Will we ever see more hero classes?
I'm pretty sure we've all heard about the Death Knight by now and know that it is going to be the game's first "hero" class -- unlocked by a level 80 quest and starting at a higher level than a non-hero character. But I'm not really wondering about Death Knights right now, but instead about other hero classes that might be in our future. It struck me as an odd move to release an expansion with a single hero class purely for practical reasons -- as soon as people start hitting level 80 with their mains, we're going to see a swarm of new baby Death Knight alts. (That Death Knight Spree isn't just a joke!) The best counter to this, in my opinion, would be more than one hero class in the expansion. Of course we'd still wind up with a lot of new hero class players, but at least there would be a variety of them. And on the forums Nethaera gives a bit of hope for future hero classes, though not in this expansion:
We are thinking at current that any future hero class additions will be made in expansions further along the line so that we can control just how many classes the game has and continue to work on attaining balance as we add them.
I'm still hoping they'll come around to the idea of more hero classes sooner, rather than later.
We are thinking at current that any future hero class additions will be made in expansions further along the line so that we can control just how many classes the game has and continue to work on attaining balance as we add them.
I'm still hoping they'll come around to the idea of more hero classes sooner, rather than later.
Filed under: Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King







Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
PyroAmos Aug 13th 2007 3:42PM
geez can we beat a dead horse any more? this post has been in every DK thread (about every-other thread) with the same response every time. I'm getting really sick of seeing the pic of DK, since its used on half the DK posts.
Lykaon Aug 13th 2007 3:46PM
The shelf life of any game is only so long. It seems impossible that they will add a large number of hero classes before the game is abandoned altogether -- or at least has its budget cut.
Certainly, I doubt we'll ever seen the number of classes doubled from current.
Karl Aug 13th 2007 3:45PM
Going out on a limb here, but...If Blizzard used the words, "First hero class," doesn't that denote that there will be more? I thought Blizz already assured us this was going to happen. Did I possibly misunderstand?
Drifter Aug 13th 2007 3:47PM
I agree. Someone photochop that picture and come up with something new.
"so that we can control just how many classes the game has"
Like adding a second hero class will make them lose control? Add one more and we'll start seeing new classes springing up like bunnies? Just silly.
Todd Aug 13th 2007 3:47PM
Heh, this pic has become the standard "Hero Class" pic.
I honestly feel that more thought should be put into what it means to become a Death Knight, the process, and the importance. If all you have to do is finish a chain and then you get this new opened char... well... big deal. I'd rather have my main become the Death Knight + Current Class.
simplehiker Aug 13th 2007 3:52PM
I think it silly to think that Death Knights will be the only hero class. From the rumored dates for WotLK we are looking at a early 2008. Blizz isn't going to spill all the beans right away and I would be stupid of them to promise content they might not get finished. I am guessing there will be several Hero classes by the time WotLK is release.
Rich Aug 13th 2007 3:54PM
Its yet another carrot on a stick. The "We are thinking at current that any future hero class additions will be made in expansions further along the line..." is just marketing talk for "we need an excuse to get people to buy said expansion".
To release just the Death Knight in this expansion is a mistake. There should be at least one more hero class included.
They are probably hedging their bets. If the DK is grossly OP'ed (it will either be insanely OP or insanely UP) then they can tweak the rest.
pkeller Aug 13th 2007 4:01PM
What really needs to happen is @ 80 you unlock all of the classes as a hero class so that you don't have to suffer through 70 levels to have a viable character again. I mean at least give us the ability to start new chars at lvl 50 or something. The thought of Barrens and Ganklethorn Vale makes my skin crawl.
Ghen Aug 13th 2007 4:02PM
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
that is all.
Slayblaze Aug 13th 2007 4:03PM
We don't have enough info so far to do more than conjecture, but I believe it would be unwise to only release the 1 Hero class with the expansion if for no other reason than the "Death Knight spree" as has been mentioned. There should be at least a minimum of 2 Hero classes at the beginning for a little bit of balance and variety, and to force players into making a choice as Blizzard loves to do (and rightly so)!
Like the choice we had to make in BC of which to try out first: Draenei or Bloodelf? If they had only introduced one new race instead of two it would have thrown the whole balance out of whack. It's not quite the same thing with the DK issue, but it is similar. You have to have something that offsets the Deathknight or it could possibly break the game even.
Eric Aug 13th 2007 4:06PM
don't you get it yet... the death knight hero class will only be available to the 1-5% of uber raiders capable of completing the quest. this is just how blizzard operates. create content for a few and throw the masses a meatless bone every once in a while (see AQ opening sequence).
Langerhans Aug 13th 2007 4:10PM
If I had to place a wager I bet they will release a second Hero Class to provide some balance. How about a caster Hero Class possibly?
Bristor Aug 13th 2007 4:14PM
If Dalaran is going to be so central, it seems to me that the Archmage would be a natural to include in WotLK
Ghen Aug 13th 2007 4:17PM
@11
don't believe all the rumors you hear, death knights won't require raiding.
"Upon reaching level 80 and embarking on a quest "similar in difficulty to the Warlock epic mount quest," the ability to create a new Death Knight character will be unlocked."
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/03/death-knight-details/
The warlock quest was long and fun, required a 5 man at the end. It was well worth the effort and was probably one of my top 5 quest lines from Azeroth. So if the Death Knight is similar then its all good.
Adam Aug 13th 2007 4:48PM
If they do reveal a second hero class for wotlk, it should be a healer-hybrid class, to balance the tank/dps that the death knight is.
Perhaps a healing class with pets...*shrugs*
PyroAmos Aug 13th 2007 4:37PM
they can't make your char become the death knight because they know everyone is goind to make one, and if you lose your char for it, your stuck with it. they know most ppl will make one, realize when they try to get in groups, they get asked if they are tank, and when they say 'no i'm dps dk' they get a 'sorry, we need a tank' and they'll go back to playing their nelf hunter. if you lose your char when you make a DK, you can't go back to your nelf hunter. aside from lore not working for alot of classes to become dk, like druid and hunter.
and you wont need to raid for it, blizz said it will be solo/group play quest level, so imagine kara atunement, maybe a little longer, same dificulty, thats ur DK quest.
PyroAmos Aug 13th 2007 4:37PM
they can't make your char become the death knight because they know everyone is goind to make one, and if you lose your char for it, your stuck with it. they know most ppl will make one, realize when they try to get in groups, they get asked if they are tank, and when they say 'no i'm dps dk' they get a 'sorry, we need a tank' and they'll go back to playing their nelf hunter. if you lose your char when you make a DK, you can't go back to your nelf hunter. aside from lore not working for alot of classes to become dk, like druid and hunter.
and you wont need to raid for it, blizz said it will be solo/group play quest level, so imagine kara atunement, maybe a little longer, same dificulty, thats ur DK quest.
Valethas Aug 13th 2007 5:06PM
Personally I believe they should have started implementing Hero Classes when the BC hit or at least thought about giving the next EXP 2 hero classes other than just the one.
Perferably they should have put the Death Knight and the Demon Huunter in there since we were doing away with Illidan with the BC.
Besides since the Death Knight is a tanking class like at #16 only DK tanks will be wanted every other DK will be stuck in PvP thus the people who make DK for their DPS and stuff will probably delete em.
chaz Aug 13th 2007 5:05PM
Future expansions? So, like 2009?
How long do they think they can keep making these small moves and beat back the competition?
We need wow2, a completely reinvented wow.
Can anyone tell i'm bored with the game right now? :)
Medros Aug 13th 2007 5:14PM
I actually wrote about this abit in a recent op ed on my guild site. http://www.shadowwalkersguild.com/boards/showthread.php?t=3263