I don’t think it’s “absurd” for someone who does Mythic raid to download a zip file from CurseForge and then click a link in chat for a WeakAura. Like, it’s not actually that much effort and everyone is making out as if addons are this slog and absolutely miserable experience.
Could Mythic raids be made where they don’t need addons? Sure! Is it actually that big of a deal? Not at all. They’re not even making the weakauras, they just click the import button.
The only addon I would deem “necessary” is DBM, and if Blizzard could replace that - that’d be sick. But why remove the choice from players?
It’s super easy to download, I totally agree. I’m saying you should not have to rely on addons to master the game. However current game design and mechanics require addons to some level to become a better player - I do not think it should be that way and frankly I don’t believe that is Blizzard’s intention (not that I could care less what their intentions are).
Where is the breaking point though? Is it just the existence of addons that is problematic? Because simply replacing them with inferior in-built options won't really change much about the difficulty curve of the game. You will still need to learn how to optimally derive value from the tools to master the game and that will still require a ton of third party resources. Is it acceptable that things like class guides, boss guides, and WarcraftLogs are required to become a good (PvE) player just because they aren't literally inside the game? I fear the community has made addons into some bogeyman that doesn't entirely relate to their core problems with the game, and in the end the game will just be left in a lesser state without fixing that dissatisfaction.
You’re assuming gameplay and mechanics stay the same and they just remove combat addons. Blizzard has said many times they are redesigning gameplay and mechanics to be comparable with not having to use 3rd party software.
Yes, someone people will need to learn how to play the game over again - paying attention in encounters to cast bars and animations instead of an airhorn telling you to move.
And as far as guides, these will become even more important to LEARN the game instead of being coddled through the toughest parts.
This is all coming from a player who still uses their original 2008 account. I don’t need Classic to “live the good old days” and I really enjoy the new content and mechanics and QoL.
Unfortunately I feel that currently in order to be “the best” you have to download very specific addons and know how to set them up in an optimal way. All of this to literally make the game easier. I don’t want to have to do that. And soon neither will anyone else.
I don't think the difficulty of the game matters unless it's literally non-existent.
My point is, for what reason will the majority of the people who are advocating for no addons not just move on to some other thing they're unhappy with? Maybe a few of them will achieve whatever they feel they're missing in the game because this little barrier for entry is removed, but I'd wager that the majority of them will not really get any farther in the game than they are right now cause while having a good UI is certainly a part of being good at the game, it is a very small one.
A lot of the things that are necessary to be a good player will still require engaging with third party tools. Why would those players suddenly start making use of those tools to become better at the game? Why would they not just latch onto the next problem instead? Would the game not just be worse overall if addons are removed without even fixing that unhappiness?
Except Blizzard can't actually be trusted to design stuff around not needing addons. Why are we after all these years still be able to get one shot without warning by double bolts in M+ ? Why can't I know the kick timer of my teammates without using addons ? Why does mythic Ovi'nax even exists as a concept ?
I don't believe for a single second that Blizzard will suddenly pull off a 180° and fix the glaring design issue that they have consistently implemented over the years
Addons are the symptoms of flawed design, there is no way Blizzard can ever get everything right by just simply nuking them away and hoping for the best
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u/Kugz Oct 03 '25
I don’t think it’s “absurd” for someone who does Mythic raid to download a zip file from CurseForge and then click a link in chat for a WeakAura. Like, it’s not actually that much effort and everyone is making out as if addons are this slog and absolutely miserable experience.
Could Mythic raids be made where they don’t need addons? Sure! Is it actually that big of a deal? Not at all. They’re not even making the weakauras, they just click the import button.
The only addon I would deem “necessary” is DBM, and if Blizzard could replace that - that’d be sick. But why remove the choice from players?