Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Valysar]

Why would they wait 9.2.5 to open up pre-orders when deluxe editions rewards are already IG ?

[Marlamin]

Why would they wait 9.2.5 to open up pre-orders when deluxe editions rewards are already IG ?

The, possibly literally, million dollar question!

[Ersula]

Even if like 4 of those get scrapped/delayed for post-launch/next season, that's still more than any content patch that I remember, and that was just 1 of your points.

Your completely uncritical optimism is not an argument. Especially not towards the game's inability to innovate.

[Izalla]

They've also said one of the zones is very inspired on Grizzly Hills. With Tuskarr back as well, it definitely seems like they're going for the Northrend nostalgia (and will likely end up using all these assets for a future Northrend revamp).

Hell one of of the times they panned across the tuksarr village I was like shit that looks like like an updated version of their settlements in Northrend!

Northrend was so impressive to me for its time but even just being able to do things like wind blowing the snow around they have been doing since Frostfire Ridge makes things look so much more immersive and cooold.

I might need to buy the yak(that's the transmog one right?) after all because I get second hand chills running around cold places in games if my character is not dressed warmly hahah

[Sondrelk]

Why would they wait 9.2.5 to open up pre-orders when deluxe editions rewards are already IG ?

Might be something tied to the rewards that don't work properly. The SL mount had a small quest attached for instance. Not unthinkable that the Dragonflight one has something similar.

[Marlamin]

Your completely uncritical optimism is not an argument. Especially not towards the game's inability to innovate.

Never said the game was innovating, and, if scrapping 4 dungeons is optimism, I worry about you.

Hell one of of the times they panned across the tuksarr village I was like shit that looks like like an updated version of their settlements in Northrend!

Northrend was so impressive to me for its time but even just being able to do things like wind blowing the snow around they have been doing since Frostfire Ridge makes things look so much more immersive and cooold.

I might need to buy the yak(that's the transmog one right?) after all because I get second hand chills running around cold places in games if my character is not dressed warmly hahah

Yeah, the resemblance is uncanny -- and probably intentionally so. Very curious to see more of screenshots of the zones as we get closer to alpha.

[Berkilak]

Well, i guess we just have different opinions on that, because i don't really see these limitation as the basis of a few nitpicks. :P

That's fair.

I think the thought process went like this:

We want playable dragons.
But aren't dragons are too big for raids?
Let's brainstorm ways to get around that size.
Let's make humanoid dragons as a class.
What sets that class apart?
We could think of a unique ranged DPS and healer concepts.
We don't have the resources to pursue a melee DPS or tank spec without a strong vision for it.
Focus down on what we have: unique, draconic spellcasters.
How can we play to that identity visually?
A slim, svelte, winged, draconic silhouette.

And we have the result. I'm fine with it. They didn't approach this from the perspective of trying to give us playable Drakonids. And they didn't. I'm not going to fault them for that.

[Lady Atia]

That seems like what they're doing but the main question is "why?" BFA & Shadowlands both had pre-order bonuses implemented in two waves. And the first wave is already in the live version of the game.

9.2.5 isn't set to release until June or later. Ybarra's comments about May is what I talk about when I criticize the conscious corporatization of WoW services. They're tiering out the pre-order simply because they've embraced time-gating as being integral to their business model to an almost religious level.
Same as always. Lip service until a later expansion.

I'm quite sure we didn't got pre-orders yesterday because they don't want to commit to a release date again, just remember what happened with Shadowlands.

[huth]

Ion's answer isn't super satisfying. He says its a big feature and the work required would need it to span multiple expansions...... so why would they not start now? lol.

Think about it another way: The fact that he can say that so easily and confidently means they've did a closer examination of the effort required, which means they gave it some more serious consideration.

[Cheezits]

The rewards are in, except for one rumored one (AR). The release date shouldn’t be a question as they can just say 2023.

I assume it has to do with the AR. Maybe it’s not ready to take a picture of???

[Ersula]

Never said the game was innovating, and, if scrapping 4 dungeons is optimism, I worry about you.

I guess you don't feel like a game needs to innovate to survive but that was my entire argument. So happy to see that you agree: With a side of condescending passive aggression.

I'm quite sure we didn't got pre-orders yesterday because they don't want to commit to a release date again, just remember what happened with Shadowlands.

??? But they didn't have a release date when the Shadowlands Pre-order dropped. They usually don't have a set release date when they do pre-orders. Shadowlands set a date later then had to push it back.

But in this case, yeah: Even the "On this date or earlier" date they usually put out is still in extreme flux.

[Lady Atia]

Also, I think it's a good sign that they revealed the new class colour today via blue post, maybe we will be getting more and more previews every day 'till Alpha is ready to launch?

[Syegfryed]

You do know that Drakonoids are way bigger than Orcs and Humans right? Again, you're looking at Draenei/Tauren sized.

Not as bulky as Draenei or Tauren, and they wouldn't be as big and bulky as a Drakonoid.

Again, you are using a falalacy here, you think is either ksinny geckos or bulky gigantic drakonids

there is an option in between already posted here, so stop.

Both ugly af. Again

The anorexic gecko is ugly af too, so, pointless?

Blizzard counts as no one? They clearly wanted it too. Good move on their part, they probably just created the most popular future class in WoW.

Amazing move, look how so many people are plased with the bullshit of it

We went over this; There's no point in using developer time and resources to give this option to every single race when 99% of the player base is just going to be an Elf or Human anyway.

There is ltierally no developer time or resource in allowing players to pick other races for humanoid forms, there would be not even the need to give then the draconic transformations

And even if they did, it would not be gamebreaking or cost a raid tier like you imply to be, is just some scales and horns that they can slap on any race

theya re just being lazy and people are defending their lazyness

[Marlamin]

The rewards are in, except for one rumored one (AR). The release date shouldn’t be a question as they can just say 2023.

I assume it has to do with the AR. Maybe it’s not ready to take a picture of???

The simplest explanation might just be that they're not sure in what year they'll end up releasing in. Maybe the initial target was as Scaleface said (Nov 2022) but maybe something came up that made them less confident of that which might push it over the holidays into Q1 2023.

I guess you don't feel like a game needs to innovate to survive but that was my entire argument. So happy to see that you agree: With a side of condescending passive aggression.

You're right, I think a game can survive perfectly well on looking at what others are doing and basing ideas/features off of that (which wouldn't count as innovation), e.g. the dragon riding is obviously very similar to GW2's dragon riding and that apparently feels pretty good according to those that have used it. Obviously it is a fine balance as to how far they can go in doing stuff like that and having/experimenting with original ideas still matters, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

As for the latter, I learnt from the best.

[Emet-Selch]

Does anyone else think the lethe form of the Dragon implies they are ultimately going to wear armor? I don't think those clothes on the female dragon are default. I think they are eventually supposed to wear armor, and with WoW's more recent 3D moddled armor that's why they're not so buff.

I definitely think they are. If you look at the animation previews and compare them to the ones we see in the actual reveal they have different armor sets. Not to mention one of the tier sets shown has to be for evoker, and it would be strange for it to just show up on the human form.

Also since they said the dracthyr would be using the dragonriding system with their own wings and flight, we could get customization through that system like others would get with their dragon companions.

Not to mention we don't know how tall they are (? I think?) so it may be annoying if they're taller than any other race and super muscular to do any sort of content with one.

Personally I dig the androgynous look and if they do listen to feedback that they make the buff version an option and not the new design.

[Eurhetemec]

Also, I think it's a good sign that they revealed the new class colour today via blue post, maybe we will be getting more and more previews every day 'till Alpha is ready to launch?

I certainly hope so. The mournful cries of the people weeping about stuff that's probably not really a problem but just hasn't been detailed yet are already getting pretty cacophonous.

Also I totally guessed it would be teal lol.

- - - Updated - - -

The, possibly literally, million dollar question!

It really does seem likely it'll be an AR at this point, no?

[huth]

I definitely think they are. If you look at the animation previews and compare them to the ones we see in the actual reveal they have different armor sets. Not to mention one of the tier sets shown has to be for evoker, and it would be strange for it to just show up on the human form.

Also since they said the dracthyr would be using the dragonriding system with their own wings and flight, we could get customization through that system like others would get with their dragon companions.

Not to mention we don't know how tall they are (? I think?) so it may be annoying if they're taller than any other race and super muscular to do any sort of content with one.

Personally I dig the androgynous look and if they do listen to feedback that they make the buff version an option and not the new design.

It seems they only get basic gliding and some swooping down and back up. So a bit more capable than DH, but not quite full flight. They still need to board one of their full-grown brethren for the proper experience.

[Emet-Selch]

It seems they only get basic gliding and some swooping down and back up. So a bit more capable than DH, but not quite full flight. They still need to board one of their full-grown brethren for the proper experience.

They said in one of the interviews they will be able to use the dragonriding systems (momentum and all that), not able to find it atm.

[Ersula]

Also, I think it's a good sign that they revealed the new class colour today via blue post, maybe we will be getting more and more previews every day 'till Alpha is ready to launch?

Which would make sense if we is announcement wasn't already 6 months later than usual. Can anyone blame the people having a negative reaction to Dragonflight? If you're going to announce an announcement 6 weeks beforehand is it wrong that they expected something impressive?

If you're going to treat dungeons & raids like major features you might consider showing a little of them.

[AngerFork]

The simplest explanation might just be that they're not sure in what year they'll end up releasing in. Maybe the initial target was as Scaleface said (Nov 2022) but maybe something came up that made them less confident of that which might push it over the holidays into Q1 2023.

It's possible, though I partially wonder why they wouldn't just put something crazy like June 2023 if that were the case & deliver earlier. I'm leaning more towards the AR thing as the reason we don't have them yet.