World of Warcraft has given players a sneak peek into an exciting new feature involving Warbands, where fans may soon be able to bring their alts to life in Follower Dungeons. This innovation could allow players to navigate dungeons alongside AI versions of their beloved World of Warcraft characters.
The alpha testing phase for World of Warcraft: The War Within has commenced, marking a significant step towards its official launch. To celebrate this milestone, World of Warcraft hosted a special media event in London, which saw the participation of numerous content creators, including renowned WoW enthusiasts Taliesin and Evitel.
During the event, Taliesin shared an intriguing encounter with Holly Longdale, the executive producer of World of Warcraft. In a podcast at the 2:03:00 mark, Taliesin recounted how Longdale engaged him while he was selecting his character for the new Warbands in World of Warcraft. She playfully suggested, 'Wouldn't it be amazing if those were the characters you could take on your dungeon adventures?' After receiving a positive response from Taliesin, Longdale cryptically remarked 'Hmm...' before walking away. Although not a confirmation, this impromptu exchange strongly hints at World of Warcraft possibly developing or contemplating such a feature.
WoW Teases AI-Controlled Alts in Follower Dungeons
Follower Dungeons, a recent addition to World of Warcraft in the Dragonflight update, enable players to explore specific dungeons alongside AI companions, providing opportunities to experiment with different roles, leisurely progress through dungeons, or enjoy solo play. In The War Within, World of Warcraft is incorporating certain dungeons into the main storyline, thanks to the introduction of Follower Dungeons.
Currently, the NPCs in Follower Dungeons are characters from the Exile’s Reach starting experience introduced in Shadowlands by World of Warcraft. However, the game developers are exploring ways to allow players to team up with key lore characters in diverse dungeons when it fits the narrative. The prospect of assembling dungeon parties with one's roster of characters excites many fans, who unanimously agree that embarking on adventures with their alts would be fantastic.
The innovative Warbands system is poised to transform the World of Warcraft gaming experience. Alongside an enhanced character selection screen, numerous in-game features are being tailored to accommodate alts, offering new avenues for shared storage, currencies, and gear. Most achievements and many reputations will become account-wide, though this overhaul also comes with some drawbacks, such as the elimination of the World of Warcraft Human Diplomacy racial reputation boost. Nevertheless, the Warbands initiative appears to be a significant step forward for WoW enthusiasts.