Another update from Bashiok about WoD flying.

[Wrathonia]

So a couple things I wanted to bring up in addition to what I posted earlier. The first was that we're of course refining our questing experience, you may have heard a bit about it from BlizzCon, and that expands to max level content as well. In Mists of Pandaria there was quite a bit of outdoor content at max level, but it was almost entirely in the form of dailies. From BlizzCon we shared we're looking to provide something quite a bit more story driven like the 5.1 Operation Shieldwall/Dominance Offensive with some of the exploration lessons we learned from the Timeless Isle, and that extends to the max level experience as well. We want the transition at max level not to be questing and story to a harsh "now you do dailies", but something that's more natural and feels a lot like the leveling experience just at max level for better reward. And so that goes back to all of the reasons I gave before about how flight interrupts some of the core mechanics we think present the best leveling and questing experience, and I thought it'd be good to point out that it'll also play a big role at max level due to our questing refinements.

The second thing is we really like when flying feels like a reward and something you've earned for each new expansion or area. It's such a powerful ability and we look back at BC (at least for epic riding) or Wrath and those were really big keystone achievements for us as players (mainly because they had some pretty huge gold costs on them...). Regardless of the unlock method though it was one of the bigger moments when you unlocked flying, took to the skies, and were able to see the world from an entirely different vantage because for most of us it wasn't easily attainable. Our plan has been to recapture some of that but make it a bit cooler, and while we don't have specifics just yet, it'll be something more involved than just paying gold; something that further emphasizes how powerful flight is. Unlocking it won't just be level 100 on the day 6.1 comes out with some gold, but something you'll be working toward over the course of the initial expansion release, and 6.1 will introduce the final steps to complete it. Think of something like a mini Legendary cloak quest. It's such a enormous power to be able to fly we really want it to be more of a key moment when you unlock it, and something that feels like an accomplishment more than just shelling out some gold like we've had in the past.

Anyway, I felt like those two things were worth spelling out.

From the front page. I know there will be some people psyched about this, but honestly all I could say was WTF. So, they decided to design the first part of WoD around ground mounts only including max level content and want us to work on some quest line to earn flying back because it's so awesome? Really? Fucking really? It's hard to put into words how much this hurts my head. You gave us flight. It is very much like Pandora's Box. You can't put it back. Design around flying. Monstrous Kaliri, Flak Cannons and enemy faction base defenses were all put in during BC and they were dangerous! Why not add in things like that again? And why the hell should I jump through hoops to get flying BACK. I already have it. I shouldn't have to earn the privilege to use what I already earned and paid for long ago.


Can anyone really make sense of this to me?

[Wyrt]

No flying makes doing things in game take longer and thus extends the life of the content.

[Wrathonia]

No flying makes doing things in game take longer and thus extends the life of the content.

Artificial and arbitrary gating. Next.

[InfernalDark]

Awww, another crybaby. How cute.

[Deleted]

He's right though, flying is basically a cheat code and to be honest I'm glad it'll be more than just shelling out all the gold I earned from quests leading up to the cap.

[Wrathonia]

He's right though, flying is basically a cheat code and to be honest I'm glad it'll be more than just shelling out all the gold I earned from quests leading up to the cap.

How is it cheating?

[Tomana]

Well, it will certainly help me decide between playing WoW and playin EvE Online until 6.1 hits, and save me some sub money in the process.

[emni]

I like it. Then again, I'm a TBC player and I still remember how awesome it felt to get fast flying and unlock the Netherwing content.

I understand why this is an alien idea to those who never went through that, though.

On another note, making mounts gain speed as they gain altitude* (like 40% close to ground and gradually up to 310%) could solve a lot of PvP concerns while maintaining fast travel and exploration.

[Traveler Voltin]

insult to alt players everywhere.

[Reyzzz]

Can anyone really make sense of this to me?

You paid to fly in outland, in the old world, in northrend, in pandaria. You didn't pay to fly in Draenor. Simple as that.

- - - Updated - - -

insult to alt players everywhere.

Then try to focus on your main the first month.

[TyrianFC]

It makes me happy to see, with every update Bashiok makes, how committed Blizzard really is to following through with it.

[Deleted]

Everything sounds great.

[Tomana]

I like it. Then again, I'm a TBC player and I still remember how awesome it felt to get fast flying and unlock the Netherwing content.

I understand why this is an alien idea to those who never went through that, though.

But you could at least get normal flying. Yes, it was slow, but you could get it (especially if you were a druid since it was free, and at 68 to boot).
And even 60% flying was a big plus when crossing void in netherstorm or cliffs in Blade's edge.

[Aquamonkey]

WoD legendary confirmed to be flying!!!

[Wrathonia]

I should have known better than to get my hopes up for this expansion. Guess I will just stay unsubbed.

[Traveler Voltin]

You paid to fly in outland, in the old world, in northrend, in pandaria. You didn't pay to fly in Draenor. Simple as that.

- - - Updated - - -



Then try to focus on your main the first month.

the quest chain is more of an insult to alt players than the delay. besides i probably wont make it back to the game until 6.2 unless i can get a job soon.

[DemoBytom]

so.. an attunement for flying.. cool >.<' so much fun.. attunement are fun..

no! they are not :?

maybe, perhaps this will be acc bound like Ordos and legendary cloak.. I wish..

[Deleted]

Guess I will just stay unsubbed.

People, we get it. Why do you bother repeating this in every thread? Do you think Blizzard reads these forums and decides if enough people say they don't like this, the decision will be reverted?

I can very well say I will unsub if flying is allowed before 6.1.

[Valnoressa]

Haha! I love it.

Flying attunements! Hopefully they make it have a bit of story too behind it too. If they make it obtainable this way and without having to use gold this will be alt friendly too as you won't have to drop thousands per level 100 character.

[emni]

But you could at least get normal flying. Yes, it was slow, but you could get it (especially if you were a druid since it was free, and at 68 to boot).
And even 60% flying was a big plus when crossing void in netherstorm or cliffs in Blade's edge.

That's why I said (and it's the portion that you conveniently didn't quote) that a cool solution would be to vary flying speed with altitude*. And perhaps this speed up ability would be unlocked by this quest chain.

Just as an example, say up to 20 yards above ground your speed is 40%, up to 40 yards it's 60%, up to 60 yards 280 (this and above is the unlockable part) and higher than that it 310+%. Solves pvp, travel, exploration, and makes it more convenient to use ground mount for short distances.