The Live Developer Patch 8.1 Q&A just concluded, here’s the summary of new information that was shared:
- The lack of cross factions communication is intended as a barrier between the factions. However they have no issue with consented cross faction communication. They’re preparing a hotfix in which a new item will become available – the Elixir of Tongues. This will allow you to understand players of the opposite faction.
- Mythic+ keys can no longer be deleted because it used to be like that in Legion. At the start of BfA it was hotfixed to be able to be deleted because players got a high level key in the first week of mythic+. In addition to that, by the deleting becoming possible a bunch of other bugs emerged. They want players to run different dungeons and be in the situation that players were in Legion in when it came to mythic+.
- Likely at the beginning of next week a list of changes to trash abilities in dungeons will come out. In Legion a lot of analytics were focussed on boss encounters, but now they also have a lot more data on trash encounters. This means they can look at where adjustments have to be made in dungeons.
- The new raid has not opened because cutting Uldir short is not something they want to do. It has only been open for 3 months.
- Roughly every 2,5 weeks you’ll have earned enough Titan Residuum to buy an azerite armor piece equal to the mythic+ level you have been doing.
- Going up each level of azerite gear (370 -> 385 -> 400 -> 415), it’ll take 3 times as much Titan Residuum to buy a piece. The weekly mythic+ chest will also give 3x as much residuum when you clear a mythic+10 key vs mythic+7 key.
- They have plans to make the Heart of Azeroth more engaging. The Magni and azerite plot was at first a B plot for BfA. Moving forward it will become more important. As a system, they know they have to make the azerite system a lot deeper. The system works best when you have goals to achieve. On the other hand, it feels bad when you get a new item and you can’t use the bonuses yet. From rise of Azshara and beyond the azerite gear will have all the bonuses unlocked. The meaning of Heart of Azeroth level will shift to having effect on what the heart means for you.
- When seasons 2 starts on january 23rd, the darkshore warfront will award higher (+15) item level rewards. Not everything will scale up when a new season starts (like Uldir). World quest rewards will have their maximum item level increased.
- When heroic warfronts come in patch 8.2 both warfronts will be relevant for the players.
- War mode phasing is region wide, not on a per server basis.
- The rewards from Island Expeditions will likely become more targetable as the expansion progresses but they have nothing to share for now.
- In season 2 once you earn the season mount the bar will reset and you’ll be able to obtain Vicious Saddles.
- In early January there will be another Q&A focused on story and lore.