BlizzCon 2016: Legion Interview with Chris Robinson and John Hight

Posted 2016/11/05 at 2:02 PM by perculia

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Interview SummaryWhat is the ideal schedule with mini-patches/big patches? Is the plan to deliver these mini patches consistently while developing a new expansion?

7.1 is a medium-sized patch - wanted that right on the heels of Legion.

7.2 is huge. but Blizzard wanted the medium patch for small goodies. We realized we didn’t have to save everything. We want to continue doing those little patches. We are no longer holding on to patches due to delay.

With mini-patches coming with more regularity, is there any chance we will see more mini-raids on the way like ToV?

Blizzard doubled down on dungeons and loves that format, it’s easy to get into and more dungeons will definitely be on the way.

In terms of raids - Tomb of Sargeras is a very large raid but we’ll keep an eye on user reception.

Given the tease about Argus in a future patch, can you say that Tomb of Sargeras will not be the final raid of Legion?

7.2 is NOT the final patch for Legion.

Details on Tomb of Sargeras specifically were not given.

Legion launch saw updated animations for melee classes - will casters be getting one an in upcoming patch?

Blizzard is working on it right now. They couldn’t revamp everything all at the same time - big scope.

Some amount of new animations for launch was good but they figured out how to separate out different parts of the revamp.

Can’t say “when” but the caster animations will be coming. Blizzard learned a lot from the combat animation revamp and is using those lessons for caster revamp.

Blizzard is using the class fantasy idea to inform the animation revamp. Eg - updated Elemental animations will draw upon the fantasy of pulling things out of the earth.

What is your favorite new model/asset to design What was the most fun artifact weapon model to design for 7.2?

Bear forms for Druids are exciting - they really wanted to help druids out. Using artifacts to help druid fantasy was huge.

The most fun Legion models to design were demons like Moarg and Ganarg. The machinery aspect from Burning Crusade was big but Blizzard wanted to get away from that into more of a magical elemental caster element. Redesigning how the Legion was envisioned was very rewarding, and high impact when you discover the Legion on the Broken Shore.

Artifacts - focusing on fewer weapons for every class, instead of having to design all those leveling/quest weapons was great and rewarding.

What about an artifact that changes boomkin form?What was the most challenging class mount to design for? What visual influences did you draw on for the mounts?

The rogue one was challenging (Chris plays a rogue!) - they got picky.

Blizzard wanted to make sure the artists had a connection to the mounts - each character team member helped design the mount for their class.

The rogue crow mount was originally on the Anzu model rig but they didn’t want it to feel like a reskin, so kept re-doing it until they got something they loved.

Ion said on Twitter that some mounts will change tints based on spec - like Shadow and Arcane. Any others you can tell us about? Can players further change the color of their class mounts?

There may be other ways to change the appearance.

When Blizzard creates new models, there are always other color variations that are unused; the design team likes finding ways to use these other colors.

They sounded enthusiastic about more tints!

Worgen and goblin model updates?

No specific date or that we’re definitively going to do it but it’s on the big list of stuff Blizzard thinks about.

Blizzard originally started out with those models as the bar but as usual they progressed beyond that with future models.

Blizzard didn't want to dumb future high-resolution models down so they progressed forward on the model revamp for other races.

Blizzard knows they have to address worgens and goblins but it's a balancing act.

What about new hairstyles?Are there upcoming plans to improve the process of acquiring legendary weapons?

7.1 adjusted the probability - players should have noticed that the drop rate improved.

No further plans to share yet; acquiring the legendary should be special.

Targeting farming is not coming quite yet. Blizzard likes the idea that you currently have a story behind where you found the drop.

What sort of rewards are from mini-holidays? How frequently should players expect holidays in game?

Not all will have rewards, some have none.

It’s a fun way for the team to express themselves, didn’t want to invest too much development time.

There is no meta achievement for completing all of the mini-holidays.

Will world bosses get scaled up like dungeons to remain relevant as the expansion progresses?Any cool rewards or loot coming from Brawler's Guild you can tellus about? Any particularly awesome shirts? What is the most fun boss?

For the art team, it's their "worst nightmare" when designers get the shackles off and create wacky bosses that might jar with the overall visual tone of the game.

Brawler's Guild is a lighthearted area that's a pressure release valve; put in goofy areas and see what people come up with.

Anything for other types of collectors, like battle pets?Why do some belt models cut off the bottom of the tabard while others do not?Will there be an option to show full tabard or cut off tabards?How do you draw the line on transmog? Eg why are the Hallow's End hats not transmoggable?

If you can mog everything then holidays wouldn't feel as special; you should look forward to equipping something at a certain time.

Professions weren’t discussed at the panel - are there any updates in store? What is the deal with Nomi.

New recipes are coming for sure.

More details will be discussed in a panel later today.

Do you work with the teams from other franchises to coordinate content updates? Eg Karazhan for Hearthstone, Varian for Heroes.

Blizzard often discuss things across teams, collectively.

Sometiems one team will bring it up and coincidentally they were just re-doing it in WoW. Karazhan was a coincidence.

There was lots of coordination with Heroes for the recent additions; specifically Blizzard wanted Varian's Broken Shore cinematic look used in Heroes.

Any chance of Gadgetzan getting a revamp in WoW with the Hearthstone adventure?

Blizzard likes having creativity and different ideas happen in other games; it's ok if Gadgetzan is different in Hearthstone and WoW.

They were pretty enthusiastic about our ideas that a Gadgetzan revamp could tie in with a Goblin model revamp!

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Comment by juntabasuraneed more recipes!Comment by AlurieThis is amazing. Though I must say.. I am a little disappointed with the mage mount. xDComment by VilnarBear druid form = Epicness! One of the best visuals wow realted this Blizzcon!Comment by ruben1234122mmmrrrggglll!Comment by LyzoldasBlizzard likes the idea that you currently have a story behind where you found the drop.Comment by Dynastyxneed more recipes!Comment by ThePuzzledIf im honest, the Werebear form for Druids makes me want to level one, looking forward to it :)Comment by greeneggIf goblins and worgen do get a model update, I think they should revamp their starting zones aswell (as mentioned at the end how a goblin model update could mean gadgetzan update), deathknights in my opinion need an updated starting area aswell.Comment by ShirubiaBlizzard wanted to make sure the artists had a connection to the mounts - each character team member helped design the mount for their class.Comment by RazuuI can't wait for arguuusComment by Gressiefix warlock mounts reskin skinny dreadsteed pukeComment by RevenI am looking forward to the new Artifact skins, especially the new Felo'melorn. I wonder if you unlock all four color variations when you get the achievement.Comment by szalonna7.1 is only a "medium-sized" patch? Personally, I have no problem with lack of content if they keep up with the good work.Comment by FrazleyGreat interview, thank you for taking questions from us to the devs. I'm looking forward to more holidays coming AND HAIRSTYLES! :D The barber will be busy!Comment by CrankyPandaNot being able to use holiday mogs is fine, but things like the sister hat's should be a cover for your helm like a mask isComment by WolffangeWould love to have the worgen and goblin updates to happen soon.Comment by HakuboxLooking forward to 7.2 and beyond c:Comment by faust257The Werebear kinda looks like hulking naga which is awesomeComment by memoriesuntoldLooking as the new class mounts... Monk is going to be the new hawtness.
So glad i made the change in mains to the monkComment by PurgatorywolfI really love how they are trying hard to come up with ways to keep content flowing, without being too overwhelming, and trying to keep it balanced with all the interests in the game, like pvp, questing, collecting, exploring. :)

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