Water Strider Discussion

[Gwaeniiha-shadow-council (Gwaeniiha)]

okay so correct me if I’m wrong -

• Waterstrider is losing its passive, which is replaced by water-walking equipment
• The water-walking equipment is tied to the Anglers rep, so all we have to do is go back to the vendor and purchase it if we already have the strider.
• This equipment is usable at level 20+, just like the strider, but instead all our mounts will water-walk instead of the strider.
• Nothing has actually changed aside from us being able to use whatever mount we want instead of the bug, something this very forum has been begging Blizzard for literal years for.

If this is all correct, then this really is just a “complain just to complain” thread. The “grinding” for Anglers rep hasn’t changed, as you still need that rep for the water-walking equipment item. So nothing was taken away from those that put in the effort to earn it, they just moved water-walking to a new item and let us choose what mounts we want to use instead of an ugly bug.

The point is this is supposed to promote player choice There IS no choice if you’re ally because of SoB. Ally NEEDS waterwalking for the shortcut so they are foced to take waterwalking which means two things:
a) NO player choice for allies
b) Players are forced to pay money for something they should have for free, ESPECIALLY given it’s per char, and they are only giving us ONE free pair of shoes, even if you have 20+ alts, which mean we have to pay GOLD to get what we had for free.

[Ramako-wyrmrest-accord]

I really like the whole mount equipment idea, but I think implementation could be better. I’d like to see mount retain their bonuses if they have one and not benefit from equipment. Strider should have water walking, golem should have herbing. I’d like to not feel pigeon-holed into HAVING to use the water walk equipment, especially if there’s other cool equipment. I’d like to have the option to switch to strider when I need it, switch to golem when I need it, and have slowfall on other mounts with my equipment (because that’s the only other equipment i remember seeing).

[Sorelai-wyrmrest-accord (Sorelai)]

Just something I’d like to get your perspective on, if the character who earned the Anglers reputation along with the mount gets the water walking item for free, what would a fair price be for the alts to get it? If that character who earned the reputation and mount has the option to water walk (but might choose something else), do you feel that alts should have every single thing that the other characters have?

Also, just out of curiosity, how often would you estimate that you have you used the water strider mount in the 6+ years it’s been available?

Thanks folks for chatting!

50 gold but you have to go to Krasarang Wilds or your Garrison to buy them.

My alts don’t need everything that my main has.

Personally, I rarely use the Water Walking Mount. Partly because I have travel form. Partly because it is a hassle to switch mounts for a river or small lake.

[Deflux-uldaman (Deflux)]

Just something I’d like to get your perspective on, if the character who earned the Anglers reputation along with the mount gets the water walking item for free, what would a fair price be for the alts to get it? If that character who earned the reputation and mount has the option to water walk (but might choose something else), do you feel that alts should have every single thing that the other characters have?

Also, just out of curiosity, how often would you estimate that you have you used the water strider mount in the 6+ years it’s been available?

Thanks folks for chatting!

I’d expect it to be free. I’ve never had to pay to use my strider on any character.
As to how often I use it, it’ll be a lot more often from now on, on every alt, exclusively, when not flying.
Also I’d like to add, every flying mount should already have “slow fall”, it’s not like they forget how to fly in non-flying areas…but that would make too much sense.

bingo… but How else can they make a money sink unless they take something away from you that you already get for free on your alts, if you put the “water walking” gem on the strider and it stays there with any toon you log on to then maybe this would work (if it’s bound to the strider and it has one on it already), but if the mounts slots and the free “first time Gem” are only on current char’s this a rip off and a blatant gold sink grab.

[Bellamadonna-proudmoore]

I like the system here, but it should remain a water walking mount in and of itself. I have no problem choosing which to mount now as I only herb from skygolem if I’m on an herbalist, and ALL my toons use the ‘Random’ mount button which auto choses the best for your area. Does no one else use this? I cycle my favorites automatically all day long, then if i want water walking, I simply… Step on the water and hit ‘random mount’ which puts me on the Strider. If i’m in Org or a flying zone random selects a flyer. If i’m teamed and want to give a ride I have 1 or 2 multi seaters on my bar as well. No need to overly complicate things.

[Nicodemùs-argent-dawn (Nicodemùs)]

Bornakk, would it be possible for Shaman’s Waterwalking spell to be updated so it works like Path of Frost and the Waterwalking Elixir so it doesn’t dismount when cast?

It would also be nice if all forms of waterwalking followed the same rules of the Strider and didn’t break from falling damage like the Strider’s doesn’t break if you fall but only if you are hit by a mob.

[Whitecrow-khaz-modan (Whitecrow)]

If that character who earned the reputation and mount

Look, if the team wanted to take that approach they shouldn’t have made mounts account wide in MoP to begin with.

From the outset the Water Strider, and it’s water walking perk, have been accessible account wide since the expansion it was introduced in.

Owning a Water Strider hasn’t ever felt like a character specific accomplishment.

do you feel that alts should have every single thing that the other characters have?

No.
But that isn’t what this change is doing, in earnest.
It’s retroactively taking away things that players had already earned and were accessible on all their characters.

If the system started out this way, only the character that earned the rep got a water walking while mounted perk, then there would be far less complaints about losing out on that ability as a result of this change.

All in all the mount equipment system isn’t exciting or interesting.

You want us to make a choice?
We already do that. Depending on what we are doing atm we mount a water walking mount, flying mount, multipassenger mount, underwater mount, herbing mount, vendor mount, mount that matches our Tmog best, ect.

It’s not that mounts don’t have choices today. It’s that the team is dead set on making Water Striders worse so we see players using them less.
Goal accomplished, you are going to see less Water Strider use because the team removed it’s innate water walking ability, but why in the world does it matter if people are using Striders or Manasabers with equipment to cross puddles?

This system adds nothing substantial to the game, while at the same time ripping things that already exist from the game.
Water walking from Water Striders is one example.
We are able to re-obtain this same effect through the use of the equipment. But the issue is the fact that the system adds nothing. While at it’s best the effects of the system are neutral, at worst you end up with a Water Strider without water walking. In what warped world is that supposed to be viewed by players as a positive change?

[Impsie-proudmoore (Impsie)]

This is what’s changed.

There’s also the fact that blue posts in this thread strongly suggest that the real reason for this system is so folks can’t use more than one special ability on a character, which means that things like bardings and stirrups won’t stay around long after this system is implemented and won’t get new versions next expansion.

Oh no, we’re going to have to make an entire trip out to Karasang to buy the item, which Blizz stated would be “affordable” (100-200g is my guess, which is pennies).

Also bardings/stirrups etc. are rarely purchased/used because of their high cost and low duration (without profession bonus). Additionally, if you’re one of the few actually using those consumables, you’re spending a lot of gold that you’ll now be saving by using permanent mount equipment.

[Truthspeaker-alleria (Truthspeaker)]

the ‘Random’ mount button which auto choses the best for your area. Does no one else use this?

I had no idea that worked that way. That’s pretty nifty. I don’t use it because I have specific ground and flying mounts for each character so random doesn’t work for me.

[Irkkal-nagrand]

I feel like this paragraph is probably revealing more of the dev intent in these changes than they really want us to know. I mean, really, do we DESERVE to have account wide mounts, toys, and pets?

Not putting this out there as a conspiracy theory, but your post made me think outside the square. The blues on Classic forums have been way more engaging in a positive way than retail forums (both on US & EU). When suggestions/concerns have been voiced by the Classic community they have been addressed, answered and in many cases seemingly implemented.
When you compare that to what we see in retail it makes me think that Blizztavision’s new direction could be back to the future with a twist. From Classic onwards each xpac having their own distinct server. Possibly nothing account bound (or only bound from previous xpacs). Classic, BC, Wrath to start and see how they go - servers locked to expansions so no new content needed. They can keep churning subs from those very committed players, or those of us wanting to relive memories every now and then. Even new players wanting to dip their toes in and see what the fuss was all about. Minimal dollars to upkeep as it’d be pure maintenance only, no content updates needed.
I’d hate to be right but the more I think about the difference in treatment when looking at the forums, the more it makes sense regarding the retail decisions these days - like they’ve already given up

[Wolfguide-wyrmrest-accord (Wolfguide)]

Oh no, we’re going to have to make an entire trip out to Karasang to buy the item, which Blizz stated would be “affordable” (100-200g is my guess, which is pennies).

Oh no im being charged for something ive already had for years. Next they will charge you 200G everytime you make a portal or teleport or make mana buns.

Casting a spell? Thatll be 50g, only 5g if you buy the premium package from the in-game store.

[Chimalli-rexxar]

Unless you have some addon that make it different, the random mount button just picks randomly from the mounts you marked as favorites.

[Truthspeaker-alleria (Truthspeaker)]

Oh no, we’re going to have to make an entire trip out to Karasang to buy the item, which Blizz stated would be “affordable” (100-200g is my guess, which is pennies).

Not the point.

Also bardings/stirrups etc. are rarely purchased/used

That’s not my experience. I have both a blacksmith and leather worker on each faction that can make them for all of my level appropriate alts.

I’m glad that this new system will benefit you. It won’t benefit anyone who likes the way the water strider currently functions and who likes to stack or have access to multiple special mount effects.

Unless you have some addon that make it different, the random mount button just picks randomly from the mounts you marked as favorites.

Ahh ok. Thanks for clarification.

[Stärwhisper-wyrmrest-accord]

Here is my perspective, as a player, long-time player, and someone who loves WoW. I worked to level the Anglers rep so that my alts would have a FREE Waterwalking mount. NOT so they could pay a “reasonable price” to get it back. You seem to have a problem understanding why players resent having things taken away that they have put time and effort into. No other reason need be sought why players believe Blizzard has become seriously disconnected from it’s playerbase.

[Xintao-tichondrius]

Respect player time and effort or watch them go find another game that does respect player time and effort. It is that simple in my opinion.

[Missunknown-saurfang (Missunknown)]

Are you actually serious right now?

How much should it cost our alts?

IT SHOULD BE FREE BECAUSE IT IS FREE NOW!!!

Blizzard should never ever ever remove content/change the goal posts that people were given.

How can anyone “earn” something, to have that something be taken away and re sold to them be a GOOD thing?

Leave the strider alone, it is the ONLY FAIR thing. Bring in all this new crap but do not take away the striders ability, we earned them and should keep them for the sake of fairness.

[Righteous-garrosh (Righteous)]

Additionally, if you’re one of the few actually using those consumables, you’re spending a lot of gold that you’ll now be saving by using permanent mount equipment.

I’m a blacksmith.
I’m actually several blacksmiths and miners.
It doesn’t cost me anything but my time to mine and make hoofplates and stirrups.
And I can currently use them simultaneously for 8 hrs at a time.
On any mount I summon…or…on a waterstrider…that still walks on water.

You see the loss that’s being suggested and you’re okay with it.
That’s fine, your choice. But not mine.

[Xintao-tichondrius]

Tunnel vision and madness it seems to be common around Irvine these days.

[Kyraz-galakrond (Kyraz)]

This has been my mindset too. From now on my water strider is going to get a lot more use…in all terrains, in all expacs.

It really yanks my chain when the Blizzard “powers that be” decide that they can nerf the mount I worked to obtain in some attempt to supposedly rid the world of too many striders running around. We suspect, of course, that this is the surface justification, and that the real reasons are more attuned to time played metrics and a new system that they can give and take and charge us for over and over again.

Hmmmm…time played metrics, which can make the game look more successful and needing more gold, which can be solved by purchasing tokens with real dollars.

Just making a few little changes and removing just enough choices so the players don’t go too ballistic might have some real positives in somebodies eyes.

I think it would behoove the devs to look up the word choice. I think they have forgotten what it really means.

The players haven’t…though the memory is fading fast.

[Probablybad-stormrage]

Removing content is almost exclusively awful. Leave the Water Strider the way it is, make it exempt from the mount gear and everyone wins. Removing the ability has literally no benefit, especially now since nearly all mounts can have the waterwalking ability.