Soo...Is Shadowlands any good?

[Zyrinx]

It's a 7/10 for me.

I liked, generally, the MSQ

Travel is tough. Mob density is high and terrain is a problem, especially in Bastion.

Rares and treasures seem good, if you can get there. Random chest icons on the map with no clue how to get them doesn't feel that great. They seem important. But who knows.

Trying out the rental powers as you level is great

You really really really should get a covenant hearthstone to your sanctum a la Dalaran and Garrison

The max level systems and grinds aren't explained very well, like, at all. I had no idea I til I watched a video that Renown was via the Anima weekly. Are there other ways go gain renown? I have no idea.

I have no idea at all how this mission table mini game works, it's not explained at all. Heals in the back, I guess? Does left/right spacing matter? Who knows. I'll hope for an add-on to do it for me ingame.

In on the fence about torgast, I wanted to love it, but it does seem really really repetitive so far. Jury is out tho I haven't been above level 1.

Didn't do the dungeons yet. Probably should have. But I guess there are some large one time anima quests so maybe it's better I didn't. Dunno.

[Dracullus]

How are they different? You need to farm it into oblivion to stay relevant

No you not. You need only 1000 per week to keep your Renown catched up.

[Adam Jensen]

I think it's good so far. Torghast is pretty amazing.

Except for Layer 3 Synod. Synod can go fuck himself.

[DesoPL]

If people think Shadowlands is BfA 2.0 then their problem is not with BfA but with modern WoW, which is fine, because Shadowlands is a pretty significant departure from what made BfA, BfA.
No more infinite grinds, no more Titanforging, a more relaxed pace.

Tbh metacritic lost his credibility long ago, so i don't take serious opinions from fans. Allthough there is few rare cases i take, like it was with Warcraft 3 (D)eforged.

[Demithio]

I'm on full empathy.

And that's why there's "Classic."

Glad you're full of empathy. However, it seems classic has some 'gold hording' issues that wernt present in the original.

[bloodwulf]

Here is how i score the general features of the Expack currently available.
Leveling - Very short, but a lot of escort missions and talking head missions. 7/10
Grind - No endless grind, the important weekly things can be done in a night. 9/10
Class Balance - Build any type opinion on M0s and nonseasonal PVP is a mistake. No Score Yet
Environments - Hands down the best looking expansion to date, and the sound is great . 10/10
Covenants - Far less impactful than they were in early beta, their weekly events are boring but the visuals are cool. 5/10
Torghast - Best new side mode introduced to the game, and i really hope they expand on this. 10/10
The Maw - Boring and slow, but the Stygia being largely only used for Maw/Torghast upgrades is fine. For the majority of players the sockets wont make meaningful difference. 3/10
Story - I mean its wow, the story has kinda sucked for a while, but its better than another faction war. 6/10
Callings - Vast improvement over emissaries, and the fact that you can progress them in dungeons a lot of the time is very nice. 8/10
Conduits - Had potential to be problematic, but has largely been nerfed to just another passive system. The 10hr cd seems pointless but at least we can change them. 6/10
Dungeons - Personally feel there are more good dungeons than bad dungeons and the good ones (DOS, TOP, HOA) really stand out. 9/10
Alt Friendliness - Catch up mechanics from the start, short leveling experience, ability to skip hours of RP with Threads of Fate. 9/10

Largely i feel Shadowlands is greatly improved on BFA, I log on every day with something im excited to do. My guild is incredibly active and asides from the Maw i have yet to hear anyone whose opinion matters to me really complain. It also seems like the high end players really enjoy the game a lot better than they did at BFA start, and i enjoy watching their content greatly.

[oldgeezer]

It's a 7/10 for me.

I liked, generally, the MSQ

Travel is tough. Mob density is high and terrain is a problem, especially in Bastion.

Rares and treasures seem good, if you can get there. Random chest icons on the map with no clue how to get them doesn't feel that great. They seem important. But who knows.

A bunch of chests appeared on my Bastion map yesterday when I was doing whatever the equivalent of the Emissary is. On reaching them, often in itself not an easy task, they were locked, requiring some random item or objective to open. There were no breadcrumbs about how I might achieve this. That's just bad game design.

Likewise the WQ which leave you baffled about what you actually have to do, and when you find out from a third party site (how many players will be doing that?), you see that it's something with multiple stages and beyond tedious.

And the total, ungainly mess that is Covenants, soulbinds, conduits, renown, anima, stygia, the fragmented world, etc.
I haven't even tried Torghast yet. Maybe it's amazing.

This is not elegant, compelling design Blizzard. I am disappointed.

[Raisei]

Shadowlands might just be the best WoW expansion yet. It feels simultaniously more modern and keeps the classic way of playing the game intact. Many things people disliked were removed (like the infinite grind) the visuals are stunning, the story so far had some very emotional and epic scenes that hint at many deep lore threads we will learn more about in the future.
Class Balance seems to be really good, Covenants too. The choice you make is more about your personal taste then about pure performance. Unless you are a Mythic Raider the difference in pure numbers is small so that you can decide with Utility or Style in mind. I personally was torn between NF and Venthyr since both had good abilities and good style. Decided on Venthyr in the end because that is what fit my character better.

So yes, it is good. Despite all the doomsayers that wanted the game to die over a decade ago, WoW is in it's 16th year and still improving with new and fun content.

A bunch of chests appeared on my Bastion map yesterday when I was doing whatever the equivalent of the Emissary is. On reaching them, often in itself not an easy task, they were locked, requiring some random item or objective to open. There were no breadcrumbs about how I might achieve this. That's just bad game design.

Likewise the WQ which leave you baffled about what you actually have to do, and when you find out from a third party site (how many players will be doing that?), you see that it's something with multiple stages and beyond tedious.

That's called a puzzle or a riddle. Things do not always have to have the solution being obvious. Especially if they are completely optional. GW2 for example had whole areas that were "jumping puzzles", there was no explanation and no route through them told to you, you just went in and tried it. People really need to stop calling a game bad because it does not hand them everything on a silver plater at their convenience. Challenges, both mental and physical, are a good thing.

And the total, ungainly mess that is Covenants, soulbinds, conduits, renown, anima, stygia, the fragmented world, etc.
I haven't even tried Torghast yet. Maybe it's amazing.

This is not elegant, compelling design Blizzard. I am disappointed.

Nothing about these systems is a mess, they work completely fine and offer advanced options to customize your character. This game just isn't a hack and slash dungeon crawl that can be played with your eyes closed, you need to pay a minimum of attention. Compared to Legion and BFA there was already quite some stuff cut. If they had cut even more there would be nothing new and people would complain about that.

[schwank05]

It's a 7/10 for me.

I liked, generally, the MSQ

Travel is tough. Mob density is high and terrain is a problem, especially in Bastion.

Rares and treasures seem good, if you can get there. Random chest icons on the map with no clue how to get them doesn't feel that great. They seem important. But who knows.

Trying out the rental powers as you level is great

You really really really should get a covenant hearthstone to your sanctum a la Dalaran and Garrison

The max level systems and grinds aren't explained very well, like, at all. I had no idea I til I watched a video that Renown was via the Anima weekly. Are there other ways go gain renown? I have no idea.

I have no idea at all how this mission table mini game works, it's not explained at all. Heals in the back, I guess? Does left/right spacing matter? Who knows. I'll hope for an add-on to do it for me ingame.

In on the fence about torgast, I wanted to love it, but it does seem really really repetitive so far. Jury is out tho I haven't been above level 1.

Didn't do the dungeons yet. Probably should have. But I guess there are some large one time anima quests so maybe it's better I didn't. Dunno.

This is honestly my only complaint so far the Story was great, I loved that I could skip all side quests and only do the Main story Quests and dinged like 2 quests into Ravendreath. I loved Maldraxxus, the Covenant stuff is great and seems meaningful unlike Order halls or Garrisons. I like the dungeons so far many have little trash which is nice, I have enjoyed Torghast ive done Layer 3 and only ever really died to the traps as Frost DK. All in all its one of the best launches since CATA for me so we will see how it plays out as of now its a solid 8/10.

[oldgeezer]

That's called a puzzle or a riddle. [..] Challenges, both mental and physical, are a good thing.

It certainly is a puzzle, but it's not a good puzzle. It's just tedious, and time-filling. There's no clue, at all, to the solution in game. If you like that sort of thing, more power to you. Personally I prefer to just log off for the evening and find something more interesting to do.

And while I'm here, what was the rationale for removing the SL flight whistle? (other than 'increasing engagement').

[Shadowferal]

Shadowlands might just be the best WoW expansion yet.

So yes, it is good. Despite all the doomsayers that wanted the game to die over a decade ago, WoW is in it's 16th year and still improving with new and fun content.

"Bestest expansion ever"

..gawd...if you're not the one that says that about every expansion you sure fit in with those that do.

[Tesshin83]

You aren't going to get any real opinions until at least a month in. Talking heads were calling BFA the best expansion ever the first week in.

This is true to this as well.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

"Bestest expansion ever"

..gawd...if you're not the one that says that about every expansion you sure fit in with those that do.

His opinion isn't your to hurt you.

[Shadowferal]

This is true to this as well.

Aye.
It's still shiny and new...has the new car smell and everything.
After a while it'll show itself to be time-wasting fun, or a waste of time.

[bloodwulf]

It certainly is a puzzle, but it's not a good puzzle. It's just tedious, and time-filling. There's no clue, at all, to the solution in game. If you like that sort of thing, more power to you. Personally I prefer to just log off for the evening and find something more interesting to do.

And while I'm here, what was the rationale for removing the SL flight whistle? (other than 'increasing engagement').

Except there is a solution to the locked chest in Bastion in game. There is a steward in the central area of bastion standing next to a chest. He will give a quest to get a ripe purian. This quest will eventually teach you about the locked chests and how to open them (basically, find fruit, tribute fruit, collect reward). He will even give you daily clues of which steward to tribute for a gold key.


https://www.wowhead.com/quest=62730/fruit-of-the-gods

[gleepot]

This is honestly my only complaint so far the Story was great, I loved that I could skip all side quests and only do the Main story Quests and dinged like 2 quests into Ravendreath. I loved Maldraxxus, the Covenant stuff is great and seems meaningful unlike Order halls or Garrisons. I like the dungeons so far many have little trash which is nice, I have enjoyed Torghast ive done Layer 3 and only ever really died to the traps as Frost DK. All in all its one of the best launches since CATA for me so we will see how it plays out as of now its a solid 8/10.

You do get a covenant hearthstone at a certain level of renown.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

You do get a covenant hearthstone at a certain level of renown.

Aren't those only Hearthstone skins? There is a unlock for a portal to Oribos in your Covenant.

[gleepot]

It's a bit silly to judge an expansion of an MMO one or two weeks in, but I'll give it a shot and do so at what we have in front of us at this time. Naturally we need to keep in mind there will be a drip feed of new content throughout the expansion.

For me, I have found the story fresh and interesting, the characters compelling, and the zones distinct and wonderful. The leveling experience was paced nicely, and it didn't feel like a chore to hit the level cap and progress through the campaign. The covenants are all also unique and interesting, and I don't find the common complaint of covenant choice to be a problem -- in fact I like it.

The dungeons overall are solid, with enough new mechanics to keep things interesting. At this time, the pacing of them seems good as well, with no dread of having to run any particular one (yet). We will see how they hold up through months of m+ spamming.

Class design feels like it's in a good spot for the classes that I play (DH, Monk, DK, Paladin), and I'm having fun playing all specs of all of those classes.

The Maw sucks. I get it from a lore perspective why it is the way it is, but it's an absolute chore to play in and the feeling of having to complete the dailies there isn't great. We will see how this progresses over time.

Torghast is a lot of fun, and shows good promise. The way you craft legendaries is also great.

There is a lot of time-gated content currently, which is both good and bad. Good for those who would waste their entire life grinding if there were an endless AP grind again, bad for those who want more things to do that burn through the content quicker than others. I fall somewhere in the middle, and currently am only focusing on my main. With no raid or m+ yet, I've run out of things to do as I've done my weekly mythics, campaign and covenant progression, and now just do a few dailies. This will surely change come next week.

Overall I'm enjoying the expansion, and I really want to see where it heads. I'd give it an 4/5 (or and 8/10) so far.

[oldgeezer]

Except there is a solution to the locked chest in Bastion in game. There is a steward in the central area of bastion standing next to a chest. He will give a quest to get a ripe purian. This quest will eventually teach you about the locked chests and how to open them (basically, find fruit, tribute fruit, collect reward). He will even give you daily clues of which steward to tribute for a gold key.


https://www.wowhead.com/quest=62730/fruit-of-the-gods

That's great, but how are we supposed to discover that? Like I said, poor game design.

[Pandragon]

I'm enjoying it, I only have a few complains such as them removing crafted items being automailed to you if inventory is full, or Sub rogue not being able to enter stealth after combat if Shadow Dance is still active.