Please, let casual players kill Arthas

#0 - Sept. 24, 2009, 7:45 p.m.

I am worried that with the next major patch, the final battle with Arthas will be a large raid or tough instance like Ulduar. I am a casual player, I enjoy the game, but I realize that I am never going to be able to put the time commitment in to get completely geared up to participate in that type of raid. What worries me is that this will prevent me and other casual players like me from participating in one of the biggest lore type events in the history of the game, finally taking down the Lich King.

I really enjoyed what Blizzard did with WOTLK, with the Wrathgate quests and the Battle for the Undercity quests. Everyone was able to experience these moments, and by the time they were over I really felt like I had accomplished something.

This is something that I missed with BC. I always hoped to be able to take down Illidan, but because I am casual player I will likely never get that chance until the level cap gets raised to 100 and I can go back and do it with a few other people.

Please Blizzard... For all of the lore enthusiasts out there, give the casual player some love and let us take down the Lich King too!

Zarhym

#47 - Sept. 24, 2009, 9:34 p.m.

Q u o t e:
I am worried that with the next major patch, the final battle with Arthas will be a large raid or tough instance like Ulduar. I am a casual player, I enjoy the game, but I realize that I am never going to be able to put the time commitment in to get completely geared up to participate in that type of raid. What worries me is that this will prevent me and other casual players like me from participating in one of the biggest lore type events in the history of the game, finally taking down the Lich King.

I really enjoyed what Blizzard did with WOTLK, with the Wrathgate quests and the Battle for the Undercity quests. Everyone was able to experience these moments, and by the time they were over I really felt like I had accomplished something.

This is something that I missed with BC. I always hoped to be able to take down Illidan, but because I am casual player I will likely never get that chance until the level cap gets raised to 100 and I can go back and do it with a few other people.

Please Blizzard... For all of the lore enthusiasts out there, give the casual player some love and let us take down the Lich King too!

We're preparing some information to share with you about patch 3.3. You'll just have to stay tuned for that. I can say though that the five-player dungeon portion of Icecrown Citadel is absolutely epic and essential to the unfolding story of the Lich King and your battle to end his wrath.

Zarhym

#103 - Sept. 24, 2009, 10:11 p.m.

Q u o t e:
I bet we have to drive little catapults around and pelt the Lich King with plague barrels. Blizzard does seem to love their mounted combat.

There will be no vehicular or mounted combat in the dungeon.

Q u o t e:
I am also kind of confused as to what the Lich King's wrath has been. You have the battle at the gate and a few apparations of him here and there but he hasn't seemed very wrathful. At least not lately.

Well, no one really knows what's taking place beyond the gates of Icecrown Citadel. Perhaps the motives of the Lich King and his dominion over the Scourge aren't fully understood as of yet.

Zarhym

#195 - Sept. 24, 2009, 11:20 p.m.

While the debate over the difficulty of Icecrown Citadel as well as the accessibility to the Lich King is certainly welcomed, we appreciate those of you who are remaining civil in your discourse. :)

Zarhym

#241 - Sept. 25, 2009, 12:06 a.m.

Q u o t e:

Only raiders will ever see what's taking place in Icecrown. This is Blizzard's philosophy. Disgusting.

That isn't our philosophy. We're carefully designing three separate wings of a sprawling five-player dungeon -- the largest we've released in a long time -- precisely so that a majority of our end-game player base can take part in an epic experience. You'll see plenty of significant areas, heroes, and foes in Icecrown Citadel without having to set foot in the raid.

Zarhym

#251 - Sept. 25, 2009, 12:15 a.m.

Q u o t e:

Is it safe to assume that this large five-player dungeon will be more difficult than other five-player dungeons (such as Utgarde Pinnacle and The Oculus), much like the Trial of the Champion?

There will be plenty of testing to do and it's a little early to answer that with certainty. Our goal is not to make it substantially more difficult than other level 80 dungeons beyond tuning it to account for the greater number of players wearing much better gear than they were six months ago. You can expect to see some new fight mechanics and features though.

Zarhym

#255 - Sept. 25, 2009, 12:18 a.m.

Q u o t e:
Some day when I am many, many, levels higher, I shall solo Arthas; and the world will tremble, as a casual had accomplished what some thought only the hardcore could ever do.

Hmm... I'll make sure he's removed from the game the day before that then. :p

Zarhym

#283 - Sept. 25, 2009, 12:58 a.m.

Q u o t e:
So 10 man normal mode is still inaccessable for some people to the point that we have to make a 5 player version? This seems like a slippery slop to /drop commands and soloable instances. I don't understand how working with 9 or 24 other people for a set time 2-4 times a week is such a hard task especially considering the level of tuning of normal difficulties.

The five-player dungeon is completely separate from the raid dungeon. It's not a five-player version of the same content.

Zarhym

#296 - Sept. 25, 2009, 1:48 a.m.

Q u o t e:
Wasn't Icecrown supposed to have an airship battle??

That was talked about at BlizzCon and is a part of the Icecrown raid. I wouldn't consider it vehicle combat though in terms of what players have experienced in Wintergrasp, Ulduar, Isle of Conquest, or Trial of the Champion.

Zarhym

#322 - Sept. 25, 2009, 3:57 a.m.

Q u o t e:

How the hell did they manage to get not one, but two airships into Icecrown Citadel?

It involves the Horde and Alliance airships floating around Icecrown. ;)