Breakfast Topic: Would you change your faction?
Earlier this week we reported on Nethaera's stunning revelation that faction changes were in the works. Yeah, I was just as amazed. It might just be an idea at the moment, a work in progress which we might not get access to until a patch or even the next expansion. The logistics are mind-boggling. Would this be a literally blending of species into factions so Humans could join the Horde and Taurens the Alliance or would your character literally be transformed into another species? How exactly would the lore work around that? We've had character customisation for a while now and the ability to change gender but changing faction and possibly even species. That a whole new kettle of fish.
So, constant readers, in the wake of this bombshell I'm very eager to know what you think. Does the very idea of changing faction seem contrary to how the game works? Would you consider jumping factions? Would you rather see characters choose whether to become Horde or Alliance? Could you change your very species to join the opposing faction? From a lore perspective, how do you think would this work and, indeed, does it need to have a basis in lore? After all no one questioned the gender change. What do you think?
So, constant readers, in the wake of this bombshell I'm very eager to know what you think. Does the very idea of changing faction seem contrary to how the game works? Would you consider jumping factions? Would you rather see characters choose whether to become Horde or Alliance? Could you change your very species to join the opposing faction? From a lore perspective, how do you think would this work and, indeed, does it need to have a basis in lore? After all no one questioned the gender change. What do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 12)
Snarkman Jul 1st 2009 8:10AM
What is up with this 'constant readers' phrase you use so often? Sounds bizarre every time I see it.
As to faction changes - YES!!!! I have waited for this for a longgggg time. I have max level characters from both factions, and the option of getting them together is very nice. Also, I am hopeful this feature would allow race changes within the same faction (which certainly seems easier to implement and I don't really get why it isn't already available).
kev-dogg Jul 1st 2009 8:34AM
"constant readers" is reminicent of Stephen King to me, for some reason...
But to comment on the arcticle, probably wouldn't change factions. When i first thought about playing i was set on making an Undead Rogue as my main. I soon learned that everyone i would be playing with had already rolled Alliance... My second choice was Dwarf Rogue and i'm damn glad i went with it. I wouldn't give my main up for anything. perhaps an alt, but seeing as im' on a PvP server anyway i don't think i could participate without transfering as well.
Gessilea Jul 1st 2009 11:08AM
""constant readers" is reminicent of Stephen King to me, for some reason..."
That's because he's the one who made the phrase well known. He uses the phrase to refer to his fans in author's notes and essays, and I believe it even appears in some of his books.
Tieten Jul 1st 2009 8:09AM
Obviously your race would change. No question about that. They don't want to blend the faction specific races. That would remove the few unique faction things left. Not to mention the lore problem.
I won't be using it. I'd rather avoid the whole migration of blood elves ;-)
Mike Jul 1st 2009 9:27AM
I don't see how it would be a lore problem. There are High Elves in the Alliance, there are Orcs, Trolls, and Tauren friendly to the Alliance, the only problem would be Undead. On the other side, there are many Humans, Gnomes, and Dwarves friendly to Horde (namely from Theramore), though there would be problems with Night Elf and Draenei.
Remember that the races we play as are linked to only one faction of the race of many, with many other factions having different priorities in their friends.
Seedcake Jul 2nd 2009 3:49PM
The day that humans/night elves/gnomes/draenei/dwarves are allowed by the faction system to hang out in Orgrimmar and our other Horde cities WITHOUT being killed directly to death with great prejudice is the day I'll be done with WoW for good.
It must not happen, and happily, I believe Blizzard would never do it. It would make absolutely no sense at all.
Drahliana Jul 1st 2009 12:48PM
Actually lorewise it would be fewere problem with some races than one might imagine. Night Elves for example have more in common spiritually with most Horde races than Alliance, a Night elf that's willing to overlook the Warsong mess might find himelf more at home with races that think more of a spiritual and natural level like the Tauren than the cathedrally focused Humans. Try going to Thunder Bluff sometime and asking for the mage trainer, they'll give you a very Night elf like reaction before they reluctantly point you on your way.
On the other hand, Humans like Varian might be more willing to accept Blood Elves seeking to return to Alliance affiliation.
I allow this with my paper and dice campaign with NPC's warning the player character to be extremely careful as others of the faction unaware of the affiliation change might still atttack her on sight. along with all the other negative connotations such a change would incur.
SarahTheGnome Jul 1st 2009 8:09AM
I would not do this. I am alliance, I love my gnomes and dwarves (yes, I like tiny things), I have grown attached to them, I roleplay them, I am not tossing that all out of the window so I can look like a cow on steroids.
Silverdragon Jul 1st 2009 9:29AM
So i guess size doesn't matter for you, huh? ;)
offday Jul 1st 2009 9:37AM
Thank you. Gnomes and dwarves are awesome.
Bossy Jul 1st 2009 8:10AM
I asked around a bit and most of my RL friends would only use it to join RL friends when they would be playing another faction.
I always played Alliance with my main characters, but if I want to make a lvl 80 with Horde I would level up from scratch and make my own conquerors (instead of justicars).
So I think only a small fraction of players would want to use it. But it still is a useful addition to the freedom of choices you now have.
deadsy457 Jul 1st 2009 8:10AM
i really would like to see that u would keep ur species that u originally chose when u started playing the class. defectors would be really awesome, and blizz could even implement a quest that u would do once u paid for the service that showed u getting kicked from ogrimmar/stormwind and then doing a "walk of shame" like the death knights final starting area quest into ur new home city. i do think that city reputations should be wiped clean seeing as starting out as a new member of the horde/alliance, who knows if u can be trusted.
andy Jul 1st 2009 8:11AM
i would love to change my race, i no longer want to be an undead, i wanna be for the darkspear mon.
i dont think i would change to alli's though,
although i would be tempted to get some revenge on some of the idiots/twats you find in this game. you know the ones you get in some pugs
1) "can you tank?"
2) "im a shaman"
1) "you have a sheild though"
2) "im resto"
1) "l2 tank noob"
2) " bye"
this genuinely happened to me today!
Augneros Jul 1st 2009 8:10AM
It would make the loremaster achievements easier...
jealouspirate Jul 1st 2009 8:20AM
I might consider changing faction with an alt or two, depending on how much it costs.
I would be extremely surprised (and disappionted) if this didn't include a forced race change. I don't want to see human Horde, etc.
In the initial release it said that your character would be transformed into a 'roughly equivalent' character of the opposing faction. I assume that means a draenei shaman would be forced to be an orc, tauren or troll, etc
As far as lore goes, I don't think that needs to enter the picture at all.
Netara Jul 1st 2009 8:10AM
If ya can stay your race yes. Cant stand bloodelf and orc females looks a bit to uggly ^^*
Furion Jul 1st 2009 8:11AM
If races changes yes but I dont want orcs in the alliance ???
duskhawk Jul 1st 2009 8:12AM
3 years ago, most definitely. Now? I have one Alliance toon left, a level 70 hunter, and have replicated her LW on an elemental shaman, so... not at this time, since I need a toon to check the other AH. Now, if they were also letting us buy additional slots on a server (within the 50 on one account), I would totally set up a bank/AH toon over there and bring her over. As-is, though, I don't have anyone I want to delete to be able to do that.
Rob Jul 1st 2009 8:56AM
This. I had a ally hunter/druid, maxed them out in naxx raid gear. Then my friend started a horde guild. So i maxed out a hunter/druid (well the druid is 68, but by the time this goes live will be max). So...to little too late. Too bad. I'd gladly pay $25 or whatever to switch factions and save months of work.
I think it's a great idea, but even people like me (2+ years playing, many max toons on both sides) wouldn't do it. So idk how successful it will be. Hopefully they'll make some dough out of it though.
Thlop Jul 1st 2009 8:13AM
I would, providing the cost isnt ridiculous.
It would allow me to play my favourite characters on the same server and side as friends.
Leading on from this proposed feature, they should allow the creation of horde and alliance characters on pvp realms.