Round-Up of Developer Interviews: WoW Classic's Season of Discovery

With the release of Classic's Season of Discovery, Blizzard conducted several interviews with prominent World of Warcraft content creators. These interviews shed light on the design and development process behind the new classic season, as well as provide insights into upcoming changes and features. In this blog post, we will summarize the key points from each interview and give you a glimpse into what to expect from Season of Discovery.

Interview with Ana Resendez & Clayton Stone (Raider.io)

Ana Resendez, the Lead Software Engineer, and Clayton Stone, the Associate Production Director, discuss the journey of turning the vision of Season of Discovery into a reality. Inspired by the Classic Beta in 2019, the original vision for the season aimed to provide players with new and fun experiences in the Classic Azeroth. The developers emphasize the importance of fun as the primary goal, ensuring that every class has something enjoyable to offer and that raids are not tuned in a way that makes certain classes less viable. Additionally, catch-up experience mechanics will be implemented to help new players reach the level cap of their friends.

Interview with Tim Jones & Linny Cooke Saverline (Esfand)

Tim Jones, the Assistant Lead Classic Designer, and Linny Cooke Saverline, the Game Producer, address burning questions from the player community. They touch upon topics such as the inclusion of Windfury for 2-handed Enhancement Shaman in future phases, the importance of class fantasy and player feedback in the development process, and the impact of itemization on gameplay. The developers aim to breathe new life into items that may become undesirable due to changing phases and also express their desire to offer additional content beyond the leveling experience.

Interview with Tim Jones & Josh Greenfield (Countdown to Classic)

Tim Jones, the Assistant Lead Classic Designer, and Josh Greenfield, the Senior Game Producer, dive deep into the design philosophy of Season of Discovery. They share their approach of prioritizing the end-goal of each class and then working backward to develop class abilities and roles. Balancing the essence of Classic WoW with the need for fun and player choice is a significant factor in their decision-making. The developers also emphasize the importance of exploration and community-building in Season of Discovery, promising surprises and fostering a sense of communal discovery.

Interview with Ana Resendez & Clayton Stone (Warcraft Reloaded)

Ana Resendez, the Lead Software Engineer, and Clayton Stone, the Associate Production Director, provide an exclusive interview delving into the intricacies of balance, PvP dynamics, the future of runes, and upcoming gear changes in Season of Discovery. The developers share their commitment to refining gameplay and ensuring a balanced experience for all players. They discuss ongoing buffs and nerfs to rune abilities, the possibility of implementing a cap on the number of runes allowed, and the introduction of new runes beyond level 25. Additionally, they tease potential tier bonuses for different roles and offer insights into their vision for the evolving rune system.

Interview with Nora Valletta & Josh Greenfield (Scottejaye)

Nora Valletta, the Lead Software Engineer, and Josh Greenfield, the Senior Game Producer, engage in a discussion about the design philosophy behind Season of Discovery. They reveal that the development team is experimenting more than ever before, taking advantage of the opportunities for change in Classic WoW. When designing runes, they focused on the end goal of classes and then worked backward to develop them within the leveling brackets. Raid sizes are a topic of debate, but there are no plans to change the level 60 raid sizes. However, there will be different raid sizes for the level band raids, and the developers are currently focused on other aspects of the game, such as the rune system.

Conclusion

From these interviews, it is evident that Blizzard is dedicated to delivering a captivating and fun experience with Season of Discovery in Classic WoW. The development team has taken player feedback and class fantasy into account while designing new content and making adjustments to existing gameplay elements. With a focus on exploration, community, and balance, Season of Discovery promises to be an exciting addition to the World of Warcraft universe. Prepare yourself for surprises, new challenges, and an immersive journey through Classic Azeroth.