Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[ro9ue]

I personally strongly dislike the mini class idea.
It’ll mean that they could 100% just take the easy road and have every future class be just one spec.

Also because both a dragon class and tinkers could easily have 3+ specs.

Could you explain why adding 4X 1 spec classes with unique visuals and flavors is the easy road compared to 1 new class with 2-3 specs with a ton of overlapping visuals?

By the way, I agree Tinker can and should be expanded, but in terms of what we've received previously when a new class (with 2-3 specs) was added I see 4x 1 specs with unique flavors as a lot more work actually.

[Nightshade711]

Could you explain why adding 4X 1 spec classes with unique visuals and flavors is the easy road compared to 1 new class with 2-3 specs with a ton of overlapping visuals?

By the way, I agree Tinker can and should be expanded, but in terms of what we've received previously when a new class (with 2-3 specs) was added I see 4x 1 specs with unique flavors as a lot more work actually.

Because if there’s a precedent set by mini classes that blizzard could get away with one spec classes then theres nothing stopping them from doing the same in future expansions and just adding one “mini-class”

[Vakir]

You know what? Maybe Blizzard decided: lets have fun and do crazy stuff with dragons. If a 1 spec class is awesome to play, then why not?

Eh. There's some logistical nightmares involved. Not even talking about tuning. Class armor sets returning? Even harder to front the amount of art invested in making that happen. Designing world content around single roles? Not as easy as it sounds unless everyone is homogenized to be self-sustaining and efficient on the same footing. Future class-specific things like Mage Tower? Split way more significantly across the board.

A new class is already a huge endeavor including past-proofing and future-proofing for new additions. Less specs doesn't really change that since usually a lot of mechanics and art are shared between specs anyway.

This extends as well to class skins, really. Any mechanic changes for the class means having to redo the class skins. But at least then they can justify doing a one-and-done set or weapon for them and that's it. "Here's your Necromancer themed set. Other than that, you gotta go off the Warlock ones."

[Kiivar86]

One thing in that Dragonflight "leak" that is odd, minor thing admittedly, is the bit about the Dark Ranger skin for Hunters.

"Dark Ranger skin for Hunters. Dark spell effects. Tames undead instead of animals."

They already can tame undead animals though? So why even mention that.

[Seasz]

Ok that logo looks horrid though

[Kiria]

One thing in that Dragonflight "leak" that is odd, minor thing admittedly, is the bit about the Dark Ranger skin for Hunters.

"Dark Ranger skin for Hunters. Dark spell effects. Tames undead instead of animals."

They already can tame undead animals though? So why even mention that.

Could mean zombies or corpses?

[ro9ue]

Eh. There's some logistical nightmares involved. Not even talking about tuning. Class armor sets returning? Even harder to front the amount of art invested in making that happen. Designing world content around single roles? Not as easy as it sounds unless everyone is homogenized to be self-sustaining and efficient on the same footing. Future class-specific things like Mage Tower? Split way more significantly across the board.

A new class is already a huge endeavor including past-proofing and future-proofing for new additions. Less specs doesn't really change that since usually a lot of mechanics and art are shared between specs anyway.

This extends as well to class skins, really. Any mechanic changes for the class means having to redo the class skins. But at least then they can justify doing a one-and-done set or weapon for them and that's it. "Here's your Necromancer themed set. Other than that, you gotta go off the Warlock ones."

I found the way the leak broke down certain things interesting. Maybe we need to look at it holistically and put 2+2 together. I think it's possible this isn't 4 NEW classes, but instead SHARED 4th specs for certain classes. The classes where it maybe doesn't make much sense just happen to be the ones getting the cosmetic class skins.... coincidence?

Dragon Knight - 4th spec for Warrior, Paladin, Death Knight (unlocked by a Bolvar quest or something)
Tinker - 4th spec for Hunter. Doesn't make sense for Shaman so they get the Dragon cosmetic thing instead.
Minstrel - 4th spec for Monks and Rogues. Doesn't make sense for DH or Druid so they get the Warden skin and Nightmare skin.
Chronomancer - 4th spec for Priest or Mage. Seems weird for Warlock so they get the Necromancer cosmetic.

Hunters do get the bonus Dark Ranger skin, so it might be race locked:

Alliance
Ranger - Night Elf, Void Elf
Tinker - Dwarf, Draenei, Gnome, Dark Iron, Mechagnome, LFD
?? - Human, Worgen, Kul'Tiran

Horde
Ranger - Blood Elf, Forsaken
Tinker - Goblin, Orc, Mag'har, Vulpera, Nightborne
?? - Darkspear, Zandalari, Highmountain or Tauren

[Kiivar86]

Could mean zombies or corpses?

I suppose it could. Seems a bit odd overall but possible.

Still, I'm leaning toward the leak itself being just a lucky hit.

Though I am warming to the idea of micro-classes, honestly.

[ATZenith]

I’m cool with mini classes. Demon Hunter made me love WoW again with how new and fresh they felt. I hope each new spec feels modern like DH did. Though I was hoping for a fast paced class like DH if some dragon spec was added :,(

[Vakir]

I found the way the leak broke down certain things interesting. Maybe we need to look at it holistically and put 2+2 together. I think it's possible this isn't 4 NEW classes, but instead SHARED 4th specs for certain classes. The classes where it maybe doesn't make much sense just happen to be the ones getting the cosmetic class skins.... coincidence?

Dragon Knight - 4th spec for Warrior, Paladin, Death Knight (unlocked by a Bolvar quest or something)
Tinker - 4th spec for Hunter. Doesn't make sense for Shaman so they get the Dragon cosmetic thing instead.
Minstrel - 4th spec for Monks and Rogues. Doesn't make sense for DH or Druid so they get the Warden skin and Nightmare skin.
Chronomancer - 4th spec for Priest or Mage. Seems weird for Warlock so they get the Necromancer cosmetic.

Hunters do get the bonus Dark Ranger skin, but they're popular so whatever.

Possible, but it feels like a weird thing to omit. They'd just say fourth spec rather than microclasses.

It's a cool set of ideas, and I know people wanna see it, but I think it's just fake.

[Kiria]

I suppose it could. Seems a bit odd overall but possible.

Still, I'm leaning toward the leak itself being just a lucky hit.

Though I am warming to the idea of micro-classes, honestly.

Yeah I would be pretty cool with mini classes, but I come from FFXIV and classes as indivuals have more identity than those with multiple specs.

[therumblings]

I'm almost certain that leak is fake. Firstly, the OP was banned, which makes me think he was an alt of someone who posted multiple fake leaks. Second, I am pretty sure someone suggested the name Dragonflight before the post, and even Shadowlands had a lot of fake leaks with the same name before the real leak.

[varren]

The Shadowlands Season 4 stuff and no leveling in new expac feels like the start of them slowly winding things down for WoW and entering maintenance mode (and by slowly I mean in the next 10 or so years).

[Kiivar86]

I'm almost certain that leak is fake. Firstly, the OP was banned, which makes me think he was an alt of someone who posted multiple fake leaks. Second, I am pretty sure someone suggested the name Dragonflight before the post, and even Shadowlands had a lot of fake leaks with the same name before the real leak.

Using ercarp's handy dandy google spreadsheet for the Shadowlands "leaks", 11 "leaks" with Shadowlands as a title, 12 if you count one with several versions I think.

[Khaza-R]

I'm almost certain that leak is fake. Firstly, the OP was banned, which makes me think he was an alt of someone who posted multiple fake leaks.

Yeah. Whenever you see 1-2 post accounts that were banned (and still banned months/weeks later) its a huge red flag

[uikolertekopoku]

Looks like a name leak:


This is my own picture saved from the HTML source of wow's official site.

@Deventh

Your discovery is on wowhead and other pages on front you found it!

[Vakir]

I'm almost certain that leak is fake. Firstly, the OP was banned, which makes me think he was an alt of someone who posted multiple fake leaks. Second, I am pretty sure someone suggested the name Dragonflight before the post, and even Shadowlands had a lot of fake leaks with the same name before the real leak.

Talking about moderation is kind of playing with fire, but this is the biggest giveaway. People don't get hit for real leaks. They get hit for sockpuppets and evasion.

Once we got something real and tangible, look how quickly fansites got on board. Same with Bolvar art and the SL logo/Kyrian leak.

There's no grand secret going on. It's just some asshole posting fanfic.

[Vynestra]

Leak definitely feels fake, but I am hopeful for a new class. It's been so long since we got dh in 2016, I am allowing myself just a measure of hopium.

Otherwise there better be more customizations, and I pray they give dhs velf/nightborne at the very least (prob won't)

[ATZenith]

I thought they just auto banned every “leaker”. Was it more in depth? They can see what alts you have on the IP address?

[Kiivar86]

Another thing against it to me is it got both the timing of the announcement of an announcement wrong as well as the announcement date wrong.

Some may go "plans change' and yeah that is true but that's a pretty big shift from "Announcement for the announcement planned for the 18th" to actually being announced on March 7th (and further expansion announcement claimed to be on February 28th and the actual one being April 19th)