Comments on: Are our expectations too high for Cataclysm? http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/ Feral Druids in World of Warcraft Fri, 25 May 2012 07:53:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rage http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-29021 Rage Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:04:54 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-29021 This last expansion has been awesome the game has matured extremely well IMHO and I think the next expansion will yet improve on this one becoming more dynamic and player friendly. Best thing they did was center the game around daily heroics and improve the badge system. Leveling the field between classes was a great leap as well. Each class can do similar damage and all the tanks are viable. Healing needs to be worked a bit IMO raiding relies on Paladin heals way too much for my taste. My biggest gripe with the game at the moment has nothing to do with content but LAG! My server Sargeras is almost unplayable on Tuesday night. Average latency of our raiders is 500-800 and spikes to 1200. Our raids have become way to stressful due to this lag. New content is great but I much rather enjoy the current content without all the server issues. So while they are coming up with a bunch of great additions to the game I hope they are focused on the quality of the servers and the games playability. Also related to servers why can’t they do server maintenance at off peak hours? Start at 2am and be back up by 7am. I’m probably going to be disappointed because I haven’t heard of any plans to address server problems with the next expansion. I would like to offer a suggestion for an area of improvement and that is in leveling. For me grinding or quest based leveling is the anti-fun. I can’t stand it. I understand the purpose is to immerse you in the lore and teach you the mechanics of your class but, most are familiar with the lore or don’t care about it (I’m more the later) and other’s quickly adapt to their new characters abilities and don’t need to spend weeks leveling going thru the same monotonous routine. We play online for a multi player experience if you want to play you could find much better solo experience games. I would love to see some type of skill based leveling system using the random dungeon system. Similar to tutorials in most 1st person shooters you run thru a course and at the end it grades you awarding points for your proficiency. I know the dungeon system is in place but what I’m calling for is an alternative leveling system that rewards player’s performance instead of how well you can walk from point A to point B and then back to A. Develop raiders not lab rats! So while you can do dungeons now it’s more of a supplement to questing not an alternative. It should reward players with additional experience for both their group and individual performance (I will elaborate in a different post). This is a capitalist idea the better the player the faster you level. But, let’s thru in a twist of socialism and encourage people to educate/help each other by making group rewards much greater and worth wild. For myself and I think many other people this would be far more enjoyable leveling system then running all over the place mindlessly talking to npc’s. This would be far more fun and benefit everyone as a whole. Imagine fresh 80’s that know how to use all there cooldowns, move out of ground effects, hold aggro, don’t pull aggro, conserve mana by using appropriate spells. Right now you have some that do the above and others that just mindlessly ran from quest giver to quest giver. This last expansion has been awesome the game has matured extremely well IMHO and I think the next expansion will yet improve on this one becoming more dynamic and player friendly. Best thing they did was center the game around daily heroics and improve the badge system. Leveling the field between classes was a great leap as well. Each class can do similar damage and all the tanks are viable. Healing needs to be worked a bit IMO raiding relies on Paladin heals way too much for my taste.
My biggest gripe with the game at the moment has nothing to do with content but LAG! My server Sargeras is almost unplayable on Tuesday night. Average latency of our raiders is 500-800 and spikes to 1200. Our raids have become way to stressful due to this lag. New content is great but I much rather enjoy the current content without all the server issues. So while they are coming up with a bunch of great additions to the game I hope they are focused on the quality of the servers and the games playability. Also related to servers why can’t they do server maintenance at off peak hours? Start at 2am and be back up by 7am. I’m probably going to be disappointed because I haven’t heard of any plans to address server problems with the next expansion.
I would like to offer a suggestion for an area of improvement and that is in leveling. For me grinding or quest based leveling is the anti-fun. I can’t stand it. I understand the purpose is to immerse you in the lore and teach you the mechanics of your class but, most are familiar with the lore or don’t care about it (I’m more the later) and other’s quickly adapt to their new characters abilities and don’t need to spend weeks leveling going thru the same monotonous routine. We play online for a multi player experience if you want to play you could find much better solo experience games.
I would love to see some type of skill based leveling system using the random dungeon system. Similar to tutorials in most 1st person shooters you run thru a course and at the end it grades you awarding points for your proficiency. I know the dungeon system is in place but what I’m calling for is an alternative leveling system that rewards player’s performance instead of how well you can walk from point A to point B and then back to A. Develop raiders not lab rats! So while you can do dungeons now it’s more of a supplement to questing not an alternative. It should reward players with additional experience for both their group and individual performance (I will elaborate in a different post). This is a capitalist idea the better the player the faster you level. But, let’s thru in a twist of socialism and encourage people to educate/help each other by making group rewards much greater and worth wild. For myself and I think many other people this would be far more enjoyable leveling system then running all over the place mindlessly talking to npc’s. This would be far more fun and benefit everyone as a whole. Imagine fresh 80’s that know how to use all there cooldowns, move out of ground effects, hold aggro, don’t pull aggro, conserve mana by using appropriate spells. Right now you have some that do the above and others that just mindlessly ran from quest giver to quest giver.

]]> By: MyName http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28956 MyName Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:28:30 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28956 They wouldn't even need to revamp the questing that much. If you can just compare the two new BC starter zones (BElf and Dranei) with Don Modr/Loch Modan or Darkshore, or the 3-4 different shires you ended up running around for the humans, the BC starter zones are more polished and less annoying. Having a mount at 20 helps alot, but the best thing they can do is get rid of the running around so that it all makes sense. And as far as changes go. Nearly every zone in Vanilla looks gorgeous and interesting, but there's only a handful of actual questlines that stick with you. So as long as they keep the look the same, and reduce the running around, I don't think it matters as much what they do with the quests themselves. They wouldn’t even need to revamp the questing that much. If you can just compare the two new BC starter zones (BElf and Dranei) with Don Modr/Loch Modan or Darkshore, or the 3-4 different shires you ended up running around for the humans, the BC starter zones are more polished and less annoying. Having a mount at 20 helps alot, but the best thing they can do is get rid of the running around so that it all makes sense.

And as far as changes go. Nearly every zone in Vanilla looks gorgeous and interesting, but there’s only a handful of actual questlines that stick with you. So as long as they keep the look the same, and reduce the running around, I don’t think it matters as much what they do with the quests themselves.

]]> By: Zamboni http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28943 Zamboni Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:03:06 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28943 For those of us that already filled our 10 character slots, the whole "New Azeroth" is kind of a dead fish. The new races, new starting zones, new class combinations, the redone 1-60 grind...they're all just filler material unless I delete one of my existing level 68 profession alts (along with his 450/450 professions). Another 5 levels and the Archeology buff sound interesting, but it's hard to get excited about the rest of the package at this stage. For those of us that already filled our 10 character slots, the whole “New Azeroth” is kind of a dead fish. The new races, new starting zones, new class combinations, the redone 1-60 grind…they’re all just filler material unless I delete one of my existing level 68 profession alts (along with his 450/450 professions). Another 5 levels and the Archeology buff sound interesting, but it’s hard to get excited about the rest of the package at this stage.

]]> By: Eldorad http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28942 Eldorad Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:22:09 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28942 Surely the re-tool of old zones is going to be like the adjustment to Dustwallow marsh. You guys remember that? During BC they changed the zone and added mudsproket. The whole zone (for alliance at least) feels much newer and fresher. For example, instead of one quest to go kill X, come back then go somewhere else, there is always two quests at once in a given area, with follow ons that tie into each other. Similarly, if questing in a group, quest drops are shared by all, rather than having to kill double the number of mobs like in a lot of old world content. It's that sort of smoother and simpler quest design that is going to change things in the 1-60 bracket. Surely the re-tool of old zones is going to be like the adjustment to Dustwallow marsh.

You guys remember that? During BC they changed the zone and added mudsproket. The whole zone (for alliance at least) feels much newer and fresher.

For example, instead of one quest to go kill X, come back then go somewhere else, there is always two quests at once in a given area, with follow ons that tie into each other.

Similarly, if questing in a group, quest drops are shared by all, rather than having to kill double the number of mobs like in a lot of old world content.

It’s that sort of smoother and simpler quest design that is going to change things in the 1-60 bracket.

]]> By: Ant Adam http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28931 Ant Adam Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:51:11 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28931 For myself, I am quietly optimistic but also dreading a few things... Looking forward to those dreary zones being more interesting graphically - barrens and desolace spring to mind. NOT looking forward to low level pvp battlegrounds - Arathi Basin, omg can you hust imagine how many worgen your will see in one team for weeks n weeks. It'll be worse than the DK splurge. Will there be a big shift of balance on all servers? - an awful lot of horde I talk to are going to create a worgen and level that, so we could see a dearth of horde for the first week or three if this is indicative of the general trend. Worgen just look too cool to not want to try them out. And in case you havent subscribed to the Blizzard magazine - yeah, I did, and I quite enjoyed the first issue - which goes some way to answering whats happening quest wise and zone wise and gives more details on deathwing, the new professions and so on. Definitely worth getting and reading. On the whole though, Im a wait and see but with a little excitement fence sitting at the moment. For myself, I am quietly optimistic but also dreading a few things…

Looking forward to those dreary zones being more interesting graphically – barrens and desolace spring to mind.
NOT looking forward to low level pvp battlegrounds – Arathi Basin, omg can you hust imagine how many worgen your will see in one team for weeks n weeks. It’ll be worse than the DK splurge.

Will there be a big shift of balance on all servers? – an awful lot of horde I talk to are going to create a worgen and level that, so we could see a dearth of horde for the first week or three if this is indicative of the general trend. Worgen just look too cool to not want to try them out.

And in case you havent subscribed to the Blizzard magazine – yeah, I did, and I quite enjoyed the first issue – which goes some way to answering whats happening quest wise and zone wise and gives more details on deathwing, the new professions and so on. Definitely worth getting and reading.

On the whole though, Im a wait and see but with a little excitement fence sitting at the moment.

]]> By: Asana http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28927 Asana Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:08:08 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28927 I expect no more and a little bit less than what Blizzard has already put out there. Blizzard tends to build up expansions like they're full-blown game changing awesomeness!!!1 Then again, it's what they have to do to charge up the loyal masses (like all the skeletal soldiers at the end of WotLK's trailer) *and* entice new players to the game. As with past expansions, anticipate that everything you've heard about won't quite be all there when the game ships and that Blizzard will timesink/ankle shackle/landmine you to prevent your immediate zip to level 85. The old world will be revamped and it has to be since we'll be able to fly through it. The mind wonders, will we have to learn/achieve/quest chain/wait til lvl 8x on our way to old world free flying? Will we get treated to as much Deathwing as we had with Lich King? Maybe, I mean he is kinda huge unless he pulls a Chromie then he could pop up all over the place quite easily. Where will the new flight paths be in the old world? Lowbies still need flightmasters and with places like Auberdine to be destroyed flight pathing is going to get remapped... perhaps more efficiently? There will most definitely be QQ, it's Blizzard and WoW c'mon! When has there NOT been QQ to pew-pew? The fact is that the content will never live up to all the expectations and if you don't know this by now... you'll never, never, never know it. Easy mode accusations will take flight yet again and in playing on the PTR yesterday with all those overly helpful pop-up windows, I immediately thought Free Realms! To many longtime players' disdain, a lot of what WoW had been has become easier and it's a trend that will continue (cause if it's easier more people will come, see: Wii). Blizzard takes pride in watching what other games are doing and incorporating their most popular aspects into WoW. While not terribly inventive and in some cases downright annoying, Blizzard is in the business to make money (hi Activision /wave) and if that means making WoW the Swiss Army Knife of all games ...so be it. I expect no more and a little bit less than what Blizzard has already put out there. Blizzard tends to build up expansions like they’re full-blown game changing awesomeness!!!1 Then again, it’s what they have to do to charge up the loyal masses (like all the skeletal soldiers at the end of WotLK’s trailer) *and* entice new players to the game. As with past expansions, anticipate that everything you’ve heard about won’t quite be all there when the game ships and that Blizzard will timesink/ankle shackle/landmine you to prevent your immediate zip to level 85. The old world will be revamped and it has to be since we’ll be able to fly through it. The mind wonders, will we have to learn/achieve/quest chain/wait til lvl 8x on our way to old world free flying?

Will we get treated to as much Deathwing as we had with Lich King? Maybe, I mean he is kinda huge unless he pulls a Chromie then he could pop up all over the place quite easily. Where will the new flight paths be in the old world? Lowbies still need flightmasters and with places like Auberdine to be destroyed flight pathing is going to get remapped… perhaps more efficiently?

There will most definitely be QQ, it’s Blizzard and WoW c’mon! When has there NOT been QQ to pew-pew? The fact is that the content will never live up to all the expectations and if you don’t know this by now… you’ll never, never, never know it. Easy mode accusations will take flight yet again and in playing on the PTR yesterday with all those overly helpful pop-up windows, I immediately thought Free Realms! To many longtime players’ disdain, a lot of what WoW had been has become easier and it’s a trend that will continue (cause if it’s easier more people will come, see: Wii). Blizzard takes pride in watching what other games are doing and incorporating their most popular aspects into WoW. While not terribly inventive and in some cases downright annoying, Blizzard is in the business to make money (hi Activision /wave) and if that means making WoW the Swiss Army Knife of all games …so be it.

]]> By: Perrin http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28915 Perrin Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:14:12 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28915 I'm expecting that: * the zones will be redesigned for smooth flying experience * the quest lines that are now defunct (Missing Diplomat etc) will be moved forward or replaced * new quests will appear to replace some of the modified zones old quests * L81-85 zones will be added * New race zones will be added * and Troll and Gnome cities will be added. Even that in itself is a tall order, so I'm not expecting an entirely new set of quests. Horde will still have to hunt Zhevra's though the reasoning may have changed (lack of food etc), and Alliance will still have to kill Hogger etc. I’m expecting that:
* the zones will be redesigned for smooth flying experience
* the quest lines that are now defunct (Missing Diplomat etc) will be moved forward or replaced
* new quests will appear to replace some of the modified zones old quests
* L81-85 zones will be added
* New race zones will be added
* and Troll and Gnome cities will be added.

Even that in itself is a tall order, so I’m not expecting an entirely new set of quests. Horde will still have to hunt Zhevra’s though the reasoning may have changed (lack of food etc), and Alliance will still have to kill Hogger etc.

]]> By: Dahkeus http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28907 Dahkeus Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:40:37 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28907 Ya, I'm looking to Cata for "hope and change," but I don't think that's a radical idea. Of course I won't get all the new shiny things I want, but there's no doubt that there will be enough to sate my hunger at least temporarily. I know this because past patches and expansions have done the same for me. Ya, I’m looking to Cata for “hope and change,” but I don’t think that’s a radical idea. Of course I won’t get all the new shiny things I want, but there’s no doubt that there will be enough to sate my hunger at least temporarily.

I know this because past patches and expansions have done the same for me.

]]> By: Deius http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-28904 Deius Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:56:13 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-28904 I think these expectations are perfectly reasonable, as from what Blizzard has said about Cataclysm so far, it looks like they're just turning WoW2 into an expansion. I think these expectations are perfectly reasonable, as from what Blizzard has said about Cataclysm so far, it looks like they’re just turning WoW2 into an expansion.

]]> By: Ndiayne http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/02/14/are-our-expectations-too-high-for-cataclysm/comment-page-1/#comment-27970 Ndiayne Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:18:08 +0000 http://thebigbearbutt.com/?p=2778#comment-27970 I'm cautiously excited. I don't fully know what's coming, but personally... getting to play Goblins in-game? AND THEY HAVE PRIESTS. This has been my dream since we ran a short (weekend) WoW tabletop campaign a few years ago. (Justifying a Goblin Priest to my DM at the time was really fun...) For me, that's enough to be crazy-excited. Add in gnome priests, at least a few major zone overhauls (to some of the zones I absolutely loathe)... yeah, I'm just excited to see what they do. I'll personally only be disappointed if they keep in quests that lead to old "dead-ends"... either inaccessible, or completely irrelevant to the game post-Cataclysmic activities. I'm not expecting a complete overhaul, but I don't think it's too much to expect flavor text/NPCs of some of the current original content to change slightly as a reflection of the upcoming events. I’m cautiously excited. I don’t fully know what’s coming, but personally… getting to play Goblins in-game? AND THEY HAVE PRIESTS. This has been my dream since we ran a short (weekend) WoW tabletop campaign a few years ago. (Justifying a Goblin Priest to my DM at the time was really fun…) For me, that’s enough to be crazy-excited. Add in gnome priests, at least a few major zone overhauls (to some of the zones I absolutely loathe)… yeah, I’m just excited to see what they do.

I’ll personally only be disappointed if they keep in quests that lead to old “dead-ends”… either inaccessible, or completely irrelevant to the game post-Cataclysmic activities. I’m not expecting a complete overhaul, but I don’t think it’s too much to expect flavor text/NPCs of some of the current original content to change slightly as a reflection of the upcoming events.

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