Liveblog of the January 30 Battle for Azeroth Q&A with Ion Hazzikostas

Posted 2018/01/30 at 1:52 PM by Squishei

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Watch Battle for Azeroth Live Developer Q&A - 12:00 PST from Warcraft on www.twitch.tvHighlights

Will BFA has more classwide utility?
There should be more class-wide strengths; you didn't just pick a fire mage, you picked a mage at character creation. All members of a class should be able to contribute something.

How are you planning on keeping all classes interesting if you're only planning on keeping a few artifact abilities and traits?
The classes weren't really designed around the artifacts, the artifacts were more laid on top of the base class. When balancing, they definitely consider the artifacts in mind.

In BFA, the Azerite armor will add some additional customization to the base game but when removing artifacts they know that the rotation may have gaps in them and they'll need to make sure to fill those gaps. Artifacts may feel inseparable from your base class since it's been so long and hopefully it feels different with Azerite in BFA.

Are we going to see an in-depth rework for Survival Hunter?
In this case they put spec fantasy above class fantasy. At level 10, survival hunters just forgot how to use a bow. The new survival will likely have a better combination of ranged and melee abilities.

Is the removal of blink-type movement talents from Shaman and Druid from Datamining one of the class uniqueness removals?
Because it's described as a Blink-type movement, it kind of tells that it's a too much homogenization to a Mage's blink. Druids and Shaman have alwayus been about shapeshifting and moving faster. Blink is super fun and potent but they want to make other classes feel fun and potent in their own way.

Are there thoughts on Titanforged Weapons in BFA?
At the end of the day, the LFR person with an 975 helm, will likely have LFR gear in the rest of their slots which averages out. However, weapons definitely threaten the balance of average because generally a weapon is worth more than other pieces.

The current thinking is to not let weapons Titanforge but only Warforge (+5 item levels)

They also think that Titanforging is too common in Legion.

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Comment by 1837805Will you consider keeping tier gear? Otherwise Mythic keystones are going to be the new raid.Comment by chrththe Ion Sylvanas is the real MVPComment by TynaelLore is mansplaining what Ion is saying. It's freaking annoying, Lore, please don't do that ever again. Ion clearly explains something and we don't need someone to explain it over again but with different and silly words.Comment by AlakeiThancanSeriously? We don't have the new character slots? I don't usually critic Blizzard but this is pretty stupid. I wanted to get right into it but ... Apparently, I can't.Comment by chrthSeriously? We don't have the new character slots? I don't usually critic Blizzard but this is pretty stupid. I wanted to get right into it but ... Apparently, I can't.Comment by JaceDraccus"Draenor orcs"? I hope he neans Mag'har and not Iron Horde....Comment by AlakeiThancanAlso, since the pre order release, I literally can't switch realms. Everytime I do, the game crashes. And unfortunately, I was on a realm I only have a lvl 1 character on. So I'm stuck. Any way to switch realms outside of the client?Comment by ParyahProbably means brown orcs rather than green ones...?Comment by ZugzugxYou have 2 or 3 servers linked in a cluster, just because you can't have them on the 1 server doesn't mean you can't level them on another linked server you still get to send gold and mats to them and even have them join your guild.

It's not the end of the world.Comment by Ashwing92Yrel did say at the end of Draenor that if we need them they were there so I guess the time has come for us to call upon the FrostwolvesComment by AlakeiThancanYou have 2 or 3 servers linked in a cluster, just because you can't have them on the 1 server doesn't mean you can't level them on another linked server you still get to send gold and mats to them and even have them join your guild. Comment by nysisynOn the contrary, I hope its Draenor orc and that Wod expansion is not retconned or forgotten.Comment by VolksDKWhen he talks about the Dreanor orcs, I assume it's just any non-Iron Horde orcs from Dreanor that wanna join the Horde. Mag'har, Laughing Skull, etc

Pretty sure all the Iron Horde are dead/LegionComment by HappyfunrunWould prefer if they just retconned WoDComment by ZtokySo if I only have a max level Alliance character with all the requirements fulfilled it still doesn't matter if I want to create a Horde Allied race character?Comment by JaceDraccusOn the contrary, I hope its Draenor orc and that Wod expansion is not retconned or forgotten.Comment by Random771452Pretty sure all the Iron Horde are dead/LegionComment by ButterflywitchCan we please get Forsaken Elves?Comment by BuckyDKWill the brown Mag'Har orcs be an allied race or a skin colour change?Comment by neoslayyerWHAT A SNOOZER! I Learned squat.

Thanks for nothing but PvP junk questions.

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