Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Izalla]

This reminds me, I read an interesting idea somewhere on the forums a while ago that suggested that each race gets a racial questline that would start out by introducing the major players and history/themes, etc, and then would branch into characters exploring how current/recent events are impacting their race specifically. I think a world revamp expansion would be a great place to start something like this, would promote racial identity for characters (because faction identity feels dead), and would be something that could be added on each patch (like a new chapter or so, etc).

Please don't tease me with my dreeeeams! Ugh I want this so badly.

[taishar68]

This reminds me, I read an interesting idea somewhere on the forums a while ago that suggested that each race gets a racial questline that would start out by introducing the major players and history/themes, etc, and then would branch into characters exploring how current/recent events are impacting their race specifically. I think a world revamp expansion would be a great place to start something like this, would promote racial identity for characters (because faction identity feels dead), and would be something that could be added on each patch (like a new chapter or so, etc).

Well, if we are getting a world revamp, having this expansion end in what you could call a cradle of creation is rather convenient. Perhaps it is what happens when Zovaal "wins". I think back to a comic story that was a lot like Star Trek 3, with a new world starting over when it seemed like it was going to be destroyed. That is my bet on how it will unfold. We'll know in a week.

[Ersula]

Well, if we are getting a world revamp, having this expansion end in what you could call a cradle of creation is rather convenient. Perhaps it is what happens when Zovaal "wins". I think back to a comic story that was a lot like Star Trek 3, with a new world starting over when it seemed like it was going to be destroyed. That is my bet on how it will unfold. We'll know in a week.

If we need a world soul to power the Sepulcher to do that, we should probably use Zovaal's, but at that point, a.) why not just put it back the way it was, complete with restoring Teldrassil, hell even bring all the Night Elves back. We know it has that power and b.) judging by of the post-raid scenes we've actually seen, there's no urgency or tension. It's basically the end of Star Wars where everyone's getting their medals. Because of that, I can't imagine the consequences are all that big. It seems they've only waited to announce the new expansion to put as much distance between it and their bad press.

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1. Sylvanas became the Jailer's puppet when she cast herself from the top of Icecrown Citadel, her body being crushed on the Saronite below. (I still maintain that Yogg-Saron is the real mastermind considering it's his blood, but that's a discussion for another day.)
2. Behind the Jailer in his boss room is a big, glowy Azerite-like beam which presumably goes directly to/from the heart of Azeroth?
3. Sylvanas got a new falling animation in 9.2, which looks exactly like she cast herself from someplace to whatever is down below.
4. What if she saves the day by sacrificing her soul to save Azeroth? I know it's cheesy and undeserved, but it seems like something they would do to symbolically close her arc about serving and betrayal.

1. Yeah, this is detailed both in edge of night & in already previewed exerpts from the Sylvanas novel.
2. And it's pretty clear by now the Sepulcher needs a world soul to power it, and the jailer intended Azeroth's for him to remake reality (despte some people in this thread insisting Azeroth's worldsoul is somehow not made of anima)
3. My guess is "Tyrande's punishment" is making Sylvanas clear out the maw of all its souls, so they can be placed correctly by Pelegos & the Maw will no longer be used for anything.
4. I'm sure people would prefer this but a single mortal's soul isn't powerful enough to save a world soul & it reaks of Star Wars morality: That a person has to die in order to be redeemed: It's pretty juvenile.

[FossilFree]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

[Raetary]

Anyone know what the Crypts of the Eternal in the North part of ZM are for? You go inside and get killed quickly by a slowing debuff. Seems like it'd be a place we'd quest in BEFORE the raid; in fact, a lot of ZM seems like we should explore it/flesh it out well before the raid was accessible.

We quest there next week.
It's the place we assign the new Arbiter in.

[Ersula]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

If they announce pre-order allied races hype won't matter $$$$$$$$$$$

[Zantera]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

This is how it's been even back since the TBC days though. Patch drops, people are super hyped for a week or two. Hype dies down. The real players who spend their weeks raiding, doing pvp or working towards their long term goals (whether that's clearing a raid, reaching their pvp rating or m+ rating) will keep being hyped and keep playing and enjoy the game in a more quiet way, but the 'hivemind' that swarms to the game every patch and then vanishes 3-4 weeks later gets quiet because they have seen the surface level content and they are happy with that.

It does make sense to hold off the 10.0 announcement a bit in my opinion as it would feel weird to put that out at the same time as our current raid. Kind of a "Hey, we know we just dropped a new patch and raid but here's the real content we are hyped about"

[Nyel]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

Was there every hype for Shadowlands past its launch? Like honestly? Neither 9.1 nor 9.2 had any major hype levels you could "feel". This was very different in e.g. 7.2, 7.3 and even in 8.2.

Due to every patch being so late and then dragging on forever Shadowlands was never able to build momentum like Legion did (I know this comparison is unfair because Legion was timed perfectly, but you can see and feel the difference).

So when would have been the best time to announce the next expansion in your eyes? Before they announced 9.2 I guess? Because 9.2 didn't generate any worthwile hype, people were just happy that this expansion ends with 9.2 and isn't getting another content patch that makes it even longer.

I really have no idea when would have been the best time to do it. Last autumn?

[Valysar]

I don't expect much from the end-of-raid cinematic, after the disappointment of N'zoth's... Only one thing can make it interesting: if he succeeds in his plan.

[Baedril]

Was there every hype for Shadowlands past its launch? Like honestly? Neither 9.1 nor 9.2 had any major hype levels you could "feel".

Hype "feel" is super anecdotal and depends entire on yourself, my YouTube has been full of recommended videos about the 9.2 meta shake-up and the new content, and many people on my friend's list who haven't played since 9.0 are returning to PvP in 9.2, so I'm experiencing a big feeling of hype around this patch. Not a clue what the YouTube or twitch engagement numbers or the Wowhead visits are compared to say, 7.2 or 8.3.

[huth]

If she’s stuck there and can’t mount until the rotating shadehound drops, I’d actually find that reasonable punishment to be honest. Why Blizzard inflicted that actual hell on us, we may never know.

Because it's literally meant to reflect that place. That was actually on purpose.

[Alanar]

I just want an expansion that really focuses on casual play, more so than ever before. I'm so tired of hardcore raiding and the e-sports scene surrounding it, with all the hardcore culture that comes with it like spreadsheet culture and general toxicity.

But that will never happen sadly.

I agree, the focus on niche things is all dandy, but by far the most players(casuals) should have more options.

I never liked raiding so much.., shame most focud goes to that.

[TheramoreIsTheBomb]

I don't expect much from the end-of-raid cinematic, after the disappointment of N'zoth's... Only one thing can make it interesting: if he succeeds in his plan.

As I said and keep saying, the writing will NEVER change until Steve is removed as lead. He'll bench Sylvanas and make someone similar looking like Alexstrasza or Ysera or Tyrande or maybe even Azeroth his new girl toy

[Raetary]

Tel Abim.

Ah yes.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Bananas

[FossilFree]

I really have no idea when would have been the best time to do it. Last autumn?

A month ago would have been perfect. We can be excited for two things at the same time, a new patch and a new expansion. Only reason I can see to wait is if there is some big reveal with the Jailer that the next expansion announcement would spoil. But who cares about the Jailer? We need news about 10.0.

[Teriz]

If you look at the world map, the distribution of isles and "continents" isn't very fair. On the EK side, you have (beside the EK) Kul'Tiras, Zandalar and the Broken Isles + possibly the Dragon Isles.

When are we going to have content close/connected to Kalimdor ? Still waiting for Kezan and Tel Abim.

Yeah, I could definitely see Kezan/Undermine being placed in the space between Kalimdor, Pandaria and the Malestrom. Make Undermine about the size of the Broken Isles, and we should be good to go. Also Dragon Isles north of the Eastern Kingdoms and east of Northrend makes sense too.

[Nyel]

Hype "feel" is super anecdotal and depends entire on yourself, my YouTube has been full of recommended videos about the 9.2 meta shake-up and the new content, and many people on my friend's list who haven't played since 9.0 are returning to PvP in 9.2, so I'm experiencing a big feeling of hype around this patch. Not a clue what the YouTube or twitch engagement numbers or the Wowhead visits are compared to say, 7.2 or 8.3.

I mean... getting YouTube recommendations has nothing to do with hype, it's just the algorithm that thinks you're interested in that. Sure, you can't measure "feeling" either, but that's just my impression about 9.2 and everything regarding Shadowlands. Very low-key compared to previous expansions.

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A month ago would have been perfect. We can be excited for two things at the same time, a new patch and a new expansion. Only reason I can see to wait is if there is some big reveal with the Jailer that the next expansion announcement would spoil. But who cares about the Jailer? We need news about 10.0.

I do not think that an announcement one month ago would have changed anything. What makes the difference? An announcement last year around the expected time (aka Blizzcon season in November) I would have understood, but shortly before 9.2? Meh in my eyes. So they're already waaaaaaaaaay too late.

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I hate how f*cked up this map is. Center the maelstorm in the middle and place everything accordingly around. This way it just looks super messy.

[FossilFree]

I do not think that an announcement one month ago would have changed anything. What makes the difference? An announcement last year around the expected time (aka Blizzcon season in November) I would have understood, but shortly before 9.2? Meh in my eyes. So they're already waaaaaaaaaay too late.

Definitely way too late. I think the lack of Blizzcon is throwing everything off. We had a definite day set way in advance before, now we are just shooting in the dark.

For me though, it's like once leak season goes from being exciting to being repetitive and boring, and everyone is sick of reading leaks, you have waited too long to announce. Excitement turns into impatience and annoyance, which isn't a good place to announce a product in.

[Nyel]

Definitely way too late. I think the lack of Blizzcon is throwing everything off. We had a definite day set way in advance before, now we are just shooting in the dark.

For me though, it's like once leak season goes from being exciting to being repetitive and boring, and everyone is sick of reading leaks, you have waited too long to announce. Excitement turns into impatience and annoyance, which isn't a good place to announce a product in.

Yeah absolutely. I don't remember when leak season was fun. November / December? Or even earlier than that? Because everything that happened leak-wise this year was pretty... meh. Super meh. We got tons of leaks but only a handful was decent or... good. It's really tiresome.

[Edlarel]

So basically youre way too online and just assume that because you read every leak that means that more than .1% of the playerbase also reads every leak and is also somehow sick of it even though Blizzard has people whos entire job is knowing when the right time to announce something is or not?

Yeah, pretty much. Is it that obvious?

Really though, anybody still hoping we'll see anything before the Jailer dies in WF is just spinning their wheels. Not that Blizzard is specifically waiting for it, but rather they probably planned it far enough out that they can be sure it's done by then. I'm actually beginning to fall into the Release of the Sylvannas book club. But, I'll just be excited when they do announce something. In the meantime, I'm enjoying 9.2