A new class, why not a new race?
by Amanda Rivera 
Nov 9th 2007 at 6:15PM
My concern is not that we aren't getting new races. I am worried that adding only one class will toss things out of whack. When TBC was announced, they let us know that the Horde would be able to play paladins, and so for balance they added shaman to the Alliance side. Balance is the key word here. When we have Death Knights added to the game, there will be only one Hero Class, albeit available to both factions. I get the feeling that this will throw off the balance more than they realize. Not so much because there will be another tanking class, but more because Blizzard cannot anticipate how players will actually play the character. Sure it's a tanking class, but if players start using it as a DPS class despite the best intentions of the devs, things could go badly.
Considering the magic-centric storylines in Northrend, I would feel more comfortable if they added the Archmage along with the Death Knight. Adding the Archmage would allow players to play a mage of any race, opening up a whole new world of role play possibilities. Or how about the Demon Hunter? With so much going on in Outland, couldn't we use an anti-Illidan to clean house, so-to-speak? What do you think? Is Blizzard making a mistake by adding only one class into the game?
Filed under: Classes, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stig Nov 9th 2007 6:24PM
I would LOVE to see a second hero class added for the expansion, but whether or not its a mistake not to add one is up in the air. I do share your fear of the death knight being used as another plate DPS class which is something that I don't think is needed and could throw a lot of things farther out of balance.
Matthew Nov 9th 2007 6:32PM
"Sure it's a tanking class, but if players start using it as a DPS class despite the best intentions of the devs, things could go badly."
Huh? That's kind of like worrying about new Rogue players trying to tank an instance, isn't it? Either it's possible for the Death Knight to DPS or it isn't; if it is, we'll have to assume that the class will undergo balancing to get it just right, a la Ret/Prot Paladins.
I'm not sure what you're so worried about. Worrying about "how players will actually play" a class should be a non-concern: they'll play it within the constructs of what's possible, whether it's tanking or DPS or what have you. If people try to use a class for something other than what it's for ("Hey, my warrior can shoot a gun; I'm going to use him for ranged DPS!"), then they'll get frustrated and stop. That's their problem, but it won't be a problem for smart players.
Brian Nov 9th 2007 6:33PM
I think they need a second Hero class and I think it really needs to be a healer as healers are just as supposedly rare as tanks right now. I guess from the big characters a prime healer would be an Arch Druid like Malfurion. So as you have a DK who can Tank and DPS you'd have an Arch Druid who could Heal and DPS. Lorewise It's be interesting to see MAlfurion go toe to toe with Arthas as Arthas beat his twin brother before.
Spenda Nov 9th 2007 6:32PM
If new races were added I would hope they wouldn't have new starting areas like in BC. If they are going to do more pre-end game zones, I'd like to see them in the 20-60 range.
TotalBiscuit Nov 9th 2007 6:41PM
New races were a dumb idea to begin with. It encouraged yet more players to delve into the evils of alt-o-holism, rather than learning how to play their mains properly, as well as being nothing more than fluff-content. The wasted development time on those 2 huge new areas that I will never bother to see because I actually want content for my MAIN could have been used to flesh out the proper content in TBC and made it a more enjoyable (and finished) expansion.
So please, don't give them an ideas, I'd iike some proper content for my money this time around, rather tahn reskins and new newbie zones.
Djinn Nov 9th 2007 6:53PM
New races, I am not sure, what would you add? Centaur, Satyr, Murlock, Pandaren? I think 1 hero class of all 3 main roles would be good. I don't know what to think of the Hero classes yet.
Keebster Nov 9th 2007 7:02PM
Dude i want to play Pandaren and Worgen soo bad
Xip Nov 9th 2007 7:04PM
As long as they get it right with the DK I will be overjoyed to reroll one as my main in WoTLK, if they get it wrong then I've got a Paladin twink I'll grudgingly level.
Of course I won't switch at all if Shadow Priests get to wear platemail. Yeah - I went there. =)
Adam Nov 9th 2007 7:08PM
I'd be satisfied with not havign more new races if they allowed more races on horde to be paladins and more races on alliance to be shaman.
I really want to play a Paladin however I am hampered by two factors: One, I play Horde almost exclusively and Two, I don't want to play a Blood Elf (I don't like their look).
What they could always do is add two new races but go the gnome/troll route, have them start in a current starter area. The option for Alliance to do this is an easy one: Broken. Retcon something into lore saying there were also broken with the draenei on the Exodar and bingo, new playable race. Don't know what you could do for Horde with this though.
whoisblargh Nov 9th 2007 7:11PM
allthough not officaly announced, blizzard hinted at another hero class posibly in a patch after the release of wotlk
Urthona Nov 9th 2007 7:32PM
Well, I'd assume that whatever new Hero class is introduced, it'd be one that could heal. Archmage would be cool, but I can't see it being different than a Mage. I'd suggest something like a Sage or Prophet, with access to all magic schools, including Holy.
As for Demon Hunter, my guild and I were talking about how all the spells and skills from the old WC3 Hero Class are used by other WoW classes. Originality is missing. That could change though, if they made the Demon Hunter a FACTION.
Instead of unlocking a new character, your main or alt has the option of following questlines for the Demon Hunters in Azshara, Blasted Lands, Felwood and Winterspring. At each reputation level, you buy new skills and spells, "learning" the ways of a Demon Hunter, and allowing any class access to (self)Immolate, Evasion, Demon Tracking, Mana Burn, etc.
Not exactly as flashy as a Netherdragon mount, but the added skills and spells that add attack power and spelldamage "against Demons" would help new players breeze through TBC content.
Daghol Nov 9th 2007 7:36PM
@#5
What are you talking about? Everyone else is complaining that Blizz is lengthening the game and not increasing the width. We want more early content.
Everyone but you loves playing alts. Go play EQ.
imparush Nov 9th 2007 7:37PM
yeah blizzard had sayed they planing new hero class but they just need to se what happen when they add death knight for if they make more at same time it would be harder to hold the balance in game
Sephirah Nov 9th 2007 7:42PM
@12
No, not everyone loves playing alts.
And not everyone else is complaining that Blizz is lengthening the game and not increasing the width
Alts are boooooring.
mizatt Nov 9th 2007 8:29PM
A lot of hero classels from WC3 would be almost impossible to do because they'd be bound to one race. Tauren Chieftains, Demon Hunters, Shadow Hunters, KOTG... I mean, if you look down the list all of these guys are pretty much bound to their race. I don't know how they plan to implement a whole lot more. Even Death Knight is going to seem really weird with Orc DKs and stuff.
kunukia Nov 9th 2007 8:55PM
@5,14
My 15 bucks a month is as good as yours. I have raiding 70's AND I love alts. Although I am pretty happy with what is already in game, I would love to see new quests, areas, even races. Worgen! Yah!
Wildhammer Nov 9th 2007 9:15PM
A lot of people want new races in Wrath, but frankly all of their ideas make no sense. To really understand which races belong where you need to have been playing the WarCraft franchise long enoough and need to be well-versed in WarCraft lore. Anyone with half a brain knows that the smartest of Worgen are just capable of speech. The majority of them are bat fuck insane! Bipedal animals, really. Sorta like the Cliff Stalkers in Outland. Only a handful of races could work but it's a little late in the game to start throwing them around..... As much as many of us would love it.
Chaz Nov 29th 2007 8:27AM
But Worgen are skinnable, which would add a certain relish to the PVP game.
transistor Nov 9th 2007 9:20PM
I love the end content, and I love the new races they added for TBC. I was really disappointed when they decided not to add new races for Wrath. In the back of mind, I still hope they'll drop info on new races. Pipe dreams I guess.
I'll start a death knight when it becomes available, and I know everyone else will to. I think blizzard knows this and has a few cards up it's sleeve on the playability of this class. Or, they'll add something else after the fact to keep peoples attention.
An AV game with 80 death knights seems like a boring proposition.
WatcherZero Nov 9th 2007 9:24PM
New races means new 1-20 zones, and I think we have quite enough of those at the moment :P