Next expansion rumours

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 17th, 2009, 19:13

I'm wondering if they could do a lot of it with phasing, admittedly, so far phasing has only be used for objects and mobs, but I expect it's extendable to water and terrain.

Seems like a lot of stuff was tested a bit with wotlk, like dailies to get people to contribute to the construction of stuff (argent tourney)

I also wonder if they're considering a graphical overhaul (they've been gathering machine specs recently and the cheapest way to do that is to only work on one set of textures/models, and the logical place to start is the original world, and they can guarantee people will see them* by making a few areas for the lv80-85 grind.

*they like this, hence the no flounts in wotlk

Post by **Joose** » August 17th, 2009, 22:00

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:I'm wondering if they could do a lot of it with phasing, admittedly, so far phasing has only be used for objects and mobs, but I expect it's extendable to water and terrain.

Trouble with phasing is it splits players. Say they did it that way: suddenly no one who had bought the expansion and got to the required bit would be able to even see thier low level, non expanded mates in vast areas of the starting zones.

Totally agree with the graphical overhaul stuff though: most of the old zones do look like utter shit when compared to the northrend stuff

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 17th, 2009, 22:09

Joose wrote:Trouble with phasing is it splits players. Say they did it that way: suddenly no one who had bought the expansion and got to the required bit would be able to even see thier low level, non expanded mates in vast areas of the starting zones.

Post by **Joose** » August 18th, 2009, 21:11

You know what, I would like to officially retract my bullshit suspicions. Having read through some of the stuff on the forum of the website that leaked this, there is actually some pretty compelling evidence for a lot of it. Ironically, the bit that has what I would say is the most compelling evidence is the bit that I was most suspicious of: the buggering around of the old zones. Apparently theres a globe of azeroth in the Ulduar instance, and if you look at it carefully theres a big expanse of water where a bunch of Kalimdor should be. This includes a fucked up Barrens.

Also, there is apparently good evidence of the class changes, as a bunch of stuff was datamined out of the latest PTR stuff that includes models for those classes.

Finally, the guy who leaked it has leaked things before, and they say that he has a 100% success rate so far. The suggestion is that he has an inside source. Its also been suggested that this might have been leaked on purpose, seeing as Blizzcon is this weekend. Since the leak, the amount of people who have signed up for the pay per view thing has apparently shot up, so its not an unbelievable idea.

Ive got all this off their forums, mind, so a pinch of salt should probably be applied. Saying that, a lot of the "evidence" stuff ive mentioned is actually links offsite...

EDIT:Except for old world flounts. I still think that's bull.

Post by **FatherJack** » August 18th, 2009, 22:22

Splitting the Barrens to me seems like the most likely of these alleged changes. It was always too big and pretty much split in terms of where you could quest in them at a particular level anyways.

Instancing or zoning seems the likely way of both flooding the needles and allowing old world flight in my view. Regular players who haven't witnessed the cataclysm in their storyline would see it as it is now.

That doesn't preclude cooperation with high-level characters, there are examples where you're able to travel to the past even to events before the scourge invasion, so there's no massive reason high-level characters can't revisit Kalimdor "as it was" sans flount. My suspicion is that the 'real world' will remain as it is, with the new story stuff being purely instance-based - 'in the future' perhaps.

Personally, I'd be more hot for even older instance-based lore stuff. Replaying WC3 and (very briefly) seeing the original Lordaeron and Dalaran with neophytes Thrall, Arthas and Jaina has made me want to see more of that sort of thing re-envisaged in this iteration - but I guess they think they already told that story and that lore devotees would feel cheated playing it again. A shame, as it's almost technically impossible to play the series from start anymore.

friznit · Post by **friznit** » August 18th, 2009, 23:00

I wish I could get you guys into the Mount Hyjal raid one day. It's quite a tough 25 man run even at level 80, but it's the most awesome of raids. It actually felt like you are playing a dude in WC3 running base defence against raging hordes of scourge. Thrall and Jaina etc all come to help you out and it finishes with one of the toughest bosses in game.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 18th, 2009, 23:06

friznit wrote:I wish I could get you guys into the Mount Hyjal raid one day. It's quite a tough 25 man run even at level 80, but it's the most awesome of raids. It actually felt like you are playing a dude in WC3 running base defence against raging hordes of scourge. Thrall and Jaina etc all come to help you out and it finishes with one of the toughest bosses in game.

I'm sure you could get us in there, then we'd all die and break the server.

friznit · Post by **friznit** » August 18th, 2009, 23:11

Think is, to see the really cool bit you need to survive 9 waves of scourge and a boss. If you die, you start again from the beginning...

I might see if I can drag together an old skool run guild event and pull you guys along for a laugh sometime.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 22nd, 2009, 4:37

Called it

* Level cap will be 85 because developers wanted to focus on the right things: redoing Azeroth and providing more end-game content.
* Phasing can now add and remove terrain based on your progress. Coasts will be progressively more flooded depending on how far you are in a storyline for example.

Other points of interest:

Q: Will I will be able to use my flying mount in the redesigned Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor?
A: Yes. While the original Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor weren’t designed for flying mounts, we’re redesigning the continents with flying mounts in mind. However, we’re still determining whether there will be any restrictions on where you will be able to fly, at what level flying will become available, or whether you’ll need to do anything to unlock it. We’ll share more details about this in the future.

Q: Will I need the expansion to be able to experience the Cataclysm changes?
A: When the Cataclysm occurs, it will occur for all players, whether they have purchased the expansion or not--you will no longer be to play in the original version of Kalimdor or the Eastern Kingdoms. However, certain features such as the new zones, new races, and new level cap will only be accessible to players who purchase the expansion.

Q: Will “phasing” be used more extensively in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm?
A: Yes. We’ve come up with a number of new, cool ways to using phasing since we introduced it in Wrath of the Lich King, and plan to use it more extensively to change the world as players progress. We are also now able to phase terrain, which players will see in the starting areas for the goblins and worgen. We’re also adding some UI improvements to help determine when another player is in a different “phase” from you.

Professions

* Multi-gains will be added, while you level up your trade skills, rare items will give you more points as you skill up. (Rare items will give you 5 points for example, while green bracers will only give one)
* Gathering should be a little more fun.
* Engineering is a very fun tradeskill, but it's either amazing or it sucks and everybody drops it. More convenient items like Jeeves or Wormhole Generator will be added to the profession in the future to get back to the roots of Engineering.
* Fishing will also have some big changes, no details yet but it's going to be more fun.

Itemization
In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, there are plans to streamline the statistics found on items. We want to remove all unnecessary stats, make all existing stats understandable, and make all "core" stats more appealing. Here are some examples of such plans.

* MP5: This will be removed from items and replaced with Spirit. All healers will be given a meditation-like ability.
* Spell Power: Spell Power is being removed from items as well. Don't panic, we'll be improving Intellect so that it provides mana and Spell Power.
* Attack Power: We're removing Attack Power from items as well. Instead, we're allowing Agility to provide the necessary Attack Power for leather and mail wearers. Strength will provide the appropriate amount of Attack Power for plate wearers. This means leather and mail items will no longer be desirable for plate wearers.
* Defense: The Defense statistic is also being removed from items so that players no longer have to worry about juggling around "the cap." Tanks will receive the necessary anti-crit from talents, like Survival of the Fittest.
* Armor Penetration: This ability is too confusing and "mathy." It is being replaced with Mastery, a stat that makes you better at what you do. More on that later!
* Haste: Will also increase the rate at which you gain energy, runes, and focus. Retribution paladins and Enhancement shaman will have a talent that allows them to take advantage of this benefit.
* Block: Block Value is being removed. Blocking will now always mitigate a percentage of damage.
* Stamina: Players will notice more Stamina on gear as Defense, Spell Power, Attack Power and Armor Penetration are removed.

All info off www.mmo-champion.com

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 22nd, 2009, 4:45

I'm really not sure how I feel about some of this stuff.

I think it goes to making the game a lot easier for normal people, possibly reducing a lot of stuff to skill and spec, rather than having to wank about with gear.

Hopefully it'll also make stuff like raiding more attainable for normal people, but still providing better gear and progression.

Post by **Dog Pants** » August 22nd, 2009, 7:06

Dramatic stuff. I can see this alienating some of the hardcore, but I've yet to see Blizzard really fuck up. Still, there's the slight chance they'll do a SWG on it.

Post by **Joose** » August 22nd, 2009, 8:39

Dr. kitteny berk wrote: Q: Will I will be able to use my flying mount in the redesigned Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor?
A: Yes.

Well fuck my ass and call me Susan. I would have put money on that not happening. They must be doing a *shitload* of work on it.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 22nd, 2009, 9:53

Joose wrote:Well fuck my ass and call me Susan. I would have put money on that not happening. They must be doing a *shitload* of work on it.

I'm expecting almost a total refettle of the place, landmarks the same, along with unaffected villages but not much else

friznit · Post by **friznit** » August 22nd, 2009, 10:08

I can imagine an aweful lot of the hardcore screaming OMG DUMBING DOWN (which was my first reaction I confess). Blizzard have been progressively simplifying various aspects in the name of 'streamlining', basically to make the game more appealing to the majority of the casual playerbase given that the harcore raiders only make a small percentage of their paying customers.

narf though I'd welcome a slight simplification of the itemisation. I've always thought it's become massively over complicated. Just from a tank's perspective I have to juggle strength, stamina, attack power, defense, expertise, hit, dodge, parry, block rating and block value and all their associated caps, diminishing returns, ratios and balances.

Sheriff Fatman · Post by **Sheriff Fatman** » August 24th, 2009, 10:05

I dare say most of you already know, but it's been confirmed.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/debut ... lysm/54776

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 24th, 2009, 10:12

Yep, hence the called it posted up there

Sheriff Fatman · Post by **Sheriff Fatman** » August 24th, 2009, 10:32

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:Yep, hence the called it posted up there

Ah yes. Oopsie