Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Alanar]

The males actually have a different kind of walk and both models lack the belly on Kul Tirans.

It's a similar model to Rexxar who I thought was teasing Mok'nathal as an AR, but it might end up being Maldraxxi. Or Maldraxxi girls are teasing Mok'nathal girls.

Well that rexxar model is something else and I was quite suprised how unique it actually is. Do these gladiators share things from rexxar?

Ye I noticed the belly and it looks a lot better without it. They truly look like real brutes. I am just lost in terms of how these faces would look like. I am thinking a head and what costumization options they would even have.

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After double-checking, I was mistaken. It was muddled by the standing animation seeming similar, but they are different.

I also checked( but on phone) and it seems like they are actually unique, I would say nightborne come kinda close, but still heavy modified.

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The Kyrian are modeled after the female Vrykul, both sexes. Venthyr are the only one where the race really "starts from scratch" in terms of their model, though all four races have some unique animations/poses and have male/female.

Kyrian: Female Vrykul
Sylvari (Night Fae Dryads): Female Draenei
Venthyr: Brand New (makes sense considering they were the focus of the first raid, want them to be special)
Maldraxxi Gladiators: Kul Tiran male and female (though male have some unique animations)

None of them can actually equip armor yet so they clearly weren't ready at launch, but there's a slight chance they'll all become playable (and likely unlockable through max renown: I think this would be really cool and both make sense lorewise for a recruitment thing AND encourage people to roll alts and experience the other covenants).

We are just waiting for some npc (from the covenants) to say that he or she would like to explore our world.

In fact dont we already had some one do that?

[Osmeric]

I may have come off a bit too strong. From the development side, we are still committed to providing fun experiences for our players (which I hope is obvious, but very well may not be). It's just that you can't say that part out loud when trying to get a high investment tentpole feature approved.

That commitment doesn't really matter. If management decisions are being made based on bad metrics, that's a fatal condition for a company. The earnestness of the flight crew doesn't matter if they fly the plane right into the ground.

This style of failure is so common it has a name (Goodhart's Law) and is taught in B-schools, but it still happens. The error is confusing correlation with causation, and reversing the sense of causation. A good game causes engagement, and also retention, but increasing engagement doesn't automatically cause the game to be good (reversed causation), and to therefore cause retention.

From the outside, the poor reception of SL sure looks like a textbook example of screwing up due to targeting of bad metrics.

[Nagawithlegs]

We are just waiting for some npc (from the covenants) to say that he or she would like to explore our world.

In fact dont we already had some one do that?

There is definitely one or two Kyrian who say it.

And yeah, the Maldraxxi Gladiators don't have an actual head yet, so they can do whatever they want with them.

[Tiradon]

So with all the new cosmetic stuff, anyone besides me like to see a option for the forsaken to be able to stand up straight and not hunch over?

How about cosmetic quivers for hunters? Such easy wins they could completely implement... Now if you want a quiver you either pick Alleria's bow or farm the current drop from Normal or Heroic quiver that removes the cloak.

[Lady Atia]

Shadowlands has been strange so far. You'd expect an expansion about infinite afterlives to have more patch content dedicated to those new afterlife zones, but we're likely going to end up with just Korthia + Zereth Mortis, and no real afterlife exploration post-9.0, which is a shame imo.

I imagine the original plan was to use the island expedition/argus rifts mechanic to do some of the lesser afterlifes, but I guess negativ feedback on islands led to scrapping that.

[draugril]

That commitment doesn't really matter. If management decisions are being made based on bad metrics, that's a fatal condition for a company. The earnestness of the flight crew doesn't matter if they fly the plane right into the ground.

This style of failure is so common it has a name (Goodhart's Law) and is taught in B-schools, but it still happens. The error is confusing correlation with causation, and reversing the sense of causation. A good game causes engagement, and also retention, but increasing engagement doesn't automatically cause the game to be good (reversed causation), and to therefore cause retention.

From the outside, the poor reception of SL sure looks like a textbook example of screwing up due to targeting of bad metrics.

Take, for example, monetization in LoL and Dota 2. I have spent thousands on those titles precisely because of how much I enjoy(ed) those games and how unobtrusive the payment options were. The second you move that stuff in my face to try to influence more sales is the second you lose me as a customer. This is why I can't return to SW:TOR or LOTR:O no matter how much I enjoy those games.

[Kiivar86]

We are just waiting for some npc (from the covenants) to say that he or she would like to explore our world.

In fact dont we already had some one do that?

There is a kyrian, though I don't recall their name at the moment, who talks about wanting to visit other worlds and ends with something like "maybe I'll visit yours too!"

[Alanar]

There is a kyrian, though I don't recall their name at the moment, who talks about wanting to visit other worlds and ends with something like "maybe I'll visit yours too!"

Yea I was thinking about the kyrian to, mwybe it was that then

[Lolites]

Except some characters, especially in the warcraft universe, would see “true death” as a good alternative and would just peace out after they’ve lived a nice and horrible life. The fear of super hell is a good motivation that keeps death meaningful.

well, yeah... but if we didnt go in there they would never even know it exists

[Hardwing]

I imagine the original plan was to use the island expedition/argus rifts mechanic to do some of the lesser afterlifes, but I guess negativ feedback on islands led to scrapping that.

Well, this sounds cool. Still, given the differences being possible in style compared to mere islands I guess they would have needed a lot of resources for them to be interesting.

Also: Still a possibility to make the last patch more interesting and give us something to do while we wait for the next expansion.

[draugril]

Well, this sounds cool. Still, given the differences being possible in style compared to mere islands I guess they would have needed a lot of resources for them to be interesting.

Also: Still a possibility to make the last patch more interesting and give us something to do while we wait for the next expansion.

I fully expect 9.3 to be a glorified pre-patch, like Ruby Sanctum was to Cataclysm.

[Marlamin]

Has anyone been keeping themselves aware of current mystery references? I vaguely recall something about Galakrond that we never saw followed up on...

I've been keeping track, but nowhere publicly. If there is any interest in putting up a list of unused (somewhat recent) content somewhere I might take some time to compile a neat list/google doc.

[draugril]

I've been keeping track, but nowhere publicly. If there is any interest in putting up a list of unused (somewhat recent) content somewhere I might take some time to compile a neat list/google doc.

You have a least one person very interested!

[Nagawithlegs]

I've been keeping track, but nowhere publicly. If there is any interest in putting up a list of unused (somewhat recent) content somewhere I might take some time to compile a neat list/google doc.

Please do!

[Soon-TM]

1. Extend Chromie time to 1-60.
2. Skip to Oribos.
3. 50-60 Heirlooms - these ones with bonus XP.
4. Get rid of "betrayer" quest for Covenant - yes, that would in practice mean ripcord.
5. Option to buy Renown 40 for your alts.
6. 100% drop rates for legendary recipes from heroic dungeons.
7. Soul Ash droping from same sources as Legion legos.
8. Account wide Keymaster and related achievs.
9. Separate conduit energy for each spec.

Very much this. With all these changes, playing SL might become at least tolerable.

[Kiivar86]

Its Overwatch related, but they are indeed going to rename McCree, which makes me wonder if they'll actually rename Mac'aree in Argus. Different team though I realize.

[Yarathir]

Its Overwatch related, but they are indeed going to rename McCree, which makes me wonder if they'll actually rename Mac'aree in Argus. Different team though I realize.

I think you can kind of argue for plausible deniability more so than with McCree.

[Sondrelk]

I think you can kind of argue for plausible deniability more so than with McCree.

I guess they could rename it. It's rarely if ever mentioned with voice acting, and there isnt really any pun or anything that specifically requires the name to be said thing.

It would be very odd though. It's a giant zone, mentioned several times and it has been an integral part of lore for ages.

[therumblings]

If Blizzard has the courage (or stupidity?) to retcon McCree entirely, changing his years worth of lore, comics, voicelines, cinematics, all of that, then they will have no problem changing the name of a zone, and cutting a few lines saying it's name.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I guess they could rename it. It's rarely if ever mentioned with voice acting, and there isnt really any pun or anything that specifically requires the name to be said thing.

It would be very odd though. It's a giant zone, mentioned several times and it has been an integral part of lore for ages.

I don't mind them changing it. If it helps them out during <Bleep> then so be it.