Classic Content Plan

WoW Classic WoW Classic General Discussion
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At BlizzCon 2018, we proposed a plan to give Classic four content phases. These were planned to be centered primarily on raid power progression.

Currently, based on both your feedback and our own deliberations, we’re now planning to increase it to six phases. Our focus is still primarily on player power-progression, but we’re also aiming to capture what it felt like to play in a realm community in original WoW. To do that, we’re planning to mirror the approach taken by original WoW, with patches paired together. We’ll launch Classic with content from original WoW through patch 1.2.x, then the second update will include content that was in original WoW 1.3 and 1.4, the third Classic update will have 1.5 and 1.6 content, and so on.

Our first phase primarily focuses on launching Classic with Onyxia and Molten Core, but we’ve decided to hold off on Dire Maul for a while. Maraudon is still in the first phase, because it was originally released on December 18, 2004, just two weeks after the first player hit level 60, but we recognize that Dire Maul is in a different category. Some of the loot that’s attainable frim Dire Maul is so good that it would affect progression through those early raids. We’re also planning to hold off on releasing Kazzak and Azuregos at launch as well, for the same reasons.

The next change we’re targeting addresses two concerns. First, Zul’Gurub and Blackwing Lair unlocking at the same time would differ from how they originally came out, and it makes sense to not have gear and enchants from Zul’Gurub available during early progress into Blackwing Lair. Secondly, the Emerald Dragons should be available earlier than the opening of Ahn’Qiraj, as they give us a way to start preparing nature resist gear for some of the encounters in AQ.

Along the way, we’ve taken a close look at items that provide the biggest power gains, many of which were introduced in 1.10 as part of a sweeping dungeon itemization pass. That patch was when Tier 0.5 gear was introduced, and Relics were added to the drop tables of many bosses. It also adjusted drop rates and drop locations of a lot of gear (to make room for the Relics). We’ve gone back and reconstructed many of the most heavily affected drop tables as they existed prior to the 1.10 patch, and we’re planning to update the drop tables alongside the Ahn’Qiraj War Effort. Prior to the Ahn’Qiraj unlock, most of the drop rates and locations will look as they did in the patches prior to 1.10, with exceptions—there are lots of little changes made in earlier patches that don’t have a big effect on player power, and in those cases, we’re planning to use the 1.12 drop rates and locations.

One example of the many items we’re planning for is: Titanic Leggings, which is a world drop that first appeared in 1.10. We can confirm that it will be controlled by the same content unlock that restricts the other 1.10 loot changes.

Here’s what the release order currently looks like:

Phase 1 (Classic Launch)

  • Molten Core

  • Onyxia

  • Maraudon

Phase 2

  • Dire Maul

  • Azuregos

  • Kazzak

Phase 3

  • Blackwing Lair

  • Darkmoon Faire

  • Darkmoon deck drops begin

Phase 4

  • Zul’Gurub

  • Green Dragons

Phase 5

  • Ahn’Qiraj War Effort begins

  • Ahn’Qiraj raids open when the war effort dictates

  • Dungeon loot reconfiguration: Tier 0.5 Dungeon gear, Relics, drop rates and location changes

Phase 6

  • Naxxramas

  • Scourge Invasion

We haven’t yet determined exactly when phases 2-6 will occur, and PvP content is notably missing from the list above. That’s because we’re still evaluating our options regarding PvP rewards, as they also changed over time (both in power and in terms of which PvP reward items were available).

While we can’t elaborate on every detail of every step we’re going to take (yet), we’re here reading all of your questions and we’re going to keep the answers coming.

Thank you!

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thats nice

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ty :slight_smile: …yes

Progressive itemisation and progressive contend release.
Someone has been listening to my prayers,
I know it, planning to be a holy priest would pay of joking

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Thank you for the update, we really appreciate the time and effort you put into keeping us informed.

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head explosion

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did we realy just got some news about classic?

i mean something realy new

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Fixed. Hail the Church of Classic!

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hahaha, well i,m sure that many incl me will never be 100% happy. No matter what they do. But i,m smiling from ear to ear knowing Dm will not be there at launch. and there taking a look at what gear can and would be a deal breaker iff it would be released to early.

I,ll say a few more prayers, most off them will be tank you,s

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This was exactly what I wanted to see.
Thank you for the update and keep up the good work.

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1. MC, Onyxia, Maraudon, 8 debuffs, honnor system - no reward (0 start)
2. DM, Kazzak, Azuregos (5*)
3. BWL, Darkmoon, AV, WSG + rewards (8*)
4. ZG, Dragons of Nightmare, 16 debuffs, AB + rewards (12*)
5. AQ + event, T0.5 (14*)
6. Naxx + event, crossrealm bgs (18*)
(24 end)

    • not decided yet

Here was my original post for content release, seems about the same, with time stamps in (months) and pvp content plan. Seems you copied me, its fine. Or atleast better than 4 stages.

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Awesome news, thank you!!

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I feel this is a really great. No need to rush lower raid tiers just to get to the high raid tiers - just get the “current BiS” and then have them ready for the next raids when they pop up. This also means you don’t NEED to play every single day of your life just to keep up (Heart of Azeroth leveling) but you can actually have some breathing room once you’ve done your raids and wait for the next.

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The client is going to be updated like 1.13, 1.14, 1.15 and so on? Every major patch containing the content promised?
Edit: This also means that they need to get only MC, Onyxia and Maraudon working until Classic!

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Thank you im so happy!.. Your absolutely right DM loot was super powerful and it wold affect early endgame alot. This is the most optimal way…

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Wow, you are really going all the way. Thanks for doing this.

Classic is going to be even more vanilla for me than 14 years ago since ZG was already out when I hit 60.

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Thank you guys for listening to us.

This 6 phase content release is amazing. Molten Core and Onyxia will be much more challenging in this new content release. Which is GOOD !

Now, if you guys manage to get rod of Loot Trading and Right-Click Report…that would be AMAZING !

Sharding for launch and starter zones only is much more than acceptable. A confirmation on sharding would also be great.

Anyway, thanks again for this update ! It is a DAMN IMPORTANT UPDATE, both because it is directly related to the content AND proves that you guys are listening to us…which is probably THE BEST THING that we, Classic players, regained.

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Thank you! :slight_smile:

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Yaaaaaa :smiley: This makes me feel so good inside, good job! <3
Love the regular updates too, 10 days since your last one :open_mouth: !! So hypuh!!

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