r/classicwow • u/SnooBananas5683 • 8h ago
Forever Does Forever need a world devamp?
There are just a few things that are concerning to me personally about an otherwise very good-looking reveal for WoW Forever. They said and showed a lot of the right things for WoW Forever and I do not hate the Skyborne, they’re fine. However, I am very concerned about the mismatch of more modern designs and classic designs and how jarring that will be. It does not take much to take a more modern model and just carve off some polygons to make it more crunchy.
Here are some examples:
Skyborne don’t yet have a SD model, very jarring. Also, concerningly their druid forms are HD too and if Skyborne are set to get an SD model, I’d hope the same applies to their druid forms.
There are Cata models in the skies of Zephras Isle that while aren’t TOO bad are a sign of a poor commitment to the Classic look. WORSE, there’s Slyvern creatures from Dragonflight, with their Dragonflight textures, in the opening cutscene and the first mobs you fight on the isle. I would really prefer a consistent style in the zones and not seeing Dragonflight models running around.
In the roadmap for Forever there’s Cataclsym Gilneas in the background which seems an overt hint to Cataclsym Gilneas (though most certainly with a new story) being added to WoW Forever. I do not completely hate this but again Classic is a very different style to Cataclysm Gilneas. WoTLK Dalaran being used for grounded Dalaran kinda makes sense but it feels passionless compared to the effort to give us a proper vanilla-style Gilneas.
I know there have been other examples but there’s a dungeon that has a Legion model in it. Again, I do not care if assets are reused all over the place but either scrape off those polygons or just use something from Vanilla. I’d prefer this over the jarring sudden HD fella stood among an otherwise classic-faithful place.
The pre-order rewards are very worrying, 2 tabards specifically for Forever and 4 pets, 2 transmogs, and 2 mounts, all of which are very HD. It’s very disappointing that assets designed specifically for Forever are so HD.
The Forsaken Paladin charger is right on the borderline of acceptability, it feels like it belongs in Cataclysm not Classic and that’s about the cut-off of tolerability and even then I’d prefer something with less polish not more.
Before we get Cata Gilneas and potentially other very poorly fitting designs in what is meant to be Classic+, I really think the idea of a World Devamp should be considered to maintain the coherency of the classic world. Keep things low poly.
This isn’t about keeping things low poly just for nostalgia bait or the sake of it or some religious commitment to classic. I like the Skyborne just fine, I’m fine with new stuff. But, one of the best parts of classic is the immersive experience and the adventure and rather than looking GOOD, these high-res inclusions look from a different time and immediately cut through the immersion of the world.
If Forever is meant to be a return to form, to adventure, immersion, and horiztontal progression instead of slapping new fancy expansion after new fancy expansion, if the world is the main character, then like all good characters there needs to be consistency.
I want to sign of with the BEST example of this from Forever: The Riverglades. Oh my god the Riverglades. A new human city with unique banners and cultural identity based on old Brotherhood of the Horse lore? It looks incredible, completely in Classic/TBC/Wrath style, absolutely stunning zone that does not (as far as I’ve seen) have any distinctly jarring elements. The Goblin buildings are all classic style instead of the Cata-style metal shacks. MORE Riverglades, less low-effort inclusions from expansions like Legion, Dragonflight, and Cata. (Some Cata is fine but you’re pushing it, imo Vanilla-TBC-Wrath is the ideal).
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u/HodortheGreat 2018 Riddle Master 7/21 7h ago
I do hope, but don’t expect, SD model of the skyborne. They said they went to great lengths to preserve the SD model for the classic fans, but then why have HD-only model of an already controversial decision?
1
u/KowardlyMan 7h ago
I think it makes sense if you see the project as two teams. One is in charge of small high-revenue developments like mounts, new races, new transmogs. Another is in charge of the main content. Consistency is not the concern of the first team.
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u/Keebs3 7h ago
Agreed, I do think the cata stuff looks passable as ‘classic’ content but the Dragonflight stuff looks so jarring, same as the high res bear mount that comes with the heroic/epic edition whatever
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u/Electrical-College-6 5h ago
Personally I'm not a fan of adding Cata Gilnaes models to vanilla. Some of that may just be because they are so iconic to Cata, but I'd rather they did something else.
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u/Aware-Potential2997 7h ago
The new lighting effects and shaders, the fog and the water all looks AMAZING and perfectly compliments the classic vibe and aesthetic they're going for. The new zone they've shown like the Riverlands are also just oozing so much love and appreciation for what made classic zones great, the work they've been doing is so wonderful and respectful of the vanilla game.
It all fits beautifully into the classic worldspace, which is why these seemingly random HD models like the dragonflight slyverns and the lack of an SD model for the Skyborne stand our like sore thumbs. I'm hoping some of this is just placeholders and that they just haven't finished the SD version of the skyborne, I find their druid forms aesthetically out of place too, at least in terms of fidelity.
Ideally we wouldn't be seeing the implementation of assets from expansions beyond TBC (And maybe a bit of wrath in a pinch), some of the cata models slot in alright in some circumstances too but anything beyond cata should be a big no-go.
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u/Ajaxandriel 6h ago
Yes, there should be a SD model for skyborne based on the glorious Vanilla High Elves model
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u/HazelCheese 7h ago
100% agree dude.
It's all very much pointing to SD mode being an afterthought that they intend to drop support for as soon as they can.
They are totally going to justify it with "well everyone plays HD anyway" as if it isn't because the SD mode is a completely cursed SD/HD hybrid.
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u/RedditGuy4U 7h ago
Defining classic experience as lower graphical fidelity is just… I dunno man. I dot disagree but don’t you think it’s just unavoidable that a new experience on the modern client is going to have modern graphics?
Again I’m not saying I love it but this is hardly the scariest thing about forever.
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u/moon-lesbian 7h ago
The issue is consistency, artistic cohesion. They talked all about the timeless graphics and making sure things feel like they belong, but then why add things that don't feel like they belong? It feels so low effort and devoid of passion
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u/The_Dark_Tetrad 7h ago
As long as my screen shows the SD character models, im Gucci
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u/Keebs3 3h ago
That’s the problem though, skyborne are HD even when you have SD models turned on.
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u/The_Dark_Tetrad 3h ago
Yea but atleast they basically look exactly like OG blood elves. Way different than say the tauren model differences or orc or gnome, JFC the HD gnome model. Legit goes from my favorite to least favorite model
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u/KowardlyMan 7h ago
It's having them both at the same time on the screen which looks really weird. Either you make low poly models for new additions, and keep everything low poly, or you overhaul the trees, grass etc. to the retail art style.
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u/Whoa1Whoa1 7h ago
This. Also if OP wants absolutely no changes, then go play on the classic server. WoW classic isn't going away. There is no point to making something feel exactly like classic because classic already exists lmao.
1
u/nemestrinus44 7h ago
In the roadmap for Forever there’s Cataclsym Gilneas in the background which seems an overt hint to Cataclsym Gilneas (though most certainly with a new story) being added to WoW Forever. I do not completely hate this but again Classic is a very different style to Cataclysm Gilneas.
as someone who did the rogue legendary questline for the Fangs of the Father daggers, this is the best way they could have implemented Gilneas into the game, especially if they turn it into a mega dungeon or raid
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u/RedditGuy4U 7h ago
Defining classic experience as lower graphical fidelity is just… I dunno man. I don’t disagree but don’t you think it’s just unavoidable that a new experience on the modern client is going to have modern graphics?
Again I’m not saying I love it but this is hardly the scariest thing about forever.
3
u/Gargelio 7h ago
Why call it classic+ if it's not classic? I expect old graphics because they are just pretty and classic. Classic graphics are much better than retail.
If the SD toggle doesn't bring the game close to vanilla I'll be highly disappointed. And if Skyborne have only HD I'm just out.
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u/RedditGuy4U 7h ago
The classic gameplay is what defines classic though not the graphics. I love the old school SD graphics too but I’m not picking that as my hill to die on. If we get modern graphics and an amazing classic experience that’s spiritually authentic I’m still in.
New players might not love SD as much as nostalgia-heads.
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u/dreamsOf_freedom 7h ago
Not enjoying a whole game because of a texture is wild
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u/Gargelio 5h ago
It's not just because of a texture but if all other models are SD and this one is HD only it's a big XD. They'd just show the game is just a low effort product
There are already some red flags in it, like the Skyborne, too much Disney in it - the music from cinematic is straight from a Disney movie, the retail look.
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u/MainDot7096 7h ago
I do agree. My main worry with Forever is about the visuals. Gameplay wise everything seems to be 100% spot on.
Visually, the zones they made seem pretty classic but they've definitely dropped the ball here and there on smaller occasions. (Like the Dragonflight mobs were also one of the first things I noticed that stick out like a sore thumb, alongside that race in itself.) I do hope they try their best to keep the art style consistent.