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Insider Trader: Patch 3.2 updates and Engineering analysis

Amanda Miller
Updated ·6 min read

Insider Traderis your inside line on making, selling, buying and using player-made products.

Over the past few weeks, Insider Trader has been discussing and analyzing the changes to professions set to go live with patch 3.2:

This week's column will be devoted to updating you on some of the newer changes, clarifying as many details as possible, and analyzing some of those juicy Engineering changes.



Alchemy

In last week's Q&A, we could only speculate about whether the new epic gem transmutes would have a cooldown. This week, it was announced that in fact, it will have a 20-hour cooldown. While this may sound like a bit of a pain, it will accomplish two things:

  • Transmute Masters, if there are any left, will once again feel that their chosen specialization is useful and profitable.

  • The market will not flood with epic gems to the point that they become commonplace and cheap. Thus, the demand for blue quality gems should also not drop too low.

Transmute reagents have also been changed to the following:

This change has actually reduced the materials needed, and was likely implemented to balance out the cooldown.

Blacksmithing

Titanium Plating currently increases block value by 40, but come patch 3.2, it will increase it by 81. That's a hair more than double!

Now that we've covered the latest updates, let's dig into the Engineering changes.

Engineering

As I mentioned earlier, we recently posted a rather substantial list of upcoming toys and gadgets that will be coming to the Engineering profession with patch 3.2. If you haven't seen it, go check it out, and then come back!

Because I have already analyzed several of these changes, if you feel that anything is missing from today's column, be sure to check out the earlier Patch 3.2 Profession Change Analysis.

1. Mind Amplification Dish:

This is a head attachment, and I'm sorry to say, will overwrite any other enchant you try to place on that helm. Of course, that won't keep you from applying it to a second helm, preferably the silliest one you can find.

If you've ever envied a Priest's ability to Mind Control, this is the attachment for you. Of course, there is a chance that it will backfire and you'll find yourself, well, under the influence, but that's all in good fun.

Honestly, I see this being a lot of fun. While it won't work in Arena, and the targets have to be humanoid, there are plenty of other opportunities to play around with it. Plus, this is much cooler than its ancient counterpart, Gnomish Mind Control Cap. At the very least, it should make dueling more entertaining!

2. Goblin Welding Beam:

This will allow you to repair friendly mechanical or vehicular units. While this has a lot of potential, it is unclear to what extent Blizzard will allow us to use it. Will it work on the spider-like vehicles that you commandeer on your way to Mimiron? Will it be helpful in Strand of the Ancients or the battle for Wintergrasp?.

3. Portable Wormhole Generator, Northrend:

This is definitely one of the best Engineering changes being made this patch. You blast open a wormhole and are able to travel to various locations in Northrend!

Of course, you may land yourself in a big ol' pot o' trouble, but that's the Engineering way. None of this "we'll release it when it's ready" junk.

The wording also makes it sound like perhaps you will be able to choose your Northrend destination. Well, more or less. Perhaps you can aim for a province or even attempt to reach a specific town. Has anyone tried this on the PTR?

4. Just Ask Jeeves:

Have you ever wanted to make your own personal butler? Well soon, you can! He is the "ultimate gentleman robot butler" and he aims to please. He will repair, buy and sell for your raid buddies, and even open a bank! Of course, you have to be a member of the gentleman's club (read: 350+ Engineering) to gain bank privileges.

Jeeves is in high demand, so he can only visit once an hour, although he will allot 10 minutes in his schedule for you.

It is said that his schematic can be found hidden within the parts of another robot. This means that you will need to hunt down mechanicals, loot them, and then salvage through their parts, much the way a Miner can mine the "bodies" of fallen stone/crystal baddies.

The drop rate will be highest among rare and high level robots, especially those in Ulduar, although it can drop from any mechanical level 70+ in Northrend.

Seriously though, bank access during raids? Think of the possibilities! You could store some of your favorite gems, enchant scrolls, glyphs, leg kits, arcanums, and even shoulder enchant tokens in the bank, and effortlessly trick out your latest piece of gear. Heck, you could leave your dual spec set in the bank for more bag space, and pull it out on the fly!

Between Jeeves (10 mins/hr), MOLL-E (currently once per 8 hours, but come patch 3.2, will have a "significantly reduced cooldown"), Scrapbot (5 minutes, 15 min cooldown), the upcoming Argent Squire upgraded pets (self-use only), and the other repair bots, life is looking good for your average raider.

5. Powered by Steam:

If bank access isn't enough to get your boat floating, perhaps you will get a kick out of the Steam-Powered Auctioneer! Now, it isn't portable, but it is located in Dalaran, meaning that traveling to Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms simply to do some trading will be a thing of the past.

This Auction House will be found in the Like Clockwork Engineering shop, and is programmed with a superiority chip. Only Grand Master Engineers allowed!

Now, Dalaran isn't my favorite place (laaaaaag), but it does seem to be the most convenient pit stop in between heroics, before raids, and while touring your daily quest circuit. Heck you can farm, auction off your goods, and head back out without having to take that detour that you know will only make it harder to get back out there and farm some more.

6. Dimensional Folder: K3

You asked for it, and it's coming! You will be able to fold dimensional fabric and step through (ultra safely, might I add) to K3. Hopefully, you don't fall on a minefield.

Patch 3.2 will bring about a new 5, 10, and 25 man instance to WoW, and usher in a new 40-man battleground called the Isle of Conquest. WoW.com will have you covered every step of the way, from extensive PTR coverage through the official live release. Check out Insider Trader's Patch 3.2 Profession Changes Analysis for more information, WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2 for the latest.