Dev Interviews, Rogue Order Hall, Blue Posts, Warcraft Movie Prop Contest, DLC #500

[chaud]

Patch Not Coming Today, Minor UI Improvement, State of Sanctuary #2

New Card Reveals: Cutpurse & Dreadsteed, Rhonin vs Varian Legendary Card Vote

New PTR Patch - Patch Notes, Monk and More

Dev Interviews
A few more developers interviews appeared this weekend.

Yogscast

• The Demon Hunter was considered for the Burning Crusade, but the team wasn't ready to add another class to the game at that point.
• Distinguishing the Demon Hunter from Monks and Rogues will be important. Rogues are about stealth and crowd control, whereas the Demon Hunter is about in your face mobility and getting out when they are in trouble. Monks are a little more of a hybrid, with some self healing.
• The Eye Beam for Demon Hunter is a skillshot, as it is a narrow cone attack.
• Dalaran has some modifications for the storyline, changes to the center area, changes to the Underbelly, as well as updated textures.
• The current plan is for Dalaran is to have a free for all PvP area in the Underbelly. You can bribe the guards to make them go away for a while.
• It would be hard to eliminate existing talent trees, as some players would be upset of the removal of a spec they really liked. If the team could go back in time, there might have been a few that never got added, but now that those trees exist they will try to make them more distinct.
• Subtlety Rogues will keep doing down the ninja route, Combat will be a little more like a Pirate Swashbuckler, and Assassination will be about poisons and Damage over Time.
• The Honor system is changing from a currency style system to an experience style system. You get benefits from the honor levels such as opportunities to get loot or gold.
• The Prestige system will give hardcore players a reason to keep playing, even if their power doesn't increase.
• Gear will have less of an impact in PvP. There is no such thing as PvP gear anymore, so no Resilience,PvP specific stats, or sets. Beyond a commonly available item level, you will get drastically diminishing returns from increasing your item level. Somewhere between 5 to 1 and 10 to 1 diminishing returns. The best raider in the game might have a 7% advantage over a player that just hit the level cap.
• The team is considering allowing players to transmog their Mists of Pandaria legendary cloak and Warlords legendary ring, as they were available for a limited time. They want to avoid a situation like everyone farming Warglaives for transmog.
• It is possible that in a future expansion more races could become Demon Hunters, but for now it is only Blood Elves and Night Elves.
• You can use the double jump in battlegrounds and dungeons. The team will be careful to avoid breaking the game with Demon Hunters using double jump current content, such as groups that only want Demon Hunters to skip things in dungeons.
• Tanaan is a big and awesome zone with a lot of cool spawns. It has generated a lot of engagement with the player base. There are a lot of players doing it every day. The team wants to continue to evolve the endgame world content model though, as they aren't happy with the combination of daily quests and bonus objectives. They are two pieces of the puzzle, but larger ongoing story development is also important, similar to what was in Patch 5.1. Other mechanics to add more replayability and variation would also be good additions and there are plans for Legion to make better endgame world content.
• Gul'dan is the instigator in Legion, but not the big bad guy. He is a raid boss in the raids at launch, but not the final boss of the expansion.

Millenium

• Legion may be shorter than other expansion names, but it describes the expansion perfectly, especially if you understand the context of the word in Warcraft history.
• Azeroth is the only world (that we know of) that the Legion hasn't conquered yet.
• We will discover the motivations of the Burning Legion. They aren't just going throughout the universe causing chaos.
• The Broken Isles has been pretty quiet as of late, until the Tomb of Sargeras was activated. People knew it was there before, but there was no real motivation to go there.
• Tension between the Horde and Alliance is an important part of the game and this expansion.

Tweakers.net

• The team hasn't decided if Blacksmiths or Jewelcrafters will be able to make items that modify your Artifact.

4Player.de

• All Druid forms connected with the Artifact weapon will be updated. (Keep in mind this is a translated summary, Moonkin was not specifically mentioned)

Legion Trademark
It appears that we didn't see the trademark early this time because it wasn't filed until the day of the announcement. Blizzard also trademarked "World of Warcraft Legion" rather than just the expansion name on its own this time.

Rogue Order Hall
Some Rogues were more enthusiastic about Ravenholdt as an Order Hall rather than Dalaran Sewers.

As a rogue, #RavenholdtOrRiot
no riot pls. the feedback has definitely been heard, and is something we'll discuss back at the office (WatcherDev)
dalaran sewers has no essence for me as a rogue, im sure others feel the same.
If I call it "a hidden rogues' guild in the Dalaran underground" is that any cooler? Sewer was not the greatest shorthand. (WatcherDev)
Let me guess: you guys already did put some work into it, right? Don't want to start over?
Or, less cynically, I just want to make sure that feedback isn't being biased by "eww, sewer." (WatcherDev)
"Seedy underground thieves' lair, right under the public's noses" vs "mansion out in the mountains in the middle of nowhere"? (Celestalon)
Light's Hope Chapel is just as "middle of nowhere" as Ravenholdt.
It's a strong Rogue theme to be 'hiding right behind you'. Not so much for Paladins. (Celestalon)
The fact is, players *aren't* lowly thieves. They are the best of the best. And those folks like mansions!
Who said you were lowly? There are obviously preconceptions here, and any place can be portrayed poorly or greatly with copious use of adjectives with good/bad connotations. (Celestalon)

This is the kind of thing you should put out innocent-looking blog polls for well in advance. A "what location feels most iconic to your class?" blog would tell you exactly where to put them.
That would limit choices to existing locations. What if there's a cooler *new* place? (Celestalon)

BlizzCon Ticket Reminder: Attendee Information Deadline - August 14

If you purchased BlizzCon 2015 tickets for family or friends during the general attendee or Benefit Dinner sale, just a reminder you have until Friday, August 14 at 8 p.m. PT to edit attendee information via your Eventbrite account, including:

• Full name of each attendee—this name will be used at badge pick-up, and will also be printed on badges
• Valid email address for each attendee—used to receive BlizzCon-related communications
• Character name (optional)—to be printed on the badge

To edit attendee names and emails, log in to your Eventbrite account at www.eventbrite.com/login, select Tickets from the drop-down menu under your profile name in the top right. Next, click Manage Order next to your BlizzCon 2015 ticket order. You can view and edit attendee info from this page.

Please note that if you change the name of an attendee, only the ticket bearing the name of the final attendee can be used to claim a badge. Names will be verified at the time of badge pickup.

Finally, if you’re still not sure who’s attending, make sure you’ve entered your own name and email address for each ticket you purchased (for up to 4 separate tickets)—in this case, remember that you’ll need to pick up all badges yourself and distribute them to your guests at the show.

For more info, check out the Badge Information page.

Blue Posts

PvP Gear
What Tom said was that someone wearing the absolute best PvE gear in the game might have a 7% advantage over someone who had just hit level 100 -- and thus, had not collected any gear at all. There was nothing about his statement at all that could be taken as "the best gear for PvP comes from PvE." I have no idea how you could have gotten that from what he said, unless you're purposefully trying to stir up trouble.

Our intent -- as it has been for several expansions now, and as it is currently in Warlords -- is for PvP gear to be the best available in PvP. That has not changed in Legion.

I'm curious how you guys will accomplish that with the complete removal of "pvp gear." Hopefully more info soon to clarify this gray area.
Yep, definitely something that needs clarifying. At the moment, we're just waiting for developers to get back from gamescom so we can be sure we have all of our facts straight. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

World PvP and PvP Talents
The intent is that PvP talents activate in world PvP, similar to how PvP item levels currently activate in Warlords. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Flying in Legion
Judging by this quote, it would seem we are basically not going to be getting flying until long after the final patch in Legion.

Intentional or not, the wording from Blizzard on this issue is deceptive. They would be better off just out and saying "We feel the expansion is experienced better with no flying, but we will add it a while after the final patch".
The quote is in reference to how you are able to earn flying for Draenor via an Achievement. If you read some of the interviews out there (and we'll try to make sure we gather them up for people), it's mentioned that you should be able to start working on the Achievement as of the start of the expansion. Again, it's very early and we only just announced the expansion, so we'll have a lot more information to share on this and many other things announced during gamescom.

Flying for Draenor is coming and anyone who is able to help test it on the PTR is very appreciated. We want to make sure we have people in the air versus falling through the world.

Thanks for posting. Whether I agree with your sentiments or not, I understand you're trying to put a positive spin on a situation you did not create.
I'm just trying to add some balance where I can. I understand passion and understand people expressing that passion on a variety of topics regarding the game. But, expressing that passion can be done without resorting to hyperbole and code of conduct violations on the forums.

You are so about to be rushed by angry fly-babies. It was nice knowing you though.
People have been twisting my words or using them as "promises" for many years now. I'm not going anywhere. I also don't like the trend of calling people or groups of people names just because they have something they feel strongly about. It's not worthy of anyone who wants to have their thoughts taken seriously. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Pre-Order for Legion
When World of Warcraft Legion will be available for pre order ? Im so excited I want to pre order it right now lol.
We'll let you know when pre-orders become available. Don't worry.

I know people have a lot of questions about what will be included in the pre-order, but I don't have those answers to share just yet. We'll make sure we cover as much as possible when we announce them though. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Blue Tweets

Legion
Artifact's stats will still improve as you defeat BOSSES, Relics: completing major quest lines, DUNGEONS, & RAIDS...
The more difficult the content you do, the higher your weapon's DPS will be. That's been true since 2004, no? (WatcherDev)

Character / Items
Did you just nerf Felblight x5 drop rates a couple hours ago? Was getting them ALL the time the past 5 days, now i get none.
This was hotfixed yesterday. It wasn't intended for 5x Felblight to drop so frequently from profession resources in Tanaan. (WarcraftDevs)

Events
There are three tents still marked as Under Construction at the Darkmoon Faire. What mini-games would you put there? (Muffinus)
Had some real ideas for an Darkmoon faire but its been a while. Ill get back to you with them when I remember
Already have plans for two of them so you'd better hurry >=] (Muffinus)
Hammer and bell is kinda boring though... if there were no constraints, what would you wanna implement?
No constraints at all? Darkmoon DDR. Like Flash Flash Revolution but with techno carnival music. (Muffinus)

Win a Real Prop from the Warcraft Film

The epic battle between Horde and Alliance is being brought to the big screen next year, but you don’t have to wait that long to get your hands on a piece of the Warcraft film. If you had the chance to visit the Blizzard booth at gamescom 2015, you may have seen some of the exclusive weapon props from the movie on display. Now, we’re giving you the chance to take one home!

Up for grabs is an iconic Alliance shield from the film that would take pride of place in any Warcraft fan’s collection. To enter to win this rare loot, share a photo of your best battle stance on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the tags #WarcraftMovie and #BlizzGC2015. You’ll have one week to submit your pics—be sure to share them by August 16. The owner of the most impressive and creative battle stance will walk away with this extraordinary prize.

You can read the full contest rules here. May the best battle stance win!

Dark Legacy Comics #500
DLC #500 has been released.

[nerdlinger]

Content aside, i'm liking the level of communication the developers are having with the community this time around. Very professional and accommodating responses to some strongly bias forum/blog questions. This above all else is why i'm looking forward to this expansion, seems like blizzard is putting more effort into staying in touch, hopefully they can keep it up.

[pateuvasiliu]

Bribe guards? Sounds cool but I can't see how it would work in an MMO.

[Granyala]

• It would be hard to eliminate existing talent trees, as some players would be upset of the removal of a spec they really liked. If the team could go back in time, there might have been a few that never got added, but now that those trees exist they will try to make them more distinct.

Yeah I bet Shadow priest would be one of them, since they never managed to get it to work.

[Aeowrynn]

The team is considering allowing players to transmog their Mists of Pandaria legendary cloak and Warlords legendary ring, as they were available for a limited time. They want to avoid a situation like everyone farming Warglaives for transmog.

lol. Okay :P

[mystery8]

I also don't like the trend of calling people or groups of people names just because they have something they feel strongly about. It's not worthy of anyone who wants to have their thoughts taken seriously. - Nethaera

This. Seriously. A million times this.

[Pacster]

Yeah I bet Shadow priest would be one of them, since they never managed to get it to work.

Well, I'm with you that they never got shadow to work...but I think it's not on the list. Simply cause I believe they would not make a "pure" healing or "pure" tanking class. In case of priest I think they would kill holy cause it's anyway not very unique(or maybe disc because absorbtion caused them a lot of trouble when it comes to balancing). If you'd kill 1 warlock and 1 mage tree(don't need 3 anyway) then you would have more free unique abilities for shadow too.
I think especially the pure dd-classes all got at least one tree that nobody would really miss....since most people only seem to switch to certain trees when they are OP and not cause they like those trees. Might be an interesting poll for Blizz...like asking all level 100 rogues which tree they wouldn't really miss(in a situation where all three trees do the same damage).


I gonna enjoy to call rogues "Sewer Rats". As a shadow that's how I see them anyway....=)

[Tenjen]

Going to make a suggestion that sure, have it underground or in plain view BUT put the access point in a hidden panel type deal,

like a barbers shop with chairs on the other side or a bottom floor that only rogues can interact it. Sitting instantly gives us a loading screen into the class halls area (assuming they are instanced) with the chair behind us on a raisable platform. Implying it "descended" into the underground base.

It will be a good spy series reference ontop of a cool rogue thing.

Or have a regular looking shop that everyone uses to repair, buy items or profession stuff BUT ITS A FRONT, the room in the back looks unassuming but has a book case/something that only rogues can use to access their class hall area.

[Deleted]

Rogues/thieves in sewers , come on blizz get with the times .
Most of the rogues and thieves are living uptown , or run company's (ey Bobby ) these days .

[Tenjen]

lol. Okay :P

I assume they mean the spell effects

[Emeraldon]

"The team is considering allowing players to transmog their Mists of Pandaria legendary cloak and Warlords legendary ring, as they were available for a limited time. They want to avoid a situation like everyone farming Warglaives for transmog."

This is such bullshit. Everyone is getting Ashbringer, Doomhammer and whatever else artifacts they come up with, but the old, incredible looking ones are not OK? The CLOAK?! Absolutely horrendous. I really hope they change their mind on this. Not "everyone" will farm Warglaives, and it will not be a mandatory fucking thing to do. It still involves pure luck, so it's not like cities will be crowded with them. Look at what people said when transmog came out; "omg everyone will use x set and it will be completely shit!!" - no. That's not what happened, and the same thing goes for the legendaries.

- - - Updated - - -

"The team is considering allowing players to transmog their Mists of Pandaria legendary cloak and Warlords legendary ring, as they were available for a limited time. They want to avoid a situation like everyone farming Warglaives for transmog."

This is such bullshit. Everyone is getting Ashbringer, Doomhammer and whatever else artifacts they come up with, but the old, incredible looking ones are not OK? The CLOAK?! Absolutely horrendous. I really hope they change their mind on this. Not "everyone" will farm Warglaives, and it will not be a mandatory fucking thing to do. It still involves pure luck, so it's not like cities will be crowded with them. Look at what people said when transmog came out; "omg everyone will use x set and it will be completely shit!!" - no. That's not what happened, and the same thing goes for the legendaries.

[Tenjen]

"The team is considering allowing players to transmog their Mists of Pandaria legendary cloak and Warlords legendary ring, as they were available for a limited time. They want to avoid a situation like everyone farming Warglaives for transmog."

This is such bullshit. Everyone is getting Ashbringer, Doomhammer and whatever else artifacts they come up with, but the old, incredible looking ones are not OK? The CLOAK?! Absolutely horrendous. I really hope they change their mind on this. Not "everyone" will farm Warglaives, and it will not be a mandatory fucking thing to do. It still involves pure luck, so it's not like cities will be crowded with them. Look at what people said when transmog came out; "omg everyone will use x set and it will be completely shit!!" - no. That's not what happened, and the same thing goes for the legendaries.

Are you mixing up artifacts and legendaries just to whine? The artifacts system, the non-weapon legendaries with spell effects, and the old legendary weapons not being allowed for transmog, are entirely different matters altogether.

Also there is a vast difference between transmog for gear (which is absolutely numerous and varied) and legendaries, which are few in number and particularly unique, which makes them very likely to be commonly used if allowed for transmog.

Think of it this way, if they loosen the reigns to allow the ring and cloak effects, maybe in the future they will be convinced to loosen them further and allow legendaries too.

[thorvath]

I assume they mean the spell effects

That could be cool.. otherwise it's largely pointless.. hide cloak on half my toons, ring is invisible.

Not to mention I couldn't be bothered to get them on more than two toons before Blizz removed them from the game for no real reason (Well I assume this was a Blizz's patented 'indirect announcement via a third party website' that the WoD ring will be removed too).

Considering they apparently find adding new content in a timely manner super difficult, you'd think they want to encourage people to go back and farm up old legendaries.

[Tanthalus]

really should give deamon hunters mail - far too similar to druid / monk for tanking.

[papajohn4]

Artifact's stats will still improve as you defeat BOSSES, Relics: completing major quest lines, DUNGEONS, & RAIDS...
The more difficult the content you do, the higher your weapon's DPS will be. That's been true since 2004, no?

so it is confirmed...another raid or die expansion..and people thought that they can progress their artifact weapons doing their favorite activities...not it will be just like any previous expansion..you will level your character, get some dungeon gear, all these in the first month and then you have to raid for good gear and relics. Dungeons will probably just give a nice bunch of artifact points the first time you do in the game, which sometime will be useless, as garrison resources that are rewarded now..

So is confirmed, FFXIV will be the new King..all hail the King!

[Emeraldon]

Are you mixing up artifacts and legendaries just to whine? The artifacts system, the non-weapon legendaries with spell effects, and the old legendary weapons not being allowed for transmog, are entirely different matters altogether.

Also there is a vast difference between transmog for gear (which is absolutely numerous and varied) and legendaries, which are few in number and particularly unique, which makes them very likely to be commonly used if allowed for transmog.

Think of it this way, if they loosen the reigns to allow the ring and cloak effects, maybe in the future they will be convinced to loosen them further and allow legendaries too.

No, not really. One of their biggest arguments has always been that they don't want everyone to run around with the legendaries and the unique look they offer. Now that changes, so the argument is pointless. It might not be the same system, but that's irrelevant, because we're talking about Transmogrification and the visual look of your weapons.

It's great that they might allow Cloak to be transmogrified, but it is completely useless for so many people because we hide our cloaks look. I really wish Blizzard would allow us to make our own choice here. Let us transmog whatever we want, and those who want to farm all legendaries will have to work hard to get them / be lucky as fuck. The argument that it would feel too much like a chore or mandatory doesn't hold up.

[Danuel]

Ahh blizz you know shit about rogues.

[edit]
Better now?

[Faldric]

Ahh blizz you know shit about rouges.

Why is it important for Blizz to know about cosmetic products ?

[Arvandor]

a thieves guild under a city is not a new idea! this is the classic boring thing from the beginning in the early 1980´s from the first pen and paper rpgs..

[Quass]

Gimme a Skyrim-based Thieves' Guild in WoW and I'll be happy.