Production values in DS

[Deleted]

So this is supposed to be the crowning raid if this expansion, but how does it look? First boss is put in.. Dragonblight. Dragonblight is nice and all but we've been here enough times before. #2 is in a dull hole in the ground. #3 is in the same dull hole in the ground. On to number 4, on to Malygos' platform. We've been here enough times before as well. Also, a common theme is that they want trash in this raid but they can't be bothered making an environment for the trash so let's just stick the trash in the boss fighting areas. There aren't even any tunnels down to the holes or stairs up to the tower, we're just moved or ported from one arena to the next.

Boss #6 has his platform high above... Dragonblight, where we've been before. It's time for boss #6, it's time for... the lootship from WotLK. Haven't we been here enough times before? I guess they should get some bonus points for the backdrop here since the ship isn't flying over Dragonblight. Those clouds must have taken a lot of resources to get right. #7 and #8 fair enough, the environment looks cool, especially #7 but they're still separate, unconnected platforms. So the final pinnacle raid is a disjointed collection of unconnected and mostly rehashed boss storage rooms.

It's especially disappointing since they also show what they're capable of when they feel like allocating some resources with the fantastic Well of Eternity instance. The enviroment there is just beautiful and detailed and just lots better than the raid and the other two 5 mans. Suspiciously so even! Is it just stuff they'd already made for the scrapped WoE raid that they've tweeked for 5 mans to not let it go to waste? The fights have a raid feel to them also, at least two of them.

Anyway, releasing the raid the way it is is proof Blizzard don't give a shit about WoW at the moment, at least not this expansion of it.

TLDR: WoE pretty, DS not so pretty

[Deleted]

I don't know, I prefer it to say Bastion of Twilight, which is just long bland corridors. Yes it's all recycled, even dull hole in the ground is basically the maw of iso'rath from Twilight Highlands. Spine is actually my least favourite area there since it doesn't really give the impression of being on a flying dragon since the main part of the body is static. It's allright. Most raid areas have been cheap over the years with the exceptions of Naxx, Karazhan and Ulduar which were pretty interesting.

[Redblade]

#2 is in a dull hole in the ground. #3 is in the same dull hole in the ground.

It's the same hole in the ground that you have some quests in TH.

I kinda like the raid as such, but the whole 'we don't have the resources' excuse just doesn't fly with the amount of re-using and insane amount of profit WoW generates.

[Larath]

I love DS it looks amazing and its the only place where it makes sense to battle Deathwing and his companions.

[EvreliaGaming]

It feels a little disjointed and put together, like, 'How can we reuse all these previous environments and justify it with lore?'

[Skandulous]

It's much prettier than firelands that's for sure

[Dangerfield]

I agree 100%, most of the boss locations are terrible boring all the bosses are just rehashed skins apart from deathwing. When you compared DS to something like ICC or Ulduar you can see how obvious it is that they put very little time or effort into it.

[ultimar235]

Perhaps offtopic but is DS set in the future, past or present? When i goto the dragonblight it's exactly the same. All NPC's chilling as if nothing has changed.

[Blackmist]

TLDR: WoE pretty, DS not so pretty

Yep. That was my assessment too. Although I liked the Ghetto cloud effect on the Blackhorn fight. Reminded me of the cardboard seas you got in puppet shows of old.

[Oshkoshbgosh]

It's much prettier than firelands that's for sure

I agree that it's nice to see colors other than red, orange and black in a raid environment again. That being said, I did like how Firelands was one continuous outdoor zone. You could be at Beth'tilac and see Rhyolith hanging out on the other end of the map. I'm not going to complain about all the fast travel options in Dragon Soul but it does feel odd to have each boss fight take place on (essentially) a separate map.

[Agallochh]

Hey, you're the same guys complaining about no 'transmogrification' and player housing in 4.2

[Count Zero]

Perhaps offtopic but is DS set in the future, past or present? When i goto the dragonblight it's exactly the same. All NPC's chilling as if nothing has changed.

My understanding (could be completely wrong) is that DS is the present and what we see in Northrend is the past.

[Fostus]

End time is (potential) future, WoE is past, The Hour of Twilight and Dragon Soul are all present.