Dracthyr Soar problem(s) and a possible solution

Community General Discussion
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TL;DR: (Doing this on top, because I can; please read for more) Dracthyr’s Soar is no longer as nuanced or as potentially powerful as it was when Dragonflight was launched. Since Soar is no longer nuanced, nor powerful, it shouldn’t be restricted like it used to be, and should be just as viable a choice as any other mount, instead of being almost more of a problem to use, than other mounts.

So, I have seen 2 forum posts during the PTR session for TWW talking about issues with Soar not working at all, or not launching, or launching then gliding back to the ground and behaving like it worked, without actually activating, but the skill button says it’s active. I’ve encountered some of these to some degree as well.

This is the first example I’ve seen of this issue: Dracthyr Steady Flight
And this is someone’s breakdown of their observation: Steady Flight version of Soar Broken

On the first post, and even the Feedback: Evoker page, I made a post about my observation and thoughts on Soar, especially now that we have a toggle for Flight mode. Regardless of the Flight Mode, Soar still runs into the same issue that it has kind of made itself even worse now that the cooldown has been reduced to 10 seconds, as well as now being able utilize Dragonriding everywhere.

The thing I’m talking about is the ‘nuance’ of Soar and how special it is, because it’s attached to a race, now being able to fly and move at kinds of speed, while basically acting as a mount, or at least a replacement of a mount. Hold on… that’s the reason I’m typing this out right now… “Replacement of a mount”? I’m talking about “Running Wild” for Worgen primarily. I can also be talking about Travel/Flight Form for Druids. Soar on a fundamental level is simultaneously both, and neither of these.

Running Wild replaces the need for a button for your because it IS your ground mount. YOU become the mount, and run on your own 4 legs… (ok fine, 2 legs, 2 arms, whatever. :p) But it works for ALL Worgen. The other thing I mentioned being Travel/Flight Form for Druids. This (especially since TWW Pre-Patch and even PTR) REPLACES the need to use a mount in the first place, and has since Burning Crusade.

Why are these important? They show, and set a precedent (in my mind at least) that Soar should be functionally the same thing. No, I’m not asking for Soar to be insta-cast like Druids. I’m fine with that being what it is. I’m saying that a 10 second cooldown for me to bonk on a ceiling, drop to the floor with zero momentum, just to either wait a few seconds for the cooldown, or just mount up normally and avoid the entire problem… wait… why would I want to use Soar… when I can just mount up, like everyone else, and just pretend this problem doesn’t exist?

Please bear with me, I know it’s long but we’re at the end now. I promise (kinda).

All I’m asking is that Soar no longer be this estranged skill, just because it’s cool. It’s no longer unique. It no longer provides the player with any special benefit anymore. Heck, to me, it’s kind of more trouble than it feels is cool. Just make Soar on the same level as other, similar things.

Pretty much, the minimum I’m asking for:
|Soar|
|1.5 sec Cast | No Cooldown|
|Use your own wings to carry you; like every other Dracthyr can do in cutscenes.|
(Please don’t actually use my tooltip. While I think it’d be funny, I don’t think the joke would be as funny to others.)

Ok, so while “on the ground” just use the “Hover” animation(s) that are already there, and really it won’t look weird. Let the rest just kind of fall in where they do. While in Skyriding style when you go to launch just give a large flap of the wings, then continue as normal. While Steady, just casually transition.

Thank you for reading, I’m sorry this is as long as it is, but there’s a lot that bothers me about this skill, and I love Dragons/Draconids. Wanted to play a “dragon” in a game forever, and now I can. :smiley: I understood the nuance and ‘power’ of the skill through early DF, then it kind of lost it’s flavor as DF went on, and now it’s practically gone. I can’t even go mining with Soar, because of the constant “dismounting” that happens, I got that “perk” for a reason. :stuck_out_tongue: I’m hoping this changes, and with it, hopefully those other 2 posts describing a bug also get corrected. By the way, this’ll also allow Soar to be used in places that it wouldn’t be able to be used, but mounts can… Winged or not.

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There was a much easier and shorter way to say this:

  1. Soar doesn’t move across the ground, you’re kicked out. So you can’t gather while mounted like everyone else can.
  2. If you happen to be close to the roof of something, you can smack off of it on takeoff and be kicked out of Soar for that 10 sec cooldown.
  3. You cannot use Soar in the water. You still need to use a regular mount.
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Yes. While I could have use a fraction of the words I did, I’m also not just writing this for the community. I like to use as many notes as I can for stuff; fully aware, that sometimes (this is one of them) I give too much information.

Thank you for your input. :slight_smile:

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You aint no not drood! Get on meow level!

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At least I’m not a mutt. :stuck_out_tongue: Though… my kind were someone’s mutt… Anyway! <Scratches kitty ears in just the right spot> :slight_smile:

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I do get tired of casting soar, lifting up a bit then back down and no flight but there is still a cooldown on the button…

Or absolutely nothing happens, but the button is on cooldown.

Or you launch, fly a bit then glide back down without doing that. I don’t have skyriding turned on just normal flying. So, I tried with skyriding even though I get a headache and nausea. Same thing.

It’s a pain.

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And this is part of the reason that I hope Soar gets changed to just be the same as any other mount. Not only does it look SUPER cool to be able to fly on an already really nice looking model (imo), but not everyone can fly outside of Steady.

Questing and whatnot with my wife, I have to fly her around (so I’m using the mount anyway) because she gets a headache, or motion sick, and I move on too fast, I’d be done with the and off to the next, before she even shows up. (she hates when I do that though… of course)

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lol I totally agree with her.

Before I got pathfinder done in DF I Had to use skyriding for a few areas. Still do for the Time compaign quest. I actually had a lined trash basket close by and had to use it a couple of times. Also crashed into a mob while pucking and of course died. /sigh

Not fun.

I like the concept, but not the implementation. lol It’s too fast, jerky and I can’t control it very well. = Headache and nausea.

And of course the frustration when it doesn’t work and I’m trying to get out of that area while still alive. lol

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Oh no! I’m so sorry! Here’s to this being less of a problem.

Sidebar, what’s your favorite mount, in leu of Soar?

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Probably the algarian Stormrider. It’s the smoothets ride. Though I have others I also enjoy. Just not with skyriding. lol

If I have to skyride probably the Stormrider.

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I like the low profile of the Stormrider. Also with the armors fits in VERY well with transmogs. :slight_smile: While I love the drakes/dragons, they kind of take up too much of the screen.

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Soar in DF has legitimate value; it gave you pseudo-drgonriding in places where you can’t dragonride and on the Dragon Isles it gave you additional uptime on Dragonriding not tied to your current vigor.

In TWW Dragonriding is available everywhere, so Soar has been downgraded to a buggy version of Running Wild. Honestly I was hoping for a bit of compensation. At least make Soar instant cast like Travel Form for druids.

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I really appreciate being able to fly as a Dracthyr because I prefer having one mount for everything, ideally something small—and you can’t get much smaller than just being yourself! Currently, I always need to keep a separate ground mount prepped, which I dislike.

I agree Soar should function as a ground mount when on the ground, using a hover or similar effect. This would also prevent those annoying accidental dismounts when touching the ground, especially when using steady flight. >.<

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Fully agree. Early DF (first half) Soar was great, and had a unique use to it, but as DF went on (later half to finish) Soar isn’t as niche.

As for instant, honestly on the note of compensation, while I would LOVE instant cast, I’ll happily accept the 1.5 sec timer.

Edit: Editing this since I can’t double post replies…

you can’t get much smaller than just being yourself!

Always just be yourself. :slight_smile: Seriously, I love the aesthetic of just jumping into the air, and flying off, like the NPCs do.

This would also prevent those annoying accidental dismounts when touching the ground, especially when using steady flight.

Yup. That’s the hope. :slight_smile:

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I see we will need to get the Spray bottle of water…

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Flying as yourself, (no mount), is one of the main reasons why I enjoy dracthyr. Personally I enjoy the small size and how it feels more maneuverable and speedy. So I kinda wish they’d normalize it to where it could effectively replace an actual flying mount, which I think is sorta what you’re saying. So I agree!

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The cooldown sucks but it isn’t even the problem for me. I hate that we are dismounted when we land, and that we can’t run around on the ground and lift off again without the 1.5 second cast.

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@Machupicchu: So I kinda wish they’d normalize it to where it could effectively replace an actual flying mount, which I think is sorta what you’re saying. So I agree!

Yes, This is exactly what I’m saying. :slight_smile:

@Uglúk: The cooldown sucks but it isn’t even the problem for me. I hate that we are dismounted when we land, and that we can’t run around on the ground and lift off again without the 1.5 second cast.

My irritation (while the cooldown is negligible it doesn’t make sense anymore) is that even just thinking about touching the ground kinda feels bad sometimes. I’ve flown over stuff where I swear (I know character boxes are taller than they appear) I had room, just to get stopped and have to “re-mount” just feels bad.

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I can get into the air with SF Soar, but it still doesn’t work well. DF Soar is perfect IMO.

If I hit SF Soar and hit and hold down the space bar at about when the castbar for soar is at about 2/3 or 3/4 full, I can get into the air, otherwise he does a sad little jump and flops back to the ground. Not that I plan to use SF Soar much, It would be nice for it to work right.

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Funny enough, it was actually seeing your post (which is the 2nd one I linked to near the top), that made me post this General Discussion. Basically to call attention to it, outside of the PTR, and since the TWW is now starting it’s swing, it didn’t make sense to me to post it in the PTR thing again, as you already had, and now it’s live.

Back to topic; My Steady Soar seems to work… unless I’m too close to an area where mounting is limited, or if I try to move too soon from launching. If I don’t move, it’s fine. Outside of those, I haven’t really noticed an issue, but that’s my luck. Literally played through Skyrim on the Xbox 360, with no serious, or even discernable bugs.

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