wow Initial Preview of Assaults in Patch 8.3

[Stan 5,240]

Visions of N'Zoth marks the return of Assaults, but this time, it gets better. Blizzard's using old zones and makes mobs scale to max level, and on top of that, they're using technology from Mechagon and Nazjatar to make the new feature more dynamic.

Other Patch 8.3 Content:

• Visions of N'Zoth Class Changes
• Visions of N'Zoth Development Notes
• Official Mechagnomes & Vulpera Preview
• Vulpera Tidbits: Racial Mount, Shaman Totems, Hunter Pet
• N'Zoth's Model in Patch 8.3
• Mechagnomes & Vulpera Unlock Requirements
• Ny'alotha Raid Boss Names & Descriptions
• Goblin & Worgen Heritage Armor Sets Preview
• Visions of N'Zoth Content Update Preview
• Initial Ny'alotha Raid Testing: October 11th

We visited the Vale of Eternal Blossoms in Pandaria on 8.3 PTR. The location of Assaults will be marked with an icon on the world map and when you enter a zone that is currently under assault, there's a border of the area and objectives that need to be completed in order to successfully drive the enemy forces away.

The main Assault objective "Assault: The Warring Clans" rewarded Leather Grips of item level 410 and 70 Gold.

You can interact with various game objects and complete quests to bring the bar all the way to 100%.

The quests are marked as blue exclamation marks on the map and reward War Resources.

An Assault is finished when you bring the bar to 100% and claim your rewards. The objectives are dynamic so long as you remain within the marked area. We had to extinguish fire and free petrified warriors.

The Assaults themselves are going to vary too. While Pandaria was attacked by the Mogu, Uldum was attacked by N'Zoth's forces.

[Slam 40]

that's a lot given out before blizzcon. I guess that's to focus on the next exp for blizzcon itself

[Migol 433]

7 hours ago, Slam said:

that's a lot given out before blizzcon. I guess that's to focus on the next exp for blizzcon itself

Pretty sure the strategy is:

1) Info dump about 8.3 and any other new stuff we can to take attention away from a certain hearthstone kerfuffle.    Yes, tinfoil hat territory but usually they draw the info stream out for weeks ("and coming next week, the pandaren female model!"), we're getting massive dumps with 24 hours of the protest interview

2) Blizzcon=Diablo 4 and 9.0 Wow, maybe a new character in overwatch and outline the decision to move Warcraft III to next year.   Hearthstone (nervous laugh) no news on that!

[Arcling 898]

2 hours ago, Migol said:

1) Info dump about 8.3 and any other new stuff we can to take attention away from a certain hearthstone kerfuffle.    Yes, tinfoil hat territory but usually they draw the info stream out for weeks ("and coming next week, the pandaren female model!"), we're getting massive dumps with 24 hours of the protest interview

Pretty much what I'm expecting, they can go into further detail about 8.3, like they did last time about 8.2. Next expansion will likely receive some basic info about features, cinematic etc., with more details revealed in following months. There is indeed much trouble surrounding them right now, and even Diablo Immortal fiasco from last year still lingers in the distance... 

Warcraft 3 apparently can't be moved, because they would have to refund pre-orders due to laws in some EU countries.

[Migol 433]

Interesting...I can only imagine an 11th hour, Dec 31st release?   Probably with a massive post launch patch?    That we're mid-October and haven't heard a _peep_ about Warcraft III rerelease...yeah.

[Arcling 898]

1 hour ago, Migol said:

Interesting...I can only imagine an 11th hour, Dec 31st release? 

Perhaps not long after Blizzcon? It's a remaster after all, seems they don't treat it as worthy of having marketing. SC:Remastered also had very little before release, except some event in Korea.

Edited October 9, 2019 by Arcling

[Znifler 58]

6 hours ago, Migol said:

Interesting...I can only imagine an 11th hour, Dec 31st release?   Probably with a massive post launch patch?    That we're mid-October and haven't heard a _peep_ about Warcraft III rerelease...yeah.

Why market a game that:

1. People buy regardless of marketing - nostalgic fanboying.

2. It's already been marketed, when they announced it.

I'd say that's enough considering the game was markedet when it originally came out. 

But hey, they might market it some right before it releases, a little event as the other guy commentet about SC1. Oh and yes, I've bought the game myself. Why does it matter if it comes out late that day? Can't wait another hour for a game that's already out there? Always have the, rather wait, than rush mentality for games. Lest you want COD games that is. 

Conclusion: They figured marketing would not profit in more sales --> considering the marketing cost. 

[durdyenglish 298]

I'm always excited for an opportunity to re-explore Azeroth. It never made sense that "older" zones were excluded from the narrative arc, especially zones with established lore and locations critical to the ongoing plot at large. I was really pumped in Legion to head back to Ulduar and such, all with new challenges and signs that we exist (virtually) in an actual living, breathing world instead of experiencing so many (and often exclusively) static instances.