The classic charm of WoW was that you were just an insignificant adventurer. Is it still as exciting as a “great hero”?
Meanwhile – despite many new patches – World of Warcraft: Legion has become a bit worn out. I’m slowly getting tired of the areas, and when I think of Argus, the fel-infested surroundings are running out of my ears. Memories of “calm” areas come to mind, where the world was still largely okay.
And I really miss it.
I long for the times when my character was some “Hans Wurst” who was tasked with simple courier runs. I miss the time when NPCs bothered me with their everyday worries. Even though I used to mock that you collect ingredients for a cake in the Elwynn forest and only steal goblins’ candles – I miss that.
First encounters with heroes were fantastic
I still remember well how I leveled my Blood Elf from 1 to 70. The first time in the Ghostlands, when you find the Amulet of the Windrunner and are tasked with bringing it to Undercity. That was a rare interaction with a great hero – I truly enjoyed it. Especially the “Lament of the Highborne” that was played afterwards still resonates in my mind today.
It was similar many days later in the shattered world in the plains of Nagrand. After an eternal questline, Thrall personally came to Nagrand. You could accompany him and during this (at least in my memories) escort him for 15 minutes while he explored the Orc village and spoke with Garrosh for the first time to tell him about his father’s deeds. It felt important and significant because it was a rare moment.
Or when you found a captured elf in the dungeons beneath Karabor in Shadowmoon Valley and it turned out to be Maiev Shadowsong. Those were little “wow” moments, simply because you hoped to meet these characters since Warcraft 3.
Back then, encounters with the leaders of races were rare. Notable NPCs that you already knew from Warcraft 3 appeared only in a few places. Now I am slowly tired of Malfurion (“Tyraaaaande… hiiiilf miiiir….”), Khadgar, and Maiev. I want to meet new characters again. Insignificant people, not the great leaders of the world.
Questing was strange back then too
Questing in Burning Crusade was a disaster – no question about it. At every quest hub, you picked up 8-10 quests, then wiped out all surrounding races several times, and then returned. It wasn’t particularly challenging or exciting, just simple busywork. And at least occasionally a pit lord would sneak up from behind to send me to the next graveyard with just one hit. Good times, when I think about it.
The quests are, objectively speaking, designed much more interesting these days. Many opponents have voiced lines, new quest steps pop up during the mission, and often there is some “miniboss” waiting to mock us or reveal a secret. I also have quite a bit of fun with questing, and many storylines keep me entertained. And yet I miss something in World of Warcraft that Legion currently cannot provide.
Sure, the expansion Legion doesn’t carry its name for nothing, and the threat is indeed the endless demon hordes. But in every region of the expansion, the lives of entire races are at stake, death and destruction are everywhere. While I wouldn’t want to miss dramatic-genius questlines like those of Suramar either, I would welcome 1-2 “chill” zones.
I miss Mists of Pandaria
I never thought I would say this, but I really hope that the next expansion will bring a bit of “vacation feeling” again, like it was the case in Mists of Pandaria. Sure, there was also a lot of war here, but in between just cute Pandaren stories, the funny Grummles, or at least wacky Hozen who gave us a good time.
When I think back, the great thing about World of Warcraft back then was that I could explore this gigantic world that was only shown in snippets in Warcraft 3. I got to discover little details, learn about the societies of Azeroth, and explore their cultures. Not constantly be by the side of the great heroes or even take a place among them.
I want to be insignificant again. I want my character to be considered some up-and-coming adventurer, tasked with some ridiculous “Find Nagrand cherries in the dung of Kodos” quest. Or help some kids whose toy has fallen into the water.
I don’t want the “epic” to completely disappear from the game. Sometimes I like being by the side of great heroes when the moment calls for it. But the balance between “world-shaping questline alongside heroes” and “everyday problems of the inhabitants of unexplored continents” was better in Mists of Pandaria.
Or how do you see the whole thing?
