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by Alex Ziebart 
May 21st 2009 at 6:00PM
We're all still slaving away on WoW.com, finding bugs and filing feedback. To help that process along, we're going to try a little experiment. I'm going to level a character from level 1 to level 80, and all of it will be documented on my WoW.com profile. The hook is that you guys are going to decide most aspects of this character, such as race, class, and talent spec.Such things will be determined largely via polls right here on the front page of WoW.com, where I'll be giving weekly updates on my progress along with what I've learned about the class and the world and any other observations I might have. If you want a little more detail on the process such as where I'm going, what I've done, and any other little notes I make via the Adventurer's Note feature, you can follow that on my profile. If you don't dig our profiles portion of the site, hey, no problem. You'll still get weekly updates right here on the blog until I'm level 80.
There are two polls: Race and Class. I will play whichever choices are the most popular. If the chosen race can't actually be the chosen class, I'm going to go with whatever is the most popular class that I can actually play as that race. The polls are below, and there's a little more information behind the cut underneath them.
Update: Polls will remain open so those who voted can still see the results, but as of May 22nd, Gnome Warlock won the polls and the adventures have begun.
| Orc | |
|---|---|
| Tauren | |
| Troll | |
| Forsaken | |
| Blood Elf | |
| Draenei | |
| Human | |
| Dwarf | |
| Gnome | |
| Night Elf |
| Warlock | |
|---|---|
| Mage | |
| Priest | |
| Druid | |
| Shaman | |
| Rogue | |
| Warrior | |
| Paladin | |
| Hunter |
I already have a Priest and a Paladin at level 80 so I would personally rather not play those again and have a redundant character, but what you guys say is what goes. If you guys want a Troll Priest (oh god no) then that is what I shall play. Death Knight is not an option because those start at level 55, not level 1. Plus I'm about to ding 80 on one of those and if you made me start leveling another one immediately I would probably end up damaging myself in ways I will not describe.
Vote in the polls, and you can start following my updates over on my profile. Once my race and class are selected, over there is where I'll be asking about talent trees. I hope you guys enjoy this little experiment, and we very much appreciate your help with testing out the site!
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 6)
Spectrum May 21st 2009 8:50PM
I'm betting the author is regretting ever opening this up to the plebeians....
Foxfire May 21st 2009 9:37PM
I like the way you are picking race first.
Choosing class first can in a couple of places pigeon hole you quite neatly. Druid/shaman etc then makes the race vote obsolete.
Why should he do a druid if people don't want see night elfs? or shamans if people don't want him to play space-goats (although the wimmins are hot).
Personally I went with gnoam rogue, because tiny bouncing balls of death are cool. Also, they're far more fun on a pvp server.
But a redheaded dwarf female would be quite fun on a roleplay server.
"Ach yer a fine strapping Draenei lad aren'tcha? Want to come back to my bungalow and shake the roof?"
Sayis May 21st 2009 9:43PM
Sad, but not surprising, to see that gnome is the leading race at this point.
shyrt May 21st 2009 10:14PM
gnome warrior. We don't see those much anymore do we? :)
Booyaka May 21st 2009 10:17PM
Did they say when this poll is going to end?
Snark May 21st 2009 10:19PM
Dwarf female priest.
Secondaidkit May 21st 2009 10:33PM
I am probably not the first to mention this, but I won't be bother to sift through all the comments. This project is a really good idea, but these polls should have been broken up into two separate posts. First choose the race, then the class. The way it is set up now, there is a high probability that the race/combination that wins doesn't exist. If that is the case, which of the two will take priority?
If the poll were to end at the time I made this post, I wish you luck on leveling your gnome shaman.
OneSound May 21st 2009 10:33PM
ORC Shaman...draenei Shammys are just wanna bes
AlexW573 May 21st 2009 10:41PM
Hmm... By the current voting it's Gnome Shaman. That may be difficult :P
Pride[WC Radio] May 21st 2009 10:52PM
I love how gnome has the motes votes as race, and Shaman has the most votes as class...
Wonder how that ones gonna work out.
-Pride | WCRadio.com
Condor May 21st 2009 11:09PM
wow. a dead heat for races and classes?? that's a huge testament to blizzard's balancing!
phrk626 May 21st 2009 11:10PM
I really hope gnomelock stays in the lead... I always like seeing warlock representation!
Also, for everyone saying "haha how's a gnome SHAMAN going to work out?" give the post another read. He said he'd pick the race with the most votes and then pick the class based on that.
Secondaidkit May 22nd 2009 12:46AM
I did read the whole post, but that doesn't change the fact, if you are going to prioritize race, then running the two polls at the same time skews the results.
I wonder how many people voted their race and class choices independently of each other. Chances are real good that, which ever class they had picked, they would have chosen a race capable of taking on that roll. Some classes, like druids, have fewer overall choices for classes, and some classes, such as druids, have very limited options as to which race to select.
For example, Tauren warrior could be the race/class combination that gets the most votes overall, but gnome could be the race that wins due to the votes given to all 5 classes (not including dk) that gnomes can be. Even if all 52 race/class combinations (again, excluding dks) are exactly equal in the number of votes, tauren and night elves are at an inherent disadvantage, while troll, blood elf, draenai, and human would be leading.
The ideal method would be to vote for the race, announce the winner, then vote for the classes available to the winning race, instead of the way it is now, with some votes for race are being distributed amongst classes.
Superthrust May 21st 2009 11:16PM
how about you fix the profile issue? im trying to post with the profile i have my characters and facebook linked on and its not working!
favoriteguy May 21st 2009 11:20PM
Gnome Warrior.
He has mostly Alliance Characters, and already has a few pallys, a shammy, DK, and priest.
...No Gnomes though...and no warriors.
SaintStryfe May 21st 2009 11:23PM
The Shamans out there are making me proud! I know he probably won't be one, since Gnome is winning big on the race, but I'm thrilled to see Shamans winning!
jurandr May 21st 2009 11:26PM
Troll mage
Please?
Tolnuk May 21st 2009 11:36PM
Tauren Shaman has the most compiled votes so far. YAY!
vendamoony May 21st 2009 11:42PM
I voted Orc hunter (because hunters get so little love) but I have a stipulation: THE ORC MUST BE FEMALE.
Tainnym May 22nd 2009 12:41AM
Heh... a warlockwhich is the antithesis of a Paladin, Alex, you will betray your principles using a race that is known for it's penchant for destruction and you will be using demons and dark magic as your tools.
Shame on you. :P