Gamescom Dev Interview - Warlords of Draenor Final Boss, Legendary Items, Transmog Revamp
Our friends over at Vanion had the chance to talk to Tom Chilton during Gamescom and came away with some interesting details. The highlights of the interview are below, but be sure to watch the whole thing for additional context.


Final Boss
  • Grommash is the final boss of Warlords of Draenor.

Legendary Items
  • Warlords of Draenor will have a questline for a legendary ring that begins at level 99 and is less grindy than the Mists of Pandaria quests.
  • The legendary ring will have a visual effect so that players can show it off.
  • It is very likely that there will be legendary items other than the ring from the questline.

Future Content Patches
  • A transmogrification system revamp could be part of Patch 6.1 or 6.2, allowing you to build a collection of transmog items rather than storing them in your bank or Void Storage. It also may include tools to better manage multiple transmog sets.
  • Tanaan Jungle and possibly Farahlon will be in future content patches, not at launch.
  • Additional dungeons could be added in content patches. There are more dungeons within Draenor that could be added, as well as older dungeons through the Timewalker system.
  • There aren't any class quests planned for Warlords launch right now, but if one fits later in the expansion it could be added.
  • The length of time beyond Patch 6.1 that you are unable to fly in Draenor will be decided upon by the community as a whole. If players enjoy it then it could last longer. If players overwhelming want flight back by Patch 6.1, then they will most likely get it.

Warlords Patch Timing
  • The Warlords patch cycle will be similar to the Mists of Pandaria patch cycle, but some of it will depend on the timing of the next expansion.
    • "Some of it will depend on the time before the next expansion after Warlords. It is very possible that if we are successful and there is a shorter gap, then we won't necessarily want to have multiple raid tier content patches. Each raid content patch needs about four months to breathe. Any less than that and it feels like you really rushed through the content."
  • The content patch schedule isn't finalized yet, as a lot of it depends on what players want to see more of once they get through the launch content. Some of it will depend on the scheduling for the next expansion.

PvP
  • The team would like to add the new Nagrand arena as a new arena, but this isn't final yet. It depends on how work on the next expansion is progressing.
  • There are no plans to add a new battleground in Warlords of Draenor.

Garrisons
  • Garrisons ended up involving all of the different teams and will be a big feature, changing the gameplay of WoW more than any other feature has.
  • More Garrison features or levels are something that could be done in a future content patch.

Misc
  • The Adventure Guide won't make it in for the Warlords launch. It will be useful as more content is added after launch, so hopefully it will be ready for a future content patch.
  • The World of Warcraft team grew by around 80 people during Mists of Pandaria, which should allow them to produce content faster in the future. This did slow things down in the short term though, which contributed to the delay of Warlords of Draenor.
  • There aren't any scenarios for you to queue for at Level 100 in Warlords right now, but some could be added in future patches. Right now they are mostly used as a storytelling tool while leveling.
  • Warforged items can appear in dungeons now as a nice bonus.
This article was originally published in forum thread: Warlords of Draenor Final Boss, Legendary Items, Transmog Revamp, and More! started by chaud View original post
Comments 233 Comments
  1. mmocfc138a9a69's Avatar
    "The World of Warcraft team grew by around 80 people during Mists of Pandaria, which should allow them to produce content faster in the future"

    xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
  1. Steampunk's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Silent One View Post
    I don't understand why anyone is upset about Grommash, this was confirmed last year at Blizzcon... :/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dvwGcZlnI&t=4m10s
    Because shortly before this video clip starts, they said it wouldn't be an Orc.

    Watched the entire Blizzcon footage, with my virtual ticket and vacation days... can't believe the joke was on us all along.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by trauma443 View Post
    "The World of Warcraft team grew by around 80 people during Mists of Pandaria, which should allow them to produce content faster in the future"

    xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
    They said this right before Pandaria though as well.

    I just can't buy it anymore.
  1. mmoca30aa625a8's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by det View Post
    Yes, Blizzard has been doing this for years...where the hell does the hurt and surprise come from? People are like a beaten wife that stays with her abusive husband, seriously.

    - - - Updated - - -
    Using Domestic Abuse to try and validate your position.....wait so Blizzard ARE actually abusing us then?
  1. NotFunny008's Avatar
    How is Grommash more powerful than Ilidan, the Lich King, Deathwing and even the old god enpowered Grarrosh? Is he going to gain power later on but how? Not through the Burning Legions I hope.
  1. mmoc1e97a2db63's Avatar
    This is going to be an end battle vs Grom + Legion which leads right in to the next expansion "World of Warcraft - The Legion Returns" etc etc
  1. mmoc7680c96cf7's Avatar
    So I was hyped about the new expansion. Very much so!
    But the past weeks and months since Blizzcon have been a very sobering experience.

    Where to begin...
    Garrissons - Unlike what was announced at Blizzcon we wont be able to choose where they will be placed but we get a cookie cutter place where it has to be put. We even get a cookie cutter place where the different building types have to go. So essentially, if two people choose the same type buildings their Garrissons will look exactly the same. No individuality will be allowed.
    Then the Devs came and said we will be able to move the Garrisson to a different place at a later date. NOW it is being said we MAY be able to move it at a later date and that additional features are "something that COULD be done in future patches". Only second to "SOON", "MAY" and "COULD" are Blizzard's way of saying "forget it".

    At Blizzcon it was said the final boss wouldnt be another Orc yet again. And what a surprise, we get another Orc. This time we don't kick Garrosh's ass, but his father's. Nothing against kicking Orc ass but two expansions back to back being Orc heavy ... is Chris and the rest of his team running out of ideas? I can't wait to enter a big ominous room and see Hellscream staring down at my raid with gorehowl at the ready...
    oh wait, I already did that.
    I'm so disappointed I don't even have words.

    A ring with a visual effect as the X-Pacs legendary? Wel, I guess Frodo and his friends will resub now. And the "very likely" in the statement ... well, another phrase we can put in with "soon" and "maybe".

    Further there will be zones that aren't in the game yet, things that were used as sell points during Blizzcon which aren't brought into the game and so on. It seems Blizz took the usual route of making a damn good sales call at Blizzcon and then once a ton of presales have been made they take things away, mark them off as "soon", "maybe" and "possibly later" and give us the virtual middle finger.

    Just like the big chance to revamp the game with Cataclysm was fucked up badly, the second chance to do so in WoD is also being fucked up. Just like the guy sitting in the White House, Blizz went from "YES WE CAN" to "We'll do our best to attempt" to finally "Oh well, we tried".

    So what will be in store for the next X-Pac? We go back in time 36 years and fight father and son together? That would be an awesome idea, three Orc X-Pacs back to back. Please do it so that I can finally become SO disappointed and disgusted with the game that I won't be fooled into buing another X-Pac.

    - - - Updated - - -

    So I was hyped about the new expansion. Very much so!
    But the past weeks and months since Blizzcon have been a very sobering experience.

    Where to begin...
    Garrissons - Unlike what was announced at Blizzcon we wont be able to choose where they will be placed but we get a cookie cutter place where it has to be put. We even get a cookie cutter place where the different building types have to go. So essentially, if two people choose the same type buildings their Garrissons will look exactly the same. No individuality will be allowed.
    Then the Devs came and said we will be able to move the Garrisson to a different place at a later date. NOW it is being said we MAY be able to move it at a later date and that additional features are "something that COULD be done in future patches". Only second to "SOON", "MAY" and "COULD" are Blizzard's way of saying "forget it".

    At Blizzcon it was said the final boss wouldnt be another Orc yet again. And what a surprise, we get another Orc. This time we don't kick Garrosh's ass, but his father's. Nothing against kicking Orc ass but two expansions back to back being Orc heavy ... is Chris and the rest of his team running out of ideas? Hellscream staring down at my raid with gorehowl at the ready...
    Been there, dne that allready.
    Sure that WoD would most likely have some Orc in the last Raid but the main boss could've been someone from the Legion or the like. Is Blizz really THAT hard up on ideas? It IS disappointing.

    A ring with a visual effect as the X-Pacs legendary? Wel, I guess Frodo and his friends will resub now. And the "very likely" in the statement ... well, another phrase we can put in with "soon" and "maybe".

    Further there will be zones that aren't in the game yet, things that were used as sell points during Blizzcon which aren't brought into the game and so on. It seems Blizz took the usual route of making a damn good sales call at Blizzcon and then once a ton of presales have been made they take things away, mark them off as "soon", "maybe" and "possibly later" and give us the virtual middle finger.

    Just like the big chance to revamp the game with Cataclysm was fucked up badly, the second chance to do so in WoD is also being fucked up. Just like the guy sitting in the White House, Blizz went from "YES WE CAN" to "We'll do our best to attempt" to finally "Oh well, we tried".

    So what will be in store for the next X-Pac? We go back in time 36 years and fight father and son together? That would be an awesome idea, three Orc X-Pacs back to back. Please do it so that I can finally become SO disappointed and disgusted with the game that I won't be fooled into buing another X-Pac.
  1. Bound4Earth's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Steampunk View Post
    Because shortly before this video clip starts, they said it wouldn't be an Orc.

    Watched the entire Blizzcon footage, with my virtual ticket and vacation days... can't believe the joke was on us all along.

    - - - Updated - - -



    They said this right before Pandaria though as well.

    I just can't buy it anymore.
    Actually they have parroted the same garbage since BC was released. They talked about trimming expansion releases down to an unrealistic year back then. I don't see the problem with two year expansion cycles. The problem comes when the expansion cycle is two years but content ends after 10 months, so you have to toil away for more then a year on nothing new, the expansion still takes just as long as it always has, and doesn't include any expanded content anyway. the new 2 month patch cycle was only supposed to mean shorter patch cycles with odd patches being quality of life changes and even ones being content. What we end up with was one less content patch both expansions they started using them in. Just end this patch cycle and go back to 3 major patches. Quicker content means nothing when you get less of it.

    Burning Crusade launched with the most content any expansion ever has for WoW and they didn't skimp on Vanilla content to create it. Their excuses are getting tired. They have yet to deliver a new and fun PvP experience since BC. Just the same played out ideas and there is still no King of the Hill. Even the MoP ones are tiny and basically stand in this squar and PvP or follow this circle and PvP. No new battleground either, I guess that's fine because it would have just been another garbage rehash like Battle for Gilneas or Twin Peaks. Sure the team expanded by 80 members but after they fired all those people a while back are they even back up to par. Sure we do not know how many people were on the developer team, but we do know their track record compared to before the team split for Starcraft/Diablo and the layoffs. It's pretty safe to say the team is still much smaller then it was in Vanilla/BC. Either that or they are just fine with releasing less content every expansion.
  1. Fiannor's Avatar
    The length of time beyond Patch 6.1 that you are unable to fly in Draenor will be decided upon by the community as a whole. If players enjoy it then it could last longer. If players overwhelming want flight back by Patch 6.1, then they will most likely get it.
    I hope you will be calculating this metric based on something more accurate and reliable than forum spam from a vocal minority, or less susceptible to stuffing like the chopper contest turned out to be.
  1. crimsonhead's Avatar
    Here's how I see the final fight with Grom going.

    Enter room, Grom there with Gorehowl (looks familiar.....). we fight, injure him. Cue iron star galore and orc enemies flowing in.

    At a certain point (let's say he gets to 0% again like Garrosh) he yells out "Gul'dan, I was wrong! I need the blood"! and out pops Gul'dan and drenches Grom in Mannaroth Special Reserve. Cue Demon powered Grom with felfire infused Gorehowl. Fight commences and then we win.

    Sounds familiar....but then again Blizz is known for repetition....
  1. Steampunk's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by crimsonhead View Post
    Here's how I see the final fight with Grom going.

    Enter room, Grom there with Gorehowl (looks familiar.....). we fight, injure him. Cue iron star galore and orc enemies flowing in.

    At a certain point (let's say he gets to 0% again like Garrosh) he yells out "Gul'dan, I was wrong! I need the blood"! and out pops Gul'dan and drenches Grom in Mannaroth Special Reserve. Cue Demon powered Grom with felfire infused Gorehowl. Fight commences and then we win.

    Sounds familiar....but then again Blizz is known for repetition....
    I've played WoW since before Open Beta. And although I've unsubbed in the lulls between both Cata and Pandaria expansions... this would make me never touch the game again.

    I really hope you're wrong... but I'm nervous that you're right.
  1. mmoc90f0fcd79f's Avatar
    To be honest, this is an opportunity for people to actually experience the very core of what made Warcraft and World of Warcraft... Before these were names and for some people didn't even know who the hell was Grom Hellscream or even why there's GREEN orcs.
    Like Metzen said these people who made the very foundations of Warcraft were at points just names and not really characters... or just fodder so I can't really complain at really experiencing what makes this game, this game really since without lore and a storyline... Why the hell are you playing?
  1. Nickishulk's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by AllyCat View Post
    Seriously? A "legendary" ring that everyone can get?

    Legendaries aren't legendary anymore. Look back at TBC, you just killed Illidan, you're next in line for the Glaives, and they drop. Your heart nearly skips a beat when you see that orange text in the loot table.

    Now look at MoP. You finish the last quest. You talk to wrathion and the cloak is in your inventory. Yay I guess? Legendaries have gone the way of epics, they're not legendary, they're not a rarity, they're handed out to everyone. Give us something on the same scale as Thunderfury, or the Warglaives or Shadowmourne! Give us something we can easily recognize on a high end player and think "Holy shit, I want that" and make us WORK FOR IT! Don't make it a gods damned quest reward!
    Quest reward huh....like thunderfury or shadowmourne....interesting....... It takes more skill to complete out the quests for a legendary then it did to just get a lucky drop. Look at all the people that still haven't gotten one or that are freaking out over the cloak quest being removed.
  1. Thephenix1's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by jangkun View Post
    yeah..2 expensions of Orcs :/
    Do any of you even understand the incredible Nerdgasms of facing THE Hellscream? one of the most legendary characters of the entire Warcraft universe?

    I agree Garrosh was a pitiful excuse of an end boss, but Grommash F...ing Hellscream is F...ing awesome.
    and I can't wait to "mount his head on my wall" along with Illidan and Arthas (the Real "Villians" of Azeroth)

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