Player Choice So Far in Battle for Azeroth 8.1.5 and What the Ultimate Rewards Could Be

PTR Posted 2019/01/12 at 4:03 AM by perculia

Spoiler warning for 8.1.5 discussion.Datamined Player Choice in Patch 8.1.5rescue Derek Proudmoore

Do you have something to report, $n?

Option 1: Baine Bloodhoof has requested that I help him with a secret task.
"So Bloodhoof wishes to act in shadow? We must know what he is planning.
Go along with his little task, $n. You are under my protection, so do not worry if you need to get your hands dirty to keep up the ruse.
Just do whatever he asks of you and return to me with your findings."

Option 2: Hiding this information will surely draw Sylvanas' ire. Are you sure you want to keep this from Nathanos?
Nevermind. <Don't report Baine's request.>

Xal'atath story

Option 1: The darkness within you swells. I warn you, this will be very painful.
Now, stand very still. That's it. Let me pull N'zoth's defilement from you.

Option 2: Are you sure you wish to cleanse the Gift of N'zoth? You will not be able to undo this decision.

Therazane, please. I didn't think it'd be tha big of a problem.
Correct. You didn't think. And now you shall answer for your crimes.
And you, $r. The audacity of you surface dwellers! Thinking you can just come here and take our secrets?!

I'd like to offer you a choice, fleshing.
You may either choose to free your ally, the one who betrayed his people by sharing our coveted knowledge with you and faces a punishment of death...
So, which will it be, fleshling? Make your choice.

Choice 1:
Typical surface dweller. Only thinking of yourself and how to further your own power.
Very well, the anvil is yours. And Ormhun shall face his punishment elsewhere.

Choice 2:
I had a feeling their may be a shred of virtue in you, surface dweller.
You're free to go, Ormhun. But do not think you will go unpunished. We shall discuss the details of that later.
As for you, $r. You have proven to value life over possessions, and I shall reward that honor. You may take the anvil as well.

very newPlayer Choice in Battle for Azeroth

In the Darkshore questline, players have a choice of killing Sira Moonwarden, a character we previously collaborated with in Legion as the Wardens quartermaster, or hesitating which forces Nathanos do the dirty deed.

In the Saurfang questline, players choose between siding with Saurfang or Sylvanas, when urged by Zekhan to abandon Sylvanas' mission and instead defend Saurfang.

Blizzard on Player ChoiceEurogamer interview

"We have quest lines going in for Tides of Vengeance which we're really excited about, and those will actually afford players a choice whether to betray Sylvanas or not.

"Beyond that," he added, "once you play a choice like that, you have to follow it through, so in subsequent quests that come out, you're going to be on the side you pick, and we'll see what comes of that, if you're right or wrong."

Lore Livestream

If we had infinite time to show this world and how people react to it, you would see a lot of different perspectives--like someone on the street about Sylvanas. The average person who is hanging out in Orgrimmar or Thunder Bluff hears news second-hand. They might have a completely different perspective on stuff, as with today's news.

It's easy to fall into the perspective that everyone has seen everything. Dark God Titans, battles fought between Dark Elemental Lords...huge things. The average person who lives has only heard tales of that, maybe they're almost mythical.

There are different perspectives on the Horde that we knew that players felt as well. This wasn't a matter of us saying "we're going to fundamentally change the way of how questing in WoW works with different paths"...we decided that in this specific case we thought it was a good way to enrich the story by letting players pick who they side with (Sylvanas or Saurfang).

We can give a crystallized moment (in the quest) for that choice to happen. So once that choice happens, how do we pay off those paths moving forward? They must be meaningful. The last thing we want is a choice that doesn't actually have any ramifications down the line. While you get that initial reaction based on your choice, we have thought about where those paths go, and we have some stuff in store, that will make it feel like "I saw this through, and that choice mattered to me, and gave me a little something for my character."

Like cinematics, the core importance is to use it when it's most effective and appropriate. It's a tool in our toolkit. Choice is a toolkit. When it absolutely demands it, we'd like to be able to use it, if it facilitates a richer story.

Watch Story and Lore Developer Live Stream from Warcraft on www.twitch.tvWhere Could Player Choice Go? (Opinion)oneArms WarriorsShadow PriestsHoly PaladinsSylvanas would consider Garrosh an amateurRecent whispers

The Light has struck a bargain with the enemy of all.
Six seats at the high table. Six mouths that hunger. One will consume all others.

Turalyon and AlleriaX'era trying to purify IllidanMag'har Orc Recruitment scenarioThree Sisters

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Comment by Doom5I like this direction they are going in, giving us more of a choice instead of just tagging along. But considering this is an MMO, I'm not sure that at the end of the day our choices will matter much. We shall see. :)Comment by infernobeckonsWhich one of these is Alliance player choice?Comment by DaelaamI wish to keep the Gift of N'zoth.Comment by terrifying1376i just want gear my altsComment by UchurIt's definitely interesting approach. I'm eager to see how this idea will turn out!Comment by 968833This post was from a user who has deleted their account.Comment by TombsvI'm glad I get to keep the gift of N'zoth. The Old Gods will be good for the entire planet. They will save us from the war and the Autobot complex of the alliance leader!Comment by DrorithVery interestingComment by davos23Which one of these is Alliance player choice?Comment by bloodmoth13Which one of these is Alliance player choice?Comment by weltallicaLike gating half the story behind factions (Horde and Alliance have no idea what's happening on each other's island. You MUST play alts to get the full story), this is yet another way for Blizzard to increase MAU; want to experience the full story for YOUR OWN FACTION? Play alts and pick option 2.Comment by TyerrI'll be going with Baine on this, as I've never been a fan of Sylvanas, Forsaken nor elves, but rather been a fan of the Trolls, tauren and orcs.

I'm curious how it'll all end towards the end of the expansion.Comment by WillbladeDidn't we see the datamines where Baine confesses his guilt already?
This makes these choices so inconsequential and merely an illusion to make you feel like your choice matters but it really doesn't at all. I feel like this just works as trust meter for Sylvannas in which we will possibly see a different cutscene by the end of the expansion. This would be great, if the choices you made changed the course of the "entire" story up to that point, but it won't, instead they come across as "Give us your sub money for two years so you can finally see what your choices led to".

If player choice is a big thing of BfA, then I fear for the little things.Comment by Pyrite13Like gating half the story behind factions (Horde and Alliance have no idea what's happening on each other's island. You MUST play alts to get the full story), this is yet another way for Blizzard to increase MAU; want to experience the full story for YOUR OWN FACTION? Play alts and pick option 2.Comment by ZygosSix seats at the high table. Six mouths that hunger. One will consume all others.Comment by RobNajjarDidn't we see the datamines where Baine confesses his guilt already?
This makes these choices so inconsequential and merely an illusion to make you feel like your choice matters but it really doesn't at all. I feel like this just works as trust meter for Sylvannas in which we will possibly see a different cutscene by the end of the expansion. This would be great, if the choices you made changed the course of the "entire" story up to that point, but it won't, instead they come across as "Give us your sub money for two years so you can finally see what your choices led to".

If player choice is a big thing of BfA, then I fear for the little things.Comment by FlayOnDarkIronLike gating half the story behind factions (Horde and Alliance have no idea what's happening on each other's island. You MUST play alts to get the full story), this is yet another way for Blizzard to increase MAU; want to experience the full story for YOUR OWN FACTION? Play alts and pick option 2.Comment by ZygosLike gating half the story behind factions (Horde and Alliance have no idea what's happening on each other's island. You MUST play alts to get the full story), this is yet another way for Blizzard to increase MAU; want to experience the full story for YOUR OWN FACTION? Play alts and pick option 2.Comment by ZygosWhich one of these is Alliance player choice?Comment by CrusadyrImagine thinking any of the choices matter and will change the outcome of the story.

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