Note I'm not taking ANY stance here. Just pointing things out.
Today I will comparing the filler expansion above to Battle for Azeroth.
Why it may be a filler expansion:
- Less art time spending [Tier sets being removed. PvP and Raids now even sharing the same looks but with less looks, less pieces, more colors, more unaccessible colors of that set.]
- No depth in the story from what we've seen, no real threat from either the Horde or Alliance since we know what will most likely happen to them both. (A truce)
- Story is bridging into the next one for a full Old God themed expansion as WoD did with Legion. You can even see two Old God tentacles in the logo.
- Missed opportunity to introduce a sea system in an ocean themed expansion.
- Horde vs Alliance expansion is happening at a time when it doesn't make sense to happen.
- Warfronts will be predictable system to be farmed over and over again with no real threat of losing since we will know which specific buildings to build in what situation.
- Allied Races locked behind a rep grind is not fun for most people.
- Reintroducing another, alt-killing and similar grind: Heart of Azeroth
- Forcing people to level to 110 at a much slower rate seems very forebolding.
- Locking armor behind leveling slowly to 110 despite boosting a character to 110 with the expac or $60 and being able to obtain money and the player gets the armor is a bit forebolding.
- We don't know where or what the capitals are in Tiragarde Sound or Zuldazar. Wasn't clarified. Could be Alliance and Horde uninspired make-shift-cities like Stormshield and Warspear.
- There is nothing significantly different as far as end game content goes from BFA and Legion except Allied Races and Warfronts.
- Classes won't be changing much. "Sandbox-Scenarios" from 7.3 are being continued. Reintroducing Artifact Grind as a necklace with similar netherlight crucible baked in. Etc.
Why it may not be a filler expansion:
- Introduction cinematic already in game.
- Art team in full swing with the base game. Music and art looks wonderfully done.
- Story seems to be thought out and they know where to go from which point to the next unlike Warlords of Draenor.
- Reducing a grind. [Artifacts to Heart of Azeroth]
- Garrison/Order Hall table system discontinued in BFA.
- Garrison/Order Hall upgrade system discontinued in BFA.
- Reintroducing and improving on group scenario system.
- Continuing the Legion system of World Quests and Emisarries
- Continuing and improving the Legion system of Mythic +
- Introducing playable races people have long waited to play is good.