Taliesin Interview with Morgan Day - Dragonflight Still On Course for 2022 Release Date

PTR Posted 2022/07/16 at 11:36 PM by DiscordianKitty

Taliesin & Evitel interviewed

A major part of the goal behind dragon riding was to make travel itself fun and engaging, rather than a chore to try get over with as quickly as possible.

Dragon riding progression includes really fun abilites. One example that they're playing with is a Bronze Dragonflight ability that lets you warp back through time to a starting point.

The level up experience for dragon riding is likely to be standard for everyone, with additional options and choices coming in at max level.

Morgan Day doesn't know of any current plans for us to be able to name our dragons, but really likes the idea. If it's something people want, now is the time to let them know.

They're still very much dedicated to the alt-friendly philosophy we began to see introduced towards the end of Shadowlands. Dragon riding mount aesthetic customization unlocks will be account-wide. They're still discussing dragon riding progress itself.

Expanded draw-distance is being introduced in the Dragon Isles for now, they do hope to begin to update older zones in the future.

Dracthyr Evoker's niche in groups will be very much burst damage or healing, and providing group utility.

Two dungeons in Azure Span. Brackenhide Hollow is a gnoll-themed dungeon. Azure Vaults is a max-level dungeon related to the Blue Dragonflight and Kalecgos's main story in the zone.

With regards to spoilers: They have been introducing surprises such as the questlines and character customization in 9.2.5. They will be leaning into secrets more often, but mostly around max-level content. Unlikely to hide too much for leveling content.

A major philosophy is to move away from feeling like you have to log in every day, and more that you have a wide range of options when you do log in.

Every zone has a major outdoor faction offering unique rewards. An example of this is the Tuskarr of Azure Span. They want to increase visibility on rewards as well so that players know exactly what they're working towards.

This alpha will work differently to previous ones. Similar to raid testing, different areas and systems will be rolled out in waves, then removed as testers are asked to focus on the next thing.

Professions are meant to stand on their own on level with other end-game content like raiding or mythic+.

Professions have cosmetic looks. A blog diving into workstations should come out soon - probably later this week.

They're still on course for a 2022 release date.

Dragonflight Alpha News

Features & Updates

Models & Customization

Evoker & Class Changes

Comment by RoflgglolThank you Morgan and Talie for this lovely content, Taliesin is one of the few WoW content creators i admire. But i have to say something. Last time i watched Morgan's video, he had a pretty long "shards of domination" discussion. on the verge of 9.2 realise and during ongoing 9.1.5 playerbase decline. In this video, you guys are talking about how cool dragon riding is, some Tuskarr stuff is mentioned in the title. Meanwhile players like me, tbh, expected Warhammer 40k vibes from 9.2 instead of Dune/Zoomer themes, and Skyrim/High Fantasy/Full revamped foundation of the game on wich next 3-4 expansions would be built upon starting at Dragonflight, like Ion said in one of his interviews. In my mind, we had Vampire theme in 9.0, it was cool, Tolkien/Dark Fantasy theme in 9.1, wich is also cool. And after that we had tier sets and content degrade back to BFA level in 9.2, only good thing was the Zereth Mortis zone. Dragonflight alpha lookslike generic BFA-like expansion aswell, new interface is just like an UI addon, and dragon riding lookslike some regular world quest. New talent system is basically pruning and reshuffle of old BFA/SL talents and spells. Are you sure you guys didn't false advertise when was talking about (quote) "complete overhaul" during Dragonflight announcement trailer? Hogger and dragon aspects got their new 3D models, but players like me still use 8-BIT WOTLK Glad mounts on retail for 14+ years, meanwhile Scarab Lord mount was updated back in 7.3.5 to a good quality 3D Model. This really puzzles me. So my question is, do you guys really believe that you're discussing stuff that matters? Or just trying to please your average subscriber? Why would you downgrade quality of the game again instead of continueing where you left off in 9.1? Instead of giving us real Warcraft experience and really dope patch themes? I admire your effort to give something to strive for in m+, like new "m+ hero" achievements, it was also nice to make gladiator 2400 +50 wins, so more people could reach it (but downside is, its value is low now bcz it can be produced unlimited amounts of time instead of being percentage based), and it is great to see professions in Dragonflight becoming something so much more than they was before. This is great. But overall, please patch up some old 3D models that players actually use (armor, mounts), introduce legacy pvp vendors for people with old achievements, this is as essential as giving players other ways to progress their character (professions, m+). You guys are focusing only on "new" content, but not on the game as a whole, and somehow manage to underdeliver new content by bringing up less iconic designs and ideas, and always discussing some generic, routine stuff in your interviews.

If i won't get a new badass cinematic-like 3D model for superdated Deadly and Furious Frostwyrms during DRAGON EXPANSION, i'll literally make screenshot in new cool looking armor on my old 8-bit Drake near updated Hogger, call it "brightfutureBlizzard.jpg" and put on as a wallpaper or social network picture, i'll also cringe alot.

Tooltip of Furious drake should also be edited to "Some of Azeroth's mightiest dragons have been summoned across the veil between life and death to serve new masters with undying loyalty (But Hogger is more important lorewise)" (jk)Comment by AzzaFromTazzaPlease let us name our dragons! Dragonriding is already looking to be an amazing addition, like a 4 out of 5 from what I've seen and heard of it, but being able to name our dragons would add like .5 to that score for me!Comment by Rydiri just pray and hope that blizz does good by this expac please dont let this turn out like shadowlands or wodComment by Hankst"They're still very much dedicated to the alt-friendly philosophy we began to see introduced towards the end of Shadowlands. Dragon riding mount aesthetic customization unlocks will be account-wide. They're still discussing dragon riding progress itself."

If progression won't end up account wide, they have learned nothing. A bit worrying that this even needs discussion.Comment by VarusEUThey're still on course for a 2022 release date.Comment by ThomasDWellIf they let us name our dragons I hope it's per character and not a shared single name in the mount bookComment by warlocktankplease come out the beginning of december and not the end. so hard to get time off around the holiday. that's all i want.Comment by astergabei just pray and hope that blizz does good by this expac please dont let this turn out like shadowlands or wodComment by Moonstaker
If i won't get a new badass cinematic-like 3D model for superdated Deadly and Furious Frostwyrms during DRAGON EXPANSION, i'll literally make screenshot in new cool looking armor on my old 8-bit Drake near updated Hogger, call it "brightfutureBlizzard.jpg" and put on as a wallpaper or social network picture, i'll also cringe alot.

Tooltip of Furious drake should also be edited to "Some of Azeroth's mightiest dragons have been summoned across the veil between life and death to serve new masters with undying loyalty (But Hogger is more important lorewise)" (jk)Comment by 910590I really like that guy!Comment by Roflgglol

Go earn a new Glad mount instead? No reason to update these classic models, they've trashed a lot of old ones already by updating them.Comment by sarla"They're still very much dedicated to the alt-friendly philosophy we began to see introduced towards the end of Shadowlands. Dragon riding mount aesthetic customization unlocks will be account-wide. They're still discussing dragon riding progress itself."

If progression won't end up account wide, they have learned nothing. A bit worrying that this even needs discussion.Comment by 1910828

Go earn a new Glad mount instead? No reason to update these classic models, they've trashed a lot of old ones already by updating them.Comment by GrmuI feel DS is still "On Course" for 22 because a lot of the normaly amazing art assets and cinematics coming out seem like they have been farmed off to third party design factories like fiverr. The art direction and skill design is super sloppy and inconsistent across the board.Comment by dreamsunderstarsTaking bets that by late October they will announce they are delaying til March. xDComment by ZyrinxProfessions are meant to stand on their own on level with other end-game content like raiding or mythic+Comment by 2198799"They're still very much dedicated to the alt-friendly philosophy we began to see introduced towards the end of Shadowlands. Dragon riding mount aesthetic customization unlocks will be account-wide. They're still discussing dragon riding progress itself."

If progression won't end up account wide, they have learned nothing. A bit worrying that this even needs discussion.Comment by VSozonovTaking bets that by late October they will announce they are delaying til March. xDComment by Sepulchre778expected Warhammer 40k vibes from 9.2 instead of Dune/Zoomer themes" (jk)Comment by MoraschDragonflight alpha lookslike generic BFA-like expansion aswell, new interface is just like an UI addon, and dragon riding lookslike some regular world quest. New talent system is basically pruning and reshuffle of old BFA/SL talents and spells. Are you sure you guys didn't false advertise when was talking about (quote) "complete overhaul" during Dragonflight announcement trailer?