An ideal overworld zone

[Ath192]

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.


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.

Yeah gathering makes more sense.

The problem is that being on the ground and having an engaging overworld are not the same thing. So being on the ground does nothing if the above topics aren’t addressed as a means to have an engaging experience in the environment.

Moreover I am for player choice most of the time but there is no choice here. There are no zones in the overworld like this for us that provide the same satisfaction the current brain dead zones provide for y’all. So in essence I feel like the argument being made here is more let’s deny you this and it’s one or the other, instead of allowing for player choice and providing those zones for players that do seek danger and adventure. You will see none of my examples imply mandatory things.

Wouldn’t a compromise better suit everyone? Where we can have our off the beaten path dangerous zones and our sense of exploration and adventure without getting hammered about it?