Dragonflight Interview with JudgeHype - Pre-Patch Event, Dracthyr Questline, Mythic+ Rotation

Live Posted 2022/04/19 at 7:57 PM by Neryssa

Dragonflight Expansion Reveal

Art and Visual Updates

Expansion Features

Systems Updates

Interviews

10.0 Pre-Patch Event

The Pre-Patch event is planned to last for 2 weeks, and will introduce players to Dragonflight. A level 60 revamp of the classic dungeon Uldaman is planned for the event.

Dracthyr Evokers will be available to players during the pre-patch event.
Editor's note: There was no discussion of how Evokers would be initially available to players, but for reference - in Legion, Demon Hunters were first available on the 7.0 pre-patch event for players who had pre-ordered the expansion.

Dragon Isles and Dragonriding

The Dragon Isles are located northeast of the known Azerothian landmass.

It's hard to pin down how big the Dragon Isles are, but it is considered one of the largest continents ever offered to players.

Blizzard is studying adding Dragonriding to all other WoW outdoor content, but the current focus on the system is for the Dragon Isles.

Lore and Dracthyr Evokers

There is a new big bad in Dragonflight, but just like Mists of Pandaria, the big bad won't be known initially. We're starting Dragonflight by learning about threats to the Dragon Isles, just like we did with the Sha and Mogu in early MoP.
Editor's note: On the official Dragonflight website, "Primal Incarnates" are mentioned as the threat we will fight on the first raid of Dragonflight.

World First Race

The Sepulcher of the First Ones World First Race lasted a bit longer than Blizzard would have liked, but at the same time, they believe players would also be disappointed if the raid was defeated in less than a week.

10-11 days is considered the ideal length for a race, but balancing a raid towards the best guilds in the world has proved to be a challenge.

Professions

Currently no plays for a return of Archaeology in Dragonflight, as the devs wants to focus on more core elements of professions for the expansion, like gathering and crafting. There might be something available for Archaeology eventually, but not on expansion release.

Gameplay

No Azerite/Artifact Power system is planned for Dragonflight. A progression system is expected to be included, but player feedback from Battle for Azeroth and Shadowlands is being considered.

Flying with your drake using Dragonriding is currently limited. You will need to unlock elements like speed, and flying to certain places in the Dragon Isles will require completion of certain pre-requisites. Blizzard still believes that the best way to first experience content is from the ground-up, instead of allowing players complete freedom to fly from day 1.

Some timegating is to be expected, as Blizzard likes that a portion of players will unlock certain things at once - Sepulcher of the First Ones timegating being given as an example. Other elements are expected to be unlocked gradually with gameplay, like the Cypher of the First Ones in Zereth Mortis.

System Requirements

Minimum system requirements for Dragonflight will be revealed shortly before the expansion is released, but Blizzard is maintaining their phillosophy of allowing as many players to enjoy the game regardless of their PC's specs.

Mythic+

The current plans for Dragonflight Season 1 is to include a dungeon rotation, with a pool of 4 Dragonflight dungeons and 4 dungeons from older expansions. Season 2 will change the rotation to include 4 different Dragonflight and 4 different older expansion dungeons.

Shadowlands dungeons will not be included in the rotation, as these are too recent.

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Comment by ElladarynA level 60 revamp of the classic dungeon Uldaman is planned for the event.Comment by TOMRUSFlying with your drake using Dragonriding is currently limited. You will need to unlock elements like speed, and flying to certain places in the Dragon Isles will require completion of certain pre-requisites. Blizzard still believes that the best way to first experience content is from the ground-up, instead of allowing players complete freedom to fly from day 1.The Sepulcher of the First Ones World First Race lasted a bit longer than Blizzard would have liked, but at the same time, they believe players would also be disappointed if the raid was defeated in less than a week.The current plans for Dragonflight Season 1 is to include a dungeon rotation, with a pool of 4 Dragonflight dungeons and 4 dungeons from older expansions. Season 2 will change the rotation to include 4 different Dragonflight and 4 different older expansion dungeons.Comment by LostsinclairNo Arch at launch but at least they acknowledge that we want it back. Hope one of the future 10,0 patches delivers. Also hoping that one of these interviews brings up Allied Races. There is some prime AR bait in this expansion and it would be criminal to waste it.Comment by Zharkosmythic+ is saved thank christComment by BlightyBlizzard still believes that the best way to first experience content is from the ground-up, instead of allowing players complete freedom to fly from day 1.Comment by TigerusWhat? Only 4 new dungeons in the rotation, while other 4 will be abandoned for like 6 months?Comment by Pyramyswith a pool of 4 Dragonflight dungeonsComment by CaptainDopeOnly 4 Dragonflight dungeons? Wow that's really low. It's probably going to be a short expansion.Comment by wowheadawesomeI hate that they aren't paying much attention to archeology. It's one profession that isn't a requirement for players, which makes it feel less like a job, unlike the other professions.

Also, we should be able to choose which faction we want to be in no matter what race we are. It doesn't make any sense that we can't.Comment by Styloniouswith a pool of 4 Dragonflight dungeonsComment by Jagi79Tripling down on the anti-flying crusade against your playerbase again I see.Comment by TarsoTo my previous posters:
The current plans for Dragonflight Season 1 is to include a dungeon rotation, with a pool of 4 Dragonflight dungeons and 4 dungeons from older expansions. Season 2 will change the rotation to include 4 different Dragonflight and 4 different older expansion dungeons.Comment by ZharkosOnly 4 Dragonflight dungeons? Wow that's really low. It's probably going to be a short expansion.with a pool of 4 Dragonflight dungeonsComment by infekCurrently no plays for a return of Archaeology in DragonflightComment by MomoiOnly 4 Dragonflight dungeons? Wow that's really low. It's probably going to be a short expansion.Comment by AlcohRotating the new dungeons in s1? whatttt? seems very strange to rotate out half of the new expansion dungeon pool instantly.

a guild mate had what sounds like a much more pleasant idea.

" no need to cycle in 4 old dungos at the start, I’d still prefer something like 8 base plus 2 new and 2 old in S2 with removing the least played two (there are always bad ones)"

would be much more enjoyable.Comment by JaceRaifelwith a pool of 4 Dragonflight dungeonsOnly 4 Dragonflight dungeons? Wow that's really low. It's probably going to be a short expansion.Season 2 will change the rotation to include 4 different Dragonflight and 4 different older expansion dungeons.Comment by IceWolfDKBlizzard still believes that the best way to first experience content is from the ground-up, instead of allowing players complete freedom to fly from day 1.Comment by Nova5269Flying with your drake using Dragonriding is currently limited. You will need to unlock elements like speed, and flying to certain places in the Dragon Isles will require completion of certain pre-requisites. Blizzard still believes that the best way to first experience content is from the ground-up, instead of allowing players complete freedom to fly from day 1.they believe players would also be disappointed if the raid was defeated in less than a weekComment by AlexWaffPeople are really salty about the flying thing, but I don't get what they want at this point.

It's BOTH that we hate flying and it's boring and takes away from the game - but also that we want it by default everywhere because zones are too cramped.

They make zones that are wide and less railroady, and add GW2's flying mout with the same type of progression to make it better, essentially solving the issue of "flying isn't fun or engaging, it only takes away content and turns it into a chore"
And they replace old style flying with the new style in the Dragon Isle - meaning you can "fly" day one, and it's only barred from your progression of your mount.
Which, mind you, is an ORGANIC AND FUN way to slowly gain access to more places in the zones as you quest, and enjoy learning the new flying system.
That INSTANTLY beats "you can't fly until one day you suddenly can now" of old expansions.

I don't see the problem, years down the line they might even adapt this new flying system to more/all flying mounts, as they expand it to other zones, making flying actually feel and look better, rather than being essentially a flyhack.

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