WoW News

Nobbel Midnight Alpha Developer Interview – Voidlords, Titans, Windrunners & Allied Races

In an interview with Nobbel87, Design Director Maria Hamilton and Associate Game Director Paul Kubit discussed all things Titans & Voidlords to new Allied Races & Class Combos. Learn how Blizzard plans to deliver more lore and story in Midnight.

Voidlords & Titans

When it comes to the Void, they're always seeking to devour as a means to grow their power. While the Old Gods sought to corrupt the World Soul it was always to make it more susceptible to devouring. Now with Midnight, Xal'atath's been doing something similar with the Dark Heart and her army is named the Devouring Host.

The Titans were uncertain about Azeroth in their search for the Prime Worldsoul. They left their machinery, structures, and minions to study and research Azeroth, hoping to return if confirmed. The Titans might now agree that Azeroth is the Prime Worldsoul, so will they return?

Housing

There's a lot of caution when it comes to adding utility to housing, such as Death Knight Runeforging. What kind of collateral damage does that do to other areas of the game and interacting with other players in other locations. Don't want players to only visit their House similar to how players only visited their Garrison. Jury is still out on DK Runeforging but it's still something their continually weighing similar to Auction Houses.

For decor that you'll want multiples of or come from a one-time achievement, you'll be able to visit a vendor or other sources to obtain copies beyond the initial piece of decor. Profession crafted items you can simply craft more or pick them up via the Auction House.

For players who want the same housing plot, it'll work differently depending on if it's a public or private neighborhood. Private neighborhoods are limited and you'll likely need to work it out with the other player. For public neighborhoods, you should be able to search for a neighborhood where that plot is open.

Cutscenes, Lorewalking & Returning Characters

With there being over 20 years of World of Warcraft, they realize there's a lot of cutscenes and it can be difficult especially for new players to find these. It's something they're aware of and have been working to provide more recap compilations that hit the major story beats, but they'd love to do something like that either for housing or somewhere else.

They're looking to further expand on Lorewalking as it really helps provide more context on the current events, politics, and story. Lorewalker Cho will have a new story prior to Midnight's Launch. Then after Launch they're looking to add more typically in the smaller patch updates.

Sylvanas, Vereesa, Kael'thas, Lady Vashj or Azshara; Are any of these on the roster for Midnight? Some of them...

Xal'atath will continue to be the driving force and big bad for Midnight. You'll see a bit of a prologue in 11.2.7 and pre-patch event prior to Midnight's launch. In the pre-patch event, there's a growing cult that would like to see Xal'atath succeed and you'll see how the messages of the Worldsoul evolve and offer a warning of the impending threat. Expect a few Windrunners...

World Difficulty & Legacy Content

Before implementing some of the new world difficulty options found in Legion: Remix, Blizzard wants to see how it's received and get feedback. The Prey system does touch on that and offers some of that opt-in challenge, but it's definitely something they're considering for the future.

Blizzard loves revisiting legacy content like Horrific Visions where it fits thematically and as a way to ensure players always have something to do. It's nice to revisit some of that old content as a way to break up expansion or major content releases.

Allied Races

Though the Haranir can wield druidic magics as well as the light, they don't yet have any tradition of paladinship within their culture. Outside of Orweyna, we're really learn about the Haranir in their raw undisturbed form and as of yet they're use of the light hasn't evolved in that way. As they're introduced to the other races of Azeroth, it could be explored, but we'll have to see how the story develops.

For other race/class combinations, a lot of the restrictions are still narratively based and meant for worldbuilding. What are the cultures of each race and how have they evolved over time? For Void Elf Demon Hunters, there's a cool storyline that will explain why they've decided to take up that mantle. It doesn't always have to have a story opportunity, but it's nice when they can tie narrative and gameplay together.

Adding new mount collection achievement mounts is on the team's radar. Nothing to announce yet, but they want to ensure that whatever reward they offer feels worth of the effort, since they'd heard feedback that past rewards felt lackluster.

The game has a wider range of activities that also demand cool mounts, so they've just been going to Mythic+, Delves, Renown, and other systems, with none of the leftovers feeling worthy of a new achievement reward.

Midnight Timegating

Similar to the War Within, there will be some narrative timegating from the level up campaign to the opening of the raids in Season 1. With multiple raids in Season 1, they also have the opportunity to provide some additional story and questing that becomes available and advances the story between all 3 raids.

They do understand that not completing campaigns as they release can lead to some confusion for some players and they're trying to balance that against the opportunity to continually build to major story climaxes. It's something they'll look at addressing but not sure they'll have a solution for Midnight's launch.

Quickfire Questions

They've heard that world quest dialog can be intrusive while simply flying over zones. No solution, but can work on it.

Achievement system has expanded significantly since it's inception, but the UI hasn't seen a lot of updates. They'd love to provide updates especially for targeting mounts or other collectibles but nothing to announce now.

They've experimented a lot with different avenues to deliver WoW's story, including the Alleria short story. They have nothing to announce right now, but they'd love to do an animated Warcraft show.

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