WoW Classic Post BlizzCon Developer Q&A Session - Cataclysm Classic & Season of Discovery

Hello, fellow adventurers! Today, we're diving into the exciting world of Blizzard's recent Post BlizzCon Developer Q&A session, where they discussed the highly anticipated Cataclysm Classic and Season of Discovery. Here's a breakdown of all the juicy details from the Q&A, but if you want to catch the full video, make sure to check it out below. The Classic Q&A session starts at the 36:22 mark in the Blizzard video. Let's get started!

Progression Realms in Cataclysm Classic

In Cataclysm Classic, Blizzard has several offerings for players, including Classic Era, Hardcore, Season of Discovery, and soon-to-come Cataclysm. However, they clarified that they do not currently have plans for Wrath Era Realms. One exciting update is that the leveling experience in Outland and Northrend will be adjusted to allow players to enter Cataclysm Classic content earlier. While they didn't delve too much into 1-60 leveling speed adjustments, they did mention a new feature called Joyous Journeys, which will enhance the leveling experience.

Guilds will also see some adjustments for Guild Perks, with the aim of making smaller guilds more viable and competitive. Additionally, the Disenchant option will be making a return in Cataclysm Classic for the Loot Roll Windows, allowing players to obtain useful materials from unwanted items.

Blizzard acknowledged that the gear requirements for Random Dungeon Finders can sometimes make it difficult for players to find suitable groups. To address this, they will closely monitor and adjust the gear requirements to create a smoother experience for all.

World of Warcraft Classic Season of Discovery

The Season of Discovery in WoW Classic will introduce various phases, each with its own level requirements. Phase 1 will set the level cap at 25, Phase 2 at 40, Phase 3 at 50, and Phase 4 is where players will finally hit the pinnacle at level 60. But don't worry, the adventure doesn't end there!

Past raids and open-world events from previous phases will still be relevant and enjoyable in later phases of the Season of Discovery. Blizzard expects players to revisit these content-rich zones while leveling up. Additionally, Raids from WoW Classic will make a return in later phases of the Season of Discovery. However, Blizzard may make some changes to these raids to keep them fresh and challenging.

In an exciting twist, Blizzard teased the possibility of introducing new Legendary items for the Season of Discovery. They can't wait to explore uncharted territories and introduce quest chains that were never completed in the original Vanilla version of the game.

• The Battle Against Gold Buying and Botting

A persistent issue in the WoW community is gold buying, selling, and botting. Blizzard understands the negative impact these activities can have on the game, but tackling them is akin to an ongoing arms race with the botters. However, Blizzard is committed to making significant changes and closely monitoring these issues to maintain a healthy and fair gaming environment.

• Realm Adjustments for Balance

Blizzard has been continuously making adjustments to realms and realm caps to maintain a balanced population. They believe that having fewer realm options could lead to a healthier balance of factions on PvP Realms. Ensuring a challenging and exciting gameplay experience is a priority for Blizzard, and they are aware of the power gained from Runes in the new Season of Discovery. They will make appropriate adjustments to balance the open world, as well as Raids and Dungeons.

• Enhancing the Shaman's Damage

The Shaman class will see some enhancements in Season of Discovery. Blizzard has focused on aligning the Enhancement damage with the Burning Crusade version, which is centered around dual wielding with skills like Lava Lash. They are carefully listening to player feedback regarding this class adjustment and are dedicated to delivering a great gaming experience for all Shaman players.

• Exciting New Content

At BlizzCon, Blizzard gave a sneak peek at Scarlet Monastery, but that's not all they have up their sleeves. There is a plethora of never-before-seen content that Blizzard is creating and will be adding into the Season of Discovery. Prepare yourselves for brand new adventures that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

• Improving Hybrid Classes

Blizzard hinted at the introduction of Runes in future phases that will make hybrid classes, such as Holy Smite Priests, more viable. These Runes could potentially create new build possibilities, breathing new life into these often overlooked classes.

• The World as the Main Character

In the Season of Discovery, Blizzard aims to highlight the rich world of Azeroth like never before. By introducing level-specific content, they can focus on various parts of the world and create exciting new adventures tailored to each phase.

• Racial Skills and Abilities

Blizzard emphasized that racial skills are crucial for class fantasy and character development. While they currently have no plans to make specific changes to racial abilities, they teased the possibility of making Weapon Skill-related Racials available as rewards in Level-Up Raids. This approach may reduce the necessity for some Weapon Skill Racials, making items like Edgemaster's Handguards less crucial.

Furthermore, Blizzard is open to exploring the addition of Priest Racials as Runes in later phases of the game, allowing non-Dwarf Priests to benefit from abilities like Fear Ward. This change would provide more options for players and further enhance class diversity.

Final Thoughts

Blizzard expressed their excitement for the Season of Discovery and eagerly await player feedback. As Seasonal Realms are intended to be temporary experiences, Blizzard guarantees that the characters you create will always be available to you. However, they are still in the process of discussing whether Seasonal changes will have a permanent home or not. Your feedback and support will ultimately shape the future of World of Warcraft Classic. So, seize this opportunity to embark on unforgettable journeys and explore the vast wonders of Azeroth once again!