In WoW, some changes have led to frustration for raiders. To soften the blow, Blizzard is now revamping item systems.
The initially celebrated changes in WoW: Legion have now caused anger among progression raiders. They have completely different needs than the “normal players.” Blizzard is adjusting the game to meet the needs of raiders. As a result, a minority of a few hundred players, the progression raiders, are changing the game for the millions of others.
Artifact weapons and legendary items were supposed to bring variety to WoW
Two significant changes came with Legion regarding game mechanics, character progression, and item progression:
- On one hand, with Legion artifact weapons were introduced to WoW. This is meant to allow players to become increasingly powerful and to develop the weapon further. Even after months, this “Alternate Advancement” allows for minimal character progression – similar to the Paragon levels in Diablo 3 or the Champion system in ESO. The artifact weapons are designed for players to maximize them only after months.
- On the other hand, Blizzard introduced “legendary items”, particularly rare and powerful items that were supposed to bring variety to the item slog. Those who possess such a legendary item have special properties that not everyone has. The legendaries are meant to make players “something special,” something “extraordinary.” A change in the daily routine.
For raiders, additional grind and annoying RNG factor
Both changes were planned to loosen up the somewhat stale item system and bring some variety. While this may have been worthwhile for regular players, for raiders, it is pure frustration. For progression raiders, it is about achieving the optimal gear level at all costs: they want 100%, and for that, the optimal legendary items and the maximum artifact weapon are necessary, not at some point, but immediately when the new progression begins.
- For hardcore raiders, artifact weapons are an additional grind that must be completed BEFORE they enter a new raid. Because only then are they optimally prepared.
- The legendary items have changed from “nice bonuses that make a character something special” to an unfair competitive advantage that is purely based on luck. If I have the wrong legendary items for my character, I am at a disadvantage. Because the first two items drop relatively easily, but after that, they are rarer.
A prime example of what happens when there are different target groups in a game with completely different interests. This can also be observed in other games when a change intended for PvP players also painfully impacts PvE players. Or in games with open PvP, where fans of “duels” and “small group PvP” often demand entirely different patches and developments than fans of “battles.”
However, a change in one area almost always has consequences for all other players.
Since WoW, due to the artifact weapons and legendary items has seen raid guilds start to throw in the towel, Blizzard has already adjusted and introduced changes primarily for their sake. Therefore, artifact weapons should soon no longer grant so much power, so that the grind is not absolutely necessary. The drop rates for legendary items have already gradually been increased.
A classic example of how the tail wags the dog, how the needs of a small portion of players change the game for everyone.
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