Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

What makes me wonder is if we killed N'zoth, is he in Shadowlands? Because I saw some tentacles in the Maw and I freaked out.

Void creatures don't go to the Shadowlands, he'd go back where he came from. The tentacles you saw were Helya's.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I think what's going to happen is this or actually what I want to happen:

1. Primus will be freed.
2. Anduin will be released from the chains of domination.
3. We going to meet Asspullarians aka The First Ones and discover more secrets of the Cosmos.
4. Sylvanas will be killed.
5. Then we all go to Ember Court with Prince Renathal and have huge party.

What makes me wonder is if we killed N'zoth, is he in Shadowlands? Because I saw some tentacles in the Maw and I freaked out.

Eternal ones aren't ass pulls, N'zoth went back to the void, same as all killed Old Gods that get utterly decimated. Whatever big dramatic end we might see in 8.1, I am wondering if old god whispers have anything to do with it(That one line)

[Tiradon]

That is actually pretty likely. They have to make the Jailer a threat to the people on the mortal realm not just this death god with a grudge against other death gods. Also there has to be something that ties SL to the next expansion. A trip to Azeroth would provide both.

And besides the final raid can't be another few floors of Thorghast. Icecrown is pretty likely. It IS the most obvious choice.

It really is weird how they rushed the Maw final attack tho. Still expecting something with dreadlords eventually

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I think what's going to happen is this or actually what I want to happen:

1. Primus will be freed.
2. Anduin will be released from the chains of domination.
3. We going to meet Asspullarians aka The First Ones and discover more secrets of the Cosmos.
4. Sylvanas will be killed.
5. Then we all go to Ember Court with Prince Renathal and have huge party.

What makes me wonder is if we killed N'zoth, is he in Shadowlands? Because I saw some tentacles in the Maw and I freaked out.

I can't see Sylvanas being killed, despite me wanting that... She's is just gonna have some regrets and exile herself after this..

[Dracullus]

It really is weird how they rushed the Maw final attack tho. Still expecting something with dreadlords eventually

I can't see Sylvanas being killed, despite me wanting that... She's is just gonna have some regrets and exile herself after this..

Maw was next logical step, especially with Anduin imprisoned. Told you many times Sylvanas will be #2, and people came up with weird stuff like Drust raid or Necrolord raid (which would be 4th Necrolord instance in this expac).

Every patch need it's hook. For SL their strongest cards are Sylvanas, Arthas and Jailer. In meantime Anduin grow to be potential endboss. I don't really expect him to be villain in the future (we likely will 'clean' him), so I think Blizzard will took opportunity like they did with Jaina and Anduin will be #3.

Can't predict exact story, but I think pattern will happen: we kill/beat Sylvanas (no matter, she's off from the story for now, Jailer won't trust her, we won't trust her) -> Jailer beat us using Anduin -> we escape with Primus and Arthas -> Arthas know how to help Anduin.

[Tiradon]

Maw was next logical step, especially with Anduin imprisoned. Told you many times Sylvanas will be #2, and people came up with weird stuff like Drust raid or Necrolord raid (which would be 4th Necrolord instance in this expac).

Every patch need it's hook. For SL their strongest cards are Sylvanas, Arthas and Jailer. In meantime Anduin grow to be potential endboss. I don't really expect him to be villain in the future (we likely will 'clean' him), so I think Blizzard will took opportunity like they did with Jaina and Anduin will be #3.

Can't predict exact story, but I think pattern will happen: we kill/beat Sylvanas (no matter, she's off from the story for now, Jailer won't trust her, we won't trust her) -> Jailer beat us using Anduin -> we escape with Primus and Arthas -> Arthas know how to help Anduin.

It does sound like they are going this way. I'm looking forward to see what they do with Primus and with Oribos itself

[Dracullus]

Btw, member all that silly discussions about when seasons starts after Ion told SL will launch 'Fall 2020'? It's March 21th, and Wandering Ancient just switched to Spring version.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

It really is weird how they rushed the Maw final attack tho. Still expecting something with dreadlords eventually

During the Blizzconline there was a interview that mention the Dreadlords would be making an appearance in Korthia.

[huth]

Yea, I’m not saying this in a bad way. They created light and void so they are kinda responsible for all this mess. The name fits them so well, someone invented it on this forum and it’s so funny. "Flesh is his gift. He is your true creator." Probably that line, because it’s the most disturbing.

That's the First Ones. The Eternal Ones are the covenant leaders, the Arbiter and the Jailer, themselves in some way created by the First Ones.

It really is weird how they rushed the Maw final attack tho. Still expecting something with dreadlords eventually

Who said anything about final? That campaign might be ongoing for more than one patch. It's also unlikely to be the place of the final fight since the Jailer's goal are clearly elsewhere, he's just in the Maw because people locked him up there.

[Kereberus]

Think we'll see 9.1 PTR this month?

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Think we'll see 9.1 PTR this month?

I would think so unless more fires start out.


Also weekends are usually dead for any Blizz activity.

[Dracullus]

Still no word about 9.1 vendor build. It was clear sign something is coming last few patches.

[Revamp Man]

Still no word about 9.1 vendor build. It was clear sign something is coming last few patches.

as far as i can find no /1 patch has had a vendor build

[Dracullus]

as far as i can find no /1 patch has had a vendor build

As I said, last few patches. For sure 8.3, 9.0, 9.0.5, for earlier I would have to check.

[Nyel]

Is TBC in beta right now???? No?? Oh yeah that’s right it’s not in Alpha either while 9.1 is a simple 4-7 week testing phase.

It’s ok though I’m surprised that TBC is only going to have a 6 week testing phase

Not yet, but I think it's the priority right now as we've seen, even if the beta for TBC went live accidentally. There's radio silence about 9.1 since the virtual Blizzcon.

And 9.1 with a new zone, new huge raid, new mega dungeon only a 4-7 week testing phase? Ok. 8.2 PTS cycle was 9 weeks from PTS launch to live, 8.3 was 10 weeks (granted, holidays in between). Let's say 8 weeks from PTS to live for 9.1 and we're heading towards a June launch for 9.1.

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Okay, let's do the math. The shortest expansion time was 21 months, the longest was 27 so that gives us an average of 24. Exactly two years. So that would put 10.0 at 2022 November. The shortest PTR phase for a content patch was about a month and a week. That is unlikely for 9.1 but if that were true and we would get it on the PTR tomorrow it would juuuust release at the end of April, so let's say May as the most optimistic estimate. That would leave us with 18 months between 9.1 and 10.0. As you said the last raid tier lasts about 10 months. If we assume that the raid is released the same month as the patch and not staggered to the next that leaves us with 8 months between 9.1 and the last patch. So 4 months each? It took them 4 months to release a system update patch they have to hotfix every day since, so I doubt they would be able to pull it off.

So yeah it seems likely that SL will end with 9.2.

And storywise...well we have been assaulting the base of the Jailer since 9.0 endgame,and 9.1 will see us deal with Kel'Thuzad and Sylvanas, so even if Denathrius somehow pullls a merely a setback there isn't much potential left in this premise.

We're not there yet, but with every week 9.1 is not on the PTS and with TBC looming and being their priority right now, it's becoming more of a possibility. I just don't see them delaying the next expansion just to fit more free content into Shadowlands. It makes no sense from a financial standpoint. The upcoming expansion is and will always be the main focus as it's the main driver of huge spikes in revenue. And as TBC Classic is some kind of expansion launch lite as well it seems to be clear where the priorities are.

And I agree, the Jailer is so incredibly boring and lame as a villain, we totally can wrap his story up in the patch after 9.1, we don't need some kind of in between patch. We'll most likely have an interlude to Nathrezim as they're most likely the next big villains after Shadowlands. Maybe even Nathrezim betray or help us defeat the Jailer, who knows. But the Jailer's story as of now has been incredibly underwhelming.

[Wangming]

That's the First Ones. The Eternal Ones are the covenant leaders, the Arbiter and the Jailer, themselves in some way created by the First Ones.

We are burning through cosmic entity ranks way too quickly IMHO. We never had our first real fight with Sargeras but we already know
1) He is affraid of the Void Lords
2) The whole VL reveal was done by the dreadlords on Zovaal's orders because he wants more death to boost his powers, so unknowingly the void lords are only pawns.
3) The Eternal Ones like Zovaal are stronger than the Titans
4) We also have First Ones who came before the First Ones and are even stronger and more mysterious.

And here we are the squishy mortals with pointy sticks while gods try to out-god each other.

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Think we'll see 9.1 PTR this month?

Well either on the 30th or no. That's my bet anyway. Tuesday seems like the go-to day for updates.

[Nyel]

Well either on the 30th or no. That's my bet anyway. Tuesday seems like the go-to day for updates.

Don't know how Easter Holidays are handled in the US and how important Easter is there, but that would make a PTS launch on March 30 pretty unlikely.

[Wangming]

We're not there yet, but with every week 9.1 is not on the PTS and with TBC looming and being their priority right now, it's becoming more of a possibility. I just don't see them delaying the next expansion just to fit more free content into Shadowlands. It makes no sense from a financial standpoint. The upcoming expansion is and will always be the main focus as it's the main driver of huge spikes in revenue. And as TBC Classic is some kind of expansion launch lite as well it seems to be clear where the priorities are.

Oh hi. Long time no see.
And totally agreee. No business would give more free patches instead of an expansion. It brings in money and has a bigger player pull. But as I said in another thread they might delay 9.1 a bit to be closer to the fall season. I mean it will include Endwalker and likely include End of Dragons. If 9.1 comes out in June or July it will already be old news when the competition releases expansions. But they might not have time to squeeze in 9.2 this year. If we go by 6 months, unless 9.1 comes out before the end of June, it will be the only raid patch in 2021.

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Don't know how Easter Holidays are handled in the US and how important Easter is there, but that would make a PTS launch on March 30 pretty unlikely.

Ah shit, you are right. Welp, April it is.

[huth]

We are burning through cosmic entity ranks way too quickly IMHO. We never had our first real fight with Sargeras but we already know
1) He is affraid of the Void Lords
2) The whole VL reveal was done by the dreadlords on Zovaal's orders because he wants more death to boost his powers, so unknowingly the void lords are only pawns.
3) The Eternal Ones like Zovaal are stronger than the Titans
4) We also have First Ones who came before the First Ones and are even stronger and more mysterious.

And here we are the squishy mortals with pointy sticks while gods try to out-god each other.

Well, no. 1) and 2) are correct. 3) and 4) are not. We have no proof that the Eternal Ones or First Ones are individually stronger than Titans, and for the Eternal Ones it actually looks quite a bit like they're considerably weaker. They govern(ed) different aspects of reality. That doesn't mean they have more raw power.

There's a reason the Nathrezim went for subterfuge rather than open conflict.

[Cosmic Janitor]

Don't know how Easter Holidays are handled in the US and how important Easter is there, but that would make a PTS launch on March 30 pretty unlikely.

Not really a thing afaik. Certainly not as much as in catholic or greek orthodox regions.

[Nyel]

IDK what way of info release I'd prefer.

Loudest consensus seems to be it's an empty patch or they're way behind schedule because we're being told nothing. But I'm not sure if I'd prefer to wait until there's a load of news and they dump it on us at once and put our our frothy self-made fire, or if they dripfed information which might lead to it feeling dragged out.

9.1 is certainly one of the most packed WoW content patches. A huge new raid, a new mega dungeon and a new zone make it a content patch in the realms of 7.2 and 8.2. So to say it's an empty patch is not true, it seems to be a big content patch.

They're absolutely behind their schedule and their radio silence isn't helping.