Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Nymrohd]

So far Dragonriding seems quite hampered by the underground cavern systems.

The issue is that Zaralek has a relatively low ceiling and has very minor elevation differences. Imagine if e.g. Glimerogg and its waterfalls were much higher than most of the zone and the cavern opened up more significantly.
It also really failed to take advantage of the 3D space; they could have added points of interest in stalactites; imagine if the Gaze of Neltharion and Drekazera were hanging from the ceiling instead of being at ground level. Vashj'ir a decade ago had a vastly more creative use of 3D space than Dragon Isles did so far.

[micwini]

The issue is that Zaralek has a relatively low ceiling and has very minor elevation differences. Imagine if e.g. Glimerogg and its waterfalls were much higher than most of the zone and the cavern opened up more significantly.
It also really failed to take advantage of the 3D space; they could have added points of interest in stalactites; imagine if the Gaze of Neltharion and Drekazera were hanging from the ceiling instead of being at ground level. Vashj'ir a decade ago had a vastly more creative use of 3D space than Dragon Isles did so far.

Agreed. There is some small pockets in the ceiling where you can land, but they are unused.

[GabrielKnight]

So don't do it? It's just story. You're not missing out on anything.

I kinda want those crests to be honest. I won't do it on my alts tho, that's for sure. Way too much time wasted on basically crappy fetch quests with zero challenge involved.

I mean I kinda feel like that about the whole Bronze Dragonflight thing with Nozdormu and Chromie.

Yeah, they're on par on sillyness. On a side note, I though the voice acting overall was awful, except maybe for Azuregos, the only guy who I actually knew who he was.

[Nymrohd]

Agreed. There is some small pockets in the ceiling where you can land, but they are unused.

I am increasingly convinced that the engine simply cannot handle multiple events on the same z coordinate. Because their level designers are quite good and I don't see why they would be so restrained with making use of verticality. Both this and interior areas outside instanced content are so scarcely used (and interior areas replicate the same area dozens of times in each xpac) that it must be an engine limitation.

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I mean I kinda feel like that about the whole Bronze Dragonflight thing with Nozdormu and Chromie.

With the Bronze flight quests, the quests themselves are reasonably serious. It's just Chromie and the voice acting that pulls you out of the fantasy instantly. And from the few things available in 10.1.5 the VA has gone camp to the wall only it doesn't seem to work for her nearly as well as for other characters perhaps because there is no threat to it; it just sounds childlike.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Crazy how the term "Warcraft" is basically an ironic name, more so showcasing just how bad War is and whatnot.

Is that a good thing for the franchise?

[Sondrelk]

I am increasingly convinced that the engine simply cannot handle multiple events on the same z coordinate. Because their level designers are quite good and I don't see why they would be so restrained with making use of verticality. Both this and interior areas outside instanced content are so scarcely used (and interior areas replicate the same area dozens of times in each xpac) that it must be an engine limitation.

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With the Bronze flight quests, the quests themselves are reasonably serious. It's just Chromie and the voice acting that pulls you out of the fantasy instantly. And from the few things available in 10.1.5 the VA has gone camp to the wall only it doesn't seem to work for her nearly as well as for other characters perhaps because there is no threat to it; it just sounds childlike.

I imagine much of this would be less of an issue if Chromie dragon form sounded more imposing. Having a full-on male dragon voice might be a bit weird, but at least have it be deeper like what is the case for all the other dragons.

[Nymrohd]

I imagine much of this would be less of an issue if Chromie dragon form sounded more imposing. Having a full-on male dragon voice might be a bit weird, but at least have it be deeper like what is the case for all the other dragons.

Or they could have kept Chromie for light hearted content where she works best and actually used Anachronos and Soridormi for the more serious stuff.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Or they could have kept Chromie for light hearted content where she works best and actually used Anachronos and Soridormi for the more serious stuff.

This. Chromie IMO just doesn't make me feel good as the future of the Bronze Dragonflight. No offense to the voice actress of Chromie, she's playing a role.

You want back that 30 sec of your life you spent on that tea drinking moment?

He needs more WAR!!!!!!!!!!! AND RAWR moments. /sarcasm

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Where Were You When Nozdormurozond Tore?

It was in the year(s) 41 ADP and 21,357 BDP that the timeline split and merged again; the catalyst for this event was the retroactive chronomorphosis of the Bronze Aspect Nozdormu into his counterpart, Murozond. This produced the ongoing catastrophe—at the time unknown to the Dragon Isles expeditionaries on account of the atypical chronological stability there—currently afflicting the primary continents of the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. Due to the retroactive nature of the transformation and its implicit refutation of the absolute timeline, wave function collapse was precluded and the distinction between the timelines fractured in their entirety. For a number of days, incomprehensible madness reigned supreme: every possible outcome of every event occurred in simultaneity, even those which were mutually-contradictory. The dead lived again, as they never died, and expressed horror at the prospect that they had been originally slated to die: for example, Un-Warchief Garrosh Hellscream believed himself to have never fallen, yet also recounted with perfect clarity the initial detonation of his oversoul and the gradual constitution of its successor through the convergence of other iterations.

The following testimonies have shed some (L)ight on these happenings:

High Exarch Yrel, Voice of the Naaru:

"I do not remember where I was, as I do not think I was in one place when it happened. I remember only a sense of terrible fright among all my brothers and sisters, and the state of confusion that followed the reunification of every incarnation of Draenor. What occurred then was beyond description, as though the Void had stretched beyond itself for one, terrifying moment, and swallowed all of time into a state of incomparable singularity. It was only after a couple of days of madness beyond description that the Light reasserted itself, and we found ourselves in concrete reality once again. In the aftermath, the layout of our world changed dramatically: I remember wandering, lost and confused, for ages until I finally found my temple again. It become one with another structure. Though it was horrible for all of us—well, the morbidly-curious were excited—to behold what lay in Tanaan Jungle, it was perhaps worse for us who coexisted with other iterations of ourselves too distinct for reunification: both incarnations of Almonen enjoyed talking to one another, but I will never forget the look on Exarch Akama's face, as much as I wish to forget the face of the other Akama.

Still, I believe this figured into the plan of the Light. I remember the Light Mother undertook to preserve us long before now, and told us that we were on the cusp of accomplishing something glorious. I think our scholars in theocosmology know exactly what happened, and why, yet I fear they somewhat exceed my understanding. The Naaru know even more precisely what happened than they do."

Magister Umbric, Research Director of the Project at Telogrus Rift:

"Hrm? What are you talking about? Oh, yes; I was where I always was. The convergence did not bother me very much, given that I was already quite prepared for it. Such is the nature of our inquiry, after all. This is the precise nature of the Void. Some nonsense about parachronology. It's really not my area of expertise. I would suggest you go ask some of the Locus Researchers. They would know far better than I do the precise workings of what happened. Did seem to bother poor Alleria quite profoundly, however. She was deeply perturbed, and absconded in short order to collect herself. I think there was also a more profound impact on those of us outside of Telogrus, as well. I figure that the blending of selves was not already prepared by immersion in the Void. We suffered a number of casualties, but they were generally limited to the exceptionally weak-willed. I warned Alleria quite plainly not to bother with suffusing all those rangers, but she refused to listen."

Murozond, Aspect of Parachronology:

"Where was I? What kind of idiotic inquiry is that? I was wallowing in the liminal reaches of quasi-existence, in a state of tormented, paratemporal envy; all my sufferings undoubtedly occurring in simultaneity to my counterpart inappreciatively indulging in his gift of concrete, material existence, awaiting the inevitable revelation of his true nature, and that of the oncoming Hour of Twilight. I expect nothing more than condemnation from you lot, but understand that my undertaking was one any of you would pursue under my circumstances. Do you not know the suffering of your countless other selves that never were? Do you feel no desire to escape the boundaries of binary modes of existence? Besides, it is only on account of my intervention that my detested counterpart shall be preserved. On account of my preemptive manifestation, the Timeless One has been safely returned to his placid isle of ignorance; an isle on which he shall wait for whatever—undoubtedly anticlimactic—demise now awaits him. I hold out hope that he falls as Galakrond did."

[huth]

I am increasingly convinced that the engine simply cannot handle multiple events on the same z coordinate. Because their level designers are quite good and I don't see why they would be so restrained with making use of verticality. Both this and interior areas outside instanced content are so scarcely used (and interior areas replicate the same area dozens of times in each xpac) that it must be an engine limitation.

I find it more likely that they're simply worried people won't find stuff there.

Also, it's not actually a very sensible place to put anything - an unsupported outcrop in a cave ceiling isn't exactly the most stable place.

[Sondrelk]

I find it more likely that they're simply worried people won't find stuff there.

Also, it's not actually a very sensible place to put anything - an unsupported outcrop in a cave ceiling isn't exactly the most stable place.

It would look cool though.

Besides, verticality doesnt strictly need to mean several layers of stuff on top of eachother. Aberrus hanging from the ceiling over a pit of lava. Or glimmerogg being higher up in a cliffside. It's very easy to create the illusion of content on the Z-axis when you don't necessarily need to have stuff absolutely everywhere. It's perfectly feasible to have three layers, but only use one.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I'm not even sure what the hate on Zaralek caverns is. I think it could do better but I don't exactly see what exactly people want in the world content.(I know what I want but thats beside the point). I just think in terms of replayability its low(Rare hunting is fine for those that like it and I don't want it gone)but it isn't as satisfying. Seeing that thread of implying Zaralek was made by the same devs that made "SL unbearable"

[Nymrohd]

I'm not even sure what the hate on Zaralek caverns is. I think it could do better but I don't exactly see what exactly people want in the world content.(I know what I want but thats beside the point). I just think in terms of replayability its low(Rare hunting is fine for those that like it and I don't want it gone)but it isn't as satisfying. Seeing that thread of implying Zaralek was made by the same devs that made "SL unbearable"

I don't see that much hatred for it (even in that thread I don't think anyone was as extreme as the OP). Just malign indifference. I liked the main questline a fair bit but I don't see myself revisiting this area. I did like the sniffsomething minigame. I'd say it's mostly average but doesn't meet the promise of an underground zone. Inferior visually to Deepholm and what can be glimpsed of Azjol'Nerub.

[GabrielKnight]

I did like the sniffsomething minigame.

If you're referring to the treasure hunt with maps, yes, I enjoy it too, it's certainly something different and can be done rather quickly. Although I wish the rooms were more related to actual lore of the game, kinda like the Vaults. Instead is just random and mostly silly stuff that makes no sense, like the one with the spider having a tea party.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

Man I want to like the blue dragon quest but after just doing the thereamore part it just seems so stupid. Like abunch of Dalaran mages are trying to make mana bombs 8 or so years later because they are scared like really?

The quest should have been a flash back to Mop right after thereamore's destruction, the writers trying to ham fist every thing into happening in the scope of the currant expan harms the games writing so much with stuff like this and Gilenas.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

I don't see that much hatred for it (even in that thread I don't think anyone was as extreme as the OP). J

Well it was my thread and while title might seem a little extreme i explained in posts why that is without big hatred too, the new zone really brought me the feeling of SL and it's annoyances, that don't end up being fun in the end, changes to the zone that made it even less fun for people to participate in, the same thing was happening in SL, excluding the last fates patch.

And it seems like i wasn't the only one that shares that feeling, but i won't gatekeep people from having fun with it and i wish them all the fun they can find in the new zone.

[Nymrohd]

Well it was my thread and while title might seem a little extreme i explained in posts why that is, the new zone really brought me the feeling of SL and it's annoyances, that don't end up being fun in the end, changes to the zone that made it even less fun for people to participate in, the same thing was happening in SL, excluding the last fates patch.

And anyway, if you hate it, it's your prerogative. I am not here to police how people feel about the game. We have plenty of people for that.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

And anyway, if you hate it, it's your prerogative. I am not here to police how people feel about the game. We have plenty of people for that.

That's true too.

Hate is also not the right word, it's the video game and pixels in the end. It's just not enjoyable as much as i wish it was, before it was released.

Different people, different opinions and feelings.

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Man I want to like the blue dragon quest but after just doing the thereamore part it just seems so stupid. Like abunch of Dalaran mages are trying to make mana bombs 8 or so years later because they are scared like really?

For me the quest was fun because of the overall design and a lot of fanservice of visiting some old places and voice acting, i don't expect perfection and just choose to laid back and have fun with the story told there.

Mentioning design again, it was just fresh to seeing that type of mini campaign and choosing where you want to go next and not the game choosing for you all the way till the end.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

For me the quest was fun because of the overall design and a lot of fanservice of visiting some old places and voice acting, i don't expect perfection and just choose to laid back and have fun with the story told there.

Mentioning design again, it was just fresh to seeing that type of mini campaign and choosing where you want to go next and not the game choosing for you all the way till the end.

After doing some of the other ones I’d agree that it’s nice to visit old places and old dragons a decent bit of fan serivce.

But what blizzard is desperately hurting for at the moment is some one to just go “does this make sense?”, the writing room has just been all over the place and it feels like nobody is actually thinking things through before they put them in game.

With the thereamore quest jsut being one example and then things like the Malf Ysera swap, Ebon horn acting like both wrath/Seb are in the wrong when it was just Seb saying the other was expendedible, the night elfs possibly leaving there 10k year old home for the dragon isle or them just leaving areas hanging for years on end like with Gilneas.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

After doing some of the other ones I’d agree that it’s nice to visit old places and old dragons a decent bit of fan serivce.

But what blizzard is desperately hurting for at the moment is some one to just go “does this make sense?”, the writing room has just been all over the place and it feels like nobody is actually thinking things through before they put them in game.

With the thereamore quest jsut being one example and then things like the Malf Ysera swap, Ebon horn acting like both wrath/Seb are in the wrong when it was just Seb saying the other was expendedible, the night elfs possibly leaving there 10k year old home for the dragon isle or them just leaving areas hanging for years on end like with Gilneas.

I agree that it would make more sense if the quest with theramore happened after mop or in Legion at least or like you said in a flashback, it's the problem with the design of the game that is pretty much that - New expansion - New isle - New expansion - New isle, a lot of the things that happened or could happen in the old world that make sense after certain events are forgotten and only brought back when they see it fit for current expansion.

I just choose to have fun with the story instead of not having fun, but i know the storytelling in this game and how we always go somewhere else and in most cases don't even mention older expansions, "hurts" it in the long run if it makes sense.

All these kingdoms and stuff we visited in the past and implication of things enemies or we did, are just dead in most cases, until they bring it for a quest.