WoW Content Creator Interview with Ion Hazzikostas on Patch 10.0.7

Live Posted 2023/03/14 at 2:30 PM by Squishei

HighlightsPrimordial Stones

The Annulet and Primordial Stones, once fully upgraded, should be relevant and should be an upgrade for basically everyone. That's part of why it spans multiple item levels and has multiple effects. it should be something that's worth chasing for everyone.

The High-end players should be replacing in Season 2. if it feels like you should use this over Mythic Aberrus Rings, that's something they're going to want to remedy.

Class Balance

Happy with the direction the class balance is going with more frequently tuning classes. The goal is to keep balance evolving and have people who see themselves at the bottom of the meters and having trouble getting groups know that's not how it's going to be for the whole season. For people who are at the high end of the range, being the best for the entire season is not good, and they do want to reign in large outliers in the early weeks of the season. Towards the end of a season, they will generally hold off more because not being able to time a key or kill a boss that you previously did doesn't feel great. More active hand in early weeks for sure.

They are planning on continuing tuning in Patch 10.0.7 that will probably be balancing numbers, but at a slower rate because the season is stabilizing.

Class Race Combos

They want to make sure there are narrative reasons for races to become classes. But gameplay-wise they are trying to open up more race-class combos, after they take story for narrative continuity.

There is a high likelyhood down the line that Dracthyr can wield weapons and cast Frostbolts.

Mythic+

Over the course of the 10.1 PTR affixes will be tweaked and some might be replaced. Affixes are supposed to be make the dungeon harder. Some seasonal affixes made the dungeons easier and 10s were easier than 9s. They want the experience to be challenging but not frustrating. They want to fix things being hard to see and fix when a bad line up happens where there's no counterplay, but the goal is definitely challenge.

Cross-Faction

They're moving conservatively with regards to cross-faction stuff.

Cross-faction guilds are not really what their name implies. Logistically, they are more of the ability to join the opposite faction guild. The plan is to consolidate Horde and Alliance into one unified Hall of Fame.

PvP

Conquest boxes are likely for 10.0.7. They are looking into it.

Nothing planned for 10.0.7 to entice players back into non-solo shuffle. They're talking about it and ways that Rated PvP might evolve in the future.

Secrets

Ion seemed to indicate that 10.0.7 will probably have some hidden secrets.

Miscellaneous

Holiday Updates originally on the roadmap for 10.0.7, but some holiday updates made it into 10.0.5. Some updates may be small, some may be larger and include new mini-games, new achievements but goal is to get to update them before they get into the rotation. It's something they want to keep chipping away over the course of the year.

Patch Cadence so far so good. Time will tell, but they'll be listening, and while there might not be a raid every 2 months, there are small narratives and small updates they can do. X.5 patches can tell a story after the events of the raid and update the world. x.7 patches can help lead the story into the X.1 patches. Previously, where there wasn't a X.7 patch, there might have been a lot of prologue content that they've gotten mixed feedback on. How do players feel about it?

Amount of PTR testing varies, unexpected downside of Patch Cadence. New PTR going up as new content releases means more people doing stuff in the game and less on the PTR. They might need to organize more structured days like "Play with the Blues" to get the data they need. But they do appreciate people who play the PTR, everyone's feedback is appreciated.

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Comment by BurzologThere is a high likelyhood down the line that Evokers can wield weapons and cast Frostbolts.Comment by nephrite"For people who are at the high end of the range, being the best for the entire season is not good, and they do want to reign in large outliers in the early weeks of the season."

What about the people at the low end of the range? Guardian Druid, for example? lolComment by War91Mythic+
Over the course of the 10.1 PTR affixes will be tweaked and some might be replaced. Affixes are supposed to be make the dungeon harder. Some seasonal affixes made the dungeons easier and 10s were easier than 9s. They want the experience to be challenging but not frustrating. They want to fix things being hard to see and fix when a bad line up happens where there's no counterplay, but the goal is definitely challenge.

heres a idea how about completely remove tyranical/fortified and replace with a third affix if yall are that hell bent on affixesComment by KolplerFerri"For people who are at the high end of the range, being the best for the entire season is not good, and they do want to reign in large outliers in the early weeks of the season."

What about the people at the low end of the range? Guardian Druid, for example? lolComment by reboundCross-faction guilds are more of the ability to join the opposite faction guild than a cross-faction guild.Comment by Ximu"For people who are at the high end of the range, being the best for the entire season is not good, and they do want to reign in large outliers in the early weeks of the season."

What about the people at the low end of the range? Guardian Druid, for example? lolComment by DekardcaiinConquest boxes like what? RNG conquest gearing is terrible, vendors where you can buy what you want is good. If pvp vendors and great vault pvp gear stays I don't care what you do with or what you call your boxes.Comment by Dekardcaiin"For people who are at the high end of the range, being the best for the entire season is not good, and they do want to reign in large outliers in the early weeks of the season."

What about the people at the low end of the range? Guardian Druid, for example? lolComment by Loner705"Affixes are supposed to be make the dungeon harder"

Why is this even needed in an infinitely-scaling dungeon? It will become harder and harder and eventually unbeatable as you move up the key. Without a single "affix".

All the affixes really do is adding annoyance, random punishment and even more visual diarrhea on the screen. Some of the dungeons are already too bloated with mechanics, and they scale up infinitely. This is not "fun" when you need a hundred WAs and addons to counter your "Affixes" and there are countless ways the screw up your game because of overlapping with dungeon native mechanics, and then you come up with a band-aid crutch fix later.Comment by immoralsoul"Affixes are supposed to be make the dungeon harder"

Why is this even needed in an infinitely-scaling dungeon? It will become harder and harder and eventually unbeatable as you move up the key. Without a single "affix".

All the affixes really do is adding annoyance, random punishment and even more visual diarrhea on the screen. Some of the dungeons are already too bloated with mechanics, and they scale up infinitely. This is not "fun" when you need a hundred WAs and addons to counter your "Affixes" and there are countless ways the screw up your game because of overlapping with dungeon native mechanics, and then you come up with a band-aid crutch fix later.Comment by KolplerFerri"Affixes are supposed to be make the dungeon harder"

Why is this even needed in an infinitely-scaling dungeon? It will become harder and harder and eventually unbeatable as you move up the key. Without a single "affix".

All the affixes really do is adding annoyance, random punishment and even more visual diarrhea on the screen. Some of the dungeons are already too bloated with mechanics, and they scale up infinitely. This is not "fun" when you need a hundred WAs and addons to counter your "Affixes" and there are countless ways the screw up your game because of overlapping with dungeon native mechanics, and then you come up with a band-aid crutch fix later.Comment by strudelCross-faction guilds are more of the ability to join the opposite faction guild than a cross-faction guild.Comment by DisengagedThe link for the primordial stones guide is incorrect it's under "https://www.wowhead.com/guide/forbidden-reach/primordial-stones" the link above is for "https://www.wowhead.com/guide/primordial-stones/overview"Comment by SoifonCross-faction guilds are more of the ability to join the opposite faction guild than a cross-faction guild.Comment by Matrixwolf"They want to make sure there are narrative reasons for races to become classes." old god from MoP having more story so they gave more classes monks?Comment by NurmatWhy is no one talking about BfA raids and dungeons? Why don't we still have buff to our damage at level 70?Comment by CleryHe said they want counterplay for affixes but there is counterplay to Thundering and it is the worst seasonal affix they have ever created.Comment by ComeAndSeeThe problem with affixes this season is they primarily target tanks and healers and they're constantly back-to-back every 2 weeks. You go raging, bursting, sanguine, repeat, then explosive (healer + tank problem).Comment by NoxbagWithout affixes M+ would get dull, not having a seasonal is going to be a mistake, we need more not less.

Level 2: Fortified

Level 4: Sanguine

Level 7: Volcanic

Level 10: Electrified

Level 15: Thundering

DiablorandomLegionComment by Makz42Wow, primordial gems are bis until Mythic Aberrus rings, that is shocking. But Towelliee said its just catch up gear guys?

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