> So Yog + 0, Sinestra and Ra-den worked, for example, and a highest difficulty also works but having raiding as a whole exclusive before a massive grind is no longer acceptable.
You're quite right it's not acceptable but that doesn't stop Blizzard from stubbornly insisting on time-gated mechanics, over and over again.
I tried my best to get into Shadowlands' end-game. Got extremely bored around Korthia and then Zereth Mortis and couldn't even finish their story lines; I almost fell asleep on the keyboard about a month ago and I figured "eff this, not doing it" and just left. This was my first time playing for more than a month ever since mid-Legion (I usually visit each expansion briefly ever since Pandaria but the game just doesn't appeal to me anymore, and hasn't done so for a long time).
> But I sure as hell am not going to finance them with my sub.
Same thought. I played on and off for 3 months, renewed it for 2 more months but I barely even get in now (just grinding rested bonus leveling all my alts 2 times a week, and that turned out to be hugely more interesting and fun). I'll just let the sub lapse. The next expansion doesn't look at all enticing either.
> But Blizz and I have different goals anyway. They want me to stay subbed. I want to complete certain content on a certain difficulty (one below the highest) and then quit
The funny thing is, me and many others have zero problems paying for WoW like it's cable TV and do so forever. But they have mercilessly and meticulously removed anything and everything I found fun in the game and made it tailored to no-lifers and streamers that actually make money out of playing. As you said, I can't compete with them -- but even if I had the time and energy I am still 99% sure I wouldn't have the desire to do so.
So yeah, it's not about the money, it's about sending a message, as the Joker said in "The Black Knight". I can buy 2 years of subscription right now and won't feel it in my monthly balance. But... I'll let my sub lapse to signal that the current state of the game is not okay with me.
You're quite right it's not acceptable but that doesn't stop Blizzard from stubbornly insisting on time-gated mechanics, over and over again.
I tried my best to get into Shadowlands' end-game. Got extremely bored around Korthia and then Zereth Mortis and couldn't even finish their story lines; I almost fell asleep on the keyboard about a month ago and I figured "eff this, not doing it" and just left. This was my first time playing for more than a month ever since mid-Legion (I usually visit each expansion briefly ever since Pandaria but the game just doesn't appeal to me anymore, and hasn't done so for a long time).
> But I sure as hell am not going to finance them with my sub.
Same thought. I played on and off for 3 months, renewed it for 2 more months but I barely even get in now (just grinding rested bonus leveling all my alts 2 times a week, and that turned out to be hugely more interesting and fun). I'll just let the sub lapse. The next expansion doesn't look at all enticing either.
> But Blizz and I have different goals anyway. They want me to stay subbed. I want to complete certain content on a certain difficulty (one below the highest) and then quit
The funny thing is, me and many others have zero problems paying for WoW like it's cable TV and do so forever. But they have mercilessly and meticulously removed anything and everything I found fun in the game and made it tailored to no-lifers and streamers that actually make money out of playing. As you said, I can't compete with them -- but even if I had the time and energy I am still 99% sure I wouldn't have the desire to do so.
So yeah, it's not about the money, it's about sending a message, as the Joker said in "The Black Knight". I can buy 2 years of subscription right now and won't feel it in my monthly balance. But... I'll let my sub lapse to signal that the current state of the game is not okay with me.