I’m curious; after playing some TBC for the past few days, do reagents seem like a bad idea for mechanics or were they part of something special within the older expansions? It feels like everything is just based on level now-a-days. There’s no real concern for mana/powers or stuff like soul shards/feathers/runes/etc.
What are your thoughts on reagents?
For me, yes, I don’t want to use an item for spells. I wouldn’t say that I hate reagents but I certainly prefer that spells don’t require them. This way, I’m never unable to cast a spell because I didn’t stock up, and I have more bag space.
For the most part, I see things like reagents (and consumables) as a burden.
I remember watching a Preach video during Alpha about all the new consumeables and regents coming in Shadowlands, like Shadowcore oil, weapon sharpening, and other additional inventory items that you would apply to your characters. He was excited for it, and on paper so was I.
In practice I have like 500 Shadowcore oils in my bag that I just don’t even remember to equip because it’s a dull chore for minor gain.
My feelings towards that also apply to things like classic soul shards and runes.
If a spell required a rune or a soul shard, I’m either not casting that spell or I’m not enjoying farming the runes/shards.
Just because something is a burden does not make it a good RNG element.
I remember having a special soul shard bag and farming soul shards before doing raids in Wrath. Can’t say that I miss that!
Yeah, I’d rather we have a king tbh.
It is a tough call. Reagents like bullets for hunters worked for me. I made gold selling, I had a dedicated bag and there was something about preparing for a raid that made me put all my ducks in a row: food, bullets, bandages and more that made it fun and made the encounters feel important, if that makes sense.
Today, that feels old-fashioned and a burden. I still have oils and runes and food and flasks and pots for raiding but not having them does not stop me from raiding – I can be spontaneous.
I’m gunna slap you with a big old “depends”.
I don’t like reagents that force me to constantly visit a vendor for combat stuff (or even combat adjacent stuff) like Mage Portals, Rogue Poisons, Hunter bullets/arrows, etc.
I didn’t mind reagents that were combat related or adjacent if I had to farm for them, like Soul Shards. I wouldn’t want the old Soul Shards back in a 1:1 capacity since I think combat is more interesting now they’re a combat resource but I didn’t dislike them in Classic.
I totally feel this. After playing TBC for a bit, the soul shards get annoying, especially if you kill something accidentally before you cast Drain Soul or it runs out before their death.
Personally I miss them. It’s not for everyone, but I feel like the little inconveniences added something to the world for me. It was kind nice needing to “go shopping”.
They’re a holdover from pen and paper RPGs, mostly meant to keep spellcasters from being OP, but also RP flavor. Nothing like questing for the wizard’s spell components (no, we don’t want to track down owlbears, Jeff!)
MMOs obviously can’t go that route, so they’re boosts here. Unfortunately, Blizzard went too light handed on reagent boosts and modifications, and overboard on the clutter they make.
I think they could work, if Blizzard has their actual RP players give it another pass. Characters should have separate bag specifically for reagents and other consumables like ammo, potions and food. If the contents of the bag all match (all potions, all ammo, etc.), then effectiveness of everything in the bag increases a bit, based on your level.
Reagents should do crazy stuff, like temporarily change Holy Light or Flash Heal into Exorcism when used on enemies, or have Eyes of the Eagle summon a spirit bird that highlights threats for a few minutes. Of course, ammo should give different effects beyond pluses to damage, like True Silver arrows for all us nightstalkers 
I think something was lost when they weren’t required anymore. But, reagents really were a part of a very different game design philosophy that revolved around world immersion, the journey over the destination, and class fantasy.
For them to be meaningful or relevant again, a whole lot of things would have to change, player attitudes and expectations included.
I don’t mind reagents for things like buffs as you’ll be stopping in a major city or town eventually and buy 200 of them and not worry about it for a week.
I guess it’s a small thing and not every class had things like reagents but it was something to keep track of that kept you in a small way connected to the world.
I didn’t play much warlock in classic but in the original TBC I didn’t mind farming for soul shards, it was kind of like you as a warlock were going out to reap and collect souls while you gathered everything on your list to prepare for Karazhan or Blackrock spire. Would have been cool if they were named though so you could see who’s soul was stolen for each shard.
I was just reflecting on this very same subject the other day!
I actually like the “feel” of using a feather ehen casting slow fall. Having vanishing powder as a rogue adds a little bit of an RP element and draws you in to the world a little.
Im ok bringing these things back.
Reagents? Yeah they are/were awful. I had to carry a Soul Shard bag (though it was for other purposes compared to now), hunters with arrows/bullets, things for Blessing of Kings, Portals, etc. They were terribly unfun mechanics when people forgot them and couldn’t use them. They fit along with key rings (and slightly less annoying than having to carry mounts in your bags) in my opinion.
Currently though, for me, mana is awkward as a Warlock. I started playing with Life Tap - now I basically never run out of mana. Yes I have to manage soul shards in combat, so I guess that’s my “resource” (compared to energy/rage/mana for other casters) but it’s still odd as a spellcaster.
I’m somewhere along the lines of, “Yeah I think we probably got rid of too much, but I didn’t love having to carry around dozens of non-stacking soul shards, and I always hated seeing folks not have reagents and therefore not doing some thing, so I guess I prefer this over that personally.”
I still joke about people having to pay for my reagents when summoning them or creating healthstones.
This right here. My post felt sloppy…
Glad we dont have to worry about that stuff anymore tbh.
Having a bag full of junk to buff people isn’t fun.