Except that a number of glyphs do provide very real game enhancement. Druids get a minor glyph to reduce the cooldown of Dash. I think rogues get something similar. Particularly in PVP, that's a fantastic improvement, and if you use Dash at all you'd have to be an idiot to give it up for a mere cosmetic improvement.

I agree, this is exactly what minor glyphs are for. I'd cite the example of the penguin polymorph glyph: It does nothing other than make a traditional polymorph look a bit different.

There are much bigger issues with the game for the developers to work on. Maybe if the model designers have some free time after they finish designing all the other raid instances for Wrath, sure, go for some slightly better druid forms.

On the bright side, we're more likely to see improved/customizable druid forms before we see a properly working vanish or blink spell.

@Hudders and Cy: I agree completely. Minor Glyphs are already used for purely cosmetic/convenience changes. Why are druids special in this regard?

Yes, minor glyphs should be used for fun or non-critical functionality. This is already done with examples such as the Glyph of the Penguin. I don't see why Druids should be exempt from this.

I think it's because druids are staring at their (as it's put in the article) SOAPs all the time. If we're fighting, we're usually shifted, and so it's an aesthetic change more on the level with the haircuts that were recently implemented -- because it's something we're staring at all the time. Mages don't always have to sheep, and sometimes can't, in instances, and lockpicking is a matter of convenience, not looks. It's more of a comparison with if Blizzard had required glyph use to change your character's hair, piercings, etc. We just see animal ass more often than we see our hair, so, naturally, it's what we'd want to change.

@Aubrecia

Why be so adverse to making it a glyph? What glyph is it that you'd rather have in your minor glyph slot right now?

The argument is that minor glyph slots should be used for minor adjustments at personal preference. I think it's entirely fair that druids should use them for that; you're not being forced into it, it's entirely your choice.

@Hudders

Oh, I'm not adverse to making it a glyph at all -- in fact I'd eagerly use both a bear and a cat glyph if they were still usable ingame. I was looking forward to them, personally. Either way it works is just fine with me, to be honest, as long as it happens.

I'm just trying to trace the line of logic Blizz might have followed for this.

@ Hudders

Given the amount of complaints on the forums, and the lack of any other option, and the potential for it to be the only option, was the primary reason this was heavily slandered both on the live and beta forums as an option. Glyphs FELT like a force if it was going to be the only way to adjust forms, and the only way Blizzard was going to use to correct what is a very real problem.

Now glyphs in conjunction to barbershop or other ideas would be fine, but the whole idea probably got ransacked.

@Shanic

In which case the Druids have made a rod for their own backs. By criticising the idea of being able to change their forms through glyphs so vehemently, they have inadvertently caused that option to be withdrawn and not replaced by anything.

And it's not a real problem. Have some perspective. It's not even a real problem in the context of World of Warcraft when there are real game-breaking problems still out there waiting for a fix.

Glyphs are there to make our lives easier, speeding up actions, reducing cool-downs, removing the need for reagents, tweaking spell effects etc.

Minor Glyphs as cosmetic changes- Lets see, theres Glyph of the Bear cub and Glyph of the Penguin. Both are minor mage Glyphs and are the ONLY cosmetic ones in the game. Kinda easy to say they should all be cosmetic when you dont have any to chose isnt it?

Making druid form customisation glyphed (as most of the complaints stated) meant that pretty much any druid is going to have to chose between utility minor glyphs and actually getting to look different for the first time in YEARS when we fight.

I agree, this is a choice that each druid would have to face individually. Personally, I'd have given up a glyph slot to stop looking at the worst model in wow, but thats just me. Two slots though? Well maybe I could have lived with bear form...

Personally I think that Blizz made the right call with not making our forms use Glyphs. I also think mages got gypped and everyones so use to mage QQing that no-ones noticed (plus penguins ftw!)

@ Hudders and other asking why we opposed it being a Glyph-based customization system.

Most of us disliked the idea of a glyph-based customization system because of the limits that imposed on customization. Not only did it waste a major or minor glyph slot, but ehere can only be so many glyphs in the game, and Druids want a more thorough system of customization than just 5 or 6 random new skins to choose from.

In the game files, for example, there are a few skin-changing glyphs that have not been implemented. One is Glyph of the Polar Bear for bearform and another of Glyph of the Red Lynx for catform. Now, imagine if they added maybe 3 more options for each form, that still gives just 4 option TOTAL for each form. Every druid is going to end up looking the same again! All you'll see is Red Lynxes or Forest Lynxes or Polar Bears or whatever looks the "coolest."

Bleh. That's just not what we want. We want a more robust system, either barbershop-based or based on our selection made when making our character. Or SOMETHING. Just not plain old static glyphs that make us look like an animal skin that already exists on a dozen creatures out there in the world.

@Groth

Cosmetic or not, there are scant few minor glyphs that actually add a concrete DPS, healing or defence increase. You're right: it is about convenience and personal choice, and that's exactly why Druid forms should be glyphed.