World of Warcraft - Lore & Storyline discussion [SPOILERS] - Page 265

KTalisman · 07/07/09, 6:43 PM

I think it's safe to assume he's referring to being able to use regular class abilities while mounted. Vehicle combat is something else entirely.

I agree it would present a whole host of balance and technical issues though. Quite apart from which, I just don't think I'd want to do it, it'd likely feel weird and clunky.

Leviathon · 07/07/09, 7:14 PM

The Lich Kings voiceovers have been added in todays PTR build. Blizzards new voice acting for the Lich King makes it VERY hard to understand what he is saying.

In response to what Tirion says:

Lich King: "You will have your challenge Fordring."
Lich King: "Ahahahahaha...... The Nerubians built an empire beneath the frozen wastes of Northrend, an empire that you so foolishly built your structures upon. MY EMPIRE"
Lich King: "The souls(?) of your fallen champions will be mine Fordring..."

Blayze · 07/07/09, 7:37 PM

Originally Posted by Cranberry

Well, just that we as players have personally witnessed, that would be twice by Arthas and once by Archimonde.

Didn't the Horde destroy it at least once during the Second War, though? Seriously, that place is cursed.

Emeraude · 07/07/09, 9:30 PM

Originally Posted by Blayze

Didn't the Horde destroy it at least once during the Second War, though? Seriously, that place is cursed.

No, Dalaran had the protection of Lordaeron.

Krixooks · 07/08/09, 12:52 AM

I honestly don't see Blizzard coming out with a new class or new playable races for the simple fact that their content creation seems to be heading towards recycling/reusing rather then creating. Doing DK's was much easier then doing two whole new sides in TBC, and I'd expect that for the next expac they'll go even further and avoid new entry level content creation as often as possible.

If anything, I'd guess:

-Expanded player customization and even more pay-as-you-customize microtransaction stuff
-Possible redesign of azeroth for flight

Azeroth connected? And flyable? That would almost be like having a new continent in itself.

Of course they would have to enable a lot of unaccessable areas (Mt. Hyjal, Gilneas etc etc) for flight, I hope that they would put a little more effort into the flying mechanics which seemed to be pushed aside with the introduction of the vehicle system.

‘No-Fly zones’, honestly.. What happened to the aerial guards? Imagine buzzing Blackrock mountain, but being unable to land because of circling Black Dragon aerial guards. Outdoor capital cities such as Thunder Bluff would be heavily fortified with flying guards and towers, other cities would be considered ‘indoor’. Ironforge could have a tunnel leading to the airport etc.

The Wildhammer clan is based in the Hinterlands and has an uneasy truce with the Alliance.

I’m not so sure the Wildhammers would still be at an ‘uneasy truce’ with the Alliance, considering we have been on very good terms with both the Thane of Aerie Peak and of Wildhammer Stronghold, in fact they used to be a reputation faction (was removed in BC I think).

This leads onto character customization options. Most of the races could have new skin options, all the ‘old’ races (not draenei and Blood elves) need better graphics anyway.

Orcs- Mag’har, fel orcs?
Trolls- forest troll/ice troll shapes
Tauren- Taunka
Forsaken- alternative undead features
Blood Elves- Felblood?

Dwarves- Frostborn, Wildhammer
Gnomes- Mechano
Humans-
Night Elves-
Draenei- broken

Zeldazan · 07/08/09, 1:12 AM

One idea I always saw as interesting from a new race perspective (and one that would save Blizzard some time) would have one new race, pick whatever floats your boat, and then have it stand as neutral to start. Maybe levels 1-20/30 are spent in new zones where alliance and horde envoys are trying to convince you to join their side. At one point you have to choose one or the other.

What they race could be, however, is a bit more out there. Maybe some type of furbog or worgen could work. Maybe even people from Gilneas or even break away Naga.

I think it would create an interesting dynamic when it came to choosing a side.

Leviathon · 07/08/09, 1:15 AM

Originally Posted by Zeldazan

One idea I always saw as interesting from a new race perspective (and one that would save Blizzard some time) would have one new race, pick whatever floats your boat, and then have it stand as neutral to start. Maybe levels 1-20/30 are spent in new zones where alliance and horde envoys are trying to convince you to join their side. At one point you have to choose one or the other.

What they race could be, however, is a bit more out there. Maybe some type of furbog or worgen could work. Maybe even people from Gilneas or even break away Naga.

I think it would create an interesting dynamic when it came to choosing a side.

I doubt we would ever see a neutral race due to PvP problems that would arise since then you wouldn't be able to tell without scrolling over someone if that Goblin, Naga or whatever is on your side and Blizzard seems to like making a distinction between the factions.

Panasi · 07/08/09, 1:20 AM

Originally Posted by Redlimit

For me, I would have to say it would take nothing less than the destruction of Dalaran. Perhaps in retaliation for foiling the plot to destroy the Argent Crusade by burrowing under the tournament grounds, Arthas launches an offensive that actually pierces Crystalsong and destroys Dalaran. It would still be a place you can visit, but it would be in ruins, with most of the shops and services available somewhere else (or just from NPCs standing around in its ruined state trying to pick up the pieces).

Dalaran getting destroyed would be perfect as players are used to the idea of it being an untouchable sanctuary where you can go to get things done, but even it wouldn't be safe from the Lich King. Standing in the ruins thinking about waht the city used to be like would be quite powerful. It would also give good impetus to go and take Arthas on.

This would be great. I have a feeling it's going to directly link into the Tournament though. Whatever it is, it'd need to directly involve and affect the Argent Crusade. Something like the destruction of the grounds or the capture/conversion of combatants, which would give the Argent Crusade reason to say "Now is the time to go assault Icecrown".

Ciremo · 07/08/09, 2:19 AM

Originally Posted by Leviathon

I doubt we would ever see a neutral race due to PvP problems that would arise since then you wouldn't be able to tell without scrolling over someone if that Goblin, Naga or whatever is on your side and Blizzard seems to like making a distinction between the factions.

I usually tell the difference by their red name tag. I think introducing Goblins as a neutral race sounds intruiging, but they obviously can't play all classes. Two neutral races?

Talaith · 07/08/09, 2:32 AM

Originally Posted by Lysara

I've been listening to the 3.2 voicefiles, and I noticed something interesting about Varian's quotes (particularly the Greeting and Pissed ones). He keeps talking about being "of two minds" and his "angry side" and "the other Varian, he's not here anymore." Now obviously these are just intended to be references to the comic where the King and Lo'Gosh merged, but I'm wondering if there's more to it than that.

I've been more or less convinced, ever since seeing that handful of panels, that Aristo!Varian didn't MERGE with Lo'Gosh!Varian - he died. Certainly there's some offhand reference to sacrifice, the resulting Varian that came out of the flash and smoke showed no characteristics of his clean-shaven diplomatic half, and his behavior ever since has been almost completely untempered by the restraint that one might expect from an experienced King.

I keep hoping the 'wussy' one will show up again and kick Lo'Gosh in the teeth for being so badly unbalanced, but that's probably wishful thinking.

Lasie · 07/08/09, 3:30 AM

Would there really be enough incentive in a new race alone to cause a substantially noticeable size of the playerbase (say 7-10%) to reroll?

The whole drive behind creating a Draenei or Blood Elf at the very start was to play a class you previously couldn't before on that faction.

So say they add a new race that begins at level 70 or so. Other then looks what would make people interested in giving up their geared 80 for a fresh toon that's the exact same class? Maybe a lot would reroll just for the looks and brief lore/quest/zone intro, but I'm not sure many would bother to continue leveling after that and simply return to their main.

Cadfael · 07/08/09, 3:39 AM

Many many players rolled non-paladin, non-shaman Blood Elves and Draenei when they became available in TBC. Many players got a DK when that was possible with LK.

Blizzard needs to keep the game fresh, and that means a bit more than just raise the level limit and insert a few new zones with monsters and items. This will retain or bring players back resubscribing that think they've seen all they can with their alloted time investment. It's also a great vessel to catch those people that are disappointed or bored with their current main class/race. Instead of cancelling and going somewhere else, they can be retained. So I think Blizzard has quite some incentive to either bring new races or new classes.

We get new zones, mobs and items inside the lifecycle of one expansion. So what else can they do with a new expansion that they don't already do inside one? Classes and/or races.

Cadfael · 07/08/09, 3:45 AM

E:double posting due to DB error.

Vaccine · 07/08/09, 4:18 AM

If they're of the quality of the DK starting zone, people will play them. Extending the levelling zone up to 30 or 40 would help too, as some sort of rapid, phased levelling area. I don't see the race itself starting at anything but 1 though, as it would just mean future rerolls were 99% of that race.

As for Wyrixian's sigs. Well the Scythe of Elune just sounds like something said by the one it was originally gifted too.

The second one though is more interesting:

"I have ceased my senseless destruction of their homes and consumption of the young. How little I knew then of the great civilization that I was destroying."

I think the Vyrkul could be a good contender commenting on their slaughter of the Tuskarr. And if the Vyrkul join one faction, it follows the Tuskarr might be pissed about that and join the other faction. The more I think about this one, the more I think it makes sense. Obviously neither model really has that many issues with graphics, the Tuskarr may have more problems with helms but we've seen otherwise fully armoured Tuskarr before.

They are also both water races, one being walrus men and the other all about their long boats. The only thing that might discredit it is that I think I read Tuskarr die if they leave Northrend. Still it wouldn't rule out Vyrkul as one race.

Leviathon · 07/08/09, 4:21 AM

Originally Posted by Vaccine

If they're of the quality of the DK starting zone, people will play them. Extending the levelling zone up to 30 or 40 would help too, as some sort of rapid, phased levelling area. I don't see the race itself starting at anything but 1 though, as it would just mean future rerolls were 99% of that race.

As for Wyrixian's sigs. Well the Scythe of Elune just sounds like something said by the one it was originally gifted too.

The second one though is more interesting:

I think the Vyrkul could be a good contender commenting on their slaughter of the Tuskarr. And if the Vyrkul join one faction, it follows the Tuskarr might be pissed about that and join the other faction. The more I think about this one, the more I think it makes sense. Obviously neither model really has that many issues with graphics, the Tuskarr may have more problems with helms but we've seen otherwise fully armoured Tuskarr before.

They are also both water races, one being walrus men and the other all about their long boats. The only thing that might discredit it is that I think I read Tuskarr die if they leave Northrend. Still it wouldn't rule out Vyrkul as one race.

The quote is from notes inside bottles found on beaches throughout Azeroth and has absolutely nothing to do with Northrend.

Day 4

I have been stranded on the island now for 4 days, left alone with my thoughts. Bananas are pretty tasty. But what a long climb to reach them. When I am not getting food or protecting myself from the periodic rain. All my thoughts are of rescue.

I would not be so hopeful if it were not for the boxes of paper and bottles that washed ashore with me. I laugh now to think of all the time I spent on that ship cursing that I was stuck with a boatload of alchemists and scribes.

Day 87
These month have given me time to ponder, to shuffle loose my old beliefs and bigotries. Alliance? Horde? Good? Evil? The meanings of these words, once so clear, now blur as my eyes gaze across the boundless sea.

I now know what matters. The bananas are after me.

Perched high in their tree, they eye me with cool malevolence. And the last one I tried to eat nearly gagged me! I could allmost hear it scream as I smashed it half bitten, on sea rocks.
It's war, and I will win it.

Day 512
The bananas have started talking to me and I have learned a great deal about their culture. I have ceased my senseless destruction of their homes and consumption of the young. How little I knew then of the great civilization that I was destroying.

On another topic I seem to to be running low on bottles and paper. When I first looked at those huge stacks of paper that washed ashore I thought they would be inexhaustible. Woe with me, my diary must end soon.

Wyrixian just likes using quotes from things in game and I highly doubt they have any alternative meaning at all (although I'd imagine he enjoys reading people looking into his signatures).