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Stan

Island Expeditions in Battle for Azeroth

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Island Expeditions are now enabled for testing on Battle for Azeroth Alpha and we looked at the feature in more detail.

For more details check out our Island Expeditions guide!

General Information

Island Expeditions are a combination of Scenarios and Invasion Points in Battle for Azeroth. The 3-player dynamic Scenarios will reward Azerite and mounts. The objective is to collect 6,000 Azerite from various sources before the opposing faction. An Island Expeditions can be finished in 15-20 minutes.

Azerite Sources

Azerite can be collected from Azerite nodes, by killing NPCs, rare mobs, solving puzzles and by killing faction champions (or other players in PvP mode). Faction champions and mobs will be worth more Azerite as the time goes by.

Azerite Detector

A 10-minute countdown will activate when you enter an Island Expedition. After the time's up, nearby Azerite nodes will appear on the map.

Dynamic Replayability

As opposed to Mists of Pandaria Scenarios that were somewhat boring, this won't be an issue with Island Expeditions. Content is variable, meaning there are always different factions champions, sources of Azerite and puzzles to solve.

There will be four difficulties ranging from Normal to Mythic and a PvP difficulty.

PvE Mode (Normal/Heroic/Mythic Difficulty)

In PvE mode, the goal is to collect 6,000 Azerite before the enemy faction. Faction champions use an AI that simulates player behavior. Mobs will jump around, go LoS, polymorph you and then run away. The current location of faction champions is displayed on the map and they won't hesitate to attack you even if you're in combat killing off other mobs. It was fun to see NPCs behave like actual players, well done Blizzard!

PvP Mode

The mode has not been tested yet on Alpha, but I assume that faction champions are going to be replaced by three actual players.

Compositions

Team compositions do not really matter, because there are six consumables to help you out on your adventures. You can queue alone or as a party.

Item Name Effect Description
Bloom ShroomBloom Shroom BloomBloom Creates an area that increases damage and heals over time when entered.
Grapeshot GrenadeGrapeshot Grenade Grapeshot BlastGrapeshot Blast Throw a grenade at your foes! BOOM!
Hidden CannonHidden Cannon Point Blank ShotPoint Blank Shot Deals frontal cone damage to attackers.
Root BallRoot Ball Unleashed RootsUnleashed Roots Can be used to root enemies for 30 seconds. Not usable on faction champions.
ThornberryThornberry ThornberryThornberry Adds a healing & damage effect for 10 minutes.
Trick VestTrick Vest Trick VestTrick Vest Gain an absorbtion shield and deal damage upon expiration.

The consumables can be purchased from Moof and Zuna at the Port of Zandalar for gold, but will cost Seafarer's Doubloons in a future build according to Muffinus.

WoWScrnShot_032118_215022.jpgWoWScrnShot_032118_215032.jpg

Seafarer's Doubloons will show up on Expeditions.

Blizzard LogoBlizzard (Source)

Update Post!

I will update this post as things progress. Thank you for your feedback!

3/20 - These changes will be in the next build:
  • - Creatures no longer increase in Azerite over time, but are worth more in general.
    - Players and Advanced NPCs gain Azerite Residue slower
    - Updated abilities for Azerite-based elementals
    - New abilities for several humanoid groups
    - Normal difficulty tuning (generally, things will be easier, and the AI is less aggressive)
    - AI NPCs should jump around less
    - Updated Azerite visuals all around
    - Azerite Energy no longer stacks
    - Consumables available at your docks now cost Seafarer's Dubloons
    - Seafarer's Dubloons can now show up on Expeditions
    - Each faction's ship captain will now order a cannon barrage on enemies that come too near.
    - New weather effects have been added to elemental invasions.

The items are bound to Blizzard account. Apart from the consumables listed above, powerful buffs can be gained during Island Expeditions from various sources such as shrines. 

Video

Here's an overview of Island Expeditions. Do note that the video was taken before the changes announced by Jeremy Feasel and we're going to release an update as soon as more Islands are enabled for testing. The difficulty in the video is Heroic.

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All in all seems like decent changes... 

Keeping enemy players further from the ship is a good start. 

I havent been following the azerite farm numbers pre-fix to know if the 'less after time, but more overall' part will change much.

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