by Zach Yonzon of WoW.com and The BattleMasters Webcomic
Blizzard decided to give the Hunter class a little more love in the updated PTR 3.3.3. Patch Notes for Word of Warcraft today. So why don’t we take a look at what it means so far. Who knows, maybe my opinion won’t be that different than the other 1,920,000 entries that Google returns.
As of today here’s what the PTR Patch 3.3.3 notes say
Beast Mastery
Ferocious Inspiration: This ability is now an aura and provides 1/2/3% damage to all party or raid members within 100 yards and boosts the damage of Steady Shot by 3/6/9%.
Sweet! So Beast Mastery is getting what looks like some positive attention! But let’s just make sure. What happens today with FI?
Ferocious Inspiration (Rank 3): When your pet scores a critical hit, all party and raid members have all damage increased by 3% for 10 sec. In addition, increases the damage dealt by Arcane Shot by 9%.
Hmm.. so what’s changed…
First we see that the ability is now a raid wide Aura. Instead of a Self Buff that occurs only when your pet scores a critical hit. Basically it’s a /cast and forget.
The other change you’ll notice is which ability gets a bonus increase of damage. Today it’s Arcane Shot, right now it looks like Patch 3.3.3 is going to give it to Steady Shot.
Now the fun will begin. PvE BM Hunters can rejoice! We have a Raid Wide Aura and our primary shot’s damage is increased again! Though I seem to remember Ghostcrawler saying any future changes to BM would probably not include changes to Steady Shot. Well, I’m glad they realized that this really wasn’t possible in the current game.
(Don’t remember that? It happend in response to “The Great BM Nerf” of Patch 3.0.8! When Blizz changed Steady Shot by reducing it’s gain from Attack Power from 20% to 10%.)
Anyways BM’s primary shot is being increased so it’s Ferocious Inspiration will increase it’s damage by 9%. What does that mean? Hmm.. Let’s see if we can figure that out.
Right now Steady Shot Damage is calculated as
Unmodified Weapon Damage + Ammo + [RAP * 0.1 + 108]
(Yes, I ignored the whole +175 Damage to Dazed targets. I’m sure somewhere someone will figure out how to use this coupled with some cool spell or try to justify why we should weave Concussive Shot into our rotation.)
Okay so using some real world numbers.. (Sure, why not use mine. I’m not ashamed. 
)
- Unmodified Weapon Damage (Avg. Min/Max Weapon Damage) = 542.5
- Ammo Damage (Shatter Rounds) = 91.5
- Ranged Attack Power = 3,837 RAP
542.5 + 91.5 + (3,837 * .01 + 108)
633.5 + ( 38.37 + 108)
633.5 + 146.37 = 779 Damage
779 Damage
(I’ll round down just to be safe. +/- 1 point of damage really isn’t going to make or break the bank)
Of course that doesn’t really mean much because we need to know that that’s going to do over the life of some raid. So using a similar comparison we did back with the 3.0.8 change let’s take a look at what currently is our Total Boss Damage potential.
(Steady Shot Damage * # of Normal Shots) + (Steady Shot Crit Damage * # of Crit Shots) = Total Boss Damage
Let’s just say that about 1/3 of our shots in a boss fight are Steady Shots and that we fire off about 300 Shots on Festergut. That gives us just about 100 Steady Shots to work with.
And using my Crit Percentage of 31% would mean we Crit on about 33 of those shots, leaving 67 normal shots fired. So using the following numbers.
- Calculated Steady Shot Damage = 779
- Calculated Crit Stead Shot Damage (779 *2) = 1558
- Crit Shots (100/3) = 33
- Normal Shots (100-33) = 67
(779 *67) + (1558 * 33) =
52,193 + 51,414 = 103,607 Total Boss Damage
So right now our Total Boss Damage Potential is 103,607 points of damage. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.
But that’s now. In Patch 3.3.3 Ferocious Inspiration it says that the Raid and Party will get 3% Increase to damage and then a +9% Damage to our Steady Shot.
That means our base damage gets a 3% Boost THEN we add on top of that a nice 9% Boost to what our Steady Shot Damage is. So let’s go back to the chalk board with these new numbers.
- Unmodified Weapon Damage (Avg. Min/Max Weapon Damage) = 542.5
- Ammo Damage (Shatter Rounds) = 91.5
- Ranged Attack Power = 3,837 RAP
- Ferocious Inspiration Buff = .03%
- Steady Shot Bonus = 9%
{[(542.5 * 1.03) + (91.5 * 1.03)] + (3,837 * .01 + 108)} * 1.09 =
{[558.77 + 94.24] + (38.37 +108)} * 1.09 =
{653.01 + 146.37} * 1.09 =
799 * 1.09 =
870 Damage
That’s an increase of 11% Total Damage!
(870 - 779)/779 - .11
What does that mean in our Boss Damage Caculations!? Glad you asked!
- Calculated Steady Shot Damage = 870
- Calculated Crit Stead Shot Damage (870 *2) = 1,740
- Crit Shots (100/3) = 33
- Normal Shots (100-33) = 67
(870 *67) + (1740 * 33) =
58,290 + 57420 =
115,710 Total Boss Damage
Okay, so let’s see what’s the Before and After look like eh?
- Before: 103,607 Total Boss Damage
- After 115,710 Total Boss Damage
- +/- % = +11% Buff to Steady Shot
If you’re wondering why I keep on bringing up the change in Patch 3.0.8 it’s because at that time the nerfed Steady Shot by about 14%. Well, it looks like they’re giving BM Hunters back 11% after a little more than a year.
Now this is all about the changes to Steady Shot and what it means over all. I didn’t really go back and now look at the loss of Arcane being buffed by 9%. But really, if you asked anyone, that was more for PvP so Hunters could have more instant shots. Really, this is a nerf to the BM Cleave teams if nothing else.
I still think we’ll see a generous increase of Hunter DPS though. a full 11%? meh, maybe not. But enough that you won’t get laughed at everytime you get all big and red. 
Wrapping up I thought I’d try and answer a few questions I’ve seen floating around.
Q: Is that 11% enough to convince the Raiding Elite to take a Beast Master Hunter instead of a Marksman or Survival hunter?
Probably not.
See, Marks and Survival will still get a buff similar to the new Ferocious Inspiration Aura from Retribution Paladins with Sanctified Retribution or Arcane Empowerment from Arcane Mages
Q: Does it mean that Raiding Beast Master Hunters will get more respect?
/shrug I don’t know. I hope so. Before it was said that BM Hunters didn’t bring anything and they were the worst Hunter Spec. So now maybe Raiding Guilds will consider having a solidly skilled BM Hunter instead of an Arcane Mage. 
Q: Does this mean Blizzard felt that Beast Masters needed a boost and did all what they could for the spec until Cataclysm?
Yeah, I really think it does. There really wasn’t anything they could do really. Buffing the pet wouldn’t really help BM Hunters.
Making Spirit Beasts bit more worth it would be pretty cool, but that would go against their goals. Also, it would mean that BM Hunters had crossed that magical 30% Pet Damage barrier.
Q: Okay, fine. So what does this mean for me. Will I get to see Ice Crown as a BM Hunter and kill Arthas?
I think I answered this one already. But yeah. I think so. But face it. Competative Raiding guilds are always going to push for the Top DPS spec out of all their DPS classes. So if you’re trying to apply o raid with the big boys. Well, then maybe you should reconsider the feasibility of your goals.
However, if you’re normal PUG is giving you crap about being BM in lesser raids, ICC Heroics, or even as you do the normal random. Well, that should stop.
And remember. No matter what it’s all about having fun. If you like being a Beast Master Hunter but have felt a bit on the outs lately. Hopefully, this will give you a feeling of vindication. Blizzard has heard your call and has done what they can.
And don’t lose heart. I’m sure we’ll see some more changes. If not now, in Cataclysm for sure.
(NOTE: I got some feedback from Frostheim that pointed out some errors or at the least points that might be confusing. Primarily that if you are Raiding you probably already have a Ret Paladin or Arcane Mage then you are aleady getting the 3% Damage Bonus.
When I first read that comment I had to agree, it might be confusing. So I added a point that I’m trying to show the change in Steady Shot Damage. NOT just what the Raid Damage is.
Frost also pointed out that my formula has an error in how I apply the damage for Ammo, it’s minimal but enough to note.
Finally, he also pointed out that though I highlight the change in damage done by Steady Shot, I don’t show the DPS changes. That’s true. Mostly because I’m showing a theoretical damage over a period of time. If I find the time I may go back and show the DPS change as well.)
So I was giving it some thought. What if we expanded on this whole idea of hunting game for the Nesingary’s? What if Blizzard started added a special random event for Hunters! (Yes, other classes can have their own special event also. Can’t have them QQing and all. Maybe Warlocks can have a “Slave of the Month Club” or Mages can learn how to turn their Iceblocks into different flavored popsicles or somethin.)
A look at PTR 3.3.3 Hunter Changes
by Zach Yonzon of WoW.com and The BattleMasters Webcomic
Blizzard decided to give the Hunter class a little more love in the updated PTR 3.3.3. Patch Notes for Word of Warcraft today. So why don’t we take a look at what it means so far. Who knows, maybe my opinion won’t be that different than the other 1,920,000 entries that Google returns.
As of today here’s what the PTR Patch 3.3.3 notes say
Sweet! So Beast Mastery is getting what looks like some positive attention! But let’s just make sure. What happens today with FI?
Hmm.. so what’s changed…
First we see that the ability is now a raid wide Aura. Instead of a Self Buff that occurs only when your pet scores a critical hit. Basically it’s a /cast and forget.
The other change you’ll notice is which ability gets a bonus increase of damage. Today it’s Arcane Shot, right now it looks like Patch 3.3.3 is going to give it to Steady Shot.
Now the fun will begin. PvE BM Hunters can rejoice! We have a Raid Wide Aura and our primary shot’s damage is increased again! Though I seem to remember Ghostcrawler saying any future changes to BM would probably not include changes to Steady Shot. Well, I’m glad they realized that this really wasn’t possible in the current game.
(Don’t remember that? It happend in response to “The Great BM Nerf” of Patch 3.0.8! When Blizz changed Steady Shot by reducing it’s gain from Attack Power from 20% to 10%.)
Anyways BM’s primary shot is being increased so it’s Ferocious Inspiration will increase it’s damage by 9%. What does that mean? Hmm.. Let’s see if we can figure that out.
Right now Steady Shot Damage is calculated as
(Yes, I ignored the whole +175 Damage to Dazed targets. I’m sure somewhere someone will figure out how to use this coupled with some cool spell or try to justify why we should weave Concussive Shot into our rotation.)
Okay so using some real world numbers.. (Sure, why not use mine. I’m not ashamed.
)
(I’ll round down just to be safe. +/- 1 point of damage really isn’t going to make or break the bank)
Of course that doesn’t really mean much because we need to know that that’s going to do over the life of some raid. So using a similar comparison we did back with the 3.0.8 change let’s take a look at what currently is our Total Boss Damage potential.
Let’s just say that about 1/3 of our shots in a boss fight are Steady Shots and that we fire off about 300 Shots on Festergut. That gives us just about 100 Steady Shots to work with.
And using my Crit Percentage of 31% would mean we Crit on about 33 of those shots, leaving 67 normal shots fired. So using the following numbers.
So right now our Total Boss Damage Potential is 103,607 points of damage. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.
But that’s now. In Patch 3.3.3 Ferocious Inspiration it says that the Raid and Party will get 3% Increase to damage and then a +9% Damage to our Steady Shot.
That means our base damage gets a 3% Boost THEN we add on top of that a nice 9% Boost to what our Steady Shot Damage is. So let’s go back to the chalk board with these new numbers.
{[(542.5 * 1.03) + (91.5 * 1.03)] + (3,837 * .01 + 108)} * 1.09 ={[558.77 + 94.24] + (38.37 +108)} * 1.09 ={653.01 + 146.37} * 1.09 =That’s an increase of 11% Total Damage!
What does that mean in our Boss Damage Caculations!? Glad you asked!
Okay, so let’s see what’s the Before and After look like eh?
If you’re wondering why I keep on bringing up the change in Patch 3.0.8 it’s because at that time the nerfed Steady Shot by about 14%. Well, it looks like they’re giving BM Hunters back 11% after a little more than a year.
Now this is all about the changes to Steady Shot and what it means over all. I didn’t really go back and now look at the loss of Arcane being buffed by 9%. But really, if you asked anyone, that was more for PvP so Hunters could have more instant shots. Really, this is a nerf to the BM Cleave teams if nothing else.
I still think we’ll see a generous increase of Hunter DPS though. a full 11%? meh, maybe not. But enough that you won’t get laughed at everytime you get all big and red.
Wrapping up I thought I’d try and answer a few questions I’ve seen floating around.
Probably not.
See, Marks and Survival will still get a buff similar to the new Ferocious Inspiration Aura from Retribution Paladins with Sanctified Retribution or Arcane Empowerment from Arcane Mages
/shrug I don’t know. I hope so. Before it was said that BM Hunters didn’t bring anything and they were the worst Hunter Spec. So now maybe Raiding Guilds will consider having a solidly skilled BM Hunter instead of an Arcane Mage.
Yeah, I really think it does. There really wasn’t anything they could do really. Buffing the pet wouldn’t really help BM Hunters.
Making Spirit Beasts bit more worth it would be pretty cool, but that would go against their goals. Also, it would mean that BM Hunters had crossed that magical 30% Pet Damage barrier.
I think I answered this one already. But yeah. I think so. But face it. Competative Raiding guilds are always going to push for the Top DPS spec out of all their DPS classes. So if you’re trying to apply o raid with the big boys. Well, then maybe you should reconsider the feasibility of your goals.
However, if you’re normal PUG is giving you crap about being BM in lesser raids, ICC Heroics, or even as you do the normal random. Well, that should stop.
And remember. No matter what it’s all about having fun. If you like being a Beast Master Hunter but have felt a bit on the outs lately. Hopefully, this will give you a feeling of vindication. Blizzard has heard your call and has done what they can.
And don’t lose heart. I’m sure we’ll see some more changes. If not now, in Cataclysm for sure.
(NOTE: I got some feedback from Frostheim that pointed out some errors or at the least points that might be confusing. Primarily that if you are Raiding you probably already have a Ret Paladin or Arcane Mage then you are aleady getting the 3% Damage Bonus.
When I first read that comment I had to agree, it might be confusing. So I added a point that I’m trying to show the change in Steady Shot Damage. NOT just what the Raid Damage is.
Frost also pointed out that my formula has an error in how I apply the damage for Ammo, it’s minimal but enough to note.
Finally, he also pointed out that though I highlight the change in damage done by Steady Shot, I don’t show the DPS changes. That’s true. Mostly because I’m showing a theoretical damage over a period of time. If I find the time I may go back and show the DPS change as well.)