Mists of Pandaria

[Flex]

Gear from rep sources should be completely optional for players that do dungeons and raiding.

No, they are gating VP gear behind rep sources now - you need revered with a faction to spend your VPs. As before, VP gear is equal to raid drops, so you will use it to fill out slots you have not been lucky with drops for.

But it isn't needed to raid.

There is a difference between using it to fill slots you are unlucky with drop wise vs having to do rep quests to buy an item that has no equivalent raid drop or having to buy a valor item because it is the only way to get that tier slot/item slot.

Like I stated elsewhere, the valor purchased epic gear is alternate end game progression for people that enjoy questing more than dungeons/raiding.

[bldavis]

that is hpow IT should be veiwed, but anyone pushing for progression wants to get as geared as possible as fast as possible
which means running the shit out of dungeons, and grinding dailies to get those few slots that arent covered by drops upgraded

[Darielle]

There is a difference between using it to fill slots you are unlucky with drop wise vs having to do rep quests to buy an item that has no equivalent raid drop or having to buy a valor item because it is the only way to get that tier slot/item slot.

THat's not really how it works for actually raiding.

LFR gear has the same issue - an "option" and a calculated advantage are two different things entirely.

[halabar]

LFR gear has the same issue - an "option" and a calculated advantage are two different things entirely.

and LFR gearing will be a lot slower now.

[Darielle]

It'll be practically useless at completing last pieces as time goes on. The actual gearing at the start when everything is useful won't be touched too much.

[halabar]

It'll be practically useless at completing last pieces as time goes on. The actual gearing at the start when everything is useful won't be touched too much.

Still will be very hit-miss, even worse that drops from dungeons. If the next tier doesn't have the valor gear, then it might be more important, despite the RNG frustration.