How Do You Like the 3.2 UI Changes?
Posted by 
pixiestixy on Thursday, September 3, 2009 - 14 Comments Tags: 3:2, auctioneer, call of the crusade, doublewide, functionality, patch 3.2, patch notes, ptr, quest helper, ratingbuster, retrospect, ui, user interface
pixiestixy on Thursday, September 3, 2009 - 14 Comments Tags: 3:2, auctioneer, call of the crusade, doublewide, functionality, patch 3.2, patch notes, ptr, quest helper, ratingbuster, retrospect, ui, user interface 
With all the well-deserved hoopla regarding BlizzCon and WoW Cataclysm over the past few weeks, I thought it'd be fun to take a look back at some of the user interface changes we saw implemented nearly a month ago, in Patch 3.2, now that we've had time for the content to sink in a bit. It seemed that while many of us were excited to see these changes made, a large number of players also were concerned that the changes would make the game too easy, or even dumbed-down. This always seems to be a difficult line that Blizzard must walk when making content changes - and players aren't always happy with the results.Now that we've had a month to adjust to the changes, let's take another look at some of what was implemented:
- How about that auto-complete for character names while in chat, for mail, etc? It certainly simplifies chats and invites, especially for those toons with special characters in their names.
- I'm a fan of the casting bars that now show under target nameplates. It makes timing interrupts considerably easier. But I suppose that also could be considered a bad thing if I was the one being interrupted.
- The double-paned questlog makes viewing quests a bit easier - I basically already had this through the DoubleWide addon, but now it's built in to the standard WoW UI.
- Automatic item comparisons per armor slot and the ease of seeing vendor sell prices also are a welcome addition in my book, but also both are similar to the addons RatingBuster and Auctioneer.
- Druids now can see their mana bars when shape-shifted. Sounds handy.
- Have you found it helpful to have the item level on tooltips? I'll admit, this one I haven't done much with yet.
- Another useful addition - options menus now display an exclamation when they have new features.
- Remember all of those Quest helper additions that were on the 3.2 PTR patch notes? The ones that probably were the most widely debated for their simplification of questing? Well as we've all probably figured out by now, those never made it onto the regular servers. But it should be interesting to see if they were scrapped altogether or if they'll make another appearance in a later patch.
So in retrospect, now that we've had some time to adjust to all these changes, what do you guys think? Are you happy with what Blizzard has brought? Perhaps now couldn't live without some of the changes? They may be minor in the grand scheme of things, but I always think that the UI changes can bring so much to the game in their functionality.
I also would say that first starting out on the game can be a bit intimidating. I would argue that many of these changes simplify aspects of the game that wouldn't necessarily affect the actual gameplay, but moreso the ease of getting around the interface and learning how to play. Perhaps Blizzard's looking to expand its market... or perhaps I'm just trying to make something out of nothing. What do you think?
Reader Comments (14)
I like the new UI changes. But i've not found the reason to get questhelper in the first place... Isnt all the information you need in the quest log already? So the new Quest Log will (probably) help alot of people, and i should see the message "brb turning off questhelper" in guild/raid chat.
And if you ever really need help, you can just ask a friend, if you have any ofc.
*and i should see the message “brb turning off questhelper” in guild/raid chat less.
Fail (Y)
I think the UI changes are pretty cool. The double-paned quest log is nice. So is the RatingBuster knock off. That's one less addon I need turned on.
Good job Blizzard.
@Longrage
A lot of people find QuestHelper useful because a) the text can be quite vague in some cases; b) able to grind through quests more quickly (especially if it's an alt you're working on); c) takes up less screen estate than if you were to use the default UI for tracking. I could go on, but... you really shouldn't have needed to have this explained to you. And I freely admit that QH takes up a lot of addon memory and whatnot, but it only particularly matters if the computer in question isn't good enough to handle both QH and all the stuff going on in raiding. For mine, I only type /qh hide (so as not to have annoying info trying to mess up my map or whatever) and I'm ready to go. Also, if one of my fellow raid members says "hey, i need to go turn off qh. brb" I don't typically don't hold it against them (unless it's a scheduled raid, then it's rather annoying).
So "Fail" on your part, sir.
@pixiestixy
I actually preferred the old quest log to the current. Sure, it may have initially been annoying with having to do all the scrolling, but I soon got over it and actually enjoyed its compactness. If there was an option to go back to the old version, I'd take it.
"Have you found it helpful to have the item level on tooltips? I’ll admit, this one I haven’t done much with yet."
i hate it
I don't have most the stuff turned on. I prefer the add ons I used over them. Ratingsbuster just has more info I care to look at than the in game one. QuestHelper for my alts to spead up and help me not get lost (more than once the quest said "East of the camp" and I would go the wrong way out of stupidity :P)
Other than that the price for vendoring an item is nice, since I don't use auctioneer....never had the time to run that program to it's fullest.
“Have you found it helpful to have the item level on tooltips? I’ll admit, this one I haven’t done much with yet.”
Well, ive seen more DK tanks rolling on items with block value/rating. I guess thats not what they were going for but hey, what can you expect.
I'm gonna have to agree with Dan. The in-game Item comparison jist doesn't compare to RatingBuster. RB will take your spec into account where as the in-game version does not. So you don't get an accurate comparison.
QH? I don't use it, I prefer Carbonite. Combines Cart with QH and I feel it has more features & amenities.
iLevel on tooltips? eh, not so much. RB gives me the info I need/want, iLevel just helps me know if I'm looking @ a low level item and helps keep my gear rating up.
Quest window, I use EveryQuest (w/ LightHeaded). It tracks all quests I have completed in conjunction with Carbonite. Also displays which quests I have "Abandoned" and how many times.
Vendor Value, I have stuck with Auctioneer & Enchantrix. So that I don't hold onto a BoE Green or Blue, whose market value is only a couple G above vendor. Did that alot when I 1st started playin, was kinda ignorant in that aspect. :/
However I do like the Alt+Left Click to equip an item. Not sure if that is a new feature, I just recently happen to discover it, so.... But I love that feature, especially with Trinkets and Rings. No more replacing the wrong Trinket.
Oh, and as far as the auto-completion of names, I jist use Postal. Gives me a dropdown with Guild and Friends.
@Tharon
I agree, the in-game comparison is inferior. Sure it'll tell you what you're gaining/losing stat- and socket-wise, but I don't need help with that. What I need are the actual details (such as how much percentage I'll lose/gain for haste, spellpower, etc). RatingsBuster provides that, and I will continue using it until Blizzard gets smart about that little fact.
(Should've typed "hit" instead of "spellpower", but I think my point still stands.)
wt i dont like about the item comparison is tht it doesnt take stats from sockets into account
I tried RB, but i couldnt figure out how to configure it for my spec, i was enhnacement and it was compairing stats for elemental.
Although I think that initially the item comparison leaving out socket stats was inconvenient, I have found that I like it better.
I will change a socket on a need basis. So depending on my new gear choice I may have to change a few sockets. So I look at the base stats of the gear and look at how my sockets compliment that. It makes it easier (for me at least) to see if I am over a cap, like hit, expertise, or defense from my gear or my sockets.