The Covenant System Never Worked

[Dinolock-kelthuzad]

I read through the developer update and was very disheartened to read this section here:

@Kaivax

When it comes to the limitations on Covenant-switching, millions of players experienced Shadowlands for the first time through the lens of their Covenant of choice, and that would have not been possible had the choice carried less weight from the outset. Nevertheless, after the conclusion of the Chains of Domination campaign, the Covenants are united against the Jailer, and revisiting player feedback in that context has led us to re-evaluate our approach. In terms of the day-to-day player experience, the advantages of a rigid division between Covenants have diminished since Shadowlands launched, while the downsides (feeling disadvantaged in certain types of content, or having to choose between mechanical advantages and aesthetics) have only grown. That balance of factors no longer justifies the original limitations on Covenant-switching, so in 9.1.5 we’re looking to provide a way to circumvent them.

I’m happy with the changes, but like most others, I’m frustrated with how long it took to get here. I do not like how Blizzard defends and justifies the rigidity of the covenant system in this section. The covenant system has always been a problem for players… since beta. It didn’t suddenly become a problem in 9.1.

This shows to me that there hasn’t been a true philosophical change in development. What they said about conduit energy should have been said about the covenant system too:

@Kaivax

The system simply has not played out the way we hoped it would. We should have heeded community feedback and taken a different direction a year ago

Right now, this isn’t giving me much faith for next expansion’s system. Are we really going to do the legion legendary, azerite armor, essences, and now covenant dance all over again? How many times do these systems have to fail on launch only to be revamped later down the line?

[Aaku-zuljin]

Yup. Even when they begrudgingly make the change everybody wanted, they still have to act like they’re right and we’re wrong and they’re only doing it now because it “makes sense” (as though it wouldn’t have in 9.0? The covenants being so hostile about it in the first place is what never made sense) not because players wanted it or they realized it was a terrible system.

[Ardmccloud-frostmourne]

@Dinolock-kelthuzad

How many times do these systems have to fail on launch only to be revamped later down the line?

As long as people keep giving them money they don’t care.