Everything we know about 2.2, 2.3, and the next expansion
by Mike Schramm 
Jun 27th 2007 at 9:38AM
EU Forum MVP Schwick has posted a very nice and very thorough listing of everything we know about patch 2.2, 2.3, and the next expansion. As far as I know, there's nothing really new here, but it's a terrifically indepth listing of every rumor, hint, and suspicion that we've heard so far.Some of the exciting ideas still coming are new emotes, a tanking Pally revamp, a new stealth animation for Rogues, and totem timers for Shamans (currently, I use Totemus, and that suits me just fine). Also on the to-do list includes VOIP, guild banks and housing, and speculations for the next expansion include Northrend (I've got my money on this one, because the Scourge have it coming), "Beyond Outland," and the Emerald Dream.
I'm sure we'll learn more eventually (expect big things at Blizzcon, I foresee), but until then, this roundup is as comprehensive as it gets. Thanks to Schwick for compiling this all together for us.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Expansions, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ryan Jun 27th 2007 10:11AM
IMO if Northrend isn't the next expansion, I probably won't be sticking around. I have no desire to explore 'Beyond Outland', I wand Coldarra and the Dragonblight gdi!.
tynk Jun 27th 2007 10:39AM
I would love to see the maelstrom come into game.... Water Combat (on and in) has been a relatively unexplored facet of MMO that I would like to see blizzard take a shot at.
Paw Jun 27th 2007 10:56AM
All the fluffy extras are definitely nice, especially if your toon gets some of the new goodies. But what is a new animation worth? How much are you willing to devote to sticking around because of a new armor set? I would prefer to get some solid content improvements. I'm sure we've all read the "what-I-want-in-the-next-expansion" threads, and seen some of the rumors that vaguely hint at what might be considered. Mid-level content. That is where the WoW second wind will reside. As long-time players get bored and leave because they don't want to continue beating the same end-game horse, and don't want to trudge, yet for the umpteenth time, through the Badlands, Westfall or STV with a new alt, new players will be left without the guidance and assistance of those with experience. Yet we see little in the way of talk about mid-level content additions from insiders. I can imagine the logistical issues with trying to intergrate new content into an existing area. There are compatibility issues between players who have installed the expansion and those who haven't, but it can be done. New quests can be added to old areas. New sub-sects can be added to existing areas. Non-expanders could even get into the areas where the new content resides, but would not have access to the quest-givers or other essential NPCs or the fp. Run in, run out. Install the expansion if you want to interact. The point is, there is no point I guess. I'm just babbling. But these threads really don't do much to inform. When a dev is asked a pointed question, and the response is a tepid exercise in avoidance such as "we're looking into that" or "that is on our to-do list", we learn nothing. Everything is on their to-do list as I read it. Nerf paladins? "On our to-do list". Buff "paladins? "We're looking into that".
Jack Spicer Jun 27th 2007 11:03AM
I think that Northrend could very well be in the next expansion. However, I don't think that the instance in which Arthas is hiding will be accessible until the expansion after next.
Jack Spicer Jun 27th 2007 11:11AM
@3 Makes a very excellent point. People tend to forget that one of the things that makes wow so addicting is rolling alts. And although I personally like returning to old areas as a new toon, some people might find that boring and do want new mid-level content.
I think if Blizzard ever creates new races or new classes, that it will be a slap in the face if there isn't new mid-level content to go with leveling those guys. New starting zones are nice, but ultimately have most people even played through all of the different starting zones? There are so many now. Mid-level is where there needs to be new content.
But I guess ultimately it depends on who Blizzard is more likely to cater to, the casual players or the more serious ones. The serious players want new high level content and don't care as much if they have to level an alt through old zones in order to get them into the new content. It would be nice if Blizzard could cater to both, though, considering how much of a cash cow this game is for them.
Kahja Jun 27th 2007 11:27AM
If Northrend isn't next I won't be coming back to WoW in the foreseeable future.
Baluki Jun 27th 2007 11:52AM
Good list, but it's kinda like a "Blizzard list of shame". Seriously, how long has some of that stuff been on there? Totem UI? That's been there pretty much since Beta. I know Blizzard's development team is very busy, but WTF?
On the issue of new mid-level zones, I agree that it'd be kinda nice, but I think I'd be satisfied if they just went back and added new quests and adjust gear rewards and drops. In BC, they added one or two new quests per zone (although I heard a grass-is-always-greener rumor that the Alliance got more than that) and that was nice, but it's not enough.
I just hope that they add some really cool new stuff in the next expansion, no matter where it takes place.
James Jun 27th 2007 11:57AM
@3
I'd go further and say that mid-level content should not even be part of an expansion--they should just throw it in with a patch. Games like City of Heroes/Villains provide all of their new game content for free through what are essentially large patches. By no means do I think Blizzard should switch entirely to that model, as I believe that things like new races, professions and end game content should be paid for. However, I think it would help them retain their player base if, one day, say, Desolace had 20 new quests and the environment had changed. Same for places like Stonetalon, Badlands and other mid-game areas. This doesn't even have to be done all at once; just add new mid-level content over several patches--and this could even be done to tide people over between expansions.
And, while we're talking about changing environments, burn STV to the ground, and Booty Bay with it. I have a level 16 druid, and I have already started dreading going to STV, and its still 15 levels away. Ugh.
Orno Jun 27th 2007 1:04PM
Im sorry but nothing is going to out beat totemus. It's got timers, and manges my totems perfectly for PvE and PvP.
The fact that shamans still having a "Leveling only" talent tree and the paladins ar getting a entire tree revamp (which they said they were NEVER going to do class reviews again and this is just us being suckered by them using different words).
And as for the next expansion, I'm not even American but the September's date for Iraq is starting to sound like Blizzard's commitment to release a expansion yearly. It's not needed, espically after Black temple was the main highlight for the expansion pack and it was jsut released 2 weeks ago.
They are just slowly wasting my and many other shaman patience away. With the horrible drop in population for shaman. I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more go after these next few patches because I almost promise they won't be looking into us.
Vo-IP isn't the best idea in the world. Disable feature? Sounds good to me. Questions I see needing to be asked are, does it cause more server lag, ie. the trouble Mannoroth-US had about a year back where it would take 15 minutes for chat to show up, or the 1 minute complete freeze of everything during a encounter and we all die. What is going to be done say if theres harassment over it? Is their GM's in these channels now? (If its going to also be in public areas such as BG's).
They are not ready for housing either.. I don't need another money sink in this game, if I fucking mount cost me 5k gold wtf is a house going to cost. A lot more has to be tested with that also with how it's even going to be used on PvP servers. (Guild housing = World pvp).
Incendo Jun 27th 2007 1:10PM
Pally revamp sounds nice. As much threat as we can generate there just comes this point where are these bosses have specific things a warrior needs to be doing to them while they tank. I like the difference in tanking style and enjoy what I do, mostly because I'm always proving people wrong, but we need some comparable moves if they're not going to retool the raid bosses. Honestly hope Blizzard comes through and comes up with some way for us to be as viable in a unique way that helps keeps us distinct.
crsh Jun 27th 2007 1:17PM
So looking at the various items on that list, Zul'Aman is only coming out with patch 2.3; that's a long way off - let's say 2.2 hits in August, 2.3 won't be before roughly November?
Medros Jun 28th 2007 10:31PM
I am not thinking Northrend, because as they said at the last Blizzcon, we aren't strong enough yet. I don't think lvl 80 will make us strong enough to face the new Lich King and Arthas combo.
Trollyboy Jun 28th 2007 1:44AM
Awesome! A Totem Timer!
That fixes EVERYTHING!
Tiodi Jul 16th 2007 12:50PM
Course, if northrend has MORE then just a 10 lv bonus ( I want a 20 level raise at Leas) It would be concievable, If you had NCP help and Arthas Kicked your ass at half health, and then runs. Personally, I hope Northrend is Ex #3, Great sea being #2 with 10 lv(80) and North with 100. Northrend end of WoW and a WoW 2 comes set 110 years later, level cap 70 to start with. Ends in a cinematic of Arthas about to kill the faction leaders, and Sylvanas shoots him.
Tiodi Jul 16th 2007 12:52PM
also, replace STV with 3 better, less boring zones, and have Illidan Ressurect himselm medivh style to kill the nessingwarys
Timbo Jul 30th 2007 12:28AM
Add Gilneas, Hyjal, and what not. Seriously, the lack of new middle-level content is the only thing that's keeping me away from levelling any alts.