Comments on: Blizzard drops a Cataclysm bombshell: Guild levelling, raid lockouts, and so much for alternate advancement

By: Longasc

Longasc — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:05:41 +0000

I was thinking about Blizzard dropping some new features and Activision getting blamed for it…

But then Tesh made me start thinking if less can sometimes not be more: http://tishtoshtesh.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/enough-is-enough/

The big question for me is: What is the design focus of this expansion for veteran gamers?

By: veneretio

veneretio — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:22:48 +0000

You make a good point, I never realized that part of what made me excited about the guild talent trees is that I was going to have a good amount of control over how they were utilized.

Path of the Titans I wasn’t surprised about losing because it seems like it’d be a balancing nightmare not only in terms of balancing the paths with each other, but also balancing the barrier to entry of a new character vs a character that had been 85 for many months.

I’m thankful that archaeology is going to be like cooking. I really don’t want to feel any pressure to level it if I find the leveling process boring. (you know… like cooking)

By: Shintar

Shintar — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:32:04 +0000

But still, you have to enjoy the incongruity between raiders being bored stiff on one hand, and yet complaining about the possibility of having more to do.

To be fair, I think these are the raiders who like raiding and not much else, in which case that reasoning makes perfect sense. They want more raid instances but hate having to do anything else to get to raid, so of course adding more non-raiding activities doesn’t excite them. I remember one guy from my guild who was a dedicated and great raider in BC and quite looking forward to WOTLK, but then he quit the game at level 72 because he couldn’t stand the idea of having to spend “so much time” levelling again. /shrug

By: Simon Jones who is blogless

Simon Jones who is blogless — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:17:18 +0000

I liked the idea Path of the Titans, but I had a rather strong feeling that, in practice? They’d be theory crafted to with an inch of their lives and the process would probably be as grindy as hell. There’d be the ‘best’ path for each class and spec and that’d be that, which sounds a lot like the sort of thing they’re trying to get away from.

Though I have absolutely no objection to the fact I have to do ‘Game Stuff’, I do plan to entertain myself by handing my guild leader vast, vast quantities of low level cloth and demanding reputation.

By: Ming

Ming — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:58:27 +0000

I really dislike people taking the dropping of guild talents and PotT as proof that Activision is trying to put pressure on and change Blizzard’s modus operandi. Blizzard has outright stated that they were having problems with the design of PotT and the implementation of guild talents, and frankly, I don’t see any reason not to believe them.

By: Regis

Regis — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:45:08 +0000

I think it’s pretty clear what’s happening. Previously Blizzard would continue until “it’s done”, but now suddenly that’s not a good motto. Activision?

I can buy that Archaeology seemed more like a mandatory profession than a secondary, but I don’t see anything wrong with guild talents. And cut heroic instances on release? It’s the most well-funded gaming company in the world for Christ’s sake!

By: Uzi

Uzi — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:12:09 +0000

Hmmm a lot of information there and a fine summation by Spinks as usual.
Like you I’m glad to see guild talent tree’s go. That was always going to be a nightmare and dramamachine.

I love the idea of cosmetic rewards via a new gathering prof…especially if they keep using the same models for raiding kit (ie Tier gear and same ilevel non tier being identical)making raiders cookie cutters.

Path of Titans. Hmm. Its a pity this is going but I cant see how it could be balanced. If it gave you any sort of edge in PvP/PvE then the EJ/Arena Junkies would post the ‘optimal setup’ and that would be that.
Maybe some sort of non combat bonus to crafting? Or make the Titans reward with Guild exp and rep for the player? Or weave it in to reforging…but requireing mats and further invigorating trade.

I do think Guild Halls would add a lot. Trophies, Guild and craft vendors, maybe a garden with herbs, certainly a forge, loom, anvil etc all instanced for the guildmembers, officers lounge, guild bank access etc makes sense. Maybe a shrine to the Patron Titan that gave a small buff depending on titan rep? Okay i know thats gone…but hey. I can see why player housing doesnt fit with the ickle towns of WoW.