Patch 4.3 Content Preview

[BadKarma]

Dragons are more subtle then Humans.

[BadKarma]

Also this expansions story is more focused on Thrall and the Earthen Ring then anything else.

[Arvin]

I'm gonna be hopeful for the new raid, I'm sure it won't disappoint. We need more burning legion involvement next expansion, sargeras involved even.

[Correction]

I'm gonna be hopeful for the new raid, I'm sure it won't disappoint. We need more burning legion involvement next expansion, sargeras involved even.

The return of Mal'ganis in the Icecrown quests were such a tease (OMG Burning Legion resurgent!, etc). I hate when they create a loose end in a fun questline then never use it in a dungeon/raid later on.

[Meresgi]

The return of Mal'ganis in the Icecrown quests were such a tease (OMG Burning Legion resurgent!, etc). I hate when they create a loose end in a fun questline then never use it in a dungeon/raid later on.

^This


Also wtf at the whole Throne of Tides story line? Where did Ozumat take Neptulon? We get no more of that story line? Isn't it a huge deal that the naga fucking kidnapped him?

[fantasticdan]

^This


Also wtf at the whole Throne of Tides story line? Where did Ozumat take Neptulon? We get no more of that story line? Isn't it a huge deal that the naga fucking kidnapped him?

From: http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2151656030

Spoiler: show

Q: What happened with the Abyssal Maw dungeon that was supposed to come with Firelands? – Maryjanee (EU-EN), Espiritu (NA)


A: Our initial plan for this raid tier was to have fewer bosses in Firelands and a small number of bosses in the Abyssal Maw. As we looked more closely at Firelands, though, we realized that it deserved more bosses. We also got excited about designing item art (and set bonuses!) that were very fiery in nature, and the Molten Front questing area was turning out to be really cool, so we ended up piling more resources into Firelands. That led to the decision to focus on one strong theme (fire), rather than a more diluted fire-and-water theme.

The case for Abyssal Maw pitch was that we could reuse a lot of existing assets (the fights were to take place in a giant shelled demigod like Nespirah), and while we are willing to do that, we thought Abyssal Maw would just pale in comparison to the magnificence of the Firelands. So, we put all of our eggs into that one basket. We’ve decided for now that the Vashj’ir quest line along with the Throne of the Tides dungeon does a pretty good job of finishing the Neptulon story.

Spoiler: show

lol

[Meresgi]

We’ve decided for now that the Vashj’ir quest line along with the Throne of the Tides dungeon does a pretty good job of finishing the Neptulon story.

lol...so the story is "Oh he got kidnapped, and while he not being around might let the naga overthrow the balance of the sea and all that shit...what evs."


That's like if the movie Taken ended after the guys daughter was snatched up, and he was just like "Damnit! I should do something...but oh well"

[aurik]

Blizzard does a really poor job of using the content hooks they put in since WotLK. Look at all the wasted space up around the north of northrend with the vrykul castles, also the mal'ganis / scarlet crusade tease, all the space around gundrak etc.

I'm sure tons of stuff was planned and just got cut because for whatever reason it seems they're developing the game on a budget. There could have been both a firelands and another 5-6 boss "plane of water" raid in 4.2 and I'm sure people would have been a lot happier...but no, we got a measly 7 bosses and an unimaginative dailies zone.

Maybe now that they're hemorrhaging subs they'll try to turn things around? Eh, who knows.

[Correction]

Maybe now that they're hemorrhaging subs they'll try to turn things around? Eh, who knows.

It's going to be very difficult if the latest from Tom Chilton hold true:

Blizzard Seeking "Meaningful Difference" In World Of Warcraft Expansion Timing

For us, where the biggest improvement is going to be in this cycle is in the actual expansion release. Traditionally we've only been able to do an expansion about every two years. We're really hoping to make a meaningful difference in that."

For them to not break that particular promise they'll have to beat previous records on releasing expansions. Looking at the calendar, they have until next August to get a whole new retail boxed expansion for WoW out. Worst case scenario, we're dealing with 4.3 till next fall. Assuming Heart of the Swarm/Diablo III don't make FY2011 this would be very bad for Blizzard's profits so they have all the motivation they need to keep a tighter production schedule.

Whether or not this means better content or another "A Moogle Kupo d'Etat" situation remains to be seen. Blizzcon should solidify the schedule.

[vrumpt]

I highly doubt 4.3 or even a new expansion can counter the flood of new MMOs coming out over the next 6 months. They'd have to actually do something new, and seeing as how Bobby Kotick has said hes fine with releasing the same CoD game every year, I doubt we'll see anything different in the new expac that Cata didn't do already.

[aurik]

Oh I doubt they have the flexibility to change things for 4.x. Too much inertia already, we're going to get 4.3 in December and the next expansion will be Q2 2012, at least according to their schedules.

I'm just saying that if they wanted to do things right:
* 3.2 would have also included a vrykul and/or scarlet crusade raid in North Icecrown
* in ~May 2010 they would have come out with a Gundrak raid in addition to Ruby Sanctum to bridge the gap to Cata
* 4.2 would have been rolled into 4.1 and released in ~May, and should have included at least 1 Firelands / Hyjal 5-man instance
* Aug/Sept would have been 4.3, Abyssal Maw raid, 1-2 5-mans, and maybe a one-off raid boss a-la-Sarth in Uldum?
* Deathwing / Deepholm raid in December/January, 2-3 5-mans.

Basically, every raid tier should include 5-mans and dailies that relate to that tier (see: ICC-style), and raids should come out every ~4 months. If that means each tier is only a ~6-8 ilvl upgrade instead of 13 to prevent scaling problems on the expansion is a whole, so be it.

[Kaylia]

It's not much, but they confirmed we will get a 4.4. No idea if its raid material, but I'm already interested.

[Correction]

The news that's come out makes it highly unlikely that we'll get another full-on raid in 4.4. Best hope's for another Sartharion/Halion type encounter where it's one boss that drops trinkets/cloaks or some other bullshit + updated holiday events.

[aurik]

According to MMOC, it looks like it might be the pre-wow5 world event.

Also 4.3 raid smaller than Ulduar, so get ready for another 10~ boss instance I guess. Hope it's not just 5-7 bosses again.

[Kaylia]

Even ruby sanctum didn't get a full number (3.3.5). I'm not putting it past blizzard to screw us with a patches and do a world event only, but there is usually something significant for 3.x updates..

[Katlan]

According to MMOC, it looks like it might be the pre-wow5 world event.

Also 4.3 raid smaller than Ulduar, so get ready for another 10~ boss instance I guess. Hope it's not just 5-7 bosses again.

im expecting 8-10 bosses. It has to be more then FL. But then again, the release of 5 new dungeons will prolly be blizz's excuse for why the raid is so small

Basically, every raid tier should include 5-mans and dailies that relate to that tier (see: ICC-style), and raids should come out every ~4 months. If that means each tier is only a ~6-8 ilvl upgrade instead of 13 to prevent scaling problems on the expansion is a whole, so be it.

I disagree about each tier having a daily hub. 5 man's I agree w/, but Molten Core daily hub was terrible and I don't look forward to getting another one. One "extra" daily hub (Tourny / Molten Core) per xpac is fine w/me, otherwise it's just gonna be a burden knowing a new 20+ day daily hub will be added every tier. if they add a new daily hub per tier it's just a bad way to prolong content and keep ppl playing. and it's an excuse to put less effort into a raid / 5 man's since part of their resources are going into making a new daily hub

[Boyiee]

Even ruby sanctum didn't get a full number (3.3.5). I'm not putting it past blizzard to screw us with a patches and do a world event only, but there is usually something significant for 3.x updates..

The patch in between TBC and WOLTK where all the zombies were running around was a world event type patch with nothing really added, I think talent changes were in this patch though. It could be something like this, with no REAL content. For it to be a 4.4.0 would be strange though if it were something like that.

[Correction]

The patch in between TBC and WOLTK where all the zombies were running around was a world event type patch with nothing really added, I think talent changes were in this patch though. It could be something like this, with no REAL content. For it to be a 4.4.0 would be strange though if it were something like that.

There was more than just zombies, there was proper bridge gear added to people still running around in T4 and a new boss in Karazhan that dropped a pet and the Arcanite Ripper. They also reactivated the old Naxxramas event bosses in Stratholme/Scholomance/etc.

[Odon]

If they readd the ability for me to kill anyone anywhere at anytime I will be happy as fuck.

[Boyiee]

There was more than just zombies, there was proper bridge gear added to people still running around in T4 and a new boss in Karazhan that dropped a pet and the Arcanite Ripper. They also reactivated the old Naxxramas event bosses in Stratholme/Scholomance/etc.

I don't remember much bridge gear, but then again I was in a guild that did bt/sunwell until the nerf and then started leveling alts to 70.