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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Potential playable races
by Amanda Dean 
Mar 5th 2008 at 8:00AM
Corpsebride of Nordrassil made a suggestion that Naga should be a playable race in World of Warcraft. She gives a list of reasons why Nagas should be a playable race such as: they're highly intelligent with their own language; they have a unique architectural style; they have permanent underwater breathing as a built-in racial ability. The author pointed out that Naga would fit in better with the
I would make Goblins a playable Horde race if I were in charge of recruiting playable NPC races from the existing environment. The Horde needs an annoying little race to balance out gnomes. While they're neutral, goblins already have an inhuman look to them that tends to be characteristic of the Horde. They might have racial traits that help them to get better deals on goods from vendors, perhaps even if they were not skilled in engineering, they might be able to use player-made bombs such as the Exploding Sheep. I would have Goblins play Warlocks, Mages, Hunters, and Rogues.
If you could play any race in the game, what would it be?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics, Lore, Factions, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 8)
Vestras Mar 5th 2008 8:45AM
I nominate Goblins for Horde, because they always should have been there!
For alliance, tough call, but I think I would go with the Tigon race we have seen examples of (http://www.wowwiki.com/Tigon ). Racials include a single target 3 second stun (Pounce), Imporved leatherworking, and increased base attack power. Classes would include Druid, Warrior, Rogue, and Hunter to start with. They could be a race cut off from most of the world in Gilanas, trapped by the Worgon, and too timid of water to have built ships to leave.
aratan Mar 5th 2008 8:46AM
Consortium for the Alliance; arrakoa for the Horde.
Racials - consortiums (consortia?) could have some kind of 'phase out' ability that reduces damage taken. Arrakoa some sort of ability connect to the wind/air - maybe a short duration cyclone or something similar?
As an ethereal, you get the cool tip-toe run. As an arrakoa, wobbly toothy beak when spell casting.
Ethereals chould probably be restricted to rogue, mage, paladin, hunter. Arrakoa can only be druid, shaman, priest, warlocks.
Jessica Mar 5th 2008 8:53AM
I suspect if murlocs became a playable race they'd supersede gnomes and elves as the most hated race ever, and therefore the most likely to be ganked.
Tenchan Mar 5th 2008 8:48AM
Naga, Naga and also ... yeah, Naga.
The only race I clamour for. I do, however, not think they would be Alliance. At all. If there is one race the Night Elves would be more disgusted with than Blood Elves ... it's Naga.
.... though an Alliance-inner war because of pissed of Night Elves would amuse me ;)
Gridneo Mar 5th 2008 8:49AM
When the Chinese outlaw World Of Warcraft, then I would/will play a Pandaren. There's no reason we shouldn't be playing now. I'm a bit urked about it.
Libri Mar 5th 2008 10:58AM
I think we need Mr T race for Horde and Chuck Norris race for Alliance.
roguedubb Mar 5th 2008 8:53AM
Personally I'd love dragons, whatever the faction. It'd be great: no armour to equip, no weapons to wield - no gear!
But seriously, why not goblins as a third neutral faction? (eg: you could go At War with Horde/Alliance, with each being faction-opposed)
Stormscape Mar 5th 2008 8:54AM
I've got one word for you. Ethereal.
And all this "Past loyalty crap" for goblins, naga, ethereals or any other race is bullcrap. Just look at the current playable races, we just got our sexy evil elves who are a splinter faction who still kill all those blood elf mobs in Netherstorm, and we got our splinter faction off blue demon paladins.
I would actually like to see a splinter faction of naga join the alliance, along with...
the race I would want to play as? ETHEREALS!!!! they're just so many kinds of cool.
TobiasX Mar 5th 2008 8:59AM
If anything the Naga would join the Horde.
- They hate Night Elves
- They allied with the Blood Elves
Similar backstory to the forsaken helping the blood elves join, the blood elves would help the naga join.
Unending Breath racial ftw!
Also, no foot armor! yay.
Retron Mar 5th 2008 12:57PM
Ethereals would be so badass...imagine an Ethereal Deathknight!
But looking at the Wowwiki list, it's tough to say what races, including Ethereals, present the least amount of difficulty implementing:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Future_race_ideas#Ethereal
kunukia Mar 5th 2008 8:56AM
Those ummm, dog-people like in Duskwood...
Worgens! That's it. I love those guys. And they are skinnable! Umm, I mean, no I would never skin an ally, never.
robotrock Mar 5th 2008 8:57AM
Arrakoa would be badass...Skeksis ftw.
What about Ogres? Seems they'd make pretty good tanks
Hellskreamer Mar 5th 2008 10:46AM
Ogres would be a sweet addition to the Horde, and its already been shown that there is a tribe of them allied to the horde (in Dustwallow Marsh). The only problem I can think of is what classes would they be besides Warrior and Mage (having the 2 headed mage would be awesome).
Xonate Mar 5th 2008 11:04AM
I was thinking that. After reading so many comments, I'm surprised nobody mentioned ogres for the Horde. And High Elves for the Alliance. Going back to WC2 times.
Mel Mar 5th 2008 8:58AM
Goblins for Horde? Nah, they are far too intelligent for that. They wouldn't limit themselves to just one faction because it would cut into their profits.
Nagas on hordeside, yes more probable. Just like the undead and the bloodelves they could join with their own more or less secret goals.
Also, I want undead high-elves. Worgen for Horde, and Tigons for Alliance, please.
Yossarian Mar 5th 2008 10:56AM
cat's and dogs, living together.......
awww nevermind.
Yossarian Mar 5th 2008 10:57AM
*cats
/sigh
Pete J. Mar 5th 2008 9:00AM
For the Horde, Goblins seem to be the obvious choice, and it would open up the island of Kezan and Undermine as their racial home, though I'd really love to see it as a neutral city.
For the Alliance, it's a bit harder. Ethereals are cool, but they seem just about as neutral and opportunistic as the goblins are currently. Perhaps Worgen or Naga making their home in Gilneas, but I don't see that happening either.
I could easily see Furbolgs working out quite nicely. Panderans would be an acceptable alternative to Furbolgs, if they could be intergrated into the game smoothly. Either way, they would have a bit of lore already established and would be a race that would draw attention equal to the Goblins, so as to maintain balance between the sides
Pete J. Mar 5th 2008 9:07AM
Actually, if Naga or Worgen were a playable race, they'd make more sense on the Horde side, but I'd still keep them based in Gilneas.
Not really sure where Pandaria is on the map, but I'd stick it somewhere around the western continent to even out the number of races per faction per continent.
Jack Kelly Mar 5th 2008 10:35AM
Worgen for Horde. They still haven't been flushed out in the universe just yet so Blizz could pretty much make up whatever they want.
Worgen would be badass also. Fits the Horde mentality perfect.
Alliance just got their "big" race but they still don't have a "furry" just yet. Pandaren might just fit the bill but I wouldn't hold my breath on them ever getting into the game. It's always pretty much been an inside joke anyway.