Blizzard Enhances New Player Experience in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
In the announcement of the new World of Warcraft expansion, Shadowlands, Blizzard promised a level squish and has now decided to revamp the starting experience as well. This revamp aims to provide players, both veterans and new, with a better sense of accomplishment and understanding of the leveling process.
The new introductory excursion will serve as a great way for players to grasp the intricacies of leveling and fully enjoy the adventure. It is accessible to both new and experienced players.
The excursion begins with players as part of a larger crew on a voyage to their destination. Suddenly, they get attacked and find themselves on an exotic island called Exile’s Reach.
Exile’s Reach presents a range of challenges with increasing difficulty, allowing both new and experienced players to test their skills. As players progress, they will unlock more abilities. At the end of the adventure, they will face two mini-bosses to test their full arsenal.
The island’s purpose is to teach players the fundamentals of the game, from adapting to opponents to understanding the abilities at their disposal. For example, Rogues will engage in trials to learn combo point usage, while Warriors will be taught effective charging techniques in combat.
These additions will greatly enhance players’ understanding of the game, eliminating the need to rely on third-party resources.
New players will automatically start on Exile’s Reach and must complete it before gaining access to the latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth.
Veteran players have the option to choose the upgraded leveling experience and start at level one in the appropriate starting zone based on their race. Upon reaching level 10, they can speak to Chromie and select the expansion they want to level in, before entering the Shadowlands expansion at level 50. Allied race characters, Death Knights, and Demon Hunters have their own starting zones since they start at level 10.
Blizzard is making extensive changes for the upcoming expansion, taking into account a lot of previously ignored feedback. These changes include the reintroduction of abilities from the Warlords of Draenor expansion, the addition of Covenant abilities as interesting new systems, and the revival of the PvP gear system with Conquest Points.
Fans remain skeptical of Blizzard’s ability to deliver on all their promises, given their past experiences. However, as of now, there is no news of any delays in the release of Shadowlands due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the work-from-home model.