Legion - The Best Azeroth Has Been in Years - World of Warcraft Review

SBFord

Legion - The Best Azeroth Has Been in Years - World of Warcraft Review

In August, Blizzard Entertainment released the sixth expansion for World of Warcraft. Legion, announced at Gamescom 2015 has come with a lot of promise from the development team to bring back the core game play that brought players to WoW in the first place. Does Legion deliver that promise? Let’s find out.

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orbitxo

i agree.


some maps look very familiar to WoTLk- iam sure it was on purpose. but over all a good expansion. anyone that hasn't played in years would not find it difficult at all- in fact refreshing how easy it is to play again. my favorites! 1. is the artifact weapon/ 2. and the no gear switching and 3. mobs taggin' with other people (like gw2)!- thats the best thing ive seen with wow! 4. no more level restrictions!= leveling at any zone!

SBFord

orbitxo said:

i agree.


some maps look very familiar to WoTLk- iam sure it was on purpose. but over all a good expansion. anyone that hasn't played in years would not find it difficult at all- in fact refreshing how easy it is to play again.

My honest take-away is that Legion, with it's zippy quick iLevel ramping and all, is catering to a more casual crowd that will likely stay for 4-6 months before moving on until the next expansion or the next big content upgrade. Those in the the  long haul are in for a tremendous amount of grind, though that's really nothing all that new.

SBFord

DMKano said:

4-6 months?

The casuals don't stay paat 2-6 weeks before moving on.

That's why I stated "a more casual crowd" not explicitly the sheeple casuals.

Lurianar

My impression is that achieving a given threshold of gear is easy. I think I can say without much doubt that 840 is a realistic item level that can be achieved without ever stepping inside a raid. However, Mythic unlock today and with it, the tremendous ilevels it bring. While getting the starter gear is easy, getting competitive gear is another story.

Overall though, I agree. I'm a bit saddened by the gated content in term of lore - and I want to emphasize that, as only lore is solidly gated - but I feel like it's Blizzard's way of keeping people invested in the story on a larger timeline. It definitely lost its sense of urgency, however.

Forgrimm

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

Ibja

I think the game "lost its sense of urgency", as Lurianar said, after a few expansions of the same kind of "world is ending" conflict. In vanilla wow, and even TBC, I never got the sense with the story that the entire world was in immediate and overpowering danger. There were dungeons and raids and the game felt like it was about exploring and discovery.

Since WOTLK and onward, it's always felt like the story was "literally the entire world will be destroyed if we don't act right this second" and it's hard to continue to mak e the kind of story exciting, or, apparently, to break out of that story line once you start it.

There is no more exploring, just a giant move toward defeating the big boss. I get that this is progression gameplay wise, but it's very boring lore-wise.

SBFord

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Soki123

I like that it s less alt friendly. I m an odd one, I like games that take a long time to get stuff done.

Forgrimm

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

SBFord

Forgrimm said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

100% agreed.

Soki123

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

100% agreed.

lol, I like that it isn t.

orbitxo

Ibja said:

Since WOTLK and onward, it's always felt like the story was "literally the entire world will be destroyed if we don't act right this second" and it's hard to continue to mak e the kind of story exciting, or, apparently, to break out of that story line once you start it.



There is no more exploring, just a giant move toward defeating the big boss. I get that this is progression gameplay wise, but it's very boring lore-wise.

agree.

i do like the casual aspect of the game now- times have changed- its after all 'world' of warcraft...caters to all.

orbitxo

Soki123 said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

100% agreed.

lol, I like that it isn t.

it becomes grindy turns off players...wildstar had this issue. diablo 3 and ESO does it well!

Loke666

Ibja said:

I think the game "lost its sense of urgency", as Lurianar said, after a few expansions of the same kind of "world is ending" conflict. In vanilla wow, and even TBC, I never got the sense with the story that the entire world was in immediate and overpowering danger. There were dungeons and raids and the game felt like it was about exploring and discovery.

Since WOTLK and onward, it's always felt like the story was "literally the entire world will be destroyed if we don't act right this second" and it's hard to continue to mak e the kind of story exciting, or, apparently, to break out of that story line once you start it.

There is no more exploring, just a giant move toward defeating the big boss. I get that this is progression gameplay wise, but it's very boring lore-wise.

Yeah, more or less all MMOs tend to tell that story nowadays. 

And I have a bit of problem with that, it feel weird doing filler quests when the entire world will die unless I personally save it. It is like FDR would send Patton home to count ammo boxes and put out cockroach-motels between battles during WW2.

And after a while the whole "world is in danger, only you can save it" means everything just feel unimportant including the main quests. aIt would be one thing if several expansions lead up to a time where the world suddenly was in danger and you and your guildies need to save, then you slowly build to something but re-using the same base story over and over in more or less all games is just pathetic.

How about an expansion about getting rich fast? Or court intrigues where you can support or hinder heirs to the throne? Or just about exploring a new world?

And it would be nice to be a villain now and again in a MMO...

Soki123

orbitxo said:

Soki123 said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

100% agreed.

lol, I like that it isn t.

it becomes grindy turns off players...wildstar had this issue. diablo 3 and ESO does it well!

Yep, I understand that. My wife and I play casually, so we don t even notice it. When it levels we re like, oh cool. Just don t care at all , how grindy anything is really.

We re big FFXI and DAOC fans back in the day, nothing feels grindy to us after those 2.

FrodoFragins

Lurianar said:

My impression is that achieving a given threshold of gear is easy. I think I can say without much doubt that 840 is a realistic item level that can be achieved without ever stepping inside a raid. However, Mythic unlock today and with it, the tremendous ilevels it bring. While getting the starter gear is easy, getting competitive gear is another story.

Overall though, I agree. I'm a bit saddened by the gated content in term of lore - and I want to emphasize that, as only lore is solidly gated - but I feel like it's Blizzard's way of keeping people invested in the story on a larger timeline. It definitely lost its sense of urgency, however.

I hit 844 without a raid and only two mythics (that didn't give me any upgrades).  I only do a heroic a day and have stopped that recently as well.  I'm now skipping all world quests with item rewards and have no incentive to do LFR other than for quests.

I'm basically a highly motivated soloer who has little interest these days in content requiring schedules or voice chat.  I don't really like the mythic manual group finders as I'm just another melee dpser who soon will be even less in demand due to raiders with much higher ilvls.  I may try to get into normal raid pugs at some point but each week that goes by means it's less likely to find a group that doesn't require having the achievement.

This game isn't really for me at this point, unless I just farm gold/achievements or level/gear alts.  I like auto group finder type of content and there simply isn't enough of it to progress with.  They could easily have addressed this with some forethought. 

It's also a travesty that after all these years they haven't changed 5 mans to be 6 or 7 with those extra slots being DPS.  Just use the manual group finder tool to see why.

Nixeska

Loke666 said:

Ibja said:

I think the game "lost its sense of urgency", as Lurianar said, after a few expansions of the same kind of "world is ending" conflict. In vanilla wow, and even TBC, I never got the sense with the story that the entire world was in immediate and overpowering danger. There were dungeons and raids and the game felt like it was about exploring and discovery.



Since WOTLK and onward, it's always felt like the story was "literally the entire world will be destroyed if we don't act right this second" and it's hard to continue to mak e the kind of story exciting, or, apparently, to break out of that story line once you start it.



There is no more exploring, just a giant move toward defeating the big boss. I get that this is progression gameplay wise, but it's very boring lore-wise.

Yeah, more or less all MMOs tend to tell that story nowadays. 

And I have a bit of problem with that, it feel weird doing filler quests when the entire world will die unless I personally save it. It is like FDR would send Patton home to count ammo boxes and put out cockroach-motels between battles during WW2.

And after a while the whole "world is in danger, only you can save it" means everything just feel unimportant including the main quests. aIt would be one thing if several expansions lead up to a time where the world suddenly was in danger and you and your guildies need to save, then you slowly build to something but re-using the same base story over and over in more or less all games is just pathetic.

How about an expansion about getting rich fast? Or court intrigues where you can support or hinder heirs to the throne? Or just about exploring a new world?

And it would be nice to be a villain now and again in a MMO...

Well, not knowingly, but there's a pretty good chance we're going to be the direct cause for the big bad this expansion. We're gathering artifacts that we think will stop the legion invasion from the Tomb of Sargeras, but it's going to break the cage of the Old Gods instead.

Forgrimm

Soki123 said:

orbitxo said:

Soki123 said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

100% agreed.

lol, I like that it isn t.

it becomes grindy turns off players...wildstar had this issue. diablo 3 and ESO does it well!

Yep, I understand that. My wife and I play casually, so we don t even notice it. When it levels we re like, oh cool. Just don t care at all , how grindy anything is really.

We re big FFXI and DAOC fans back in the day, nothing feels grindy to us after those 2.

It isn't bad now because most people are doing the artifact grind for their first time. The problem will be doing that same grind on 7 or 8 other characters.

Soki123

Forgrimm said:

Soki123 said:

orbitxo said:

Soki123 said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

100% agreed.

lol, I like that it isn t.

it becomes grindy turns off players...wildstar had this issue. diablo 3 and ESO does it well!

Yep, I understand that. My wife and I play casually, so we don t even notice it. When it levels we re like, oh cool. Just don t care at all , how grindy anything is really.

We re big FFXI and DAOC fans back in the day, nothing feels grindy to us after those 2.

It isn't bad now because most people are doing the artifact grind for their first time. The problem will be doing that same grind on 7 or 8 other characters.

Ya, I get that. Playing casually as well as other games alleviate that, is all.

Solar_Prophet

I've gotten fed up with sneaking around Suramar city, myself. If I wanted to be sneaky, I'd play a rogue instead of a warrior. And what good is a disguise if it breaks when somebody looks at you funny?

Other than that, I'm having fun.

P.S. You should probably mention that crafted items can have their ilevel upgraded using the Obliterium Forge. That's kind of an important detail regarding Legion's crafting revamps.

Spankster77

It isn't bad now because most people are doing the artifact grind for their first time. The problem will be doing that same grind on 7 or 8 other characters.

Honestly the artifact grind isn't bad at all especially with the order hall research... I get %140 increased AP from everything on my main. I am actually rerolling due to wanting to be human and I just hit 110 on my second character. My main has 20 points allocated and my alt already has 8 and he hit 110 last night.

After a few weeks with the order hall research the AP really ramps up ... so yeah once you get to 20+ points in your Artifact it does slow down but after all you can play the game just fine without your artifact maxxed out on alts.

People need to think of this expansion as more "old school" wow like. Where you didn't have time to min max 10 toons because each one took a certain level of dedication... which IMO isnt a bad thing,

All and all I am 4 weeks in and still having a blast with legion!

Spankster77

Solar_Prophet said:

I've gotten fed up with sneaking around Suramar city, myself. If I wanted to be sneaky, I'd play a rogue instead of a warrior. And what good is a disguise if it breaks when somebody looks at you funny?



Other than that, I'm having fun.



P.S. You should probably mention that crafted items can have their ilevel upgraded using the Obliterium Forge. That's kind of an important detail regarding Legion's crafting revamps.

Hey man you can buy a thing that makes it so if your disguise is broken you auto stealth and your disgusie is auto applied... its like 50 crack power or something.

orbitxo

what i do like each artifact weapon has its own story.

so a shaman will have 3 different stories to experience getting his weapons!= great idea!

LFR will be my togo raids-(totally disagree with ghostcrawlers comments) my hc raiding days are way over (wildstars 2 main raids were my lasts= achieved) i dont care for this mythic thing or other. nor dailies- hate em tbh. i prefer telling a story and quests that gradually open scenarios for story progression. (again ESO does it very well)
coming back iam now enjoying garrisons and shipyards= those are alot of fun! at level 110 iam going back to dreanor= wish they would scale that to my level.

Arskaaa

visual 10? wtf?:D game is over 10 year old and looks awfull.

Albatroes

Forgrimm said:

SBFord said:

Forgrimm said:

Very fair list of pros and cons. My main issue is that the artifact grind makes playing other specs, and especially alt characters, seem way too prohibitive. I'm an altaholic but I've barely played anything other than my paladin for the last month.

I feel your pain. I have all twelve classes but only the energy or inclination to stick with my "main". I remember Blizz talking about an "alt-friendly" expansion and maybe over time with the catch up mechanics that automatically kick in as the expac ages it'll happen. But it surely isn't there yet.

Yeah, would be nice if artifact power was account wide, or something similar.

I would say I wouldn't like it account wide, but the research notes I would want account wide at a lower percent to compensate if its still stacking, similar to how MoP did the rep gain account wide after you got to revered I believe.