An ideal overworld zone

[Jojoya]

Thanks Ion, no thanks.

I honestly don't think that was Ion. I didn't think it was him at the time of the interview (considering Tom Chilton was still Game Director at that point) and I still don't think it was him. Ion was just acting as the mouthpiece for the dev team, just as Ghostcrawler did when he was still working for Blizzard.

I think that was Alex Afrasiabi, who was the Creator Director and the one pushing no flying in all the pre-WoD interviews. And I doubt I need to say any more about that individual to those who have been following Blizzard drama in recent years. Coincidence that flying stopped getting demonized after his suspension then departure? I don't think so.

I understand why some players prefer a dangerous world filled with creatures they are forced to fight (or at least find creative ways to avoid). But that's not the design direction the developers are taking with the game. If someone really wants to be on the ground, they have the option to do it. I did it myself on occasion in WoW when I had the time to spare and the interest to do so. I'd go RP walking up and down the length of the continents or even from one continent to another.

I'm not interested in forcing others to have to play the way I want to play, though. I want players to have options to choose from so they can create the best experience for themselves.

Not sure how the master crafter comes into play here.

The majority of the materials a crafter uses are sourced from the open world (or can be). That can even include the materials purchased with tomestones. Buying relic weapons is not the only reason players do hunts for tomestones. Gemstones make it easier to get the items that are creature drops.

Crafters who prefer to be self-sufficient as much as possible when it comes to obtaining materials are spending a lot of time in the open world.