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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPandaren in the World of Warcraft
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 8th 2009 at 6:00PM
Of course we say "until now" because there are now little Pandaren monk noncombat pets running around, bowing, and doing magical kung-fu. Does this mean that the future Emerald Dream expansion will have us all playing as Brewmasters? While yes that would be awesome, not so fast again: Diablo and the Zergling from Starcraft are both in the game as noncombat pets, and they don't mean anything at all (although they were both included in the game before the announcements of Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 -- maybe Blizzard is working on a Pandaren-based puzzle game? Conspiracy theorists, assemble!). And just because we all have Grunty doesn't mean murlocs are suddenly going to take to spaceships with battle rifles in the official lore. But it's cool to see Pandaren actually in the game, even in pet form, and who knows, maybe we will one day find the legendary realm of Pandaria in our own version of Azeroth.
Filed under: Alliance, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Lore, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
Kurash Nov 8th 2009 8:15PM
I have to admit that before all the Cataclysm info was released I had hoped that furbolgs would become a playable race. I can imagine my bear-man shaman now: "Rawr, totem, totem, rawr!"
...Of course, we'd need to make sure that the character's armor would cover up the loincloth. Because otherwise controlling the toon from behind wouldn't be as much fun.
Lemming Nov 8th 2009 6:31PM
There is a distinct lack of a Panderan Empire on the Azeroth hologram in the planeterium within HoL. That makes ME a sad Panda :(
Nathanyel Nov 8th 2009 6:35PM
Or, it proves that even those maps do not have to be correct, or depict the current or near-future state. Instead, this could be the state of Azeroth long ago - which would explain e.g. the Shimmering Flats.
Lemming Nov 8th 2009 6:41PM
Doubt it, it's still post-sundering.
Nathanyel Nov 9th 2009 3:41AM
I doubt that in the first few centuries after the Sundering, the world looked like it does now. The tidal waves from all the landmass moving probably created several more and larger lakes than we know today.
mpd1123 Nov 8th 2009 6:32PM
Actually there is more then just the pet a reference to the race in game. If you look at the turtle ships running up and down the western shore of Ashenvale and Darkshore, all the builds on top have Oriental designs AND have a small round head with two little ears which could very well be a panda.
mpd1123 Nov 8th 2009 6:33PM
Actually there is more then just the pet reference to the race in game. If you look at the turtle ships running up and down the western shore of Ashenvale and Darkshore, all the buildings on top have Oriental designs AND have a small round head with two little ears which could very well be a panda. *Typo Fix*
Tardesh Nov 8th 2009 6:37PM
I see you've referred to pandas as bears several times, pandas, like koalas are 'not' bears.
mpd1123 Nov 8th 2009 6:39PM
Guess they are frogs then???
Lemming Nov 8th 2009 6:39PM
Um, yes they (pandas) are.
Tardesh Nov 8th 2009 6:57PM
I stand corrected:
For many decades the precise taxonomic classification of the Giant Panda was under debate as both it and the distantly related Red Panda share characteristics of both bears and raccoons. However, molecular studies suggest that the Giant Panda is a true bear and part of the Ursidae family.
I guess this happened sometime after my primary school lessons on pandas yonks ago >.
kozom Nov 8th 2009 6:58PM
Sorry, but pandas are indeed bears. Although closely related to the raccoon, they are part of the familia Ursidae (which is where ursa minor [the great BEAR] constellation gets its name :D) which is just big science-y talk for saying they're bears :)
bair.andy Nov 8th 2009 7:24PM
not entirely related, but kozom, i read your comment the first time as "pandas are undead bears." which made me laugh, a lot.
Pollux Nov 8th 2009 10:36PM
"ursa minor [the great BEAR]"
There's a minor mistake here, but I feel where you're coming from.
Moonkinmaniac Nov 8th 2009 6:44PM
I don't think they'd do it. They don't like using humanoid types as minipets or hunter pets. Though they do have the little ethereal soul guy. If I had to guess I'd say ogres are the most likely next new new race though I reallly hope as often is the case I am wrong lol. Besides I would hope pandarens wouldn't just be reskins of walrus people.
Radiophonic Nov 8th 2009 8:04PM
lol I'd totally play an Ogre
JFetch Nov 8th 2009 6:50PM
Look at who sends you the pet in-game, and you have your answer. Pandarens are real in the world of Azeroth. If Chen Stormstout sends you mail, then they must be real.
Malfural Nov 8th 2009 6:54PM
There were 2 main problems with the Pandaren
1) Like you said, China doesn't want depictions of violence against pandas. This has been solved by making it a non combat pet that can neither attack or be attacked.
2) China didn't like the idea of their national animal of peace (or whatever it is) wearing Japanese battle garb, which has obviously also been solved.
I'm doubtful that any time soon we'll see playable pandaren, or even npcs (unless they can't be attacked), especially with the problems going on in China right now for WoW.
Suzaku Nov 8th 2009 8:23PM
1.) That's a BS rumor started by a dweeb on the official forums. There were panda people in WC3 and there are panda people in Perfect World, which is one of China's most popular MMORPGs, and was developed in China. There are no laws against it, no nothing.
2.) You're partially right. During WC3's development, Samwise designed Pandaren dressed as samurai. Not only are generic Asian cultural hodge-podges offensive, but tensions between the Japanese and Chinese are particularily high, due to Japan's past attempts at invading China. Chinese players were upset, Samwise changed the art, and now you see the Pandaren running around in traditional Chinese garb. Everyone's happy.
Balino Nov 8th 2009 6:57PM
They won't add Pandarens due to the massive symbolism they have in southeast Asian culture. Remember the outcry from the Chinese when Pandarens in War III had Japanese style huts and clothing? Pandarens, while cool, is too much a hot potato for Blizzard at the moment.