Glyphs at 25 - a cruel joke?

#1 - Dec. 3, 2010, 6:35 a.m.

Leveling this character without any outside support, I hit 25 and, of course, got the announcement that I had access to a new feature: Glyphs.

One slight problem - when I went to the AH to see what was available, I could find nothing suitable for a feral (cat) druid with a buyout price of less than 30g. Spending ~100+g for 3 glyphs would be well beyond my means and seems to be an entirely unreasonable price for someone who's trying to play by questing and even instancing. I looked at the AH on another server (since this character is on a low population server) and still 10g was the minimum for a useful glyph (and a set of 3 would appear to be well past 50.)

The question I have to ask is how a new player, who is following the quest lines and not farming, going to get glyphs? Are glyphs doomed to be a feature too many players just don't use because they can't afford them when they first get them and then forget about them? This would seem to be a big mismatch with the way Blizzard is introducing features to players - to have one that cannot be used without a farming grind or AH playing or a main to fund the alt.

(Perhaps one suggestion I could make would be for a class trainer to give you a set of 3 glyphs appropriate to your spec - but make these new, weaker glyphs - worth using but also worth replacing as soon as you can afford to.)

Bashiok

Community Manager

#11 - Dec. 3, 2010, 6:49 a.m.

(Perhaps one suggestion I could make would be for a class trainer to give you a set of 3 glyphs appropriate to your spec - but make these new, weaker glyphs - worth using but also worth replacing as soon as you can afford to.)

I think that's actually a pretty kickass suggestion, and one I will bring up. I don't doubt it's something that's been thought of already, but may bear repeating. (repeating bear says *rawr*)

Having a character customization/power system dependent on the market means there is going to be a rub when asking new players to spend their new-player amounts of cash on well-aged-game inflation rates. I also don't think it's realistic to think that new players are going to make inscription buddies or choose inscription (or maybe any profession) themselves.

Of course the use of glyphs is really not going to make or break the game for you while leveling, and really maybe even at late levels/end-game to varying degrees. It's potentially also a stretch to think that it will be completely forgotten. BUT! fundamentally, good idea.

Bashiok

Community Manager

#33 - Dec. 3, 2010, 7:03 a.m.

(Perhaps one suggestion I could make would be for a class trainer to give you a set of 3 glyphs appropriate to your spec - but make these new, weaker glyphs - worth using but also worth replacing as soon as you can afford to.)

I think that's actually a pretty kickass suggestion, and one I will bring up. I don't doubt it's something that's been thought of already, but may bear repeating. (repeating bear says *rawr*)

Really? Because I highly doubt anyone's thought of it before. I don't think it's game-breaking either way, but mad props to OP for coming up with it.

Really? After working here for going on eight years, I've learned that when I think I have a good idea the designers will almost always without fail tell me that yeah they've thought of it and it's not going to work for x, y, and z reasons. And they are sound reasons. I continue to do it though because it's good to get that design philosophy out of them. Sometimes it's just things like time or tech, but in very few cases have I ever heard "Yes that is a new and good idea."

On a more general note, I don't really expect a new player is really supposed to be able to play the game at this point without help from a more experienced friend/tutor/individual.

Turn your tutorials on and go start a new character. I think you'll be surprised.