Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[The Stormbringer]

Why would anyone have to be biased? This is what I was talking about. You want it to be bad. You think everyone needs to have the same bias as you and think that they game has to be bad because of the reasons you list. Yet you will argue that you don't actually want it to be bad despite already having your mind made up. You even say it is bad because we don't know details about it.

Usually people that don't want something to be bad wait until they can get informed before making a decision about what that something will be. Lol.

HOW ARE YOU BEING SO THICK-HEADED?! I DO NOT WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO BE JUST LIKE ME! I am perfectly happy if people are optimistic! I think it's ignorant of them because of Blizzard's track record, but I'm not going to shit on them and tell them they're morons for getting hyped at what could be a fun experience. And again, you keep ignoring that we've seen very little of this expansion, WHICH IS WORRYING. As this gentle-Pokemon said:

Never forget that Scaleface said it would be out in November 2022 and they were right about everything else. That means we have 5 months to go with no info past the announcement, no alpha, no insights. They're trying to hide how sparse this "expansion" is gonna end up being.

Why is there so little information we've been given compared to other announcements?

Whatever, this other person said it best...

Man don't even argue with him, I gave up last night arguing with him, no point trying to convince someone why a lot of us are skeptical, of course we want the expansion to be amazing and I hope it is really, I love wow, always have, but I am cautious and worried until we have more info about it.

I'm skeptical, cautious, and worried, but want the game to be great.

[13last]

Swearing? It is amusing how you make arguments up but imply I'm the unreasonable one. If you don't like the product now, and don't like the product they will produce, then you are wasting your time. Because you are playing something you don't enjoy. Yesterday you stated I'm the reason why Blizzard is the way it is. That implies you don't like the way they currently are and the way they currently develop.

There is also no reason to lie about you never calling Dragonflight bad. That is exactly what you implied. What does not taking the time to refine experience mean if not that it will be bad?

Yes I called SL bad, not DF, I said it would be a bad idea to do 2 bad ones, like can you even read, lol I'm gonna stop replying to you, yes you giving blizzard money for a half finished product is a bad precedent.

[rhorle]

I think it's ignorant of them because of Blizzard's track record, but I'm not going to shit on them and tell them they're morons for getting hyped at what could be a fun experience.

So people are ignorant and morons for not thinking like you but at the same time you want them to be morons? Lmao. It is strange the mental gymnastics you keep jumping through just to ignore the bias you readily acknowledged you have. All you keep looking for is a failed product.

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Yes I called SL bad, not DF, I said it would be a bad idea to do 2 bad ones, like can you even read, lol I'm gonna stop replying to you, yes you giving blizzard money for a half finished product is a bad precedent.

Right. You implied Dragonflight will be the second bad one. Shadowlands wasn't a half finished product. Aren't you also giving Blizzard money for a half finished product? Since you implied you still play because you still enjoy WoW. So aren't you again letting Blizzard steal your time for a half finished product and one you've already thought was bad?

Also if they are not taking the time to refine Dragonflight then you are calling it bad, right?

[The Stormbringer]

So people are ignorant and morons for not thinking like you but at the same time you want them to be morons? Lmao. It is strange the mental gymnastics you keep jumping through just to ignore the bias you readily acknowledged you have. All you keep looking for is a failed product.

You're just straight ignoring what I'm saying at this point. Ignorance =/= stupidity. I said they're not morons. I'm going to stop responding to you now, have a nice day.

[rhorle]

You're just straight ignoring what I'm saying at this point. Ignorance =/= stupidity. I said they're not morons. I'm going to stop responding to you now, have a nice day.

So people that choose to be ignorant aren't also stupid? Even then you are still implying they are the bad ones. You are acting as if you alone are the enlightened one and know the truth about WoW. You don't know anything about the future expansion yet decide to already hate it. Legion was not bad because WoD so even your prediction isn't based on any fact.

Do you even remember what comments you made that started this before you tried to excuse your unjustified hate?

Yeah, this is worse. It just means the game is going to be an abysmal dumpster fire lacking in content. Those of us guessing 2023 were assuming they would, you know, try to avoid Shadowlands' "two major patch" situation and actually put proper time and effort into it. I guess you're right, it was delusional of us to think they had learned their lesson.

[Luck4]

I wonder if Blizzard decided to go with a very short Beta only to add controversial stuff at the last moment such as Borrowed Power, massive chores such as Stygia, or heavy RNG systems such as Azerite Gear or Legiondaries.

I mean, you can't be blamed for not hearing feedback if you aren't getting any.

[Hitei]

Why is there so little information we've been given compared to other announcements?

Because it wasn't announced at Blizzcon and they didn't feel like doing multiple hour long videos doing into the nitty gritty details when Alpha was gonna come out in a couple months anyway.

I really doubt that's the case. There's just nothing to show off that would need a long testing phase. Dragonflight is going to be the most content bare expansion in a decade. Don't need to test what doesn't exist.

What content do you feel is missing compared to previous expansions? The PvE slot for thorghast/islands/warfronts?

[boyzma]

So people that choose to be ignorant aren't also stupid? Even then you are still implying they are the bad ones. You are acting as if you alone are the enlightened one and know the truth about WoW. You don't know anything about the future expansion yet decide to already hate it. Legion was not bad because WoD so even your prediction isn't based on any fact.

Do you even remember what comments you made that started this before you tried to excuse your unjustified hate?

I admire your grit, but you're arguing with a mud fence. Haters gonna hate.

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Because it wasn't announced at Blizzcon and they didn't feel like doing multiple hour long videos doing into the nitty gritty details when Alpha was gonna come out in a couple months anyway.


What content do you feel is missing compared to previous expansions? The PvE slot for thorghast/islands/warfronts?

And you too are fighting the good fight but with a brick wall and some other kind of un-moveable something.

[rhorle]

What content do you feel is missing compared to previous expansions? The PvE slot for thorghast/islands/warfronts?

The mission table is confirmed out so no follower or mini-game stuff.
Garrison, Order Hall, and Covenant are gone as far as we know. If something is in it might be small like the BfA boat that didn't really offer to much content.
The PvE slot as you stated is gone.

It might not seem like a lot but those things did add a large amount of content to the game. It might not be a bad thing and it remains to be seen how much Dragonriding and the Renown factions fill in the content gap. I'm torn on what I'd prefer thought I know I might play an alt more but also don't mind playing only one character and having stuff/goals to always work towards.

[huth]

And yet Shadowlands came after BfA.

All that shows is that there is no causal connection and you're just flailing around.

[Makabreska]

I wonder if Blizzard decided to go with a very short Beta only to add controversial stuff at the last moment such as Borrowed Power, massive chores such as Stygia, or heavy RNG systems such as Azerite Gear or Legiondaries.

I mean, you can't be blamed for not hearing feedback if you aren't getting any.

Yeeeee. They will add grind and borrowed powers at last min after explicitly saying they wont do that. And then they will open a gear shop.

[rrayy]

I wonder if Blizzard decided to go with a very short Beta only to add controversial stuff at the last moment such as Borrowed Power, massive chores such as Stygia, or heavy RNG systems such as Azerite Gear or Legiondaries.

I mean, you can't be blamed for not hearing feedback if you aren't getting any.

Yeah they are going to add a bunch of stuff that will not get tested at the last minute. I don't think you understand how long it takes to get that stuff prioduced and working.

[Dracullus]

Dataminable 10.0 build would be nice cherry on top for this week. But that's rather thing for next week... I hope.

Anyway, we can judge if 2022 release is suits pressure for Christmas or devs really being "far along" like Ion said only after few Alpha builds. Last 3 PTR cycles were pretty smooth after all, Zereth Mortis was almost finished since December.

Of course it's not like everything would be available first day, they often want feedback focused on specific things, for sure zones will be released one by one. But in the past we often had weeks of downtime between major builds, it's something they can't really afford now.

For sure it doesn't make sense to be some marketing stunt to cash in now and delay it later as some people suggest. Remember how Blizzard approach delays from pre-order date, they put special webstite for instant automatic refund, many people are pissed (no wonder, some people must schedule their free time weeks/month ahead), for sure it hurts Blizzard. Shadowlands could be even bigger financial success without delay.

[Nymrohd]

What content do you feel is missing compared to previous expansions? The PvE slot for thorghast/islands/warfronts?

I guess some form of repeatable PvE content that can be done solo/small group with matchmaking. It can be replaced of course with meaningful activities in the actual world instead of instanced content. I think that is the plan or at least that's what Blizzard leads one to believe. Imo what replaces them both for progression and for cosmetic collection is probably crafting.

[Hitei]

The mission table is confirmed out so no follower or mini-game stuff.
Garrison, Order Hall, and Covenant are gone as far as we know. If something is in it might be small like the BfA boat that didn't really offer to much content.
The PvE slot as you stated is gone.

It might not seem like a lot but those things did add a large amount of content to the game. It might not be a bad thing and it remains to be seen how much Dragonriding and the Renown factions fill in the content gap. I'm torn on what I'd prefer thought I know I might play an alt more but also don't mind playing only one character and having stuff/goals to always work towards.

What specifically you are considering 'content' from the Garrison? The profession mat farm? The hunting down building upgrades and stuff? The mounts?

As you've pointed out, "Order Hall and Covenant" content-wise are still in, just not named that. Renown is renown and there are quest lines attached to the Dragonflight version of renown based on you working deeper into the faction. (read: campaigns).

So what we really have missing is I guess:
-Mission Tables
-Garrison stuff
-A PvE slot

I would argue that Dragonriding covers a huge chunk of the first two, not in being the same thing but in amount of content:

It's not the mission table follower mini-game, sure. But the mechanical flying part of it has been described as minigame-esque; it involves trying to get to problem solve to get up to certain places and stuff. We also know there's some sort of racing tournament thing. They've also described their zone exploration and design approach as being more like Zereth Mortis, with stuff to find and puzzles and things, so that is also a huge bump in side mini-game style content.

The dragons (putting aside the whole perk side) offer the mounts of a Garrison, and the going around hunting down unlocks aspect in the form of acquiring visual customizations, as they come from all sorts of places and activities. The farming aspect of Garrisons is missing, but we also now have a whole new progressive aspect to professions with their own gear and stats, so getting profession mats itself has a built in content system that is probably more expansive than the garrison plot versions ever were.

There's no specific one system in that PvE slot right now, but they've said that instead there's just more content in the open to find and do, hunting giant stuff with centuar, and the racing tournaments being examples given.

[Revamp Man]

can they pull it off? yes especially if development wasnt effected by the slow downs too much but considering even the talent trees we saw were only concepts i am a bit worried. Blizz does not have the greatest track record with internal testing but we could see them just skip straight to beta testing maybe see some talent trees next week. It also kinda explains why we didnt get more trees in posts because why post them when they will be in testing in a month and players might screech you ignored the feedback they gave over the tree layout.

We have essentially a bare expansion with almost no extra systems that need balanced and tested (seriously it took what 4 weeks in SL testing for them to get soulbinds balanced just to flip them on their head) and maybe now if the devs are spending less time diddling eachother and stealing breast milk they might be more productive. I dont think anyone saying they need to delay it are toxic just because they dont want a shit show launch like WoD, Legion, BfA, and SL. How dare they not just thank blizzard for a release window (which they can move if needed) and for the increased game price even though they will have less to do at launch (not saying that is a bad thing because i hate extra systems) the nerve.

I am ready to just log on discord and cap my main then work towards an alt knowing i dont have to farm maw dailies for rep for a legendary that counts for 10% of my output.

[Nymrohd]

What specifically you are considering 'content' from the Garrison? The profession mat farm? The hunting down building upgrades and stuff? The mounts?

I know I spent a good couple of months leveling up each of the buildings and doing all the associated achievements with them and the content that was there for those did not really get repetitive during those two months. Compare that to Covenants; Ardenweald did not really have any meaningful content other than a couple of extra rares to kill (the seed mini game really offered no gameplay, far less than e.g. Halfhill). Venthyr had the Ember Court which was certainly fun but very repetitive. Bastion had potential with the Path of Ascension but it was horribly balanced and they just nerfed it (and left the bug available which is how I'm sure most people completed it). Maldraxus had the dailies which were fun given how many they were though at least for me there was not much appeal adding minor mostly cutesy cosmetics on zombies (and it had two of the worst repeatables; Chordy who should have gone on to grummle paradise to wash yaks instead of attempting and frequently failing to find useless scrap for me and that escort quest that was brought straight from Vanilla Barrens).

I have no idea how we are counting Dragonriding in "amount of content". It seems more like "content-unlocking gameplay" instead. I expect there will be dailies in how to train your dragon?

Honestly when it comes to things to do outside instances, it's very much dependent on how well they rework crafting and how much content the world team creates.

[klaps_05]

Pre-ordering is completely pointless and insane these days. There is no supply or shipping problems to be worried about. You can buy the game the minute it launches and be playing it as soon as the clowns who bought it 6 months ago.

I dont know, what if they run out of the game and then i cant download it? preodering is simply the safest option!

[ExiHext]

I dont know, what if they run out of the game and then i cant download it? preodering is simply the safest option!

Running out of downloads...xD
I'm gonna preorder the day before launch just to get the preordering goodies (albeit just that drakonid pet for me).

[Zantera]

Regarding the 'lack of features' complaint, isn't this really what many people have wanted for years though? WoW at it's core with good zones, dungeons, raids, battlegrounds, arena etc has been the foundation that most people liked about the game. A lot of the time the big 'expansion seller' feature has ended up being the worst thing about the expansion. Vehicle combat in Wotlk? Yeah less said about that the better. Garrisons? Warfronts and islands? Torghast?

I think getting the basics right again will go a long way to setting the game on a good path moving forward. I still think/hope that there will be certain things in DF they just haven't announced but as we get closer to it, maybe they will. People loved Suramar and how that played out for example and that was just a zone with gated questing where we unlocked more and more as time went on. Personally I enjoyed both the withered scenario in Legion and the visions in BFA and that's smaller things you don't necessarily need to test a lot either (if they have something similar).