Hope you have a mage

[crowdx]

What is the point in Dalaran in the expansion with all the portal gone, or even shat for that matter (it was already dead).
How do they intend to keep these hubs alive? seems such a waste
As I posted in another thread here, we basically just got 2 free levels from 71 - 80, so with BoA gear it is 4 levels less, that is HUGE to us boxers, no more collection quests

[Tonuss]

Boylston is right, though (and I believe that this was Blizzard's desire as well)-- removing the portals moves the server populations back into the old world cities and reduces the lag that you get by jamming everyone into a single rest stop. Lag in Dalaran was even worse than it ever was in Shattrath, IMO. Even better, most people will congregate in Orgrimmar and Stormwind, with Undercity and Ironforge likely to be the next most crowded. That leaves us with two cities that will likely be relatively empty and lag-free.

Once you're 85 and done questing, it won't matter where you're set up anyway, most of the tools (LFD, BG, etc) have auto-teleport options.

[BrothelMeister]

What home city will the Troll and Goblin have? I'm gonna guess Orgrimmar, which will still make that city awful.

I'll probably start setting Hearth to Undercity since that'll be closest to Stormwind, and Tol'Barad, which should be where all the action is anyway

[Ualaa]

Blizzard wants 95% of play to occur at maximum level, in whatever areas are presented from the current expansion. With portals to everywhere in Shatt/Dal, a large percentage of players would be bound there, so they can easily travel each capital city, plus CoT.

With the removal of the portals, Shatt/Dal is much less convenient than SW/IF or Ogr. So the play is once more moved back to where the current stuff is, as Blizzard wants.

The only real reasons for the portals, was for training in the old world.. which was a little bit of a time sink, not much but still so. With the changes to spell ranks, we need to visit trainers much less frequently, and can even check when we next need a visit for training. Placing trainers in Shatt/Dal, allows us the infrequent training -- when we need it, and will speed up that phase of the leveling process.

[Boylston]

The trainers replacing portals in Shatt/Dal makes these places VERY attractive hearthstone homes for players who are leveling up through the appropriate level zones. You will spend time in Shatt as you level through BC content as it will be a convenient hub for flightmaster transportation and will be the place you hit once you need a trainer. (Same with Dalaran as people go from 68-78).

[daviddoran]

the portals were too convenient, and the source of all the lag in dalaran, cause you pretty much HAD to hearth there if you ever wanted to get to the other content areas. Now they are simply hearthstone locations for people leveling through the content near that zone, and not everyone else.

But it definately will make mages more sought after. Glad I have one

[Tin]

Honestly, this is great for us. Here's why:

Easy, all-city, portal access in Dalaran/Shattrath for the last two expansions caused a situation where the entire playerbase congregated to the same city. This just creates lag and congestion for people, magnified even more by multi-boxing.

I think their approach is going to be to allow the player base to disperse among capital cities more evenly. Tools like the LFDungeon tool, BG queues, and summoning stones mean that you don't need to have everyone's home hearthstone site be conveniently located to PvE/PvP end-game activities.

Pick a town based off flavor and other convenience factors, and don't worry about having to hearth with 99% of the server population. Win for boxers, IMO!!

I lag more in SW and IF than dala and the first place is a pain in the A.. to get around in.

How would that look in cata. - realy hope the have optimite the citys.

[Owltoid]

I lag more in SW and IF than dala and the first place is a pain in the A.. to get around in.

How would that look in cata. - realy hope the have optimite the citys.

I'm not sure how it's possible that you lag more in SW and IF than Dalaran. Anyone else have this experience?

[Velassra]

"Experience required to gain levels 71 through 80 is being reduced by 20%"

OMG, this is awesome!

I'll agree, I just can't get around to finishing my shaman team to 80; I hated the 70-80, imo, takes way to long. (Although I have more 80's than I ever had 70's at TBC.) This, w/ the 10% on the shoulders will help alot. Like my Paladin, Priest and Warlock at the launch of WoTLK, they'll get to level cap, just in time for an expansion lol.

[Kalyse]

When is this patch?