"Bornakk just revealed that epic gems are coming in that patch, as well as some changes to other professions.
Jewelcrafters will be able to buy epic gem cut patterns with their Dalaran Jewelcrafter's Tokens. Raw epic gems will be available from prospecting Titanium Ore and alchemy transmutations, and will also be buyable with both honor and Emblems of Heroism.
Given that the availability of epic gems raises the value of the Blacksmithing perk (extra sockets), other professions are having their perks buffed. Details after the cut.
Alchemy:
Benefits from Mixology for Northrend flasks/elixirs increased.
A new flask usable only by alchemists, Flask of the North, which increases your Spell Power, AP, or Strength for 1 hour, and can be used in arenas.
Endless Healing Potion and Endless Mana Potion no longer usable in arenas. Amount of health and mana has been increased, and the cooldown reduced. They are still usable everywhere else.
All stackable potions now stack to 20. Added a new pattern for Flask of the North, usable by players with a high alchemy skill. The recipe is purchased from Northrend trainers. Flask of the North increases your spell power, attack power or strength for 1 hour and is usable in Arenas. It is not consumed when used. Endless Healing Potion and Endless Mana Potion no longer usable in Arenas. Amount of health and mana has been increased, and the cooldown reduced. Five new epic gem transmute recipes are available from the Northrend trainer. The recipe for transmuting a Cardinal Ruby can be learned from a quest, given by Linzy Blackbolt in Dalaran. The Mixology benefits from Northrend elixirs and flasks have been increased. Rage potions can now be used by druids.
Cooking
Blackened Dragonfin Recipe: Now only requires 1 Dragonfin Angelfish. Chef's Hat is now superior-quality and allows the chef to cook faster. Increased the drop rate for recipes from the Outland Daily Cooking quests. Increased the chance to get a bonus Dalaran Cooking Token from the Spice Bag. The recipe for Captain Rumsey's Lager can now be randomly found in the quest reward Crate, Barrel, or Spice Bag from the cooking dailies.
Enchanting
Values on Northrend ring enchants increased.
Engineering
Added a schematic for a Goblin Welding Beam that can heal friendly mechanical units. Alarm-o-Bot functionality changed. Materials required reduced. Box of Bombs no longer requires an anvil. Doubled the duration on Nitro Boosts. Increased benefits from Hyperspeed Accelerators, Hand-Mounted Pyro Rocket and Reticulated Armor Webbing glove modifications. Increased the passive bonus provided by Springy Arachnoweave, Flexweave Underlay and Nitro Boosts. Increased siege damage caused by Saronite Bombs and the Global Thermal Sapper Charge. The Ultrasafe Bullet Machine and Saronite Arrow Maker schematics have been simplified to create a full stack of the appropriate ammunition. No longer requires an anvil. Reduced the materials required to make this ammunition. Mote Extractor now has innate tracking for gas clouds while it is in your inventory. Tracking of gas clouds has been removed from goggles. Potion Injectors now increase the amount gained by 25% when used by engineers. Quantity produced by recipes for Runic Healing and Mana Injectors has been increased. Significantly reduced the cooldown on MOLL-E. Spynocular belt enchantment changed to a Brassbolt Rebreather, allowing engineers to breathe underwater. Transporter devices are no longer classified as trinkets and can be used directly from your inventory. Reduced the materials needed to create all engineering Dragonlings, and reduced their cooldowns, although they still cannot be used in Arenas.
Fishing
Players with 300 or higher cooking have a chance to find a Waterlogged Recipe in the Bag of Fishing Treasures awarded by the Northrend fishing dailies. This item can be traded to other players and rewards several Dalaran Cooking Rewards when turned in.
Herbalism
Increased healing from Lifeblood (Rank 6). Lifeblood now scales slightly with maximum health. No longer affected by global cooldown.
Inscription
Added a new Glyph of Claw for young feral druids who haven't yet obtained Mangle. Inscribers can learn this glyph from the trainer. Master's Inscriptions increased.
Jewelcrafting
Dragon's Eye gems stat bonuses increased. New recipes have been added for cutting epic gems and can be purchased using Dalaran Jewelcrafter's tokens. Icy Prism now has a chance of yielding an epic gem. Raw epic gems can be obtained via the following means:
Prospecting Titanium Ore Alchemy transmutations Purchased with honor Purchased with Emblems of Heroism
Leatherworking
Added recipe for Heavy Knothide Leather to Leatherworking trainers (rather than a vendor recipe). Changed several recipes to use Heavy Knothide Leather instead of regular Leather. Fur Lining values increased.
Mining
Toughness (Rank 6) provides more stamina.
Skinning
Master of Anatomy (Rank 6) provides more critical strike rating.
Tailoring
Embroideries improved.
Items
Feral Druid PvP Gloves (seasons 3 and 4): Maim bonus changed from the interrupt bonus used in The Burning Crusade Arena seasons to the cost reduction used in Wrath of the Lich King Arena seasons. Glyphs
Death Knights
Glyph of Unholy Blight: Changed to increase damage done by the updated Unholy Blight talent by 40%.
Druids
Glyph of Innervate: Duration reduced to 10 seconds.
Paladins
Glyph of Seal of Command: Redesigned to cause the Paladin to gain 8% of base mana each time the paladin judges Command. Glyph of Seal of Blood: Changed to Glyph of Holy Wrath, which reduces its cooldown by 15 seconds.
Rogues
Glyph of Shadow Dance: Now increases the duration of Shadow Dance by 2 seconds, down from 4 seconds. Glyph of Tricks of the Trade: Now increases the duration of the damage bonus effect instead of increasing the damage bonus.
Warlocks
Glyph of Lifetap: Duration of the buff from this glyph increased to 40 seconds.
Idol of the Corruptor: The agility buff from this idol is now exclusive with the agility buff from Idol of Terror. Non-Combat Pets: 8 new pets have been added (not including Argent Tournament rewards). Raptor Hatchlings can be found on rare and elite raptors throughout the game world. In addition, an Obsidian Raptor Hatchling can be purchased from Breanni in Dalaran.
-- Edited by Monk on Thursday 18th of June 2009 06:37:04 PM