I resubbed after a long absence, and now I’m remembering one of the reasons I left. Is it just me, or is wow just too big now? Every expansion adds a new continent or two, another handful of currencies, new mechanics, new options, new factions, new this, new that… and only rarely removes things that are not necessary any longer.
I do understand the concept of keeping things fresh by adding new content, but to me, the sheer amount of things to be aware of now is (too me) just too much. Add to that the the intentional obscurity the devs add things to idk, keep it interesting or w/e. I have had days where researching wtf is/where/what this and where/what to do takes up a significant amount of my available playtime. I used to have 40+ hours per week here, and now it’s 3 or 4 per week. Spending my time figuring out what “x” is not my idea of a good time.
Is there a balance between keeping WoW fun, and yet engaging at the same time?
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I think the biggest problem is knowing what is relevant and negotiating around odd inconsistencies that are a result of it being so big and old.
I don’t think the shear size of it is what is negatively impacting the game.
I think smoothing that out without removing content would be the best solution.
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I don’t think it’s too big, I think they just do a really poor job of introducing systems and areas to new/returning players.
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zaralek caverns, ringing deeps, deepholm
My brother is too big. WOW is just fine
I don’t think it’s too big, but I wish they made the old places more relevant.
There’s so many beautiful zones, it would be cool if they added world quests the old ones.
Someone in discord a few weeks ago said it would be cool if a random old world raid got “awakened” each week and dropped relevant ilvl gear along side the current raid. Honestly that seems like a fun idea to me
On a practically note I’m sure making old items work with todays stats would be a bit of a nightmare
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Blizzard needs to change how they see expansions in my opinion. Now that we have a plethora of regions, planets, zones etc I think they need to do more expansions like Cataclysm where they further incorporate and involve the current zones. I love the moments when we revisit old zones in expansions. WOTLK’s portal to Ungoro blew my mind at the time. Deathknights in Plaguelands, Siege of Orgrimmar raid from MOP.
I wish they would stop with the expansion specific systems and evolve the current world, new quests, new stories, same zones. Add new enemies, build new towns, destroy old ones.
I want my experience to be a citizen of Azeroth not, the “champion” in every darn world ending event haha. I can be a wandering adventurer and still have my epic moments in The Barrens or deep under Black Rock Mountain.
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No, it’s not too big. It’s a virtual world. You can’t do everything in the real world either, and that’s ok.
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Nah, the game is fine. You just need to focus on one particular part at each time. And about currencies, you only need to care about the current season stuff and gold.
Wow’s world is very big place but most of it really isn’t relevant anymore. Leveling through it is really a solo experience.
They occasionally do quests and events that have you revisit these old areas but that’s the exception.
Not sure what the answer is. I like having the ability to still go anywhere but at the same time I rarely go anywhere but the current expansion.
I agree with your “expansion specific systems” comment, which is a big part of what I’m saying, and pretty much everything you said after that, too.
Too Big? I’ve been on the same isle for 12 years now.
IT’s delightfully enormous and over filled with options. Super daunting after a return, but once you settle in and decide what you want to do you’ll appreciate your ability to decide from so many options. IMO.
I’m a returning player, and I still don’t know what Zaralek caverns are, or how to even get there! But it’s on the map.
This is part of what I am pointing out. How to know what can I do, what should I do, where should I go and how do I get there, what is currency 11 for vs. currency 18 vs wth is this token for, this is what I’m saying that I am spending too much time figuring this $#!7 out, and even then I’m not sure if I’m headed in the right direction, and if I am, am I going about it the right way, or is there another direction entirely that I don’t even know is there?
I don’t know what all the options are. I appreciate that you acknowledge essentially what I am saying, tho.
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WoW is the only MMO I can think of where the size of the world negatively affects new and returning players and it’s almost entirely because of the new player experience.
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Agreed. I cannot imagine being completely new and sticking around long enough for it.
Start with this. What are you interested in doing when you play? There are basic game options that branch out for PvE, PvP, Instancing.
I mean, if you collect… well that’s multiple games in itself.
as far as currency translations, the only real currencies you needs to “worry” about will be the most current, anything before tww is useful, but not something to dig into until you need to dig into it. You’ll know you need to dig into it when your curiosity or research brings you to it.
