New Underwater Zone Preview

#0 - April 16, 2010, 3:49 p.m.

So who's excited for an actual underwater area to explore? As a druid, I am glad my Sea Lion form will now be good for more than scaring small children. I long awaited such a zone where players can explore the depths of Davey Jone's Locker (yarrr!).

I am interested to see how they develop this area and the mechanics. I assume Engineers and Alchemists will play a role in providing dive suits and breath potions? Do I sense a 'Hunt for Red October' -esque submarine battle (please!)?

I hope I am able to also fish up a Turtle mount by the time this arrives. It'd be nice to have a choice between the fugly sea lion and a turtle.

Ooo, also, maybe little personal submarines, like a (edit: personal DSRV) type mount?

What other aquatic ideas would you like to see implemented?

TLDR: Under da sea! Under da sea!

Nethaera

#3 - April 16, 2010, 4:23 p.m.

You've only gotten to see the tip of the iceberg. Having seen more myself, Vashj'ir is turning out to be breathtaking as are many other new and revamped areas. We hope to show you more of this before too much longer.

Nethaera

#19 - April 16, 2010, 4:36 p.m.

Q u o t e:
Oh an entire area customized for druids - playing a priest im excited. I'm tired of this game catering to druids and pallies. If they are not on the bottom of the food chain in cata im gone.

I'm trying to decide if you're being serious or not here. I'm going with, "no."

Nethaera

#26 - April 16, 2010, 4:43 p.m.

Q u o t e:

Sort of serious - I guess serious in jest. Entire game seemse designed for druids and pallies at this point.

Seems and is are a bit different in actuality and it's an extreme statement over all. Let's not derail this thread, however.

Nethaera

#29 - April 16, 2010, 4:44 p.m.

Q u o t e:

As in later today? :)

Magic 8 ball says, "Outlook not good."

Nethaera

#36 - April 16, 2010, 4:50 p.m.

Q u o t e:
hey, it was supposed to be broken!

It's the one in my head. I'd shake it but I've had no coffee yet. This does not bode well for the near future.

Nethaera

#38 - April 16, 2010, 4:55 p.m.

Q u o t e:
Urg, everyone knows the underwater level of just about every game in existence stinks...Maybe Blizzard will be one of the few exceptions?

We are not taking its design lightly.

Nethaera

#62 - April 16, 2010, 5:23 p.m.

Q u o t e:

Of course, Blizzard wouldn't say for sure if the Sun was coming up tomorrow until it actually rises into the sky. Such is the way of Blizzard.

Well technically the sun rises every day. It's just a matter of whether or not you can see it in the sky. Then again, it doesn't even rise since the sun is where it is and the Earth rotates to make it appear as if it's rising.

But if you mean, would we want to predict the weather? Probably not. It's supposed to be in the 70s here today but it was incredibly cloudy this morning. Who knows what will happen right?

Nethaera

#84 - April 16, 2010, 5:54 p.m.

There are a lot of concerns here (some colored in past experiences elsewhere) that are coloring a few perceptions of what we intend to do with the underwater experience.

Underwater travel and combat mechanics” do NOT mean any of the following:

â€¢ Running out of breath and drowning.
â€¢ Moving very slowly.
â€¢ Getting disoriented in a 3D space.
â€¢ Having a naga hit you with a Frostbolt and having no idea where it is.

You will not be entering this area unprepared nor do we intend to make the experience tedious, confusing, disorienting, or frustrating. We want to give you a true under sea adventure. You may end up dying though due to playing tourist in the beautiful new environs though, but don't blame us for that!

Nethaera

#93 - April 16, 2010, 6:16 p.m.

Q u o t e:

Tourists have a knack for getting others into trouble, but never actually getting into trouble themselves.

Just look at Twoflower!

So true and perfect example. I salute your Discworld reference.

Nethaera

#121 - April 16, 2010, 8:05 p.m.

Q u o t e:
Neth, do you have a husband? If not, why not?

Yes, I've had one of those a long while now.