Breakfast Topic: Brutal(lus) Gladiator gear
by Amanda Dean 
May 3rd 2008 at 8:00AM
So I've been really excited about the coming of Arena season four. Unfortunately I'm not particularly thrilled about the gear models, and I am not alone. Perhaps the developers say reusing the tier 6.5 models from the Sunwell (Tier 6.5) as a good way to cut corners, but it just doesn't look like PvP gear. It seems to be the way the Arena gear is designed.
I'm pretty sure whoever recolored these skins probably has an issue with their visual perception. The Hunter gear looks like an armored clown suit and the Shaman set is reminiscent of a test for colorblindness. I'm not usually one to rant, but these sets are a visual disappointment. I'm not asking for pink and black (although that appeals to my inner girly girl), but for the love of Christopher Walken, at least make the set match itself.
To date my favorite set to look at is the Season Two gear, especially the Warrior set. I feel that they the designers really captured the uniqueness of the classes best with those sets.
What do you think of Season Four gear so far?
Filed under: Hunter, Shaman, Patches, Blizzard, PvP, Breakfast Topics, Arena, Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John May 3rd 2008 8:13AM
FUGLY
Mera_LaCroisadeEcarlate May 3rd 2008 8:24AM
Lol yeah all s4 sets are very very very very very very ugly.
Klitzz May 3rd 2008 8:30AM
the S4 models are freakin' terrible!!!!!!!
I feel like were back in Pre BC land with the gear colorings
Sirg May 3rd 2008 4:38PM
I think they look awful, overdone, exagerated.
The best sets imo are the old pre TBC sets, because of 2 reasons 1) each side had a different set 2) they had that fantasy/medieval feeling, they felt right.
nobbie May 3rd 2008 8:31AM
The lastest sunwell "sets" look like some last-minute standard templates because most folks at Blizzard are obviously working hard for a timely WotLK release. The island and instances look rather nice, though.
Aldazor May 3rd 2008 8:31AM
At least the pally/warrior set doesn't look like some kind of faied superhero, like the pally sets usually do...
Calaana May 3rd 2008 8:48AM
That's a bug. It'll be fixed by live, don't worry.
Zach May 3rd 2008 9:19AM
That's only because they share the same skins as Warrior gear. And Warriors aren't allowed to look uncool... =p
Tridus May 3rd 2008 8:57AM
Honestly, they're par for the course. Most of the Tier gear in BC is terrible compared to the old world stuff. They're either going way too far over the top to the point of being just silly (most of Tier 6), or going the plain fugly route (most of the ZA stuff).
Dah May 3rd 2008 9:20AM
Season 2 is by far the best looking arena gear for most classes, particularly for mages. I was actually tempted to spend my arena points on it during S3 just because it looks so much more mage-like and the blue color matches the frost mage style (which is appropriate since most serious arena mages are frost)
Orestes May 3rd 2008 9:40AM
I hate them with a passion. Almost as terrible as pally S2.
Memzer May 3rd 2008 9:48AM
Visually they're terrible. Especially the rogue set. In fact I don't think I know anybody playing the game that likes the looks of them.
The shocking designs coupled with the fact that they didn't even bother to make a unique set for each class clearly shows that they were rushed.
tsatsa May 3rd 2008 10:09AM
I'm a bit glad that the gear is so ugly, since my Hunter really has no chance of getting it (our team is a "fun" team rather than an amazing team, so we don't climb high enough in the ratings for most of the gear) and I don't feel bad. My favorite Arena set appearance-wise is also the Season 2 gear, but I still miss the days when Horde and Alliance had completely different sets.
Matt May 3rd 2008 11:24AM
I agree that the textures could use some work, but I actually really like the meshes (models) themselves. The helm-design especially is awesome; looks like ancient Greek armor.
Silvandh May 3rd 2008 12:22PM
But keep in mind that everything looks horrible on humans.
I'll reserve judgement on the hunter set until I see it on a night elf. In any case, it can't be much worse than two huge freakin' eyeballs on your shoulders.
gen May 3rd 2008 2:05PM
I agree, both shammie and hunter sets should look much better on the races that can wear them. Human males really don't make the best of models.
Kartharan May 3rd 2008 12:37PM
The models are OK on some of the weapons..
GamerJunkie May 3rd 2008 1:06PM
@4, BS. My friend is a cG freelancer and he can do a better job than Blizzard in one day. There are so many tools today available all it takes is an artist's drawing, then the rendering, and code transition. Should take no more than 1 week to do this. Blizzard is just lazy and cheap. 10million gamers and you can't afford to hire more ppl?
Magikot May 3rd 2008 1:23PM
@ Gamer Junkie
Yes that is all it takes to implement a new feature into the game. However, there is also the testing and balancing that comes along with implementing a new feature and that's the part that takes forever because Blizzard actually cares about the quality of the game for its 10 million subscribers. They need to see how each feature will appeal to the casual, the raider, the pvper, and the e-sporter before they feel they can implement the new features into the game.
Tim May 3rd 2008 1:31PM
Fugly as sin, all of them.