So if pandaren make an appearance in the game....

[Vephriel]

It will be intresting to see how this whole thing pans out cause there is a very very small chance that the Pandaran class or any mob/pet that represents a panda in the game as a attackable character cause of Chinese law, as it stands regarding pandas, they cannot be depicted or shown being injured, killed, mutilated, or otherwise harmed in any media. Blizzard makes alot of money off china so i doubt they will risk it by putting a pandaren class/mob or Panda pet in the game

That's a myth, and a frequently repeated one as well. There is no such law.

[Dr. Rockso]

actually its no myth iv been to China in the last year and they take the treatment of Pandas in any media verry seriously

[Vephriel]

Essentially it's an internet urban legend. I'm sure China frowns on panda violence, but there is no actual concrete law against that, and especially in an American game there would be no effect. At most China's version of WoW would be edited or censored much like they did for WotLK.

[Mychelle]

I would love to see...Hm...a "Land Drake"-Dragon based off of the Chinese Dragon. Think of the absolute *wonderful* colors these could come in. Reds, Blues, Purples, with lots and lots of Gold. They could share the same ability "Fire Breath" that the Dragonhawks have. They wouldnt fly of course (not like the little mini pets), but they'd sorta walk around on the ground like the Warp Stalkers. I think one of these in red and gold would look absolutely stunning with Blood Elves.

[Worba]

Essentially it's an internet urban legend. I'm sure China frowns on panda violence, but there is no actual concrete law against that, and especially in an American game there would be no effect. At most China's version of WoW would be edited or censored much like they did for WotLK.

Pretty much this. Going to the bother of rolling out Mists of Pandaria and then not having pandas appear in any meaningful form (and bearing in mind the pandaren brewmaster hero has always been playable on WC3 battlenet throughout) would be rather silly...

[Vephriel]

I would love to see...Hm...a "Land Drake"-Dragon based off of the Chinese Dragon. Think of the absolute *wonderful* colors these could come in. Reds, Blues, Purples, with lots and lots of Gold. They could share the same ability "Fire Breath" that the Dragonhawks have. They wouldnt fly of course (not like the little mini pets), but they'd sorta walk around on the ground like the Warp Stalkers. I think one of these in red and gold would look absolutely stunning with Blood Elves.

Ooh, that would be lovely.

Something similar to this perhaps:


They could make kirin as well, maybe even loosely based on a stag or talbuk model.

[Mychelle]

I would love to see...Hm...a "Land Drake"-Dragon based off of the Chinese Dragon. Think of the absolute *wonderful* colors these could come in. Reds, Blues, Purples, with lots and lots of Gold. They could share the same ability "Fire Breath" that the Dragonhawks have. They wouldnt fly of course (not like the little mini pets), but they'd sorta walk around on the ground like the Warp Stalkers. I think one of these in red and gold would look absolutely stunning with Blood Elves.

Ooh, that would be lovely.

Something similar to this perhaps:
(Cutting Picture from Quote to make up for size issues)

They could make kirin as well, maybe even loosely based on a stag or talbuk model.

Exactly like that! And if they do add a Kirin, I would be absolutely ecstatic if it was a mount.

Edit - For those of you interested in what a Kirin is....



A unicorn-dragon mount. /squeal

[Worba]

Same thing as a lion dog isn't it? (Qirin I mean)

[cowmuflage]

nvm

[Mychelle]

Same thing as a lion dog isn't it? (Qirin I mean)

That would be the "Shishi" Lions, or Guardian Lions. =P



Also called "Foo Dogs" I believe.

[cowmuflage]

yeah not the same thing. On that whole "panda" thing my chinese mate says theres no such law and I think she would kno. Tho they still don't like seeing pandas hurt and stuff.

[Vephriel]

A kirin could almost be described as a scaled unicorn.

[cowmuflage]

Oh it's with a K cos all I found where Qilin

[Vephriel]

Yup, same creature, just alternate spellings.

[cowmuflage]

Ah I see.

[Mychelle]

A kirin could almost be described as a scaled unicorn.

(Cropping image from quote to save space again)

I always loved that picture. Ive seen it plenty before. Wouldnt that be so pretty as a mount? ;.;

[Britany]

Spirit beasts based on all 12 Chinese zodiac signs Spirit Rat FTW!

Oh wow, incredible idea! I would love to see that.

Same here! I'd LOVE that so much.

[Worba]

Same thing as a lion dog isn't it? (Qirin I mean)

That would be the "Shishi" Lions, or Guardian Lions. =P



Also called "Foo Dogs" I believe.

Foo dog - yes. That one I knew about.

I was confused about qirin/kirin/karen/etc - ty Vephriel.

[Agravaine]

While it's true there aren't any actual legal issues, Blizzard certainly were under pressure not to put the Pandaren into WoW. I remember actually seeing video of this Q&A, but it's gotten impossible to search it up due to the sheer number of Blizzcon videos on Youtube. This Q&A session is alluded to in the Wowpedia entry on Pandaren, but they put the wrong year (2009), the wrong terminology ("legal trouble" again) and no source, making it even harder to search up.

The fact remains, though, that no less than Blizzard's Lead Producer and VP of creative development have acknowledged that China's stance on Pandaren was a barrier to having them in the game.

As I mentioned in passing previously, putting them into an upcoming expansion could be Blizzard's revenge for Chinese prisoners being forced to farm gold.

[cowmuflage]

I doubt it would be for "revenge".