- Author: Luxrah
- Date: July 22, 2024
- Updated: July 27, 2024
- Expansion: World of Warcraft
Among the changes that are coming to World of Warcraft with the imminent The War Within expansion are some updates to the user interface, including a new legend for the map, changes to the quest log, an overhauled Spellbook, and a new filter for players with an aversion to spiders.
The new map legend will appear on the right side of the map window and will make it easier to identify different types of content. The legend can be toggled on or off using a button on the map. There will also be additional map filter options allowing you to show or hide certain types of content, including quests that have already been completed by another character in your warband. The quest log will display a little more information about each quest, such as whether it’s part of a campaign, a dungeon or raid quest, or a warband quest.
The Spellbook is now a tab within the Talents and Specializations window and has been expanded to allow you to view more of your abilities at once. You’ll be able to use the search bar to find specific abilities or any abilities that are missing from your action bars. You’ll also be able to hide passives using a checkbox.
The tooltips for crafting reagents have had their associated expansion added to their tooltip, so you can more easily sort through all of that junk you’ve been saving “just in case!”
Finally, there’s a new Arachnophobia Mode in the game for anyone who gets the creepy-crawlies from spiders and would rather not have to see them.
We’re making some improvements to the User Interface and to quest icons in The War Within™ that will help navigate your adventures even better— including a new arachnophobia filter!
New Map Legend
Players can open the map (Hotkey M) to view a new map key that has been added, letting you quickly and easily identify various types of quests and content.
QUESTS
- Campaign:Â Quests that continue the main story.
- Legendary:Â Quests that give legendary rewards.
- Repeatable:Â Time gated quests.
- In Progress:Â Quests that are currently in progress.
- Important:Â Quests that unlock important features and rewards or teach you about the major mechanics.
- Meta:Â Time gated quests that give valuable end game rewards.
- Local Story:Â Quests that explore local cultures and side adventures.
- Turn In:Â Quests that are ready to be turned in.
LIMITED-TIME ACTIVITIES
- World Quests:Â Open world activities that give varying rewards.
- Bonus Objective:Â Bonus open world activities that give experience and varying amounts of rewards.
- Rare:Â A special creature that provides various rewards.
- World Boss:Â A difficult open world boss that drops valuable loot, intended for large groups of players.
- Event:Â Various patch specific activities that provide valuable rewards.
- Rare Elite:Â A rare special creature that has a chance of dropping valuable loot.
ACTIVITIES
- Dungeon:Â Content designed for a party of five adventures and provides loot.
- Hub:Â A central location with NPCs, activities, and available quests.
- Pet Battle:Â Challenge NPCs to pet battles.
- Raid:Â Challenging content that is intended for large groups of players, and provides valuable loot.
- Delves (not shown in screenshot): Content designed for a party of five adventurers using any combat role, and provides loot.
- Digsite:Â An archaeology location where you can dig for artifacts.
MOVEMENT
- Teleport Point: Teleports you to a different region.
- Cave Entrance: The entrance to a cave or different zone.
- Flightpoint:Â Transports you to a different area in the same region.
Quest Log Updates
Additional updates have been made to the quest log (Hotkey L) with an additional checkbox selector for the quests you would like to track along with additional information on the quest and its status. Mousing over the quest in the log will also identify types of quests such as whether it’s Repeatable, Important, or part of a Campaign questline. It will have an icon with three dots showing if a quest is in progress or a campfire indicating it’s part of a Warbands eligible quest.
Spellbook Updates
Along with the addition of Hero Talents (available at level 71) to the Talent Pane, additional updates have been made to the Spellbook. Specializations, Talents, and the Spellbook have all been consolidated into a single Talents and Spellbook option (Hotkey N) in the interface.
Players will be able to view more of their spells and abilities on one screen with all discipline abilities more easily viewable within the pages. The search function at the top of the Spellbook will also allow players to view spells and abilities that are missing from the action bar. The Spellbook can also be minimized and passive abilities can be hidden from the list.
Crafting Reagents
Reagents will now indicate what expansion they are associated with, making it easier to sort through the items you have stashed in your bank and determine if you REALLY need that Rain Poppy you’ve been saving from Pandaria or if it’s really time to just let it go.
Arachnophobia Mode
For those who have an aversion to spiders and would rather not see them on your screen while adventuring, a new Arachnophobia Mode is available within the Game Menu (Escape Hotkey) Options under Accessibility in the General section.
While selected, spiders will be visually replaced with alternative creatures where possible. Not all spider models will be replaced and you may still come across references, but we hope that this additional option will aid you in your adventures throughout Azeroth. Learn more in our support article (clicking on examples will show both spiders and the alternate form in the same reveal).
We hope these and many improvements will help make your time in Azeroth even better.
About the Author
