Please reconsider your stance on retail/classic reward linking

[Ythisens]

It’s a slap in the face!

How can you slap?!

[Fesz-cenarius]

The CE pets should be allowed in Classic. They were delivered in-game, but technically not items you got in-game as drops, your account was flagged. It would be a slap in the face to CE owners of Blizzard didn’t allow them in the “authentic experience”.

They were acquired in retail. Your characters in retail acquired and obtained those CE pets.

[Lagspike-duskwood (Lagspike)]

This also could be an exception where we somehow grant them for original CE owners. No idea. Interesting thing to think about though. I’ll mention it though that you guys are asking about the original CE pets for original CE owners.

While we are on the topic of hypotheticals, could you also see the possibility of releasing a “classic collectors edition?” Even if it’s exclusively digital and only offered the pets (no other rewards for buying it) in classic, I would pay for it.

[Starman-zangarmarsh (Starman)]

This also could be an exception where we somehow grant them for original CE owners. No idea. Interesting thing to think about though. I’ll mention it though that you guys are asking about the original CE pets for original CE owners.

Thank you for your insight on this. Here are my thoughts:

Classic is a different game, but it’s tied to my account. My account has those pets flagged.

Now, let’s say there’s a Classic CE. EVERYONE will get it, diminishing what makes those pets special.

If you don’t allow the CE owners to at least get them, therefore NOBODY gets them, that kills my enthusiasm for my “authentic experience”. Those pets were special to me.

So those are your choices: everyone gets a new Classic CE, making the pets common which is a terrible idea, support the original CE owners, or take the pets away from everyone, which doesn’t make Classic “authentic”.

[Starman-zangarmarsh (Starman)]

While we are on the topic of hypotheticals, could you also see the possibility of releasing a “classic collectors edition?” Even if it’s exclusively digital and only offered the pets (no other rewards for buying it) in classic, I would pay for it.

This is the EXACT reason why there shouldn’t be a Classic CE. Everyone will get it.

[Narya-kirin-tor (Narya)]

Big assumption there.

I hate to say it, but I probably wouldn’t, not without more confidence that Blizzard won’t warp Classic in some way that makes me not actually want to play it.

(This is assuming that it would be, as with the original, available for a limited time only. If anyone can spend real money and get the pet at any time, yes, that would be just plain awful.)

[Starman-zangarmarsh (Starman)]

It’s not an assumption. Have you seen the eBay prices on vanilla CEs?

[Lagspike-duskwood (Lagspike)]

No, only people who think it’s worth the price will pay it. That’s not everyone.

Those that bought the original CE have their exclusive pets on retail. I’m not asking for the pets on retail, but I want the opportunity to have them on classic.

[Mogar-stormrage (Mogar)]

I had a few characters in Vanilla WoW. They were part of my experience. Can I get them restored when Classic launches? Or maybe just, like a few of the epics I luckily got my hands on?

Ok, obviously not a legit comparison, but I would prefer if the philosophy is simply separating the games entirely. Players who had those CE pets in Vanilla still have them. They can show them off any time they want. It seems a strange, arbitrary thing to say this one element that an individual had in Vanilla transfers over to Classic.

[Starman-zangarmarsh (Starman)]

Here’s another solution: new CE pets for Classic, vanilla CE owners get to use their pets.

[Fesz-cenarius]

This also could be an exception where we somehow grant them for original CE owners. No idea. Interesting thing to think about though. I’ll mention it though that you guys are asking about the original CE pets for original CE owners.

Thank you for your insight on this. Here are my thoughts:

Classic is a different game, but it’s tied to my account. My account has those pets flagged.

Now, let’s say there’s a Classic CE. EVERYONE will get it, diminishing what makes those pets special.

If you don’t allow the CE owners to at least get them, therefore NOBODY gets them, that kills my enthusiasm for my “authentic experience”. Those pets were special to me.

So those are your choices: everyone gets a new Classic CE, making the pets common which is a terrible idea, support the original CE owners, or take the pets away from everyone, which doesn’t make Classic “authentic”.

If Blizzard offered a Classic CE that only granted pets to Classic and NOT retail, then that should not affect the value of those pets in retail as those pets you have in retail are still rare in retail.

IMO, there are some people who are desperately grasping at straws in an effort to get at least something linked between the two games that they can later use as a precedent for further links between the two games. “The CE pets were obtained in retail, yet we have them in Classic. Why do I not have my retail mounts in Classic, especially since those pets are part of the “account wide” collection system just as my retail mounts are? Why is that item I looted not added to my account wide transmog collection, when my CE pets which I obtained in retail and which are part of that account wide collection were linked between retail and classic?”

I can only speak for myself, but I would prefer that Blizzard not allow the original CE pets to link between classic and retail. I would rather see them offer a Classic CE (even if it is just a digital CE and/or has different pets than the vanilla CE), or just not have CE pets in Classic.

[Brockthorn-malygos (Brockthorn)]

Here’s another solution: new CE pets for Classic, vanilla CE owners get to use their pets.

I was about to post that very same suggestion.
Then it would not diminish those with the original CE pets.

[Avarond-dalaran (Avarond)]

Screw digital I want it to come with a box so I can have it on my shelf.

[Fesz-cenarius]

Screw digital I want it to come with a box so I can have it on my shelf.

I have always gotten the physical CE’s myself, so I understand. I recognize, though, that there seems to be an industry push to doing things digitally and not physically.

[Avarond-dalaran (Avarond)]

I know it’s really sad there is something about having the box to me that’s more meaningful.

[Mogar-stormrage (Mogar)]

I don’t have a problem with a CE exclusively for Classic WoW. I think that’s a good idea. Attach an early access period to it. It’ll help stagger the amount of players joining the game at launch. Maybe Blizzard will feel less incliend to use sharding in such a scenario.

[Starman-zangarmarsh (Starman)]

IMO, there are some people who are desperately grasping at straws in an effort to get at least something linked between the two games that they can later use as a precedent for further links between the two games.

Wrong. Bad opinion. The vanilla CE pets are given to you in-game but that’s just the delivery method. If Jeff Kaplan came to your house with a clipboard asking what pet you wanted for your toon, would that still be considered “in-game”?

I’m not splitting hairs. The pets are tied to your ACCOUNT before you logged into the game for the very first time. Classic is also tied to your account. That’s why I see the two of them as equal.

Blizzard can choose not to use the CE flag but I think that’s a terrible idea. Remember those laptops you could buy that flagged your account as a CE? People were PISSED about that. This is the same thing. Keep the CE special, keep the experience authentic.

[Kapono-silver-hand]

I would definitely play Classic if the mounts I got there transferred to retail. Why would I bother otherwise? I did it for real when it was current, and don’t have any inclination to repeat the stupid grind. It took all of 3 minutes playing the demo to pulverize my rose-colored goggles in that regard.

However… if classic mounts show up in my retail mount selection… and if I complete the quest chain up to “Bang the Gong” (without any B.S. timeframe for actually hitting the gong during the event) with a Black Scarab mount as the end goal, I’ll play Classic for YEARS if that is what is required. Oh - and while you’re making it worthwhile, make it so Thunderfury, the class-specific weapons (Rohk’Delar, Benediction) and Atiesh get added to your heirlooms if you complete them in Classic. THAT would be a good draw too.

Blizzard does this every season with Diablo - I don’t know why its so difficult to go Classic -> Retail (but not reverse). Every Diablo season all your rewards and items acquired get transferred over to regular play. Then a new season starts.

Its all about the $ and time. I’ll gladly throw my money and time at classic if those mounts show up in retail as having been obtained. Otherwise forget it.

[Fesz-cenarius]

I never once said anything about making those CE pets less special in retail, did I? I’m all for keeping those pets special in retail.

I simply do not want Blizzard t even give the appearance of a precedent for linking the two games. If you say that won’t happen, how many people have we sen on these very forums who are aready trying to use the possible addition of sharding and loot trading as precendent for any number of non vanilla QOL convenience changes?

In addition to your account being flagged, the CE pets are also tied to the “account wide” collection system. The same “account wide” collection system that includes mounts and transmog items collected.

[Primalmatter-stormrage (Primalmatter)]

I would definitely play Classic if the mounts I got there transferred to retail. Why would I bother otherwise? I did it for real when it was current, and don’t have any inclination to repeat the stupid grind. It took all of 3 minutes playing the demo to pulverize my rose-colored goggles in that regard.

However… if classic mounts show up in my retail mount selection… and if I complete the quest chain up to “Bang the Gong” (without any B.S. timeframe for actually hitting the gong during the event) with a Black Scarab mount as the end goal, I’ll play Classic for YEARS if that is what is required.

Its all about the $ and time. I’ll gladly throw my money and time at classic if those mounts show up in retail as having been obtained. Otherwise forget it.

The problem I see is the knock on effects such a system would have. Mounts less so I admit but let’s look at transmog. If items from classic unlocked on the current expansion can you imagine how that would impact the economy?

Random greens would suddenly be selling for hundreds of gold without any real explanation as to why for new players.

Part of me would love a chance to get some of the old transmog items I deleted ( silly me not planning a near decade ahead of time) but I understand the net negative it would have on the game.