The Queue: An exclusive leak

Yesterday, I went to Cryptozoic Entertainment's Irvine HQ for a sneak preview of the upcoming WoW TCG Twilight of the Dragons expansion set. While pretending to take a bathroom break, I snapped a picture of their R&D planning whiteboard, which is based on information Blizzard gives them about future plans for the MMO. I signed an NDA, but I don't care -- this stuff is too big not to share. Click it for a better look.
Themightysven asked:
So I was cruising through Highlands yesterday, blowing up bad guys with my leet lvl 84 skillz, when I dinged 85, and suddenly every fight was palatially more difficult. As an example, when I was 76 I soloed the first two challenges in the Amphitheater of Anguish, at 85 I could barely make a dent in the non-elite elementals in Thrall's questline without having to stop and drink. I know that ratings degrade, but it seems like they may have degraded way more (while spell cost skyrocketed)
I wish I took Screenshots before and after because it seemed like my mana and mana regen both tanked by about 2000 in one level change. Am I crazy? I didn't notice this on any other 85 (DK, Rogue, Mage) (okay, I may have noticed a lack of Oomph on the rogue, but not this severe...)
You're not crazy! The amount of rating necessary to increase your stats increases dramatically each level from 80 to 85, so your gear gets less effective. You actually get weaker as you level. Pretty funny, right?
Jishdefish asked:
None of you have used your crystal (or Magic 8) ball in a while, so my question for you is thus:
Which will we get first: New Moonkin or Warlock pet models?
I would include Vanilla races too, but that is unlikely to be first as we'll probably need a new expansion for something like that.
My money's on new warlock pet models, if only because Blizzard came right out and said it's working on them, whereas updated moonkin models are "something we'd like to do."
Scott asked:
Why doesn't Blizzard hire established talent for voices in game? They certainly can afford it. Or is it a "we don't want to worry about using them later on?" sort of thing.
Tony Jay is about the most famous person i can think of blizzard using.
Well, there's actually a lot of established voice talent in the game. Cam Clarke, for example, who voices the male blood elf character, has been voice acting for decades now. Several Wrath and Cataclysm boss voices are by voice actors from Team Fortress 2 (the Heavy is also the male vrykul). Even Michael Dorn, who you might recognize as Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation, does voice acting for human and tauren males.
Unfortunately, they can't all be great (or aren't, anyway). It could just be personal perception, but I feel like the general quality of line readings has gone way downhill since The Burning Crusade. I'm tired of Sindragosa's voice actress, I'm tired of Keristrasza's horrible line readings (and her even worse powers bestowed upon her by DEATH. WING). I'm not sure what caused the decline, but it's definitely there, at least coming from the perspective of a longtime fan.
Oscar asked:
With Ragnaros and Al'Akir dead, will their be instability with those elements since their leaders are gone?
Unlikely. The strongest elementals remaining will fight for power in each plane, and one of them will inevitably become the new leader of their particular element.
Maq asked:
Has there been any further news on the guild transfer service? I haven't been able to find anything other than the original announcement, but I'm waiting with bated breath for this service to become active.
I hate having to give this answer, which is why I avoid questions like this, but no, no new news.
Filed under: The Queue






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
JKWood Jul 17th 2011 12:05PM
Mike Sacco, you are a troll of the worst kind.
MusedMoose Jul 17th 2011 12:12PM
Seconded. Though I can't wait to see the NERD RAGE that the pic inspires once it's posted elsewhere and said to be real. ^_^
Shinae Jul 17th 2011 12:15PM
I recognize Sacco's hadwriting anywhere!
As least, I do now. ;)
I wish I could see what's down at the end. It's like not hearing the entire puchline clearly.
Hob Jul 17th 2011 12:28PM
The tip-off to those in the know are the upright stars around "PLEASE DONT ERASE". Activision always uses downward-pointing stars in their official dry-erase board memos.
Radioted Jul 17th 2011 12:46PM
@Shinae
Down at the very end, I could read "Merge H/A" and "New Faction," but that was all I could make out.
@Sacco
Phenomenal work.
CDave Jul 17th 2011 12:56PM
Haha "Please don't erase" What is this, middle school?
SamLowry Jul 17th 2011 1:19PM
In the second column, all the classes that use the same armor type are merged together. "DK+WAR=New plate > Blade Master (I believe)" and such down the line.
ZeroDesu Jul 17th 2011 1:47PM
Q for the Q:
Can you take a few more pictures of that whiteboard and post some clearer shots? I think most of us are just curious to find out what kind of crazy junk you threw up there.
Straz Jul 17th 2011 2:13PM
Suffer, mortals, as your pathetic whiteboard betrays you!
Noyou Jul 17th 2011 2:18PM
Dammit. I didn't come to the Queue today expecting my head to aspolde. Curse you Mike Sacco. I'm putting a bounty on your hair.
Amaxe Jul 17th 2011 3:31PM
@Noyou
Well, as Winston Churchill said, "The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear itself."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/first-family/masthead_image/40rr_header_sm.jpg?1250886929
/ducks
Skarn Jul 17th 2011 3:53PM
Now you're just being evil, Sacco.
In a good way.
cloudhopper013 Jul 17th 2011 4:00PM
"Wait, what's that down at the end... Zoom! Zoom! ENHANCE!"
Maymer Jul 17th 2011 4:05PM
Sacco's Journal, July 17, 2011:
Whiteboard in alley this morning, erased marks on new finish.
This website's afraid of me...I've seen its true trolls...
Their queue's are extended LoL fests, and the LoL fests are filled with memes.
And when the memes finally grow older...all the posters will troll.
The accumulated fake posts of their false leaks and non-canon spoilers will form up around their monitors, and all the Trolls and Memers will look up and shout, "Spoilers!"
And I will whisper..."Trollin"
vocenoctum Jul 17th 2011 4:43PM
I can't make out the New Leather class though.
Skarn Jul 17th 2011 5:22PM
@vocenoctum
It's ninja. With possibly (pirates?) next to it. I can't make out the underlined word.
detailbear Jul 17th 2011 5:48PM
@vocenoctum and skarn: (and others)
I believe it's:
Blade Master
Ninja (Pirates?) Pirate Ninjas!
Archmage
Farseer
nieboh Jul 18th 2011 4:37AM
@skarn, detailbear, et al. (this is how it appears to me. I'm guessing a little on the parentheses)
Rog+Dru = New leather --> Ninja (Pandaren?) _Other__Names_
The new cloth and new mail below this are pretty clear. I can't make heads nor tails out of the stuff below that...something about a boutique? and possibly a moosehead?
Shyster Jul 18th 2011 7:08AM
You just weren't satisfied with me shouting your name KHAN-style the first time huh? SAAAAAAAAAAAAACCOOOOOOOO!!!11!ONE!
*substantial angered fist shaking*
Mal Jul 17th 2011 12:07PM
Where do I learn to PVP?
Seriously, I wanted to try it out so I crafted myself as much Bloodthirsty pieces I could, bought two trinkets with leftover honor I had, researched some macros, learned to mouseturn. And now that I'm finally queuing up for normal bgs to get some practice in people constantly tell me that I don't belong there.
Where does someone new to PVP get started, if not regular battlegrounds?