Blizzard needs to seriously reconsider the current trinket system being implemented for Naxxramas. Borrowed power systems have consistently proven detrimental to the game, as evidenced by their reception in retail WoW.
Issues We Face:
- Excessive Sanctified Gear Limit:
A 12-piece sanctified gear limit for trinkets is excessive. This completely invalidates previous-tier gear, including rings, trinkets, and other items. Reducing the limit to 4-6 pieces would provide greater flexibility in choosing gear for raids, encouraging more diverse setups and preserving the relevance of prior content. - Overpowered Player Scaling:
The current system risks turning Naxxramas into a “MoP remix,” where overpowered players trivialize the content. We could potentially see 5-man teams clearing Naxxramas (difficulty 0). To address this, trinket power should scale with the difficulty level. For example, trinkets in Difficulty 0 should cap at level 2, ensuring a fair balance. - Creates a Chore-Like Experience:
Missing a weekly raid under this system puts players at a severe disadvantage, making it harder to keep up. This is particularly detrimental to alt characters, significantly limiting their viability for Naxxramas content.
Final Thoughts:
While adding hard modes to Classic WoW is an interesting idea, the current implementation is not the right approach.
Additionally, Tier 3 set bonuses need major improvements. The current bonuses leave many specs looking to blue items for their BiS gear, which feels awful for players. Even if some items are made “epic,” the overall system feels poorly designed. Farming Naxxramas for gear you can’t effectively use feels demoralizing.
For example, as a Ret Paladin, being forced to rely on Tier 2 gear to maintain competitive DPS is unacceptable. Blizzard should bring back the ability to convert Tier 3 pieces to Draconic or Core Forged set bonuses. This mechanic was well-received and should have been carried over to Tier 3. Scrapping such a good system feels like a missed opportunity.