Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Lahis]

This is horrible. A book delay, again? Has Christie to rewrite it to fit the new agenda or what? I mean it’s a book and this is barely due to COVID or whatever you might blame it. And it’s just five weeks so don’t tell me this is due to COVID or production delays, lol. Production delays regarding 9.2 maybe, but definitely not for the book.

I very much think 9.2 and the book share some stuff and are connected, but I refuse to believe they’re going to delay 9.2 until (late) March. With how bad 9.1 had been received and how 9.1.5 adds nothing to that it would be a very bold move to have 9.1 last for 9-10 months.

They will need couple of months of PTR for 9.2, 9.1.5 isn't even close to release and Holidays are coming up. Late March release for 9.2 is more than likely.

And the book is clearly tied to 9.2 story, so they can't release it before the patch is ready.

[Cosmic Janitor]

A book being delayed because of a myriad reasons isn't entirely unthinkable. Could be it was just regular delayed, then there were issues with printing afterwards, you never know.

It could even be that they delayed it originally for patch-progress reasons, but now it got delayed due to shortages. Could be anything really, gotta agree with that.

[Nyel]

You never know with delays. I have been waiting for ana apartment to be built so I can finally move in for well over 10 months now, and the apartment was already delayed when it was agreed that I would buy it. That project has had problems everywhere, ranging from sick workers to lack of flagstone and even amusingly a lack of a flowerbed sprinkler system.

A book being delayed because of a myriad reasons isn't entirely unthinkable. Could be it was just regular delayed, then there were issues with printing afterwards, you never know.

That’s true, I don’t. We don’t. I still find it highly suspicious right around this time that it’s delayed yet again. What I find more suspicious is that’s it’s only a 5 week delay though. If it’s indeed production issues, I find a delay of just 5 weeks pretty bold.

I mean they still could release the eBook and kindle version five weeks sooner if it’s just a shortage of paper or whatever… as I said, I find it highly suspicious and the timing is very interesting as well with how everything regarding Shadowlands is moving forward (or better: not moving forward).

[Sondrelk]

That’s true, I don’t. We don’t. I still find it highly suspicious right around this time that it’s delayed yet again. What I find more suspicious is that’s it’s only a 5 week delay though. If it’s indeed production issues, I find a delay of just 5 weeks pretty bold.

Seems about right to me, better to do a short delay and hope it works out rather than a really long delay a d either reign it in later or have to stick with it.
To go back to my apartment, it has been delayed a month at a time since July. You would think that they would go for a more conservative estimate and then be done before that but no.

[Tyris Flare]

Just going to continue the trend where for all people's complaints about the game (and how valid or not valid they are), the primary problem with WoW is just speed of content.

Faster patch cycles absolutely has to be their #1 drive going forward. A huge amount of people's complaints about the game would fade into the background if they had something to do. There's a reason why the majority of people remember Legion fondly despite many bad systems and decision - you were never bored.

This is just the modern world. Streamers and YT creators need stuff constantly. Netflix couldn't survive with a new show every 8 months etc.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Comparing netflix to a MMO, thats a new one.

[Nyel]

Just going to continue the trend where for all people's complaints about the game (and how valid or not valid they are), the primary problem with WoW is just speed of content.

Faster patch cycles absolutely has to be their #1 drive going forward. A huge amount of people's complaints about the game would fade into the background if they had something to do. There's a reason why the majority of people remember Legion fondly despite many bad systems and decision - you were never bored.

This is just the modern world. Streamers and YT creators need stuff constantly. Netflix couldn't survive with a new show every 8 months etc.

I‘d say it’s really a mix of both. BfA had supposedly lots of content yet people didn’t like it either.

If they can find the harmony between mechanics / features and content again, I’d be happy. But with how detached they’ve been from the playerbase during Shadowlands beta and pre 9.1.5… I wouldn’t hold my breath.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

So do we still believe that they will inform their consumer base about their plans or do you think they will stay quiet until January?

[Cherry123]

A book about Sylvanas' memories, not future patches. She will tell Anduin about her past

it's all

[Nyel]

So do we still believe that they will inform their consumer base about their plans or do you think they will stay quiet until January?

Still expecting 9.2 PTR to drop this year. I don’t want to think about it not getting on PTR this year at all.

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A book about Sylvanas' memories, not future patches. She will tell Anduin about her past

it's all

To succeed, Sylvanas will be forced to reflect on the harrowing path that brought her to the Jailer’s side, and reveal her truest self to her greatest rival. Here, Sylvanas’ complete story is laid bare: from the breaking of the Windrunner family and her rise to Ranger-General; to her own death at the hands of Arthas and her renewed purpose in founding the Forsaken; to the moment she first beheld the Maw, and understood the true consequences of what lay beyond the veil of death. But as her moment of victory draws near, Sylvanas Windrunner will make a choice that may ultimately come to define her. A choice that’s hers alone to make.

Source: https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/ne...r-pre-purchase (they didn’t even bother updating the new release date here yet)

So if the choice that ultimately defines her is not her breaking free from the Jailer (lol this would be hilarious though) there’s something way more revealing in the book. I guess that’s the part that’s the link between the novel and 9.2.

[Cherry123]

Sylvanas Windrunner will make a choice that may ultimately come to define her. A choice that’s hers alone to make.

this is the end of the book she makes a choice

[Kiivar86]

I took the choice to be her enslaving Anduin to the Jailer. As the summary says, the book is set before Anduin's enslavement to the Jailer, as she's still trying to get him to join willingly. Her success, her victory, would be him joining them (willingly or no).

[Nyel]

Sylvanas Windrunner will make a choice that may ultimately come to define her. A choice that’s hers alone to make.

this is the end of the book she makes a choice

So she makes a choice that defines her for 5 minutes until she changes her mind again after Sanctum of Domination? Uhm... I don't know.

And it says: But as her moment of victory draws near... - does that really apply to everything before the finale of SoD?

[Kiivar86]

So she makes a choice that defines her for 5 minutes until she changes her mind again after Sanctum of Domination? Uhm... I don't know.

I don't doubt there'll be other revelations, but the whole book is about her recounting to Anduin her story in an attempt to make him join them.

The choice is forcing it upon Anduin.

[Cherry123]

So she makes a choice that defines her for 5 minutes until she changes her mind again after Sanctum of Domination? Uhm... I don't know.

And it says: But as her moment of victory draws near... - does that really apply to everything before the finale of SoD?

yes the book will only be about 9.0

[Kiivar86]

And it says: But as her moment of victory draws near... - does that really apply to everything before the finale of SoD?

Yes, it does. You're just taking snippets from the summary. Read the whole thing, the context is quite clear:

Ranger-General. Banshee Queen. Warchief. Sylvanas Windrunner has borne many titles. To some, she is a hero . . . to others, a villain. But whether in pursuit of justice, vengeance, or something more, Sylvanas has always sought to control her own destiny.

The power to achieve her goals has never been closer, as Sylvanas works alongside the Jailer to liberate all Azeroth from the prison of fate. Her final task? Secure the fealty of their prisoner—King Anduin Wrynn.

To succeed, Sylvanas will be forced to reflect on the harrowing path that brought her to the Jailer’s side, and reveal her truest self to her greatest rival. Here, Sylvanas’ complete story is laid bare: from the breaking of the Windrunner family and her rise to Ranger-General; to her own death at the hands of Arthas and her renewed purpose in founding the Forsaken; to the moment she first beheld the Maw, and understood the true consequences of what lay beyond the veil of death. But as her moment of victory draws near, Sylvanas Windrunner will make a choice that may ultimately come to define her. A choice that’s hers alone to make.

Notice the parts I've bolded. This book is about her final task, getting Anduin to join them. Success, or victory, is him joining them. The moment of victory is in relation to her final task, making him join them.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

Considering Sylvanas dominating Anduin is unlikely with the current Development objections to domination. I would assume they made a deal and I don't feel the books synopsis refer to the Anduin/Sylvanas situation and it refers to something else.

[Nyel]

Considering Sylvans dominating Anduin is unlikely with the current Development objections to domination. I would assume they made a deal and I don't feel the books synopsis refer to the Anduin/Sylvanas situation and it refers to something else.

I never thought about this, but the entire domination magic aspect of Shadowlands and Sylvanas forcing her will upon Anduin is very anti-agenda of what Blizzard is doing for weeks now, lol, getting rid of anything in that regard.

[Tyris Flare]

Comparing netflix to a MMO, thats a new one.

I mean it's an example. The point is that we are in the Content Age. All that matters is stuff for people to consume. Pick whatever example you want.

They have to produce stuff faster - much faster. Or figure out ways to reuse old content like Timewalking to stretch things out. The alternative is that the game is going to wither away even faster than it already is.

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I‘d say it’s really a mix of both. BfA had supposedly lots of content yet people didn’t like it either.

If they can find the harmony between mechanics / features and content again, I’d be happy. But with how detached they’ve been from the playerbase during Shadowlands beta and pre 9.1.5… I wouldn’t hold my breath.

BFA still had incredibly long tiers. It didn't have anywhere near the content that Legion had.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

They have to produce stuff faster - much faster. Or figure out ways to reuse old content like Timewalking to stretch things out. The alternative is that the game is going to wither away even faster than it already is.

Not really true. The only reason thare are bigger waits is Pandemic+Work from Home situation that most companies are in. This thing to get content out much faster in this "Content age" as you put it seems projection.

BFA still had incredibly long tiers. It didn't have anywhere near the content that Legion had.

The tiers lasted longer because 1 Blizzard didn't want to do a Nighthold situation where the tier was too short and second last tier always lasted longer then all the others.