One of the core features of WoW: Shadowlands is being revamped. But the new Torghast doesn’t please Cortyn at all – because it’s not fun.
In recent weeks, we have talked a lot at World of Warcraft about what is not going well. The long wait for Patch 9.1 Chains of Domination is just one of the problems, but there are other concerns as well. One of them is Torghast, the Tower of the Damned. Actually, this is a feature that I like very much in its basic idea. But since the end of the Shadowlands beta, Torghast has changed.
In Patch 9.1, Blizzard is once again taking a different direction – and one that I like even less.
What is changing in Torghast? Even though the changes are trickling in gradually on the PTR, it is already clear where the journey for Torghast is supposed to go:
- Torghast will get a scoring system: Depending on how quickly, how completely, and how efficiently a floor has been cleared, points will be awarded.
- High scores will unlock new floors that go beyond level 8.
- There will be a new currency to unlock Torghast talents, the “Box of Many Things”.
- Torghast will have weekly changing torment effects that basically work like affixes in Mythic+. The higher the level, the more torment effects are active.
I am generally open to innovations in WoW and recognize positive approaches. The “Box of Many Things” sounds sensible and increasingly fulfills the desire for rogue-like features in the form of permanent upgrades across all Torghast runs.
However, this only applies to half of the abilities in this small talent tree. The rest enhances effects that come with gaining points. For example, you can increase the points for defeating elite opponents or extend the duration of how long you remain “Empowered” to earn more points.
The question is: Do all these changes make Torghast more entertaining? For me, the answer is quite clear: No, they rather reduce the fun.
I already have enough areas in World of Warcraft where speed and pure performance matter. Mythic Keystone dungeons, heroic raiding, or PvP.
Torghast has always been my playground, where I could unwind and just have some crazy fun.
What Torghast really needs: Sure. Ask 100 WoW players what a feature urgently needs and you will get 100 different answers, where each one thinks only their opinion is correct.
Nevertheless, I believe that Torghast needs more of what it already was in the beta and from which Blizzard has increasingly distanced itself: crazy, wacky fun without constant pressure.
I loved in the beta stacking certain anima abilities to near infinity and being able to try out crazy builds. I also liked that Torghast wasn’t so serious and you could just go AFK at the entrance of a new floor for 15 minutes if you needed a break.
When the live version of Torghast launched without the opportunity to level twinks in Torghast or to gather a variety of rewards, I was disappointed. Although I generally enjoy Torghast, it falls far short of its potential. I seriously doubt that the upcoming patch is a step in the right direction.
Sure, the whole thing is still in the testing phase on the PTR. But the multitude of new systems and the advanced time make it clear that particularly large changes are probably no longer to be expected. The systems will come in this form or in a slightly modified form, because Patch 9.1 has to be released sometime before Blizzard’s content shortage drives all players away.
But please, Blizzard. Don’t make Torghast more complicated than it needs to be. Take care to ensure that there are new, cosmetic rewards and bring interesting, new anima powers for all classes.
Torghast should be a fun, optional playground. Not another performance-based chase for the best rating. Because World of Warcraft already has enough of that in its current form.
