Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

- Still very much on the World Revamp for 11.0 rather than 10.0 train after that, especially with the minor shifts in the SW & Org map. No reason to do that if you are just going to replace those maps in a few months. We might get a few changes, especially around leadership.

- Related to those new areas, I'm very much stumped as to what could go in those new spots, especially in SW. Doesn't look like a great spot for a new class representative, and most new races would likely be centered more around the embassies.

- I'm a bit less on the Dragon Isles train, given the seeming lack of dragon lore and/or assistance in the quests we've seen.

- Starting to think the Lightforged Undead option may be more of a likely scenario with the encrypted Tirisfal map. As it's unlikely that it was encrypted simply for a week to hide the results of Epilogue: Judgement, I feel that the encryption must be to hide something from 10.0 which could well point to an Allied Race. Either way, I think the Light is going to be a major part of 10.0, whatever it is.

- The Khadgar/Jaina dialogue worries me, kind of wondering if he may die soon.

While true they've done some map tinkering now, if there is no world revamp then I have to once again ask the question "Why are we looking at a 2023 launch?" If this was an entirely cut and dry (and bad) BFA/SL clone why can't they shit it out by the end of the year?

There's something bigger going on under the surface of this expansion that's pushing back its date far enough that Blizz felt the need to do essentially an extra Season out of the blue.

But yeah that random stable in Stormwind is weird to me, too. One thing I noticed going down the front page is an encrypted mount(?) that uses Harvest Golem sounds. It could be that stable is related to something that's happening in Westfall as the counter-balance to what the Horde's doing in Lordaeron. Then we have everything kinda balanced out, Dark Irons - Blood Elves (heritage weapons), Tirisfall - Westfall (story progression).

[AngerFork]

Gnomes and goblins are not popular enough to warrant their own class,it would be an extremely huge risk for devs to take a chance on them, they need to impress people not give them a class for extremely underplayed races that have proven not to be popular.

They'd be better of designing blademaster for orcs and moon priestesses for nelves.

Gotta disagree. You are talking about setting up a class specific to one race that would be faction exclusive, both of which would seem to be limited in specs. Even with cross faction becoming a thing, that's a far greater risk than adding in a class that has been in the game since WC3, is related to in-game displayed technology seen through most expansions of WoW, and something that multiple races can use with their own take on it. Not to mention the benefits Tinkers would seemingly have story-wise over something like Blademasters or Moon Priestesses.

While true they've done some map tinkering now, if there is no world revamp then I have to once again ask the question "Why are we looking at a 2023 launch?" If this was an entirely cut and dry (and bad) BFA/SL clone why can't they shit it out by the end of the year?

There's something bigger going on under the surface of this expansion that's pushing back its date far enough that Blizz felt the need to do essentially an extra Season out of the blue.

But yeah that random stable in Stormwind is weird to me, too. One thing I noticed going down the front page is an encrypted mount(?) that uses Harvest Golem sounds. It could be that stable is related to something that's happening in Westfall as the counter-balance to what the Horde's doing in Lordaeron. Then we have everything kinda balanced out, Dark Irons - Blood Elves (heritage weapons), Tirisfall - Westfall (story progression).

Tis a fair question. I'd argue the reason for the 2023 launch could be explained in part by being behind from Shadowlands as well as trying to add in more pieces to make the new expansion great. A revamp could be there, but I could absolutely see that delay being a part of adding in some candy while simultaneously listening more to feedback.

I didn't see that encrypted mount, but that is also really interesting to hear about.

[Varx]

Less than a month to go.

We've been mocked left and right, even have people putting some of my previous posts in there sigs sarcastically.

But come the 19th we'll see who honks the loudest. We tried to tell ya.

Can't wait to see how fast those sigs are removed.

[Local Ardenweald Faerie]

Personally I'm kind of torn with all these landmasses popping up where before it was just empty water. It makes it feel like we're extremely unaware of what's out there, despite the fact that a lot of these places have existed for a very long time, and consequentially should have been on maps before now.

That's kind of why I like how FF14 does their world map. There's just a mass of clouds obscuring all the areas that haven't been explored, and then the clouds disappear when new areas are discovered. At least, I think that's how they do it.

The thing is with FFXIV, all of those obscured, clouded landmasses are KNOWN and have been EXPLORED, and even those that weren't on the map at all like the Far East in Stormblood were name dropped in quests and what not long before the expansion comes out. It's like, "hey, these places are known, but we're clouding them out because we (the devs) are still working on the map geometry so the change won't be jarring". Hopefully I'm making some sense.

With WoW, all of the new landmasses save Northrend since it was on the map since Classic just pop out of no where with no explanation. It's jarring.

[Kiria]

Who cares if gnomes and gobs are underplayed.

Pandaren didn't even exist as playable races before they decided to make a class around their little bit of lore before mop.

But they figured a martial arts class would fit in wow and cover an archetype that wasnt covered yet.

Same with Tinkers, gnomes and and gobs don't need to be the only race that can be them. We already see how popular engineering is so playing a tech based class would be super popular.

The setting doesn't even need to be all gnomes and gobs either to introduce it anyway

I've already came up with a reasonable way a dragon isles expansion can have Tinkers too.

Imagine tinker orcs, forsaken, dwarves, draenie, belves, humans to name a few.

You SERIOUSLY think that shit wouldn't be popular?? Lol come on take off your bias glasses.

Don't get mad because I speak the truth, you use pandas as an example but you know just as well they're down there on the least played race card and the pretty much dragged the monk class down there with them.

I don't think that's a risk the devs want to take but then we will see come April and I'll just say "told you so." I'll even pm you if it helps alleviate the embarrassment.

In 27 days we will know what's true.

[Kiivar86]

I'm still betting on something out of left field. Dragons maybe (likely) but I dunno if Dragon Isles, I'm not feeling that but I'll admit could be.

But I'm expecting something surprising.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Gotta disagree. You are talking about setting up a class specific to one race that would be faction exclusive, both of which would seem to be limited in specs. Even with cross faction becoming a thing, that's a far greater risk than adding in a class that has been in the game since WC3, is related to in-game displayed technology seen through most expansions of WoW, and something that multiple races can use with their own take on it. Not to mention the benefits Tinkers would seemingly have story-wise over something like Blademasters or Moon Priestesses.


Tis a fair question. I'd argue the reason for the 2023 launch could be explained in part by being behind from Shadowlands as well as trying to add in more pieces to make the new expansion great. A revamp could be there, but I could absolutely see that delay being a part of adding in some candy while simultaneously listening more to feedback.

I didn't see that encrypted mount, but that is also really interesting to hear about.

I mean they're absolutely behind from the Pandemic and the Lawsuits for sure, but wasn't that why they definitely cut a raid and abandoned the entire plot thread about the Lifelands? Now after doing that to get the expansion out faster they're about-facing and having a season, which means they'd have had enough time for the raid, after all? You don't get to that level of delayed off just work from home. You get to that level of delay because you're working on something big from home.



And yeah there was also a map or something with Westfall back in BFA IIRC. Led to a lot of speculation about a "Defias Uprising" as a result of how badly the war was going, I think some folks even speculated on a Westfall Warfront. If Blizz is potentially doubling back to the unused Scarlet storyline maybe they're also doubling back to the unused Westfall storyline.

It also gives me this feeling in my jibblies that this all feels very Operation Gnomeregan/Zalazane's Fall.

[choi gnome]

dragon isel secret to mortals dont want mortal on them
dragons lose power need mortals anyhway

black = build back and acceptense, onixia warlock
red = focus alex
green = find infiltrator, senario
bronze = big infinite patch 10.2
blue = angry mistreeted, fight good vs evil blue dragons and future
chromie story reveel

10.3 sorry no dont know

[Varx]

Don't get mad because I speak the truth, you use pandas as an example but you know just as well they're down there on the least played race card and the pretty much dragged the monk class down there with them.

I don't think that's a risk the devs want to take but then we will see come April and I'll just say "told you so." I'll even pm you if it helps alleviate the embarrassment.

In 27 days we will know what's true.

You wanna go off of data alone? Look at how many people are engineers. How many people make tinker based xmogs.

How popular techy fantasy is in general.

Like dude you seriously think people aren't gonna line up to make a belf tinker?

People making Rick cosplay Tinkers with belf blue hair.

You are completely out of touch with what can and can't be a success just because the two quintessential tinker races are underplayed.

MAYBE, they're underplayed BECAUSE there isn't a tinker option. You ever think about that?

Of course you didnt since you just blindly hate on Tinkers.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

dragon isel secret to mortals dont want mortal on them
dragons lose power need mortals anyhway

black = build back and acceptense, onixia warlock
red = focus alex
green = find infiltrator, senario
bronze = big infinite patch 10.2
blue = angry mistreeted, fight good vs evil blue dragons and future
chromie story reveel

10.3 sorry no dont know

All of your vague posts like this, in reference to an upcoming expansion, have been wrong.

[Kiria]

You wanna go off of data alone? Look at how many people are engineers. How many people make tinker based xmogs.

How popular techy fantasy is in general.

Like dude you seriously think people aren't gonna line up to make a belf tinker?

People making Rick cosplay Tinkers with belf blue hair.

You are completely out of touch with what can and can't be a success just because the two quintessential tinker races are underplayed.

MAYBE, they're underplayed BECAUSE there isn't a tinker option. You ever think about that?

Of course you didnt since you just blindly hate on Tinkers.

This is all headcanon and speculation.

[Kiivar86]

dragon isel secret to mortals dont want mortal on them
dragons lose power need mortals anyhway

black = build back and acceptense, onixia warlock
red = focus alex
green = find infiltrator, senario
bronze = big infinite patch 10.2
blue = angry mistreeted, fight good vs evil blue dragons and future
chromie story reveel

10.3 sorry no dont know

Mmhm, your track record sure is spotless:

windrunning sisters more story
sylvanaas live
nzoth live
azshara live
worgen danger
voidpresentce (yes)
priest and human story
tyranden angry reveng story
many horde leader, one leading democrazy
DRAGONS ! ! ! !

(September 19, 2019)

jaina new leader off all alliance
sylvanas illidanforbiden ritual shadowland
windrunner sisters together united
void
south seea not important
alliance shose 3 paths, not same quests - hord same new class hall
ruby and yellow dragons will give new player power
alexstrassa new kadhgar hero

(August 13, 2017)

Yup. Sure.

[Varx]

This is all headcanon and speculation.

What is? That Rick and Morty is a popular show? That's pretty objective.

That many players roll engineering?

That the quintessential tinker races don't have tinker available to them which could possibly effect their populations?

If you think pandaren are low pop now, imagine if monks didn't exist.

[AngerFork]

I mean they're absolutely behind from the Pandemic and the Lawsuits for sure, but wasn't that why they definitely cut a raid and abandoned the entire plot thread about the Lifelands? Now after doing that to get the expansion out faster they're about-facing and having a season, which means they'd have had enough time for the raid, after all? You don't get to that level of delayed off just work from home. You get to that level of delay because you're working on something big from home.

True, but you also get to that level of delayed when you redo the story & have to play catch up, rather than being able to work ahead on the next expansion. Even abandoning an entire patch will only take you so far if you are trying to catch up at the time. Plus if they actually are listening to feedback from 9.1 & 9.2, it's very possible that they scrapped whatever their next borrowed power/endless grind system was which would lead to a lot of redoing things on the fly. For that matter, they may be trying to work ahead to guarantee having another Legion-style 77 day patch cadence.

Not saying a world revamp isn't possible, that delay along with the stories we're seeing taking place on Azeroth makes it feel much more like a possibility than it has in a while. Just saying that I could see other reasons for the delay.

And yeah there was also a map or something with Westfall back in BFA IIRC. Led to a lot of speculation about a "Defias Uprising" as a result of how badly the war was going, I think some folks even speculated on a Westfall Warfront. If Blizz is potentially doubling back to the unused Scarlet storyline maybe they're also doubling back to the unused Westfall storyline.

It also gives me this feeling in my jibblies that this all feels very Operation Gnomeregan/Zalazane's Fall.

That all makes sense, I do remember the chatter about a Westfall warfront. It would be an easy story to tie in: simply have the Sentinel Hill militia go off to help with the Scourge issues in Redridge which would open up a window for a Defias uprising. The main difference I see between these & Gnomeregan/Zalazane is the end goal. Gnomeregan/Zalazane were specifically set up to give the Gnomes/Trolls new starting experiences whereas the bits we've seen for Silvermoon doesn't readily appear to do the same.

[Kiria]

What is? That Rick and Morty is a popular show? That's pretty objective.

That many players roll engineering?

That the quintessential tinker races don't have tinker available to them which could possibly effect their populations?

If you think pandaren are low pop now, imagine if monks didn't exist.

Rick n Morty is an ok show that's it,

Engineering is popular especially by hunters due to portable stables and wormhole generators,

You're using headcanon to determine tinker would go to most other races even though it's only really been shown on lowly races like gnomes and goblins,

And lastly I don't think pandaren numbers would drop much further with no monk class but it proves only a minority like them.

So yes you are using pure headcanon and speculation for all your posts.

[Varx]

People fale fail to realize just how much tech is in WoW. The deeprun tram, gnomergon, mechagon, Kezan, Azshara(zone), draenie, the legion.

Yet you say all of this is represented by a flimsy little profession.

On top of that almost every major lore gob and gnome is a tinker, yet players can't be them.

You have to see, whether you personally don't want tinkers or not that they are inevitable.

Taking their inevitablility and combine that with the fact that wow is in need of a new class to bring back players and that the lack of Necro and DR in SL means no other class has priority then you know without a shadow of a doubt that Tinkers W I L L be WoW's next playable class come 10.0.

[Kiria]

People fale fail to realize just how much tech is in WoW. The deeprun tram, gnomergon, mechagon, Kezan, Azshara(zone), draenie, the legion.

Yet you say all of this is represented by a flimsy little profession.

On top of that almost every major lore gob and gnome is a tinker, yet players can't be them.

You have to see, whether you personally don't want tinkers or not that they are inevitable.

Taking their inevitablility and combine that with the fact that wow is in need of a new class to bring back players and that the lack of Necro and DR in SL means no other class has priority then you know without a shadow of a doubt that Tinkers W I L L be WoW's next playable class come 10.0.

If you say so just don't hurt yourself if they aren't.

[Atriel]

The thing is with FFXIV, all of those obscured, clouded landmasses are KNOWN and have been EXPLORED, and even those that weren't on the map at all like the Far East in Stormblood were name dropped in quests and what not long before the expansion comes out. It's like, "hey, these places are known, but we're clouding them out because we (the devs) are still working on the map geometry so the change won't be jarring". Hopefully I'm making some sense.

With WoW, all of the new landmasses save Northrend since it was on the map since Classic just pop out of no where with no explanation. It's jarring.

What are you talking about? Kul Tiras and Zandalar have been talked about forever in-game, they just weren't on the map... same as how in XIV the map got expanded upon. Shadowlands was talked about forever. Pandaria was probably the only landmass that was not really "known" or spoken of prior, but they had it magically veiled as an explanation.

The grabbing for straws on any argument to try to make XIV seem different than WoW is out of control.

[therumblings]

With WoW, all of the new landmasses save Northrend since it was on the map since Classic just pop out of no where with no explanation. It's jarring.

Every continent with the exception of Pandaria was known and explored in the lore before we ever went there. Even Cataclysm zones were known about before the expansion (except for Twilight Highlands and Vashj'ir, unless I am mistaken).

[Varx]

Rick n Morty is an ok show that's it,

Engineering is popular especially by hunters due to portable stables and wormhole generators,

You're using headcanon to determine tinker would go to most other races even though it's only really been shown on lowly races like gnomes and goblins,

And lastly I don't think pandaren numbers would drop much further with no monk class but it proves only a minority like them.

So yes you are using pure headcanon and speculation for all your posts.

Rick and Morty is an extremely popular show outside of your own opinion about it.

Engineering is popular because it's popular simple as that, it's both convenient and themed well.

I'm doing inductive reasoning based on that fact that most monks aren't pandas. So it stands to reason that Tinkers would probably be the most popular races but would also boost the number of gnome and goblin players due to finally having their quintessential class combo.

You your self said monk numbers have are low, you really think that one of the least played races wouldn't go even lower when their racial class isn't a thing.

And you say I'm using headcannon....


Just admit you don't like Tinkers and would get salty we are getting that over some other class you'd prefer.

I'll tell you this, I ain't maining tinker when 10.0 announces them. I just know that they are the next class because I'm not blinded by bias. I've been a pally since I started in tbc and will continue to do so.