There was a lot of interesting information released in the Q&A, regarding a number of topics. For one, my Kel’Thuzad theory was debunked.
However, the team failed to address one of the core complaints with BFA: TIME-GATING
This issue is behind many of the problems we’ve had in the game (Allied Races and Pathfinder, just to name two examples). It is a systemic issue with the game, and one of the most-cited reasons why people have left.
Unless the devs come out and address this problem directly, as they have done with the issues revolving around class pruning, people will still leave.
There looks to be a lot of cool stuff contained within Shadowlands, and I’d hate to see it spoiled by more poor systems design.
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I imagine that’s why they didn’t pick one of the many questions that were probably asked about it. They don’t want to address it.
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People have been crying crocodile tears over pathfinder for years now. You’d think it would be much easier to accept that it’s a part of the game and get the hell over it.
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They may not want to, but they need to.
Refusing to address a common complaint makes it looks like they don’t see it as an issue… which, in turn, means that we’ll see more of the same.
It’s not “crocodile tears”, if people have a legitimate issue with it.
Also, I’m not sure people have an issue with Pathfinder itself, so much as the time-gating restrictions involved. If Pathfinder was unlockable at launch, merely by completing quests and exploring zones, you wouldn’t see as many complaints.
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I’m sure we will, no doubt.
You have much more faith in this team than I do.
I want to like Shadowlands, but all of the trust they accumulated over the years has been burned. They have to earn everything now.
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No sorry, I meant we’ll see more time gating. Pathfinder is coming back, so that’s a guaranteed 6 month+ wait already.
Ah, I get you.
Yeah… they need to sort that crud out.
Time gating has been a thing since BC.
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Time gating impact will be lessened if they lessen the RNG in Shadowlands. I think I may have oversimplified the problem but I think that sums up the frustration with how time gating works currently on retail with so much RNG throw on top.
You have to admit, at least things aren’t as bad as broken shore
Customers don’t typically “get over it” and then keep paying. They find something else that meets their needs better.
People want to keep playing the game because they enjoyed it, and that’s why so many people complain before they quit. But they DO quit. There are no crocodile tears about it.
Maybe good for getting that warm internet smugness feeling, but not so great for Blizzard when they need customer money to put food on the table. 
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I dunno, I think the Q&A was good and many of the issues of BFA have been addressed in the new expansion. You’re clearly someone who wants flying earlier and to be able to grind it from the outset. Some people don’t want it at all and feel it kills immersion.
Pathfinder isn’t perfect but there’s no way they can perfectly cater to both sides. Personally I’m fine with it.
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Q&As will always fail because it is impossible to get people to agree on what a “good question” is.
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Heck I feel we got some really good information this time, it was less cringey than usual; Overall a great Q&A.
It’s not a “Failed Q&A” just because they didn’t directly address your issue in the way you wanted
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Polio was around for a long time too. But we didn’t like it so we did something about it.
If people are going to leave before they even found out what the answer is, then they were going to leave anyway.
Or take a break and come back when the expac is active and the answer is out there.
People like you are the reason they get away with all the crap that has made this game a joke. Just bend over and accept any ridiculous aspect, and chastise anyone who disagrees and voices displeasure. You are right though, most people have “accepted” it’s part of the game and left. Classic is saving this dead franchise.
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I also think that the Q&A had a lot of good to it.
That said, this hasn’t been a good expansion, and the reason it hasn’t is because of the system problems in the game. They had an opportunity to address those systemic issues, and didn’t.
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If they ease back on time gates then you straight to endless forum moaning about content drought.
Personally I think the gates are fine. I typically don’t bump into them. They really just drive a consistent pace of play.
The people who want to consume months of content in days really do the game no favors.