I can see this happening in many areas. I’m certain this first experiment is just the first step while they tune the system.
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That is a good idea! When this releases I may just try engaging with this feature in that manner.
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I can’t wait to have this for BFA and Shadowlands. BFA especially has mechanics in certain areas that make it impossible to solo 
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BFA anti-solo dungeon mechanics are no longer threatening with descent DF gear.
( I haven’t tried the raids yet )
You spent money on creating something that we can easily use in a normal dungeon. Stop restricting everything and allow us to play with NPCs in Mythic dungeons as well. Are you afraid that NPCs might outperform players?
Why no XP at the end of dungeon if we play with NPC? I’d use this to level alts to avoid dealing with people, but not worth it unless the end gives the XP
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That bonus is the incentive for folks to use the queue, so groups actually fill. No reason for it with NPCs.
Without XP I’ll just wait until I’ve maxed out my characters in the following expansion and then come back and solo it. The cut scenes I can see on YouTube and any questline that requires a dungeon I don’t need. That’s why I didn’t have any maxed Bastion characters.
Now let’s see if we can’t use this to make old raids and dungeons that aren’t soloable soloable.
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The only difference you’re likely to notice is the bots might actually talk to you.
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I genuinely don’t understand why people want to play a MMO solo. Seems like there are better options in the gaming world than WoW if you want to play by yourself.
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I don’t have an issue with being social and having people to talk to. I’ve always found it weird that so many wow players are petrified of speaking to other players.
WoW offers a huge array of open world stuff that can be soloed. With each new expansion, aspects of the previous expansions become available to solo players which adds to game play options. Then there are collecting things, achievement farming and sightseeing stuff I couldn’t when it was current. There is always a lot to do and more being added added on a regular basis. I buy the expansion, play my monthly subscription and I get to play when I want and as much as I want.
Really, the only reason to group in WoW is if one is playing with friends or doing current content that cannot be soloed. All of my friends and guildies are long gone but I’m still enjoying playing without drama, scheduling or loot conflicts and all the lost hours of dealing with interpersonal issues. Granted I’m a retired introvert so this may not work as well for everyone but that’s another thing about WoW I enjoy, there is room enough for everyone to enjoy many different ways to play the game. Win-Win for everyone.
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Hey, I’m with you. But most of the groups I pugged and tried to chat got dead silence in return or a hello at most.
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I’d still prefer like-minded actual people, but the simple fact is that’s not a real option for many people a lot of the time. I’d like to queue into a system that makes good human matches where possible, but when that’s not possible in say 60 seconds or so, fills the remaining spots with AI so there’s never an issue of not being able to play the content of choice. Once perfected I think this system should be expanded to all content of all levels throughout the game.
Eliminating the need to play this game on a set schedule, or with lots of waiting and awkward group-making, could be its biggest step forward in years.
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It’s just a story mode. Not a solo all end game content mode. Like other MMORPGS, it’s just a way to see the storyline all the way through and finish quests.
I don’t understand where people seem to be getting the idea that this was ever meant for anything more than story mode. This isn’t meant for progression. It’s meant for the people who just want to see the story and do their quests— like they originally asked for— like other games have had for ages. 
How do you know what Blizzard and its new owners Microsoft are thinking?
Personally I think even with normal difficulty only, story mode is the least valuable of their motivations, although it may be the most neutral for initial communications about it. Far more important will be letting the wider player base get comfortable with the dungeons, and particular with tanking and healing roles in them. If they can succeed in getting more players willing and able to do those roles, they may be able to solve some long-standing problems.
That’d be a big step forward, but an even bigger step forward would be removing the huge artificial progress block thrown in front of the mainstream audience who does not want to sign up for a part-time-job-level commitment to be part of an organized raiding team. As an aging gamer myself, I’d also appreciate a pause button I can use as often as I need to.
But who knows, even with new viable options for a much brighter future, maybe Microsoft will decide to stick with just the old and shrinking niche of players who are already WoW veterans and still have enough of their friends playing to keep progressing through content that requires organized groups. Usually money talks though.
I forgot to discuss Warbands, which I strongly suspect are also related to this goal. I suspect being able to progress a stable of all your own characters together would be very appealing. It’d solve yet another long-term problem, of many players being frustrated with RNG and feeling they’re not getting the amount of drops they want. This problem would go away for good when all the drops are going to someone in their warband.
For me, I think what they need are tutorials for that. Teach people about priority targets, changing focus to adds, interrupts, etc.
That’s what this game could really use. I think it’d help a lot.
Something to keep in mind is that historically speaking, they don’t seem to micromanage their subsidiaries in such a manner as to make decisions like that about Warcraft. Upper management will change, but I’m unsure if that’ll affect WoW itself on such a level.
All of that aside, from my experience, there have been quite a few conversations over the years about why this game doesn’t have a story mode option to learn and finish quests like other games do. I’m just happy it’s finally here so that I can enjoy it for what it is.
Warbands right now are just a way to do account wide banks and rep and whatnot. Much like Legacies in Old Republic. I’d honestly be surprised if we ever saw the ability to purposely multibox our own characters like that and funnel them gear. I don’t feel like that’s something Blizz would be keen on. But who knows, we may be able to eventually change the follower NPCs to our own as skins. But probably not to funnel gear.
Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t think about such things. I’m just saying that we might want to keep our feet on the ground here so there’s less disappointment if such things don’t come to pass. The ideas are interesting. I’m just not sure they’re practical. But don’t ever stop talking about them. I’m the weird practical one. You’re the dreamer. Which is probably a better place to be than me. 
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i Feel you on that one. It was the same with my girlfriend. In some cases i said she was new and an immediate vote kick
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