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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: What do you think of new race and class combos?
by Lesley Smith 
Aug 24th 2009 at 8:00AM
One of the big things announced at BlizzCon were the new class and race combinations. These were originally datamined from patch 3.2.2 and include everything from Gnome Priests and Goblin Rogues to Worgen Druids. I'm especially excited about the last one.For years, the race you played has been indelibly linked with the class and defined how you play the game. Say, for example, you like playing Night Elves, you're limited class-wise to rolling Druid, Priests, Hunters, Rogues and Warriors. On the other hand, if it's a specific class then you are sometimes limited to a particular race. So Draenei are the only Alliance race which can current become Shamans while the same is true, Horde-side, for Blood Elves becoming Paladins.
From a lore perspective, there is little preventing any of these combos. This is especially true as Azeroth expands and the game evolves. But readers, this is new territory for us, as WoW becomes more open. What do you think of the possibility of lore-centric or even playable class and race combinations?
Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Shaman, Patches, Blizzard, Breakfast Topics, Expansions, Draenei, Blood Elves, Lore, Classes, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 12)
Robert Aug 24th 2009 11:08AM
I completely agree with you as well. Something that people tend to forget... Lore/history is all well and good, BUT seriously, what good is a game such as WoW if the game doesn't change at all? WoW was built as a universe. People can learn to do different things, adapt to different situations, and learn from their mistake. That is what these new class/race combos are about. Lore wasn't always history... someones lore was someone else's current events.
terminaltrip421 Aug 24th 2009 4:03PM
"LOLore" that's hot. I think it'd make a great tauren pally name for sure.
Ghallar Aug 24th 2009 8:16AM
I'm really sorry, Blizzard, but your "Night Elves Mages have been added because it sounded pretty cool to have Elves using arcane when they shouldn't be anymore." is just a big FU to every single lore nerd in the game. This change just makes no sense.
Wubble69 Aug 24th 2009 8:30AM
I currently do not drive a motorcycle. I have never driven a motorcycle. I do not like motorcycles. I have had friends die from driving motorcycles.
What is to stop me learning to drive a motorcycle?
What is to stop me buying a motorcycle?
What is to stop me suddenly becoming a motorcycle nut?
Or are you suggesting that because things have always been this way, they have to remain this way forever?
I may lose my car and have no choice but to use a motorcycle.
Who can tell? My life changes every second I live it. It would be pretty stupid of me to spend the rest of my days sticking to the rules I set for myself 20 years ago.
Itanius Aug 24th 2009 8:34AM
If Chris Metzen says they've returned to their arcane ways, then dammit... that's the way it's gonna be. ;)
Fightstar Aug 24th 2009 8:36AM
http://www.wowwiki.com/Highborne
If you roll a Night Elf Mage, you'll technically be playing the said Highborne.
Highborne will be accepted back into the alliance in an upcoming patch.
Falcon6 Aug 24th 2009 8:41AM
The world changes.
The Highborne have been in the world for a long time, and they didn't all turn into naga, blood elves, or high elves. They have remained in hiding in Dire Maul. There are your trainers. If the world is going to truly change everything, why shouldn't Tyrande consider adding more power to their ranks?
Honestly, the problem is you're considering the lore as a static book of sorts that will always be that way. However, it has been proven before that the lore will change throughout the game. It's not a static game. It's an MMORPG. Things change, people change...and if you're faced against an event that may very well destroy the world, you may need to look past your ideals.
Kidneystones Aug 24th 2009 9:05AM
I think the horde being more aggressive in Ashenvale could explain why the night elves have resorted to mages again, needing the power to help defend themselves. Would be a nice story element, Garrosh leading to corruption of not only the horde but some of the alliance.
Spork Aug 24th 2009 10:06AM
Night Elf mages won't be "just a big FU to every single lore nerd in the game. "
Real lore nerds should be aware of the Shen'dralar hiding out in Dire Maul, which starting with 3.2.2 will be seeking to rejoin the Night Elves of Darnassus (according to the PTR).
So the assumption that leads from there is that come Cataclysm, they will be more or less (probably less) welcomed back to the Night Elves, in the same way that Humans and (especially) Orcs tolerate Warlocks in their ranks.
kabshiel Aug 24th 2009 10:35AM
Allowing the Highborne to come back into the fold isn't such a stretch either. Tyrande's been known to rethink the rules when there's a crisis. Illidan, anyone?
Bisa Aug 24th 2009 8:17AM
I love all the cries of "but the lore...the lore!" against races getting new classes. People seem very against the idea of a dynamic, growing world. The Tauren were insulated, now they have had access to the teachings of priest/paladins and, given the nobility of their race, it makes perfect sense that they would take up the holy path.
And just hooray for a second shaman race, bye bye to my spacegoat!
John Aug 24th 2009 8:46AM
I'm upset at night elf mages.
So 10000 years ago the night elves decided that arcane magic is bad. And those that can't stop using it has to go - only druid magic allowed.
So the high elves were exiled and later became the blood elves.
Now, all of a sudden, hey magic is OK as long as you aren't doing demonic! Welcome night elf magis.
How about an apology to all the high elves / blood elves for being so high and mighty for the last 10,000 years and now suddenly you have a change of heart!
The last night elf that loved non-druid magic ended up in BC - his name was Illidan.
Seraphna Aug 24th 2009 10:21AM
What I love is how each and every single "LORE!" rant seems to be completely inaccurate and written by people who don't actually know the lore at all.
John Aug 24th 2009 10:27AM
I'm keen to hear your corrections.
Seraphna Aug 24th 2009 10:38AM
I'll only bother with NElf Mages for now, since you so deeply feel they're wrong. First, you got part of it correct, Night Elves, way in the past, were a heavily arcane using society, the Noble Caste of the race, the Highborne, wielding the power of the Arcane and through it and the Queen Azshara, managed to bring Sargeras to Azeroth. What you're getting wrong, is that Night Elves as a species stopped using the Arcane entirely. The Highborne were split into three factions during the Breaking of the World. The Naga, the High Elves and the exiled Highborne. Not every Highborn went to the other continent during Exile. Those that did eventually became the High Elves we know today.
Those that did not went deeper into the untamed wilds, occupied the forgotten ruins of their fore bearers and decided to keep quiet. If you've ever been to Dire Maul, you'd be well aware that the Highborne still exist, they've been laying in wait and biding time until they are needed again. The coming Cataclysm is the reason they've returned, and ultimately it's looking to be the reason Tyrande decides that a hatred that's lasted literally for dozens of millenia needs to be let go, because with the world in the state it's in, every hand will be needed to restore order.
You may want to reconsider that "they hate those people" is your reason why Night Elves can't be mages. Not every Night Elf is a brainwashed citizen of Darnassus. A majority of Darnassus current leadership is also a generation skip away from the Breaking, and doesn't have as strong a reason to hate as others once did. Tyrande is also known for pushing radical changes among her race, why in the olden days, Male Priests were completely unheard of... and WARRIORS? That's a girl's job! How dare they break Lore!
Seraphna Aug 24th 2009 10:44AM
Oh... and that Night Elf you mentioned? That' Illidan guy? It seems you've forgotten who decided to employ him in the first place. Her name is Tyrande.
He's also not the only Highborne in the game, as I mentioned.
http://www.wowwiki.com/Dire_Maul
http://www.wowwiki.com/Highborne
http://www.wowwiki.com/Shen%27dralar
" I suppose I should not surprised at this cold reception. We have long been in hiding, and the separation from our brethren was necessary.
That time, however, is done. Whether the residents of this young tree come to accept us or not, the Highborne are returning to light, and we will not turn our backs on what we are. " - Archmage Mordent Evenshade, Night Elf
Jabberwocky Aug 24th 2009 8:17AM
I love them.
I've always wondered why Blood Elves couldn't be warriors, and now they will be. I always loved bringing it up as a counterpoint to the "why can't Gnomes be priests" threads. Now we both get what we want.
Also, I've never made a hunter or lock before so... Undead Hunter, sure. Goblin Warlock, yes please.
And deleted my lowbie Druid for a Troll. I waited two years to even try leveling a Tauren, I can wait a little longer to have something I like.
Oneiroi Aug 24th 2009 11:42AM
I think it's funny, after there was such an uproar at Blood Elves not being able to be warriors, they'll be able to be warriors years later.
I always think it's funny when Blizzard makes a statement like, we wont' do this, we don't think we should, and a year later they end up doing exactly that.
Todd Aug 24th 2009 8:17AM
I've wanted a Tauren Paladin for a while now. I'm happy too that you will be able to do a race change at some point in the future as well! I have a 64 Belf Pally That I'll try to level more now and switch him to Tauren as soon as they let me. My Undead Priest will meet the same Tauren fate also... I
Roddythew Aug 24th 2009 11:04AM
I thought that the changes were faction changes, not race changes. That a toon with the same class would be able to switch to the opposite faction, i.e., a Human Priest could change to a Troll Priest, not that a Horde Priest can change to another Horde race if that race has Priests as a class.