Death Knight tidbits from Neth
by Eliah Hecht 
Aug 29th 2007 at 2:28PM
In a silly thread in the Druid forums asking whether the druids would get a "dark form" to go along with the Death Knight being a dark version of the Paladin (which it...sort of is, I guess), US CM Nethaera dropped a few interesting pieces of DK information.[when asked if DKs will start at level 55, instead of 60 or 70] That is the current thinking. It could still be subject to change though and is not concrete. We're still toying with ideas of how we want to make it all work. We want people to feel like they are learning not only the how's of becoming a Death Knight from the lore perspective, but also how to play one.
[More character slots?] Undetermined as of yet. We'll let people know when we know more.
[...the current feeling is that a player with any class over 55 (or whatever the level ends up being) will be able to unlock Death Knight? ] yes. That is our current thinking.
[asked about balance] It is going to be balanced against other classes and will not be able to stomp everyone else just because it's a Death Knight. Yes, they will be powerful but in their own unique way. What makes it a Hero class is that it is from Warcraft lore as a Hero class and also you will get access to it at a higher level. Any race can be a Death Knight in our current thinking as well since the path to corruption can be founded with good intentions much like what happened to Arthas.
[How many abilities will DKs start with?] Undetermined as of yet. We're still fleshing a lot of things out. This is another reason we caution people about the perception that the expansion is coming out 'too soon'. We have only shown people the tip of the iceberg and have a lot more that we are still working out and planning for. Once we have more details, we'll be sharing them so people can discuss it more and plan for the future.
So there's a lot of "not sure yet" in that post, but there's also some good information, notably that they currently think DKs will start at level 55. That's a bit lower than I would have expected. 58 or 60 would make more sense, in my opinion, in order to be able to start out in Outland (but then again, does that make sense lore-wise?). So how excited are you about Death Knights? Are they your main reason to buy Wrath? The change that will kill WoW?
[thanks, Natulcien]
Filed under: News items, Expansions, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Silverhoof Mar 19th 2008 12:50AM
oh my gosh Blizzard has gone off the deep end folks... Why would a nature loving Tauren or Night Elf become a Death Knight? They say you'll be able to make a DK of ANY race, it's cool but it doesnt make ANY sense. Again I say a peaceful, nature loving, tree-hugger Tauren or Night Elf would becoem a DK?! Plus the armour would look retarded on them probably, it just doesn't fit their personalitys.
Jonathan Mar 28th 2008 1:25PM
I agree also the dk shouldnt have to be unlocked from a quest its just gay
Silverhoof Mar 19th 2008 1:16AM
Another thing... I wonder how the DK and all the future Hero classes personal mounts will look like? Cause a DK on a Kodo, Tiger, Ram, or Wolf just doesnt seem right anyone have any clue what they might look like?
Jonathan Mar 28th 2008 1:26PM
I think they should just start the death knight at lvl 1 so that you dont have to have like a lvl 70 to get a quest to unlock the dk. Its wierd you should be able to be a dk when you get wrath of the lich king
Adys Aug 29th 2007 2:34PM
Knight*
BillDoor Aug 29th 2007 2:41PM
Am I strange in that I have no strong interest in the Death Knight class? I'm more interested in seeing what the new Level 80 talent tree will look like for my main.
Chris Aug 29th 2007 2:42PM
I am guessing here but the Death Knight starting at level 55 is because you will be around Strat and the EPL area is level 55-60ish. It would make sense 'lore'wise' that you start at that level because of the area.
shmooo Aug 29th 2007 2:46PM
@2 Nope. While everyone else is playing their Deathknight I'll be the only warrior left on the realm, I guess.
Camaris Aug 30th 2007 10:47AM
@3 That makes a lot of sense. 55 is about when the serious Scourge questlines start to happen. We also know that the Argent Dawn employs Forsaken, so I'm quite sure they wouldn't mind a few friendly Death Knights helping out.
Syd Aug 29th 2007 2:54PM
Ever since I remember hearing about the rumor of Hero Classes way, way, way back when I've been a bit excited about them. DK's aren't my only reason for getting Lich King but they are a pretty big part of it.
Chadwick Aug 29th 2007 2:56PM
I'll most likely wait until the onslaught of Gnome Deathknights ends before I start one of my own.
Hollywood Ron Aug 29th 2007 2:56PM
I'll be right there with you, schmoo. I'm much more interested in the next 10 points than I am starting a new character (though I will roll a Death Knight and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't).
-----
Ron
http://flektor-blog.com
Rich Aug 29th 2007 2:56PM
The change that kill WoW is TBC. LOL
I am not really interested in the Death Knight. I'd rather see some more Hero Classes released with the next expac.
Actually, I am not really looking forward to WotLK. I dunno, nothing jumps out at me. Its more of the same in different location. Sure I'll pick it up and play, only cause I am addict like that. But there is hardly any excitement on my part with what I've seen so far.
KateJaneway Aug 29th 2007 3:04PM
I'd like to start a little lower for DKs, just because Blizz could take this opportunity to make a whole new level 50-60 area, and let the death knights be the first to see it (be themed with their sort of style). Maybe two or three areas even.
I guess it would also be cool to have a level 55-65 area... I was thinking in vanilla terms :]
Jon Aug 29th 2007 3:04PM
Gnome Death Knights - even more hilarious than Gnome Warriors!
Todd Aug 29th 2007 3:05PM
Blizzard hasn't thought any of this through, they just created something they thought was cool, made a big show and release, and now they're discovering that it won't be as easy as they thought. Yikes!
Dracula Jones Aug 29th 2007 3:18PM
"I'd like to start a little lower for DKs, just because Blizz could take this opportunity to make a whole new level 50-60 area, and let the death knights be the first to see it (be themed with their sort of style). Maybe two or three areas even."
There are more than enough 50-60 areas. There's Un'Goro, Western and Eastern Plaguelands, Silithus, Winterspring, Felwood. And at 58 you're in Hellfire anyway, so that's 6 existing zones to cover 8 levels.
Ken Lydell Aug 29th 2007 3:18PM
I look forward to the DK class as I already play all nine of the current classes. For whiners who think they are better game designers than Blizzard, little will be to their satisfaction. Those hooked on a single class will be indifferent. There will always be amongst us the arrogant and narrow minded.
Dave Aug 29th 2007 3:19PM
Yeah, i think the idea is that when you unlock the slot, it's an "existing" death knight IN stratholme that's questioning their loyalty to Arthas. Since the mobs in Strath are 55-60, makes sense that you'll start at 55ish. (and presumably have some sort of small questing zone that's new too...)
cap Aug 29th 2007 3:32PM
I am not particularly interested in the Death Knights either. I am very excited for the Old Stratholme CoT instance.
Now, if we were talking Archmage hero class, then I'd be as giddy as a schoolgirl.