Deck Spotlight: Tidesoftime's Modern Control Shaman, Fight Night S5E3 Decklists, S4 Rankings

New Wave of Alpha Invites, Designer Insights: Giving Tyrael Justice

Warlords of Draenor Developer Interviews
There were a few developer interviews at the recent press events, so today we are taking a look at an interview with Alex Afrasiabi from games.on.net.

  • There is no guarantee that all character models will be done by release, but they hope to have most ready.
  • The biggest thing stopping players from coming back is leveling.
  • As the game got older, more and more content was added, which makes it harder for people to catch up when they return.
  • Having to deal with all of the other things that are a part of coming back to the game along with leveling is too much for some people.
  • When you come back to the game and use a boost, your bars are cleared, talents unlearned,
  • The team also looked at significantly increasing experience rates rather than offering a boost, but it didn't feel great and the boost was the better option.

Warlords of Draenor - New Blingtron
It looks like Engineers will be getting a new Blingtron in Warlords of Draenor, but not a new mount.



Official Class Roles Forums Closing (EU)
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Hello everyone,

So that player discussions remain concentrated in existing forums where they receive more attention from other players, we have made the decision to retire the following forums. These forums will be deactivated next week:

Damage Dealing
Healing
Tanking

In preparation for their final closure, these forums will remain accessible in Read Only mode, but will be removed permanently on 8 April 2014. If you wish to save any relevant information, please do so before then.

Blue Tweets
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Classes
Will New Veng buff self heals? Dev team's goal for value of Bonus Armor vs other stats (situational or always good)?
Yes, it'll buff self heals. Bonus Armor is always good, except the extremely rare case where you're taking no physical damage. (Celestalon)
Or the damage bypasses armor.
I think having physical-flagged damage that bypasses armour is a silly design. Just use magic to do it.
Not at all. Bleeds, sonic spells, etc... All totally make sense as non-magic but not reduced by armor. (Celestalon)
OK I'll give you those! But what about things like Malkorok's Blood Rage. It is an obvious physical weapon attack.
Balance. We don't want to hit clothies harder than plate/shield wearers for that. (Celestalon)

haste, that you'd get the 84 damage in exactly 14 seconds, with the partial tick appearing 14.0s after cast (6 DPS).
Yes, duration never changes. You'll get the partial tick at 14sec after cast. DPS won't have breakpoints. (Celestalon)
Are you still planning to give everyone a Pandemic mechanic?
Yes, but 130% duration max, not 150%. (Celestalon)
So if you recast way before the first partial tick, will you end up with "queued" partials?
No, partial ticks are only when the dot falls off before its' next scheduled tick. (Celestalon)

Warlords of Draenor Stats
do you know how current dodge/parry stats on items will be changing in 6.0? Should I stockpile them "just in case"?
They'll be replaced with other useful stats. (Celestalon)

I knew that Cleave got dropped. I thought socket/multistrike/readiness were all rare 'bonus tertiaries' in WoD. Got a source?
No, Multistrike and Readiness are full, legitimate secondary stats, like Haste/Crit/Mastery. Socket is a bonus tertiary. (Celestalon)
still wondering how you're gonna make Multistrike appeal to tanks.
Been working on that recently. Nothing to announce yet, but it'll be spec-specific passives that interact with multistrike. (Celestalon)
so things like grand crusader, revenge, Crimson scourge?
Yeah, that style of ability (though different effects). (Celestalon)

Does everyone have a baseline level of Multistrike / Readiness, like Crit & Mastery, or is it possible to have 0, like Haste?
Zero baseline. (Celestalon)

PvE
How were Large Anima Golems supposed to be used in the Dark Animus encounter, especially on heroic?
To buy you more time on the enrage. But they ended up being too dangerous/disruptive to make it worth the benefit. (WatcherDev)

Could some indication that a spell is armor ignoring physical be added to the DJ? It is occasionally unclear.
It's certainly something we can do a better job of calling out when it comes to tank mechanics. (WatcherDev)

PvP
Will we see any balance changesonce the new PvP Gear shows its full effect ?
Perhaps. At this point we will only be able to do hotfixes which limits our options. (holinka)

Any chance we could see TB and WG put in as 40v40 BGs so they are full?
More focused on building Ashran. WG and TB had their time to shine. It would take a lot of work to restore them properly. (holinka)

Hard to get conquest losing in flag cap RBGs compared to losing in an AB-style RBG. Intended? Flag cap = so black and white.
It's the nature of CTF. You're comparing a map with a score of 3 to a map with a score of 1600. (holinka)

Warlords of Draenor
Any plans on making Thorim soloable for everyone?
Changed in 6.0: Thorim won't trigger the deathball/reset when his arena is empty. (WatcherDev)
Valithria is soloable, not sure what is wrong.
By, say, a warrior? Probably just going to make her skippable. (WatcherDev)
Yeah, that was a joke (coming from a healer), but great to hear Ulduar/ICC are getting a look - how about Vezax?
What's the concern with Vezax? (WatcherDev)
Yeah, Vezax and the trash leading up to him won't be there. Need to soft reset.
Fixed that also (in 6.0). Thanks. Could happen if you killed one of the Keepers very quickly. (WatcherDev)

TCG Art Update
Blizzard has updated the art gallery to feature ten new pieces.


This article was originally published in forum thread: WoD Dev Interviews, WoD Blingtron, Class Roles Forums Closing, Blue Tweets, TCG Art started by chaud View original post
Comments 114 Comments
  1. Kaneiac's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by jellmoo View Post
    I gotta be honest... Not having the character models ready at launch would be pretty terrible. One of the worst things a company can do when it comes to trust amongst the customer base is over promising and under delivering. This sets a pretty bad precedent in that regard. New character models are quite literally the second thing mentioned on the product page.
    Quite so. A somewhat recent example of this would probably be GTA 5 Online. Heists were a big deal with it, were even showed off briefly in the multiplayer gameplay trailer, yet, here we are, over 6 months later and they're nowhere to be seen. Rockstar was a trusted developer who pretty much always came through, so I'm interested in seeing what sort of effects it has had.

    On the other hand, Blizzard has always operated under the mentality of when it's done, it's done. They've always taken fucking forever to do anything and apparently, that isn't what people care about anymore. They mistake that for laziness - and apparently would rather have rushed, buggy looking messes just so they can have their expansion.
  1. Yoshimitsu84's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kaneiac View Post
    Quite so. A somewhat recent example of this would probably be GTA 5 Online. Heists were a big deal with it, were even showed off briefly in the multiplayer gameplay trailer, yet, here we are, over 6 months later and they're nowhere to be seen. Rockstar was a trusted developer who pretty much always came through, so I'm interested in seeing what sort of effects it has had.

    On the other hand, Blizzard has always operated under the mentality of when it's done, it's done. They've always taken fucking forever to do anything and apparently, that isn't what people care about anymore. They mistake that for laziness - and apparently would rather have rushed, buggy looking messes just so they can have their expansion.

    Even if it takes you 1 month to make a cake, in the end it must be done.
    You cant take 6 months to make the perfect cake, people will starve waiting.
    So here is not a matter anymore of perfection (its not since long). It's a matter of marketing and money flows.

    The game stopped being about quality long ago, just look at the care they've put in sets compared to the tier 2-3 as a small example.
    With this I'm not willing to open a huge discussion, its just my opinion ofc, but the lack of open communication and the general lack of feeling saddens me deeply.

    MMO champion used to post a lot of info about wow and generally about MMO's
    Now we see more often just random statistics to fill in the page and generally infos about other wow games, don't get me wrong, i play them sometimes but i come here for MMO news, not some other game.

    All this together shows a clearer picture, but again, its just my tought
    No offense to who thinks differently
  1. jellmoo's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kaneiac View Post
    On the other hand, Blizzard has always operated under the mentality of when it's done, it's done. They've always taken fucking forever to do anything and apparently, that isn't what people care about anymore. They mistake that for laziness - and apparently would rather have rushed, buggy looking messes just so they can have their expansion.
    I'm actually fine with "when it's done, it's done". I think that Blizzard should absolutely release a finished, polished product. That being said, releasing something where a promised feature, and an important one at that, isn't fully implemented, doesn't really reflect that. I don't think laziness is the issue at all. Blizzard is full of incredibly talented, dedicated people. People that want to put out an amazing product. For example: I think Reaper of Souls is a phenomenal product, and I can really see all the things I love about Blizzard in it.

    But there is something about WoD that isn't clicking, and I think some of that falls into a strange laissez faire attitude that the team is giving off. They are making some pretty big game design decisions that are causing some heads to turn. Now, I'm more than willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I can also understand why people would be concerned. But when they start saying things like a promised feature might not be 100% ready at launch, I have to wonder exactly how strong their product planning is.
  1. aeuhe4yxzhds's Avatar
    They have been busy making Heartstone, Diablo expansion and Heroes of the storm. Guess what game fueld those? Thats right its your subscription from wow.
  1. Spotnick's Avatar
    They say in previous news post they are working on the female Draenei, and they were not supposed to be available at launch, so it's probably all going to be available.
  1. Moradim's Avatar
    how could models not be done in time for launch when the xpac is likely coming in november?

    are the modelling people all on extended vacation, or something?
  1. Kasherna's Avatar
    I think it was said that they are going to update the old character models before the BC ones. And now they are working on Female Draenei already, but not all models will be done in time? How could it be?...=\
  1. thunderdragon2's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Azrile View Post
    it is free with the expansion for returning players. They could have done bonus exp with the xpansion and sold exp potions in the store, it would have been the same thing, right? Just because they could have gone with a different FREE option doesn´t mean they wouldn´t have added a pay option in the store.

    logic fail.
    its not free blizz did a survey asking if they wanted to pay extra for the xpac which included a level 90 boost or not most ppl said they dont mind thus the extra $10 on the xpac i only wish theyd offer both for people that dint want it and judging by thse fourms i can see that im the not the only 1 that didnt want the extra 90
  1. Pesticide's Avatar
    "There is no guarantee that all character models will be done by release, but they hope to have most ready."

    New character models was one of the big features for WOD...so now all that's left is what? Garrisons? More Orcs? Was there anything else was was considered a big feature? Their announcements have been so forgettable that I..you guessed it...forgot.
  1. rellik's Avatar
    Dance studio anyone? There has been other promised things that never made it in also but they usually aren't major selling points.

    IMO all these "features" are gimmicks that they waste to much time on. They seem like a great idea at the start but never really live up to expectations. In the end most players want content in the form of things to kill. And lets be honest its not all that hard for them to keep rehashing old models and similar mechanics to put together random_raid_boss_142.

    I think biggest selling points are new classes, followed by races, then comes content in the form of 5-mans / heroics / raids. Everything else is just something to keep us busy playing around with for a month till we are bored out of minds with it.
  1. Kededia's Avatar
    *•There is no guarantee that all character models will be done by release, but they hope to have most ready.

    Looks like Activision has started to push Blizzard towards a release...

    Message to blizz, if u dont have all char models done by release i wont order the expansion. How is that? Im glad i didnt preorder it. What a a bunch of liars.
  1. Aelric70's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Moradim View Post
    how could models not be done in time for launch when the xpac is likely coming in november?

    are the modelling people all on extended vacation, or something?
    Or, the task requires more time than is available between now and release. It might be enough, but anything can slip 5-10% -- equating to weeks of lateness on a project this big. This isn't really that hard to imagine.
  1. Frozen Death Knight's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vacashamanica View Post
    The game will be released in december and not even with all new models? WTF blizzard! you are fooling everyone then with your "new models at game release " campaing publicity! what a shame . Blizzard is now full of liars and lazy fucks!
    They said "new player models" in the trailer, not "all player models will be updated at launch". They clearly have shown progress on several races and keep updating the playerbase once they have more to show, so calm down with the hyperbole.
  1. McNeil's Avatar
    If ''friends'' wants to play with each other, how about do the same thing that my friends did..... roll a new toon WITH ME.

    Most of my friends were already at level 60 when I came in after a long time, I wanted to play with them so they decided to roll new characters instead. If you desperately want to play with your friends you don't necessarily have to be at max level.
  1. Duster505's Avatar
    The boosts are total failure if you look at it from LFR point of view. If this was aimed to allow ppl to play with friends.... then it should have said 24 friends.... not just 1 and then ruin the gaming experience for 23 others.

    From my point of view it would have been much better to give very high XP bonus (500 - 1000% and including Crafting bonuses) on weekends to actually get ppl to play the content. Why on earth is BLizzard spending this much time doing WOD leveling content if they are then just going to skip it with boosts? Why not do more dungeons then that would actually teach players how to play their boosted class and spec BEFORE they go into 25 man content?

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by McNeil View Post
    If ''friends'' wants to play with each other, how about do the same thing that my friends did..... roll a new toon WITH ME.

    Most of my friends were already at level 60 when I came in after a long time, I wanted to play with them so they decided to roll new characters instead. If you desperately want to play with your friends you don't necessarily have to be at max level.
    Exactly! Or some sort of tutor system.
  1. bornlivedie's Avatar
    "The biggest thing stopping players from coming back is leveling."

    They don't even know their own game and their players.

    Sad.
  1. quicknthedead's Avatar
    I don't really post on these forums often but i have noticed lately quite a few people pissed off about the information that is being reported through various dev interviews and what not.

    For those that are really pissed off, I would advise you to unsub if you are not happy with the service you are getting to justify the money you are spending just like I have. To the people defending blizzard good for you because you are standing up for a company, that you not only care about but enjoy their product and I am in no position to tell you otherwise.

    At the end of the day what really annoys me is that blizzard is being very hypocritical and expecting us to sympathize with them. On the one hand they tell us that having no flying to start the new expansion will take away this amazing and "savage" experience, but on the other hand they are clearly saying that leveling is annoying from 1-90. So that means I'm not going to be annoyed leveling from 90-100 so lets boost everyone else once again. In every expansion pack i have played i have yet to see all zones before i got to max level and that is not our fault, that is clearly a design problem, with this game and many other MMO's on the market.
  1. Orlong's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kededia View Post
    *•There is no guarantee that all character models will be done by release, but they hope to have most ready.

    Looks like Activision has started to push Blizzard towards a release...

    Message to blizz, if u dont have all char models done by release i wont order the expansion. How is that? Im glad i didnt preorder it. What a a bunch of liars.
    So you would rather they hold on to a completed game and delay release just because a couple models arent finished? That would be asinine. Im glad you arent in charge. Id rather they release it early with no models and patch them in as they get done
  1. ilistral's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kasherna View Post
    I think it was said that they are going to update the old character models before the BC ones. And now they are working on Female Draenei already, but not all models will be done in time? How could it be?...=\
    I'm totally with you!! this is what makes me angry! yeah they said They may not have all the models out by release date but that was for the draenei and the blood elf because they were 2 years ahead of the vanilla models. I'm really sad thinking that my favorite class the night elves are not going to be ready not even the male or the female.
  1. Mellrod's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vacashamanica View Post
    The game will be released in december and not even with all new models? WTF blizzard! you are fooling everyone then with your "new models at game release " campaing publicity! what a shame . Blizzard is now full of liars and lazy fucks!
    You are an idiot. They never promised anything. Please find where it actually says blizz would have all models done at release or perish the thought.

    Blizzard not releasing everything at launch =/= Blizz never releasing them.

    An X-pac has a launch, and the rest of the expansion for content.


    Everybody got mad about my true sincerity related comments, Good, that proves it´s true.
    Lol, FLAWLESS LOGIC. FLAWLESS.
    *sarcasm off*
    No it doesnt, it just shows us you're raging really hard over a promise that never existed.

    They are still part of the demographic this boost is apparently aimed at and the fact they spend their time on MMO-C complaining about everything means that they are a better target for Blizzard than those that have quit and turned back completely on WOW. So why do you feel the need to dismiss and belittle their opinions?

    It is no more insane than expecting someone who has not played WOW since Wrath is going to hand over money for MOP and WOD to play a game they stopped playing over four years ago.
    Criticisms that are not constructive hold no value. Take a look around you:

    "Blizzard is now full of liars and lazy fucks!"

    "Seriously, everyone is waiting for information on WoD and we have to wait for new content for a year and we get some shitty interview about level 90 boosts?"

    "Yes, no one at Blizzard could possibly think of that right away... :S. No wonder people call eachother Blizzard apologists on here."

    "Lazy fucks is the best way to describe them, this expansion has only 2 new things added to the game and that's garrisons and new character models. Everything else is removing existing features. How exactly do you justify them not even being near beta 4 days away from April while making an expansion with more or less NOTHING new? They are sitting on their hands doing nothing, no beta, no "huge info dump" that they said they will give us, they are not even half way done with the character models."

    Your argument is invalid. While there are some good arguments here and there, it's mostly ignorant people, or bigots swarming around here with destructive things to say about Blizzard that in no way helps them. Same with on the official forums. People just attacking blizzard without anything good to say need to lie down and die. They are ruining the game themselves.


    It is equally insane to defend everything a company does as well, it goes both ways.
    They are no more defending than you are attacking. There's nothing wrong with showing someone a positive perspective opposed from the constant negative one you folks seem to have about everything.



    Seems funny most game studios can put out a whole game with hundreds of models in less time than its taken to get these models done.
    Blizzard takes their time with models so they can get shit done right. Everyone knows that. Also, what sets Blizz apart is the fact that:

    1. Blizzard just got their hands on this new engine
    2. Those companies didnt have a toxic community of haters crawling up their ass who are so impatient for the game that they would rather ask for unfinished models.
    3. These models need to support a wide range of computers that still goes back to those big clunkers from 05 when the game released.
    4. There are atleast 8-10 of these models getting done which is more than what blizzard does in a normal expansion. You could say that they're practically working overtime to get this shit out.

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