My idea is that the older zones (Kalimdor and EK) would have a story that is their own, not related to the game overall. A zone can have interesting characters, intrigue, threats, and adventure that doesn’t relate to the big baddie. Expansion zones would go into Caverns of Time for a peek into what happened.
I agree Cataclysm was fun during the first playthrough, then garbage. But IMO, it’s garbage now because the story is stuck in Cata and makes no sense. See my reply above this one!
I disagree that high level players being in a technically lower level zone ruins it for them, unless they are after the same mobs/items. Guild Wars 2 is a good example IMO of players of all levels playing together, I think it’s great.
I’m old.
As I said in the long original post, my idea would be that old expansion zones exist in a Caverns of Time-experience where you actually go back in time to experience it, not ruining any story that’s currently going on.
Zones can then be purged of quests and if it fits, the story can take us back there for something.
I think, this is a good thought. Zone stories do not have to be dumbed down to the current big baddie narrative (aka lets put Jailors minion everywhere lol)
There WERE some good stories in Cata like worgen vs sylvanas
Caverns of time could be a whole another expansion on their own or a couple of expansions.
We could make a third war expansion, where we all play through events of War 3, i.e. azeroth of war 3.
A lot of folks would love that
Been playing FFXIV in season 4 as was nothing for me to do. I noticed you went back to old zones a lot during the story… but the story -is- very RPG and uses a lot of cutscenes. Still, the world feels living and breathing.
In GW2 back when I played it at least, they would change the world and called it “living world” if you missed something, you missed it. I’m sure the main city has been revamped at least twice. Had an element of interest but also disinterest - if I ever think of playing it again I am put off because I will just be so confused, having missed so much (plus it is next to impossible to solo now even the solo story).
I can only think phasing is the answer but Zidormi being in every zone would be… annoying. So maybe instead you would need her for the whole world to be phased based on expansion
e.g. “I want to see Azeroth as it was during the Cataclysm”
“I want to see Azeroth as it was during the Battle for Azeroth”
“I want to see Azeroth as it is in the present”
Probably a load of work though and break the entire game.
I play Guild wars 2 as well atm, and have played on and off since it launched. As it’s also an old game, it is a lot of content as a new player, but it’s the same with WoW if you think about it from a totally fresh players perspective. GW2’s story is solo, you’re remembering it wrong, but most of the content in the open world requires cooperation with the players around you (meta-events). On the upside, these open world events aren’t only in the newest expansion’s zones, but older ones as well. And the OG levelling zones are always filled with people, either levellers or people doing dailies/farming mats.
I’m not personally a fan of the idea of the Zidormi-solution, I feel like it would just create a bunch of annoying phasing. One world, one love and all that. But it’s interesting to hear other people’s solutions.
I have enjoyed spending time in older zones during pre-patch. It is, historically, what I most enjoy about pre-patches. I wish they had spanned them across other continents though and more zones. The invasions popping up randomly all over Azeroth would have been a nice touch. Not just Badlands, Un’goro and Barrens (as much as I like re-visiting those zones).
I’m not remembering it wrong. Open world is great, I am fine co-operating with people without having to speak with them. It was the best idea an MMO ever had imo and I am very happy that WoW incorporated a lot of ideas from them. The story just became too hard. Tbh the first expansion open world was -horribly- difficult if there weren’t loads of people around. As for WoW and new players… I would never recommend it to someone. It’s just so unbelievably complicated and done poorly.
They could limit it to two or three points in time.
In fact, it would be a great idea for another expansion, like 3rd war-era azeroth.
I also want to point out, that there were several instances of locations, where your actions change the place and that was particularly memorable. E.g. Eventide Landing etc
Funny you think that most of what Blizzard release as “new content” isn’t re-skinned from something that existed before. The amount of new things added is tiny.
i allways quest and start in the old zones . expept for goblins and worgens, perhaps pandas too. becouse they got so long starter place and low xp.
love barrens and elwynn forest.
a shame that boralus and gilneas is so under used as cities. they are awesome in arcitecture and size.
the new aztec troll city is pure crapola. cant find my way out of the tavern there allmost.
its a frikking maze. and its too bright and troll/junglish for like undead and stuff.
boralus quests are cool tho. as i said. wish there was more questing in the city itself.
Boralus is a gigantic city, that is supposed to be world-level trade center, but Blizzard pretty much ignored it apart from tradewinds market.
The reason is, they struggle with non-combat gameplay.
If it was any other game company, they would IMMEDIATELY add a couple of tavern games, just to kick it off.
At least, HS, lol
Blizz, i mean, if you need ideas for what to fill Boralus with, so that players sink months in the city, ask the forums. We will give you enough ideas, that you have to make Boralus larger and put some of those ideas into Suramar to boot.
I can personally write a list of gameplay features you could implement in Boralus gratis, to make it into where players spend time in Boralus, not use it as portal hub.
Of course assets get reused, I’m personally fine with that. I don’t get excited about seeing 20 new monster models - it’s the zones and story I’m more interested in.
The problem I have with the “new” content is that these new zones are pumped out in large quantities and are used for that patch/expansion and then never seen again. We all like them differently of course, but I have plenty of zones I wish were used for something, rather than getting another Antoran Wastes (remember that zone?). Quality over quantity I guess is my point.
I like the system that exists in Diablo where the zones you quest in sort of scale depending on your level/gear, thus always making it a challenge. If this was in WoW you would always have something to do as there are so many zones.
On top of that the story needs a huge update, just the other day when I was in Tirisfal Glades I saw Garrosh and Sylvannas, it’s so dated it’s unpleasant. I know this will require a lot of work, but for sure it’s worth it as it adds a new challenge to the game, instead of only having the option to raid or PvP.
Yeah, we went from “Oh, dang, patrol spotted me, im dead” to “Oh, dang, i have not aggroed the 5th patrol, i am going to loose additional 5 sec on this wq”
There is a simple no-brain 5 min fix.
Blizz should make it into where mobs can call for help, but stronger than classic.
And add anti-air units, where you get blown from the sky.
Easier done than said.
