Players: Bring skinny Blood Elves back!
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 25th 2006 at 8:42PM
Wow. If you think delaying your upcoming expansion will raise the hackles of players, just try pumping up (Hans and Frans style-- wait, is that reference too old by now?) your character models. Players haven't taken very kindly to the changes in the beta build-- Blizz bulked up the Blood Elves, and players who wanted skinny magic users have cried foul.For the best writeup on the story I've seen, head over to the newly created Livejournal community (here's their manifesto). If you agree with the plight of players who want emaciated magic addicts, feel free to sign the petition and become a Member of the Skinny Blood Elves Society (clocking in at 82 signatures at the time of posting). And dreamt over on LJ has an update on the subject, including rumors (unfounded, but still) that the bulking up of the Blood Elves won't stop at the pixels-- Blizzard might change the Napoleon dance, the twirly jump, even the voice acting. I think those rumors are unfounded at best, but this is beta, so everything's up in the air at the moment.
Neth has given us a blue post on the subject as well, and she says (not surprisingly) that Blizzard's only goal is to make sure the models fit in the world they've designed. However, right before that, she does say that the change was made "in response to concerns that the Blood Elf male appeared to be too feminine." So the devs gave them "a more substantial, masculine feel" to give "the impression of strength and a menacing presence." Draw your own gender-based conclusions about that-- I'm not quite sure "substance" necessarily means "masculinity," but apparently Blizzard thinks so.
And Ephraim, the player who original brought the change to the forums, has posted comparisons to other races (including the one above) that make the change look not as pronounced as it originally was. There's no question that players don't want gorilla-shaped Blood Elves-- it doesn't fit what we've been told about the race or the lore behind it (not to mention that, Pally excluded, the Blood Elves' lore sends them towards the less melee-inclined races anyway). But the question that remains is what Blizzard will do with that information. We'll keep you updated on any changes we see coming out of the beta-- hopefully by the time it hits shelves, Blizz and the players will have found a BE shape that they can both agree on.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Blizzard, Expansions, Blood Elves
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Noroth Oct 25th 2006 9:56PM
I agree with the pro-skinny blood elves opinions from the previous WoW Insider post about this, so to not recycle any information:
I'm in the beta and went looking for my new favorite line in the game, a /silly from the blood elf male: "::sighs:: I could really use a scrunchie... yeah you heard me!" But new beef elves lack this line! Homophobia FTL. There's steroids in my mana crystals... Whatever happened to giving the comfortable straight guys a fun race, not to mention giving our few female players some eye candy for once.
White Rabbit Oct 25th 2006 10:20PM
I was very much looking forward to having my skinny "feminine" looking blood elf. If people want a new BEEFY character at the expansion, go to the Alliance and play Dranaii
vlad3060 Oct 25th 2006 10:51PM
The new models don't look much different than the original models do. I actually like the new ones, as the older model had a physique too similar to the female BE.
If you look at the pics, they are still the smallest Horde race in stature and in overall size.
And any race that has 3 of their 6 class choices (Paladins, Hunters and Rogues) that are all meele classes can't look too physically weak.
Savok Oct 25th 2006 11:42PM
Hunters aren't melee (should of never been hunters anyway, no animal is gonna respect a crack addict), Rogues are agility based and Pallies, well they STOLE that class, not exactly natural to them.
Besides, a Paly gets a lot of their strength from the Light.
Chef Oct 25th 2006 11:53PM
This could be evidence that they are considering the Warrior class for Blood Elves. After all, even if you're addicted to magic it's not hard to pick up a sword and shield, then go out and bash stuff. That's the impression I got, anyway, when I first began playing, and noticed it as the only universal class.
Kyle Oct 26th 2006 12:12AM
I highly doubt this is evidence of them going back on their choice, especially given that the Blue have said in the past that the current classes for each race are locked in: http://blue.cardplace.com/cache/wow-general/9320516.htm
Anyway, on the male BE, I don't really know what ot think. On the one hand, the earlier bit showing the before and after shots made me pretty angry, they looked quite a bit buffed up. But from various shots, they do look slim still. But to think that they're changing this because people can't stand them being slim and a little feminine, that's just sad.
Krianna Oct 26th 2006 1:05AM
I want magical crack addicts.... No, really.
And for menace-- anybody ever see Willard? That movie with the skinny, creepy rat SOB? He had power and could kill you-- much like a magic crack addict with a fireball....
Ravven Oct 26th 2006 1:30AM
I'm disappointed. I really, really wanted languid badboys. Not all of us prefer musclebound, pissed-off, constipated-looking Nelfs. Give me guys that look like dancers or martial artists, rather than linebackers...I'll take them any day.
Lance Oct 26th 2006 4:43AM
This is a direct Qoute from a secret Blizzard Members blog." We're bringin' Skinny back" HAHAHA
Heike Oct 26th 2006 12:23PM
I'm really disappointed by the change - the new arms just are huge and ugly and awkward looking. And it makes no sense! Bring back my skinny blood elves :(
Gamerz22 Oct 26th 2006 11:33AM
265 Signatures Total as of 8:23am PST USA. I am one of them!
Beta Tester - Blood Elf Mage (and lovin' it)
James Oct 26th 2006 12:19PM
People will find anything to gripe about. Who cares? And the thing is, if Blizzard obliged and returned the skinny blood elves, then a whole new thread would show up with people demanding the bigger blood elves. Cut Blizzard some slack...if anything, there are other more important things in WoW that could use some attention.
Unbelievable that there are this many posts on something so trivial. The decision I have to make regarding my lunch today is more important than this. And 256 sigs? Um, congrats? I'm sure the Blizzard design team spilled their collective coffees this morning when they saw that 256 people had signed a petition to get the old B. Elves back. Only 6,999,744 more to go!
warforge Oct 26th 2006 12:24PM
The Bloodelf crying is exageration.
I have seen nothing but woots and ooooos and aaaaahs over chat channels. Hardly any complaints...
I believe this disgruntled report on BE looks is an exageration.
I am in beta..and hanging out in silvermoon ..and this is news to me.
Warbleflit Oct 26th 2006 1:47PM
For starters, I like the skinny BE males. (Females on the other hand, they need to eat something. Why oh why, haven't they bulked up THOSE models??) One of the first characters I made in beta was a BE male whom I ran around with till lvl 10, than shelved him to go and play my draenei. Now that all of this hub-bub is going on, I broke him out again to see.
I've been running around with him for a few minutes now, and I, honestly, really can't see that much of a change. Maybe he's a "litle" more buff. Not enough for me to get angry over. He still looks like he has normal proportions, unlike most of the other male models in this game. People keep saying the arms are huge and whatnot, and from the pics I see, they are, but when I am in the game, it doesn't seem that way. Am I the only one that likes the skinnier model, but can't really tell that much of a difference in the new one?
LT Oct 26th 2006 3:18PM
this may come as a shock to some ppl but most WoW players are guys who would rather not play a gay looking/acting char and thats why Bliz is making the changes to the male BE. I dont have a problem with the scrawny original build but from what i heard the animations and voice acting are not very "male-like"
In General:
if a guy picks a female char its most likely because he wants to see an attractive char.
if a guy picks a male char its most likely because he wants to look imposing and/or fearsome.(Gnomes are exceptions, hahah)
i havent met many ppl who wish for a pansy char.
Warbleflit Oct 26th 2006 4:52PM
I think, 15, what gets a lot of people upset over the whole issue is that you, and others like you, associate "skinny" with "gay"... and that association is not only offensive but incorrect.
If as you say, it was the "animations and voice acting" that were not very "male-like", then why change the body shape?
HankD Oct 27th 2006 11:12AM
I was hoping for the slimmer models, just because I prefer the cloth-wearing caster classes, and always felt my human mage was just too musclebound. I like the thinner, athlete/gymnast look for my spellcasters... not biceps almost as big as their heads. :)
PLUS, for the record, I thought the voice casting and emotes were AWESOME... wimpy? maybe... but jeez, it's Die Fledermaus from "The Tick", whaddya expect?!?
Ed Oct 26th 2006 10:32PM
Are we all forgetting the original skinny, feminine guys? what about the Undead males?
If according to general consensus (skinny= gay), why didn't they beef up Undeads too? I mean look at them! Slender waist, wide hips, and general lack of bulky muscle; I wonder why no one complained.
Don't say it's because they're corpses, because if they were wrestler size when they were alive, then they should be wrestler size after death.
Savok Oct 27th 2006 6:30AM
Jesus christ people, they're ELVES, and not the animalistic Night Elves but elves in the classic sense. The only thing more girly then an elf is a bishie, and lets face it, most bishes end up being elves anyway.
The only way an elf can get too girly is sticking a pair of breats on them.
Also I've yet to see a buff crack addict.
warforge Oct 27th 2006 1:44PM
Voice Emotes well are not gay..They are super Metro Sexual though.
Definetly not the Manly man like Marlboro man, John Wayne, or Gen. Paton...
And To be honest how many of you really can identify with the voice over being so metro sexual?
I surely can't stand it.