I get you, but it sounds like you don't see a reason to log in to the game anymore because you had a goal set and you finished it. Similar to when you play a single player game for the campaign and then finish the campaign. Done. The problem isn't flying, the problem is that completing time-gated content creates the feeling that that's it, no more content to complete.
Instead of removing flying, Blizz should consider not time-gating flying, or alternatively make the requirements for flying low enough that once you get it, you can go on to complete more content instead of that being the end of the progression.
That just leads to another issue to fix then. Make the world NOT trivial. Sure I dont like level scaling, but i also dont like the world being trivial. There can be happy mediums that can be found with a bit of experimenting, which blizzard doesnt like to do anymore. They like to play it safe and any "new" feature is somthing already done from another game.
- - - Updated - - -
You seem 100% sure we'll get classic plus o_O Sure i'd love to have it too, but nothing is confirmed either way. lol.
The same people that complain about flying restrictions in the start of expansions are the same people that love vanilla and claim its the best ever. Go figure.
Thanks for sharing your opinion and recognizing it is only that.
But no, I don't agree. Blizzard made their choice, time for you to make yours. Embrace it, or let it stop you from playing. Your choice.
It is my opinion that you need to embrace the choices the game designers have made.
No. That is not what I said, despite your attempt to put words in my mouth and name calling.
What I said is:
If one choice is just vastly more efficient than the other. Making the choice is merely a formality.
There is a reason game designers have to protect players from themselves.
E.G.: If running Island expeditions for 2 hours would reward you with one mythic level gear. This would be the way everyone would gear up. And people would call out, rightfully, as bad design.
The cat is out of the bag now, killing flying is way too risky for the game. But flying does not provide a lot of design space and it has considerable downsides to the game. So the pathfinder achv is a reasonable compromise, even if I dislike it.
Btw, I have not stated my opinion of flying, so do not make any assumptions.
I don't want solutions. I want to be mad. - PoorlyDrawnlines
Yes and no. I think flying from expansion start is a NO GO. It negates all the work they do on the levels AND it makes it to skipable ( the quests).
But patch -.1 or -1,5 a good time for flying. So all the people who say its boring, a hassle can *&^( ^%$. The game is broken because they made it so simple.
BUT End game content like storm peaks is a good idea.
Maybe just put a cooldown on flying and reimburse people like 75% of the cost to train flying.
Ah yes ofc, the you know not what you want copout used by everyone not being able to say exactly why they think something is bad...
And then you "have to protect the players from themselfs" as if a player who says that without flyin ghe´s having less fun than with flying is wrong...
- - - Updated - - -
The quest whcih w ehave to do to progress? That ones hm? In whcih we interact and see the world they created just as they intended?
Again, that is not what I said, you are missing the point. It's not about you do not know what you want (nor to say that if you have fun with flying you are wrong). Its about creating a better gameplay experience for the players.
But this is as good place as any to list the downsides of flying: Limits world design, makes gameplay flow wonky, depopulate the ground level, greatly diminishes exploration, hurts the devs ability to frame scenes among other things.
Ofc it has a lot of upsides too: Providing player with player with freedom, makes it way faster to do the desired content and let the players see the zones in all their glory just to name a few.
Pathfinder is a compromise, a good one. But it still has problems.
I don't want solutions. I want to be mad. - PoorlyDrawnlines
If your a tank you can, other specs get dismounted and are forced to engage the enemy (even if only to disengage) and you still avoid running straight through especially if under geared.
Its honestly really a more subconcious thing that you dont recognise yourself doing, but it is actually a really important part of open world gameplay. I made a suggestion in another post if you are interested in it for what i think is a perfect compromise, basically flying for macro travel, ground mount for micro.
I'm in the position now where I've unlocked Pathfinder and have nothing to use it on. I've done all the rep grinds, I've got all my AP sorted and I'm fully stocked with crafting mats and consumables. I've not unlocked the older Pathfinders because I was unsubbed and busy with RL during WoD and Legion, and I've got no intention of ever playing through that content again. I have exactly one character that I play, so it's not even as though it's worthwhile for alts.
Currently, it looks like the relvent content in 8.3 will be taking place in Stormwind, Orgrimmar, Uldum and Vale of Eternal Blossoms, all of which are areas where you can fly without the need for Pathfinder. It's disapointing knowing that something I worked on unlocking is going to be completely worthless a few weeks down the line. Like I've wasted my time on something that has no further value.
Only being able to fly through content you've already out grown just feels awful. Unlocking flying only to then have to earn it again and again every expansion gets old. In some cases, you can earn it one patch then be unable to use it when new content is added.
Quite frankly, it's an inelegant completely counter productive "compromise" that in reality achieves nothing but allows Blizzard to put up a justification for their lazy design choices. Only letting you have it when you no longer need it is an excersise in frustration that Blizzard really have no need to subject players to repeatedly.
Yep, that is one of the problems, I do disagree a little bit with you.
They need to tweak the path finder a little bit, make slightly more interesting to pursue, I definitely would reduce the grind, but it still is flawed even with adjustments.
But a good way to make it better is:
Let players achieve it sooner.
Make content for after pathfinder.
Tie a Chain Q into it. Treat like content.
It would still be a problem, but hey. I dislike the idea of the pathfinder in the firstplace.
I don't want solutions. I want to be mad. - PoorlyDrawnlines