Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Catastrophy349]

That is true. Maybe the announcement is prerecorded and gets accidentally released on YouTube or something. That would certainly add some spice to the hype train, everyone sitting here waiting for an announcement that they basically already know.

This brings up a GREAT topic for speculation: How do we think the 10.0 expansion reveal will happen? YouTube pre-recorded video like 9.2 announcement? A LIVE reveal? Twitter/Blue Post? Etc.

[Sondrelk]

This brings up a GREAT topic for speculation: How do we think the 10.0 expansion reveal will happen? YouTube pre-recorded video like 9.2 announcement? A LIVE reveal? Twitter/Blue Post? Etc.

From the sound of the pre-announcement it very much seemed like it would pretty much just be a larger format version of the patch reveal livestream we usually get.
Essentially all the Blizzcon stuff (or Blizzconline rather) about WoW specifically, then trimming down all the useless fluff stuff like developer Q&As and design deep dives, focusing just on the actual announcement and feature presentations.

Then later if Blizzard wants more hype and engagement they can give us whatever design deep dives, Q&As and whatever else sprinkled throughout the post expansion drought.

[Catastrophy349]

I would LOVE to see a LIVE reveal (think Blizzconline style) or similarly to how Ion would announce a brand new patch on video for 8.2 or 8.3 in BFA. Then, I would like to read several interviews from game developers on said expansion for more details. All in all, I want a beefy cinematic and features trailer, minimum, then if time/possible, I would love to see a deep-dive of the features/art for whatever is coming.

[Revamp Man]

Yeah and they started 9.1.5, so that's not a hard thing to guess at.

which ones were added?

[Grimbold21]

I was thinking about the whole "underground" expansion, and I reckon that, thematically, it would make sense to finally had the shaman tank spec.

[rainhard]

I am hopeful they will "accidentally" give a hint to the new xpac through a 9.2.5 build, like the kultiran robes or something.

[Teriz]

I was thinking about the whole "underground" expansion, and I reckon that, thematically, it would make sense to finally had the shaman tank spec.

An Earth-based tanking spec, perhaps “discovered” by Dwarven Shaman deep within Azeroth?

I can see that happening.

[Catastrophy349]

I am hopeful they will "accidentally" give a hint to the new xpac through a 9.2.5 build, like the kultiran robes or something.

We have some really good data-miners on the job!

[Sondrelk]

I am hopeful they will "accidentally" give a hint to the new xpac through a 9.2.5 build, like the kultiran robes or something.

We might have already gotten it. It's difficult to say for sure with these things, but we have a EmeraldDrake buff a d associated effects, we have the LivingWorld string, we have unused Alliance buildings.

Any of these could be the KulTiranCloth leak. We just have to wait and see which one if any ends up being the one.

[Grimbold21]

An Earth-based tanking spec, perhaps “discovered” by Dwarven Shaman deep within Azeroth?

I can see that happening.

Theme wise, I'm on the fence. I believe it makes sense, since the consensus is that if there were to be such a spec, it's identity ought to be grounded on the Earth element.

While that's true, I think at the same time to ground the Shaman's specs around specific elements ultimately restricts them mechanically. With 4 elements available there's a lot of room for creativity. For instance, Resto shaman is traditionally based around Water, but Water could as easily be used in a damaging fashion.

Much in the same way that the Vortex ability Enhancement had back in BFA could be used for a Shaman tank, like D2's Hurricane ability, but mechanically adapted to work more like a warrior's Thunderclap.

Or the grip Thrall uses on Garrosh - a mix of lava/earth - can be a stun/sheep ala Hex.

[AngerFork]

Theme wise, I'm on the fence. I believe it makes sense, since the consensus is that if there were to be such a spec, it's identity ought to be grounded on the Earth element.

While that's true, I think at the same time to ground the Shaman's specs around specific elements ultimately restricts them mechanically. With 4 elements available there's a lot of room for creativity. For instance, Resto shaman is traditionally based around Water, but Water could as easily be used in a damaging fashion.

Much in the same way that the Vortex ability Enhancement had back in BFA could be used for a Shaman tank, like D2's Hurricane ability, but mechanically adapted to work more like a warrior's Thunderclap.

Or the grip Thrall uses on Garrosh - a mix of lava/earth - can be a stun/sheep ala Hex.

It's not like other classes have been limited by spec in that way. Mages for instance can still use some Frost, Fire, or Arcane magic regardless of spec. Some spells link them together like Frostfire Bolt. I could absolutely see a Wind Shaman for instance mixing in a lightning spell with a water tornado for a devastating attack.

[Revamp Man]

a blue dragon melee spec is about the closest to a spellbreaker we can get and in this case it does make sense

[Makorus]

We have some really good data-miners on the job!

I mean, most good dataminers are all quitting, so eh.

Don't blame them. The way this community reacts to out-of-context stuff is horrific.

[AngerFork]

I mean, most good dataminers are all quitting, so eh.

Don't blame them. The way this community reacts to out-of-context stuff is horrific.

Yeah, it's pretty awful. I have to wonder if those reactions are part of the reason the WoW streamer community seems to be pushing the bandwagon of eliminating PTR of late.

[Shadochi]

I mean, most good dataminers are all quitting, so eh.

Don't blame them. The way this community reacts to out-of-context stuff is horrific.

Huh source for that? Unless something came up today WoWhead still has their biggest dataminer (and my countrymen) Stiven. As for this thread we have the shaggy parrot.

[The Stormbringer]

You hardly hard to farm Soulbinds, and Conduits were just another drop. Might as well complain about any kind of gear.

Renown, then? I don't know, dude. I didn't play Shadowlands. I'm getting this from all of you people who actually did play it. I was told there was a system similar to how Artifact Power and Azerite Power worked. If I was told wrong, then I take back what I said.

[Hitei]

We might have already gotten it. It's difficult to say for sure with these things, but we have a EmeraldDrake buff a d associated effects, we have the LivingWorld string, we have unused Alliance buildings.

Any of these could be the KulTiranCloth leak. We just have to wait and see which one if any ends up being the one.

I feel like Emerald Drake and Kul Tiran set are not all that great a comparison. The armor set is a much more direct and obvious indicator, where the drake might not even be a drake, and could be for a variety of expansions. I agree Living World is probably a much bigger hint that people think, but it's also kinda impossible to read.

Was there a Shadowlands armor item to go in line with the Suramar cloak and KT robes?

[Grimbold21]

It's not like other classes have been limited by spec in that way. Mages for instance can still use some Frost, Fire, or Arcane magic regardless of spec. Some spells link them together like Frostfire Bolt. I could absolutely see a Wind Shaman for instance mixing in a lightning spell with a water tornado for a devastating attack.

Yea, but WoW tends to fall short when it comes to expanding the boundaries within which a spec traditionally works

[Raetary]

Huh source for that? Unless something came up today WoWhead still has their biggest dataminer (and my countrymen) Stiven. As for this thread we have the shaggy parrot.

https://twitter.com/Marlamin/status/...li7K3nREg&s=19

[Sondrelk]

Renown, then? I don't know, dude. I didn't play Shadowlands. I'm getting this from all of you people who actually did play it. I was told there was a system similar to how Artifact Power and Azerite Power worked. If I was told wrong, then I take back what I said.

Farming Renown was necessary for soulbinds, but that was done in two separate weekly quests rather than a dedicated grinding system like Artifact power or Azerite.

Honestly you don't seem to be the only one who didn't play the game but still latched onto complaints.
Anima was never a necessary grind at all. You needed 1k anima a week which was trivial to gather even before the massive buffs to acquisition, and despite this the same talking point of needing to farm a resource like in Legion and BfA kept popping up like Anima worked the same.

I can only assume that players got so accustomed to disliking current WoW that they stopped actually analyzing flaws. Instead resorting to old complaints with the logic that since BfA didn't learn much from Legion then neither did SL.