Floor dropdown on the beta map interface hints at instance maps
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 14th 2008 at 5:30PM
But this also suggests an even bigger change: including maps of instances in the official interface. Since launch, Blizzard hasn't ever shown us ingame instance maps (though we're not sure why -- maybe they want to require players to explore instances rather than follow a map through them). But lately, addons like Atlas have made them easily available to players, so maybe Blizzard has decided it's time to map out dungeons as well. We'll have to see what use they put this new dropdown to.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Add-Ons, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xoshe Aug 14th 2008 5:38PM
You know, I just don't see the connection. How exactly does an option to display multiple floors suddenly equate dungeon maps? That seems like a really big leap to me.
SeiferTim Aug 14th 2008 5:40PM
Faster than a speeding elekk...able to leap to conclusions in a single post! ;)
onslaughtq Aug 14th 2008 5:57PM
What's really interesting is the triangle pieces you get from the bosses, along with certain areas that are now only accessible through the Engineering made hook shot.
jay Aug 14th 2008 6:06PM
Yeah, he's saying maybe, it's all speculation so far. It could very well mean the the latter of this article. When you think about it, there a quite a few dungeons, if not most of them that have different levels to them.
Even to this day when I enter wailing caverns I get lost lol and on the odd occasion I wished I had a map tbh.
(I know about atlas, but I'm probably one of the few that doesn't really like it)
Koohkies Aug 14th 2008 6:20PM
pure win comment
epsilon343 Aug 14th 2008 5:39PM
Never understood why they wouldn't include maps, it feels like an arbitrary barrier instead of something that feels more "natural." Couldn't they just make it so that there's a map or something at the end of the instance that you can use to "learn" the instance for subsequent runs?
Either way, this looks promising at getting some more functionality out of the map.
luchifer Aug 14th 2008 5:51PM
I guess to have more freedom building instances, for example like karazhan, with a lot of stairs, upper and lower and who know, perhaps translocating orbs... and that is hard to translate into a map.
Xoshe Aug 14th 2008 5:58PM
Well, the thing is, the maps ARE already in the game, after all. They're just only used for the minimap.
Yell-O Aug 14th 2008 5:45PM
Maps finally going 3D.
NICE!
MazjinYrael Aug 14th 2008 5:56PM
If you're correct, this is awesome. Anyone whos ever tried to explore SSC their first time there knows how much this will help.
mizatt Aug 14th 2008 6:15PM
It'd be about damned time. unfortunately people stopped running BRD a long time ago
vlad Aug 14th 2008 7:22PM
hmm. didnt wotlkwiki and mmo-champion allready cover this thoroughly over 12 hours ago?
RogueJedi86 Aug 14th 2008 8:20PM
Just 12 hours? That's FOREVER. And mmo-champion reported it? Hm, you'd think wowinsider would link to mmo-champion in their article in that case........OH WAIT THEY DID.
DJScythe17 Aug 14th 2008 7:44PM
I know a lot of commenters are claiming this is huge leap, but a few signs point to it not being. I'm not 100% sure of this, but weren't indoor (including dungeon) mini-maps introduced a few patches back? These also had a layering element (for example, going through different floors of Stratholme change the mini-map to accommodate the floor you're on), complementing with the beta floor based maps. Although I doubt we'll get anything like Atlas, it isn't too unbelievable that we'll get something like the rough overworld maps that fill in as you explore that we have now.
Urosh Aug 15th 2008 1:43AM
I hope so :p
Finnicks Aug 15th 2008 5:36AM
I don't see why they can't just let the Achievement for the instance unlock the instance map. Once you've completed the instance, you get the full map for future use.
Keeps initial exploration fun, while giving us an aid for future delves.
blazenor Aug 15th 2008 9:27AM
I like the ideal of dungeons maps in the game, but I feel you should get maps (kind of like keys) of dungeons after a complete run through.
Slarti Aug 15th 2008 1:30PM
When examining the new Lua code for this floor stuff, I stumbled over many new API functions like GetNumDungeonMapLevels or GetCurrentMapDungeonLevel. Since "Dungeon" is usually equivalent to "Instance", I suspect that this functionality is indeed primarily intended for instance maps.
Bromnir Aug 15th 2008 4:01PM
Now, see, THAT is compelling evidence! Until I read this comment, I thought this was just a load of wishful thinking. Now I'm atwitter with anticipation!
Codexx Aug 16th 2008 3:59PM
I always assumed the workload to go back and do those dungeons was too much. After all, could they not simply implement a system where you can not see parts of the dungeon? As far as I know, the only Discovered: Area part of the dungeon is when you first step into it. Couldn't this open up the first portion, and the killing of a boss open up the area between the start and that boss? Or even link it to reputations. If you're exalted with Sporregar, you'll have all of Underbog mapped out.
At the very least, we need maps released online and/or a way for map mods to track locations inside instances. Instance maps lack the Blizzard style and don't allow you or your party to be positioned, which is kind of a pain.