The Hardcore Update: Inferno Mode

[Akalix]

Greetings! Today we are pleased to announce our Hardcore Update! This update will come in two parts.

Part One, Coming on June 16th:

Inferno Mode

• Otherwise known as HC60, the long awaited max-level continuation of the Hardcore challenge! This gamemode can be taken by current or future Hardcore characters. Upon reaching level 55, an attunement questline will be unlocked which allows players to opt-in to Inferno Mode. Upon completion of the questline, players will gain a [Inferno] effect, allowing them to continue their Hardcore challenge at max level, and remain part of the Hardcore ecosystem.

Hardcore Guildbanks

• Players with the [Inferno] gamemode will now be able to purchase and access Guild Bank tabs. Hardcore players without [Inferno] gamemode will still be unable to access Guild Banks.

Part Two, Coming in 1.17:

[Hardcore] Channel

• All Hardcore characters are now added to the [Hardcore] world channel by default.

• With this change, we will be retiring the <Still Alive> guild upon release.

• With the retiring of the guild, [Still Alive] will become the title given to all Hardcore players to distinguish them. It will be possible to hide this title.

New Titles

• Still Alive - Title for all those who are in the Hardcore or Inferno gamemodes.

• Vanquisher of the Flames - Hardcore Ragnaros Kill

• Vanquisher of the Dragons - Hardcore Nefarian Kill

• Vanquisher of the Qiraji - Hardcore C'Thun Kill

• Vanquisher of the Scourge - Hardcore Kel'Thuzad Kill

• Ascended Champion - The deal is done, penned in blood. Did you really think you'd be able to back out now?

[Akalix]

If you prefer to watch rather than read, check out the video by everyone's favorite News Orc, Vrograg!

[Olivine]

Wasn't Challenger Mode a thing already albeit unofficial? Doesn't seem much of an update to me >_>

[Vikare]

The moment you hit 60 as hardcore you become immortal and join normal players. The first change here lets you remain mortal. Previous to this update you could only remain hardcore if you locked yourself at 59.

[Akalix]

Wasn't Challenger Mode a thing already albeit unofficial? Doesn't seem much of an update to me >_>

There is a community which does content at 59. However, we are expanding this to allow players to continue their journey in a Death=Delete adventure further into max level content.

[Jessienyan]

With this change, we will be retiring the <Still Alive> guild upon release.

My one issue with this change is it makes finding people for dungeon groups almost impossible. A lot of players don't have the HC chat open, so the best way to find them is to do "/who g-alive". Without a guild to identify HC players this is no longer an option.

[Shroudedsoul]

Good luck to those that do this. I rather take the earned immortality when I can.

[Akalix]

With this change, we will be retiring the <Still Alive> guild upon release.

My one issue with this change is it makes finding people for dungeon groups almost impossible. A lot of players don't have the HC chat open, so the best way to find them is to do "/who g-alive". Without a guild to identify HC players this is no longer an option.

This will be the function of the [Hardcore] channel, which all Hardcores will be added to by default.

[Spoollyger]

Pretty lame to be honest, seeing someone was in <StillAlive> was the only way to know if they were an HC character. Now we will never know, what a stupid change.

[Ibux]

shouldn't Conqueror of the frozen have been named Conqueror of Death?

[Endlessfishing]

It might be a stupid question, but does death in Challenger Mode PvP count as death?

[Jessienyan]

With this change, we will be retiring the <Still Alive> guild upon release.

My one issue with this change is it makes finding people for dungeon groups almost impossible. A lot of players don't have the HC chat open, so the best way to find them is to do "/who g-alive". Without a guild to identify HC players this is no longer an option.

This will be the function of the [Hardcore] channel, which all Hardcores will be added to by default.

People will just leave/mute the HC channel the same as they did with the guild chat. But not we have no way of identifying who is HC, either in open world or when looking for dungeon groups

[Endlessfishing]

Maybe a stupid question, but in Challenger Mode PvP zones (warsong gulch) does death count as death?

[Thecreth]

No more <Still Alive> ? That's really a shame.

[Zenmo]

A new indicator will be added to show that players are participating in the Hardcore Gamemode.

Can you read?

[Nerasw]

My one issue with this change is it makes finding people for dungeon groups almost impossible. A lot of players don't have the HC chat open, so the best way to find them is to do "/who g-alive". Without a guild to identify HC players this is no longer an option.

This will be the function of the [Hardcore] channel, which all Hardcores will be added to by default.

People will just leave/mute the HC channel the same as they did with the guild chat. But not we have no way of identifying who is HC, either in open world or when looking for dungeon groups

Pretty lame to be honest, seeing someone was in <StillAlive> was the only way to know if they were an HC character. Now we will never know, what a stupid change.

With this change, we will be retiring the <Still Alive> guild upon release.

My one issue with this change is it makes finding people for dungeon groups almost impossible. A lot of players don't have the HC chat open, so the best way to find them is to do "/who g-alive". Without a guild to identify HC players this is no longer an option.

are you all blind? Actually nice change, nothing BOUND us to 1 guild so we can now live in our own societies and still be able to form groups/trade with all of the hc, not only those who can handle SA's chat

• All Hardcore characters are now added to the [Hardcore] world channel by default.

• With this change, we will be retiring the <Still Alive> guild upon release. A new indicator will be added to show that players are participating in the Hardcore Gamemode.

[Ikillkings]

awesome! I can't wait to die at 60 :D

[Eiszahn]

I really dont like that the standard HC guild <Still Alive> will be retired...
Its always cool to run around and see others with the same tag and for those that dont leave the guild its easy to be recognised as hc by randos too.

Noone was forced to stay there but removing the option to be there i find weird.

[Clarithium]

I really dont like that the standard HC guild <Still Alive> will be retired...
Its always cool to run around and see others with the same tag and for those that dont leave the guild its easy to be recognised as hc by randos too.

Noone was forced to stay there but removing the option to be there i find weird.

there's literally a new marker that shows who is HC in place of the guild. do people not read?

[Lightbloom]

I know it has been said that there is an indicator that someone is participating in the hardcore challenge. But removing the <Still Alive> guild completely feel weird to me. Like said, people were not forced to stay in the guild and ues sometimes guidchat was weird or even toxic, but I got a lot of useful info there too and it is nice to see others in the world with the guildname.

[Xerilin]

If we have to have hc, this sounds like a good change. Being able to tell right away whether somebody is hc or not, is a plus. This way, people can play in whatever guild they like and still find hc groups. Also, people have been waiting for 60 hc. Now they got it. Let the dying begin!

[Thyx]

I'd really like to see the 1% down all of Nax in hardcore... IMO Won't happen.

[Akalix]

It might be a stupid question, but does death in Challenger Mode PvP count as death?

Yes -- Challenger is treated as an extension of the Hardcore gamemode, meaning any death = done.

[Ingameacc12345]

[Gladeshadow]

I really dont like that the standard HC guild <Still Alive> will be retired...
Its always cool to run around and see others with the same tag and for those that dont leave the guild its easy to be recognised as hc by randos too.

Noone was forced to stay there but removing the option to be there i find weird.

there's literally a new marker that shows who is HC in place of the guild. do people not read?

Time for the favorite question! Do you read?

The person quite clearly explained that some people do not want to be marked as hardcore. They previously did this by leaving Still Alive. The announcement said there will be a new HC marker but never specified if their is a way to remove said marker.

I generally stay in HC. Just explaining the commenter’s concern since someone didn’t read.

[Malutor93]

I hope the server will still remain, as absolutely no death appeals.. Otherwise expect lots of appeals from 60 lvls dying to random server laggs/idiots in raid XD

[Randomlyryan]

No more <Still Alive> ?

No thanks, bad change. Full pass.

[Edouchan]

Can we please look into putting HC players on a different world from non-hc. The fact we cant group together means that were always compereing for quests and resources, its literally the sane ganeolay experience as being on a server full of bots.

[Akalix]

I hope the server will still remain, as absolutely no death appeals.. Otherwise expect lots of appeals from 60 lvls dying to random server laggs/idiots in raid XD

We do not plan to add appeals. Death = Death.

[Akalix]

Can we please look into putting HC players on a different world from non-hc. The fact we cant group together means that were always compereing for quests and resources, its literally the sane ganeolay experience as being on a server full of bots.

Unfortunately, we are not planning to open another realm currently, as our philosophy is being a warm, welcoming home for people to play at their own pace, and to come back to later if you opt to take a break.

[Akalix]

No more <Still Alive> ?

No thanks, bad change. Full pass.

Unfortunately, <Still Alive> causes quite a few problems.

1. GMs need to be in multiple public Guilds at the same time to moderate them. This is not possible.
2. Lack of community building (Players are actively discouraged from joining guilds with friends, as they need <Still Alive> to access the HC ecosystem for groups and trades)
3. Players who /gquit at level 1 from spam immediately lose all access to groups and trades.

List goes on, but the community damage one is the biggest issue. Guilds are, as a system, intended to be groups of people who want to play together and socialize with eachother. A guild of 10,000 people is very departed from this concept.

Folks will still be able to find groups easily with the [Hardcore] channel, they just now have the added ability to seek out meaningful community without being punished for it.

[Edouchan]

Can we please look into putting HC players on a different world from non-hc. The fact we cant group together means that were always compereing for quests and resources, its literally the sane ganeolay experience as being on a server full of bots.

Unfortunately, we are not planning to open another realm currently, as our philosophy is being a warm, welcoming home for people to play at their own pace, and to come back to later if you opt to take a break.

Is there nothing that can be done to eleviate the annoyance? Like if HC players tag a mob, let the non HC get quest progress if they get a hit. There seems to be a lot of aggression towards eachother because of how it stands currently

[Malutor93]

Can we please look into putting HC players on a different world from non-hc. The fact we cant group together means that were always compereing for quests and resources, its literally the sane ganeolay experience as being on a server full of bots.

Unfortunately, we are not planning to open another realm currently, as our philosophy is being a warm, welcoming home for people to play at their own pace, and to come back to later if you opt to take a break.

Is there nothing that can be done to eleviate the annoyance? Like if HC players tag a mob, let the non HC get quest progress if they get a hit. There seems to be a lot of aggression towards eachother because of how it stands currently

Why would HC get such privilege over normal players? That sounds disgustingly unfair.

[Nokidding]

Still Alive was an absolute shitshow with the current population.

It's the far better solution to have a global Hardcore chat where everyone (from all guilds) who is hardcore is joining.

And like it was announced there will be some indicator of a hardcore char, so you WILL know if someone is hardcore when you see them.

All in all, this is a big W for turtle.

[Ugoboom]

Before:
Hardcores get their own chat, but people who leave the guild lose this chat
Many hcs were in still alive, but quite a lot were not. There is no way to tell definiteively who is and isn't.

After:
Hardcores get their own chat and never lose access
You will always be able to tell who is a HC and who isn't with the new marking.

The only loss is yeah, this new tag needs to be searchable with /who. something like /who m-hc 40-45 for example.