Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[CalamityHeart]

Some of us wanted to hope that Blizzard wouldn't be stupid enough to bring Ysera back to life right after it was established she never could do so and after they had spent time setting up Merithra as her proper successor.

But I see we were once again complete utter morons for expecting any good storytelling from Blizz.

I'm also in the 'Ysera probably shouldn't come fully back to life' boat, but it was never established that her bond to Ardenweald could "never" be circumvented. The opposite was implied by Ysera herself, in fact.

Also, Ysera coming back doesn't necessarily preempt Merithra (who I would question had that much "time spent" "setting her up" as the new Aspect prior to Dragonflight) still succeeding her as the Green Aspect. For all we know, there could be something about Ysera's state of being post-resurrection that flat-out prevents her from reassuming her former powers as Aspect. Or Ysera might just decide not to return to her role, and cede it to her daughter while guiding her instead.

It's too early, I think, to write it all off completely as implausible storytelling. The premise is iffy, as I do think it would be better to give Ysera a presence in the story without sort of cheapening the gravity of her death in Legion, but in general, I'm still sort of waiting to see how they handle it going forward. If they completely shaft Merithra, which it doesn't seem like they'll do, then yeah, it'll be bad. But the story going forward is still kinda up in the air.

[Skildar]

Legion dungeons are all overturned (based in TW M+), something about the numbers seems off, essentially any key feels 2-3 levels higher in difficulty compared with dungeons from another expansion.

They're nerfing specific skills for Karazhan but the problem is the scaling.

it didn't feel like a crazy scaling to me when I've tried a few keys these past weeks. It's definitely harder because I'm not used to the dungeons like I'm used to Tazavesh and Mechagone. But the scaling doesn't feel that far off currently.

Halls of Valor really are a special case there. Even during legion time, I was getting killed with my enhancement shaman because Hyrja could target me twice in a row and my single defensive wouldn't be enough to handle this. It's not scaling issue it is a mechanical one.

[Sondrelk]

I'm also in the 'Ysera probably shouldn't come fully back to life' boat, but it was never established that her bond to Ardenweald could "never" be circumvented. The opposite was implied by Ysera herself, in fact.

Also, Ysera coming back doesn't necessarily preempt Merithra (who I would question had that much "time spent" "setting her up" as the new Aspect prior to Dragonflight) still succeeding her as the Green Aspect. For all we know, there could be something about Ysera's state of being post-resurrection that flat-out prevents her from reassuming her former powers as Aspect. Or Ysera might just decide not to return to her role, and cede it to her daughter while guiding her instead.

It's too early, I think, to write it all off completely as implausible storytelling. The premise is iffy, as I do think it would be better to give Ysera a presence in the story without sort of cheapening the gravity of her death in Legion, but in general, I'm still sort of waiting to see how they handle it going forward. If they completely shaft Merithra, which it doesn't seem like they'll do, then yeah, it'll be bad. But the story going forward is still kinda up in the air.

It's not that it was impossible, she clearly set up the hook for her return afterall. It's just that the writers made a questline specifically state that she would not return in the near future, and then had our very next interaction with her in the very next main story chunk be regarding how to let her return.

Why couldn't she just say that she would return once Ardenweald was entirely safe. Or that she would like to learn from there before returning.
Anything less conclusive than "i cannot return", followed by an immediate reversal.

As it stands it feels morel Ike the writers desperately wanted to get one last punch in on the Night Elves by having Malfurion sacrifice himself, and all they lacked was a somewhat compelling narrative reason to do so.

[Nymrohd]

From what I recall, I don't think there's actual keys they give out, generally. In cases like with wowhead at least its more you do some stuff with them that lets Blizzard flag your account. Prevents selling beta keys. I would imagine it would be similar for streamers.

Nah, keys exist as well, it's not just tagging your account.

[Sondrelk]

it didn't feel like a crazy scaling to me when I've tried a few keys these past weeks. It's definitely harder because I'm not used to the dungeons like I'm used to Tazavesh and Mechagone. But the scaling doesn't feel that far off currently.

Halls of Valor really are a special case there. Even during legion time, I was getting killed with my enhancement shaman because Hyrja could target me twice in a row and my single defensive wouldn't be enough to handle this. It's not scaling issue it is a mechanical one.

I don't think it's the Legion dungeons that are overtuned, but rather our current S4 dungeons that are massively undertuned.

Remember, this is the season where players were pushing +20 keys the very first week of play.

[Myradin]

Even if the whole Ysera thing wasn't to happen, and Merithria was going to be the new Aspect, they wouldn't have put her on the loading screen and spoiled an entire zone questline.

Ysera was simply put on the loading screen because she is still the Green Aspect, even in death.

It would be like putting Bolvar in the loading screen for ICC and it's the reason why Krexus is part of the Shadowlands loading screen.

The loading screens are based on a launch POV.

I'd say its the opposite, the new loading screen spoils Ysera's return, while presumably Merithria was going to become the new aspect before.

Heck they have Wrathion on there and he isn't officially the Black Aspect either.

[Kiivar86]

Nah, keys exist as well, it's not just tagging your account.

Ah good to know! I thought they did away with those.

[Nymrohd]

Ah good to know! I thought they did away with those.

Nah I remember getting a key for either BfA or SL from a friend.

[Ashana Darkmoon]

I don't think it's the Legion dungeons that are overtuned, but rather our current S4 dungeons that are massively undertuned.

Remember, this is the season where players were pushing +20 keys the very first week of play.

Well the Legion affix also sucks, which is the real problem. Infernals are terrible compared to getting corruption levels of secondaries in live keys

[Makorus]

No, it's just random invite. Would be stupid to invite only specific group of people. But at some point they do beta waves for top X people to test raids.

The first wave for Legion went out to everybody that had a Mythic Archimonde kill.

[Makabreska]

Blizzard on What is Being Removed with Dragonflight Pre-Patch and Dragonflight Launch.

[Makorus]

Blizzard on What is Being Removed with Dragonflight Pre-Patch and Dragonflight Launch.

So the Herald of the Cosmos achievement IS in the game after all.

That's so random.

[Dracullus]

This Rygelon achiev is pretty pointless or I'm missing something?

As for things that are going away this is short list on paper, but meta-achiev for SL require some activities in covenants, meta achievs for ZM, Korthia, Maw, Tazavesh hard mode and last but not least maxing Torghast including unclocking all traits.

EDIT: Btw, "Once the Dragonflight pre-expansion update arrives, all Shadowlands raids will become Fated for the rest of the expansion." Maybe I'm reading too much, but if they keep fated rotation for whole 9.2.5, I think they planned full X cycles through raids. Which makes 25th October pre-patch even more likely.

[SilverLion]

I'm also in the 'Ysera probably shouldn't come fully back to life' boat, but it was never established that her bond to Ardenweald could "never" be circumvented. The opposite was implied by Ysera herself, in fact.

Also, Ysera coming back doesn't necessarily preempt Merithra (who I would question had that much "time spent" "setting her up" as the new Aspect prior to Dragonflight) still succeeding her as the Green Aspect. For all we know, there could be something about Ysera's state of being post-resurrection that flat-out prevents her from reassuming her former powers as Aspect. Or Ysera might just decide not to return to her role, and cede it to her daughter while guiding her instead.

It's too early, I think, to write it all off completely as implausible storytelling. The premise is iffy, as I do think it would be better to give Ysera a presence in the story without sort of cheapening the gravity of her death in Legion, but in general, I'm still sort of waiting to see how they handle it going forward. If they completely shaft Merithra, which it doesn't seem like they'll do, then yeah, it'll be bad. But the story going forward is still kinda up in the air.

This kind of highlights why the WoW community is impossible to please narrative. Not you yourself but the points you made, I mean. Blizzard cannot introduce new characters because people don't want them. Every time they try they end up ignored or rejected by the community for legacy characters. And then the same people turn around and say the legacy characters have too much screen time. It's a lose lose. So what does one do? I fully agree that bringing Ysera back kinda dumps cold water on how brilliant that storyline was in Shadowlands and Legion. I personally would always rather have new characters built up than old ones continuously pushed to the narrative for front, but it's been proven that the community just doesn't take to it well.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

This kind of highlights why the WoW community is impossible to please narrative. Not you yourself but the points you made, I mean. Blizzard cannot introduce new characters because people don't want them. Every time they try they end up ignored or rejected by the community for legacy characters. And then the same people turn around and say the legacy characters have too much screen time. It's a lose lose. So what does one do? I fully agree that bringing Ysera back kinda dumps cold water on how brilliant that storyline was in Shadowlands and Legion. I personally would always rather have new characters built up than old ones continuously pushed to the narrative for front, but it's been proven that the community just doesn't take to it well.

I get your point but at the same time Blizzard also randomly does weird decisions. Like the Malfurion part.. I mean its a really dumb decision but it can be salvaged if it absolutely has to happen, personally I rather they not sacrifice Malfy but........ya know.


Edit: Emphasis on not freaking out and raging every single time Blizzard trips, like I said I think the community really yells too much but the Malfurion and Ysera thing...not a fan but.... I keep my "Frustration" to a minimum.

[FenixAU]

How long have the beta servers been down?
New build?

Edit: There is a new build. Dunno if anything's changed.

[Kryllian]

I got disconnected about 10 min ago

[Forum Man]

This kind of highlights why the WoW community is impossible to please narrative. Not you yourself but the points you made, I mean. Blizzard cannot introduce new characters because people don't want them. Every time they try they end up ignored or rejected by the community for legacy characters. And then the same people turn around and say the legacy characters have too much screen time. It's a lose lose. So what does one do? I fully agree that bringing Ysera back kinda dumps cold water on how brilliant that storyline was in Shadowlands and Legion. I personally would always rather have new characters built up than old ones continuously pushed to the narrative for front, but it's been proven that the community just doesn't take to it well.

Introduce new character
Give them a connection to legacy
Don't make them Uber heroes
Boom success
Look at zappy boi and even stone bro from the dragonflight trailer

[Dracullus]

Introduce new character
Give them a connection to legacy
Don't make them Uber heroes
Boom success
Look at zappy boi and even stone bro from the dragonflight trailer

Don't even have to be down to earth, Denathrius or Bwomsandi were very popular as well.

To be honest every character become very boring when they take role of our character leaders, maybe with exception of Khadgar and Illidan, but it sucked all charisma from Thrall, Jaina, Magni, Bolvar, Primus. Even Anduin become more interesting when they stopped puting him in this role.

[Nathanyel]

Yeah tbh I don't want to level a character on beta that close to release, it takes too much away from the excitement of the expansion release.

Evokers will be level 60 after their intro zone, though. No need to level them beyond their mandatory racial/class quests.