Algalon was a perfect solution.Allow everyone to see the basic content and allow everyone a fairly simple way to see 13/14 bosses.Then hold the last ultra-cool thing in reserve until you're outgearing the content or just plain organized/good enough.
I've been playing since well before BC and I have mixed feelings about the game's direction. I am what might be considered "Casual Hardcore". I like to play casually, running quests, role-playing, etc., but at the same time, what's the point of paying for the game and not getting to see ALL of the content? There were raids and dungeons I've never run on-level, both from Vanilla WoW and BC. I'm sure there will be content I won't see from WotLK as well. But none of this is the fault of Blizzard. They've made a product I've enjoyed for years and will continue to play as long as I can / it's available.
I'm happy with the changes because I am a casual, have-a-life gamer and I'd like to have opportunities to do things without needing to be a hardcore, no-life gamer. Real life > WoW life.
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
I don't necessarily think the game is getting too easy. I don't like the fact that you can just farm heroics and then walk into Icecrown, but that's for a different reason. Blizz spent all their time making Naxx, OS, EoE, and Ulduar so people could see them and experience them, which for the most part, they've completely eliminated. It would be better if people had a reason to go inside Uld, for example, past killing FL for the weekly.On the topic of the OP, though, I don't necessarily like the way this game is heading, because to me it seems that every new raid they release is going to make every other one completely obsolete whether people like it or not. Blizz wants people to see the content, but they're doing the exact opposite of that for the most part, which leaves me confused and irritated.Also, I don't really like that anyone that can queue in LFD can get the highest tier set. I remember back when having t6 or t3 actually meant something, as opposed to now when it means you can do a heroic every day and eventually get armor on par with that of all the people who actually raid. It's a bit disappointing because it used to be like a visual achievement that you can do these tough, difficult things with your group of friends/guildies, instead of being able to rush through a dungeon in 10 minutes.Just my 2 cents.
I'm impressed!If you just skim over most forums, you come away with the overwhelming feeling that WoW is dying, that the changes they're making are killing the game, and that it's just a matter of time before the last few people leave. It's obvious (mostly from WoW's subscription numbers) that this isn't true, but still--the vocal minority makes such a stink that it's hard to keep track of how people really feel.This particular post appears to I've brought the silent majority out of the woodwork! Whatever you think of Ruthvenn's opinions, he's not a troll--just someone who disagrees with you. So please do keep it clean. :)
I enjoy the game as it currently is. Tipping the game toward the casual gamer is tipping it toward the masses IMO. As a casual, I enjoy raiding, and I'd like to think I'm fairly good at raiding but the commitment level required to be a top-of-the-line raider. nd the sad thing is, it isn't a self commitment, its trying to forge an agreeable time commitment with 25 other people. Blizzard didn't move towards a casual player, it moved toward a casual gamer. EQ and early WoW were meant to be near impossible at the high end, but there isn't a sense of wanting for that any longer. It seems weird to me that you wouldn't want to find a deverse type of player base when you're trying to create a world. Casual should be at the AH with hardcore radiers...like life is (save for raids).I'd think that hardcore players would appreciate farmers, and achievement hawks; the casuals, and the newbs. We all contribute to the cycle of the economy and the growth of a given server. What was most disappointing about WotLK is the absense of a 10 man-only raid. Those, to me, were the best things we've ever had.