The new auxiliary targeting and one-button helper features, which will be introduced in World of Warcraft with the release of patch 11.1.7, have sparked intense discussions within the community, attracting both praise and criticism. Some players believe these features will overly simplify the game, detracting from the experience and essentially acting as a temporary fix for a much larger problem rather than providing a real solution. However, many players have expressed their support for these changes, as they will make the game more accessible, especially for those with physical limitations, making it easier for them to fully enjoy the game.
One such player, known as illegal92, shared their thoughts on the matter:
Quote: illegal92
One-Button Damage Rotation in Patch 11.1.7
As someone who has played WoW for most of my life, starting from the classic days up until now, and who recently sustained an injury, I can confidently say this new feature is a great relief for me. I’ve been playing WoW since the classic days of the Firelands. Recently, I lost the use of one of my hands, and playing the game I’ve spent so much of my life enjoying has become extremely difficult. On March 10th, I was involved in an accident and lost one of my arms. The news about the one-button damage rotation has been a huge relief for me, as it will allow me to continue playing, riding mounts, or simply running through heroic dungeons. I’m grateful that Blizzard is adding this feature to WoW because it will allow me to play even during this tough time in my life, as I adjust to my new reality. I really appreciate that Blizzard is thinking of players like us—those with disabilities or anyone struggling to play the game in its current state. I know there’s a 0.3-second penalty for using the one-button rotation, but it will still provide many of us with a great gaming experience when playing is otherwise very difficult. Thank you, Blizzard.
Several commenters supported the author’s sentiment and shared similar experiences:
Quote: Kyrxx77
I don’t understand why people hate this feature so much.
Experienced players won’t need it, so it won’t affect them.
It will help new and casual players learn how to perform rotations correctly and improve their gameplay.
It will also help players who want to try out new classes/specs.
Quote: SaeraCursesALot
I’ve been playing since the end of The Burning Crusade and I’m really happy about this new feature. A couple of years ago, I suffered a traumatic brain injury, and one of the lingering symptoms has been a decline in fine motor skills. Sometimes my fingers go where they want, not where I want them to. I just wish they could fix all the visual noise so I could play a melee fighter again…
Quote: pejuarez
Whenever I hear about the one-button rotation, I always think about the documentary on Ibelin. For him, this would have been a fantastic thing. It’s an amazing accessibility tool, and I’m happy that people like you can still enjoy the game!
Quote: The-good-twin
People hate on this, but clearly, they don’t know that there have been addons doing the same thing for YEARS. You’ve probably been in a group/raid/battlefield where one of the top players used GSE, and you didn’t even notice.
Quote: Varrianda
People who know the game well won’t care about this. At all. Skilled players will still min-max their rotations and perfect them. Those who aren’t concerned with this don’t need it. Some players may even want to learn rotations after they’ve played with the one-button rotation, whereas before, they likely would have just quit the game. This is definitely a positive change for the game.
Quote: GilneanHuntress
Thank you for this message, author. It’s exactly situations like yours that came to mind when I watched the interview with Ion where this feature was announced. Also, I’m not as young as I used to be, and I know that one day all the arthritis in my family line will catch up with me, making playing WoW incredibly difficult. This is a convenience feature, and it means I won’t have to limit myself to just watching others on YouTube to see my favorite game.
I’m genuinely upset that the loudest critics of this change fail to see how many people this will help, including themselves. We’re all just one step away from an accident that could put us out of commission. I could slip on the kitchen floor, fall wrong, and suddenly be disabled for the rest of my life. No one should have to give up something they love just because of an accessibility issue, and accessibility is something everyone deserves.
I hope many people read this message and take a moment to reflect. The reaction to this change in the game has shown that these kinds of reflections are much-needed.
Quote: Peimai
This will also be useful for finding raid groups. Most people looking for a raid have no idea which buttons they should be pressing.
Quote: PlanetaryBlaze
Yeah, the overreaction to this button is just way too much. It’s an accessibility feature that allows people, for whatever reason, to play effectively. Blizzard gets hated on for many reasons, but this feature is definitely not one of them.
Quote: Grimueax
More accessibility is always good. Really happy for you, man.
Quote: breathandtaxes
Damn. I just complained about this button and now I feel like a total idiot. I sympathize with your injury; I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a limb. Anyway, I’m glad Blizzard is moving forward. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
