In World of Warcraft, people generally focus on the visuals. We have a monstrous landscape that is very interesting to look at. We are going to ignore a number of facts, such as the jungles of Sholazar Basin as far North as Northrend or the disparities between Hyjal and Winterspring. However, I am going to ignore the visuals; my computer is not up to scruff (As seen by my many screenshots) from a hardware perspective.
Instead, I'm going to look at City Design. Particularly Alliance, as that is my more thorough area of expertise, but I will talk about Shattrath and Dalaran.
So, first things first: Stormwind needs to be nerfed.
Overview: Stormwind is the last stronghold of the human race and the capital city of the Alliance. Situated in the Elwynn Forest, it features stonework architecture with wooden rooftops (Of different colored varieties, seemingly representative of the different districts).
Features: Stormwind is home to all class and profession trainers, even including the infamous Harrison Jones as the local Archaeology trainer (Archaeology is still bullshit). It has two auction houses that are located in the Trade District and Dwarven District. It's also the only city to have portals to the Cataclysm areas, located in the Northeastern portion of the city named "The Eastern Earthshrine." It's also the only city where you can access Justice, Valor, Honor, and Conquest point Vendors, all located in the Old Town portion of the city. For travel, there is a harbor that leads to Darnassus and Northrend (Borean Tundra), the Deeprun Tram to Ironforge, and a Flightmaster.
Problems: Stormwind is incredibly spread out. A character in their low levels (Prior to mounts, of ground or flying variety) has a lot of distance to travel around the city. To visit King Varian in Stormwind Keep, see a warlock Trainer below The Slaughtered Lamb, and then head to the Flighmaster to go questing is quite a distance.
This problem is doubled if you aren't sure where you are going and tripled if you fall into one of Stormwind's many Canals. Canals, while aesthetically appealing and vital for a Daily Fishing economy, are ultimately a nuisance; they provide cover for water-friendly enemies (Pesky druids and warlocks) and pose a drowning-risk to children.
It is also a travesty that the Deeprun Tram is not noted in the map of Stormwind. By failing to mention it, there is a discouragement from traveling to the Dwarven Ironforge.
Review: This city is quickly deteriorating from lag. It is home to too much that is vital for a level 85. Cataclysm portals should be available in all cities, along with the different Points Vendors, so that people can choose a city based on their preferences rather than be pigeonholed into a single place. Also, the canals need to be removed as they hamper travel. That, or boats that travel magically should be implemented as another method of travel around the city.
Ironforge
Overview: Ironforge is the last of the Dwarven Kingdoms and the former (Unofficial) capital of the Alliance. Situated inside a mountain in Dun Morogh, it is composed of rock and metalwork. It's also a circle.
Features: Ironforge is home to all class and profession trainers, but prefers a certain Doktor Professor Ironpants over Harrison Jones for the instruction in Archaeology (Worst profession ever conceived by human kind). It has a single Auction House located in The Commons. It only features a single portal to the Blasted Lands, such as every major city. It has a centrally located Flightpath and the Deeprun Tram to Stormwind.
Problems: Ironforge does not feature many of the necessities required to be a capital city. It suffers a lack of Points Vendors, Cataclysmic portals, or an easy-to-access harbor to other areas (Having to travel to Menethil Harbor to access Theramore or Northrend). There is also a canal-styled problem along the outermost circle of the city, where players can fall and have to travel out of their way to return back to the upper levels of the city.
There is also the issue where a player who wants to fly out the top-exit at the Gate of Ironforge is dismounted.
Review: This city is dead as the player base is forced to live in Stormwind, even though Ironforge is the superior designed city. The circle makes it easy to travel from one place to another, either by following the circle or cutting straight across it. It also features no water, which generally slows a player down to a crawl if they fall into it. By adding portals to Cataclysm areas or Points Vendors, Ironforge would quickly recapture its title as Unofficial Capital of the Alliance.
Overview: Darnassus is home of the Night Elves. It is situated on the island of Teldrassil north of the continent of Kalimdor. Much of the architecture is marble or magically influenced trees, with much of the city covered in vegetation.
Features: Darnassus is home to all class trainers and profession trainers, and employs a no-name of Hammon the Jaded to teach Archaeology (Archaeology and "Assisted-Suicide" both start with A!). Like Ironforge, it features a single Auction house located in the Tradesmen's Terrace. It also has a port to a port, from which you can travel to Stormwind or Azuremyst Isle. And unlike its sister cities, it has two flightmasters.
Problems: Also like its sister cities, Darnassus features no Points Vendors or Portals to Cataclysm zones. It suffers Stormwind's "Let's Put Water Everywhere to Slow People Down" problem. It's also dangerously out-of-the-way of everything, with long flightpaths to everywhere but Mount Hyjal.
Review: Darnassus shares similar, if not worse, problems as Ironforge. However, even with an addition of Cataclysm Portals and Points Vendors, I doubt that it would become a highly populated city due to its large amounts of water and its distinct distance from important-areas.
The Exodar
Overview: The Exodar is the spaceship that the Draenei aptly piloted into the landmass that is Azuremyst Isle. It's architecture features sophisticated engineering and metalwork with influences of magic in the forms of crystalline structures. There is also a focus attributed to that of the Light.
Features: The Exodar is home to all class and profession trainers, with a hot goatgirl named Diya who probably knows as much about Archaeology as I do (That it is the use of telescopes that will guide us to underground artifacts (Wait, what the fuck?)). Single Auction house, Single Flight Master, and the only Alliance City that is Multi-levelled (Though only slightly).
Problems: If Darnassus is out of the way, then The Exodar is from another planet. You need to use its port to reach a port from which you can access another port. It is also horribly confusing in the names of its areas; the Trader's Tier is the only area that correctly implies its contents. "The Vault of Lights" and "The Crystal Hall" imply nothing other than more Lights and more Crystals, even though they feature many of the class trainers. And again, it holds no Points Vendors or Cataclysmic Portals.
Also, like its Blood Elf counterpart, you cannot fly in The Exodar or its surrounding country.
Review: The Exodar needs a lot of work if it were to ever be the mainstay of the Alliance. First, it needs to get back into orbit and re-crashed into a better location. Then, it needs to get all the amenities that Stormwind hogs. And lastly, it needs to learn to name its Districts something other than vague generalities. Oh, and being able to fly in the only Multi-levelled city might be a great help too.
Shattrath
Overview: Shattrath was the Capital City of both factions during the Burning Crusade. It is also the first "Sanctuary" location in World of Warcraft, a place where both factions could exist without forcing combat. Shattrath is built out of stone that is enormous and detailed, and is home to the Naaru.
Features: Shattrath was also the first city to feature portals to all other major cities, but those have since been removed (To put more focus on Stormwind and Orgrimmar). It now features Auction houses and class trainers. It also has a very easy-to-use portal to the Isle of Quel'Danas for those who wish to do Magister's Terrace or the Sunwell Plateau. It might even feature a portal to The Caverns of Time for those who are Revered or Exalted with The Keepers of Time. It also is the only place to purchase level 70 points rewards or turn in level 70 raid tier items. Oh, and I forgot to mention Boduro the Seeker; he will train you in your Archaeological Exploits (By the way, have I mentioned that Archaeology will cause you to get cancer AND guarantee death? That means that Boduro the Seeker wants you to die from cancer.)
It is also, probably, the coolest city in game.
Problem: The Burning Crusade is a dead expansion and therefore Shattrath is a dead city. There is very little reason to exist in Outlands other than levelling a character or profession, and there is no reason to set your hearth to Shattrath now that you can easily access the Outlands from any major city in Azeroth via the portals to the Blasted Lands.
Review: Shattrath was the place to be in its time and it might be time for me to let go of it. It's useful to note that while I was writing this bit about Shattrath, I received a whisper asking for a portal to Stormwind. Go figure.
Dalaran
Overview: Dalaran was uprooted by some pesky mages from its original home in Hillsbrad Foothills and floated over Northrend. It was the main hub of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion for both factions. Features cobblestone pathways between stone buildings, it can be described as the Purple City for its abundance of Purple colouring.
Features: Like its counterpart Shattrath, it held portals to all the major cities that have since been removed. It now features Auction houses, class trainers, and profession trainers. The Archaeology trainer is Dariness the Learned located in The Legerdemain Lounge. It is there that she explains that Archaeology ruined her marriage and caused her to turn to Alcoholism. It does have a couple of vendors that Stormwind has not yet managed to steal: the Frozen Orb Vendor, the Ink Trader, the Heirloom vendors, and Points Vendors for WotLK rewards It is also the only floating city.
Problems: Just like Shattrath, it lives in a world of dead content. There is little reason to exist in Northrend other than when levelling a new character or profession. However, as there is no easy way to access Northrend (Other than by boat or stealing aboard a Zeppelin), it does suit to hearth to Dalaran while levelling a character.
Review: Dalaran is a place people are forced to go if they specialize in Inscription or wish to purchase heirlooms. Perhaps the mages of Kirin Tor, now no longer having to deal with the Lich King, could float their city back to Hillsbrad?
And with the end of this post, the TL;DR:
- Give portals and points vendors to the other cities. This will reduce the reliance on Stormwind as a Capital City.
- Acknowledge that there is a Deeprun Tram to Ironforge from Stormwind.
- Fly Exodar to somewhere better.
- Grow Darnassus to somewhere better while you're at it.
- Float Dalaran back to Hillsbrad, too.
- Get rid of water in cities; Irritation is not a flavor.
- Put a raid in Oshu'gun so that Shattrath has a reason to exist again.
HOLY FUCK YOU TYPE ALOT
ReplyDeleteI have to say as much as you do without the video.
ReplyDelete