Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsFlavor names for new race/class combos
by Michael Sacco 
Aug 27th 2009 at 3:00PM
Unsurprisingly, the hottest forum topic upon the announcement of new race/class combinations in Cataclysm isn't an analytical discussion of their racial strengths and weaknesses -- it's pun names for Tauren Paladins. Well, Kisirani, illustrious World Event Designer and Mistress of Flavor, popped into one such thread to give the actual name that Tauren Paladins will be given, a la Blood Knights -- "Sunwalkers."
A great name, and somehow less menacing than "Blood Knights." One has to wonder if this sets a precedent for the other new combinations, too. Could we be seeing Forsaken Hunters phased in via quests as Dark Rangers? Dwarf Shamans as Wildhammers? Blood Elf Warriors as Sunreavers? Dwarf Mages as Runeweavers?
Kisirani indicated that the new combos would be phased in gradually and with ample explanation for each one via new quests and NPCs, and we've already seen the start of those with the An Injured Colleague and A Cautious Return quests added on the PTRs. There are lots of great flavor opportunities here, and I hope that Blizzard takes the time to introduce each and every new combo in their own unique way. Then again, with Kisirani at the helm of the whole thing, I doubt we have much to worry about.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
Jeremie Aug 27th 2009 3:10PM
Possible name for undead hunter - Chewtoy
winterhawk Aug 27th 2009 3:12PM
Okay, what I want to know is--was that pic mocked up in WoW Model Viewer, or is the whole Judgment set coming back (not just the hat)?
Because if it is, I'm going to have to get my level 60 paladin out of mothballs, pronto. :)
Anaughtybear Aug 27th 2009 3:21PM
I think that set is one of the rewards for new Onyxia. I have the recolored set on one of my cows from the Wrath event, and it does look awesome, so I'm fairly stoked. I actually have been wanting to try a paladin for a long time, as I refuse to play Alliance or belfs.
A side note, Sunwalker was a douchebag paladin from my Palladium RPG campaign about 20 years ago.
nonentity Aug 27th 2009 3:22PM
??? The Judgement set is still there....
You can still get it at the old bosses.
Whispertrance Aug 27th 2009 3:30PM
@anaughtybear
Palladium RPG? Goddamn, I'm sorry...
Cyrus Aug 27th 2009 4:10PM
I don't think the whole set is coming back as level 80-caliber gear. I think they're just using it because it's such a cool-looking, iconic set of armor. Every time I've seen a picture of a worgen druid, it's wearing T8. That's probably just because the moons and vines scream "druid." Likewise with scales and swords on paladin gear. (T2 is iconic for druids too, but the only really iconic part of it is the helm, which completely covers the face, so that defeats the purpose.)
Anaughtybear Aug 27th 2009 4:18PM
Palladium is much cleaner system than D&D. If I wanted to carry 30 lbs of gaming books, I'd just go work out instead. Most people only know about Rifts, which is terrible, but Palladium also makes Recon. The nice thing about Palladium is yo don't have to consult a chart for every action.
D&D gets all the attention because it's one of the oldest games, that doesn't make it any good. Other than the mechanics, there's really no difference if you have a good group. They can both be fun, but D&D is the equivalent to Jonas Brothers Disney show. Everyone says it's good, so you believe them and get mauled by tweens at the mall. Palladium is that indie band that has some talent, but isn't being forced down your throat, so nobody plays it.
Marco Polaris Aug 27th 2009 4:26PM
Bear, off-topic I know, but they've been steadily dropping the chart dependency from D&D since 2nd Edition. There's almost no charts at all in 4th, and most of them are really just indexes.
I'm not trying to argue about which system is better. Your comment just seems a bit outdated.
Oneiroi Aug 27th 2009 3:16PM
I wish we called hunters rangers! I like Tolkein and Sylvanas.
wmalcom Aug 27th 2009 3:45PM
Rangers are often more melee oriented than Hunters, to my understanding.
Anaughtybear Aug 27th 2009 4:26PM
As much as I dislike the term ranger, hunter doesn't make much sense either. They are more like tamers than hunters. Unless you are actively out farming for skins, that is. Especially on a PvP server, I don't hunt animals, I hunt people. I prefer to keep the hunter title just because I'm used to it after five years. At least it differentiates them from the Legolas fanboys and D&D novel-readers.
grump-e Aug 27th 2009 3:20PM
I like this and I don't think its killing the lore, its just working with it to build new stories, possibilities and to give the world more feeling.
The devs haven't forgotten about the importance of the setting, the atmosphere the story and the circumstances, what makes the game feel like more than just 25 guys organized vs an AI or two small teams LOS dancing in a room.
ash Aug 27th 2009 3:22PM
With Kisirani there is hope, but the name sunwalkers actually makes me anxious.
Beliam Aug 27th 2009 3:25PM
Sunwalkers, Runeweavers, Spellbreakers, Deathstalkers...
I for one welcome our new NOUNVERBER overlords.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] Aug 27th 2009 3:29PM
That's an awesome name for an alt.
Nounverber.....
Frank Aug 27th 2009 3:40PM
they are all perfectly cromulent words.
Nazgûl Aug 27th 2009 3:52PM
Cromulent indeed. (No one ever gets the Simpsons reference... You sir are awesome.)
"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man."
DataPhreak Sep 1st 2009 12:03PM
HamSlappers?
kozom Aug 27th 2009 3:32PM
do all classes have a special name for a given race? Or only paladins?
RogueJedi86 Aug 27th 2009 3:34PM
For the love of Magni, please replace the Draenei Shaman trainer in IF with a Dwarf one. Now that Dwarves can/will be Shaman, it's only fitting that a Dwarf be the Shaman trainer there. Maybe replace the SW one with a Dwarf too, but we can start with IF. :)