Breakfast Topic: Who gets to grow up?
by Nico Deyo 
Apr 16th 2010 at 8:00AM
As we've seen recently, it looks like there are many things, including NPCs, getting overhauls for Cataclysm. One of these NPCs is Anduin Wrynn, Varian's son, who is getting changed to look older. Several other key NPCs have also undergone just visual changes such as Jaina, Sylvanas and now most recently Tirion Fordring for the Icecrown Citadel cinematic.
This is a unique but small upgrade that Blizzard is rolling out along with all the other changes of Cataclysm in order to drastically shape what was once considered a mostly static world. While it might not be feasible to change every NPC, the fact that they are doing it at all shows a concerted effort to not just shape the terrain but the characters we interact with as players.
So the topic in mind today, dear WoW.com readers, is this: if you had the power to wave a magical model-change wand over any NPC in the game, who would you change for Cataclysm and why? What changes would be reflected? Would you age those annoying kids who run around in Stormwind? Would you give Thrall some new gear finally? Would you give Corki a dunce cap?
I personally would love to see some of the repair vendors in towns or cities wearing better armor, as it is obvious that five years of taking all our money has given them quite a more comfortable lifestyle. Stupid robber barons.
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
Soulrender Apr 16th 2010 8:03AM
I would definitly get the sfk mobs a make-over before Cata :)
Drexx Apr 16th 2010 8:05AM
I'd love to see Thrall get a revamp. For such a major player in Cataclysm he really could use a much more highly detailed model
Nathanael Apr 16th 2010 10:55AM
Agreed: Thrall needs some new IMBA armor! Garrosh is going to oust him based on fashion sense alone!
ash Apr 16th 2010 2:05PM
Thrall, most definitely, and I am saying this as a person who plays mostly alliance.
Considering all the bad ass shaman armors they have made since Thralls first appearance the sky is the limit with how cool they could make him look.
Mitawa Apr 16th 2010 5:49PM
But... Thrall needs to keep the armor he's wearing. Update the model, sure but you can't "put him in new IMBA armor" because his armor has great historical connotations to it- this is Orgrim Doomhammer's armor, it's important to Lore.
KronosIII Apr 17th 2010 12:56AM
I like Thrall's armor. He is the only character left that is not a sell out to new gear that comes out like the rest of us.
I think Cairne needs a better look. Actually in general Tauren models look terribad.
If anything I am not worried about any faction leader updates I am more worried about character race remodels.
The Tauren/undead/human need the most work. With the new Varian and Jaina models it seems like human models have hope.
Now the Tauren face needs to stop looking like a square.(use more polygons lol)
And the undead look more of a joke then threatening with the increased visuals in the game. I mean why do bones block armor? Why is it so important that I must show everyone my bones. Even to the limit of making holes on my robe to show bones.
With undead I would like them to not be hunched anymore. An ability to hide my bones. And a more threatening face. And maybe a decent freaking racial that makes them useful again.
jealouspirate Apr 16th 2010 8:04AM
At the very least, I'd like to see the rest of the faction leaders get an upgrade.
Remember how awesome Magni looked in the Battlecry wallpaper? He deserves to look like that in-game.
Zohra Apr 17th 2010 5:47PM
This.
I LOVE the Battlecry wallpaper. It's currently on my desktop because it's the coolest looking image for all the leaders. I think they deserve to look that awesome and should get upgraded because of it.
Jason Apr 16th 2010 8:05AM
I'd like to see gnomes "grow up."
See what I did there? ;)
Tomatketchup Apr 16th 2010 8:40AM
Just because of that comment...
"Patch 4.0.: Gelbin Mekkatorque has gotten his own unique model!"
5 years later
"Patch 16.3.: Thrall has gotten a new hammer."
Aaron Apr 16th 2010 8:42AM
@Tomatoketchup: Thrall won't live long enough to get a new hammer. MUAHAHAHAHA
Daedalus Apr 16th 2010 8:07AM
Am I crazy, or did High Tinker Mechatorque get an upgrade recently? He looks like his model's been improved, his gear looks different, and I don't remember him having such extensive voice work.
Preparations for Operation: Gnomeregan, I guess.
Gamer am I Apr 16th 2010 8:08AM
My first thought when I read this was those kids in Stormwind. I'd like to see their rivalry take some form other than that damn doll. Or perhaps they could be redone to walk around Stormwind slowly and reminisce about their childhood. They'd have to mention the doll, of course, and that would give pre-Cataclysm players a good chuckle.
Ravasha Apr 16th 2010 8:19AM
However, this is not possible. If, and just if, the doll gets into the hands of the girl, the whole world of Warcraft will implode.
Thyago Apr 16th 2010 9:01AM
The girl finally loses it, kills the boy to get her doll back, is sent to Stockades to do some time, gets abused by all those dudes, grows up to be freaking scary and violent, dominates Stockades with revenge on her mind.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Stockades' Cataclysm revamp.
greenthumbs Apr 16th 2010 9:04AM
Sounds like a new CoT instance to me.
cendrekai Apr 16th 2010 9:27AM
Maybe they should start dating :) That would be sweet. A couple years older, with the destruction of the world under their belts. Maybe him a soldier in training and her a priest (mage?) in training. Awwwwww.
Endario Apr 16th 2010 9:29AM
http://www.darklegacycomics.com/24.html
"I'm exalted with Stormwind now"
jaenicoll Apr 16th 2010 11:24AM
What about the Pentagram forming, chanting kids of Goldshire? I'm looking forward to seeing where that mini story/hint/easter egg goes. Maybe they will get re-skins as emo teenagers complete with copies of Twilight and Morrissey T-Shirts ...
Drakkenfyre Apr 16th 2010 12:12PM
Cend, what some people don't know is that those two kids are named after a husband and wife who works at Blizzard.