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by Mike Schramm 
May 14th 2009 at 5:00PM
Crygil wants to know: if you could design a new holiday for the game, what would it be? I don't think I've ever heard the question asked before -- holidays are really just optional fun for more players, and Blizzard has always covered the basics (Christmas, New Year's, Thanksgiving, Halloween, etc.), and even added in some of their own by giving real-world holidays some Azerothian flavor (Midsummer Fire Festival, and of course Brewfest). Are there really any holidays they missed?I guess Labor Day and Memorial Day are the two biggest ones -- maybe all of the NPCs could take a day off, there could be giant barbeques set up in the capital cities, or players could take a day to remember those fallen in the past wars. Or you could go another route and just make up your own holiday: Grumpyfool of Azjol-Nerub recommends Gnome Appreciation Week (a whole week?), where Azeroth's shortest denizens can get some love of their own. A more recently based holiday might be fun, too -- maybe once a year we could remember Arthas' (it was Arthas, right?) zombie attack on our homeland.
I doubt this is going to be used to determine actual Blizzard policy. Seems more like just a fun thought experiment. But there are definitely some interesting ideas in there -- if Blizzard ever wants to add yet another holiday to the calendar, there are plenty of ideas.
Filed under: Items, Events, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Blizzard, News items, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Xterminator May 14th 2009 10:01PM
I already sent a suggestion via the forums to have a birthday for when the toon was made. I said that Blizz should send the person a cake they can share with a group, or something like that, & maybe make an emote from the cake to wish the person a happy birthday.
Cyalodin May 14th 2009 10:08PM
A holiday to celebrate ANZAC/Memorial Day - dedicated to those who have served (or are serving) in the armed services. It could consist of quests/achievements across all BGs and world PvP zones.
Oh ... and make the achievements such that people actually try to achieve the objectives of the BGs (not just stand around the flag in EotS or in the flag room in WSG).
Gormaggus May 15th 2009 12:43AM
Ah, but labor and memorial day are generally United States holidays, not worldwide ones ;).
Blizz is looking for ones with international appeal, I think.
Fornozo May 15th 2009 2:01AM
We have a thing in sweden called "Valborg" which is calebrated on the last april or may 1st can't remember but (And mostly in my town) We light huge fires for ppl to look at to remember the witch burnings and ppl gathers around these fires and have a good timw :)
I know this looks like midsummer festival but w/e.
Also instead of Children's week I would like to have maybe 1 or 2 days a month where you could take a kid out in the world. Got quite attached to my little younglings =D
Guapa May 15th 2009 3:56AM
They should introduce the German Union Day on 3rd of October. Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms move right next to each other and you can just walk from Stormwind Harbor over to Orgrimmar.
Seriously, I'm against any country specific holidays, most of them are utterly silly from any other countries perspective.
But I really like the Birthday idea, it would feel like a very special holiday for everyone.
Another Idea: Forgotten Villain's Day, a day where we all forget our grievances against the old bosses and help guys like Illidan and Nefarian forget their lonelyness by visiting them and bringing them some pie. In exchange they'd have quests for us to complete, for example Ragnaros would ask us to find his aircon. remote control and heat up the place a bit so he feels more comfortable.
Nefarian would ask us to sit on some of his eggs 'till they hatch and
Illidan would ask us to handcraft a Tyrande Rubberdoll(tm) for him.
THAT would be fun...
Guapa May 15th 2009 3:58AM
Now that I think of it, I. don't. want. any. new. holiday. in. Azeroth.
There are too many already and once I got that stupic violent drake in November, I will never ever perticipate in any holiday ever again, I swear! (unless there's loot, achievements, titles or fun of course)
Imit May 15th 2009 4:22AM
It's funny how all you folks are suggesting republic-based hollidays. Remember Azaroth is a bunch of kingdoms, some allied some in confilict.
A King/Queen/Warleader dayor week would be appropriate.
Difahrint May 28th 2009 8:34PM
Troll appreciation day; 4/20 ;D
Elry May 15th 2009 7:38AM
@Orrine
You might be getting confused between D-Day and Independence Day. D-Day was when the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy as part of Operation Neptune/Operation Overlord on 6th June 1944 (during WWII).
Independence Day is an annual celebration commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another state (taken from wikipedia) and the US' independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain is celebrated on 4th July. Even then, its not just the US that has days of independence, so I guess Azeroth could have various independence days for the different races... Orcs gaining "independence" or freedom from the Burning Legion maybe...?
Elry May 15th 2009 7:40AM
Woops! That was meant to be a reply to the very first post in the comments :P
Sieglinde May 15th 2009 7:48AM
"Along those lines, I'd be happy with a day when you could just wander around the other factions zones and major cities without fear of a attack. Like a day of full truce except for maybe duels and wargames. I'd love to take my belf priest through the Alli capitals just as a tourist. Don't want to cause any trouble :)" Amritrao
AWESOME!! It could be a World Day/Week of Peace, something we all need. Every city a sanctuary, no raids allowed, every NPC green to everyone. Quests to learn another faction's lore. Quests to learn a universal language. An achievement called "The Linguist."
"Make Peace, not War."
isawakumo May 15th 2009 8:38AM
[b][u]Eve Of The Twisting Nether[/u][/b]
[u]Dates[/u] - Thanksgiving Weekend (Thursday - Sunday)
[u]Story[/u] - Rumored to be the the very anniversary of the time Azeroth itself came into being, these dark days see the shackles on long imprisoned forces loosened. Common folk seek shelter, the dead rise, and strange creatures abound throughout the land.
[u]Mechanics[/u] - All NPCs either move off the streets and into buildings, or despawn altogether for the event. Guards become 'frightened' and do not respond to threats. Rare spawn frequency increased dramatically, possibly randomized (Loque spotted in STV?!). Some graveyard points begin spawning zombies of level appropriate to zone. If you die to a zombie, you then become a zombie yourself for a limited period of time (no infection otherwise).
[u]Achievements[/u]-
[u]What'll come out no more?![/u] - Kill 5 Rare type creatures during the holiday.
T[u]his is my BOOM stick! [/u]- Kill 100 Zombies during the holiday.
[u]Nice city, I'll take it.[/u] - Kill 10 players/NPC in opposing capital cities during the holiday.
[u]Wait....what?[/u] - /dance in the throne room of Orgrimaar/Stormwind while wearing a dress and a diving helmet.
[u]One man's junk[/u]... - Trade Grey quality items to 10 other players in Dalaran.
[u]Touch Of Madness[/u] - Complete above achievements, gain title 'The Touched'
SpaceGoatPriest May 15th 2009 9:10AM
I would love to have the zombie event be a yearly thing. That was probably the most fun I had for no reason.
Boszorkany May 15th 2009 9:32AM
Taking another poster's idea and running with it.... I like the idea of being able to visit the other faction's major cities without fear of death.
Some time in August, there could be "Vacation Week". Youcould peacefully visit the opposite faction's major cities any time during the week. However, you'd have to GET to those cities first... through the opposing faction's other zones. Only once you hit "city limits" would you be safe from attack (PvE or PvP).
There could be quests/achievements for visiting all the other faction's major cities, ability to do certain faction-specific quests for achievments, etc. Maybe some special PvP events in the arenas or battlegrounds. The ability to buy faction-specific items as well would be pretty cool.
The race-specific mount idea could be workable. The way I'd approach it would be to say if you have Exhalted with a particular race, then you could buy a mount for the "opposite" horde race. For instance, if you're Exhalted with Stormwind, you could buy an Orgrimmar mount; if you're Exhalted with Darkspear Trolls, you could buy a Gnomergan mount; Ironforge/Undercity; Darnassus/Thunder Bluff; Exodar/Silvermoon City. Or something like that.
That's my two cents' worth. :-)
Klangkor May 15th 2009 9:41AM
I would like to see a holiday that is more Tauren specific, or Troll Specific. I think there could be a lot done for a Tauren Spiritual holiday. Maybe assuming different spirit animal forms to do certain quests, or maybe a quest that allows you to answer a set of questions that bestows upon you a spirit animal form for an hour or something. I can see Night Elves having a similar celebration to keep it even on both sides. Trolls and Gnomes could have some kind of freeloader holiday or something. Maybe a beach theme, or fun in the sun theme. Id like to see a volleyball type event too. I think it would be cool to work in a skydiving event from twin colossals in ferelas, or other high places.
Alderkin May 15th 2009 9:42AM
How about celebrating Talk like a Pirate Day?
- Vendors selling Savory Deviate Delights (that always give the pirate costume)
- Seasonal quests from the Blackwater Radiers/Bloodsail Buccaneers. A quest chain pitting players against a group of ninjas is an absolute must.
Domi May 15th 2009 10:22AM
This is already in game... tis just a rather small, unacknowledged event.
Sarabande May 15th 2009 10:02AM
I think it might be fun to have celebrations of particular cities, races or even classes (nothing that would count toward the proto-drake, so no stress). They could weave in various lore (maybe even have visiting lore characters that are not dead), special vendors with rare items that you can only get during the event, such as clothing, toys or pets) or have npcs give out special buffs that would stack with other buffs. Street music, dancing, special decor, the whole bit.
They could space out the event over the year and keep it short (maybe one or two days) so that it really does seem special.
And while there may be hostilities, maybe they can send out "rare spawn" vendors of opposite faction to be sort of "emissaries" to sell unusual items. Friendly Tauren visiting Darnassus selling baby Kodo pets maybe? They could appear randomly every few hours. (This might happen during the Celebrate Thunder Bluff day or something).
Domi May 15th 2009 10:19AM
Don't forget the stubbies!
It isn't Australia day without beer.
You could make it Azerothian by... uh... making the Panderan run it?
IDK, you think of something better.
Domi May 15th 2009 10:20AM
...uh... this was meant to be a reply way back.
CARRY ON.