Where are all the titles?
by Mike Schramm 
Sep 13th 2007 at 3:00PM
Franco on Aman'thul has a request that I wholeheartedly agree with: Bring back a way to earn the old PvP ranks and titles.In fact, I think Blizzard has dropped the ball on titles completely. While they promised us lots of new mounts and tabards and have more or less delivered on those, where are the titles? That seems like the easiest thing to implement, and yet the only new titles I can think of are from PvP (doesn't the Skyguard confer a title as well, or am I imaging that?).
So why doesn't Blizzard get creative with titles? Every faction should have a title that goes with it, and conquering raid instances should grant titles as well ("Gruul the Dragonkiller Killer"). I'd even like to see titles for less than heroic events-- falling to your death a certain number of times should grant you a title ("Heir of Icarus"?), or even deserting a battleground a certain number of times. There are tons and tons of fun titles that Blizzard could give out, and it would add a whole new and easily implemented element to the game. There's no reason to force titles on anyone, but the way things are implemented now, people can choose to carry around any title they want (or none at all). Why didn't Blizzard go crazy with putting a ton of creative titles into the game?
As far as I'm concerned, Blizzard just plain dropped the ball here. Sure, maybe they're a little leery about bringing the old PvP ranks back so soon, but they put that title system into the game for a reason, Drysc-- use it!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Instances, Buffs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Retlon Sep 13th 2007 3:07PM
They still have titles for Arena teams, (Duelist, Champion etc..) they are harder to get than your old run of the mill Grunt, Scout whatever.. They require skill and desire.
Rao Sep 13th 2007 3:09PM
You forgot "Scarab Lord" for opening the AQ gate.
KingdoK Sep 13th 2007 3:10PM
No title from the Skyguard unfortunately
Fireflash38 Sep 13th 2007 3:12PM
Reminds Me of Fable titles, but i would most definitely approve.
Chicken Chaser (Bunny Killer)
Slayblaze Sep 13th 2007 3:15PM
I totally agree, I worked hard for my original PVP Title back in the day that it *meant* something (to some people anyway) and people actually played hard in BG's instead of afk'ing for free honor. The only part I like about the changes to BG was getting rid of the decaying honor and the resulting drop in rank. There still should be a ranking and title associated with it, but it probably would be rather meaningless under the current system.
I hate playing Arena personally for various reasons, but I love battlegrounds and if the old titles were reinstated - even though just a vanity title - I'd be a happy camper.
Maeric Sep 13th 2007 3:15PM
A title comes before a name. It's would look very funny to see for example "Heir of Icarus Maeric" but it looks natural to see something like "Knight Maeric". I'd rather not have everything one can think of confer a title but I do agree it would be nice to have a few more. I just don't really think Blizzard dropped the ball here. It's not something I'd want them spending a lot of time on.
Bob Sep 13th 2007 3:17PM
I ground like a madman to earn my Grand Marshal title, I would rather not see every tom dick and harry with it.
Darkwarder Sep 13th 2007 3:27PM
I loved the titles and badges in City of Heroes. I think titles really add something to the game, and then, if you inspect someone, you could see a list of their accomplishments as badges (Karazhan clear, Gruul clear, exalted faction status, some class milestones dmg/healing, etc.). I wish Blizz would implement this.
Regis Sep 13th 2007 3:31PM
Actually I was trying out Lord of the Rings Online the other week (free trial) and found that you could gain special titles, right from the beginning!
Survive to level 5 without getting killed, you got a title; "the Wary".
Kill a lot of bandits and you would get "Watcher of the Roads" or something.
Great idea, unfortunately that is probably the only idea they came up with on their own, the rest of the game could just be renamed "World of Warcraft: Lord of the Rings Edition" for all the ideas they stole.
draeth Sep 13th 2007 3:34PM
I as well wouldnt like to see everyone with certain titles, but if they took the time to add like 25+ titles for meaningful accomplishments or not so meaningful accomplishments that would add a whole new fun factor to the game to me. I would love to have a title for one of my characters, sadly I started playing after the honor system was changed. Also if they didnt tell you how to get them that would be cool, e.g you fall to your doom and when you rez BOOM "Heir of Icarus" is added to your name.
Erik Sep 13th 2007 3:38PM
City of Hero's has the best "title" system, they have badges and each badge has an associated title with it.
You kill enough of a certain group and you get "Skull basher" or something relating to that group. Take 2 million damage get "Sturdy" its very simple and could add a lot to the game. Heal 2 million damage get "Doctor".
rahvii Sep 13th 2007 3:37PM
I dont that everything should give you a title, tabards are good for that. But would be cool to have title for big PVE archivements like killing Magtheridon, Vash, Kaelthas and Illidan. There should be more casual Arena titles like when you have 1800 rating and up, the old PVP ranks (with a not so hardcore downgrade system), and a little rep with World PVP objetives that gives youa tittle as well... something like "Hala's Horde/Ally Commander" or something like that
Autumnbear Sep 13th 2007 3:45PM
I'm embarrassed with my old PVP title. 'Senior Sergeant'. Ugh!
That's back when players had to play non-stop all week to maintain their Warlord status.
I can't upgrade my title. I see some players walking around, choosing to display their old PVP titles. 'High Warlord, Conquerer, etc..'.
Here I am, an old player, ashamed to reveal my crappy Rank 4 title. /sigh...
If you successfully raid an instance a certain number of times, or become Exalted with certain factions, you should be able to unlock Rank Titles.
Exalted with Cenarion Circle? You unlock the ability to display 'Keeper of the Cenarion Circle', or something to that effect.
Successfully mastered Molten Core a million times? You unlock the title '>insert title here
Leshrac Sep 13th 2007 3:54PM
@7 - Bob doesn't want to lose his title, I guess this case is closed. No new titles per Bob.
Ghen Sep 13th 2007 4:02PM
The biggest thing to online gaming communities that WoW doesn't have right now are achievement badges ala Xbox Live. I love collecting random crap, and getting the achievement for falling and living with 1% health would be just up my alley.
Get on it blizz!
Angelus Sep 13th 2007 4:03PM
I love it that I got my Commander title back. I dont have much time to play but my time of getting to Commander and then losing the title after 3 weeks of decay kind of made me feel the hate. Blizz giving me back that title makes me feel the love.
If you have a title like that it tells me a couple things, one, you speant every single moment in the BGs for several months, without stopping. It also tells me you're a veteren of the old PVP system. Which kinda sucked alot. I dont think these titles should be given to characters post 'old PVP decay system'.
I'm all for new PvP titles, and you can still get the Justicar(Aliance) title for being exalted in the 3 pre-bc BG factions. But I wouldnt want to see some player getting 'Commander' as their title and not have suffered the old BG system, it would take away all its meaning. If i see a person with Lt Commander or Champion or a Warlord, man, I know that's an old character, and old soldier. I dont want that to change. Even a character with the title of Knight makes me yield respect.
porovaara Sep 13th 2007 4:03PM
I still want my title for getting exalted with the damn Timbermaw.
My trinket sucks at 70 so at least give me a title for commiting genocide.
Insurgence Sep 13th 2007 4:04PM
To me titles are small, but enjoyable things. Like the non-combat pets, they are not there for anything other than bragging rights, but people enjoy that. Not everyone, but why not implement an easy title system that allows people to enjoy the game even more. It can be implemented like the achievement system on Xbox live where you get achievement points for accomplishing set things in the game, some of which are secrets that you will not know about until someone discovers it. It greatly increases the replayability of games, and I wholeheartedly support such a thing in an MMO.
KitKatDruid Sep 13th 2007 4:04PM
I'd rather titles be class-specific. How does it make sense for a Rogue, a class that quintessentially goes against the law and steals things, to be carry around a title like "Sergeant"?
Things like "Pickpocket" and "Brigand" and "Outlaw" would suit them better, and there's a ton of others that other classes would fit better.
Ahoni Sep 13th 2007 4:06PM
Who cares about meaningless PvP epeen titles. We need important titles that help identify people in the game correctly ...
Breaks CC
Can't Hold Aggro
Healer Who Forgets To Bring Water to Instance
Ninja
Can't Read Quest Text
AFK in AV