New WoW Patch Brings Cross-Server Instances 342
ajs writes "World of Warcraft's Wrath of the Lich King expansion was staggered into 4 phases. The fourth and final phase, patch 3.3, was released on Tuesday. This patch is significant in that it will be the first introduction of one of the most anticipated new features in the game since PvP arenas: the cross-realm random dungeon, as well as the release of new end-game dungeons for 5, 10 and 25-player groups. The patch notes have been posted, and so has a trailer. The ultimate fight against the expansion's antagonist, the Lich King a.k.a. Arthas, will be gated as each of the four wings of the final dungeon are opened in turn — a process that may take several months. The next major patch after 3.3 (presumably 4.0) will be the release of Cataclysm, the next expansion."
Re:Old (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Old (Score:3, Informative)
Chuck a zero on the end of that first number, and change the 3 to at least a 6, then you have WOW. (And that's underestimating their current subscribers.)
Eve would burn to the ground if even half that number tried to use it.
Re:Trade with other players? (Score:2, Informative)
You can only trade items that you picked up INSIDE the cross-realm instances. Other items cannot be traded.
Re:may take months to face Arthas? (Score:3, Informative)
Months, huh? I call bullshit. Some guild with no life will beat Arthas into paste before the end of the year.
The only possible things that could put it off until the new year is (1) Blizzard hard coded it so each wing is opened on a set schedule, regardless of how fast the bosses in that wing are beaten and (2) Christmas break.
Which is exactly what Blizzard did.
The first wing opened now, the next wing will open 28 days from now. There are a total of 4 wings, and you need to complete ICC on normal mode before you can do hard modes.
Re:Trade with other players? (Score:1, Informative)
I had a mage in a cross server dungeon summon me some water. I died and my water was gone when i rezzed. No biggie really.
Also, I accidentally zoned out of the instance and ended up where i joined the group (Stormwind). I right clicked the Green LFG icon on my may and poof, I was back in. That could be handy for repairs.
It was very handy and the other players were well behaved and it took like 2 minutes for a full group.
Great work Blizzard!
Re:Old (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Old (Score:3, Informative)
In any case 54,000 players at once is already an achievement.
Re:15 minute lockouts and no solution (Score:3, Informative)
I found a work-around to this - you can all just run into the instance manually (instead of being teleported there) and it seems still work - even with the debuff.
Re:Old (Score:3, Informative)
EVE doesn't have terrain but wow doesn't have objects in any real sense. In eve bullets/lasers/missiles are actual objects that move and require impact detection. In wow, spells, arrows, w/e are all targeted to a person and they hit or miss, completely run client side. Terrain/obstacles in wow only effect spells half the time... generally you can shoot through most obstacles (this has been improving) but not through terrain. And I imagine you can fly near/through bigger ships. that requires impact detection going on.
Disclaimer: I haven't played eve nearly as much as wow.
Re:may take months to face Arthas? (Score:1, Informative)
The only possible things that could put it off until the new year is (1) Blizzard hard coded it so each wing is opened on a set schedule, regardless of how fast the bosses in that wing are beaten
That's exactly what they've done. Currently only the first four bosses are open. The next wing opens in 28 days.