A world full of Death Knights
by Mike Schramm 
Jan 1st 2008 at 9:30AM
This little informal survey by Ralloszek over on the WotLK forums raises a pretty good question: is anyone not planning on making a Death Knight when the next expansion hits? We're going to end up with a world full of pale people in black armor wielding gigantic frostblades-- maybe Blizzard should call it "World full of Lich Kings."It's pretty easy to see that not everyone will switch their main (I don't ever foresee leaving my main, although I do plan to level a Death Knight as an alt), but even if people just roll them to check it out, it reminds me a lot of the Star Wars Galaxies "new game enhancements" where they made Jedi a playable class. If you can roll a Jedi as a class, why would you roll anything else?
Of course, we could give Blizzard the benefit of the doubt here-- they haven't revealed much at all about the game's first Hero Class, so maybe it'll be so hard to get one that they really will be very rare, or they'll only be allowed in certain areas (so you won't see a pack of Death Knights swarming around the mailbox in Stormwind). We already know that they'll start at a higher level, so the good news is that you won't see Elwynn Forest flooded with a bunch of level 1 Death Knights. But as for other ways to keep what is supposed to be a special class special, we'll have to see what Blizzard comes up with.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Classes, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Namelis1 Jan 1st 2008 9:37AM
Roll a brand new shiny class without having to go through the hassle of leveling up in azeroth? You bet.
Actually that has been THE question on my mind. EVERYONE is gonna roll a death knight. so how will that work?
Nati Jan 1st 2008 9:48AM
Hard to get one? No, Blizzard already stated they'll be accessible to everyone (with a character above a certain level).
Adding just one "hero class" was such a stupid decision.
Green Armadillo Jan 1st 2008 12:05PM
I agree that releasing exactly one new class, especially if it comes with other perks (like being a DPS Warrior/Ret Pally's dream, and starting at level 55), is a bad idea. I thought for sure the official release that leaked right before Blizzcon was a fake because I didn't think they'd do anything that stupid.
Ah well. I will probably level one eventually - it sounds like there's going to be a lot more diverging content (e.g. two level 70 zones) in Wrath, and it might be fun to experience both halves at the correct level. I only have one active Horde character, so I could easily roll an undead DK to fill out the gap.
ninjasuperspy Jan 1st 2008 9:49AM
The real question is why is "everyone" so unhappy with characters they are using to unlock the Death Knight? Are they looking to switch for the goth armor? The dual-wield tanking? The Warlock/Paladin-with-pets class description? I know I'll still play my rogue and my paladin. I'll probably make a Death Knight, but heck I made Draenei and Blood Elf characters when Burning Crusade came out. I made a jewelcrafter. The news that almost everybody who is interested in Wrath is interested in making a Death Knight isn't really all that surprising: DK's are one of the main selling points of the expansion.
I'm still interested in what's going on with Inscription. What sort of things can I add to my existing abilities. If they, say, allow my Holy Shock to add a HoT or increased range on Judgment, then I doubt I'll shelve my Paladin for his cousin in The Crow makeup.
vlad Jan 1st 2008 3:33PM
but did you get your draenei and blood elf to 70????????
probably not past 20. with a character starting at 50 its removing 80% of the most annoying parts of leveling and waaay closer to 80 for people to just grind it out. i think your disillusioned.
Dunwich Jan 1st 2008 9:50AM
It's apparently a hybrid tank/dps class. I've long since learned I cannot tank for toffee, and I have three DPS characters (Rogue, Warlock, Mage) who I've invested a lot of time into. Don't really want another.
Beyond the initial interest in the Rune system of spellcasting, I can't say the class, from what we know of it right now, holds any real interest for me. I think the fact that they don't use the current methods of powering their abilities (Energy, Rage or Mana) will make them a bit more difficult to use, so I can't see people jumping in to make Death Knights left, right and centre.
I'd say they'll be as common as BElf Paladins and Draenei Shaman. Common, but hardly the "flood" naysayers were screeching about this time last year.
censorman Jan 1st 2008 4:14PM
Ain't a shaman out there who ain't gonna roll one of these (make that 70 shaman). Now that I breached 300 resil, I am having fun, but as soon as they nerf us into uselessness again in Lich King, won't see a shaman for miles.
MechChef Jan 1st 2008 10:03AM
I'll certainly unlock them. Naturally I'll try one. The whole leveling process is what keeps me from having more alts. Plus if I'm inclined to try a new server, I won't have to start at lvl 1, and I'll be able to earn money right out of the gate. (save for transferring a 70, which I may regret later.)
Calaana Jan 1st 2008 10:04AM
Think of it this way; while all the little death knight are back leveling up in zanga, the six of us that didn't roll one will have the new content pretty much to ourselves for a week before the "start" zones get flooded. Sounds like a good thing to me.
Suzaku Jan 1st 2008 10:14AM
Pretty sure the counter to the SWG argument is that Jedi were by far the best possible class to play, whereas DKs are being balanced along with the other existing classes and will fulfill a specific role and playstyle, which will be hybrid Tank/DPS.
I don't really see how it'll be any different from the flood of blood elf and draenei players when BC came out, except that the people rolling them will be confined to pretty much those who have already leveled at least one character to 60ish, already have a main, and already have experience with the game.
Spirit Jan 1st 2008 10:49AM
Hey, if Death Knights will help ease the tank shortage, I'm happy.
Let me be honest, as much as I fear this situation, I can't help but roll a Death Knight when Wrath comes out. I've always wanted to make an alt, but as I level up my 27 priest, I realize that Azeroth is awfully designed. Too many humanoid camps. A jump to Outlands would be nice. And, I've always wanted to play a tank.
FusionWolf Jan 1st 2008 11:20AM
You can give people tanks/dps's but think about it, how many of them will actually TAKE the tanking role. Playing a tank and dps takes two different mindsets. Whats more upsetting for you as a player?..Cant down a boss because the group lacks DPS (does not happen to often) or cant down a boss because the Tank lacks the gear/agro. Not many want that responsibility's.
Kittrell Jan 1st 2008 11:23AM
If I understand WOW's intent, one hero class will be allowed per character upon reaching 80. My main has been a tanking Paladin. In hopes of other hero classes being named (i.e. Templar) I will be holding my hero class card in favor of perhaps a "paladin hero/templar" being named at a later date after which point I would hopefully have a slightly better tank and I would respec my main as a healer. Until that time I will keep advancing my alts.
Fletch Jan 1st 2008 12:01PM
You don't understand WoW's intent. The last thing we heard is that Death Knights will be unlocked for anyone with a character over 60. There's no limit to the number of DKs you can roll and there's been no statement on how future hero classes will be unlocked.
Assuming that you'll only be able to have one hero class character is, I believe, a very poor assumption and not backed up by anything I've read.
Jason Jan 1st 2008 11:24AM
If the death knight is being balanced along with the other classes, what's the point of a hero class? If you can tank and DPS with one character it sounds to me like a death knight would kill the Paladin class as well as the warrior class.
They should have instituted more talents at the end of the current talent trees for all classes that would turn your current class into a hero class if you then specced 100% into a given tree. Perhaps doing so could also change the look of the character for a visual representation of what they are. That way every class has a hero class option, perhaps several options for highly specialized roles within the class.
Oilof Jan 1st 2008 11:33AM
This is truly beyond me...why are some of you complaining? Of course there will be a lot of Death Knights, it works that way when anything new comes out. When BC came out there were a TON of BE and Draenei Jewelcrafter's as well, but eventually, 90% of them went back to their mains and the other 10% are just the normal players, just like any other race.
People seem to be looking for a reason to complain...comon, what's so bad about having a flood of Death Knight's the first couple of months? Why would that matter?
Perderedeus Jan 1st 2008 12:45PM
Oilof, the reason for complaining is mainly because with a flood of Death Knights at launch, that means very few people will be playing their main characters. In other words, you'll have a severe shortage of classes across the board for WotLK content. It's all THEORY, but it's very possible. Imagine finding it difficult to get a healer or tank for your WotLK instance because most people are in some new DK zone leveling from 50-60, then 60-70 through Outland...
Kyrra Jan 1st 2008 12:01PM
I'll stick with my Warrior. I'll be ganking all those Alliance Death Knights as soon as I hit level 80.
dAnixx Jan 1st 2008 12:07PM
Whats the point on making just one class available to start around lvl 50? Then there will just be Death Knights, all classes should be available to start in a higher lvl. Thats just my opinion.
kr3wman Jan 1st 2008 1:45PM
Because it's a HERO class. Simple.