New Mount Casting Time: An Overlooked Feature?

Earlier this week we reported the new mount changes announced for the upcoming 3.2 WoW patch. However there's been one particular change that seems as if it may have been overlooked by the majority of fans (which was also updated yesterday in a clarification post by Zarhym). We're talking about mount speed cast time, and the fact that it's been reduced to 1.5 seconds, down from 3 seconds.

Not only is a 50 percent drop in mount casting time huge, but the mechanic itself might be a more important feature than many players realize. For years, WoW players have been begging Blizzard to give all classes the ability to instant-cast their mounts, just like Druids are able to (as well as anyone who gets a Magic Broom come Hallow's End). But there's many reasons why Blizzard has stuck to its guns over the years. For starters, most Druid players say it wouldn't be fair to give everyone their special ability. There's also the argument that instant-cast mounting would severely impact the PvP aspect of the game.

In Zarhym's latest update, he clarified that the new 1.5 second cast-time will apply to ground mounts only. What do you think about the upcoming reduced cast time? Or for that matter, the fact that it won't apply to flying mounts? A much-needed update, or a game-breaking "fix?"

Comments

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Maybe one day...
# Jun 16 2009 at 1:05 PM Rating: Decent
I wish I could summon my flying mount while falling. (Granted i'm out of battle, & falling longer than 3 seconds for the cast time).
Kick in the shaman nuts
# Jun 16 2009 at 11:03 AM Rating: Default
As a shaman I have ghost wolf, and had to spend 2 talent points to achieve an instant ground speed boost. If they make someone elses or everyone elses ground mounts insta I am gonna be really pissed. Bad enough they really cheapend my Astral Recall, (7.5 mins by using a glyph) by giving everyone else a HUGE cut in cooldown period, pretty soon it will just be one giant class spec with all the stuff rolled into one ball to keep the whiners happy. Welcome to remedial gaming by Blizzard Inc. I guess they don't seem to realize that by making the accomplishments easier they are not helping issues, only cheapening the value of everything, and in the end gonna make for some really bored players who migrate on to somthing else, much like I have been considering lately. Ulduar was/is midly interesting but the rest of the game has paled seriously in the last year.
Kick in the shaman nuts
# Jun 16 2009 at 12:53 PM Rating: Default
Alot already left cause of LK and its how truely boring it is. They made a killing on it before people did leave/quit more then enough to pay for the XPac Development and ****. I Hate max level in LK and tbh its just to much to level my alts like I did in BC
faster casting for mount
# Jun 16 2009 at 7:36 AM Rating: Decent
Faster casting time for a land mount doesnt do much for me unless it is a flying mount and that doesnt really make to much difference.As far as Druids and instant casting let them have it it is about the only fast thing they can do and they need it.No I don't feel it will be an advantage
Speed
# Jun 16 2009 at 6:20 AM Rating: Default
**
267 posts
Give me back my aspect of the pack speed boost and no falling damage on the tundra mammoth that I spend the equivalent of a dozen other mounts on! That's a mount change I'd like to see. Give me back 2 of the reasons I shelled out for it.
600 Gold Down the Drain
# Jun 16 2009 at 6:11 AM Rating: Decent
Sage
***
1,104 posts
I am gonna rant but not really rant, if that makes any since. This was my first character in years after my brother convinced me to play with him. One of the changes that made coming back easier was the earlier mount changes in lvl and cost from 40 to 30. I was like hell yeah!

As a casual player, this new change is really nice and really bitter sweet at the same time in the fact that I just dropped almost 600gold on my Epic Land Mount a week or so ago. Now they drop lvl requirement down to 40 and cost down to 60 gold total... That is 540 gold I could have put toward my flying mount :(

Again, I can't complain to bad as the flying mount is 250 gold cheaper than what it currently is and not currently including faction discount and more than doubled the flying speed. Sucks though that a lvl 60 will be flying while I am 66 and still on the ground for a little bit longer. I have a whopping 250 gold on me right now.

Again, needed changes but just came a little to late for me.

Edited, Jun 16th 2009 9:14am by Stucco
Just another sprinkle of E-Z mode added with more to come!
# Jun 16 2009 at 4:21 AM Rating: Good
It's not that big of a deal to me, I guess. First of all, I don't really see this affecting PVP too much. In BGs, the cast time of your mount plays no huge role. In World PVP, if you wish to mount up to escape from being farmed by enemy players after resurrecting, then I guess it's a minor nerf to PVP in that aspect (especially now that lower levels get epic grounds at 40). I think it'll just give the slightest benefit in PVE if you wanna avoid battle if you know you're on the brink of aggroing mobs you don't wish to fight especially after resurrecting. Nothing major there. That's all I can think of.

I don't really care if it doesn't affect flying mounts since I don't think there's anything wrong with the 3-sec cast time to begin with.

Druids instant casting their flight and ground travel forms should be an ability given to other classes? Nah. I can appreciate that benefit given to druids without having one of my own that's high enough for any travel form. If any class deserves that benefit, it should be the class that best represents being one with nature by turning themselves into a freaking animal or a tree.
Just another sprinkle of E-Z mode added with more to come!
# Jun 16 2009 at 5:05 AM Rating: Default
**
322 posts
Quote:
In World PVP, if you wish to mount up to escape from being farmed by enemy players after resurrecting, then I guess it's a minor nerf to PVP in that aspect (especially now that lower levels get epic grounds at 40).


Mounts at 30 . . .
Just another sprinkle of E-Z mode added with more to come!
# Jun 16 2009 at 5:28 AM Rating: Excellent
* Journeyman Riding (Skill 150)

o 100% land mount speed
o Requires level 40
o Cost: 50 gold
o Mount cost: 10 gold
o Mail will be sent to players at level 40 guiding them back to the riding trainer

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