Could you play WoW without addons?

I have before.

In general we support the mod community and the innovation that comes with it, but we never want something in the game to be impossible without having a mod. If we come across that situation, it means we need to reevaluate either what the interface is capable of or we need to reevaluate the game mechanics and functionality so that the "must have" isn't true anymore.

Of course there are some mods that people see as "must haves" that we may not think meet that definition, but we're always open to continued constructive feedback in order to improve the game as a whole. We neither want things too impossible to achieve without a mod or too trivial when a mod is added. It's a balancing act on a high wire while riding a unicycle. ;)

Q u o t e:

You could crawl across the desert on your belly...but why, when there's a camel standing right next to you?

Camels spit and bite. ;)

Q u o t e:
Could you play WoW without addons?

Yes. My current setup allows me to jump between modded (live realms) and unmodded (PTR) pretty easily so yes this is definitely possible. But I will add that I do love the mods that I use and generally make sure I have them whenever I am playing.

Q u o t e:


try healing without a healing mod or grid and clique.. try despelling without decursive or grid and clique when you do said thing on a 25 man please evalute if its time for blizzard to give healers a custom healing UI

kthnxbai

I have before and haven't had issues. There are many people who heal without these things. I've done both and continue to try out different things just to see who is using what.

That said though, it doesn't mean that we ignore the use of these mods as something popular in the community. Keep in mind though, that not everything that is designed by a UI author needs to be implemented into the default interface either. For advanced players, the choice of mods is great. For beginning players it can be confusing and overwhelming. Again, it's the tightrope that we walk. Which things MUST be implemented and which things are OK as they are and are merely enhanced with mods added in? That's what we have to continue to ask ourselves before deciding if it's something that needs specific development and to use those development resources toward.

Q u o t e:


Out of curiosity...how do you manage to dispel/decurse/whatever without a mod? I actually used to not use mods until about 8-9 months ago, and I never knew who and when to dispell. It usually came down to someone screaming fdor me to dispel whoever...and many times it ended up being too late.

Sure if someone standing in front of you has corruption on them, you see the purple smoke...but in larger raids you just don't have your eyes on everyone, and watching tiny little debuff icons on 25 people isn't possible.

Is there something blatently obvious that I was missing (there probably is lol)?

I have watched the tiny little debuff icons. I've been doing it since early raiding in Molten Core. That said though, it doesn't mean I haven't tried out different mods since. I also only have the interface display things I can dispel. There's just a rhythm you can get yourself into but it involves a lot of bar watching. It's not something that can't be done (the question being "could you play without addons"). Is it perhaps more "challenging"? Yes. Hopefully you also aren't the only one handling them. If you are, it becomes your sole job and hopefully you have a hotkey all set up for it.

Q u o t e:
I never get why the blues say they don't. If you don't then you're not in any kind of good guild, period.

I never said I don't use any. I said I am capable of not using any. (Bornakk also said he uses some.) I've raided and not raided. I've spent time soloing and PvPing. Like anyone, I've taken part in various aspects of the game. It also depends on the computer I'm playing on. If I am at home on either of the computers there, I may have slightly different mods loaded. Same goes for at work, where sometimes I like to leave off mods so I can properly gauge the effects of new interface changes.

The assumption above is one people often incorrectly make in regard to whether we are or are not in "good" guilds. I think we've each had different experiences but at the same time have experienced being "top dogs" in a guild and "casual" and even been in "fracturing" guilds. I had even personally been involved with a guild for 9 years before moving on. :) We play the same as anyone else. I've used various mods over the years. I've uninstalled various mods over the years as well.

BTW, when I was first in Molten Core up against Lucifron, it was prior to decursive being available. It was difficult no doubt. There were specific people set up on rotation to help on dispels. It wasn't impossible, but you definitely couldn't make any mistakes either.

The problem I have with the word "Impossible" is that it leaves no room for the possible and skill. I don't think there is any reason for debate on who is wiser for using this or that mod or not using this or that mod. I think it comes down to what is most comfortable for people to play with or use. Muscle memory is an interesting thing. It takes time to develop and if someone has developed their's to where they don't need the extra mods to help, then so be it. If they get used to using certain mods, then so be it.

Btw, when we run the Arena Tournament finals, there are no mods used. When you are watching the top players go toe to toe, it's all them. So, while the mods probably helped, you have to have that skill, instinct, and knowledge to back it up.

Q u o t e:
I never get why the blues say they don't. If you don't then you're not in any kind of good guild, period.

While Nethaera already covered it, I feel like driving the point home.

Please read the question we are answering more thoroughly next time. Saying "can you" is much different than "do you" in a question. I do use mods on the live realms but I am setup so that if the mods have issues after a patch or I go play on the PTR that I can make the transition very easily.

And for the shot at my guild/play experience - I have done some server firsts over the years and played with some awesome people. And yes, I have played with some pretty bad people too.

Q u o t e:
I could.

I could also drive blindfolded and using my knees to steer, but why would I?

Maybe this is where the "skill" aspect comes into play? Maybe try it sometime and see if you can challenge yourself to perform better without any mods just to see if you can do it. *shrug*

Q u o t e:
UPDATE: After sitting in my car trying to get it started for a half hour, I realized it was out of gas. I thought about refilling it but that would be adding something not provided by the manufacturer and would only diminish my AWESOMENESS. I have therefore set out to push my car to the top of the nearest hill to continue this test of skill.

Make sure you push with your legs and not with your back. Having pushed a VW Rabbit before, I can say that even small cars can be pretty darn heavy. Also, don't look back. ;)