Development Chat on Season of Discovery and Classic Cataclysm

Greetings, fellow adventurers! It's WowCarry here, back with some exciting insights into the world of WoW Classic. Recently, during the Community Council Live Chat on December 8, one of the members of the Council posed a series of interesting questions regarding the development of Season of Discovery and Cataclysm Classic. In response, WoW Classic Senior Producer Josh Greenfield provided some valuable information. Let's dive into the details!

Exploring Alternative Storylines in Season of Discovery

One of the questions raised by Majinstorm was whether Season of Discovery (SoD) would explore alternative storylines from other titles in the Warcraft Franchise, akin to Hearthstone. Josh Greenfield revealed that during the early development of Season of Discovery, the team had a meeting with Chris Metzen to discuss the narrative. In this meeting, it was mutually agreed that SoD would not be treated as an alternate history for World of Warcraft. Instead, the team adopted the concept of "found photographs" as described by Chris. This approach allows players to uncover additional information about established characters and locations, without changing their core storylines or motivations significantly.

Josh used a brilliant analogy to explain this approach. He compared it to discovering an old family photograph of your parents on vacation in Italy when they were young. This newfound knowledge doesn't fundamentally change your relationship with your parents, but it adds a delightful detail to their past that you were unaware of. Similarly, SoD aims to introduce players to previously untold adventures involving familiar characters and storylines, creating a richer tapestry of the world of Azeroth.

Multiple Sources for Runes and Future Plans

Another question posed by Majinstorm revolved around runes and their sources. Specifically, they inquired whether future runes would have multiple sources and whether there were undiscovered sources for the current runes. Josh revealed that lower-level runes (levels 1-10) were designed to have multiple sources due to the restricted travel options for lower-level characters. However, regarding higher-level runes, the team presently does not have specific plans for multiple discoveries.

Additionally, Josh acknowledged that there were certain frustrations among Horde players due to a seemingly disproportionate number of rune discoveries in Alliance-favored zones compared to Horde-favored zones. While the team aims to create opportunities for faction conflict on PvP realms, they understand the potential frustration of imbalanced travel requirements. As a result, they will consider this feedback and strive for a more balanced approach in the future.

Future Plans and Lessons Learned

The positive reception of Season of Discovery has thrilled the WoW Classic team, and Josh expressed gratitude to the community for their support. He mentioned that the team took several risks during the development of this season, and they are relieved to see those risks pay off. When asked about future plans, Josh emphasized that they have learned valuable lessons from this phase and plan to carry these lessons forward.

One of the aspects they are looking into is the rune discovery locations, considering the feedback received. They also identified certain issues with the Ashenvale PvP event and how it interacts with layers, and they hope to address these frustrations in the upcoming level 40 PvP event. Additionally, the team is taking note of feedback regarding the "Merchant" faction/Waylaid Supplies reputation process, aiming to address the pain points and improve the overall experience.

The Return of Beloved Guild Perks in Cataclysm Classic?

Josh admits that it is difficult to say for certain which perks will carry forward to Cataclysm Classic. The team's philosophy has shifted to focus on the unique design space and vibe of each expansion, rather than adhering strictly to classic or modern design philosophies. They aim to retain the elements that players enjoyed during each era of WoW history, even if they deviate from what came before or after. Josh mentioned that they had initially underestimated the interest in modern features, such as the Random Dungeon Finder, during Wrath of the Lich King. Therefore, they have learned to stay open-minded and consider diverse player preferences when making these decisions.

The Potential Introduction of LFR in Cataclysm Classic

Regarding the possibility of introducing Looking for Raid (LFR) mechanics in Cataclysm Classic, Josh revealed that the team's perspective on this has evolved over time. While they were initially skeptical about LFR for Dragonsoul, seeing how players embraced it during Wrath of the Lich King has made the team more open to considering player feedback. They encourage LFR enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike to share their thoughts on this matter. However, Josh also clarified that implementing LFR before Dragon Soul or in earlier raid tiers would be beyond the scope of Cataclysm Classic's launch and early patches. The team's resources are already committed to other areas of WoW Classic development, and if LFR were to be added, it would only be for Dragon Soul.

Difficulty Levels and Rewards in Cataclysm Dungeons

Majinstorm inquired about the initial difficulty levels of Cataclysm dungeons in Cataclysm Classic and whether the Titan Rune system would make a return. Josh stated that it is still premature to reveal specific plans in this regard. As WoW's history progresses into classic expansions, it becomes increasingly challenging to recreate the "pre-nerf" versions of dungeons and raids, given the multitude of hotfixes implemented outside of major patches. However, if they were to introduce pre-nerf versions of Cataclysm dungeons, the team would mainly focus on boss adjustments rather than smaller changes like trash packs. As for rewards, the team intends to implement something akin to the Titan Rune system in later patches of Cataclysm Classic, with additional rewards and the possibility of a challenging "Heroic+" mode that includes fun player power mechanics.

That wraps up the insights from Josh Greenfield regarding Season of Discovery and Cataclysm Classic. We hope you found this peek behind the scenes intriguing and informative! As always, we look forward to your continued support and feedback. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and see you in the next live chat!