Overhaul of the Vault and Mythic+ System
I recently returned to WoW with the launch of DF Season 3. In the past I have been playing a lot of Classic, TBC, and WOTLK. I played a little bit in Cataclysm and quit after a month of Mists of Pandaria because the daily grind burned me out.
Coming back to WoW has been an amazing experience. The DF zones are stunning, quality of life improvements are abundant, endgame gear is more accessible, and the community was nice and encouraging. However, the biggest downside is the significant time commitment required on a weekly basis. With the new expansion, The War Within, the time investment has only increased.
As a casual player who enjoys raiding, I find that preparing and gearing up for raids, takes far too much time. I have a family, a job, other hobbies, and I also enjoy spending time abroad in my hollidays. Many players in their 30s and 40s are in a similar position, with limited gaming time. Raiding twice a week already takes up two full evenings, but to even be ready for raids, players need to complete at least eight Mythic+10 dungeons. And that’s not counting failed PUGs and gathering Crests.
The new Mythic+ system in The War Within has made this experience even more time-consuming. The Challenger’s Peril mechanic is punishing and makes it much harder to get into groups. Group disbands happen more frequently than in DF, adding to the frustration.
The higher requirements for vault rewards and the punishing nature of Challenger’s Peril are causing the kind of toxic behavior I’ve only seen in certain competitive “5v5 games”. This is concerning, especially for a community-driven game like WoW. As a casual player, settling for just heroic content and gear means there’s very little progression left for me and others in a similar position.
I propose that Mythic gear should be rewarded from +8 keys in the vault. Additionally, the vault system itself needs an overhaul. Currently, there are nine slots for different activities, which should be reduced to five or six. Raids, Delves, Mythic+, and world content should all contribute to the vault. One Raidboss/Delve/M+ one vault slot. The loot table should also reflect the content completed that week. There should be no timers or Challenger’s Peril for keys 2-8. This gives players the freedom to choose to play the activity they want and get the vault rewards without the feeling to work hours for it. (working is something we do in our jobs or in our companies)
The distinction between hardcore and casual players should be drawn at +9 keys and higher. These keys can remain challenging, with timers and Challenger’s Peril for those who have the skill, time, and dedication to perform at the highest level. The best gear should be accessible to most players, with the skill gap naturally reflected in rating, damage output, and the likelihood of clearing Mythic raid content.