I want you to think very carefully about how Blizzard responds to a successful expansion.
Think about how good Wrath of the Lich King was. Think about how good Mists of Pandaria was. Think about how good Legion was.
Now think about what came after them.
I don’t wanna! You can’t make me!
Oh, mischievous pranking cute fairies. Is this gonna be a whole zone of the worst parts of Il Mheg but prettier?
edit: Why do the deer people run like that. Are they the afterlife version of naruto kids?
How do you think they ended up in the Shadowlands in the first place?
“return to status quo” is an American classic. think about who wrote warcraft and when.
That’s why I said it is but the faintest glimmer of hope. Smaller than the ember of the chosen undead in those hard games I’ve yet to beat. More miniscule than my amount of caring about another settlement that needs help.
I’ve enjoyed every expansion. Shadowlands was not my favorite, mostly due to the aesthetic. Dragonflight is one of the best. Hope you enjoy it.
The Devil.
well, i mean…
If I can offer an alternative theory to the popular Doom and Disgust Dogma….
This is New Blizzard. Old Blizzard rested on its laurels and spent two years raucously celebrating after delivering a knockout expansion, allowing the interns to shape class design for the next expansion, and trying to come up with quest lines while desperately consuming painkillers to battle the hangover. (For the record I remember Cata fondly, but that WoD and Shadowlands left a lot to be desired is indefensible, even if there were things in those expansions that really were pretty good!)
But New Blizzard is young, eager, and experimental. They’re breaking the emergency glass. They’re trying new things. Content is more approachable. Characters are more diverse. Things are more fun. Could this just be a one time thing? Maybe. Plenty of artists put out one good song or album, but the rest are constrained by time and contractual obligations. But it could also be the start to the new Way. We’re in the second chapter, after all. The old constraints are still there, but the slate is blank (or at least was before DF launched) as to where we’re going next.
I think we’re going to inevitably be disappointed with something in the future, but I don’t know if we’re going to continue the on again off again cycle like before. Dragonflight is good. What comes next will probably also be good. Will the next cool feature be dragon flying? Probably not, but it could be something that is neat in a different way. Maybe we can have some faith. Maybe we can be New WrA, instead of old, crusty WrA, too?
I try to stay optimistic. I’m not even playing right now, but I still want the game to be good.
Not to be a contrarian but what’s new about it? Like, institutionally, what changed?
A lot of the old decision makers are gone. I don’t think any of the old guard is still around. Realigning the company values to a new set of standards in lieu of the lawsuit probably entailed some restructuring, too? I can’t say specifically, since I don’t work there. But Brack resigned. Afrasiabi is gone. Metzen is back I think, but that’s a net positive imo.
Hm, that’s something at least. It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out. Metzen has his issues, but more in a “late 20th century fantasy nerd” way than the “corporate techfrat douchebro” guys who’ve been in charge for the last decade.
Ultimately I’ve learned to take WoW as it comes. Enjoy what’s enjoyable and try not to worry excessively about the rest. In hindsight I’m kind of embarrassed at how much my younger self let the problems with this franchise stress me out.
But by the same token I’m reluctant to invest myself emotionally in it again.
Wyrmies never say die
Yeah baby Victory or Death!
I pick death…. But not for me!!!
This thread is very concerning. It’s making me want to try this expansion a little.
it’s a nice little expansion.
Just a gentle little stroll through the countryside? A little jaunt? A little jape?
That’s exactly what someone who did work there would say.
I’m definitely not the creative director.