Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Sondrelk]

Mostly new features I guess? And not just making the base game better. For sure improving the base game and old features is a mandatory thing, but that should not replace new features, which it does in Dragonflight. I can already see how divisive Dragonflight will be just by how basic and ordinary it is for a new expansion.

Tier sets returned in Shadowlands already, so I'd hardly call that anything specific for Dragonflight. New content aka zones, dungeons etc. is for every expansion a given and nothing unsuspected. It's the bread that carries every expansion, so is improving the base game. But where's the butter? As I said, Evoker is it and if you like that - like me - you're lucky. If not, Dragonflight is like a piece of dry bread. It will satisfy your hunger, but it won't make you feel anything besides that.

Hasnt the playerbase been complaining about too much uneeded extraneous shit for several years now? Sure we don't have something like Torghast or Island expeditions. But on the flipside we don't have someting like Torghast or Island Expeditions.

Is it too much of a stretch to assume that the absence of these distracting elements from gameplay will improve the complete experience? Or generally mean less issues for the playerbase to complain about incessantly until its removed?

And of course, Shadowlands had a dumb plot, and many players didnt like the covenant stuff. But the biggest issue were the droughts, and why would anyone assume that those would be back at this point? Another pandemic? War between Russia and Ukraine spreading further?

Some players are simply excited by the possibility of a simple expansion done well, rather than a good expansion botched by distracting elements, awful writing, or grind. Elements that are either not currently in Dragonflight, nor reasonable to expect at this late point.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I've had the beta little over a month now with probably 5 total hours sunk into it. I did Legion, BfA and SL beta testing and was thoroughly hyped during those. This is the 1st time where I just do not have any drive to play this coming expansion. Sad days ahead.

Not really sad days, but you didn't really explain yourself either.

[Nyel]

I mean, weren't a lot of people in this thread like super hyped about the new open world content? Isn't it unlocked yet? Because I've neither heard not read anything exciting about it. I know how many posters here put a lot of hope into a supposedly new kind of open world content.

[Sondrelk]

I've had the beta little over a month now with probably 5 total hours sunk into it. I did Legion, BfA and SL beta testing and was thoroughly hyped during those. This is the 1st time where I just do not have any drive to play this coming expansion. Sad days ahead.

Well I was not hyped much at all for Shadowlands, but I am for Dragonflight. So I guess we are at an impasse.

[Nyel]

Some players are simply excited by the possibility of a simple expansion done well, rather than a good expansion botched by distracting elements, awful writing, or grind. Elements that are either not currently in Dragonflight, nor reasonable to expect at this late point.

And that's fine? I didn't say anything against it, I even said I am excited. But I can totally see why this expansion could be disliked by a lot of players simply due to how simplistic and - from a gameplay perspective - boring it is.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh Jesus, Nyel&co are in that mode again. Oh tell me again fellas how no one will be hyped about this game that will sell ~3.5M or more copies before 2nd day.

Nobody, really nobody cares about that. I have no idea why you bring this useless number up again and again. It has zero meaning and tells nothing about an expansion. Absolutely nothing.

[Sondrelk]

I mean, weren't a lot of people in this thread like super hyped about the new open world content? Isn't it unlocked yet? Because I've neither heard not read anything exciting about it. I know how many posters here put a lot of hope into a supposedly new kind of open world content.

Dragonriding is the open world content so far. And with few exceptions I hear nothing but rave reviews about it. Personally only tried the Soar variant available to Dracthyr, but that was enough to convince me to be excited.

The new open world content has also been available for testing a good while now. There are elemental invasions in the different zones. Communal summoning rituals. World Quests of course.

There is content. There is even Dragonflight unique open world content. Just because you refuse to accept its there doesnt mean it doesnt exist.

[Nyel]

Dragonriding is the open world content so far. And with few exceptions I hear nothing but rave reviews about it. Personally only tried the Soar variant available to Dracthyr, but that was enough to convince me to be excited.

The new open world content has also been available for testing a good while now. There are elemental invasions in the different zones. Communal summoning rituals. World Quests of course.

There is content. There is even Dragonflight unique open world content. Just because you refuse to accept its there doesnt mean it doesnt exist.

I refuse to accept it? Where did I ever doubt that? I guess you and all the others just drastically lowered your expectations, because what you've listed is stuff that is neither new nor fresh (besides the Dragonriding stuff related "content"). I remember how you and others were super excited about the - then - unannounced new open world content. To hear now that it's just related to Dragonflying (and invasions which we had one way or another since Legion or some "rituals" that summon enemies) is a bit funny to me.

By the way, I just replied to the other guy that seemed to be whelmed by the expansion, I didn't want to get into an argument with someone who's thoroughly liking it - that's totally fine.

[Sondrelk]

I refuse to accept it? Where did I ever doubt that? I guess you and all the others just drastically lowered your expectations, because what you've listed is stuff that is neither new nor fresh (besides the Dragonriding stuff related "content"). I remember how you and others were super excited about the - then - unannounced new open world content. To hear now that it's just related to Dragonflying (and invasions which we had one way or another since Legion or some "rituals" that summon enemies) is a bit funny to me.

I just listed a very specific open world content being added beside dragonriding. The elemental invasions. It even has unique high quality transmog rewards for every armor type.

The reputations being improved with the Renown system as well, with added benefits of making it easier for alts to get the later profession related rewards, which mostly fixes the issue some players have had with profession progression gated behind reputations.

Zones are significantly larger, which changes the feel of content being consumed in said zones.

And of course professions are being given a lift in terms of importance, which ties more into the open world gameplay. The fact that the professions give armor that is higher quality in terms of ilvl and appearance also means that said open world gameplay will have a more distinct progression.

[Darkarath]

I refuse to accept it? Where did I ever doubt that? I guess you and all the others just drastically lowered your expectations, because what you've listed is stuff that is neither new nor fresh (besides the Dragonriding stuff related "content"). I remember how you and others were super excited about the - then - unannounced new open world content. To hear now that it's just related to Dragonflying (and invasions which we had one way or another since Legion or some "rituals" that summon enemies) is a bit funny to me.

By the way, I just replied to the other guy that seemed to be whelmed by the expansion, I didn't want to get into an argument with someone who's thoroughly liking it - that's totally fine.

I do not know man, but I am pretty excited for DF, because it seems that it would just let me play without annoying fucking systems. Just fucking let me play.

I enjoy the world, let me go through new zones without having to earn conduits, and legendaries, and without another stupid table of followers (my God, so happy that they have not make one for DF).

Plus Dragonriding seems very cool, dungeons and raids are not my thing, but they are always good. Art is always good. Reputations seems more interesting with a more varied open world content. It seems that I would be able to expend hundreds of hours on proffesions vs current ones (just level them and meh). I actually think that I might become very hooked to proffesions.

Plus, the most important thing my friend. Content. Content patches. WoD and SL were a failure for the lack of it (among other things, SL especifically was so stupid in so many aspects that I cannot believe how they made that fucking piece of shit)

I believe that DF will have the best post expansion launch content of any expansion. Why? I do not know, I might be reading too much between the lines in the interviews made to Blizzard, but I think that they will really surprise us in this regard.

[Nightshade711]

I'm excited for the xpac mainly for the new class. I'll need to get my hands on it but it looks like it'll fix my one issue with playing a caster/healer.
But it'll also be nice to have gear back to being the only "borrowed power". I don't want to be forced to do content I don't want to just so I can perform in the content I actually like.

I just hope that they don't ruin it by timegating the dragonriding glyphs or something.

It would be nice if they'd give Dracthyr some traditional style mount/flight similar to running wild, it could even be sold via tome like monk flight. It just looks awkward mounting up on a Dracthyr and I don't like the visage forms too much.

[tristannarutofan]

Let's be honest: If you're not super into playing Evoker, what else is there? New dungeons, new zones and a new raids. That's about it. New talents are nice and that, but don't change anything or alter the playstyles drastically. Here and there are some new builds that mostly play like the iteration of the spec you've been playing since Legion. Dragonriding is a useless fluff feature and besides that? Dragonflight is just not exciting when you're not interested in Evoker. It feels more like an improved status quo than a new expansion.

I'm looking forward to it because of Evoker, but that's about it.

"if you arent interested in the new class , ALL THERE IS, IS THE ENTIRE REST OF THE GAME"

interesting point

- - - Updated - - -

I do not know man, but I am pretty excited for DF, because it seems that it would just let me play without annoying fucking systems. Just fucking let me play.

I enjoy the world, let me go through new zones without having to earn conduits, and legendaries, and without another stupid table of followers (my God, so happy that they have not make one for DF).

Plus Dragonriding seems very cool, dungeons and raids are not my thing, but they are always good. Art is always good. Reputations seems more interesting with a more varied open world content. It seems that I would be able to expend hundreds of hours on proffesions vs current ones (just level them and meh). I actually think that I might become very hooked to proffesions.

Plus, the most important thing my friend. Content. Content patches. WoD and SL were a failure for the lack of it (among other things, SL especifically was so stupid in so many aspects that I cannot believe how they made that fucking piece of shit)

I believe that DF will have the best post expansion launch content of any expansion. Why? I do not know, I might be reading too much between the lines in the interviews made to Blizzard, but I think that they will really surprise us in this regard.

its weird how people will think something is bad just cus they arent interested in it. I have no interest in football. but there are 100s of millions of people who are. "i'm not interested in it" , then dont interact with it. No one is asking you to be subbed to the game 12 months a year

[Xath]

Let's be honest: If you're not super into playing Evoker, what else is there? New dungeons, new zones and a new raids. That's about it. New talents are nice and that, but don't change anything or alter the playstyles drastically. Here and there are some new builds that mostly play like the iteration of the spec you've been playing since Legion. Dragonriding is a useless fluff feature and besides that? Dragonflight is just not exciting when you're not interested in Evoker. It feels more like an improved status quo than a new expansion.

I'm looking forward to it because of Evoker, but that's about it.

How do the new talent trees not drastically alter gameplay lol?

[pahbi]

So far I haven't seen anything I'm particularly excited about in Dragonflight, I'm not really down on the expansion, just sorta meh about it.

I will try it for a few months and see what I think.

Dungeons and travel will be the two biggest deciders for me.

[Luck4]

I'm excited for Dragonflight, but I hope they announce the release date at least 60+ days before the actual release.

I'm really disliking how everything regarding schedule information is being handled.

[Lahis]

I'm excited for Dragonflight, but I hope they announce the release date at least 60+ days before the actual release.

I'm really disliking how everything regarding schedule information is being handled.

Wrath launches on Sept 27th. After that they can announce prepatch for Oct 25th and DF launch for Nov 29th.

[Makabreska]

How do the new talent trees not drastically alter gameplay lol?

Seems like he is back to diminishing expansion with his "DF has nothing". How do these people operate, anyway? He and the likes of him post and discuss normally (or stay silent), then suddenly they go into "DF has nothing/will fail lol", making shit up as they go. "Dragonriding is useless and stolen from Guild Wars", "Evokers aren't content", "new talents wont change a thing" etc. Mood swingy af.

[Dracullus]

Nobody, really nobody cares about that. I have no idea why you bring this useless number up again and again. It has zero meaning and tells nothing about an expansion. Absolutely nothing.

Remember folks, sale numbers doesn't matter and nobody, nobody cares about it. I guess we must listen to bitching circlejerk where we complain that sky is falling no matter direction Blizzard will take. That matters.

[Arafal]

Remember folks, sale numbers doesn't matter

I mean, they don't.
The only people to whom they matter are Blizzards management team.

To us they mean absolutely jackshit and have no bearing on the quality of the expansion.
WoD peaked back up to 10 million subs and sold god knows how many copies, yet we all know how that turned out.
Look at every tripple A game that sold millions and then flopped like a fish out of water.

I find the complaints about DF stupid, crafting, renown and Dragonriding make up more than enough for all the utterly unecessary fancy expansion features that we could've gotten.
But sales numbers don't indicate anything of importance for us as the playerbase.

[Makabreska]

But sales numbers don't indicate anything of importance for us as the playerbase.

Well, increased sales tell us that people are always eager to come back.

[Arafal]

Well, increased sales tell us that people are always eager to come back.

I'd say it just means the marketing team did a fine job selling the expansion to people.