The Queue: 100 days to Halloween

Yes, believe it or not, today means we’re officially 100 days away from Halloween! …but we’re probably not going to have most of the usual shenanigans this year, which is a mega bummer. Oh well, I’ll still do my best to celebrate the spooOoOo0ky season when the time comes.

Until then, how about we Queue?

I haven’t been running enough to say for certain, but I’ve seen others say they’re having issues. My go-to suggestion is to check your bank to make sure you didn’t actually stash it last time TWing was around. It’s an easy thing to do and forget about!

I think we’ll still see a mix of long-term announcements and “surprise!” announcements, but I definitely think we’re trending toward the latter. Frankly, unless you’re going to publicly test a game, it’s so much safer for companies to announce a title and release it shortly after. There’s not a whole lot of room for disappointment in that kind of window — if you’re showing something off, it’s probably going to be in the final game.

My only real stake here isn’t so much about planning — Yogg knows I don’t have much free time to plan anyway — but more so about an interest in the development process. I love seeing games take shape over time, and it’s fun to see developers provide updates! But I’m also aware that sort of thing poses a much bigger risk than the payoff is usually worth.

I mean, it’s Drustvar. That place is one of my favorite zones in the whole game.

But if we ignore Drustvar, I’d have to say either Shadowmoon Valley (WOD) or Spires of Arak. Honestly, for all its problems, I think Warlords had the largest concentration of zones I love. Some of that’s because of aesthetics and not so much story, but still. Warlords zones kick some real butt.

Much as I love my boy the Lich King, I gotta give this one to Aggramar. Tasty Snack’s* knockback is still painful to think about.

*Taeshalach

I do! But that’s not because of COVID or anything. I just like the idea of having more transmog options.

That said, we do have the Vile Fumigator’s Mask and several in the style of the Shadoweave Mask. I’d love to see more masks, though. Go crazy with ’em, Blizz!

Edit: LuotianX actually meant things like a Zorro mask, to which I also emphatically say, “Yes!”

Man, at this point, I honestly have no idea. Blizz manages to simultaneously create expansions that pick up threads we’ve already seen and that feel totally out of left field. Granted, Shadowlands was a bit more predictable than previous expansions, but still.

My guess? There’s more to the Arbiter — who looks strangely like a Naaru — than we realize, and 10.0 will take us in a place where we fight forces of the Light. Calia may or may not be involved, and I’m not entirely sure how much control she’ll have over her actions. I don’t trust the way Saa’ra resurrected her, and I’m waiting to find out she’s some sort of sleeper agent, waiting to be activated.

Side note: I just finished editing Red’s piece on this, though, so my view may be colored a bit by that…

That’s not a question, but I do love Toenail. I still think the swamp Murloc is cooler, but I give Blizz props for still managing to create all-around weirdo creations like Toenail.

Stay up too late, don’t get enough done during the day, and always wish you had more free time. And if we’re picking lives, definitely go for someone who’s rich and lives on a private island or something. Mitch life isn’t bad by any means, but it’s far from the best life out there.

And on that fun note, we’re done! Please excuse me while I count down the days until Halloween. Also please leave Liz questions.

Toodles!