The War Within 11.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Sondrelk]

What they said was about unlocking transmog not using it so it was simply people reading too much into it. I've no problem with them opening transmog options up given the mess of cosmetics blurring the class/armour identity they've used as a reason in the past for not doing it.

That is obviously the case, but it still shows how much overwhelming support there was for the idea.

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I have the same fear.

Not to hate on TWW, but a lot of the features they announced were just QoL changes that people have been asking for for years. I still feel a bit weird about the decision to market account-wide progression as an expansion "feature" when it should have been a footnote in a patch in BfA. Same goes for the transmog acquisition changes.

Account wide rep and whatnot at least makes sense holding back since it requires rethinking how reputation works in general.
All armor being eligible for Transmog is just an aesthetic choice for more customization options, like how they finally added the ability to Transmog one handed weapons into fist weapons to make them more accessible.

[Rathwell]

War Within
Season of Discovery
Cataclysm Classic

Oh right, forgot SoD was its own thing

These 3 "mini-expansions" look like a speedrun of current story that was made without Chris Metzen, because they want to finish all this cosmic stuff about light/void/titans as fast as possible. And after that there will be some kind of reboot of WoW under Chris Metzen vision. Maybe even a WoW2 in some form.

That'd certainly be the most optimistic interpretation of events! But Metzen's getting up there, and he's already retired once. I'd wager he's come back to see his baby through to the end and then leave again

[Sondrelk]

Or as an 'in emergency break glass' moment as it is widely requested.

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You would think this is something they could add right now if they really wanted to.

The "break glass in an emergency" option is my fear, yeah. Because this isn't something that will noticeable alter how you might play the game, or require rethinking reputations so you don't need to run ten alts to be optimal in gearing. It's just giving players nearly four times the options in hel a specific character should look. Probably twice that if they removed class restrictions as well.

[Swnem]

Aug does like 30-40k. Having a buff go on an Aug is legitimately trolling

Troll the buff all you want. But if survivability is the bottleneck, which it is, and support specs stack, they will be the right answer.

[zirr]

There is that. But now there is also the on obvious outcome of players who are dedicated to a single character who sees the cool Transmog they got, but who cannot use it because the correct class doesn't agree with them.

I am almost certain that this has set us on the path of eventually getting it. My only fear is that Blizzard knows that, but is holding it back for future patches or expansions arbitrarily.

They did seem pretty clear tho that this isn't planned at all

[Nymrohd]

They probably could.

I imagine we'll see the transmog changes applied in one of the "epilogue" patches following 10.2 since the implementation is easier (and they need to give people something to do while waiting for 11.0), but because they turned account-wide progression into a big flashy new "Warbands" feature, that'll probably arrive in the 11.0 pre-patch at the earliest.

Given you can earn mogs for all classes with your main now, the only need for account wide reputations is profession recipes.

[Jaggler]

No 10.3. Probably fated, although they don't confirm it in the interview even when asked.
Hopefully DF is the last expansion with a fated system, because it is beyond lazy. I hope for the next expansions the fated season is replaced by an earlier release.

Well, it's not like "Fated season or earlier release". The choice is "fated season" or "nothing at all". it's not like there's a whole lot of dev time going into it.

[Jodmos]

The "break glass in an emergency" option is my fear, yeah. Because this isn't something that will noticeable alter how you might play the game, or require rethinking reputations so you don't need to run ten alts to be optimal in gearing. It's just giving players nearly four times the options in hel a specific character should look. Probably twice that if they removed class restrictions as well.

I barely use transmog as I'm too cheap to spend the gold (outside of Trial of Style). If they'd implemented the SWTOR style of transmogging a slot rather than an item I'd probably have used it more. A constant gold cost every time you upgrade is'nt for me.

[micwini]

At this point I think most widely requested features are locked behind 'figuring out how' and 'allocating time to do it' moreso than 'we don't want to' from Blizzardo.

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Well, it's not like "Fated season or earlier release". The choice is "fated season" or "nothing at all". it's not like there's a whole lot of dev time going into it.

Correct, but they mentioned they are going to release the expansions 'faster than we are used to'.

[Sondrelk]

They did seem pretty clear tho that this isn't planned at all

They say that, but it's an obvious next step for Transmog in general, and I doubt Blizzard is blind to the reception it gets.

[Wangming]

I have the same fear.

Not to hate on TWW, but a lot of the features they announced were just QoL changes that people have been asking for for years. I still feel a bit weird about the decision to market account-wide progression as an expansion "feature" when it should have been a footnote in a patch in BfA. Same goes for the transmog acquisition changes.

While I agree, at least we are getting them. Sure, the bar was low but I'm not going to begrudge them for jumping over it.

[Stonecloak]

I think they were talking about Warcraft lasting longer, did they specify World of Warcraft? Because I'm sure the legacy of the franchise will continue. If it's popular I'm sure they'll do an animated TV show like a lot of franchises do these days. Maybe we'll get a WC4 at some point in the future, or something that is in essence as you say WoW 2

But I feel like they were careful to stress that because "doom & gloom" (of the sort of supplying) might not be good for their longevity, and if people thought that the game was genuinely ending at the end of the third expansion they'd probably have fewer people stick around. Seemed sort of a pre-emptive move to calm people like me, but I'm still of the belief that while they won't shut off the servers after the third expansion (because why would they, if it's even a little profitable still?) it may be the most definite end of the MMORPG it'll ever get. Maybe expansions will be smaller, less story relevant, perhaps it'll go into maintenance mode or they'll do something different, it doesn't matter, I'm sure the game will still be kept alive as long as it makes enough to carry the maintenance costs

But it still feels like an end of World of Warcraft as the MMORPG we know, you know? And it just makes me think, I'll probably never playthrough all this stuff as an Ogre or tinker, we ran out of time. We have these four years left, and after that... Who knows what they'll do, or if WoW will continue as it is today

From Metzen's words, when he's talking about the Saga. "A story that will vector us into the next 20 years". So he's talking about Wow. It is a grand finale of sorts, but it's no way the end of Wow. The IP of warcraft is one of the strongest and well known in gaming, and now that Microsoft owns them. I've got to believe things will change because of that massive financial backing. The bobby Kotick era is coming to an end, and Wow has a much brighter future. Does that mean people will be entertained by it endlessly with no complaints? No, but you can already see big philosophy changes over time in the Qol features. I think they are finally understanding that people will simply just quit if they can't balance real life around it. There was an emphasis on coming back to the game during the panel, because they know they lost a lot because of things like this.

I think Wow will look much different moving forward, and especially after this Saga ends, but it will stay. I hope you get the things you were looking for in it, but who knows? I'm just taking it for what it is without much expectation. I love playing wow during releases and dabbling here and there. It will never keep my attention forever, but when I do play I have a really good time.

[zirr]

They say that, but it's an obvious next step for Transmog in general, and I doubt Blizzard is blind to the reception it gets.

Thats the problem tho, alot of people (sadly) dont want it.

[Osmeric]

I'm not making a final determination at this point (waiting for the afternoon Deep Dive, at least), but three things are looking like I won't be coming back.

First, they apparently aren't getting rid of button bloat. If anything, they're layering more on top.

Second, the focus on M+, which I despise, is still there.

And third, I don't see a change from a game that revolves around the top slice of players. Even if there is consolation content for lesser players, the focus on those top players renders it unappetizing. It's content that says "congratulations, but remember you still suck".

There doesn't appear to have been any change in design philosophy, at least one they're willing to publicly commit to. Absent that commitment, there's no reason to think they won't walk things back that they were forced into. This is not a design team that's willing to put aside their own egos.

[blaatschaap]

Personally not that invested in transmog. I say let everybody unlock and wear everything without restrictions. I don't really look at what others are wearing anyway unless it looks especially cool, in which case it is a plus to have more ways to look cool. If some cloth healer wants to look like a hunter, I couldn't care less as long as they keep me alive

[Sondrelk]

Thats the problem tho, alot of people (sadly) dont want it.

That's true for a lot of stuff. This one I believe will happen because it's easy for Blizzard, doesn't impact gameplay, and is easy to show off to big applause.

[doledippers]

back to this thread after a bit, what do you guys think? im personally pumped for the new way of storytelling, provided they do a good job of course. I think the systems for TWW look amazing also

[GhostFish]

They did seem pretty clear tho that this isn't planned at all

It really shouldn't be planned. Transmog restrictions keep the world from looking completely insane and ridiculous. Occasional acceptions to the restrictions are fine.

Imagine a warrior tanking with a wand and a book, while wearing a pointy hat and Kirin Tor robes. Imagine getting ganked by a Horde rogue that's wearing the full plate, sword, and shield of a Stormwind Guard.

It's just crazy looking nonsense to outside observers, and the game always needs new players.

[Sondrelk]

I'm not making a final determination at this point (waiting for the afternoon Deep Dive, at least), but three things are looking like I won't be coming back.

First, they apparently aren't getting rid of button bloat. If anything, they're layering more on top.

Second, the focus on M+, which I despise, is still there.

And third, I don't see a change from a game that revolves around the top slice of players. Even if there is consolation content for lesser players, the focus on those top players renders it unappetizing. It's content that says "congratulations, but remember you still suck".

There doesn't appear to have been any change in design philosophy, at least one they're willing to publicly commit to. Absent that commitment, there's no reason to think they won't walk things back that they were forced into. This is not a design team that's willing to put aside their own egos.

Button bloat feels like something that could change when the actual expansion starts public testing. DF showed that they are not too hesitant to change specs drastically during development, so removing extraneous buttons or baking stuff together doesn't seem far fetched.

Some classes will almost certainly be hopeless in that regard, but I don't think this is an issue that is more evident now than before.

[Jodmos]

It really shouldn't be planned. Transmog restrictions keep the world from looking completely insane and ridiculous. Occasional acceptions to the restrictions are fine.

Imagine a warrior tanking with a wand and a book, while wearing a pointy hat and Kirin Tor robes. Imagine getting ganked by a Horde rogue that's wearing the full plate, sword, and shield of a Stormwind Guard.

It's just crazy looking nonsense to outside observers, and the game always needs new players.

I think there are issues with weapon animations for abilities that will prevent them allowing warriors to tank with wands.