AT World of Warcraft Thread (Mists, Where do you play, General BS and all that)

[Anubis]

60$ is a lot higher than i thought it would be TBH. i figured it would come in at like 15 or 20

however with that price i would imagin less people will do it which coudl be good

they are still gonna make a billion $ off that feature

also FWIW you can do 1-90 in like 12 hours in fuill heirloom gear

also they should prorate that cost of level boost, it should not cost the same from 80-90 as it does for 1-90

just sayin

 

[dougp]

60$ is a lot higher than i thought it would be TBH. i figured it would come in at like 15 or 20

however with that price i would imagin less people will do it which coudl be good

they are still gonna make a billion $ off that feature

also FWIW you can do 1-90 in like 12 hours in fuill heirloom gear

also they should prorate that cost of level boost, it should not cost the same from 80-90 as it does for 1-90

just sayin

That would be awesome.

I did 1-80 in 6 days RL (about 2-3 hours a day) using a RAF bot. If both had full heirloom AND I had MoP on the RAF acct, I could go to 85 in probably less than that.

You can level fast - but I'm missing a LOT of flight paths at this point.

 

[lupi]

I previously refused to pay for realm transfer because of the price, sure as hell wouldn't touch this is this price. Tried browsing the forums for response on this, most seem to either think its way too high or celebrating the price since most won't use it.

 

[Anubis]

im not sure why so many hate the concept, they could have made it free with the requirement that you alread had 1 max level char and i would have been fine with that.

i hate leveling alts, FFS i think i played wow for 4 years before i got a 2nd char over level 10, my first max level alt was a DK in WOTLK and thats only because it got a 55 level advantage

i have 2 90s ,2 others over 80 and a few more somewhere over 60, and if this was cheaper i would have 4 or 5 90s when i got home from work

 

[Aikouka]

I didn't mind leveling. It was just one of those things that you could do without much thought put into it. I only played about an hour of MoP, so my characters aren't at 90, but I have something like 10-11 characters at 85. Yes, I have two Paladins, two Druids and two Shamans just so I can experience all three roles with each.

 

[lupi]

found out I've got the missing several mounts bug when I logged in.

 

[Anubis]

the 2 mounts i use i have

 

[Xonim]

I think $60 is about right -- my reason being that not everyone would use it. However, those of us that want to start over on a new server would probably jump all over it, assuming we can afford it.

For example, even after the server merges, my main/old server is basically dead. On that server, I have 7 90s, 3 87s. There was an 8th 90 but I paid for a transfer and faction change before you could mail heirlooms. So ... I have 87+ of every class. I like having toons still here because I have some friends that play periodically, but mostly I now play on Blackrock.

On my "new" server / Blackrock, I have an extra level 90 paladin (from a scroll boost to 80 when that was offered), the 90 rogue I transferred, and a 49 warlock. I'll probably use the free boost on the warlock at 60 if the profession bonus happens. If the profession boost doesn't make the cut, I'll be boosting a priest.

Frankly, at this point, leveling blows. It's a chore. I don't have to read quests or look at maps. Anyone that says you can level a toon in a week must not have a job, because the /played is roughly 3 days from 1-90, maybe 2.5 if you're good (obviously less with RAF or doing 85-90 by tagging mobs and having friends/guildmates kill them on the timeless isle, but I'm not counting that because it's not practical for most people) and play a tanking class for instant dungeon queues.

$60 to skip 65-70 hours of content that I've done 12-13 times already? If I really feel the need for a new toon, I'll pony that up in a heartbeat.

 

[lupi]

Couple issues with that.
1-most people think the prices for the services currently offered are too high, this goes a magnitude above that.
2-one added there is close to zero cost for bloizz as this is an automated process.
3-there is a relatively minimal amount of programming needed for this as they have alreay added methods to grant a level increase, this is simply changing it from a +1 to a @90.
4-you can already get a large portion of these levels for free, just requires you to group up with a specific person through the raf system.

 

[Xonim]

Couple issues with that.
1-most people think the prices for the services currently offered are too high, this goes a magnitude above that.
2-one added there is close to zero cost for bloizz as this is an automated process.
3-there is a relatively minimal amount of programming needed for this as they have alreay added methods to grant a level increase, this is simply changing it from a +1 to a @90.
4-you can already get a large portion of these levels for free, just requires you to group up with a specific person through the raf system.

I'm not arguing that I think their prices are fair for other services. I've done a few faction changes / server transfers over the years, probably $100-125 worth. Haven't bought any mounts though.

I'm just saying I think $60 to skip leveling is a price point I'm more than willing to pay. I realize it's pure profit for them, that they don't have to do anything beyond some little script or something. However, I think $60 is a price point that people like me (or rerollers or competitive guilds or whatever) would pay if for some reason we really NEEDED another character (I don't, so I'll take the freebie but won't be buying more), but yet it's high enough that you won't see a massive cycle of [more] idiots in LFR after the initial boost.

 

[lupi]

We discussed that yesterday, have no idea why people think a high price is good because it keeps people from using it.

 

[Xonim]

We discussed that yesterday, have no idea why people think a high price is good because it keeps people from using it.

My justification is that there are already enough people with unenchanted / ungemmed gear that don't know what half of their abilities are or when to use them. THOSE are the type of people I don't want to have free / uber cheap 90s. I'd rather they have one character they suck at than five or six.

Putting the price at $60 is hopefully high enough to deter those types from boosting multiple characters. Unfortunately, most of those seem to be the ones with the Blizz store mounts, so it'll probably backfire and they'll be the ONLY ones using it.

I should note: While I consider myself to be a very good mage, most of my playing is done through LFD / LFR / Random BGs because at this point in my life, I play when I feel like it. That usually ends up being 1-2 nights during the week for an hour or two and quite a bit on weekends. I have no desire to commit to 3+ hours on Tues/Wed/Thurs to get in a decent raid, hence LFD/LFR/Random BG's. I get stuck with a lot of idiots, especially this late in an expansion.

 

[lupi]

Alternatively they could have all their chars at 90, find one or two the are good at and mostly play that.


Bottom line is the prices blizz charges are pure horse crap as demonstrated by other games that allow it for free (rift realm transfer) or the same service at a lower price (many of the f2P with name changes and such). On top of that, in wow you're already tossing down $15 a month.

 

[Adrenaline]

Alternatively they could have all their chars at 90, find one or two the are good at and mostly play that.


Bottom line is the prices blizz charges are pure horse crap as demonstrated by other games that allow it for free (rift realm transfer) or the same service at a lower price (many of the f2P with name changes and such). On top of that, in wow you're already tossing down $15 a month.

If it was $40 a month, I planned on using this for a Priest (level 1), Paladin (level 1), Shaman ( level 11), Mage (level 31) and maybe a Rogue (level 73, so boring to level with).

With the price point, I am meh at best.

I have a level 90 Warlock, Druid, Death Knight and Monk. I have a level 85 Warrior and Hunter.

 

[Adrenaline]

60$ is a lot higher than i thought it would be TBH. i figured it would come in at like 15 or 20

however with that price i would imagin less people will do it which coudl be good

they are still gonna make a billion $ off that feature

also FWIW you can do 1-90 in like 12 hours in fuill heirloom gear

also they should prorate that cost of level boost, it should not cost the same from 80-90 as it does for 1-90

just sayin

For those that do not know, you can do MoP leveling around an hour for each level if you are able to kill grubs on the Timeless Isle or have someone help you. I was getting close to 15 million exp per hour (from 89 - 90) with my Monk on the Timeless Isle.

 

[Anubis]

Preach had a good vid out yesterday talking about it, the leveling services that exist now charge like 140$ and take 200 hours on average

60$ is a great deal when looking at that

 

[Xonim]

For those that do not know, you can do MoP leveling around an hour for each level if you are able to kill grubs on the Timeless Isle or have someone help you. I was getting close to 15 million exp per hour (from 89 - 90) with my Monk on the Timeless Isle.

This works best if you're on a dead server. On a pvp server that isn't entirely lopsided, don't bother. It's an endless amount of griefing from both the opposing faction and people claiming to be farming coins (except they don't get any for killing non-90s). Otherwise, it works great.

 

[ewdotson]

Preach had a good vid out yesterday talking about it, the leveling services that exist now charge like 140$ and take 200 hours on average

60$ is a great deal when looking at that

Alternately, even if one call pull off 1-90 in 12 hours, that equates to $5/hr saved. In practice, I don't think most people could pull that off. I know for me, three days /played is probably a more realistic estimate, which puts it at less than a dollar per hour. If you've done the leveling content enough times that it's genuinely not fun ... well, how much is your time worth?

(I'm still surprised that it's quite this high and would not be inclined to use it casually. Because I'm as irrational about costs as anyone else.)

 

[lupi]

They've stated before that all of their service prices are intentionally high to discourage frequent use, I just think that's about at the top of the list for worst decisions they've ever made. Can't say they've diverged from that path with this move.

 

[Anubis]

they do have a point, if server transfers were free some servers would be 100% empty

 

[lupi]

That because they have too many servers. Only mmo I know of that hasn't ever closed a server. They ended up doing it with these defacto realm mergers but some actual closers would also be god.

 

[lupi]

Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
We will be connecting the realms listed below on Thursday, February 27th during a scheduled maintenance beginning at 5 a.m. PST through approximately 1:00 p.m. PST. Once maintenance is finished, these realm connections will be complete.

Alexstrasza and Terokkar
Exodar and Medivh
Frostwolf and Vashj
Gorefiend and Spinebreaker/Wildhammer
Gundrak and Jubei'Thos
Mug'thol and Dragonmaw/Akama

We will be connecting the realms listed below on Thursday, March 6 during a scheduled maintenance beginning at 5 a.m. PST through approximately 1:00 p.m. PST. Once maintenance is finished, these realm connections will be complete.

Alterac Mountains and Balnazzar/Gorgonnash/The Forgotten Coast/ Warsong
Drak'thul and Skywall
Elune and Gilneas
Eredar and Wildhammer/Spinebreaker
Ghostlands and Kael'thas
Thunderlord and Azgalor/Azshara/Destromath

We do not have a date for the following realm connections, but will update this post when we do.

Borean Tundra and Shadowsong
Ghostlands and Kael'thas
Scarlet Crusade and Feathermoon

The connection for Sisters of Elune and Cenarion Circle has been delayed. We'll provide an update at a later point in time.

* Plans for these connections may change at any time, but we’ll provide additional updates on specific dates for future connections here as we can. Please note that as a part of the connection process realm times may change to match each other.

 

[styrafoam]

they do have a point, if server transfers were free some servers would be 100% empty

That is what they should have done with the bottom 20 servers honestly. Free transfer, go where ever you want. Put all the characters on dormant accounts in limbo of some sorts. Then they could close them. If they considered how much they spent on developing the cross realm zones and merged realms they probably would have saved money in the end.

 

[styrafoam]

Also, on the paid level 90 boost cost, they probably had a pretty specific goal in mind with how much money they needed to generate when they came up with the price. They probably have a pretty good idea how many people are using leveling services, they know multiboxers are a shoe in, they know chronic paid transfer people won't hesitate to pay for the boost, and they know how many people wanted it in the recent survey. Plug that rough total into whatever income gap they are trying to make up for and you probably get a rough idea of what your price needs to be. Saying they priced it high to discourage over use is just an attempt to save face. No matter how they spin it they still created the service, choosing to sacrifice a little of the integrity of the game for the ability to generate cash.

 

[lupi]

Warlords of Draenor Press Events - Gameplay Footage and Spoilers
Blizzard organized a couple of press tours in Europe and Korea and interesting info about the new expansion is starting to appear on the web.

Mamytwink.com got to play the expansion for 5 hours and gave his impressions along with a couple interesting spoilers. Below is a rough translation of original article:

Leveling and Other Numbers
I played a gnome warrior in the Shadowmoon Valley, the Alliance starting zone. After about 5 hours of /played and 80 quests I reached the end of the zone and Level 92.
At level 91, I had 63k health as a Tank.
Monsters had around 100k health.
I was dealing around 1k to 5k damage on normal hits. Up to 10k critical damage for some abilities (Shield Slam).
It takes 597k XP to go from level 90 to level 91 and 640k xp to go from level 91 to 92.
Quests rewards were between 10k and 15k xp. Up to 20k for the difficult ones.
A new quest type is available: the "Bonus Objectives". When you walk around a zone, new objectives might appear randomly in your quest list. Completing the objectives will reward you with extra experience, leaving the area will drop the quest.

Shadowmoon Valley
Shadowmoon Valley is composed of lush green plains lit by the moonlight. It has a very peaceful feeling. The glades and forests are amazing and very colorful. You will find Naarus, Draeneis cities, and Iron Horde strongholds in the zone.
The Alliance starting zone seems pretty much finished. Lots of details, impressive vegetation, and a lot of different monsters.
I found a lot of monsters from The Burning Crusade that have been updated: Talbuks, Nether rays, Turtles, Larvas, Boars, Sporebats, Wolves, Bees. The new Talbuks and Sporebats models are EPIC.
Ner'zhul is the principal antagonist of the zone.
The zone ends with a scenario that I couldn't test because it wasn't available. It was called "Grommar's Purge" (Note: roughly translated)
I found the zone really well made. The vast plains and colorful glades immerse you entirely in the game. The scenery is new and doesn't give you a feeling of deja vu (except for some monsters, but it's not really shocking).

Misc
The new race models are great (I could also create a female dwarf). The facial expressions are awesome!
The new soundtrack is also very good.
When asked about the beta, Ion Hazzikostas answered : SoonTM.