What you don't like about WoW [Archive]

mmcookies

08-30-2009, 06:16 AM

I'm trying to decide if I should quit WoW, perhaps for the foreseeable future. It's kind of a shame since I do like the changes announced for Cataclysm, though it still gives the feeling of "too little, too late." I know what I like about WoW, but what I dislike about it isn't something I've fully explored. Please feel free to add your own pet peeves as you see fit.

NOTE: This is a thread about what you don't like, and how you'd like it to be. Discussions about what somebody else should or shouldn't like are off topic.

- poor character customization

- lack of armor customization (I'd love to see something similar to Aion's system. Dyes optional as long as I can combine stats and graphics from different armor pieces that I own.)

- lack of player housing and (attainable) guild housing (I know the reasons against it, but I still want it.)

- race/class restrictions (I came from AC, where the system is completely skill based. I've always found WoW's race/class combinations arbitrary and restrictive.)

- additional instances cannot be launched (temporary problem)

- annoying art style (WoW art has great coordination, and while I do appreciate the vistas, the style itself is unfortunately not one that I prefer. Comic vs. Anime)

- social leads inevitably to QQ and drama (really more of an intrinsic fault of the MMO genre)

- time investment (Another seemingly unavoidable evil. Would be nice if rested XP did something useful at max level, such as increased reputation gains, bonus emblem drops, and other character bound benefits)

- subscription cost (I started playing WoW because at $15/mo it was quite a deal compared to consoles with game purchases and generation upgrades. But now with 5-boxing, the yearly costs are comparable, yet my selection is not as varied. Leaves me with a nagging feeling that it's not the best way to spend my money.)

to be continued...

Eggy

08-30-2009, 08:15 AM

Why not make it a 'what do you like about wow'? Would be more fun :)
But your thread, and I will comply!

- Quests, I allways hated em, the fact that you have to run around with your character instead of utilitizing it, meh! Quest helper helps, but still!

- Classes is waaaaaaaaaaaay too generic, I mean, everyone got basicly the same skills all around, sure class A's stun is used differently then class B's but its still the same deal.

- Instances, I haaaaaaaaaaate this concept, especialy for a pvp server. I'm sorry what? You say I cant follow that guy into a zone because it magicaly splits into two? What??

- Total lack of community, I guess this is a offspring of the instances, everyone is out doing their own thing.

- Quest caters again to a anti social style play because ALOT of them is a total !@#$ to do as a group.

- Itemization is generaly really out of whack, especialy when you consider wow only got 2 expansions, you went from having 10k hp to 35k++++ in just two expansions, could have been handled ALOT better

Now with all that said, ill go back to questing...

jettzypher

08-30-2009, 08:33 AM

i know theyre starting to do with with cataclysm, and having an ever changing world for an online game would be super hard to make happen, but id like to see thigns change as i play. even it its somethign as simple as they finally finish that damn bridge in redridge...i mean come on, its been 5 yrs already. get on with it already!

two other things...over simplicity just to keep more people playing. and achievments. minus the title and mounts rewards, they have no purpose. other than another reason for people to flaunt their e-peen, wtf is the purpose of having 4000+ pts?

Naxxz

08-30-2009, 09:40 AM

I dont like the official wow forums, every time I go in there I want to quit the game so I have to force myself to stay away from them.
Other than that I love this game.

Korruptor

08-30-2009, 09:44 AM

Two things from my PoV:

The community; WoW reaches a broad player base and it brings along with it the folks we all "love" to deal with but we all know this kind of thing exists in any game, WoW just has more of it.
A little cartoony but in contrast with other games where they polish and super-gloss every piece of armor (EQ2) I do prefer the WoW models/engine more then ever now.

I honestly really don't have any problem with the game itself.

Having played and tried so many other games many of which are either broken in most every way (Anarchy Online), too dated animation-wise/class imbalance (EQ1), crap PvE (Warhammer), or require you to install a GameGuard root-kit / automation heaven for botters (Aion) I'm all to happy that I have a polished game like WoW.

*Aion side note:
I was able to return Aion get a full refund due to it requiring GameGuard. GameGuard just doesn't work nicely with my Comodo unless I uninstall it (like I'm going to do that!) and yes I did try every work-around on the Aion/Comodo/Third-Party forums I came across. At least I do know now for a fact Comodo does prevent being root-kit.

Multibocks

08-30-2009, 10:08 AM

Sorry cookies, it sounds like you are trying to come up with reasons to quit. Just quit and come back later when you feel like playing again.

Oh and time investment? Seriously? I came back and within a couple of weeks I already have everything I can get solo (multiboxing). The only things I do on my main set of characters anymore are the daily quests and the daily dungeon (for triumph emblems). I don't think two weeks is a serious time investment to get everything you need from the lastest patch considering the content is supposed to last more than 3 months.

mmcookies

08-30-2009, 12:26 PM

Sorry cookies, it sounds like you are trying to come up with reasons to quit. Just quit and come back later when you feel like playing again.

It sounds like that because that's what I said. In the past, I've generally viewed my time away from WoW as temporary until something more interesting happens, but this time, I may be gone for good, so I'll need a much more thorough review of my reasons.

Oh and time investment? Seriously? I came back and within a couple of weeks I already have everything I can get solo (multiboxing). The only things I do on my main set of characters anymore are the daily quests and the daily dungeon (for triumph emblems). I don't think two weeks is a serious time investment to get everything you need from the lastest patch considering the content is supposed to last more than 3 months.

It's not. As I've said before, WoW is the most casual friendly MMO I know. I have it up there mostly due to my own priorities shifting, which also leads into the cost issue. It's not like I can't afford 5-boxing, but it still begs the question if it's the best use for that money if I'm pretty much not going to be playing it.

Oswyn

08-30-2009, 12:47 PM

Farming for mats is a pain in the ass, especially when you don't have a lot of time to play. At least since i started 5 boxing, I can get enough gold to buy most of my stuff.

It would be great if they modified tailoring and blacksmithing to allow those professions to "de" cloth and plate/mail gear. In other words, you can tear down cloth gear to salvage some cloth. Similar to plate/mail, you should be allowed to melt it down to get metal bars. Just make is similar to how enchanters disenchant and miners prospect ore.

For herbalists, maybe add a farming ability. Once you get some plants, you can get some seeds. Take those seeds to grow more plants. Water and pick!!!

Fizzler

08-30-2009, 01:26 PM

Homer

08-30-2009, 01:47 PM

Why not make it a 'what do you like about wow'? Would be more fun :)
But your thread, and I will comply!
- Instances, I haaaaaaaaaaate this concept, especialy for a pvp server. I'm sorry what? You say I cant follow that guy into a zone because it magicaly splits into two? What??

Now with all that said, ill go back to questing...

Instance's purpose is to take the load of wow's server, They use different servers for instance's so servers dont crash(Even though they do anyway)

Fizzler

08-30-2009, 02:11 PM

Why not make it a 'what do you like about wow'? Would be more fun :)

- Instances, I haaaaaaaaaaate this concept, especialy for a pvp server. I'm sorry what? You say I cant follow that guy into a zone because it magicaly splits into two? What??

I can't imagine what this game would be like without instances. Wait I can. There are many examples but I remember back when I played Asheron's Call there was this quest to get the Green Mire Curiass. You literally had to stand in line in this dungeon to get the chest spawn that had the item. Some times someone would cut the line but there was a good hour or two wait. You just stood there.. killed the respawns and waited. Imagine fighting over boss spawns... ugh
Instances is one of the best things in the game in my opinion. Now if they could only allow me in.....

Ughmahedhurtz

08-30-2009, 02:21 PM

Korruptor

08-30-2009, 02:33 PM

Only one real major set of problems I have with wow:

1. Raid size is limited to 40.
2a. Group size is limited to 5 and not 8 or 10.
or
2b. Group quests cannot be completed in a raid.
3. Game engine can't handle more than 100 people in a zone. Sheesh, even DAoC could do this. Sure, it lagged to hell but you could still do it with patience.

Ahh the memories of running the Planes of Hate, Growth and Fear. Only to find out that another guild didn't abide by the server calendar of who's turn it was that day. Yep, I don't miss that but I did like that there was no limit to the number of people you could bring to the fight.

Fizzler

08-30-2009, 02:40 PM

1. Not enough Live Events. When was the last one? Opening of the Gates?
2. Collection quest should be Party advanced and not just because I am a multi-boxer.
3. Player housing.. I can not even imagine how they would accomplish this. I loved how Ultima Online did it but after a while the landscape was just polluted with houses. There was an interesting market for prime locations. Everquest 2 had instanced apartments it just did not feel like it was mine.
4. Better spell effects and animations. Death Knights brought a bit of coolness I would like to see that with other classes especially the mage.

Diwa

08-30-2009, 02:45 PM

There is more to dislike in other games. The only good reason to quit this game is to have more time for life which is more expensive to begin with.

Multibocks

08-30-2009, 03:01 PM

Good call.

Bigfish

08-30-2009, 03:18 PM

2a. Group size is limited to 5 and not 8 or 10.
or
2b. Group quests cannot be completed in a raid.

This. Just my 2 cents, but they could really up the fun of grouping if they allowed quests to be done in raids, just for the simplicity of spawns and tagging and generally just getting to know people.

Or autogrouping with guilds, so that if you're in the same zone as a guildie, there is no "invite so-an-so" or "let me disband my group so I can join you" type stuff. I think WAR really hit the nail on the head with the concept of public quests.

Instances. I like the concept of instances when it comes to farming things. I mean, the point outside of server issues is to make "rare" spawns more accessable to the entire population and do away with spawn camping. Instances at this point have taken on a life of their own, now becoming a loot pinata that you beat regularly for goodies.

I don't know about anyone else, but I like the concept of uber bosses where the tackling strategy is only about a quarter of what the fight entails. I'd really like some outdoor bosses that are just about how many warm bodies you can throw at the thing until people get sick of dying or the thing falls after an hour long epic battle royale.

I'd also like set pieces to become a bit more prominant.

Homer

08-30-2009, 03:18 PM

Lets combine two things together :P, Instance housing solves the landscape issue

EaTCarbS

08-30-2009, 03:56 PM

What do I not like about WoW?

All the Whiners!!

mmcookies

08-30-2009, 04:17 PM

Yah, whiners and trolls are the lowest forms of life.

Starbuck_Jones

08-30-2009, 04:35 PM

Things I dislike:
Group penalties; This game punishes groups like no other I can think of from xp splits to the insane quest requirements. There is absolutely no reason a collection quest giver who goes and asks for 5 skulls to summon the bad guy to need 25. We gonna summon this guy 5 times and wack him just to be sure hes really dead the first 4 times? Additional penalties is loot from instances. They have gotten better with emblem drops, but this issue was solved long ago in other games. Anyone remember how long it took to get geared up in MC so you had a half ass chance in BWL? It is absolutely retarded.

Flightpoints: After 4 or 5 years, I should not have to spend ANY more of my time getting flight points. DK's get them all right out of the gate. So why cant my other alts get them? Hell just let me spend 100g at a flight master/point and poof, there they all are.

Lootfilter: There needs to be a better lootfilter in the game. The one now is ok, but if you turn it on, you cant loot some items like quest items or white items that drop off mob/bosses required to open doors. Turn on the loot filter and you cant get the key to the viewing room from Rattlegore etc... failsauce

World pvp: HAHAHAHAHAHA They need to put in a level limit on this. Level 80 can still one shot my whole new group from levels 1-70 and pretty much 2 shot them from 70-80. Dont give me that 'dont play on a pvp server crap' Its not pvp when one instant cast fan of knives instakills you when your level <75.

End Game; once I got to 80, did my dailies to buy all my epics, I had nothing left to do but farm emblems. No alternate advancement, no nothing other than achievements, some are cool, but they provide nothing as far as advancing your character.

Phasing; While cool, its absolute crap when it comes to helping an alt,guild member, anyone. Nothing like getting your new group to level 78 and finding out your 80 tank cant help them with anything because hes already completed this phase. See that first complaint about punishing groups... sigh.

However I enjoy the game. I dont get enough time to play as it is, but ill stick with it. There are things I still want to do and see in the game.

Redbeard

08-30-2009, 05:06 PM

Tdog

08-30-2009, 05:19 PM

Little nitpicky stuff,

Mainly I only stop playing when I run out of things to do (in a solo / group setting).

I am confident that over time blizzard will borrow most good ideas popping up in other games (Still waiting on some implementation of PQs, I loved those in WAR).
I'm honestly expecting that most of the good ideas will be implemented in their new "next-gen" mmo. I think WoW is more like a test subject to them now. A fun, successful test subject, but a test subject all the same.

P.S. If you're not having fun with the game atm just stop playing for now. Eventually you'll probably get the urge to play it again but if it isn't fun then there is no real point to playing it atm.

It's a game, it's meant to be at most a hobby. Not a way of life or a necessity of life. I've gotten burnt out more times than I can remember now, quit playing for awhile, do other things, and whenever I feel like hopping back on I do it. I don't come back because of an addiction or anything like that but just simply because it's a hobby of mine that I enjoy doing. Sometimes alot more than others, sometimes not so much.

Bottom line, if you're playing this game while you're not enjoying it, it's only going to get more and more sour. Take a break, use your play time playing with something else and whenever you feel like turning the accounts back on everything is going to be right where it was. As far as "getting behind" don't even worry about it. As you and others have already suggested this game is super causal. It doesn't take much time invested to get back to the mainstream.

Korruptor

08-30-2009, 07:06 PM

Things I dislike:
Group penalties; This game punishes groups like no other I can think of from xp splits to the insane quest requirements.

I have to ask, what other games are you comparing it to? Seriously.

First, grouping in WoW is the most flexible I've ever seen. No other game have I seen the ability of a max level character group with lvl 1's and power-level them so easily. Most games have a level limit formula preventing the lower level group mates from gaining any exp when grouped with anyone vastly higher then them.

Second, what insane quest requirements? Try EQ, that had INSANE quest requirements comparitlivly speaking. WoW is easy street. Leveling? Most MMO's forced you to grind your way up. WoW was one of the first to let players quest most of their exp instead of grinding it.

Tasty

08-30-2009, 07:47 PM

I have to ask, what other games are you comparing it to? Seriously.

First, grouping in WoW is the most flexible I've ever seen. No other game have I seen the ability of a max level character group with lvl 1's and power-level them so easily. Most games have a level limit formula preventing the lower level group mates from gaining any exp when grouped with anyone vastly higher then them.

Second, what insane quest requirements? Try EQ, that had INSANE quest requirements comparitlivly speaking. WoW is easy street. Leveling? Most MMO's forced you to grind your way up. WoW was one of the first to let players quest most of their exp instead of grinding it.

I just finished collecting 100 naga scales for a quest :P

Korruptor

08-30-2009, 09:00 PM

I just finished collecting 100 naga scales for a quest :P

And your point?

It's actually 20 right? The fact you're choosing to do it on 5 separate toons is your problem to bare. The quest was designed for a solo character so 20 isn't that bad.

Imagine if the mobs that dropped them were tougher then the typical elites and the only way to collect them was through a full group with the typical crappy drop rate that was common in EQ. It's still a cake walk in comparison.

Go grind your levels and it's still easier then the older games.

Starbuck_Jones

08-30-2009, 09:58 PM

Group penalties: XP is the first. /5 and a 25% modifier means it takes 4 kills to = 1 kills xp if solo (with a 5man group). And no with 5 people you cannot kill things 5x as fast. I wrote a rant about this a while ago with a simple calculation off of the global cool down.

Game to compare it to. Asheron's Call. Past a certain level (50 I think) everyone was treated equal in grouping. Also xp was not divided up by how many people were in the group. 2 people I think each person got 75% of the xp. not 50%. And it capped at like 33% even if you kept adding more people to the group well past 3 people as wow divides xp by.

Fixes: Allow mentoring down like eq2. Increase the group xp bonus by 100% at least. Remove xp penalties past level 60 if grouped with higher toons.

Questing: Collection quests, need I say more. It makes no sense when asked for 5 doohickeys to make the summon item to kill the bad guy to need us to collect 25. yet only have one guy summon and kill the bad guy for everyone to get credit and the rest just deletes the summon item. All collection quest items should be group lootable. This is 100% a penalty to grouping.

Grouping should always be faster and the preferred method of playing, but its not. You are penalized by grouping until you level cap and the only way to advance after that is group content in instances.

mmcookies

08-30-2009, 10:26 PM

found a better place for it

Tasty

08-30-2009, 10:50 PM

And your point?

It's actually 20 right? The fact you're choosing to do it on 5 separate toons is your problem to bare. The quest was designed for a solo character so 20 isn't that bad.

Imagine if the mobs that dropped them were tougher then the typical elites and the only way to collect them was through a full group with the typical crappy drop rate that was common in EQ. It's still a cake walk in comparison.

Go grind your levels and it's still easier then the older games.

Jeeze ease up turbo.

You want to hear my real complaints about wow? I don't have any.

Ughmahedhurtz

08-31-2009, 12:19 AM

It's interesting to read the complaints here versus what you see on the official boards. There, you'd think the sky was falling. Here, it's mostly tweaks or things that we're OK with working around. :P

Starbuck_Jones

08-31-2009, 01:24 AM

I think what some of it is, as multi-boxers we see the whole group dynamic from a single point of view. Things like collection quests are painfully obvious to us, where if it were a group of 5 people doing the same thing independently, its not as obvious that they picked up their 25th drop. And the opposite is true. We have difficulty with some group content as it was clearly designed with everyone doing their own thing like safety dance, vehicle combat, and don't stand in the fire etc. Where individual players its never a concern.

Also when things change that make all the people on the official forums QQ. We blow it off, big deal the coefficient of chain lightning is lowered. I still blast them out in quads.

Bigfish

08-31-2009, 01:34 AM

Collection quests where 1 kill equals one drop don't bother me that much. It takes only a little big longer to plow through 50 mobs than to plow through 10. What gets really annoying is clearing a place out and having to wait on respawns, or hunting down mobs that pop a fair distance apart.

Jooch

08-31-2009, 12:09 PM

Collection quests, if you kill a mob that drops the quest item it drops for every party member would be awesome.

Armor dyes would be kinda cool too

ForgottenMemorie

08-31-2009, 12:16 PM

Yah, whiners and trolls are the lowest forms of life.

My ribs actually hurt from laughing so hard. Ty.

HTeam

08-31-2009, 12:35 PM

The top of my list right now for something I like about WoW compared to WAR and any game touched by EA. No startup screens! WAR has 3 splash screens, then a video to escape through and another WAR logo screen that zooms into focus. Gone are the days of DAoC where I could select server and character and jump straight to loading in game.

WoW doesn't allow jumping directly to a character (or even directly to account on bnet), but it doesn't throw up advertising for companies I'm already patronizing. I don't mind crashing out of game, it happens, but to crash out and take all that extra time to get back in because I'm forced to click through a series of splashscreens is just infuriating.

I mention WAR specifically, but it goes for all EA games and many other publishers as well. Oh, and don't make me put the CD in either.