The seventh expansion of World of Warcraft, Battle for Azeroth , will be released today. I'm excited, but I feel a bit belated...
The seventh expansion of World of Warcraft, Battle for Azeroth , will be released today. I'm excited, but I feel a bit belated and even sad. This marks the end of Legion , the previous expansion that has become one of my favorite moments in the 14-year history of online multiplayer role-playing.
Legion was released on August 30, 2016. All fans knew it would be a crucial addition. His predecessor, Warlords of Draenor, was a mistake. His intricate story included time travel and alternate dimensions, and his content at the end of the game was rare, with few raids and dungeons that did not give enough rewards. The Draenor Warlords also emphasized a new garrison system that allowed you to create and manage your own base. But you had little room to adapt your garrison, and the new excavations also separated you from the rest of the world. Guest players were at best rare. World of Warcraft is a multiplayer game. Having an important system therefore focuses on isolation.
The performance of Warlords of Draenor was so bad that Blizzard focused on the next expansion, which means we lost a full raid and other content to Warlords of Draenor so Blizzard could escape from the Legion more quickly. , It was a good idea as Legion caused a stir at World of Warcraft.
Above: The Demon Hunter.
So much to do is new
Already on the first day the Legion offered more than Draenor. As usual, they had the new leveling areas. We also opened a new class for the first time since Mists of Pandaria introduced the Monk in 2012, when Legion added the Demon Hunter, an agile fighter with an interest in mobility. It's also an easy class to play, making it a great starting point for new players.
However, Legion's biggest contribution came from the new Mythic + system. Dungeons have always been part of World of Warcraft, but Blizzard struggled to find ways to keep them relevant throughout the lifecycle of an expansion. This topic was another sensitive point in Warlords of Draenor. Their dungeons became useless once you started creating the raid content because the dungeon rewards could not match.
Mythical + keeps the dungeons challenging and rewarding. These are more difficult versions of standard races that provide better elements but are also flexible. Players will receive keys that can further increase the level of difficulty of Mythic + Dungeons. It also gives you a better team if you beat them. And when you win, you get a new foundation that opens a mythical dungeon + even more. You can continue to try more intense content and earn rewards. The system is a test that offers players an alternative way to win a powerful team in addition to the attack.
Above: The classroom of the Paladin.
In a good tone
The story of World of Warcraft usually focuses on its two factions: the Horde and the Alliance. While part of this conflict was part of the Legion's original conspiracy, the player's journey focused on his class identity. Each of the 12 classes of World of Warcraft had its own control room. These places served as the center. Everyone had a look that matched the imagination of each class. The hunters returned home to True Shot Lodge, a beautiful hut on a mountain top. Paladin seeks refuge in the sanctuary of light and hides under a church. Each class also received unique missions and content, as well as class-specific rewards.
I loved this focus on the imagination. In Legion, hunting has not just defined your abilities. This gave your experience a specific aesthetic. The halls of the Order were also an evolution of Garrison's idea. Like your Warlords of Draenor warlords, you can send followers on a mission. Then, after a while (usually hours), you get a reward. It's not a super interactive system, but it gives you an excuse to rejoin the game. In Draenor, the system was predominant, but Blizzard reduced it a bit in Legion. He felt more manageable and less consumable.
The important thing is that you can see other players in the class. Unlike garrisons, they did not feel like isolated prisons.
Above: Obtain your artifact weapon.
It did not work
The Legion had new ideas that did not have the same success as Order Halls or Mythic +. Each specialization of each class had its own artifact weapon. I want to get this weapon early and use it throughout the expansion. You can increase the power of your artifact weapon by acquiring artifact power and relics through missions, dungeons, and raids. It was nice to have a new sense of progress beyond the level, and these weapons evolved with stories and drawings to the imagination of the class. But he also felt bound to his artifact weapon, and cultivating the large amount of artifact power required to increase his strength could be a daunting task.
The Legion has also introduced a new legendary equipment system. After you have achieved certain goals, eg. For example, by defeating a boss or doing enough missions around the world, you're lucky enough to win a legendary item. It was the most powerful jewelry, rings and armor that could be found. They were so strong that you feel at a disadvantage compared to other players if you do not have the chance to get a serious chance. Worse, you would randomly win a legendary item when you finally get one. The Legion had a big gap between the best and the worst legendary objects. When you have one of the weakest, it has become a moment that should be exciting in a time of disappointment. The system has left too much of its accidental development.
I also did not like the science-fiction direction involved in the expansion. The Burning Legion is an army of demons, but this expansion has made it a kind of space dream. The last major update, 7.3, added a lot of content, but the last raid he brought was largely based on space probes, lasers, and other ideas out of place in the fantasy world. Magic Knights of World of Warcraft. , World of Warcraft has always been a wealth of ideas that blended traditional fantasy races such as orcs and trolls with Lovecraft's tentacle monsters and Chinese mythology. But spaceships go a little too far.
Above: the city of Suramar.
Thank you, Legion
Overall, however, Legion was one of the best extensions of World of Warcraft. It started with a lot of new content, frequent corrections resulted in a steady amount of work to do, and the Mythic + system made dungeons an important part of the experience.
The battle for Azeroth has much to offer. It will restore some of the Legion's new features, including Mythic + Dungeons. Artifact weapons have disappeared, though we have a new necklace that performs a similar function (this is a piece of equipment in which you keep the entire extension and have the resources to reinforce it). New ideas will also be added, including new content for three players, Iceland Expeditions.
And for the first time, the Alliance and the Horde will have different missions and leveling locations.
There is something to be happy about. Maybe the fight for Azeroth could be another outstanding addition. But if he succeeds, he owes much to the Legion.
