Breakfast Topic: The joy of phasing
by Allison Robert 
Jul 27th 2009 at 8:00AM
In a nutshell, phasing is all about the information that's sent (or not sent) to your computer by the game server; Blizzard can toy with anything that's not client-side, affecting which buildings and NPCs you can "see" but not affecting the game's basic geography. I was surprised to discover that phasing has technically been in the game since launch -- ghosts and stealth are a form of phasing, as are (I would assume) the ghosts of Caer Darrow -- but the hugely elaborate set pieces of Wrath are simply a more complicated evolution of the same mechanic.
Given the success of phasing, players have been kicking around suggestions for instances or zones that could do with a touch of it, and Gnomeregan seems to be a pretty consistent pick. I'd have to agree, but I'd also add the Echo Isles (the Gnomes and Trolls have overcome their low-level foes by now, surely?) and perhaps Duskwood for starters. Is there any other zone or instance that you think would benefit from a little reality-bending?
Filed under: Odds and ends, Quests, Expansions, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
JustinScott Jul 27th 2009 8:07AM
I think they should phase in Mount Hyjal. I mean after they fought off Archimonde and the scourge there, it should be a zone that you can enter.
Suzaku Jul 27th 2009 8:27AM
That's not really a matter of phasing. The zone is already there, there's just no way to reach it. All they have to do is open up the entrance(s) and populate it with stuff.
Josin Jul 27th 2009 8:50AM
They fought of Archimonde pre-WoW timeline-wise. This reasoning would mean that it should have been open from day 1.
The World Tree there was very badly damaged. I can understand why they don't want folks going and teabagging the thing or lighting fires around its base. (Because you know people would.)
JustinScott Jul 27th 2009 8:53AM
I understand where you guys are coming from, i really do.
But dont you think it would be cool to see first World Tree in person? At least from a RP* point a view, I think that would make a huge impact.
*Im not a RP, just kinda made sense.
Cyrus Jul 27th 2009 10:27AM
"But dont you think it would be cool to see first World Tree in person? At least from a RP* point a view, I think that would make a huge impact."
Sure, definitely. It's just that that has nothing to do with phasing.
One bit of wishful thinking/speculation I've read is that world tree should be the starting zone of a playable faction of furbolgs.
Tim Jul 27th 2009 10:29AM
The reason that I first fell in love with WoW was because I got to explore and see and the interesting places from the RTS games. Even though I like Warcraft 2 better than 3, I still would love to see the world tree for a little bit of flavoring. Really, its not even RP, you don't have to walk up to the tree and be sad that the horde and alliance cannot are not so friendly any more. Although, the world tree wouldn't be phasing...
Kaorael Jul 27th 2009 10:39AM
Ideally it would be made so that the first member of a group to enter a phased zone "sets" it for the rest of the group, and it remains in that phase until you leave the zone completely. This could prevent abuse (since you have to leave the zone), and more simple problems like making the tank leader out of habit while in the zone or even the leader disconnecting and everyone phasing to a different version of the zone.
Chamual Jul 27th 2009 3:47PM
@Cyrus
I wouldn't want Mt Hyjal to be a starting zone for Furblogs, noway should it be a low level zone, it should a tough highlevel area with an awesome raid somehow...
Axolotl Jul 27th 2009 8:07AM
I think all old-world zones could do with some reality-bending, if only it were to make them more interesting to level in.
Cogfizzle Jul 27th 2009 8:27AM
This.
I love Azeroth, it's here that the game is based and yet it's frozen in time. I'd like to see the whole of the two continents phased in the next big expansion (the grind to 90) so we can see how each of these areas have changed. Phasing is so amazing that I'd like to see it used extensively throughout the game to make you believe that you're actually impacting the game world - I'd like to see Duskwood once I've helped to clear it of all the bad guys.
The drawback is that you can't interact with people out of phase with you (correct?) so you'd not be able to go and help any of your lower-level buddies in areas before the re-phasing.
Rai Jul 27th 2009 9:03AM
"/w Boost me in DM pl0x."
"Can't, phasing, sorry."
Jamesisgreat Jul 27th 2009 10:15AM
I'd love this - imagine re-exploring all of Azeroth to see hows its changed due to your past actions, and how its changed due to world events in general.
Binny Jul 27th 2009 10:40AM
It seems like Blizzard could create a device that allows you to travel "back in time" - via the meeting stone, or some NPC (Keepers of Time Factioned) - allowing you to revisit the dungeon as it was. It might work like this; After you complete the achievement for doing the dungeon, you enter the 'completed phase', and would be able to enter it to find different NPCs. If you choose to travel to the original experience, the NPC or meeting stone would port you inside to the old version.
For example, Gnomeragon would become populated by gnome workers and such. It might have a similar vibe as the Exodar. Mailboxes are already in the instance, and it shouldn't be too hard to implement Bank or Auction NPCs. Lack of Flight Paths are easily explained by the reconstruction. Perhaps there'd be one or two special vendors, with Gnome specific goods? Give the player a sense of time progression and completion.
This discussion brings up another question: Could our suggestions influence Blizzard? They certainly listen to the community, especially on class issues. However, it often seems like they shoot down ideas for content. Their reasons are generally clear, but occasionally it seems that a really simple and great idea gets dismissed. My theory is that they might like the idea, but feel compelled to add something more. In order to put their own spin on it, they end up creating a lot more work, which makes the idea infeasible. Of course, programmer-pride could also be causing the shoot-downs...
L33T15T Jul 27th 2009 12:23PM
Totally agree. It would be nice if the old-world underwent a phase in the expansion. Not going to happen because that's a lot of work and would take who knows how long to implement, but it would make the leveling experience for new players much more enticing...and maybe teach them the mechanics of their class before hitting endgame (but I'm not holding my breath).
Perhaps they could do it a zone at a time, maybe starting in Northshire, Elwynn and Westfall by removing the Defias threat.
Would definitely make the game more interesting.
Orrine Jul 27th 2009 8:07AM
Quel'Danas and Sunwell are the places I would like to see phased very much.
I was always very fond of High Elves despite their recent Fel magics practice. Now I would like to see how new Sunwell will affect them in terms of Fel/Light relations and arcane energy addiction
Kaorael Jul 27th 2009 8:41AM
I think the whole Naaru storyline in Silvermoon would be a great phased element. You could have low level Blood Knights drain the Naaru like at the beginning of BC, and then when you get to a higher level you get a quest (maybe in the BE outpost in Hellfire Peninsula, or a mail you receive at level 60) where you have to go back to Silvermoon because Kael'thas has stolen the Naaru.
That way you would have the original source of power of the Blood Knights, and the continuity would be respected in regards to M'uru 's presence in Sunwell Plateau.
Doriangrey Jul 27th 2009 8:08AM
I would love to see Shattrath destoryed in a great battle and we all return to rebuild and fight the Burning Legion back out of OL
Ada Jul 27th 2009 8:11AM
It would be pretty cool if, upon reaching the highest level possible in-game, that the old world instances from Vanilla became higher leveled dungeons through phasing. I would love to do deadmines again personally.
Cyanea Jul 27th 2009 3:30PM
You SAY that...but think about how LONG Deadmines is. Think about how many trash pulls there are between bosses. Think about how many awkward "pull the entire room" situations there are in just the first room alone. I can barely stand doing Wrath Heroics and they take a half hour at most if your group isn't full of idiots. Deadmines at Heroic level would take hours.
lazymangaka Jul 27th 2009 8:10AM
Bloodmyst Isle. Once you complete all of the quests there, you've destroyed the crystal generating all of the evil-ness, but the island still looks just as grim as ever. They should have the crystals all broken looking and the world returned to a slightly more normal looking state.