Solo Queue

Solo Queue for Island Expeditions is here!

/ Gra1980 / Leave a comment

Solo Queue Island Expeditions in patch 9.1.5

Patch 9.1.5

The long-awaited patch 9.1.5 is finally live and brings a wealth of improvements to World of Warcraft – Shadowlands. Notable changes; Legion Timewalking, improved scaling for soloing Legion content, quality of life improvements for alts in Shadowlands, and much more.

The full patch 9.1.5 notes are here. 

But, above all, the long-awaited introduction of the solo queue (Private Tour) for Island Expeditions is here!

Island Expeditions:

Since the Battle for Azeroth expansion ended, players have found it challenging to queue for Island Expeditions due to the minimum requirements. You needed three players to play this content, and due to the emergence of Shadowlands, no one was queuing due to the new content available. 

However, developers had promised a solo queue (as early as Shadowlands 9.1) but found issues developing the changes. Thankfully, as of 9.1.5, these changes are in full effect.

Remember, there is a three-map cycle that changes every week. Each map has specific mobs, which in turn drop particular loot.

Why Do Players Want Island Expeditions?

Some players may not have played during Battle for Azeroth, or maybe didn’t have any interest at that time for Island Expeditions, and now they do and have realized how good they are. 

There are a lot of items that players will be interested in – notably, Mounts, Companion Pets, and predominantly Transmog. Sadly, the Transmog available still relies heavily on the cycle of three maps available for that week.

Remember, if you collect Seafarer Dubloons, you can also purchase Salvage Crates; again, these crates will rely heavily on the three maps available for that given week, so spend those dubloons wisely!

Check out Wowhead’s excellent guide here for updates on Island Expedition rewards.

How To Solo Queue For An Expedition?

For Horde players, travel to the city of Dazar’alor within Zuldazar, and speak to Captain Rez’okun at the coordinates [44.95].

Alternatively, if you’re an Alliance player, travel to the city of Boralus within Tiragarde Sound and speak to Flynn Fairwind at the coordinates [66.33].

Select the appropriate Private Tour (solo queue) for your ability.

The Effect on GoldMakers Selling Transmog:

The new addition will undoubtedly harm the Island Expedition Transmog market. Due to the limitations to the queue, the gear was harder to obtain; supply was low, meaning players that stockpiled the Transmog could demand higher valuations for specific items. I outlined this in a previous blog post here.

Transmog will be easier to obtain with players able to solo queue, thus driving down the valuation and increasing the supply. As the quantities increase, as will the valuations continue to decrease.

The power of ‘supply and demand‘ the greater the demand that outweighs the supply, the higher the fee you can demand. When the supply outweighs the demand, the lack of value you’ll get for your piece(s).

Monitoring and Adapting to the Market:

Over the next few weeks, it’s essential to monitor and adapt as the market adjusts to the influx of Transmog. Using The Undermine Journal, we can use the data they offer and get a headstart on our competitors.

Below, I’ve chosen my trusted piece, the Stinkrot Smasher. The item has earned me a lot of gold, and you can see why. There are three pieces on my realm and a total of 122 currently within the E.U region. This piece demands between 100k to 250k each, as shown in previous sales reports.

Stinkrot Smasher

However, these quantities will start increasing, so adjust your prices promptly, to stay ahead. If you don’t adapt quickly, you will be left behind with many items to sell, and it will only worsen – well, until the value has gone and the players farming find alternative markets.

Importantly, keep your eyes peeled on your realm’s pricing/quantity heat maps and the current regional Price graph. These graphs will show immediate changes that will assist you going forward!

Transmog – Items of Interest:

Here’s a reminder of some of the pieces that currently demand a lot of gold on the Auction House. This list will change, as mentioned above!

  • Dragonriders Harness
  • Duskhaven Jacket
  • Duskhaven Top Hat
  • Firekin Amice
  • Firekin Robes
  • Helm of the Tranquil Paths
  • Leggings of the Tranquil Paths
  • Plundered Barbed-Edge Dagger
  • Plundered Biting Shot Longbow
  • Plundered Blade of the Northern Kings
  • Plundered Flamecaster Stave
  • Razorfin Breastplate
  • Razorfin Helm
  • Razorfin Shoulderguards
  • Stinkrot Smasher
  • Vest of the Tranquil Paths
  • Wild Marauder Chainmail
  • Wild Marauder Helm
  • Wild Marauder Pauldrons

Feedback:

Any feedback is greatly received; please use the comment section below. If you need to contact me, use the contact me method. If you found this post helpful and believe it could be of use to someone else, please consider liking and sharing.

Solo Island Expeditions in Patch 9.1.5

/ Gra1980 / 1 Comment

Solo Queue Island Expeditions in patch 9.1.5

Solo Queue for Island Expeditions in 9.1.5

Finally, we’ve confirmation that as of patch 9.1.5, it will be possible to queue solo into Island Expeditions. Currently, as of today, you’d need to queue for Island Expeditions with two other players (a team of three) and queue up from the Expedition Table.

When patch 9.1.5 releases, those struggling to create groups, or finding players wanting to farm Island Expedition Transmog efficiently, can do so alone.

Blizzard’s blue post, confirming the addition in patch 9.1.5!

Blue Post on Island Expeditions in 9.1.5

When Will Patch 9.1.5 Release:

There has been no date set for the release, but many people online feel it could be around October. So, maybe expect this to release in or around Hallow’s End, the World Event that starts on the 18th of October.

There’s no addition of the 9.1.5 patch on the Public Test Realm just yet, but keep your eyes peeled!

The Affect on GoldMakers:

With the announcement of players able to queue solo into Island Expeditions, be prepared for an influx of Transmog to reach your Auction House after the new patch hits.

Currently, demand for Island Expedition Transmog is pretty high, and with the low supply of Transmog on many realms, prices are obscene; this is excellent for Goblins. 

Soon, the supply will increase with the new changes, forcing Goblins to reduce their valuations to guarantee that sale; this will ultimately benefit the customer.

Be sure to adjust promptly, to stay ahead of your competitors!

What Should I Do With My Stock:

If you’re like me and have set up an inventory full of Island Expedition Transmog to sell, and the news today concerns you, start offloading excess items in preparation for the new patch.

When the new patch comes and the Transmog supply increases, you could be stuck with stock; you can’t sell.

Before patch 9.1, I did advise Goblins to consider the size of their inventory, with the possibility of the solo queue coming in 9.1. As we know, the solo queue didn’t happen in patch 9.1, but, with any luck, some of you may have reduced your stock already, as I did!

High-Ticket Items:

If you’re somewhat unsure about reducing your inventory and confident that high-ticket items will hold their value, by all means, hold out. 

I’ll add a list of items below that I regard as high-ticket Transmog.

  • Dragonriders Harness
  • Duskhaven Jacket
  • Duskhaven Top Hat
  • Firekin Amice
  • Firekin Robes
  • Helm of the Tranquil Paths
  • Leggings of the Tranquil Paths
  • Plundered Barbed-Edge Dagger
  • Plundered Biting Shot Longbow
  • Plundered Blade of the Northern Kings
  • Plundered Flamecaster Stave
  • Razorfin Breastplate
  • Razorfin Helm
  • Razorfin Shoulderguards
  • Stinkrot Smasher
  • Vest of the Tranquil Paths
  • Wild Marauder Chainmail
  • Wild Marauder Helm
  • Wild Marauder Pauldrons

Please be aware that this list is subjective, and you may consider items on this list differently. Adjust accordingly and follow your own instincts.

Things to Consider:

It’s worth noting at this point, that although the solo queue will be available in patch 9.1.5, there’s no other news regarding Island Expeditions at this point. Some things worth noting are Drop Rates, Seafarer’s Dubloons, and Salvage Crates. If there are adjustments to these, Transmog may be difficult to obtain again.

Drop Rates:

At the end of your Island Expedition, you will receive loot based on your performance and objectives completed. There’s no information yet, to suggest whether Blizzard will adjust these drop rates on loot obtained. Sometimes, Blizzard will make adjustments on loot, when content is made easier to complete.

Seafarer’s Dubloons:

Seafarer’s Dubloons were added in Island Expeditions to offer players an alternative option to acquire loot, which they were unsuccessful to obtain at the end of their Island Expedition runs. Blizzard could adjust the amount of Dubloons obtained and make it slower to purchase Salvage Crates, etc.

Salvage Crates:

Based on the maps available on that given week, players could spend Dubloons on Salvage Crates. The Salvage Crates would dictate specific loot within. Again, if Blizzard were to adjust the loot tables, drop chance, or the amount of Dubloons needed, this could have a negative effect on Transmog acquired.

An Excellent Guide:

If you’d like a guide, showing the rewards obtained from completing Island Expeditions, then please consider checking this one out from Sanghelios. They give a lot of information on the Salvage Crates and maps needed to obtain specific items. Check it out, and be sure to offer any feedback.

Conclusion:

Many of the comment sections on Wowhead and Facebook already show how happy players are with this news. With players able to efficiently solo queue to farm Island Expeditions, Transmog, which had dwindled in supply, will drastically increase come patch 9.1.5!

It’s imperative that if you don’t want to be lumbered with an inventory full of Island Expedition Transmog, that you consider offloading now. I’ve been doing so since patch 9.1, since Blizzard’s first hint at a solo queue change!

Be sure to check your TSM groups and your operations. In the coming weeks, you will notice changes in the prices as players look to offload their stock!

Please also monitor the potential of any changes mentioned in the Things to Consider segment of this blog. If there are any changes here that could affect drop rates etc, this could have an effect on future Transmog obtained.

Feedback:

Any feedback is greatly received; please use the comment section below. If you need to contact me, use the contact me method. If you found this post helpful and believe it could be of use to someone else, please consider liking and sharing.

 

Thanks for reading.

Solo Queue For Island Expeditions in 9.1?

/ Gra1980 / 1 Comment

Expedition Map

Solo Queue For Island Expeditions?

Blizzard is finally releasing their new patch, Shadowlands 9.1 – Chains of Domination, next week! Therefore, I thought it would be beneficial to quickly check out the PTR and see whether they’ve successfully incorporated the long-awaited solo queue for Island Expeditions.

According to Jeremy Feasel, he was hopeful that a solo queue for Island Expeditions could be incorporated in 9.1 but didn’t hold much hope for Warfronts.

Jeremy Feasel statement for Solo Queues for 9.1

What Are Island Expeditions:

For those unaware, Blizzard introduced Island Expeditions in Battle for Azeroth (BFA). Players could approach the Expedition Map and sign up to queue for four different difficulties, Normal, Heroic, Mythic, and PvP.

You needed a team of three players to participate, and it had a simple objective, reach the azerite goal first, and you won! In addition, Blizzard introduced further incentives and tasks throughout the expansion of BFA and made it worthwhile for players to continue participating in Island Expeditions for Companion Pets, Mounts and Transmog.

Why The Need For A Solo Queue?

With the release of Shadowlands and the lure of new content, players that continued to queue for Island Expeditions found it difficult to get groups due to a lack of interest. Thankfully, early in Shadowlands, there was hope. Jeremy Feasel informed the World of Warcraft community that they were trying to incorporate a solo queue. The community had hoped that the improvement was ready for Shadowlands 9.1.

The 9.1 PTR:

I quickly copied over my main character onto the PTR and hurried over to the Port of Zandalar. I interacted with the Expedition Map. To my astonishment, there was no method to solo queue for an Island Expedition.

When I hovered over the four difficulties, the tooltips expressed the need for three players to participate in the Mythic and PvP queue. However, the tooltip for Normal and Heroic had no minimum player requirement. Furthermore, all four options needed me to select find crew, suggesting there’s no solo queue yet!

With 9.1 due to release on the 29th of June for NA (30th for EU), there’s no way they’re releasing the solo queue unless they plan to release something in the next few days. So that would suggest that there’s no testing expected before the release of 9.1.

If No Solo Queue In 9.1, When?

Suppose there’s no solo queue in 9.1. In that case, I can only assume that Blizzard maybe hit a snag while making alterations to Island Expeditions. However, if they plan to release this during Shadowlands, then perhaps it will come in 9.2. It’s worth remembering that Blizzard usually waits for two expansions before making previous content more accessible for soloing.

What Does This Mean For Gold-Making?

The inability to solo queue for Island Expeditions means that players will continue to struggle to queue. Therefore, the need for offloading Island Expedition Transmog (as warned in my previous post) may not be necessary now. Gold-makers were worried that with the ability to solo queue, the demand for Transmog would drop. At the same time, the supply would increase, meaning a loss in value. What will likely happen now is the opposite, more demand and a lack of supply, slowly increasing its value!

But stay vigilant; Blizzard has in the past made changes where necessary, without warning. So expect Island Expedition Transmog to hold its value for now, but adapt if there are any late changes.

Feedback:

Any feedback is greatly received; please use the comment section below. If you need to contact me, use the contact me method. If you found this post helpful and believe it could be of use to someone else, please consider liking and sharing.

 

I hope you enjoyed this post, thanks for reading.