies to other abilities such as Frenzied Regeneration.
In summary:
- Despite what was stated by Tom Chilton at the 2008 Worldwide Invitational, a Blizzard Poster has said that there are no plans to implement Dire Cat Form.
- There are official, confirmed plans to allow Druids to use potions and weapon procs in forms, and this change should be live in the next beta build.
- Druids will have the opportunity to customize their forms to their liking, either through a repeatable quest or through the Inscription tradeskill.
- Efforts are once again being made to address what is perceived as a “range bug” by players using Cat Form.
- Activating Dash or Berserk and shapeshifting out of the form and then shapeshifting back will see the effect still active.
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@Kiryn: Have you considered the fact that Rejuvenation + Swiftmend is a 1.5 second cast while Regrowth is only 2? I know that you aren’t having trouble with mana, but a Regrowth will hit harder and provide more potential benefits (crit = Nature’s Grace and possibly Living...
“Activating Dash or Berserk and shapeshifting out of the form and then shapeshifting back will see the effect still active.”
A minor change that truly makes me smile
I’ve been grinding some honor on my druid recently and I absolutely hate popping dash to get away from someone only to eat a deadly throw 2 seconds later and have to shift out and lose it! Good to know 
Thanks for the update and thanks for the comment @ outofmana!
“And what Kalgan meant was that Druids would be getting something called a Dire Cat Form that would be considered an “upgrade.” The direct quote can be heard by watching video footage from the Developer Q&A Session via WorldofWar.net.”
In all fairness, the context of that quote is a discussion of feral aesthetics. What Koraa describes is still just as much an “upgrade” to cat form within that context.
textures!
YAY!
they will add new TEXTURES!
I am sssooo happy!!!!!!
..not.
levelling from 1 to 70 - 14 days
transforming into shining ultimate killing tank, shiny pinky healer, noble priest with angelic wings - 2000 DKP
stucking in one model from lvl 20 to 80 - priceless.
A note on the weapon procs- if you are thinking of Windfury Totem, forget it. It will no longer be a weapon proc, but will be a group/raid wide haste effect instead, at least as things stand now in Beta. So now it will be an effect you would have gotten benefit from already without getting procs in forms, and it will buff a stat that Ferals probably care the least about of any class/spec…/sigh
@Elo: I hadn’t thought about the implications of Dash, really, but I sometimes use it in PvP. It’s so annoying to get slowed or rooted right after popping it! This will be nice. Also, you’re welcome for the comment. I loved reading your perspective!
@Ace Calhoon: Yes, but when you say “Dire” Cat Form, especially in the same sentence as mentioning Dire Bear Form, the obvious indication is that there will be a new form that’s fundamentally better than its earlier iteration, the same way that Dire Bear Form was large improvement over plain old Bear Form. I do understand that they were discussing aesthetics at that point, but I thought the idea was “Oh and you’re getting a Dire Cat Form that will have a brand new model, too!”
@Warscreamer: Textures are better than nothing, I guess, but I wonder if they are planning to do something like that for Trees, too. We still have the level 20 model. =(
@Yggdrasil: Yeah, good point about Windfury. Luckily with those totems being raid wide, we probably have a better chance of getting a totem like Grace of Air, too.
Grace of Air and Strength of Earth’s effects are supposed to be merged into 1 totem, much like Curse of Elements and Shadows were merged, so the Agi and Str bonus should pretty much always be present if there is an enhancement shammy, unless the dynamics of an encounter requires a different totem instead.
I can’t understand why Blizzard hasn’t created new models for Druids yet. They are creating new models (mobs and items) all the time, but can’t get around to updating our main models that haven’t changed since the release of the game -.-
A year ago the argument that there are just too few Druids around might have had been valid, but with all the FOTM Druids now there’s plenty of audience for it. *sigh*
//Ubi
“I do understand that they were discussing aesthetics at that point, but I thought the idea was “Oh and you’re getting a Dire Cat Form that will have a brand new model, too!””
Fair enough, it just seems a little bit early to use “disgust” and “outrage” to describe a graphical change that we haven’t seen yet. Especially since the majority of the “looks” for the tier sets are accomplished via textures, rather than model changes.
Worrying? Yeah, I could get behind that. Much more than that just seems to stray into the realm of the ubiquitous “slap in the face!”
There have been some amazing posts on this very blog about the awe-inspiring Andrige.
Wether the changes they are implementing are a nod in his direction or not, I’ve wanted to hear those very words at the very least. Although new models would be spiffy-nifty-keen, I do understand that models themselves are very time-consuming. However, players like uniqueness, and they like to see visually progress. A high end raider puts in countless hours and enjoys seeing the glowing, singing, animated shoulders that come with it. Getting through high end content promotes that visual sign of progress that both entices prestige, and also helps us feel like our character is ‘COOL’ for whatever reason. I can’t lie - I squee-d when I saw that there were FLOWERS growing on my SHOULDERS the first time I put on T5. Druids spend so much time in forms though, that although living in them may be a perk for some (I doubt they’ll FORCE you to re-skin) most of us neither see nor can display our loot or progress in any way except at the character select screen, and for a few minutes in the bank now and again.
This change is much needed. If every race will be able to dance new moves, and style their hair - customizing our forms so we are recognizeable somewhat, or just so we can plain see some change now and again I think is an amazing thing.
So what about Dire Cat? Well I have heard via the feral grapevine of my furry not-tree brethren that cat form has poor scaling. This is something that might be adressed via talents and gear and a dire cat form may not be necessary to apply progression. In which case if our stats don’t need a boost - the skin is the only change to the form, and if they are giving us that, I’m not seeing why people are so upset and outraged.
Overall I’m happy to hear they’ll be implementing what Andrige has been doing, and I hope and pray that our broccoli-like selves will be getting the option of a makeover as well.
@Phaelia “Textures are better than nothing”, with all due respect… should we be grateful because they throw us some scaling in skills?
SOME ‘updates’ are just expected from expansion packs.
Bear/Cat is quite popular form for I dont know 40% of druids?
Like I said in previous post.. I wasn’t going to pray to Blizz guys when they said that we will get Dire Cat.. Because I was sure that we just have to get it.
If they spent weeks on creating new emotes for every race, barber shops I dont know what else…
Implementing new druid form took 10% of this time.
now Im just disappointed
@Zaira: They’re not implementing my stuff but they’re obviously doing something about forms, hopefully because of me but I don’t think so.
The question about an upgrade was dragged up before the release of TBC, Kalgan had forwarded it and they said it would be ‘cool’… just not cool enough for expansion though it seems but that’s a completely different story.
I think that was partially why I started making the pack to begin with… when I saw that Kalgan didn’t report back any real answers besides weak political excuses I started making my own stuff.
Thanks Kalgan, I guess? :S
And Dire Cat should really be implemented, if we’re gonna share with the Rogue loot I would actually want all the statpoints it would have to be useful.
Hitrate, haste, armour penetration… all of it make less use on a Cat than it does on a Rogue, and it will only get worse as the players get further into the content.
Uh, completely unrelated, but I am in beta and wanted to let you know that Flourish is awesome.
And it looks cool: http://kamileon.net/wow/wotlk/WoWScrnShot_072408_010141.jpg
@Yggdrasil: Oh, I’d forgotten about that change to Grace of Air/Strength of Earth. That’s definitely welcome news.
@Kuhbi: Exactly. They have cumulatively spent a lot more time on creating unique and beautiful (well, some of them!) tameable beasts for Hunters than they have on Feral Forms … and Fluffy doesn’t pay $15/month!
@Ace Calhoon: The “disgust” and “outrage” was actually related to the lack of a new form that scales better than the old one, not with the aesthetics. I like pretty things as much as the next person (okay, okay probably MORE than the next person), but I was really happy that Ferals wouldn’t be forced to PvP in Bear Form because they’re so squishy in Cat.
@Zaira: Models are very time-consuming, but they’re likely dedicating a tremendous amount of time to creating new models of NPCs that aren’t even playable. It seems like at least a portion of that time could be dedicated to creating playable new and unique Feral forms. And luckily, it sounds like it is. =)
@Warscreamer: We should be happy for improved looks and angry about the carrot that was Dire Cat Form. I think some have misinterpreted my commentary in the above post so please allow me to clarify: I am happy that there will be some variety and customizability introduced to Cat and Bear Form. I am very upset that we won’t be getting a Dire Cat Form, because it would have helped bring Druids more in line with their non-hybrid counterpart, the Rogue, by allowing him to make better use of Rogue gear since Blizzard has traditionally dropped the ball on creating gear that is ideal for the way that Ferals itemize.
@Andrige: Thanks for commenting, Andrige.
I agree with you about Dire Cat and scaling.
@Kaera: Oooo that is really pretty! Thanks for sharing, and grats on your beta invite.
“I like pretty things as much as the next person (okay, okay probably MORE than the next person), but I was really happy that Ferals wouldn’t be forced to PvP in Bear Form because they’re so squishy in Cat.”
Yeah, I was misunderstanding you. Sorry.
But…
“I think some have misinterpreted my commentary in the above post so please allow me to clarify: I am happy that there will be some variety and customizability introduced to Cat and Bear Form. I am very upset that we won’t be getting a Dire Cat Form, because it would have helped bring Druids more in line with their non-hybrid counterpart, the Rogue, by allowing him to make better use of Rogue gear since Blizzard has traditionally dropped the ball on creating gear that is ideal for the way that Ferals itemize.”
While reasonable, you’re irritation seems somewhat misplaced to me. You’re placing the responsibility for fixing the long-standing scaling problems that druids have had squarely upon the shoulders of an ability that we know nothing more about than the name.
Blizzard COULD fix druid scaling without it, via a mix of core mechanic changes, itemization, and other new abilities. Likewise, they could easily create a dire cat form that ultimately does not solve scaling problems (wasn’t Mangle supposed to fix feral scaling for a while there?).
Whether there is or is not an ability named “dire cat form” isn’t the issue. Whether there is or is not a fix for druid scaling/itemization is.
@Ace: You are, of course, correct. There are a variety of ways that scaling could be corrected. But the (apparently false) rumors circulating about the dynamics of Dire Cat (dual-wielding, 180% armor, more AP) would have done much in the way of bringing Ferals closer to taking equal advantage of all the Rogue-like gear that’s added. Unfortunately, as much as the talent trees might still be in “beta” we aren’t likely to see major changes like the ones associated with the rumors of Dire Cat Form that would do as much good.
@Andrige: Flattered that you responded! Also, you make an excelent point about the use of different stats and abilities in Feral forms. With the advent of totem changes, possible proc affects in feral and potion use in feral forms, hopefully blizzard agrees with you.
I’ll point out that ferals could use potions in the last BC beta but it got removed. So with the beta being 1 week old, here’s to hoping these changes for our feral brethren make it all the way through.
@Phae: We can keep hoping that they figure out how to use some of the models on our behalf that are already in-game! Any shortcut that leads to form customization is a shortcut I’m cheering for!
Stop saying that we are ignoring the issue! We are just not solving it for 4 years. Come on, we added it to our bug tracker, you should be happy about that!
@Zaira: That would be nice. I wonder how many animal models have the animations necessary to simulate Cat/Bear attacks. I imagine most are probably missing /dance, unfortunately. We just need to convince the Hunters to campaign to get their pets a /dance command, and we’ll be golden.
@LXj: Yeah! “It’s not a bug! I’m looking at it in our bug tracker right now!”
just taka a look at this:
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/images/wotlk/models/WOTLKC6.jpg
looks like creating armored bears with different armours is not a problem.. on… they are event ready.
why they dont want to do the same with cats?!
@Warscreamer: Haha … personally, I think I’ll skip the goggles!
“looks like creating armored bears with different armours is not a problem.. on… they are event ready.
why they dont want to do the same with cats?!”
Actually, with the Night Elf mounts, they already have. It would only take some simple copying of the additional pieces of skin/modeling, and scaling it down to size; the trouble would be those shoulderpads when the cat does mangle… >_>
But really. They already have the designs and the graphics in place; it can’t be that hard to edit it a bit for kitties!
Hell, they could make “dire cat form” a slightly modified (…and shrunken) version of the mounts. o.O Just add in some thicker fur. XD
And the goggles are badass! You know you love them. XD
<3
As always, love ya.
OH! Almost forgot;
“Stop saying that we are ignoring the issue! We are just not solving it for 4 years. Come on, we added it to our bug tracker, you should be happy about that!”
Your first two sentences imply that either you are, in fact, ignoring it, or you just aren’t competent enough to fix it.
Which one would you rather have me label you as?
See, it’s not a matter of us being happy, per se. It’s not like we’re asking you to turn our fur pink and let us dance the salsa with a murloc. I, myself, am satisfied with allowing druids that snare you mentioned; the one called “Infected Wounds”? I’m not sure if I read that properly, but the way I did read it, it seems as if you’re allowing druids some form of a snare.
See, me? I play a hunter (concussive shot, my two cold traps, scatter shot, AND the occasional snake trap), a resto druid (lolol), a rogue (…no comment needed) and a warlock (fear <3. enough said <33). I’m not complaining for my own benefit, here, and I don’t think that Phae is, either.
It’s a matter of this having been a problem that has not been solved for FOUR YEARS. That, to me, signifies that there is something wrong; with either you, or your skills.
Your constant bandaids annoy me, but I’ll admit that this one is one that would cease blood loss on the most severe of neck wounds.
That is all.
Once again, Phae… <3.
@Quilla: Well, it sounds like they have new skins and appearances listed as “very high priority” once all the major kinks are worked out of the game following the release of Wrath. I’d guess that we’ll see something in March, 2009. *Crosses Branches*
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