Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Khaza-R]

I feel like MoP was the beginning of the second age of WoW, or whatever you want to call it. It was when we got the new talent system, and we officially went into new territory for storylines. Cata might not have been as heavily tied into WC3 like the previous expansions, but it did heavily feature storylines at least from Classic.

Just feels weird to lump Cata together with MoP when they have barely anything in common outside the usual stuff. Especially when WotLK and Cata are basically the same game, in the same vein Legion and BfA were the same game.

I think Cataclysm is considered WoW 2.0 because it deviates from the WC3 story. Yes, Deathwing was a part of WC2 but he's basically a completely different character in Cata so its fairly irrelevant.

For me the shift occurred when they could no longer rely on WC3 source material and had to make new stories. One of the most bizarre things about Cataclysm in retrospect is that it erases the foundations it was built on. The expansion was very much, "oh here's a conclusion to many of these unresolved plot lines from Vanilla". But for a completely new player the basis was removed, they don't even understand what Cataclysm is referencing 90% of the time.

[Catastrophy349]

You're making zero sense. What exactly are you expecting? And what is random about Wrathion? He knows you. He knows you're important and capable. Of course he would call you up for something like this. And the quest is literally telling you about the Dragon Isles and why you are going there. Maybe actually read it?

Our conversation going back and forth is pointless. Clearly, as I stated, I didn’t read it because I’m avoiding spoilers. Apparently, things make more sense when you play the Dracthyr starting zone. I was simply speaking from the perspective of Wrathion/Ebyssian greeting you with a quest, upon logging in, without ANY knowledge of the Dracthyr starting zone or anything else. I think we’re arguing over nothing because we’re both ignoring what the other is trying to say.

[huth]

Our conversation going back and forth is pointless. Clearly, as I stated, I didn’t read it because I’m avoiding spoilers. Apparently, things make more sense when you play the Dracthyr starting zone. I was simply speaking from the perspective of Wrathion/Ebyssian greeting you with a quest, upon logging in, without ANY knowledge of the Dracthyr starting zone or anything else. I think we’re arguing over nothing because we’re both ignoring what the other is trying to say.

What's the problem with that? Seriously. Why do you need an explanation for somebody coming to you and asking if you could help them with something?

[Catastrophy349]

What's the problem with that? Seriously. Why do you need an explanation for somebody coming to you and asking if you could help them with something?

I'm not sure why you have been yelling at me for two days over this? It's clear that you don't understand what I am talking about.

[Sondrelk]

Anyone ever wonder why there isn't a Black Dragonflight themed variant of the generic HD endgame set? (Crafted epics, primal storms, etc.)

We have a red, green, yellow, and blue one. But no black one. Seems like a weird oversight considering we have a Black variant for the Valdrakken civilian set, and i doubt it would be difficult to just give it as a reward for reaching the end of the Wrathion/Sabellian reputation.

[Catastrophy349]

What's the problem with that? Seriously. Why do you need an explanation for somebody coming to you and asking if you could help them with something?

So, I actually like you. I've been reading your posts on here for a long time. I think we were just getting confused on each other's words. I am avoiding ALL spoilers. So, from "my perspective", getting a random quest from Ebonhorn/Wrathion makes ZERO sense narratively as the last thing I did, in game, was to reclaim Undercity. Now, apparently, if you do the Dracthyr starting zone AND read the quests in Org/SW (as you mentioned), doing both makes A LOT more sense. So, I apologize if there was any miscommunication.

[Cheezits]

Anyone ever wonder why there isn't a Black Dragonflight themed variant of the generic HD endgame set? (Crafted epics, primal storms, etc.)

We have a red, green, yellow, and blue one. But no black one. Seems like a weird oversight considering we have a Black variant for the Valdrakken civilian set, and i doubt it would be difficult to just give it as a reward for reaching the end of the Wrathion/Sabellian reputation.

I'm guessing there will be a more overtly Neltharion/Deathwing themed patch (maybe the underground because possible Deepholm ties) that has more Black Dragon aesthetics. Maybe when whatever happens with Sabellian goes down.

[Sondrelk]

I'm guessing there will be a more overtly Neltharion/Deathwing themed patch (maybe the underground because possible Deepholm ties) that has more Black Dragon aesthetics. Maybe when whatever happens with Sabellian goes down.

Probably, still seems odd though.
Then again, there is supposedly a hidden sixth variant of the Valdrakken civilian set that uses Eternal colours, so not impossible.

[Raetary]

Ok, i actually may need an explanation as well on how the isles wake up.

I assumed what causes it to stir is us venturing into Uldaman.
Turns out no, we venture into Uldaman when the isles are already rediscovered.

[Nymrohd]

Ok, i actually may need an explanation as well on how the isles wake up.

I assumed what causes it to stir is us venturing into Uldaman.
Turns out no, we venture into Uldaman when the isles are already rediscovered.

Could be it's Razsageth breaking free. The Primalists got there before the wards had fallen (they have infilitrated the draconic creature society there). When her Vault is breached, Koranos is alerted and moves to start the beacon at Tyrhold. As soon as he does, Nozdormu heads for the the Dracthyr area with Wrathion and Ebyssian while Alexstrasza heads to check on Tyrhold.

[Cheezits]

Ok, i actually may need an explanation as well on how the isles wake up.

I assumed what causes it to stir is us venturing into Uldaman.
Turns out no, we venture into Uldaman when the isles are already rediscovered.

I believe the devs said it had to do with Azeroth healing during the timeskip. Maybe her eating more Spirit caused the elements on the Isles to act up?

Also:
https://twitter.com/warcraft/status/...uc-LVJVpciVDgA

Between this and the big Bronze Door I think the Dream may be the focus of a patch. Could be 10.1 if Ysera needs to be brought back quickly.

Maybe double zones like BFA? Dream + Underground

[huth]

So, I actually like you. I've been reading your posts on here for a long time. I think we were just getting confused on each other's words. I am avoiding ALL spoilers. So, from "my perspective", getting a random quest from Ebonhorn/Wrathion makes ZERO sense narratively as the last thing I did, in game, was to reclaim Undercity. Now, apparently, if you do the Dracthyr starting zone AND read the quests in Org/SW (as you mentioned), doing both makes A LOT more sense. So, I apologize if there was any miscommunication.

No, they don't explain anything about that because there is nothing to explain in the first place. You're looking for a narrative connection between two unrelated stories. You reclaiming Undercity has nothing to do with Dragonflight, at least currently. It's just the last major thing you did before Dragonflight happens.
That also means there cannot be any narrative inconsistency because there is no continuous narrative that could be inconsistent. It's two seperate stories happening at different times which just happen to partially share characters.

DF starts with a new, completely unrelated story that has nothing to do with what you were doing before. They come out of nowhere with a "random" quest because this is the first your character is even getting involved in the whole thing.

[Jaggler]

It's a whole lot less jarring than logging in with Cataclysm Pre-Patch and the whole world being torn up.

[Sondrelk]

It's a whole lot less jarring than logging in with Cataclysm Pre-Patch and the whole world being torn up.

Cata did have an extra long pre-patch split into a pre-cataclysm and post-cataclysm bit though. It was jarring, but you did by all accounts have a very clear midpoint where the Cataclysm trailer happened. If you stood in Stormwind it was probably very odd to suddenly have gates where they didn't previously exist, and a dock you were never told about, but it did explain stuff like why the park district was gone, or why the world is different now.

[Jaggler]

I just don't see why DF would bemore "sudden" than Cataclysm was. it's not like there is a lot going on apart from the Primal Storms. Ebyssian/Wrathion arrive with the Dracthyr and we put together aexpeditionary force with explorers, crafters and scholars.

[ChronoSul]

Anyone ever wonder why there isn't a Black Dragonflight themed variant of the generic HD endgame set? (Crafted epics, primal storms, etc.)

We have a red, green, yellow, and blue one. But no black one. Seems like a weird oversight considering we have a Black variant for the Valdrakken civilian set, and i doubt it would be difficult to just give it as a reward for reaching the end of the Wrathion/Sabellian reputation.

I chalk it up to being the same reason why the class that was created by the black dragonflight also is centered around the other 4 dragonflights aka black dragons generally are just evil thus not included

[Berkilak]

DF starts with a new, completely unrelated story that has nothing to do with what you were doing before. They come out of nowhere with a "random" quest because this is the first your character is even getting involved in the whole thing.

Not to mention a three year timeskip, post-SL.

[Murlocos]

I think the expansions can roughly be grouped into trilogies, with Cataclysm and Legion being deemed as a sort of 2.0 and 3.0 respectively given the larger gameplay and class overhauls they brought with them. Playing Wrath Classic reminded just how much did end up changing with Cata and how much of vanilla was still baked into Wrath. I think Dragonflight will continue this given the talent, profession, and gameplay flow design (shifting away from Legion's borrowed power/chore focus), but it's too early to say.

The frustrating part of Cata's revamp is that it was both inconsistent, and has dated itself. You have zones that were virtually untouched outside of some QoL changes for the quests there, zones that were completely revamped in geography, questing and story, zones that only had one of those change, etc. The human zones are a perfect example of this:

Elwynn is practically identical to its vanilla version outside of Northshire swapping kobolds and Defias for orcs. The zone hasn't moved forward at all.
Westfall is largely revamped and carries on the aftermath of the vanilla story, only a few of the older quests that are just generic kill quests remain.
Redridge tells the same story as the vanilla version with different quests, just with the developers copy-pasting Rambo lines in nonstop. The zone hasn't actually advanced; they rebuilt the bridge, but the same NPCs are in the same places causing the same problems.
Duskwood is an uneven mix; the quests are cleaned up with some new ones, some storylines have advanced, some haven't. It's jarring.

That's not getting into zones like the Barrens or Badlands where they date themselves to immediately after the Cataclysm and just age worse and worse. I'm on the side that I don't think they have the resources or intent to redo the leveling experience once again, but it'd be nice to see a longer term, more comprehensive revamp that would include endgame content as well.

[Nymrohd]

I'm on the side that I don't think they have the resources or intent to redo the leveling experience once again, but it'd be nice to see a longer term, more comprehensive revamp that would include endgame content as well.

The thing is, the old world is not the leveling experience. The intent right now seems to be to send people to BfA. Which imo is an amazing choice; BfA had solid zones and decent world building (Zandalar could have been better but Kul Tiras feels like the most organic kingdom in wow with multiple families and towns, a proper capital and only real issue being the side quests in Stormsong).

I'd say that if they redid the old world it should be to add it as evergreen content and a place for continuous storytelling.

[Cheezits]

Mandatory BFA leveling for new players is going to have to be replaced eventually as the war and timeline do not fit the new era. That's one of the reasons I think that we are getting a new leveling campaign sometime soon.

You can make a revamp with max level content AND new leveling campaign.