Breakfast Topic: Runes and hero classes
by Amanda Rivera 
Aug 13th 2007 at 8:00AM
As we look forward to the release of Wrath of the Lich King, I've been thinking on the new resource system they are introducing with the Death Knight. The runes carved into the Death Knight's blade are not necessarily unique amongst MMOs, but they are certainly new to WoW. I wonder though, as more hero classes are added to the game, will they use the new runic system? And how exactly would that work?
I can see many classes as defined by their weapons, the Blade Master and his sword, the Archmage and his staff, so it's not too far off to expect that when we have access to new hero classes they might use this system, but they might not. Adding new novel ways that we play the game we love is one of the reasons I do love WoW so much. I admit more than a little curiosity as to how this might play out. What sort of resource system do you see being used by, say, the Demon Hunter? Would they use mana, energy, rage, runes, or something completely different? Are there any advantages to the runic system over the others?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Classes, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andrew Boerema Aug 13th 2007 8:23AM
The one thing that I wish Blizzard would do with the rune blades for the DK's is to have the sword grow with the person and perhaps create a system through which you upgrade your sword. I big part about the lore of the DK is that their soul is bound to the sword so that when the DK is defeated, their sword ensnares a new master. I think it would be awesome.
Sirg Aug 13th 2007 8:24AM
unfortunately I doubt they'll add new hero classes, just this DK.
I would have loved to see each class "leveling" into an heroic lvl 70+ class, like archmage, with new abilities, and a golden dragon around their portraits :)
Sirg Aug 13th 2007 8:26AM
@2 each class upgrading to its specific hero class
jijno Aug 13th 2007 8:42AM
wow, awesome picture. ummmm, nothing more to add :P
PyroAmos Aug 13th 2007 8:54AM
the one thing i wish blizard would do is not announce expantions that are over a year from completion. honestly, enough with the expantion, its still a long long way off, and blizz doesn't even know how they're going to make it work yet, so speculating about the hero classes of the expantion after next, which is a good 2-4 years out still, is getting old, to say the least.
Andrew Boerema Aug 13th 2007 9:01AM
Dude....they know how they are going to make it work. I went to BlizzCon and played the expansion for 3 hours (took the better part of a day since you only got to play in 20-minute chunks). I would say that it will be out by end of first quarter '08. What is really taking them time is the content. The framework is there and ready to go.
Hokuto Aug 13th 2007 9:03AM
I agree with @2. Class evolutions would add some uniqueness around, pretty much needed imho.
Actually ONE hero class is a bad idea. Think about how many NE hunters you're seeing around. Now replace them by death knights. Voilá...
Patrick Weir Aug 13th 2007 9:05AM
2-4 years out.. i think it will be out in February .. keeping with blizzards initiative to regularly put out new content..
Eclipsaa Aug 13th 2007 9:34AM
actually didn't they say that death knights were the first of a line of hero classes to come? so this shouldest be the last and only. Unless it turns out to be a big mistake then who knows what blizzard will do.
Oh and there have been some information on when it will be released, Sounds like march 08. but thats just a rumor from a magazine or something like that, but its a good guess in my opnion
Oh the original subject i do hope they have a unique system for all additional hero classes to come. Repeating this rune system for the other hero classes wouldn't make much sense to me
Indigo Aug 13th 2007 9:42AM
@4 agreed.
There's a vast shortage of decent gnome game art.
Where's that from? You credited the picture but no link to the site? :P
bonse Aug 13th 2007 9:45AM
wouldn't mind the runes on the sword working like skills in guildwars, imagine runes = skills rather than runes power skills as they intend, can have as many skills as you like, but can only use the ones on your sword, and can only switch runes in a capital or inn (by yourself at no cost) would mean tailoring your skills to your (expected) circumstances but being bound by your choices until your next visit home.
No idea about the balance and practicality, but for an off the wall suggestion think there's a working theory and will certainly increase the variety of death knights your likely to meet.
as for other hero classes, hard as we dont know what to expect by way of classes, necromancers, demon hunters etc, yes they are in the previous installments of warcraft, but thats no guarentee.
PyroAmos Aug 13th 2007 10:14AM
@8 this post is about how other hero classes will work after death knight, which would be the expantion after wotlk.
dotorion Aug 13th 2007 10:50AM
When you say "rune system" it always makes me think back to the runes from Diablo II LoD and the rune word system. Those were also socketable like gems.
Gotta love Diablo item fever in WoW !
Joel Aug 13th 2007 11:09AM
I always loved the way that there are many different resource systems within the game already, and they all rely on different ideas to supplement them, such as Shards, Mana Crystals, Ammo etc as well as the rage and energy bars. I'm glad the new resource system is being introduced as it really will make the class feel more unique.
There are still more places they could go with new resource systems, and unless there is an obvious link to a previous one, such as Archmage and Mana, I would expect future Hero classes to have new ones. Things they could do is an consumables based class, relying on what they can carry in their bags, ammo and a few mana or energy intensive moves to supplement; Or the rune system could be translated to a Runemaster/Monk class as seen in the D20 books.
Anyways, that's my 2pence...
cbass Aug 13th 2007 11:10AM
re: the artwork. death knight and gnome? the 2 should be mutually exclusive.
Ghen Aug 13th 2007 11:31AM
@7
Death Knight is supposed to be a tanking class.. So hopefully the e-peen feeding NE hunters won't take a liking to it so much. I'm hoping the death knight isn't much of a damage dealer since it most certainly gets plate.
Dave Aug 13th 2007 11:41AM
I wish the runes would essentially define your spec. That way you'd just swap some runes before combat or before you're doing whatever it is you're doing and you'd be well suited (but not perfect) for the task at hand.
I know that's ultimately not how Blizzard wants it since they want to pigeonhole people into very rigid specs when they get a chance, but honestly...
When you think of Hero, do you really think of "same old stuff, new skin" or do you think something that actually changes the way things have gone so far and will go in the future? I think of a Hero as someone who can do everything you'd expect from them with ease.
I doubt we'll get it, since it seems from all indications that Blizzard would rather slowly release hero classes in a watered down form rather than all at once and largely powerful, but we'll see.
Arturis Aug 13th 2007 1:16PM
@Indigo
The cute yet creepy gnome was drawn by yours truly. More of my artwork can been seen at http://www.rogueknightstudios.com/portfolio/ - I was also responsible for the image of the Bread Elemental, seen here http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/05/09/a-crummy-idea/
hpavc Aug 13th 2007 2:35PM
I equate the runes to 'blood pool' that vampire the rpg uses. You have so many and can only spend so many at a time (or for a specific buff).
So a ten rune cap might look like this, obviously you couldn't fit both of the end two in there.
Unholy Alliance (6 runes) when you make a killing blow, attack power increases 10% stacks 5 times. Lasts until end of combat
Unholy Revengence (4 runes) when you are hit struck in combat deals holy damage to attacker (eg, retribution aura)lasts until end of combat
Unholy Aggression (4 runes) chance on successful damage dealing hit to increase haste rating ? stacks n times lasts until end of combat.
I would also say that the spells need to be quested for most likely rather than leveled for alone. So there is no trainer for a Heroic character. Its all books from after the start.
Greta Aug 13th 2007 4:11PM
Actually the gnome reminds me of Michael Jackson (creepily enough).