Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Nyel]

Do we still think this is a 2 patch expansion by the way? I think it is and that it was planned to be that way, based on how much of .1 was in launch and how much of the Shadowlands zone stories are finished.

With all the things going on, absolutely. Unless all of you want to play Shadowlands two years from now on, then 9.3 might still have a place.

By the way, I think the next expansion will be nothing obvious or expected. I really think they might pull another WoD scenario where the entire expansion comes out of nowhere.

[Makabreska]

You're talking like most people don't care about Alexstrasza and Ysera simply because they are hot women in bikini armour.

Yeah, I bet they are so popular because of their dragon powers and personality. Totally.

Most people don't bend every lore/speculation discussion or thought process and disregard every other possibility, only to somehow fit their waifu and her pals into it, that would TOTALLY marry them, if only she was real.

[Nagawithlegs]

By the way, I think the next expansion will be nothing obvious or expected. I really think they might pull another WoD scenario where the entire expansion comes out of nowhere.

Well, normal audiences don’t expect a world revamp (because they don’t know about all the updated buildings in the files/BFA and haven’t been counting the updated old models), so that counts right?

[Varodoc]

Most people don't bend every lore/speculation discussion or thought process and disregard everything else, only to somehow fit their waifu and her pals into it, that would TOTALLY marry them, if only she was real.

You're annoying, I'm putting you on ignore. You claim that I ignore "dragons" when I literally said I wouldn't mind if the dragons were featured in an expansion about the Void Lords. Go bother someone else.

[therumblings]

At this point a World Revamp expansion of any sort is going to be a personal gift to the hype threads of the past few years. I'm assuming it will eventually happen, so we might have to wait a few more decades, but it will be worth it.

[Makabreska]

You're annoying, I'm putting you on ignore. You claim that I ignore "dragons" when I literally said I wouldn't mind if the dragons were featured in an expansion about the Void Lords. Go bother someone else.

Good, I can freely point out your fixations now w/o any retort.

[Sondrelk]

At this point a World Revamp expansion of any sort is going to be a personal gift to the hype threads of the past few years. I'm assuming it will eventually happen, so we might have to wait a few more decades, but it will be worth it.

It simply has to happen eventually. Otherwise we will end up getting increasingle bastardized suddenly relevant dimensions or planets to visit instead. The only question really has only ever been why we have not gotten more revamps than we have.

[Nagawithlegs]

At this point a World Revamp expansion of any sort is going to be a personal gift to the hype threads of the past few years. I'm assuming it will eventually happen, so we might have to wait a few more decades, but it will be worth it.

I think we’re only missing dragons, gnolls, centaurs and some various obscure models like the earth goddess in mauradon. Are there any other creature models that need updating? We’re basically finished.

That plus the updated buildings and the setup of BFA to radically change Azeroth with neutrality and rebooted races (Forsaken, Nelf, maybe Human) has me thinking it’s 10.0.

[therumblings]

Blizzard might fear the community's reaction to multiple world revamps as reusing old content, but I don't see this as a bad thing. Blizzard obviously can introduce new planets like Argus to have multiple expansions in, but we all should return to Azeroth every now and again, with updated zones/lore.

I think Cataclsym came too early tbh.

Are there any other creature models that need updating? We’re basically finished.

I'm sure there are a few still outdated, they also haven't applied all of the new ones to old world mobs yet, like wolves, cats and ogres.

[Makabreska]

Blizz right now has big problems with pushing out standard patches due to rona and drama. Any big world revamp is out of the picture, maybe for ever.

[Sondrelk]

Do we still think this is a 2 patch expansion by the way? I think it is and that it was planned to be that way, based on how much of .1 was in launch and how much of the Shadowlands zone stories are finished.

X.2 patches are almost always seemingly out of left field in some way. And they almost always seem to interrupt whatever the main plot is.

Nazjatar was preventing us from finishing the Faction war storyline. Isle of Thunder was also preventing a speedy resolution to the faction war. Firelands just slowed us from getting to the endgame of Deathwing. Ulduar was a sideshow that just meant we didnt immediately go and knock on Arthas' door.

There are loads of option for a 9.2 patch. We coudl for instance need to go find a macguffin before confronting the Jailer. We could even need to go to the Sepulcher while the Jailer has already been and gone to Azeroth. For all we know 9.2 could have us go to Thros to defeat the Drust before something or other happens. THe sky is the limit on X.2 patches honestly.

What plot is actually left in the initial zones is mostly irrelevant anyways. By the time the X.2 pathc rolls around all the conflicts are usually resolved except the times when said patch is literally in the same zone like what happened with Mount Hyjal and Firelands.

[Nagawithlegs]

I'm sure there are a few still outdated, they also haven't applied all of the new ones to old world mobs yet, like wolves, cats and ogres.

As those all appear in Exiles Reach (I think) it shows that they can and will update them.

I’m really curious about what EK/Kalimdor models are yet to be updated. I Know skeleton horses are on the list.

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Blizz right now has big problems with pushing out standard patches due to rona and drama. Any big world revamp is out of the picture, maybe for ever.

That’s a stretch. Development has resumed post controversy and the revamp will have been worked on before covid.

[therumblings]

Blizz right now has big problems with pushing out standard patches due to rona and drama. Any big world revamp is out of the picture, maybe for ever.

Well if Blizzard had a world revamp expansion planned in the next few years, they would have already been working on it. WoW's team just needs a lot of changes and refinement, it's definitely not in good shape.

[Sondrelk]

Blizz right now has big problems with pushing out standard patches due to rona and drama. Any big world revamp is out of the picture, maybe for ever.

Why?...

A world revamp would inevitably use a majority reused assets in reused zones. It would take no more work than an actual new zone would take, and arguably even less considering you don't need to worry about the zones themselves actually working, just that whatever assets you replace are functioning.

[Nyel]

Well, normal audiences don’t expect a world revamp (because they don’t know about all the updated buildings in the files/BFA and haven’t been counting the updated old models), so that counts right?

I‘m team #worldrevamp so this would be great, but after BfA and Shadowlands I‘ll never hold my breath again for a world revamp. Three times isn’t the charm for me, in this case.

[therumblings]

I legitimately think the game would have been better off if they waited for Cataclysm to happen until around WoD, so 10 years after the game launch. It would have been a 10 year anniversary celebration with updated models as well, and perhaps a new leveling system to make the lore make sense, since prior to Shadowlands leveling was absolutely nonsensical.

[Makabreska]

That’s a stretch. Development has resumed post controversy and the revamp will have been worked on before covid.

Sure, but 9.1 major delay happened before drama. So did they resume to that state?

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Why?...

A world revamp would inevitably use a majority reused assets in reused zones. It would take no more work than an actual new zone would take, and arguably even less considering you don't need to worry about the zones themselves actually working, just that whatever assets you replace are functioning.

Look how long it took them too cook up one zone and a raid in 9.1. And we are talking here about big world revamps. Cata took em long time, used many alr existing assets and they didn't even touch the geology.

[therumblings]

Sure, but 9.1 major delay happened before drama. So did they resume to that state?

Blizzard will keep us all in the dark as usual. Working from home really messed them up, and the new Blizzard drama surely dampens morale. Though even after all of this I still believe a world revamp is coming, at some point. It just makes no sense that a company with such a large amount of money would let their game fail when they have the means to pretty much completely revitalize it, regardless of a revamp or not.

[Makabreska]

Blizzard will keep us all in the dark as usual. Working from home really messed them up, and the new Blizzard drama surely dampens morale. Though even after all of this I still believe a world revamp is coming, at some point. It just makes no sense for a company with such a large amount of money would let their game fail when they have the means to pretty much completely revitalize it, regardless of a revamp or not.

I would say that morale is actually high now, with shit exposed, support given, heads rolling and possibility of meaningful change.

And we are talking here about an AAA company. If the project fails, these companies tend to cut the looses. EA swims in money, they have the means. Didn't stop them from canning Anthem.

[Sondrelk]

Sure, but 9.1 major delay happened before drama. So did they resume to that state?

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Look how long it took them too cook up one zone and a raid in 9.1. And we are talking here about big world revamps. Cata took em long time, used many alr existing assets and they didn't even touch the geology.

It took them that long for an entirely new zone with new assets, and that in a pathc that traditionally has not had new zones.

If Blizzard manages to make 5-6 new zones with new assets in each new expansion then I don't see how whatever 10.0 ends up being will be the odd one out.
If we assume the lateness of 9.1 to be due to Covid, then I would say that bodes really well for a world revamp expansion.

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Actually, I just realized. 8.1 did technically have a new zone with the revamped Darkshore, which included new custom assets, and that patch managed to be just as meaty as one might expect from a X.1 patch, and arguable even better considering the pitiful showings from previous patches like it.