Since the introduction of the Burning Crusade tier gear and itemization has gone by the wayside, the stats are typically only 1-2 point upgrade and are becoming unworthy of the amount of gold needed to enchant and socket these items to make them a 0.001% improvement over what we already had. The set bonuses are quite horrible and getting worse, in particular for healers. Furthermore with the shift from 8 and 9 piece sets to these horible 5 piece sets it is even more difficult to mix and match set pieces for multiple set bonuses to correct the horrible itemization in place.
It is a known fact that everyone has different play styles and every raid and guild uses their classes differently, so typically when presented with these inferior set bonuses on our tier gear from developers who seem to hardly understand how our classes are really played just further pidgeon-holes and prevents us from playing this game as we want to and as our fellow gamers might need us to. The set bonuses, which is the only thing to really separate tier gear from non-tier gear, are progressively getting worse and worse. I have heard too many times that someone is passing on a piece of tier gear because their blue is better or their set bonuses are completely worthless.
I take great interest in the tiered PvP gear system because it allows a lot of flexibility in choosing items. Of course, the Savage Gladiator stuff are pretty underwhelming, but for the low cost they're not a bad deal. The diversity in gear choices gives players a means to progress within the Arena system at their own pace, replacing pieces over time should they improve upon their game. For some players, merely obtaining Deadly Gladiator gloves will be an achievement in itself. With so much PvP gear available, it will help towards players' survivability in PvP in all scenarios.
At that moment it's hard to quantify the gear because Level 80 is an entirely different animal. I don't know the complete itemization for max level so it's hard to examine the gear outside of a vacuum. Some things may still change before live, especially the cost. Although I believe the idea behind it is pretty solid -- the tiered gear system affords players a new item every couple of weeks or so no matter the player's level of play.
The new PvP sets look dramatically different from the PvE sets. And at least for casters, the itemization is totally different. If your casters roll in with full PvP gear, they will not do as well as heroic or even high-instance gear due to the lack of hit rating, among other stats. Look at the premade casters in Naxx for evidence of that.
It is a known fact that everyone has different play styles and every raid and guild uses their classes differently, so typically when presented with these inferior set bonuses on our tier gear from developers who seem to hardly understand how our classes are really played just further pidgeon-holes and prevents us from playing this game as we want to and as our fellow gamers might need us to. The set bonuses, which is the only thing to really separate tier gear from non-tier gear, are progressively getting worse and worse. I have heard too many times that someone is passing on a piece of tier gear because their blue is better or their set bonuses are completely worthless.
I take great interest in the tiered PvP gear system because it allows a lot of flexibility in choosing items. Of course, the Savage Gladiator stuff are pretty underwhelming, but for the low cost they're not a bad deal. The diversity in gear choices gives players a means to progress within the Arena system at their own pace, replacing pieces over time should they improve upon their game. For some players, merely obtaining Deadly Gladiator gloves will be an achievement in itself. With so much PvP gear available, it will help towards players' survivability in PvP in all scenarios.
At that moment it's hard to quantify the gear because Level 80 is an entirely different animal. I don't know the complete itemization for max level so it's hard to examine the gear outside of a vacuum. Some things may still change before live, especially the cost. Although I believe the idea behind it is pretty solid -- the tiered gear system affords players a new item every couple of weeks or so no matter the player's level of play.
The new PvP sets look dramatically different from the PvE sets. And at least for casters, the itemization is totally different. If your casters roll in with full PvP gear, they will not do as well as heroic or even high-instance gear due to the lack of hit rating, among other stats. Look at the premade casters in Naxx for evidence of that.
