In the near future, World of Warcraft will be facing some hefty competition from the MMO world, from games such as Warhammer Online. Relmstein has asserted that "Lake Wintergrasp, one hero class, and ten more levels...can't hold up the expansion". Compared to what the competition will have to offer, if Blizzard doesn't up their ante, the launch of Wrath of the Lich King could get lost in the mix.
Of course, the expansion will also be including a new profession called inscription, as well as siege weapons, new NPC races, changeable hairstyles, new dances, and other interesting details.
Askander, a commenter, pointed out that pre-BC, Blizzard withheld the announcement about the "Shaman/Paladin faction swap" until late in the game, surprising many players. While some players may remain cautiously skeptical, Tigole has been on the forums hinting of bigger things to come.
What do you think? Does Blizzard have some dynamic plans in the works that they're not sharing for the upcoming expansion, or will they launch with only the announced features? Do you think they have underestimated their competition, or have grown distracted with development of their upcoming MMO and Starcraft 2?
Wrath did make Yahoo!'s list of the most anticipated games of 2008, and was the only expansion listed. Can Wrath live up to our expectations without added features?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1-25-2008 @ 9:07AM
Timelimit said...
i'm waiting for Murlocs to be tameable!
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1-25-2008 @ 9:25AM
Milktub said...
Will you ever get a group with a pet that gargles every 20 seconds?
1-25-2008 @ 1:10PM
Xeren said...
I try to not hang around hunters that even have Alligator pets, a murloc would be worse.
1-25-2008 @ 9:20AM
hpavc said...
The game does need some love, even just duplicating the game of new content won't shake off the need for some innovation.
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1-25-2008 @ 9:22AM
guesswho? said...
murloc world boss!
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1-25-2008 @ 9:38AM
KateJaneway said...
Seconded! :D
1-25-2008 @ 12:24PM
catherinezetajonesishot said...
Thirded!!
1-25-2008 @ 1:24PM
BlankBlix said...
Fourthish!
lol
1-25-2008 @ 9:27AM
C.A. said...
I fully expect the game to have another hero class, or 2 new playable races. When does an mmo expansion come out with only one new class (kind of since it has to be unlocked) and that's it?
New classes and races are what mmo expansions do and I think what people expect so I won't be surprised if that is what happens closer to release.
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1-25-2008 @ 9:37AM
KateJaneway said...
I agree, if anything they need to try to breath new life into areas of the game that have become somewhat dull.
1-25-2008 @ 9:41AM
matt.millermd said...
This does seem plausible! Hope it's true! Even 1 new class for both factions (non-heroic) would be earth shattering. That's something that they would have to keep quiet about while doing exhaustive balance. And that seems like it would take from even pre TBC times to get right.
1-25-2008 @ 10:07AM
Dave said...
They've been pretty firm about saying that there's only one Hero class coming with this expansion and that they plan on adding more in the future once they figure out how the DK's work.
I mean there's still a chance they're just lying about it, but I really doubt it.
I think they've just hit unfortunate delays left and right. I'm of the opinion that the vast majority of the expansion is probably PTR-worthy, but they've just hit the inevitable "we don't pay well, we get crap code" cycle that hits almost every developer that gets large...
I suppose Blizzard has one or two more interesting surprise out there, but I'm thinking that the majority of the game we're aware of, and it's all just been delayed. They're just keeping quiet because the patch schedule has thrown everything off and they want to keep enough info to themselves to still have something left to use for hype when it gets closer to the beta.
1-25-2008 @ 1:48PM
Aticus said...
I agree. I would think there would be more hero classes. It really is the next step in MMOs [look at Ragnarok].
However, I do think though that there will be new playable classes. I would expect that the Goblins and Pandas will be playable neutral races. Then again, I'm reaching for that one lol.
-Aticus, http://www.paladintales.blogspot.com
1-25-2008 @ 9:33AM
Spiritofire said...
Maybe something such as creating new talent trees for all the classes, like something like bloodmage tree or demon hunter specs, etc.
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1-25-2008 @ 9:37AM
Calaana said...
Two words: Gnomish. Battleground. Horde and alliance must work together to kill as many as possible before they amass and finish their doomsday device. Whichever side kills the most gets double bonus honour, loosers get 1:1 for each gnome slaughtered. Think av, have to take out supply depo and the such. Enemy race is changeable by the interface options or the ingame command /gb .
Hell, people that don't play wow would start for that.
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1-25-2008 @ 11:01AM
Todd said...
Leprous Gnomes, mind you.
1-25-2008 @ 9:40AM
peaglemancer said...
I have it on good authority that all classes will start as Furbogs, and a new "breathe" ability will require you to tap a key every 3 seconds to stay alive.
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1-25-2008 @ 9:43AM
Zardon said...
I would hope they have some big changes. Just adding 10 more levels and a dozen new factions to grind isn't going to hold them forever no matter how popular they are now. At some point Blizzard will new to come up with new ideas and new game mechanics. Just making all the numbers bigger with each exspansion will only take you so far.
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1-25-2008 @ 9:44AM
Richie said...
Yeah. A new continent, 1 new class, 1 new profession and Siege weapons (slightly different PvP) Is no where near enough.
I believe that they will add more than one class. I really hope they dont do too much generalising as well, I didnt really like the cross faction Shamans and Paladins, some more individuality between Horde and Alliance would be nice.
Some Love for the older instances too all that 60 content seems to be going to waste.
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1-25-2008 @ 9:49AM
KateJaneway said...
I agree, I want to see those old 40-mans fitted up right for players in their 70s-80s. Maybe reduced down to 10-25mans as well. (or even made into more managable 5-mans so leveling characters at 60 or 70 can PUG them at least...)
And I hope that once we get to level 80 raids, we won't forgot all of our 70 raids like we did with the 60 ones.