BlizzCon 2009: First impressions of Cataclysm races
by Elizabeth Harper 
Aug 28th 2009 at 9:00AM
Alex: TOP HATS
Daniel: FREAKING AWESOME TOP HATS
But for completeness' sake, the rest of the team's thoughts are below.
Chase Christian
Here's how I can sum up the first levels of the Worgen starting area:
THERE ARE VEHICLES YOU USE TO LAUNCH YOURSELF PLACES.
Putting vehicles in as low as level 5, they're clearly working to get new game mechanics in the hands of lowbies as quickly as possible.
Daniel Whitcomb
Both races are incredibly fluid and beautifully animated. I am incredibly pleased. They keep the feel of the old NPC skins but are much more beautifully detailed, and at first glance do not appear to suffer any of the glitches and clipping issues that plague most PC races.
The Goblins have a more traditional Kalimdorian feel to what we saw, but there;s still scattered gadgets that are distinctly goblin. Still, it's mostly ruins, so maybe once we see their actual capital we'll get some new unique architecure.
Class option wise, I can dig it, but I am a bit disappointed. No Worgen Paladins? The Gilneans are devoted followers of the Light. Even the Cataclysm starting movie showed a cathedral in Gilneas. I really wanted to see some genuine pissed off angry retributers of the Light ready to bring Holy Vengeance on the Defilers. If you can let Worgen and Goblins be Death Knights, let 'em be Paladins!
Class option wise, I can dig it, but I am a bit disappointed. No Worgen Paladins? The Gilneans are devoted followers of the Light. Even the Cataclysm starting movie showed a cathedral in Gilneas. I really wanted to see some genuine pissed off angry retributers of the Light ready to bring Holy Vengeance on the Defilers. If you can let Worgen and Goblins be Death Knights, let 'em be Paladins!
Starting experience is amazing. Setting your character up as the hero of your people, And bringing in major lore characters, phasing, and in game cinematics? Yes, please! The quests had nice variety and mechanics without getting too boring or silly (coughjoustingcough).
Lore interactions were also tops. I loved seeing Genn Greymane. In fact, I squealed with joy. Thrall. Well. Thrall's journey to the jerk side is complete. He's horrible. But I am sure the Horde will eat it up.
But yes, Amazing starting experiences, and I am sure I will be recommending all players play through them at least once, much as I do for the DK starting experience.
I love the lore of Arugal as a guilt-ridden twisted native of Gilneas who was only trying to protect his people by summoning the Worgen. I wonder, if Worgen are going to be made 100% good in all forms, how they will explain Duskwood and Shadowfang keep tho.
Elizabeth Harper
These new races really show how much Blizzard has learned since the game first launched -- and even since we last had new races in Burning Crusade. While original WoW starting zones drop you, one of many of your kind, into a chain of fairly non-descript quests of the kill ten rats variety, both Goblin and Worgen starting zones throw you into the middle of an epic story-line in which you're the hero. Much like the Death Knight "starting experience," the point of the Goblin and Worgen starting zones isn't just to give new characters enough levels and experience to join the larger world of Azeroth -- it's to tell a story. Here's to hoping the rest of Azeroth, post-Cataclysm, will feel less grindy and more epic, like these new starting zones!
Matt Low
I made a mistake when I created a Goblin. So what was the mistake?
I created a Hunter.
I have never played a Hunter before and I had no idea what to do. I just mashed buttons and prayed that I'd connect with my shots. One of the quests involved rescuing other goblins. I liked the idea of being created as the savior of the goblin people. The Goblin racials are great! Now I can sort of say that I can truly do some rocket jumping in the game. I picked a bad time to pick a class that I honestly didn't know how to play. I died a lot because I'd run into multiple mobs and I was unable to get range and shoot them.
The starting area looked great. It was very vibrant and tropical. Whatever detail they added in Wrath, they amped it up even more in the beta. And this is pre-beta.
I've learned my lesson. Look at the class selection closely before hitting the create character button.
Mike Schramm
I think the new races seem a little bit like fan service. They'll be extremely popular, and they are cool, but it does seem like they're tweaking the lore a bit to get them in there. The racials are very flashy, but the racials I'm most interested in -- the Goblin money discounts -- didn't come into play in the demo. The class options also seem a little like fan service, but I think that's only because the lore hasn't been explained yet: the Goblin's Injured Colleague quests seem like they're going a long way towards telling an epic story and making the new options make sense.
I like the Worgen starting area better than the Goblins, though the Goblins area seems like it could be a jungle-style Stranglethorn that people actually like, which is excellent. Haven't had much experience with the starting experiences yet -- it seems a little less epic than the Death Knight experience, though remember we're comparing a Hero Class to a character someone might be picking up for the first time.
I think both Worgen and Goblins will be super popular as races, and I think the combination of completely revamping the old world will mean that everyone and their mother will be rerolling on the exact same day. Fun? We'll see.
Robin Torres
I was able to play both races and while I completely agree with all of the geeking out about the Worgen, I had more fun playing a Goblin. Both back-stories are delightfully dire, but the Goblins have a better sense of humor about their fate. I also love that gadgets play an intimate part of the Goblin existence -- as it should be. The rocket belt racials are powerful and fun, but gadgets are also played with for many of the quests. I was not able to play enough of either to really compare to the DK starting experience, but I predict I'll be rolling one of each character to experience both.
I was able to play both races and while I completely agree with all of the geeking out about the Worgen, I had more fun playing a Goblin. Both back-stories are delightfully dire, but the Goblins have a better sense of humor about their fate. I also love that gadgets play an intimate part of the Goblin existence -- as it should be. The rocket belt racials are powerful and fun, but gadgets are also played with for many of the quests. I was not able to play enough of either to really compare to the DK starting experience, but I predict I'll be rolling one of each character to experience both.
Zach Yonzon
I rolled a Worgen Hunter myself, for several reasons -- when the game goes live I'll likely be leveling a Goblin (after getting my main to 85), so I'm certain to see a lot of that starting area. Second, I chose Hunter because it's a relatively easy class to level with. The ability to engage at ranged and tap targets with a Hunter's Mark is important in a place teeming with other leveling players. The Worgen racial, Darkflight, default bound to 9, is extremely useful for creating distance and being able to get a shot off -- a couple of Serpent Sting + Arcane Shot at that level is usually enough to take down mobs.
I was slowed down considerably by the keyboard, since I'm used to playing with a Belkin N52te, but it's easy enough to get into the groove. The great thing is that Blizzard started off the hands-on playing experience at Level 6 which skipped over some secret details they're not yet willing to reveal, but also gave players more abilities to use. It was a bit silly having the aspects right beside Arcane Shot, but like I said, you get used to it after a while.
The Worgen racials are a bit underwhelming, considering there's only one useful activated ability. The shapeshifting is purely cosmetic, and doesn't have any practical game application. Starting in a place with Undead opponents, the Flayer skill won't come into play at all.
The starting area can't be compared to the DK starting experience just yet because I don't think we've fully explored what phasing can do to the zone. Overall, 20 minutes is too brief to give any sensible opinion about the experience.
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 Worgen to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Mike Aug 28th 2009 9:06AM
"The shapeshifting is purely cosmetic, and doesn't have any practical game application."
That was my overall impression with the Worgen as well. It didn't feel like the alternate form really accomplished anything. Maybe they'll rework it by release time.
The shapeshifting animation was neat, though.
Deadlock Aug 28th 2009 9:18AM
Maybe the shifting to human is just for roleplayers.
Oh wait, Blizzard wouldn't do anything for roleplayers, they must plan to rework it for a practical purpose.
kozom Aug 28th 2009 9:20AM
I wish shifting did something more though in place of the +1% all damage. Maybe while in worgen form you deal 1% and while in human form your health regeneration gets a bit of a boost, since afterall you will be out of combat.
BigLove Aug 28th 2009 9:25AM
I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed at the transformation animation. It just looses something for me to know that the animators wanted to make the whole body gradually transform, but when they started experiencing difficulty they just decided to make the limbs instantaneously transform, then added a 'poof' for effect.
Jason Aug 28th 2009 9:32AM
Yeah, but it'll make spotting a Worgen for an achievement in Dalaran (or whatever the next big neutral city/lag-fest is called) more of a challenge.
Bonksy Aug 28th 2009 10:38AM
Jason, there will be no neutral city in Cataclysm
Chaosclaws Aug 28th 2009 11:00AM
I wonder though, if the only reason u can transform to human form might be in fact to be a travel form. So if this is the case Blizz didnt need to add anymore mounts, the human worgen could just ride the horses.
Moonkinmaniac Aug 28th 2009 11:08AM
I love the whole idea of having a human form! You can create two chars for the price of one. I wonder if changing one in the barber shop will affect the others.
Oneiroi Aug 28th 2009 11:11AM
@Dreadlock
"Oh wait, Blizzard wouldn't do anything for roleplayers, they must plan to rework it for a practical purpose."
Oh no! Having something that roleplayers could use that has in game affect as well, how horrible is that!? ha. It's almost like changes in the world of warcraft world have an affect in the game world. Outrageous!
Mike Aug 28th 2009 11:19AM
@Moonkinmaniac:
When you create a Worgen, you see the Worgen form on the character creation screen. The options available to change at the convention were things like fur color, mane style, and I think you could change the teeth a bit.
When I was in the starting area, all the human-formed Worgen were pretty much identical looking. All the Worgen pretty much look the same, as well.
I made a group with a friend of mine that was trying out a Worgen as well. I had to put a raid icon on him just so I could pick him out amongst all the other Worgen.
After toggling back and forth between forms a few times, we all stayed in Worgen form all the time. Not really any point in going back to Human form at this time. Perhaps that will change in time, but during the demo, the Human form didn't have any special abilities.
SixTwoSixFour Aug 28th 2009 3:20PM
Chaosclaws, I guarentee you there will be new Worgen mounts. Why can I do that? Because Blizzard has, for several patches now, added mounts in order to balance out the number of mounts per faction. And the Goblins already have an announced mount. Given that they've worked to balance the mount numbers, they wouldn't just let that be screwed up.
And besides, I'm sure they know that people are excited for new mounts. Personally, I can't wait to put a tauren in a goblin go cart. It'll be like DK in Mario Kart- waaaay too big for what he's driving.
NO NAME Aug 28th 2009 9:13AM
FREAKING AWESOME TOPHATS.
DigitalMonitor Aug 28th 2009 11:22AM
Right-o old bean! By Jove, the finest bank alts in all the land shall demand this haberdashery for their own!
uncaringbear Aug 28th 2009 9:20AM
I truly hope people will be giving the goblins a fair try when the expansion drops. I'm concerned we're going to see an exodus of horde players as they reroll worgen as their new expansion race.
Kylenne Aug 28th 2009 9:31AM
My opinion on that is let them leave and don't let the door hit 'em on the way out. If it'll get rid of the the 12 yo billy bad ass types ("hurrrr Worgen should be Horde because Horde is supposed to be BAD ASS hurrr"), let them all roll puppies for all I care.
I already have three Goblin names reserved. I picked an awesome time to change servers again, I actually have free slots on this one.
Jason Aug 28th 2009 9:33AM
Worgen will be the new Blood Elves.
David Aug 28th 2009 9:38AM
I'll probably roll a Worgen because I'm interested to see the starting experience, and I know many of my horde compatriots are considering doing the same, but none of us are actually planning on ~going~ alliance. It's partly due to the community of the horde on our server, partly due to the feel and theme of the horde, and partly due to the fact that alliance has gnomes.
Jack Spicer Aug 28th 2009 9:43AM
I think the concept of Worgens are really cool, but the more I see them screen shots wearing armor and in motion on video I become less an less impressed. Granted the female model hasn't been revealed yet, so my opinion could change, but I think the Worgen look silly.
Although there will be a rush of people rolling a Worgen when the expansion launches, I think there will be a large number of them that will be equally unimpressed.
rogericke Aug 28th 2009 9:48AM
There was a suggestion on the official forums (sorry, no link) that I kinda dug on. make both the worgen and goblins start neutral and have a quest chain that you have to complete after a certain level to pick a side. there are going to be a lot of hordes rerolling and the balance is going all outta whack. id put money on it.
Khremloc Aug 28th 2009 10:35AM
A drop in the belf population is probably best for the Horde.