Blizzard has put a lot of work into its worldbuilding and story (questions of quality aside), but much of it is tucked away in novels, short stories, comics, and various other media. I think Archaeology can be the means to frame all this wonderful lore into the game without making it mandatory or reworking past content.
I am imagining a system that rewards some valuable drops/loot but also narrative rewards. Our demonstrated interest in archaeology/history becomes the framing device for exploring the past events and characters.
Let’s use the novel “Day of the Dragon” for example.
- I dig up an artifact in Loch Modan. I take it to an archaeology NPC to help identify it. They state it is an old amulet which once housed a gem of purest black, and that it is historically significant. I take the identified artifact to a relevant character (e.g. Falstad Wildhammer or Vareesa Windrunner) or Chromie (if the relevant characters are dead), who then recounts the events of Deathwing and Alexstrasza in Grim Batol through dialogue, in-game scenes, or playable sections.
I know it could be rather difficult to accomplish, but I hate to see so much worldbuilding and storytelling remain unknown by so many players. Plus, it gives us another reason to explore old zones and get into the world, which is always a good thing.
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I hope we get of a bit of a revamp. I’d like to see a Delves like version of Archeology with climbing, digging, avoiding booby traps and solving puzzles. I want to live out my Harrison Jones dream!
I agree with you, I love that the profession.
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I know that some people really enjoyed archeology, like Shreds.
He was an outspoken person who said that he would leave if DF didn’t bring it back. As far as I can tell he followed through on that promise.
I hope it returns for those that want to partake in the activity.
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I’m pretty sure archaeology has been abandoned by Blizzard.
Archeology was an out of this earth (I use that to explain how big of an impact the experience had on me), fun profession that had a little something for everyone.
You could farm cosmetics, revisit old zones and in some cases maybe happen upon a rare you’d forgotten existed, and yes you could EVEN get EXP for your digs. Back when it was first introduced and during certain iterations it had BoA weapons/trinkets(I recall a trinket) that were perfect for throwing on an alt to get them dungeon capable. There’s even ACHIEVEMENTS for all things to do with archaeology!
Sure some people don’t like to triangulate the exact position but that’s legit what you do in the archaeological/paleontology profession. You find a bone or a pot shard in a dig and then you start digging around that location where you found it and soon you hit the jackpot and discover that you are in a site where the rewards are knowledge and prestigious historical artifacts!
I’d really love to see it come back, Dragonflight would have been the perfect opportunity to gives us more lore through digging up items via the profession as well as rewarding us with drakewatch scripts, toys, mog, pets, mounts, ect. that we’ve all come to know and expect from the profession.
That’s Ion speak for “Not this lifetime nerds”.
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They said at Blizzcon that archaeology will not return. Delves are supposed to scratch that itch.
They did? I must have missed that entirely. I wasn’t aware they even mentioned archaeology. That’s too bad! Here’s to hoping delves are everything we want and more.
That is not the game’s fault. There are plenty of reasons to explore old zones and get into the world. The main one being “FUN” but unfortunately, over time a lot of rushers and skippers were created and they only care about the new content and ignore the rest.
There are many of us that do enjoy ALL zones and ALL content in the game, you just have to find us. I know it’s frustrating - believe me I do. Thats why I always recommend for Blizzard to promote WOW to new players that have never played another mmorpg, because many who come from other mmorpgs are already bitter and jaded and think they have to rush rush rush to get the most from WOW.
Not one person since the beginning of WOW has completed every quest possible (excluding dailies) for their race/class combo. NOT ONE! So many players will just follow the main story and skip the other 75% of the game. And thats ok. We all play different ways.
Find a good guild with players that appreciate WOW and all it offers and you will have more players to enjoy all of the content with. It’s a journey and one that I am happy I went a little slower with since vanilla to experience all the amazing things I have and looking forward to all that I have not seen yet.
Apologies, I am not sure how your reply relates to archaeology. I’m proposing that if archaeology were to be reworked, Blizzard could incorporate its vast lore and stories that are not currently in the game. My proposal does not state that content prior to the current patch is boring or unappealing.