Are the players of World of Warcraft spoiled? Cortyn from MeinMMO thinks “Yes,” because there is a lot of complaining.
With World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, it seems Blizzard has redeemed itself somewhat with the WoW fans. Even months after the release, players are still actively gaming, and according to the latest “Earnings Call,” more is being played than in comparable periods of other expansions. Nevertheless, WoW is never perfect, and not all players are ever happy.
However, what has been read as “whining” in recent weeks and months annoys me tremendously.
It’s about the claim that there is supposedly too little loot in WoW and that content doesn’t feel worthwhile as a result. There is allegedly too little loot from Mythic+, too little loot in raids, too few world quests with loot as rewards, and from all other sources as well. Except for PvP, where players seem to be happy.
However, I believe this is more of a perception problem than a real one.
In the past, there was less and it worked
I know it sounds like Grandpa and Grandma reminiscing about the war, but: Back in the days of Vanilla or “The Burning Crusade,” it was quite normal to go out with the raid group 2-3 times a week to tackle the raids. There were often several weeks in a row during which I received no upgrades. Weeks in which I did not get a new T-set item or had to participate with my blue quest reward from Netherstorm because others were ahead of me in the loot distribution.
It’s quite similar again right now. Since my raid group is relatively small with 10-15 people, we only get 2-3 loot items per boss. With 10 bosses, that means 20-30 items per week, averaging 1.5 items per player. Of course, statistics don’t always apply, some players go empty-handed, while others receive more. A large portion of the items is also no longer needed and is just sold to vendors.
But even if I should have terrible luck and go 4 weeks in a row without getting anything from the raid – it is impossible to come away completely empty-handed.
That’s taken care of by the Great Vault in Oribos.
Once a week, I am guaranteed an item. The more I play and the harder the content, the greater the selection and the better the gear.
Yes, even at the Vault, you can have bad luck and only be offered “trash” one week. But the chance is there. And the very fact that there is a guaranteed item whose value you can also influence is pretty good and solves almost all problems.
Anyone who plays actively has surely opened their Great Vault 8 or 9 times already and has solid gear for almost half of all armor slots.
The social aspect would solve so much
I firmly believe that most people would benefit from finding a stable group or guild. With a fixed group, the significance of one’s own character diminishes, and a sense of community is created, which has a much more positive impact. The performance of one’s own character becomes secondary, while the overall result of the group takes center stage.
Sure, my shadow priest doesn’t deal more damage if our tank gets a better helm or our healer scores a new trinket.
For my individual DPS, it is completely irrelevant whether the rest of my group gets better.
Still, an effective tank and an even better healer is an upgrade for the whole group. It makes us more efficient as a team and advances us as a group.
After all, I play an MMORPG, and belonging to a stable group makes it possible to appreciate upgrades that other players receive. Because what benefits the group will ultimately also help me individually since harder content becomes achievable, which in turn attracts better loot – perhaps even for me.
Anyone who embraces the idea that every improvement from another player in the group is a win for the whole group can be 400% more joyful – as long as they can accept it.
Therefore, I can only recommend to everyone: Find yourself a group. Play with fixed people. It makes World of Warcraft better in every conceivable way.
Items gain significance again
However, with this controversial change to loot came a nice side effect. In Legion and Battle for Azeroth, it was often criticized that loot felt so arbitrary. You were constantly bombarded with items everywhere. Through additional bonuses like “Warforged” or the Corruption effects, every item could somehow become important. Everything was interchangeable, and anything could be an upgrade.
This is no longer the case. For the first time in many years, I have unconsciously started to remember the names of items I am keen on.
- I know that my priestess is itching for the “Robes of the Cursed Commanders” from the generals of the Stone Legion.
- I know that the “Ocarina of the Mistcaller” from Tirna Scithe has a cool group buff that our tank is keen on.
- I know that “Endlessly Shareable Slime” drops in the Plaguefall and makes players run around with little slimes in tow.
This is already more than from both previous expansions combined, where I couldn’t name a single item my character wore. It didn’t matter. It was arbitrary because you were overwhelmed with loot that had no relevance.
There is criticism that I understand
One point of criticism that I can certainly understand is the difference in item level from the weekly chest compared to what is available at the end of a dungeon.
The reality is simply that the majority of players who can complete a dungeon with “Mythic +14” in time likely have little use for items with item level 207 – or only in exceptional cases.
In comparison, the weekly chest after completing a “M+14” provides an item with an item level of 226. This difference of 19 item levels is quite high and contributes to the completion of the dungeon often feeling unrewarding – and indeed for the entire group. It might help to lower this difference by about 10 levels, meaning: to increase the item level of loot from Mythic+ a bit.
The relation is also not optimal. In my opinion, completing a “M+15” within the time limit is significantly tougher than a large part of the bosses in Castle Nathria on heroic. Accordingly, the item level should at least match – but in no case should it be lower.
The loot is good – but the expectations are not
In summary, I am currently extremely happy with the loot situation in Shadowlands. I feel like I am consistently improving and can effectively do something to increase the chance of good loot.
Yes, I haven’t amassed my “Best in Slot” gear across the board in 4 weeks and can’t complain in the trade channel that there is “nothing to do.” But I can do without that. A pace for acquiring gear that aligns a bit more with the pace of the patches suits me just fine.
I also understand that the criticism likely comes from a small but loud segment of the player base. However, it is clear to me that Blizzard should not yield this time. Because the loot system needed to “shrink healthily” and has taken an important step in that direction. Even if this might not please some players in the short term.
I understand the criticism of Torghast – but I firmly believe that something will come soon.
But what do you think? Do you find the current loot system good? Or would you prefer the “purple rain” from Battle for Azeroth?
