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Azerite Power Tuning, PvP Hotfixes for Sept 24, Prot Warrior Feedback, Vicious Saddle 

by
Stoy
Published on 2018-09-22 12:00 AM

Patch 8.1.0 PTR - Build 27826

Patch 8.0.1 Hotfixes - September 21, 2018
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Dungeons and Raids
  • Tol Dagor
    • Overseer Korgus’ Incendiary Rounds’ damage and Blast Rounds’ pushback decreased by 25%.

Island Expeditions
  • A new world quest has been added to win one Island Expedition. Click on the map and set sail for adventure!
  • Some Island Expedition achievements have been made account-wide.
  • Resolved additional issues that could prevent players from gaining progress in Island Expeditions for the weekly quest “Azerite for the Horde / Alliance”.

Items
  • Fixed bugs that were preventing Truffles in Stormsong Valley from behaving as expected.
  • Heart of Azeroth
    • Ablative Shielding is no longer reduced by Stagger.

Player versus Player
  • The Weekly Quest "Something Different" can now be completed by participating in Shado-pan Showdown, as intended.
  • “Something Different” now grants a 340 item level Dread Gladiator piece of gear from the Brawl Footlocker.
  • Players who have already turned in “Something Different” this week can now complete it a second time.

World Quests
  • Fixed an issue where the "Pest Problem" did not count towards the Storm's Wake emissary.
  • There are now a greater number of Ancient Texts that are “Past Due”.

Azerite Trait Tuning - September 25
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
With scheduled maintenance next week, we intend to make some targeted adjustments to Azerite Traits for tanks and healers. Here's what that currently looks like:


You'll see the final adjustments in our hotfixes update post on Tuesday.

PvP Balance Tuning September 24
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
We’re working on a round of PvP balance adjustments, to be applied the morning of Monday, September 24. Here are the changes we have planned:

Items

Death Knight (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • Unholy
    • Last Surprise (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 35% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Druid (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • The healing of Rejuvenation, Swiftmend, and Wild Growth provided by Restoration Affinity is reduced by 30% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Regrowth healing reduced by 25% for non-Restoration Druids when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Feral
    • Raking Ferocity (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 50% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Restoration
    • Grove Tending (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 25% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Focused Growth (PvP Talent) reduces the mana cost of Lifebloom by 15% (was 40%).
    • Focused Growth (PvP Talent) increases the healing of Lifebloom by 15% (was 25%).
    • All Restoration Druid healing reduced by 10% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Hunter (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • Beast Mastery
    • Damage done by the Hunter’s pet reduced by 18% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Survival
    • Latent Poison (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 30% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Monk (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • Mistweaver
    • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).

Paladin (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • Holy
    • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).

Priest (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • Discipline
    • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).
    • Focused Will decreases damage taken by 10% per stack when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 20%).

Shaman (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • Restoration
    • Surging Tides (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 25% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Spirit Link (PvP Talent) mana cost increased by 50%.
    • Spirit Link (PvP Talent) now has a 1.5 second cast time.
    • Spirit Link (PvP Talent) redistributes 25% damage, down from 35%.
    • Rippling Waters (PvP Talent) healing reduced by 33%.
    • Riptide healing reduced by 15% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Elemental
    • Lava Shock (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 35% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Warrior (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator / PvP Talent Calculator)
  • Arms
    • Lord of War (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 55% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 40%).
    • Defensive Stance reduces damage dealt by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 10%).

Note that we’re planning another round of balance updates for the near future after this round, which will include changes for other specs (including Warlock and Death Knight).
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Warlock, Death Knight and others will be addressed in a future round of changes. (ckaleiki)

Prot warriors in 8.1
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Shamans got a blue; Here's to hoping Warriors get one.

I won't make a massive OP, there's been tomes written on how broken prot was since earliest stages of BfA beta. It's common knowledge that warriors make up for under 5% of all tank representation after 2 weeks of Uldir, in ALL types of content;

They're weak, they lack a niche, their kit has been massively hurt by the GCD change, and they need a lot of love to become viable. Like. Without exaggeration, it's easier to heal a shadow priest who pulls aggro in a dungeon, than a prot warrior in that same dungeon...

Blizzard? Are you doing this one class at a time, or can prots hope for some love as well? Cause it honestly feels really bad when the most iconic tank in the game is just so far behind it's not even worth using any more...
I can’t speak to any plans for the patch, but I do know that we’re planning to make some tuning adjustments sometime in the next few weeks which should include some defensive buffs for Protection Warriors. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Just curious but why can't you speak to any plans for the patch? You explained the tooltips for the proposed ele shaman changes, but can't speak about warriors? Or is it that there is nothing changing in the patch for warriors?
Few reasons. Partially because I'm not a class designer, so I don't make those decisions. But also because the class team themselves haven't decided yet. We agree Prot Warriors need love, but aren't 100% decided on exactly what form those changes will take, which also means we don't know if it'll need to be in a patch or not. The Elemental changes require a patch, otherwise we'd just hotfix them in.

Regarding this upcoming tuning pass, I wouldn't expect it to be something that solves every Prot Warrior grievance, but it should hopefully help while we look into potential further adjustments.

Hate to say it (and hate to nail it to you Lore) but class imbalance is very very bad right now. I think most of us don't want classes that are OP or overtuned-- but we would like to see them fluid enough and competitive enough that we can feel comfortable that our individual investment will ensure us a spot and a chance at current WoW content.
Class balance is definitely a sore spot right now, both in community feedback and our own internal discussions. We're working on it. It's a delicate thing; we want to solve the issue of players feeling like their class is undesired, but we also want to avoid the opposite issue where everyone feels like they need to reroll to whatever the new hotness is every few weeks (side note, that's part of why we do tuning adjustments in batches rather than every few days, to give things a little time to stabilize before the next round).

I'd also like to submit the argument that, while class balance certainly isn't perfect right now, it's also the beginning of an expansion, which is *always* a bit shaky for class balance. There are absolutely outliers on either side of the spectrum, with some buffs and most likely some nerfs incoming, but aside from those few cases, our data (based on hundreds of thousands of boss kills, arena matches, etc) is showing that class balance isn't that far out of whack from how things were at the start of Legion, or Warlords, or Mists, etc.

But like I said, we're working on it, and will have more to share soon. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)


Vicious Saddles in Battle for Azeroth
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Hey guys! This is something we've seen y'all ask about and just wanted to share some insight to the Vicious Saddle mounts.

Currently, players can earn Vicious Saddles through the “Veteran of the Alliance” or “Veteran of the Horde” series of per-character achievements. We’re also working on some new ways players can earn Vicious Saddles in the next major content update, Tides of Vengeance.

Note that the Battle for Azeroth seasonal mounts will not be added to the saddle vendor until sometime after the conclusion of the final Battle for Azeroth PvP season. Until then, the only way to earn these mounts will be to actively participate in the associated PvP season.

Blue Posts
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
PvP Brawl: Shado-Pan Showdown No Credit
We're pushing a hotfix out shortly with the quest not correctly giving credit with Shado-pan Showdown. We're also increasing the reward, and resetting the quest so those who already completed it can complete it again.

You should see that reflected in game soon™ (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Reddit AMA with Former WoW Devs
Reddit is hosting another AMA with former World of Warcraft developers Johnathan Staats, author of the World of Warcraft Diary, David Ray and Kevin Jordan! Go ask them some questions!
32 Comments

Patch 8.1.0 PTR - Build 27826 

by
chaud
Published on 2018-09-21 05:15 PM

Patch 8.1.0 PTR - Build 27826
Keep checking back as we update our notes!

  • There is a mention of "8.3 Zone - Outdoor" in the strings.
  • Highmountain Tauren now have their own Moonkin model.
  • Kul Tiran Humans now have a Moonkin Model.
  • Zandalari Trolls now have an aquatic form model.
  • The Kul Tiran Human Allied Race Mount is an armored horse similar to Anduin Wrynn's horse.
  • Malfurion has received a bear form model.
  • The Alliance is getting a new scenario that covers Tyrande's exploits against the Horde in Darkshore in the immediate aftermath of Teldrassil's burning. It involves her undertaking a ritual to become the Night Warrior, giving her a new model with dark eyes. Completion of this scenario unlocks "Night Warrior" customization options for Night Elves.
  • The Horde is getting a new scenario that covers the history behind the modern Sunwell, including its defilement by Arthas and Kael'thas' decision to leave Azeroth. This unlocks Blood Elf Heritage Armor.
  • There is another story scenario where the player must confront the Lich King with the spirit of Vol'jin.
  • The quest chain to unlock Dwarf Heritage Armor involves Ulduar.
  • The Gnomeregan Pet Battle Dungeon is in.
  • There are scenarios that involve Tol Dagor and Zandalari Armory.
  • The two new island expeditions, Havenswood and Jorundal, have been added.
  • Vicious White Warsaber and Vicious Black Bonesteed have been added.
  • The Battle for Darkshore Warfront has been added.
  • Paragon reputations and reputation commendations have been added.
  • Reindeer and sleigh high definition models have been added (implying this patch will likely intends to be live before Winter's Veil).
  • Several bosses in Siege of Zuldazar have been added
  • Two bosses have been added for Crucible of Storms: The Restless Cabal and Uu'nat, Harbinger of the Void
  • Several new Incursion points have been added.
  • The scrapped 7.2 cooking scenario may be making a comeback (Cooking: Impossible)











































New Maps




New Achievements
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - A - Mistvine Ledge - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - A - Mugamba Overlook - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - A - Veiled Grotto - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - A - Verdant Hollow - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - A - Grimwatt's Crash - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - A - Vulture's Nest - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - H - Mudfisher Cove - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - H - Swiftwind Post - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - H - Hillcrest Pasture - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - H - Stonetusk Watch - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - H - Windfall Cavern - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - H - Stonefist Watch - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • 8.0.1 Micro Hubs - H - Wolf's Den - Unlocked (KMS) -
  • War Campaign - Chapter 04 Complete (H) -
  • War Campaign - Chapter 04 Complete (A) -
  • Combatant: Battle for Azeroth Season 1 - Earn the rank of Combatant during Battle for Azeroth Season 1. Title Reward: Combatant
  • Sinister Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 2 - End Battle for Azeroth PvP Season 2 in the top 0.1% of the 3v3 arena ladder (requires 150 games won your current faction in Battle for Azeroth Season 2). Title Reward: Sinister Gladiator
  • Sinister Gladiator's Proto-Drake - Obtain the Sinister Gladiator's Proto-Drake from Battle for Azeroth Season 2.
  • Challenger: Battle for Azeroth Season 2 - Earn the rank of Challenger during Battle for Azeroth Season 2. Title Reward: Challenger
  • Combatant: Battle for Azeroth Season 2 - Earn the rank of Combatant during Battle for Azeroth Season 2. Title Reward: Combatant
  • Rival: Battle for Azeroth Season 2 - Earn the rank of Rival during Battle for Azeroth Season 2. Title Reward: Rival
  • Duelist: Battle for Azeroth Season 2 - Earn the rank of Duelist during Battle for Azeroth Season 2. Title Reward: Duelist
  • Hero of the Alliance: Sinister - End Battle for Azeroth Season 2 in the top 0.5% of the rated battleground ladder (requires 50 games won on your current faction in Battle for Azeroth Season 2).
  • Hero of the Horde: Sinister - End Battle for Azeroth Season 2 in the top 0.5% of the rated battleground ladder (requires 50 games won on your current faction in Battle for Azeroth Season 2).
  • Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 2 - Earn the Rank of Gladiator during Battle for Azeroth Season 2. Reward: Gladiator Title
  • Sinister Combatant -
  • Sinister Combatant -
  • In Teldrassil's Shadow - Complete the Tyrande's Ascension storyline. Reward: 'Night Warrior' Night Elf Customization
  • Defeat 2 Commanders (Horde) (Hidden) - Defeat the following enemy commanders in the Battle for Stromgarde:
  • Defeat 2 Commanders (Alliance) (Hidden) - Defeat the following enemy commanders in the Battle for Stromgarde:
  • Kings' Rest unlocked -
  • Siege of Boralus unlocked -
  • The Shadow Hunter - Aid Vol'jin in his search for answers.



New Mounts
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • Vicious White Warsaber - Vendor: Necrolord Sipe, Zone: Stormwind City
  • Vicious Black Bonesteed - Vendor: Deathguard Netharian, Zone: Orgrimmar



New Quest Line Categories
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • Class Mount: Demon Hunter
  • Class Mount: Shaman
  • Class Mount: Priest
  • Class Mount: Druid
  • Class Mount: Hunter
  • Class Mount: Rogue
  • Zandalar Zone Choice
  • Defense of Fort Daelin
  • Blood Gate
  • In Darkest Night
  • Lost Honor
  • A Voice in the Darkness
  • Dwarven Heritage Armor
  • The Shadow Hunter
  • Our Secret Weapon
  • Blood Elf Heritage Armor
  • Conquest Rewards
  • Rated Mount Reward



New LFG Entries
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • The Battle for Darkshore - Rally beside your forces and push forth to Lor'danel in an effort to reclaim Darkshore for the Alliance.
  • The Battle for Darkshore - Rally beside your forces and push forth to Lor'danel in an effort to reclaim Darkshore for the Horde.
  • Havenswood - Head out for adventure on Havenswood.
  • Jorundall - Head out for adventure on Jorundall.
  • Ulduar - 8.1 Dwarf Heritage Armor - You tread within the ancient titan city of Ulduar.
  • The Sunwell - Heritage Armor -
  • Tyrande's Ascension -
  • The Whispering Reef - Head out for adventure on The Whispering Reef.
  • Zandalari Treasury - Gold. Gems. Probable doom.
  • 8.1 Darkspear - Icecrown - The Frozen Throne (ZTO) - Help the Spirit of Vol'jin confront the Lich King.
  • 8.1 War Campaign - Chapter 03 - To Tol Dagor (msc) - Tol Dagor Breakout



New Factions
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • Dino Training - Direhorn -
  • Zandalari Empire (Paragon) - The oldest empire of Azeroth, the Zandalari are powerful trolls who bargain with fearsome loa and whose navy is unmatched on the Great Sea.
  • Proudmoore Admiralty (Paragon) - Masters of the sea and commanders of Azeroth's finest navy, the distinguished Proudmoore family has led Kul Tiras for decades from their seat of power in Boralus.
  • Talanji's Expedition (Paragon) - Princess Talanji and her allies fight to protect Zandalar from the onslaught of the Blood Trolls.
  • Storm's Wake (Paragon) - Home to farmers, craftsmen, soldiers, and the mysterious tidesages, the Storm's Wake seeks to reclaim Stormsong Valley and affirm their place in Kul Tiras.



New Commendations
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • 7th Legion Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the 7th Legion.
  • Champions of Azeroth Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Champions of Azeroth.
  • Honorbound Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Honorbound.
  • Order of Embers Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Order of Embers.
  • Order of Embers Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Order of Embers.
  • Proudmoore Admiralty Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Proudmoore Admiralty.
  • Storm's Wake Commendation - Awards %d reputation with Storm's Wake.
  • Tortollan Seekers Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Tortollan Seekers.
  • Zandalari Empire Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Zandalari Empire.
  • Talanji's Expedition Commendation - Awards %d reputation with Talanji's Expedition.
  • Voldunai Commendation - Awards %d reputation with the Voldunai.



New Encounters
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Siege of Zuldazar
  • Grimfang and Firecaller -
  • Duel with a Duo (H) -
  • King Grong -
    • Flying Ape Wranglers
    • Grong
    • Apetaganizer 3000
  • Loa Council - Deep within the golden city of Zuldazar, the revered loa are worshipped within a chamber constructed to honor them. Six of the most prominent loa are represented here, gaurded by their most devout champions. Any trespasser that dar enter this sacred hall will be met with the fury of Zuldazar's most powerful loa.
  • Frida Ironbellows - On the frontlines of the assault on Zuldazar, Frida Ironbellows leads her troops towards victory. Using the powers of the Light to both infuse herself and her allies with power, she is a overpowering force on the battlefield.
    • Frida Ironbellows
    • Anointed Disciple
    • Darkforged Crusader
  • High Tinker Mekkatorque -
  • King Rastakhan -
    • Headhunter Gal'wana
    • Siegebreaker Roka
    • Bwonsamdi
    • King Rastakhan
    • Rastari Honorguard
    • Prelate Za'lan
  • Sea Priest Blockade -
    • Tidepriest Joseph
    • Kul Tiran Strongarm
    • Tidepriestess Katherine
    • Laminaria
    • Kul Tiran Tideweaver
    • Kul Tiran Stormbringer

Crucible of Storms
  • The Restless Cabal - Called from the depths to retrieve three relics of ancient power, The Restless Cabal is bound to serve N'Zoth attend to his will. Zaxasj speaks of promises and power while Fa'thuul crushes the opposition with pure force.
  • Uu'nat, Harbinger of the Void - Temp text

Azeroth
  • Ivus the Forest Lord -



Content Tuning
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • 8.1 Raid Zuldazar - Normal
  • 8.1 Raid Zuldazar - Heroic
  • 8.1 Raid Zuldazar - Mythic
  • 8.1 Raid Zuldazar - LFR
  • 8.1 Zone - Outdoor
  • 8.1 Warfronts
  • 8.1 Shrine Raid - LFR
  • 8.1 Shrine Raid - Mythic
  • 8.1 Shrine Raid - Heroic
  • 8.1 Shrine Raid - Normal
  • 8.3 Zone - Outdoor
  • 8.1 Incursions
  • MoP Endgame - Isle of the Thunder King - Loot Room
  • 8.0 - Professions (Min 120)
  • Mop Endgame - Durotar 5.3: Storyline



New Broadcast Text
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Vol'jin and Talanji
  • Vol'jin, son of Sen'jin, once warchief of the Horde... Hear my voice and appear before us.
  • Talanji. Ya voice be a mighty one.
  • Vol'jin! Is it really you, my old friend?
  • Baine... ya heart beats strong and true... just like ya fadda. I be glad da demons didn't take ya.
  • Sylvanas led us to victory in the war against the Legion.
  • But since then... she has done much to strain the honor that binds the Horde together.
  • I must know... when the voice spoke to you, bidding you to name her warchief... what spirit was it?
  • Ah, my young friend. Death be... dark. Me memory... not be what it once was.
  • Was it Bwonsamdi? Did he crave the death she would bring?
  • Da memory, it be denied me by da shadows. Shadows... dat... dat be comin' for ya! Watch out!
  • I remember dyin'. I remember glimpsin' da Other Side.
  • I was expectin' ta see ol' Bwonsamdi, or Shadra, or Hir'reek... any of da loa.
  • Dere was a presence. Somethin' movin' in da shadows. Somethin' powerful.
  • Sometin' not be right dat day. Da demons, deir blades slipped past me guard.
  • Like dey be doin' now. I cannot hear dem, champion. Da voices of da loa be silent.
  • I been callin' ta Bwonsamdi for a long time. He not be hearin' me... or he been choosin' not ta answer.
  • I remember it takin' me somewhere, but da memory of where be hidden from me. Ta keep me from sharin' da truth...
  • Da truth dat it might not be da loa who wanted Sylvanas to be warchief, but somethin' far more powerful.
  • Ahhhh, ya come back. Did ya find da spirit of Vol'jin? Or ya here ta make a deal, eh?
  • Loa of death, your servant Vol'jin has called to you. Yet you have turned a deaf ear to his pleas.
  • What? Nonono. Ya be mistaken, Talanji.
  • Speak plainly! Was it you who urged Vol'jin to name Sylvanas warchief?
  • Mind ya tone, bull-mon... or ya be talkin' with ya father soon enough.
  • Why would me want da Banshee Queen in charge? Nononono. Sure, I be all for war and death, but dat Sylvanas... she be tippin' da scales too far.
  • Balance be important! Besides, dat one got a nasty habit of keepin' what she kills. No, ya warchief be no friend to ol' Bwonsamdi.
  • Lich King. Da voice I heard as I be dyin'... tellin' me to name Sylvanas warchief... was it yours?
  • The Banshee Queen's schemes threaten the balance. I had no hand in them.
  • And me spirit bein' trapped in dis world... is dat your doin'?
  • Vol'jin... your soul has walked on the Other Side and returned. You have been altered... more than you know.
  • Is it you who be trappin' me soul in dis world? Ta jail me like ya jail da Scourge?
  • You are neither undead nor damned. You do not belong here. Leave this place at once.
  • I do not like de look of dis. I suggest we go... quickly!
  • Leave now or stay forever. The choice is yours.
  • Minions of the Banshee Queen, leave this place or die.
  • Hold... you DARE bring a priestess of Bwonsamdi into MY halls?
  • Eyir, speak with me if da others not be to your liking.
  • Hmm. Very well. You and your champion may approach. But know that deception will be met with destruction.
  • Queen of da Val'kyr. My spirit was sent to da Other Side, den returned. Was dis your doing?
  • Shadow hunter, you are no longer a mere spirit. What you have become is something beyond my power to forge.
  • Who be havin' such power? Could it be da same one who bid me ta name Sylvanas warchief?
  • You have been touched by the hand of valor. Such a noble force does not scheme for mortal thrones.
  • So whoever whispered to me's not da same as who sent me back?
  • You have been granted all the knowledge I am willing to share. Leave now, and never return.
  • Ya words be troublin', tho. Step forward, Speaker of da Horde. Maybe dere's a way ta find da answers ya seek.
  • Da Lich King didn't bring me back. Eyir be claimin' she don't got da mojo. Bwonsamdi be as confused as da rest of us. And none of dem were eager ta see Sylvanas in charge.
  • No matter de circumstances, she is leader of de Horde. I will do all I can to ensure dat her rule is a just one.
  • Zandalar still stands because of your courage, Talanji. Your father was mired in da old ways, dreamin' of a troll empire lost to time.
  • But you be da first to look to da future... to see what da trolls can become. Ya be young, but ya be righteous. Call on me spirit if ya ever need advice from an old chieftain.
  • For now, I gonna keep searchin' for answers. If dere be new enemies gatherin' in da shadows, den I best be huntin' dem... before dey hunt us.

Misc
  • Fine, if my troops can't kill you, then I will! For Daelin Proudmoore!
  • Neferset City will fall! ATTACK!!!
  • Quick scene of Azerite tank's shield going down and firing on the gang.Quick scene of Azerite tank's shield going down and firing on the gang.
  • I gonna need to walk around, be in dis place, kick over some bones. Ya best keep your weapon handy just in case.$b$bLet me know when you be ready.
  • Destroy zhe - Vait... vhat is ZHAT?!
  • PLACEHOLDER scene of Lightforged beacons dropping and troops moving out
  • Alright, here we go! We got the fuel, we got the plan, and we got the hands to push the buttons to make it happen!
  • We're gonna show Mekkatorque that we ain't so stupid after all. Once his ship's on fire, we'll land on it and send out one of them SOS things.
  • He's gonna be flying back, and I bet he'll be all, oh no, I've been outwitted by Gallywix, he destroyed my ship, I better save everyone!
  • Then when he gets there he'll see us and realize he's been DOUBLE outwitted! HAH!
  • That's the part where you and me blow him up on his burnin' airship. You can't get more dramatic than that!
  • I'm so excited, all my chins are shakin'! One thing at a time, let's blow up that ship.



New Scenarios
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Escape from Tol Dagor
  • Speak to Warden - Speak to Warden Amical.
  • - Send the guards away, and take the Master Key.
  • Release Ashvane - Release Ashvane
  • Create a distraction - Release prisoners and plant the explosives.
  • Escape the Prison - get through sewers
  • Defeat the Warden -
  • Get to the Ship - Deliver Ashvane

Gnomeregan
  • Automated Defenses - The automated defenses of Gnomeregan have been activated!
  • Out of Control Elementals - Defeat the Living Elementals.
  • Pull the Correct Levers - Use the correct sequence of levers to activate the Door Control Console.
  • Bypass the Mine Field - Ride the Bomb Stomper 5000 through the deadly field of Bomb Bots.
  • Resilient Critters - Defeat the critters that somehow survive in this place.
  • You Dirty Rat - There's a Leper Rat of unusual size guardng that door. It looks mean.
  • Gnomeregan Defense Force, Activate! - Defeat the Gnomeregan Defense Force.
  • Shadowy Figure - Someone has telepoted into the room. Confront them!
  • Thermaplugg's Latest Invention - Mekgineer Thermaplugg has left his latest invention here as the last bastion of defense for Gnomeregan. Smash it!

Jailor of the Damned
  • Confront the Lich King -
  • Reach the Death Gate - Retreat to Bwonsamdi's Death Gate.
  • Escape the Frozen Throne - Use Bwonsamdi's Death Gate to escape the Frozen Throne.

The Battle for Darkshore
  • To Auberdine! - Remove the Alliance from the Ruins of Auberdine.
  • Preparation - Prepare yourself for battle.
  • To Auberdine! - Remove the Forsaken threat and begin the reclamation of Ruins of Auberdine.
  • Forward Progress - Claim Bashal'Aran for the Horde.
  • Advancing the Effort - Construct the means necessary to defeat the enemy.
  • Applying Pressure - Defeat the Horde's forward commander in Ruins of Auberdine.
  • Forward Progress - Reclaim Bashal'Aran.
  • End of the Road - Defeat the enemy commander and claim Darkshore for the Horde.
  • Advancing the Effort - Construct the means necessary to defeat the enemy.
  • The Fallen Moon - Defeat the enemy commander and reclaim Darkshore for the Alliance.

The Fall of the Sunwell
  • By Blood Remembered - Shine the lantern and start the memories of the fallen.
  • Until Our Last Breath - Hold the line against the Scourge
  • Delaying Death's March - Defeat Seer Drannix
  • For Anasterian! - Face Arthas.
  • A Setback - Shine the lantern on Kael'thas' decision.
  • He Who Walks the Day - Break through to the Sunwell.
  • A Prince's Decision - Defend the Magisters during their ritual.

The Treasury Heist
  • A Simple Plan - Use the G.P.G.
  • Mission: Probable - Proceed further into the treasury.
  • Take the Shortcut - Head towards the central chamber.
  • Nevermind - Return to the outer hallway.
  • Let's Try This Again - Gather Data using G.P.G.
  • The Search Continues - Proceed further into the treasury.

Tyrande's Ascension
  • In Teldrassil's Wake - Sail to the Ruins of Auberdine.
  • Elune's Gaze - Find the Eye of Elune in the Ruins of Auberdine.
  • Cornered! - Defeat Bilegut and escape the hall.
  • A Cry for Help - Investigate the screaming nearby.
  • No Elf Left Behind - Rescue the kaldorei prisoners in the Withering Thicket.
  • Closing In - Find Tyrande Whisperwind in Bashal'Aran.
  • Zenith - Guard Tyrande while she completes the Ritual of the Night Warrior.
  • The Night Warrior - Witness Tyrande's ascension into the Night Warrior.
  • Nowhere to Run - Hunt down Nathanos Blightcaller.
  • Nowhere to Hide - Find Nathanos Blightcaller nearby.
  • The Queen's Pawn - Intervene before Nathanos raises the fallen as forsaken.
  • Eyes of the Forest - Return to the fleet and scout the Horde army.



New Maps
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • Zandalarraid - Zuldazar Raid
  • SeaPriestRaid - Crucible of Storms
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAlliance - Warfronts Darkshore - Alliance
  • IncursionAirshipHorde - 8.1.0 Incursion Airship Horde
  • IncursionAirshipAlliance - 8.1.0 Incursion Airship Alliance
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHorde - Warfronts Darkshore - Horde
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenario - 8.1 Darkshore Scenario
  • Islands7 - Jorundall (Islands 7)
  • TransportCookingImpossibleAllianceBalloon - Transport: Cooking: Impossible - Hot Air Balloon - Alliance
  • TransportCookingImpossibleHordeBalloon - Transport: Cooking: Impossible - Hot Air Balloon - Horde
  • N�Zoth - DELETE
  • SeaPriestDungeonQuests - Shrine of the Storm Quests
  • ZandalariTreasury - Zandalari Treasury
  • DaggerRealm - Dagger Realm
  • DarkshoreHordeQuests - 8.1 Darkshore Horde Quests
  • DarkshoreOutdoorPhase - 8.1 Darkshore Outdoor Final Phase
  • TolDagorScenario - Tol Dagor Scenario
  • DevSmoketest - Dev Smoketest
  • ZuldazarRaidShipTransport - Transport: Zuldazar Raid Ship



New Area PoIs
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • Incursion - Tiragarde is under attack by the Horde!
  • Withering Thicket - Allows for the collection of Wood.
  • Cinderfall Grove - Allows for the collection of Wood.
  • Lor'danel Landing - Alliance
  • Lor'danel Landing - Horde
  • Lornesta Mine - Allows for the collection of Iron.
  • Gloomtide Strand - Alliance
  • Gloomtide Strand - Horde
  • Gloomtide Strand - Neutral
  • Bitterstone Quarry - Allows for the collection of Iron.
  • Ashwood Depot - Alliance
  • Ashwood Depot - Horde
  • Ruins of Auberdine - Alliance
  • Ruins of Auberdine - Secure a foothold in Darkshore.
  • Forlorn Crossing - Alliance
  • Forlorn Crossing - Horde
  • Bashal'Aran - Construct a base to recapture Darkshore.
  • Injured Tree of Life - Revive!
  • Tree of Life - Main structure which improves the base.
  • Tree of Ages - Alliance
  • Tree of Eternity - Alliance
  • Glaiveworks - Vehicle production building.
  • Ancient of War - Primary troop production building.
  • Hunter's Hall - Upgrade the weapons and armor of units.
  • Altar of Elders - Access to powerful player bonuses.
  • Ruins of Auberdine - Horde
  • Incursion - Drustvar is under attack by the Horde!
  • Incursion - Stormsong Valley is under attack by the Horde!
  • Incursion - Nazmir is under attack by the Alliance!
  • Incursion - Vol'dun is under attack by the Alliance!
  • Incursion - Zuldazar is under attack by the Alliance!
  • Altar of Storms - Access to powerful player bonuses.
  • Barracks - Primary troop production building.
  • Workshop - Vehicle production building.
  • Stronghold - Horde
  • Fortress - Horde
  • Destroyed Great Hall - Capture and Rebuild!
  • Great Hall - Main structure which improves the base.
  • Zidormi - Travel through time to another point in Arathi Highlands' history.



New Areas
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • SeaPriestRaid - Crucible of Storms
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAlliance - Darkshore
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceChat - Darkshore
  • AdamsTestDungeon - Test Dungeon - White Area
  • AdamsTestDungeon - Test Dungeon - Gray Area
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceWitheringThicket - Withering Thicket
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceRuinsofAuberdine - Ruins of Auberdine
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceCliffspringRiver - Cliffspring River
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceLordanel - Lor'danel
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceBashalAran - Bashal'Aran
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceRuinsofLornesta - Ruins of Lornesta
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceMoontouchedDen - Moontouched Den
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceMistsEdge - Mist's Edge
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceTheVeiledSea - The Veiled Sea
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceTwilightShore - Twilight Shore
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceTwilightVale - Twilight Vale
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceAuberdineRefugeeCamp - Auberdine Refugee Camp
  • ZuldazarRaid - The Burning of Zuldazar
  • HordeAirship - Horde Airship
  • HordeAirship - Horde Airship
  • HordeAirship - Horde Airship
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceBitterstoneQuarry - Bitterstone Quarry
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceCinderfallGrove - Cinderfall Grove
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceAshwoodAerie - Ashwood Depot
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHorde - Darkshore
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeChat - Darkshore
  • GreystoneRuins - Greystone Ruins
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceForlornCrossing - Forlorn Crossing
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceLordanelLanding - Lor'danel Landing
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceTheDredge - The Dredge
  • AllianceAirship - Alliance Airship
  • AllianceAirship - Alliance Airship
  • AllianceAirship - Alliance Airship
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceLornestaMine - Lornesta Mine
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceGloomtideStrand - Gloomtide Strand
  • FalconsRest - Falcon's Rest
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreAllianceTheMoonspray - The Moonspray
  • MadoranStudy - Madoran's Study
  • ZulToa - Zul'Toa
  • 81DarkshoreHorde - Darkshore
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenario - Darkshore
  • 81DarkshoreHordeLordanelLanding - Lor'danel Landing
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeWitheringThicket - Withering Thicket
  • 81DarkshoreHordeLordanel - Lor'danel
  • 81DarkshoreHordeTheDredge - The Dredge
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeRuinsofAuberdine - Ruins of Auberdine
  • 81DarkshoreHordeAshwoodDepot - Ashwood Depot
  • 81DarkshoreHordeCliffspringRiver - Cliffspring River
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeCliffspringRiver - Cliffspring River
  • 81DarkshoreHordeCinderfallGrove - Cinderfall Grove
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeLordanel - Lor'danel
  • 81DarkshoreHordeForlornCrossing - Forlorn Crossing
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeBashalAran - Bashal'Aran
  • 81DarkshoreHordeGloomtideStrand - Gloomtide Strand
  • 81DarkshoreHordeBashalAran - Bashal'Aran
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeRuinsofLornesta - Ruins of Lornesta
  • 81DarkshoreHordeLornestaMine - Lornesta Mine
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeMoontouchedDen - Moontouched Den
  • 81DarkshoreHordeRuinsofLornesta - Ruins of Lornesta
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeMistsEdge - Mist's Edge
  • 81DarkshoreHordeMistsEdge - Mist's Edge
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeTheVeiledSea - The Veiled Sea
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeTwilightShore - Twilight Shore
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeTwilightVale - Twilight Vale
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeAuberdineRefugeeCamp - Auberdine Refugee Camp
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeBitterstoneQuarry - Bitterstone Quarry
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeCinderfallGrove - Cinderfall Grove
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeAshwoodDepot - Ashwood Depot
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeForlornCrossing - Forlorn Crossing
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeLordanelLanding - Lor'danel Landing
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeTheDredge - The Dredge
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeLornestaMine - Lornesta Mine
  • WarfrontsDarkshoreHordeGloomtideStrand - Gloomtide Strand
  • TenebrousVault - Tenebrous Vault
  • CookingImpossibleUnchartedTerritory - Uncharted Territory
  • TheStrider - The Strider
  • GnomereganPetBattle - Gnomeregan
  • StormsongDungeonExterior - Shrine of the Storm (copy)
  • SeaPriestRaidTab - Shrine of the Storm
  • 81DarkshoreHordeDelarynsDemise - Delaryn's Demise
  • ZandalariTreasury - Zandalari Treasury
  • DevSmoketestArea - Dev Smoketest Area
  • TolDagorScenario - Tol Dagor
  • TheShepherdsGate - Court of the Sun
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioWitheringThicket - Withering Thicket
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioRuinsOfAuberdine - Ruins of Auberdine
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioTwilightShore - Twilight Shore
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioBashalAran - Bashal'Aran
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioForlornCrossing - Forlorn Crossing
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioAshwoodDepot - Ashwood Depot
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioMistsEdge - Mist's Edge
  • DarkshoreTyrandeScenarioDelarynsDemise - Delaryn's Demise
  • ShrineofShadowsRaid - Shrine of Shadows
  • ShrineofShadowsRaid - Tendril of Corruption
  • RedridgePass - Redridge Pass



New Graveyards
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
  • Warfront Darkshore - Alliance Start
  • Warfront Darkshore - Alliance Ruins of Auberdine GY
  • 8.0 Zuldazar - Dino Training - Finale Safe Loc (JAK)
  • Warfront Darkshore - Alliance Bashal'Aran GY
  • Warfront Darkshore - Alliance Intro GY
  • 8.1 Incursions - Harder They Fall - Safe Loc - (MDE)
  • 8.1 Incursions - Crawler Mine Abandon (MDE)
  • Havenswood
  • Warfront Darkshore - Horde Start
  • Jorundall
  • 8.1 Incursions - Crawler Mine - Safe Loc - (MDE)
  • 8.1 Incursions - Unfriendly Skies - Safe Loc (MDE)
  • Norwington Estate Safe Place
  • 8.1 Incursions - Tiragarde - Greystone Ruins - H - WQ02 - Iron Star Exit (JDA)
  • 8.1 War Campaign - A - Ch1 - anglepoint boat safeport - krb
  • 8.1 War Campaign - H - Chapter 2 - Drustvar Combat Safe spot - (STM)
  • 8.1 Incursions - Famous Airship Disasters - Safe Loc - (MDE)
  • Warfront Darkshore - Alliance Lor'danel GY
  • 8.1 Dwarf Heritage - Ulduar - Scenario - Entrance Loc - RRB
  • Safe Exit: 8.1 Dwarf Heritage Armor - Loch Modan - RRB
  • The Sunwell - Heritage Scenario Start
  • Warfront Darkshore - Alliance Ship
  • 8.1 Tyrande - A - Tyrande Scenario - Start - GJC
  • 8.1 Tyrande - A - Tyrande Scenario - Safe Exit Loc - GJC
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Alliance - Zone Out Location
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Alliance - Zone In Location
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Horde - Zone Out Location
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Horde - Zone In Location
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Treasure Room Entrance
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Treasure Room Exit
  • 8.1 SoS PreRaid - Dagger - Revival Point (msc)
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Throne Room Entrance
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Throne Room Exit
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Balcony Exit
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Balcony Entrance
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Elevator Bottom
  • 8.1 Zuldazar Raid - Elevator Top
  • Warfront Darkshore - Horde Intro GY
  • Warfront Darkshore - Horde Ruins of Auberdine GY
  • Warfront Darkshore - Horde Bashal'Aran GY
  • Warfront Darkshore - Horde Lor'danel GY
  • Scenario - Gnomeregan Pet Battle Entrance
  • 8.1 War Campaign - A - Ch3 - Zandalari Treasury Scenario Entry - KRB
  • 8.1 War Campaign - A - Ch3 - Zandalari Treasury Scenario Exit - KRB
  • 8.1 Sunwell Unlock Scenario - GY 1
  • 8.1 Sunwell Unlock Scenario - GY 2
  • 8.1 Sunwell Unlock Scenario - GY 3
  • Emerald Dreamway - The Stuff of Dreams (RKS)
  • 8.1 Tyrande - A - Tyrande Scenario - GY - Stage 1-2 - GJC
  • 8.1 Tyrande - A - Tyrande Scenario - GY - Stage 3-6 - GJC
  • 8.1 Tyrande - A - Tyrande Scenario - GY - Stage 7-9 - GJC
  • 8.1 Tyrande - A - Tyrande Scenario - GY - Stage 10-11 - GJC
  • Islands - Port of Zandalar Exit Loc
  • Islands - Boralus Harbor Exit Loc
  • 8.1 Icecrown - The Frozen Throne
  • Warfront Arathi - Horde, General GY
  • Darkshore - Tyrande (H) - Lor'danel GY
  • Darkshore - Tyrande (H) - Bashal'Aran GY
  • 8.1 Shrine Raid - Entrance Target - KLH
  • 8.1 Shrine Raid - Post B1 - KLH
  • 8.1 Shrine Raid - Exit Target - KLH
  • Warfront Darkshore - Alliance Exit Safe Loc
  • Warfront Darkshore - Horde Exit Safe Loc
  • 8.1 Tol Dagor Scenario
169 Comments

World of Warcraft Diary Chapter Preview - Stepping on Toes 

by
chaud
Published on 2018-09-20 08:32 PM

Battle for Stromgarde Warfront Available for Alliance

Season 15 Launch

Developer Insights: Days of the Frozen Throne with the Live Content Team

Game Design & Balance AMA - Recap

Overwatch Ultimate Genji Sword - Available for Pre-Order

World of Warcraft Diary Chapter Preview - Stepping on Toes
John Staats has sent along a chapter from his upcoming book as a preview! There is an ongoing Kickstarter for a book about Vanilla WoW development that is about to end early next week.

If you are interested in hearing more, John Staats (Level Designer), David Ray (Senior Tool & Database Programmer), and Kevin Jordan (Game Designer) are doing a Reddit AMA on Friday!


Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
"I’m a programmer. I can push around the producers, but the level designers won’t listen to me."
— Jeremy Wood

Veteran programmer Collin Murray described Jeremy Wood, whom we hired straight out of college, as “a guy who is scary-perceptive for someone who’s never worked before.” It’s a universal perception that level designers don’t listen—that we build however we please, regardless of limitations set by the programmers. But let me take this opportunity to offer a bit of defense for my fellow level designers: We listen, but we also have other considerations. We’re the center of development’s Venn diagram. It’s our job to make locations render smoothly; while telling a story; while making the world beautiful and immersive; while providing areas suitable for gameplay. In serving our varied masters, we sometimes forget our limitations. When we discover something cool, concessions often must be made. Sometimes our hacks create more work for other departments, who help us pull off our tricks. It’s a balancing act of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

For instance, I once butted heads with the programmers over transparent water. Our opaque water wasn’t popular with the art team, and it prevented me from seeing my submerged temples in Blackfathom Deeps. I’d asked repeatedly for transparent water tests, but the programming staff said they were swamped with higher priorities and didn’t have time to fix “sorting issues”—which were graphical glitches when multiple transparent objects appeared in front of one another. If spell effects (which used transparent textures) were cast in front of transparent water, they would appear to be underneath the water’s surface. Not good, right? And sorting issues were a messy video card problem, and since all video cards worked differently, it was a major pain in the ass to correct.

However, I wasn’t convinced. I scaled-up one of our props that used transparent textures and used it as a mock-waterline to see how bad sorting would look—and the result wasn’t bad at all. The sorting issues were only noticeable when I channeled from the shoreline into the water. The “ribbon” VFX hiccuped when they overlapped the water, but it was utterly unnoticeable in the heat of combat. The entire dungeon team was so excited that we showed the producers, and Shane gave me his thoughts. “John, I know you’re super-excited about this, but you have to let us handle it,” he explained. It was a delicate situation, and he just wanted to be the one telling the programmers they were wrong. Everyone had been working late hours and Shane didn’t want to upset anyone. “I promise you,” he continued, “we’ll implement transparent water, but it might take a little time. Please, don’t tell anyone else.”

Shane was talking to me like this because I had a reputation for being a ninja and sneaking things into the build of the game that weren’t approved or on a task list. I’d always earned autonomy in the workplace by working longer hours than anyone else—and my situation at Blizzard was no different. I established a gentleman’s agreement with the producers that I could build extra dungeons on weekends and after hours if I completed tasks already assigned to me. I found trust like this to be liberating, empowering, and generally made my time on the job more comfortable. I ended up making so much content, the game designers urged the producers to treat me with a hands-off approach. Because I worked on whatever I wanted, people often came to me if they needed something major to be improved—or ninja’ed in. Since the producers were wise to my ways they always kept an eye on me to make sure I wasn’t creating work for other people.

But transparent water was a different story. This time I had gone behind the backs of programmers after they had doubled-down on insisting that they didn’t have time to fix sorting issues. In truth, the programmers were correct—there were sorting issues, but what they didn’t realize (and what my test had demonstrated) was that the sorting errors were mostly unnoticeable. Aside from myself, the programmers were working longer hours than anyone else on the team, so reversing one of their vetoes would be a touchy prospect. Shane was perfectly reasonable in wanting the news to come from him instead of a rabble-rousing level designer. I certainly didn’t want the heat, so I let Shane add the task to the programmer’s workload in his own time, so I promised to keep my big mouth shut. But what Shane didn’t do was tell the other level designers the same thing, and they promptly blabbed about the discovery to half the office.

Later that day, a group of artists came over to my desk and insisted that I show them this Promethean miracle of transparent water. I protested, but they weren’t having any of it. They told me the whole team already knew and crossed their arms, saying they wouldn’t leave until I showed them. I relented just to get them out of my office. And wouldn’t you know it, Shane walked into my office at exactly that moment. Before I could get a chance to explain what had happened, he walked away, shaking his head in exasperation. That should illustrate what it was like to work with level designers. We are troublemakers by nature. We spend so much time on a single file or area that sometimes we become too fixated on forcing things to happen.

I’ve always found case-by-case problem solving yielded better results than fiats coming from department leads who didn’t quite realize the whole “robbing Peter to pay Paul” thing. For instance, I ignored our object size limits while building the thorn canopies for the Razorfen dungeons. After Scott Hartin informed me why the engine couldn’t handle my giant canopy I built it a different way and he subsequently gave me a different veto. Over several weeks we went back and forth until eventually we ended up working out the problem together (Scott tweaked the code to make an exception). The result was that Chris Metzen’s vision of being inside a giant thorn bush was realized.

And I wasn’t the only one making waves. When Aaron Keller was told we couldn’t place freestanding buildings directly on the terrain for complicated pathing code reasons, he placed tepees and tents in Thunderbluff anyway, and we discovered that the pathing problems weren’t as bad as initially feared. Dana Jan built his Deadmines bigger than our engine’s “farclip limit,” which forced programmers to increase it—and we learned bigger rooms didn’t produce performance problems. This proved to be a valuable lesson for creating “epic” areas.

As ornery as the dungeon builders were, the exterior level designers were worse (or so we were told). The programmers were so frustrated by the overuse of props in some areas (which deteriorated the engine’s performance), that they often went to the producers to arbitrate compromises. Butting heads was a good thing; it meant employees were passionate about their jobs, new things were discovered, and the game’s limits were stretched with coolness.
21 Comments

Battle for Stromgarde Warfront Available for Alliance 

by
chaud
Published on 2018-09-20 06:20 AM

Update: Both US and EU Alliance players now have access to the Warfront.

Battle for Stromgarde Warfront Available for Alliance
The Alliance have completed the progress bar to launch The Battle for Stromgarde Warfront!

Alliance characters with an item level of 320 or higher can now queue for the 20 man PvE large scale scenario to fight for control of Arathi Highlands against the opposite faction AI.

Pick up the quest Warfront: The Battle for Stromgarde and complete the scenario for an item level 370 piece of gear! Warfronts award item level 340 loot baseline upon completion.

Alliance characters have 7 days to complete the Warfront before the Horde characters will be able to start to contribute resources to launch their Warfront!
88 Comments
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