WOW's dual talent specs explained

By Oli Welsh Published 13 February, 2009

Max level only, comes with gear manager.

In a Q&A on the official World of Warcraft website, Blizzard's senior game designer Greg Street (better known to players as Ghostcrawler) has explained how the dual talent spec system coming in the next game update will work.

Dual specs will allow players to more easily switch their characters between two character customisation setups - one for raiding and one for player-versus-player, perhaps, or one for healing and one for doing damage.

The option will only be available to players at the maximum level of 80 at first. "We didn't want to burden lower-level players with extra complexity as they're working to level up and learn their class. But if the feature proves popular we might consider expanding it," said Street.

You'll pay a one-time fee to your in-game class trainer to access dual specs; after that, switching between them will be free at any Lexicon of Power in any city.

Alternatively, players with the Inscription profession will be able to create and sell a portable Lexicon of Power that will require a group of players to summon and use anywhere - except during combat, or in Arenas. So, switching roles in the middle of a dungeon is viable, but it might be expensive.

Along with the specs themselves, you'll get dual set-ups for your action bars and Glyphs (spell-modifying customisations) that will switch automatically when you switch spec.

Since switching role often means changing your gear, Blizzard will also add a Gear Manager to the game that will allow easy switching between equippable items - weapons, trinkets, outfits or entire equipment sets.

"We will be launching the feature with just two specs, but depending on how we feel it works out, we might consider additional specs in the future," Street said.

Dual specs will be coming to WOW's public test servers soon, but Blizzard warned that it might not be "immediately available" there with the rest of the next content patch, and the Gear Manager might lag a little behind it.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ThePope #1 3 years ago

    Dinged lvl 80 last night. My first ever lvl maxed char :) Subscription runs out on the 26th, definately not gonna play any more (for a while anyway!) way too much of a time hog.

  • iokthemonkey #2 3 years ago

    The option will only be available to players at the maximum level of 80 at first. "We didn't want to burden lower-level players with extra complexity as they're working to level up and learn their class. But if the feature proves popular we might consider expanding it," said Street.

    ----

    TRANSLATION: We need *something* to make people keep playing.

  • Canyarion #3 3 years ago

    Sounds good.

  • Venkman90 #4 3 years ago

    I still love WoW, the basics of the game are great, but they need more endgame content to make it worth even having dual specs!

    2 more epic 25mans and at least one more 10 man before the year end (and at least one before springs out) might fight the burn out

  • Lionheart #5 3 years ago

    Ok i see what they want to do and i agree

    Will cause alot more Ninja players in groups tho "I NEED this for my tank spec" etc etc
    Could get rather frustrating!

    Dont get me wrong though it's a good idea.

  • Apologie #6 3 years ago

    WoW is the devil... i mean it guys, most peple cant control themselves and in no time all kind of conversations they will have with friends will be about axes and swords, ap and mana regeneration... its really sad, and plus, you have to pay every month to play it, big monopoly... not to mention the enormous amount of wortless little things they add just to keep you intrested, likem the dual spec only at lvl 80 lol... i used to play WoW and dont get me wrong is a good game, but its better to play something else that dont consume as much time and money.

  • loopy #7 3 years ago

    "Sounds very usefull but a way off yet :( "

    I doubt it's as far away as you think. ;)

  • Benno #8 3 years ago

    This is such a good feature to include, they should've done it ages ago.

  • iokthemonkey #9 3 years ago

    "We will be launching the feature with just two specs, but depending on how we feel it works out, we might consider additional specs in the future," Street said.

    ----

    For a fee, no doubt.

  • Benno #10 3 years ago

    Hopefully.

  • Flooq #11 3 years ago

    Venkman90: Actually played WoW recently? Every Wrath raid is both 10 and 25. With a major update including a new raid in the next month or two I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that they'll at least add that much content this year.

  • Venkman90 #12 3 years ago

    Venkman90: Actually played WoW recently? Every Wrath raid is both 10 and 25. With a major update including a new raid in the next month or two I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that they'll at least add that much content this year.

    I am aware of that, but they dont all have to be, much like ZG / ZA or Kara a smaller raid might have been good rather than trying to make 2 of everything.

    Anyway, Uldar is April at best, then what?

  • Mooks #13 3 years ago

    The best thing to do for now is level a few alts if your bored. Blizzard seems to have dropped the ball abit regarding raid variety and complexity. VOA and OS are far to short and Naxx is just recycled content. Nothing wrong with taking a break for 6 or even 8 months to avoid the content drought.

  • dudefella #14 3 years ago

    Whyyyy only level 80? Why not from 60 or 70 or whatever. Damn. Also I hope the fee to learn it isn't ridiculous. No more than 100g please.

  • Benno #15 3 years ago

    They need to enable it for any level...

  • Shakermaker #16 3 years ago

    Lionheart 13-Feb-09 11:56:28
    Will cause alot more Ninja players in groups tho "I NEED this for my tank spec" etc etc



    Yeah, that will very likely be the case.