I remember an Ion interview a couple of years back where he teased the concept of the team wondering what a heroic version of the over world would look like. I’ve always wondered if that would be the simplest path back to a “modern Classic”. Of course not the most ideal solution, as it may be instanced, but then you wouldn’t have the wingers complaining about having to do it. I personally dream about what a heroic Chromie Time would look like with associated achievements etc. Now that would really get me to roll a fifteenth warrior alt!
I don’t really need to know why they like it, I have my own personal conclusions about it.
I also don’t think you’re correct when you say ‘retail WoW really doesn’t have a ton of appeal for your average MMO gamer anymore’ and without evidence of the contrary it’s purely assumption.
I’m sure there is a lot to classic, I just have zero interest in the game and think it’s VASTLY inferior to every single other MMO currently available, I’m glad people enjoy it if they do.
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I mean…no. I can tell you one of the big reasons that I play - these days, at work, I find myself needing to do many mindless, repetitive administrative tasks. What draws me to WoW these days is that the gameplay reminds me a lot of this mindless drudgery, except for the fact that it allows me to make-believe that I’m having fun doing it. If, at any point, I got anywhere close to needing to turn on my mind to be able to play, believe me I’d realize it.
What you’re asking from me is like the person standing around in the middle of the night asking me to explain why it isn’t broad daylight.
That’s not to say that I don’t understand why it’s the case or that I consider it some grand failure on Blizzard’s part. It’s not. They’re making a game that can be played by as wide of a range of the population as possible. That means anyone from kids to adults, from high-school dropouts to people with degrees. If they were to suddenly start making zones only for people with PhDs, or if they started to include moral decision-making that’s deep enough for someone who’s been on active duty in the military, they’d be ruling out a huge percentage of their player base, so they’re not going to do it.
It’s never going to be an ideal game for every player, and it’s not your job to talk people out of that fact.
It’s more like I’m trying to get you to understand why others are able to see and you aren’t despite it being broad daylight. The sky isn’t the problem.
I’m not trying to talk you out of your opinion, I really couldn’t care less that you’re spending your money on something you only make-believe that you’re having fun doing. But just like you’re allowed to express your opinion of the game here, I am too.
Well, I’m pretty certain that I’m not the problem either 
Gameplay wise there is nothing I prefer in retail but I do think some of the QoL would be nice if they ever do a classic+
I think the meme specs need to be flushed out in classic and classes could play a tiny bit faster but I think TBC era combat is a nice speed. Wrath is a bit too fast but still better than retail.
My biggest complaint with retail is PvE devolved into feeling like Diablo… it’s just endless run run run aoe aoe aoe you can’t die vs one non boss mob.
You also have convoluted rotations on retail where individual button presses don’t feel impactful or good at all. You have to press 5-7 buttons in retail to do the damage of 1-2 presses in classic.
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Oh dude come on.
Retail transmogs are not always perfect but there are so many great sets across all expansions. Meanwhile the classic sets barring a couple are as forgettable as anythung from 20 yeard sgo
Blizzard needs to completely re-imagine dungeons to favor careful, exploratory gameplay over sweaty gameplay. Add twists and turns, nooks and crannies, holes, secret rooms, dangerous mob packs, pats, many optional bosses with bonus loot for completion.
Every dungeon should be unique and maximally immersive, inviting gameplay that respects a dungeon as a time investment and commitment to exploration and fun. Some areas in these dungeons should be harder than others, necessitating better gear and better playstyles to navigate those rooms and hallways.
Modern dungeons are basically just tunnels designed for speedrunning. It’s a great way to get gear, but it has absolutely destroyed the soul of this game.
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Like a few have stated Classic/vanilla vs retail are fundamentally different games. They had no choice but to evolve the game as the demographic and audience changed. Ive been around since the beginning and primarily play retail because of the QoL changes and the general sense that raids and dungeons are not multi day of long hour affairs anymore, many of the “old gaurd” as it were just dont have the same time availability. Many of us also have kids who just dont fit into what classic was, and thats not including the instant gratification mentality a lot of modern games have bought into. I’ll still dip into classic but wont be able to commit to a 40man raid as much as Id like.
Many of you also like to gripe that retail has no social aspect left which is largely false its no different than classic. People are and have always been largely silent in dungeons. All it takes is some effort. If all the ones who complain its missing spoke up in the game you will fill your friends list and grow a guild. Put yourself out there and people will respond
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This is some amazingly blind nostalgia. People speed run dungeons in Vanilla too.
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You did a good jobs describing Raids. I for one have NEVER had this kind of time to devote to this game, which is why I’ve never raided. Never did a full run of BrD or Dire Maul either. The recent “mega-dungeons” have been filling this niche, but there’s a reason they only put one in an expac. If all the dungeons were like this I’d have to find another game. 
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They’ve done that for SoD and that game mode has been withering on the vine since Phase 3.
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How miserable do you have to be to tell strangers that are happy that they aren’t happy?
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Yes, 1% more crit, I’m really feeling it now!!! Lol
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Still in better shape than TWW retail ironically.
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Classic is tedious and boring, especially after leveling through it several times while it was relevant. Retail is what you make it to be. It is plenty social and you can do RP all you want, but know one is going to force you.
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Been playing since 04 and I think Classic is too slow/tedious. I finished Netherstorm again today with dragon riding and it took 4 hours to complete. The old stuff is such a slog at this point.
I personally think Blizzard should have taken what was good in Wrath (a sweet spot for me) and pushed that forward into Cata. instead of screwing around and breaking up raid guilds. That’s where I saw the cracks starting. Within my own guild, RL friends and strangers around me.
WotLK 10 man raiding was the sweet spot for sure.
Not sure why they chose what they did.
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10m was worse then most remember. Rough to balance and you’d be looking to grab specific classes to cover buffs while omitting others. It’s the closest thing I guess to modern retail M+ boss fights with a lockout.
25m was much better and I’d even take the chaos of 40 mans over 10m.
- Uh, “Make-believe” was their phrasing, not mine:
- In addition, the irony of your post is mind-blowing when this entire thread is Classic andies trying to tell strangers (us) that we aren’t happy with Retail.
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