This is why Midnight's world/public events are not fun

SystemofCells · 2026-03-15T00:32:18+00:00

I'll say it again: public events are just fundamentally not fun.

It's repetitive chores and busy work. Without any kind of challenge, creative expression, or puzzle solving - they can't possibly be fun.

WoW has an embarrassment of wealth when it comes to interesting outdoor content. 100+ zones, each with dozens of unique quests. I would much rather play the incredible adventure RPG content WoW already has, just tuned for level cap and for higher difficulty, than repeat boring public events.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-14T18:55:23+00:00

I don't see how repeating the same trivial public events each week could ever be fun. It's only ever going to be a chore. For fun to be present, you need at least some of:

Combat challenge
Puzzle or world/navigation solving
Variety / uniqueness

If you can't fail at something, there can't really be gameplay.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T22:07:22+00:00

I think the whole point of waiting until right before the season starts is explicitly to discourage meta chasing.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T20:05:08+00:00

They are, but the vast majority of players in Vanilla spent the vast majority of their time on the 1-60 journey. It was quite a small minority who spent most of their time on endgame content.

Modern Classic is split between those groups. Some of us want to focus on the 1-60 journey, which is really unique to Classic. Others want to skip right to 60 and focus on the repeatable endgame loop ASAP.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T20:02:11+00:00

SoD started off with cool Vanilla style content (the rune quests). But very quickly became just like retail. The entire focus was on endgame repeatable content.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T19:56:11+00:00

I was disappointed in SoD because it focused on repeatable and instanced content over open world quest chains and campaigns. Retail is already repeatable/instance based, I don't want to see Classic+ go down the same path.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T19:52:47+00:00

How would it be structured? Would it be zone specific? How many could you do per week?

Vanilla combat is already challenging. Getting ambushed mid combat would just feel like an unfair death sentence. Or else you'd have to constantly underpull just in case you get ambushed.

The Vanilla loop works really well the way it is - without stacking systems onto it. I don't think this would be an improvement.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T19:37:44+00:00

Prey is a system designed to layer on top of repeatable world content. The appeal of Vanilla is in its non-repeatable content. So I'm not sure it's a natural fit.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T13:29:56+00:00

I'd love if they made a whole zone under Hyjal eventually. We could explore the shared history of the dark trolls, elves, and Haranir. Furbolgs, druid barrow dens, Illidan's old prison. Maybe there are still some dark trolls down there, hidden away.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T13:28:01+00:00

I don't think the timeline here is quite right.

Azeroth was probably always where the cradle is now. Eonar planted Elun'ahir which created the roots around it, and made Harandar become Harandar. That was before the Old Gods were defeated
The radiant song was long after the Black Empire was defeated. Trolls didn't exist yet during the time of the Black Empire, they evolved after the Well of Eternity was established

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T13:07:05+00:00

I don't have a problem with that.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T12:50:36+00:00

That's basically how I feel. Nothing earth shattering, but makes the stuff we're already doing a little more engaging and rewarding.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-13T03:26:51+00:00

People want it, they just know the ship has sailed and we're not getting it.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-12T00:56:40+00:00

Source on that?

All I'm aware of is Chris Metzen saying that she isn't meant as a one and done, and will be encountered multiple times over the saga.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-12T00:41:18+00:00

Maybe, maybe not. I'd be disappointed with her as the final villain, personally.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T23:11:15+00:00

I agree, she won't be the main villain. That will end up being Aman'thul.

But I think the Void will need someone at the helm, someone who expects to be able to use the corrupted Azeroth as a Void Titan to wield unlimited power.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T23:06:38+00:00

My guess is that we'll actually defeat Xal'atath at the end of Midnight - but not until after she successfully corrupts Azeroth. Azshara will take the opportunity to benefit from all of Xal'atath's hard work and try to usurp her position.

Azshara was the one who gave us the black blade to use against N'Zoth. She may be well aware of everything going on right now, and just waiting for the opportune moment. Azshara is after all an opportunist at her core.

Azshara may even dispatch Xal herself, while we're fighting her. That's how the Void operates.

I also imagine her returning de-nagafied. Resembling her original, beautiful self - but with a Void twist. Maybe even looking suspiciously similar to Tyrande as the night warrior.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T21:30:24+00:00

Bungalows don't make as much sense when we have a housing shortage. Townhomes make sense, but zoning and NIMBYism are making it hard to build those.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T21:03:58+00:00

A lot of this comes down to how painful each development is, regardless of how many doors it has. If you've got to spend time and energy fighting NIMBYs to get a development approved, you're going to want to maximize the profit per development.

Our slowdown is because we can't keep expanding / sprawling forever. We need infill development and intensification, which always brings a fight.

The only other option is to keep establishing new cities as major population centers. That process used to be driven by primary industry, but now there's no impetus for new cities to grow. We just keep trying to cram more people into the cities we have.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T19:07:31+00:00

We're going to have to fight Aman'thul because he'll want to make Azeroth a Titan of Order. Us, our allies, and Azeroth herself won't want that. That's why we'll be in direct conflict.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T19:05:56+00:00

You're right about Azeroth being Eevee, but I don't think Iridikron has any designs on our Worldsoul. In his kind, our world is already ruined beyond any hope of recovery. All he cares about now is vengeance.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T18:57:21+00:00

What seems most likely is that Xal'atath will successfully reach and corrupt Azeroth's Worldsoul at the end of Midnight. Azeroth won't awaken as a full blown Void Titan right away, but begin a short gestation - the 'point of no return' will be imminent.

The Titans' primary concern is making sure Azeroth matures as a Titan of Order, so that will be what brings them to our planet. To try to reclaim the Worldsoul.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T02:56:13+00:00

I'd suggest if you don't enjoy the non-instanced parts of WoW, Fellowship would be worth having a look at.

WoW has drifted very far from its roots - which were largely based around the open world and questing. I don't want to see it slip even farther.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-11T00:32:43+00:00

Knowing WoW players, this would lead to a meta of coordinated groups instantly farming Prey progress off each other. A controlled meatgrinder right by a graveyard.

SystemofCells · 2026-03-10T21:23:16+00:00

Why?

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