This is a two edged sword. I’m probably going to get slammed for this, as this site is all about the data-mining, but data-mining has taken a lot of the mystery out of WoW. The more you know, the smaller the world becomes and a lot of the magic goes away; and the more the surprises are “pre-loaded” the faster we, the community, are done with the content and we end us dissatisfied with what we have because we’re already looking to the next “fix” - when we should really be enjoying what just dropped. The community has to stop living our WoW-lives vicariously through the data-miners.Part of the storytelling is the journey of discovery. WoW’s stories are designed to last a certain amount of time. When we find out on day one what the whole plot is for that patch, mentally, we are ‘done” with that patch and feel dissatisfied because we want the next hit - a hit that isn’t going to land for another 2-3 months. It’s not too dissimilar from reading comics, or a serialized story (or a sequential TV show). I mean, do you read the spoilers for a show or do you watch the show and savor the role coaster ride with fresh eyes?As an aside, I am well aware that a coping mechanism for folks who struggle with anxiety is to read the spoilers (or re-watch/re-read familiar works - and I am fine with that. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I do that myself. But that’s all the more to understand how fore-knowledge truncates the intended experience.My happiest days in WoW were in Vanilla, because I had no idea what was going to happen next. Every night I logged was an exploration of a brand new world. I never played the RTS, so didn’t know the stories to date. Every zone was an unknown, every fly-over a mystery just waiting to be plucked. Azeroth was huge because so much was unknown.That said, there is a difference between knowing everything, and knowing salient bits of information - such as the timing of FOMO items. And as a guild leader, it’s good to know when seasons begin or end, or when infrastructural or mechanics changes are scheduled to hit. Even quality of life adjustments would be good to know in a timely manner.
This is a nice change, we are always spoon fed detamined info, it's nice not knowing for a change.
I dont care about 10.2.6 anymore. They dragged it out so long that unless its something mind-blowing its going to be disappointing.
Blizzards biggest mistake ever, was taking feedback from players. The most successful videogames in history had a clear vision that was executed and if players didn't like it they moved on.
I don't think shrouding this in mystery is a great idea. Making it so secretive and mysterious is going to build people's expectations, people will start filling in the (very large) gaps with their ideal version and will 99% be disappointed in what is delivered. They need to give us something to temper expectations. It's not like every other mini patch has been stellar, a couple of feel good questlines and a boring-forgettable ""grind"" zone that serves as a catchup mechanic for alts isn't exactly something I look forward to.Unless they're planning something massive that they know will be a slam dunk, but Blizzard's track record would suggest that is extremely unlikely.
just waiting on the massive let down that is coming.
It is ok that they keep silent about the content details of 10.2.6, when it will be surprise content. But at least they should talk about the schedule and the planned release date.Also being silent about 10.2.6 does not prohibit to talk about the plans for season 4.
there is a moment when something cute or fun just becomes grading and annoying..i feel this moment has been reached..#PlayableGnollspleaseBlizz
They are learning this right now? They have been ghosting the community for 15+ years, gone is the communication, it is well known that the Devs think they are high and mighty over the players. All the tells me is that the patch is full of nothing, and they don't want the community feedback so they can say they do not have time to change things.
I kinda like this approach to small events. I hope it lives up to the hype and the silence doesn't have a negative effect.
Honestly all I would like is a date. That's it. The event can be a total mystery but it can be frustrating to not know WHEN it is.
Wow playerbase is too quick to invent promises then react viciously when what they get isn't what they imagined. Combine that with Blizz bad track record with repeated feedback and it's a boiling cauldron. I'm mildly intrigued. I don't expect it'll be huge but I'm hoping we get some nice tech/mog/moments out of it.
So many people crying in the comments. It's coming just wait.
I will say im glad we're back to the mystery of patches. PTRs were not widely used or understood much until midway through BC and any datamining wasn't easily accessible. But since the increasing want of PTRs and information to be given out, it's shoved this mentality that wow is always spoiled before it ever reaches live.The only negative from this choice to go back to a 'hush hush' mode of information and PTR being no more is that players have been so use to getting all the info before a patch and planning the most optimal route to complete and or obtain what they want, even learn how bosses work with guides based on PTR information weeks ahead of the release of said raid even on Mythic. Now the people who thrive on reporting stuff early, telling people info and lore dumps from said PTRs are struggling for any real method of content that is wow focused without repeating what 200 other channels are regurgitating off of forums and speculation.I am all for this as for the last 4 expansions i've grown tired of the PTR being a big massive spoiler and early game advantage of those who took the time to abuse what they found or theorycraft/min max way before they have official playtests of these things. I want some mystery and exploration for like a week before the info is shared. Before we have mounts thrown in our face to collect and rewards from x achievement to complete the day it releases.So hopefully returning to 'Not sharing everything before it has a release date' will help.