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

[Murlocos]

Is it just me or are people really spoiled with PTR and news. Like it was pretty standard to not have PTRs going on for months.

I suppose they are using this small patch to test how everything goes without PTR testing, something other games do regularly.

Of course we're spoiled relative to the past, but Blizzard set these expectations themselves starting with Dragonflight stating they wanted a very small gap between patch releases and the next PTR launching. I'm pretty wary about an untested patch with heavily teased content after we just had one where the encrypted content was riddled with bugs and the teased story fell very flat.

I don't expect it to be extremely analogous to SoD, but I think a large part of why the discovery works there is because it's threaded into the much slower and well thought out vanilla leveling. Secrets of Azeroth was a neat little thing, but ultimately just a loop of quickly flying/teleporting between points. Totally fine as part of the larger 10.1.5, but I hope 10.2.6 has some meat to it and isn't just twiddling thumbs before the secrets Discord finds which point to fly to next. Alas, nothing to do but wait and see next month.

[Dracullus]

Of course we're spoiled relative to the past, but Blizzard set these expectations themselves starting with Dragonflight stating they wanted a very small gap between patch releases and the next PTR launching.

Dude, PTR was traditionally sign (and necessary step) that patch is coming in next 8-10 weeks, that's why it was crucial for smooth development to put it right after previous patch launch. PTR release date on it's own is not something that was ever "promised" xD. You were promised patch every 8 weeks, not fresh spoilers from unreleased patch every week.

It's like saying in early 1900s "he promised to visit me every day, but I heard he didn't even ready his horse this evening" while dude bought a car and want to test it - if successfully, we will see, I'm sceptical myself.

[Murlocos]

Dude, PTR was traditionally sign (and necessary step) that patch is coming in next 8-10 weeks, that's why it was crucial for smooth development to put it right after previous patch launch. PTR release date on it's own is not something that was ever "promised" xD. You were promised patch every 8 weeks, not fresh spoilers from unreleased patch every week.

It's like saying in early 1900s "he promised to visit me every day, but I heard he didn't even ready his horse this evening" while dude bought a car and want to test it - if successfully, we will see, I'm sceptical myself.

Not sure where you're getting "promised" from when I never used that word. I'm referencing what Holly said when they announced the 2023 roadmap:

Our goal for Dragonflight is that there should always be something right around the corner, with a new update hitting our test realms shortly after the last one is live and in your hands.

They've lived up to that goal thus far, so I'm going to react when they choose to step away from a PTR altogether right after we got a patch that came in very hot, particularly with content that was untested on the PTR.

[Lady Atia]

Oh yeah, I definitely agree. I think the whole secrecy aspect of the patch is a huge mistake. They're approaching it from their own POV, which is: "tee-hee, we have something amazing planned and we're so excited for everyone to see it for the first time," rather than the players' POV, which is: "fuck this is so boring, we've gone an eternity without news and current content is already old... I'm losing interest to play."

Yeah. Also I'm kinda torn - I'm actually in the camp "they shouldn't do any raid testing at all" because I actually enjoy finding out encounters with my friends and guild together in the first week, and the last 3 Sepulcher Bosses were a blast (even though I would prefer a global launch for that). So, in principle I also like the idea of not testing events or story stuff on the PTR, but they could atleast give us the barebones PTR with new models, mounts and transmog - the stuff I'm actually interested in during datamining. Encrypt everything else, but gives us atleast something to look forward to. I also fear that the patch now has nothing new outside of the event, which just .... makes it kinda dissapointing after the last minor patch which was already .... well .... content for a day lol.

[johnny download]

10.2.5 dropped only 3 weeks ago

TOO LATE, IT'S JOEVER

[doledippers]

But how much content did it have? Aside from Archives, I'm done with it already.

its not really content per say, but dragonriding in the old world and follower dungeons are really great additions, so thats prob why the patch feels light

[Woggmer]

Well... if they're gonna hold off on 10.2.6 until march, and they're gonna delay the Cata Classic Beta for Spring.

Then I hope we get some more info about TWW to fill the empty gap. Because we're not gonna have anything for February.

[Auxis]

Well, this already shows that it will dissappoint.

Always set your expectations at the bare minimum. That way you'll always have low levels of disappointment if things go sideways.

And if it turns out better than you expected, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

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Well... if they're gonna hold off on 10.2.6 until march, and they're gonna delay the Cata Classic Beta for Spring.

Then I hope we get some more info about TWW to fill the empty gap. Because we're not gonna have anything for February.

We've got an article about Hero specs for 4 classes coming up later this week. Edit: in fact it's on the 7th, so... today? I'm in Australia (where its 00:27 on the 8th) so I never really pay attention to dates for these NA things. When they pop up, they pop up lol

[Nymrohd]

We've got an article about Hero specs for 4 classes coming up later this week .

Where was that confirmed? Not doubting you, just asking.

[Murlocos]

Where was that confirmed? Not doubting you, just asking.

It's from This Week in WoW on Monday. Should be in about an hour and a half from now.

[doledippers]

Where was that confirmed? Not doubting you, just asking.

on this week in wow

[Auxis]

Where was that confirmed? Not doubting you, just asking.

https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com...ebruary-5-2024

Scroll down to Feb. 7th.

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It's from This Week in WoW on Monday. Should be in about an hour and a half from now.

Excellent! Something to read before work when I wake up.

[Raetary]

Maybe the "player housing" will take the form of customiseable ship-bases?

Would bypass the question of "where" and allow them to lay for anchor in any port without making it weird to move them around.

Keep in mind ships can take many shapes, here in the Netherlands actual house-boats are not uncommon if you want something more "home"-y.

They are not gonna randomly drop player housing in a secret mini patch.

It's probably just some slightly more involved world event, set in the old world.

[doledippers]

black arrow for dark ranger hunter, love that. maybe make it summon a skele on kill like in warcraft3

[micwini]

It's just going to be another shitexcuse of a patch with a 10 minute event that occurs only on the top of each hour. Just like all the previous small "patches" before this.

[Kiivar86]

Figures the Mage is Frostfire one, as an Arcane main I was getting hopeful.

Looking over Frostfire I'm underwhelmed but I don't focus much on those specs so maybe I'm missing something.

[Raetary]

Unless they are redesigning PI, i don't see why anyone would want to pick Oracle.

The tree has some nice, nifty talents, but the cost of sacrificing our mini-heroism for a measly 10% extra damage for just a few seconds is just way too high.
Even with the prospect of spreading it to multiple people.

It also sounds like the effect will be chosen at random?
Begging RNGesus every minute to grant me Urgency or the right damage type does not sound particularly fun.

[doledippers]

but the cost of sacrificing our mini-heroism for a measly 10% extra damage for just a few seconds is just way too high.

i know its easy to but try not to dwell on the numbers with these early previews. Same went for the talent trees back in DF before launch. The numbers can easily be changed and tuned in either direction. The thing im looking for in these is the design philosophy and how cool / fun it will be, since that is the least likely to change. Numbers can and will change before launch

[Makabreska]

I can see with these new hero talents an option for healers to spec into a support, instead of having a fully devoted spec. Aug Evoker rework incoming?

[Nymrohd]

Control of the Dream is an amazing talent. I'd want it for every healer.
Also I was right that Dark Ranger would be BM/MM. Undead looking beasts are more thematic than melee Dark Rangers (especially if they don't finally add DW to Surv)

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Unless they are redesigning PI, i don't see why anyone would want to pick Oracle.

The tree has some nice, nifty talents, but the cost of sacrificing our mini-heroism for a measly 10% extra damage for just a few seconds is just way too high.
Even with the prospect of spreading it to multiple people.

It also sounds like the effect will be chosen at random?
Begging RNGesus every minute to grant me Urgency or the right damage type does not sound particularly fun.

Only way I could see Oracle be solid is if it was NOT RNG. Premonition after all says "Divine". Maybe it will have some priority system?