Deploying in patch 4.2, Blizzard’s Encounter Journal is an in-game tool designed to provide basic information about the different fights players will encounter within dungeons and raids. The journal will gather the huge amount of information normally only available on sites like “WoWhead” and “WoWwiki” into one official document. However, Blizzard seeks to make an important distinction in that the journal will not provide strategies or tips on positioning. Instead, it will show players a list of each boss’ abilities and their respective phases. Blizzard claims that the new feature simply cuts out the middle man in that it doesn’t force players to visit outside sites to research boss fights. 

However, the existence of the Encounter Journal poses issues for certain demographics of World of Wacraft’s player base. Some players claim a flaw of the feature is that it’s too “casual friendly,” because it tells players exactly what’s going to happen during boss fights, ruining the feeling of surprise and experimentation when dealing with encounters. Another critique of the tool is that it’s simply pointless, because if it doesn’t provide strategies players will seek out external guides regardless. Finally, many “hardcore” players who associate with elite PvE guilds are worried that the journal’s inclusion will be detrimental to the competitive nature of raiding and top-end progression pushes. 

Yet, this isn’t to say that the journal hasn’t received equal amounts of positive feedback. Many players are celebrating the feature’s inclusion on the grounds that it’s another successful attempt by Blizzard to streamline the process of entering raids. They argue that the journal lessens the learning curve of new players by providing them with information about fights, allowing them a better chance at preparation. Similarly, many herald that the feature grants the opportunity for more players to experience raid content where they might not before, as it facilitates movement through content and eliminates gaps of stagnation where players would have to spend time researching encounters.

Ultimately, Blizzard’s Encounter Journal represents yet another schism between the “casual” and “hardcore” demographics of World of Warcraft players. Whereas some players condemn the movement towards more accessible PvE encounters, such as those in Wrath of the Lich King, and feel nostalgia for the days of demanding 40-man raids, many other players appreciate the opportunity provided by Blizzard to experience raid content without committing a large amount of their time to doing so.