Mists of Pandaria

[Rikaku]

You know what should really be in Mists of Pandaria?

MODEL REVAMP FOR THE ORIGINAL CLASSIC RACES!

Seriously, I'm tired of Loque having more polygons in his paw then my entire NE has in her body. =/ Revamp Night Elves to look something like Ysera, yes please. That would freakin' rock.

Hey, I can dream. D:

[Royi]

I think Demon Hunters would be a sweet hero-class to try out. Maybe with a resurrection of Illdian to help combat the next Legion's push. He becomes a good-demon again (he was really just neutral the whole time for the most part)

[Worba]

They could be Horde Druids, and then to balance it out on the Alliance side....

Adorable I think we should get gnome punters first, though!

Fix't

[Rikaku]

I think Demon Hunters would be a sweet hero-class to try out. Maybe with a resurrection of Illdian to help combat the next Legion's push. He becomes a good-demon again (he was really just neutral the whole time for the most part)

Demon Hunters would rock. Not gonna lie...

[Worba]

I agree with the fact that we probably won't get a new race the next expansion. So far, we've gotten one every other expansion, so while it isn't exactly a set rule, it seems to be a reasonable trend that's beginning.

Prior to cata it was also the norm to increase the level cap by 10 and (largely) leave existing content alone.

So I'm pretty sure we're not in Kansas anymore...

[Kaswryn]

@CrystalKitten Maybe this one? http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2228225718 (question #11)

And to me adding the same thing over and over feels like it would start to get stale/loose it's appeal, so I'm personally hoping they stick to the trend of adding a new class next...and/or maybe something completely different to add to the existing characters (updated old race models would wonderful...maybe an appearance tab...better storage for gear?).

Also...*is totally on board for eventual demon hunter class+return of Illidan* =3

[Worba]

@CrystalKitten Maybe this one? http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2228225718 (question #11)

And to me adding the same thing over and over feels like it would start to get stale/loose it's appeal, so I'm personally hoping they stick to the trend of adding a new class next...and/or maybe something completely different to add to the existing characters (updated old race models would wonderful...maybe an appearance tab...better storage for gear?).

Also...*is totally on board for eventual demon hunter class+return of Illidan* =3

One thing to keep in mind is that the next xpac will very likely only increase the level cap to 90, so that they are back on a nice 10 divisible progression; and at least based on cata, when they give us just 5 lvls more end game, they tend to make up for it in other, VERY dramatic ways since they have that much extra time / money that doesn't have to be spent on purely end game content.

So I don't think the possibility of (with an end cap of 90 not 95) two new races AND a new brewmaster class is out of the question. And let's say they have Pandaria being menaced by demons (many of which already have distinctly Asian themes) - that would set the stage nicely for adding demon hunters in the 90-100 xpac (where outland gets a much needed facelift, and we have great big showdown). Hey as long as we're all dreaming here right?

[CrystalKitten]

Shadow, that might have been one of the ones I was thinking of

And I'd TOTALLY agree with the whole revamping existing races instea dof new ones. Infact.. That should be the priority. Same goes with some of the older models and textures... They redid the landscape... but some of the beasties still seem to be stuck in time, it seems

Also.. yes, they did break the trend of 10 levels per expansion.. But really.. how many more races CAN they add before it just starts getting rediculous? Unless a new faction was added (ie... a faction with naga (they've been wearing more armor lately.. made me think of it...), and.. to be honest, not even sure what else.. maybe a just plain "unallied" faction of loner races, naga, vrykul, etc), I just don't think it would work.

The only current race which I could even see being plausible, both from a playability standpoint and a "is there a REASON for this race to join the faction war?" would be furbolgs.. as they're pretty closely tied to night elves already. Anything else would be a bit of a stretch. Even goblins were a bit of a stretch, as everything leading up to Cata seemed to show them being entirely neutral. If they'd made an alliance race land on their island quest hub.. it could have easily gone the other way, other than that they seem to visually fit in more with the horde.

[Royi]

Demon Hunters

[Vignax]

I hope this is the expansion, cause blizzard is finally making new lore, the last 3 expansions were all lore from wc2 and wc3.


And i want brewmaster <3

[Worba]

Also.. yes, they did break the trend of 10 levels per expansion.. But really.. how many more races CAN they add before it just starts getting rediculous? Unless a new faction was added (ie... a faction with naga (they've been wearing more armor lately.. made me think of it...), and.. to be honest, not even sure what else.. maybe a just plain "unallied" faction of loner races, naga, vrykul, etc), I just don't think it would work.

Adding a third faction would involve a ton of VERY deep changes to the game, so it would be a lot of work for the devs, and many would view the end result as simply accommodating the desires of those who want to have their cake and eat it, e.g. if you add a third faction which can go anywhere and talk to anyone, then the other two factions would be left feeling kind of screwed (and justifiably so).

The only current race which I could even see being plausible, both from a playability standpoint and a "is there a REASON for this race to join the faction war?" would be furbolgs.. as they're pretty closely tied to night elves already. Anything else would be a bit of a stretch. Even goblins were a bit of a stretch, as everything leading up to Cata seemed to show them being entirely neutral. If they'd made an alliance race land on their island quest hub.. it could have easily gone the other way, other than that they seem to visually fit in more with the horde.

I'm glad you mentioned goblins, because they demonstrate a couple excellent points - 1) that "general feel" counts for a lot and 2) no matter how convinced some players may be that Blizzard "can't" change XYZ (like having goblin or worgen DKs - there were players who pointed out there wouldn't be any of those due to neither having joined the horde player factions till after wotlk, and the dev response was essentially "shut up, goblin DKs are fun" ), they both can and do - adding goblins to the horde shows that game lore is extremely malleable in the hands of creative game designers, and typically works out for the best in the long run.

So there are plenty of perfectly plausible excuses to add pandaren to either of the factions; with the horde, it's as simple as Chen's followers splitting off from the neutral majority same as the goblin isle refugees did from the steamwheedle cartel. I could probably think of an equally plausible excuse for adding them to alliance but that would be making the other side's job easier for them...

[CrystalKitten]

Oh, I'm not saying Blizzard COULDN'T make more races fit... I'm pointing out the question of whether they SHOULD. I don't know... Sometimes I just get these unchangeable stubborn feelings that some things would just get to be too much. And more races is one of them. I just don't feel that at this moment, there's a good reason to add more races. Especially after JUST getting some this expansion. I just feel like there's far more things they SHOULD be doing before adding more races. Like updating the current race models, as some people have already said.

And.. I dunno, I also highly doubt pandaran would be a playable race. If anything, I'd imagine them being more like the tolvir. A netural hub for questing, etc. I dunno.. just something about it doesn't feel like it would fit.. but maybe that's just me. I'm very much a person who likes to have games be at least somewhat plausible within their own universe, and make sense. Having a race which hasn't even been HINTED at existing within the known, or referenced, universe, suddenly pop up and be playable (at least with worgens the wall WAS there.. and they had "leaked" out into some other zones, sometimes even in a semi-sentient manner, like the one town near SFK), just.. really seems like Blizz would be doing it just to try and money grab because "OMG MUST HAS PANDA!"...

As to the whole "worgens and goblins weren't playable races in wrath"... No... they weren't.. However, there WERE goblins AND sentient worgen in northrend long before they were playable races. Arguably, the deathknights of those races could have been risen from those stocks, and then later joined the respective factions due to their race already having a presence, and making it easier to gain the trust of the faction leaders due to familiarity with the race.

[Worba]

Having a race which hasn't even been HINTED at existing within the known, or referenced, universe, suddenly pop up and be playable

They've been plenty hinted at - Chen appeared in the Rexxar bonus game - I don't know if you played that but it is considered the bridge between RTS wargame and MMORPG, and the intro to wow as we know it. There were also playable brewmasters in the WC bloodelf campaign and also (I believe ) in the battlenet version. Then ofc there's the minipet, the fact that Chen's face is the icon for Brewfest, etc etc.

This is actually a lot like RL Japan, not coincidentally - closed for a very very long time to foreigners and thus considered quite mysterious, one of those places marked "HERE THERE BE DRAGONS" on ancient maps when it was featured at all... until they were literally forced to open their ports.

As to the whole "worgens and goblins weren't playable races in wrath"... No... they weren't.. However, there WERE goblins AND sentient worgen in northrend long before they were playable races. Arguably, the deathknights of those races could have been risen from those stocks, and then later joined the respective factions due to their race already having a presence, and making it easier to gain the trust of the faction leaders due to familiarity with the race.

Very well thought out... and you also just proved my point about the malleability of game lore, e.g. there's all kinds of possibilities for change, it really just depends on what Blizzard feels like doing.

I totally understand that yourself and others have no desire to see pandaren as a playable race - that's perfectly valid, and it doesn't need any embellishment to stand on its own merit. But in the end it's just a matter of opinion, all around.

[Sukurachi]

And of course there is the Dallas-solution: Thrall wakes up to find that Cataclysm was all a dream....

[Ijomi]

Instead of more races, I'd love to see them add some subsets to the existing ones. Taunka, other troll tribe options, Mag'har, etc.

The plot is really becoming too complex to keep to strictly two factions too, imo.

Though I'd love playable Ethereals. Easiest character creation screen ever.

[GormanGhaste]

And of course there is the Dallas-solution: Thrall wakes up to find that Cataclysm was all a dream....

Eeee, hope it involves a shower scene!!

[Rikaku]

They've been plenty hinted at - Chen appeared in the Rexxar bonus game - I don't know if you played that but it is considered the bridge between RTS wargame and MMORPG, and the intro to wow as we know it. There were also playable brewmasters in the WC bloodelf campaign and also (I believe ) in the battlenet version. Then ofc there's the minipet, the fact that Chen's face is the icon for Brewfest, etc etc.

I totally understand that yourself and others have no desire to see pandaren as a playable race - that's perfectly valid, and it doesn't need any embellishment to stand on its own merit. But in the end it's just a matter of opinion, all around.

Personally I don't count that as "plenty hinted at". At most those would be Easter Eggs because while, yes it was in the Rexxar Bonus game, in the end the Pandaren were just a big joke... like a huge april fool's joke. They were never intended to go any further beyond a good couple of laughs.

But don't take that as me saying 'I don't want to see Pandaren playable'. I do, I welcome Pandaren both in-game and playable, I just don't see it panning out as playable (in my opinion).

I could probably think of an equally plausible excuse for adding them to alliance but that would be making the other side's job easier for them...

They were said to be big allies to the Night Elves until their magic got out of hand. They're also still on good terms with the Ironforge Dwarves. =) There, the other side's job is done!


Also someone mentioned that they forsee us getting new classes, new continent, AND new races? I really really doubt that. I don't see us getting "new classes" unless its more of the "old classes on different races [i.e. Humand and Undead Hunters for Cata]" stuff. I just don't see the expansion pack containing all 3.

I'm not saying we can't dream though, cause heck, I'm dreaming too

Dreaming of the old races getting revamped. Seriously. The classic races are beginning to look like eyesores compared to the newer races and regions. (I died a little when my NE explored Gilneas)

[Litlemouse]

But if pandarens were to become a playable race, what would blizzard do with the pandaren monk minipet? It'd be like having a pet Night elf, Tauren, etc.

[Rikaku]

But if pandarens were to become a playable race, what would blizzard do with the pandaren monk minipet? It'd be like having a pet Night elf, Tauren, etc.

Well we do have vanity "pets" who are human and orc children (from ToC), not to mention the Guild Pages. So I doubt that's a big issue probably.

[Worba]

Also someone mentioned that they forsee us getting new classes, new continent, AND new races? I really really doubt that. I don't see us getting "new classes" unless its more of the "old classes on different races [i.e. Humand and Undead Hunters for Cata]" stuff. I just don't see the expansion pack containing all 3.

I'm not saying we can't dream though, cause heck, I'm dreaming too

Yeah that was me actually, and it was with the caveat that they only bump the level cap up to 90.

TBC: +10 levels, new zones, 2 new races

WOTLK: +10 levels, new zones, hero class

Cata: +5 levels, fewer new zones, 2 new races, most of Azeroth redone

So basically do a side by side with cata...

Cata: +5 levels, fewer new zones, 2 new races, most of Azeroth redone

Mists: +5 levels, fewer new zones, 2 new races, hero class

Ofc this is all completely hypothetical but at least in very general terms I think those last two could be switched without a major change in overall resource outlay.