What I see is a challenge to Blizzard, what does a developer do with a game that can't die but also can't get too big in case it alienates it's perspective audience.
The questions Blizzard need to answer are:
What is the final level cap, what do players do once that cap has been reached?
How many races can be added before the number of choices become a barrier to entry for new players?
How many classes can there be before each one starts to feel too similar to the next?
Do we need any more Professions?
As we all know Blizzard will take their sweet time deciding these key questions and no doubt are still unsure on some if not all of these at this very time, but I non the less will take the predictive dip and share my thoughts on what might be in the future of the World...of Warcraft.
The final level cap will be 100. I am sure of this for one strong reason and one meaningless one. Meaninglessly 100 just 'feels' right, feels clean and WoWish. Meaningfully 100 is a lot of levels but not too many that it seem you could never make it to the cpa if you are to start a level 1 knowing that is where the cap is. This matches in the actual content too as it is possible to run through vanilla (and scorched vanilla) in a suitable amount of time to learn a lot of your classes skills but short enough that you should never sit in one zone or instance for too long. With the tweaks of Cataclysm and progressively improving content expansion to expansion a player could be compelled to play through to 100 relatively easily but any more would feel like opening a whole new can of worms which could feel like too much for a new player, if you can now get to 105 there is nothing stopping Blizzard going all the way to 150 and then 200 and god know's where it could end. In that future only the hardcore will care any more and thus we will only see it if Blizz give up on attracting new customers (which could happen).
Not many races seem all too obvious choices any more (although some could have said that about Worgen). I see them doing this again but I don't feel confident predicting where they will go. I can see them introducing a robot/cyborg type dude, maybe an ancient's golem style dude also Ogres seem a long shot but if Trolls were not in the game from day one they would seem unlikely seeing as we are killing them an awful lot in WoW, so it could happen, I'd imagine they would look pretty different from the current live Orges. A Lizardman type race or even Murlocs are possible. I see us getting 4-6 more races in the life of WoW, could be more but I'm not sure of it.
15 in total 5 more. This is more what I want than what I expect. However I do know exactly what I think the next class will be: the Monk. He will have at least one healing spec and melee dps spec. My bet is for a melee healer spec and a traditional ranged healer spec too. His melee spec would gain power from hitting mobs, he would do little actual damage but would debuff the mobs in many ways he would use few direct healing moves somewhat in the vain of the Disc Priest as an alternative healer. He would have a few ways to avoid and free himself from interrupts and silencing that can result from running into melee range. I could see a possible evasion tanking spec also but I think they will go for the double healing spec thing. He'll wear either mail or leather and dual wield daggers, fist weapons and use staves.
Oh my, Professions. I have to admit to not seeing too many routes left to go with these, perhaps just leave it for the most part from here onwards obviously expanding on the current ones each expansion.
Well there you go, my thoughts and predictions. Of course I will be completely wrong on a few accounts but what fun a prediction be if you knew you were right, none at all!
Wha t do you think, is the Monk incoming or am I completely off, do you think he'll come but in a very different form? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Max
