Patch 1.12.4 Preview: Discoveries
Today we're excited to share one of the major features currently in development for Patch 1.12.4: Discoveries.
Discoveries are designed to make exploration a meaningful part of leveling once again. Hidden throughout Azeroth are forgotten ruins, secret caves, abandoned camps, mysterious relics, buried treasures, profession secrets, and many other points of interest waiting to be uncovered.
Every Discovery has been placed by hand to reward players who take the time to explore the world beyond the main roads and quest hubs.
Before we begin, we'd like to set expectations. The Discoveries system itself is fully implemented and functional. Our current focus is testing, balancing, and populating Azeroth with Discoveries. There is currently no release date or ETA for Patch 1.12.4.
ONE-TIME DISCOVERIES
Every Discovery can only be completed once per character.
Each Discovery awards experience appropriate for the level range of the zone where it is found, giving players another rewarding way to progress while leveling.
To keep the system balanced, every Discovery also has level requirements that prevent players from collecting experience from areas far above their intended progression.
Once completed, a Discovery remains completed for that character until you choose to Prestige.
WORLD DISCOVERIES
World Discoveries are scattered throughout Azeroth in hidden and unexpected places.
You may discover forgotten camps, abandoned supply caches, mysterious relics, ancient shrines, hidden treasure, lost journals, unusual landmarks, and many other secrets spread across the world.
Some Discoveries reward treasure, others may provide temporary world buffs, while some may begin hidden questlines or reveal entirely new places to explore.
No two Discoveries need to feel the same.
PROFESSION DISCOVERIES
Every gathering and crafting profession will have its own unique Discoveries hidden throughout Azeroth.
Profession Discoveries are one-time interactions that reward players for exploring the world while making professions feel more connected to Azeroth itself.
Depending on what you discover, rewards may include:
• Experience
• Profession materials
• Useful items
• Cosmetic rewards
• Profession-specific quests
• Unique questlines
Each profession has its own collection of Discoveries waiting to be found.
PROFESSION BARRIERS
Some hidden locations are protected by profession-specific barriers.
Examples include:
• Collapsed cave entrances that Miners can clear.
• Large animal carcasses that Skinners can carve open.
• Ancient magical doors and seals that Enchanters can dispel.
• Thick roots and overgrown vines that Herbalists can clear.
• Broken machinery that Engineers can repair.
Opening one of these barriers reveals a hidden area that becomes accessible to every nearby player.
Once opened, the barrier remains cleared for a short period, usually around ten minutes depending on the location, before naturally returning.
These hidden areas may contain treasure, rare enemies, profession materials, cosmetic rewards, hidden Discoveries, or occasionally a hidden quest waiting to be found.
HIDDEN QUESTS
Exploration can sometimes lead to entirely new adventures.
Some Discoveries throughout Azeroth may begin hidden questlines that cannot be accepted from traditional quest hubs.
These quests are intended to reward curious players who take the time to investigate unusual locations and uncover the world's secrets.
EXPLORATION REWARDS
Every Discovery grants experience, but many also reward players with additional bonuses.
Possible rewards include:
• Profession materials
• Equipment
• Cosmetic items
• Temporary world buffs
• Treasure
• New quests
• Profession questlines
World buffs earned through Discoveries are intended to help players continue their leveling journey while encouraging exploration across Azeroth.
PRESTIGE
Prestiging resets every completed Discovery on your character.
This allows every Prestige journey to begin with a fresh world to explore, allowing you to earn every Discovery's experience, rewards, profession content, and hidden secrets once again.
PHASE ONE
Because of the size of this feature, Discoveries will release in stages.
Phase One of Patch 1.12.4 will include Discoveries throughout every level 1 to 30 zone.
Following release, additional Discoveries will be added to higher level zones until the entire world has been populated.
The Discoveries system is intended to become a permanent part of Project Legacy and will continue receiving new hidden locations, profession interactions, quests, and rewards through future updates.
LOOKING AHEAD
Discoveries represent one of the largest world features we've developed for Project Legacy.
The underlying technology is complete. Our current focus is testing the system and continuing to populate Azeroth with meaningful content that rewards exploration.
We'll continue sharing development updates as work progresses and look forward to showing more of Patch 1.12.4 in the future.
Today we're excited to share one of the major features currently in development for Patch 1.12.4: Discoveries.
Discoveries are designed to make exploration a meaningful part of leveling once again. Hidden throughout Azeroth are forgotten ruins, secret caves, abandoned camps, mysterious relics, buried treasures, profession secrets, and many other points of interest waiting to be uncovered.
Every Discovery has been placed by hand to reward players who take the time to explore the world beyond the main roads and quest hubs.
Before we begin, we'd like to set expectations. The Discoveries system itself is fully implemented and functional. Our current focus is testing, balancing, and populating Azeroth with Discoveries. There is currently no release date or ETA for Patch 1.12.4.
ONE-TIME DISCOVERIES
Every Discovery can only be completed once per character.
Each Discovery awards experience appropriate for the level range of the zone where it is found, giving players another rewarding way to progress while leveling.
To keep the system balanced, every Discovery also has level requirements that prevent players from collecting experience from areas far above their intended progression.
Once completed, a Discovery remains completed for that character until you choose to Prestige.
WORLD DISCOVERIES
World Discoveries are scattered throughout Azeroth in hidden and unexpected places.
You may discover forgotten camps, abandoned supply caches, mysterious relics, ancient shrines, hidden treasure, lost journals, unusual landmarks, and many other secrets spread across the world.
Some Discoveries reward treasure, others may provide temporary world buffs, while some may begin hidden questlines or reveal entirely new places to explore.
No two Discoveries need to feel the same.
PROFESSION DISCOVERIES
Every gathering and crafting profession will have its own unique Discoveries hidden throughout Azeroth.
Profession Discoveries are one-time interactions that reward players for exploring the world while making professions feel more connected to Azeroth itself.
Depending on what you discover, rewards may include:
• Experience
• Profession materials
• Useful items
• Cosmetic rewards
• Profession-specific quests
• Unique questlines
Each profession has its own collection of Discoveries waiting to be found.
PROFESSION BARRIERS
Some hidden locations are protected by profession-specific barriers.
Examples include:
• Collapsed cave entrances that Miners can clear.
• Large animal carcasses that Skinners can carve open.
• Ancient magical doors and seals that Enchanters can dispel.
• Thick roots and overgrown vines that Herbalists can clear.
• Broken machinery that Engineers can repair.
Opening one of these barriers reveals a hidden area that becomes accessible to every nearby player.
Once opened, the barrier remains cleared for a short period, usually around ten minutes depending on the location, before naturally returning.
These hidden areas may contain treasure, rare enemies, profession materials, cosmetic rewards, hidden Discoveries, or occasionally a hidden quest waiting to be found.
HIDDEN QUESTS
Exploration can sometimes lead to entirely new adventures.
Some Discoveries throughout Azeroth may begin hidden questlines that cannot be accepted from traditional quest hubs.
These quests are intended to reward curious players who take the time to investigate unusual locations and uncover the world's secrets.
EXPLORATION REWARDS
Every Discovery grants experience, but many also reward players with additional bonuses.
Possible rewards include:
• Profession materials
• Equipment
• Cosmetic items
• Temporary world buffs
• Treasure
• New quests
• Profession questlines
World buffs earned through Discoveries are intended to help players continue their leveling journey while encouraging exploration across Azeroth.
PRESTIGE
Prestiging resets every completed Discovery on your character.
This allows every Prestige journey to begin with a fresh world to explore, allowing you to earn every Discovery's experience, rewards, profession content, and hidden secrets once again.
PHASE ONE
Because of the size of this feature, Discoveries will release in stages.
Phase One of Patch 1.12.4 will include Discoveries throughout every level 1 to 30 zone.
Following release, additional Discoveries will be added to higher level zones until the entire world has been populated.
The Discoveries system is intended to become a permanent part of Project Legacy and will continue receiving new hidden locations, profession interactions, quests, and rewards through future updates.
LOOKING AHEAD
Discoveries represent one of the largest world features we've developed for Project Legacy.
The underlying technology is complete. Our current focus is testing the system and continuing to populate Azeroth with meaningful content that rewards exploration.
We'll continue sharing development updates as work progresses and look forward to showing more of Patch 1.12.4 in the future.