The Queue: Happy father's day, Ragnaros
by Mathew McCurley 
Jun 19th 2011 at 12:00PM
The above picture, cropped from the WoW TCG card game, is one of my favorite pieces of art with Ragnaros in it. In fact, the TCG art team is so phenomenal that they routinely put out the best pieces of WoW art I've ever seen. Keep on trucking, awesome Cryptozoic dudes.
Today is Father's Day in the USA, and sons and daughters around the world are calling up their dads, taking dads out to dinners, or just hanging out with dads in general. It's a very dad day. Well, I know one dad who is feeling pretty great because his new patch is coming. That's right -- Ragnaros. You remember all of his Sons of Flame, right? Dude has mad kids. There's nothing like kicking back with your dad, fires purging, tasting the flames of Sulfuron, and forcing 40 nerds to spend their life savings in gold on Greater Fire Protection potions.
Kyle asked:
Question:
How could you possibly stop playing your shaman...
When Cataclysm released, I was still very gung-ho on playing my tank. After hitting 85 on the warrior it was time to start thinking about what alt to start the grand move to main alt status, i.e., which alt would I play when people said, "Hey Mat, come do an alt run of something with us." I knew the alt would be a healer and currently I have both my paladin and shaman as alts in that respect. So, I looked at the healing capabilities of each class at that time (around mid-December) and paladins were godly compared to shaman in the healing department. Things have evened out a bit now, but the choice was clear months back.
So, the shaman went on the back burner for a while.
Iaim asked:
Do you think yet will ever increase the daily quest cap, for one day? I'm doing my TB dailies, my argent tourney dailies, and my JC daily everyday, and still want to do all of my BC dailies, but can't due to the limit. Has there been anything said by Blizz, or is it just a technical issue, like with the bags?
No, and don't expect the daily quest cap to change in the near future. The dailies cap was raised to 25 when the Isle of Quel'Danas released in patch 2.4.0 because of the then crazy amount of Burning Crusade daily quest hubs that provided players with reputation and gold. You used to be capped out at 10 dailies a day.
Now, capping dailies means you have to make a choice where you want to progress that day, and also make you feel like you do not have to do every single daily quest in the game every day in order to proceed. Also, 25 daily quests caps the amount of gold you can receive from dailies each day, and forces the player to choose what reputation(s) to work on.
You're going to have to pick and choose what you want to work on, which is an inherent part of the system itself by design.
Amanda A. asked:
Let's say that Blizzard decides to remove class limitations by race, be it all at once or slowly over the next few expansions. Aside from the few combinations that severely break lore (Hi, I'm a draenei warlock!) would it really harm the game?
Orc paladin, please. Oh, wait, that wasn't the question.
To be honest, I don't think it would really harm the game but it would break some of my immersion. I mean, to be fair, I have a limited amount of immersion as it is with regards to the way that I play the game, but as a lore junkie there is a part of me that appreciates the class and race restrictions in place. I don't agree with some of them, but they are there.
Lavindar asked:
Q for the Q: Hyjal is one of the first cata zones, if i go there with a level 80 and make it to the quest that opens the firelands daylies, would I be able to play there without getting 85 first?
While you would be able to see the questing hubs, the Regrowth and Molten Front dailies in patch 4.2 are intended for level 85 players. You will be able to accept the quests once you hit 85. This new set of dailies is meant to push the story forward for characters who have hit max level, and it just so happens that this part of Hyjal is where it is happening.
Frank-potato asked:
Q for the Q: Is there a way for us non-goblins to actually get to Kezan and the Lost Isles?
I know anyone can make it to Gilneas, but i think it's the first time there's an area restricted to only one race.... makes my OCD-Explorer side depressed.
You are not able to get to Kezan if you are not a goblin and once you leave the Kezan and the Lost Isles you cannot go back. They are phased out and essentially "gone" from the game world. You can still see the map from the Maelstrom, I believe, but you cannot get there. Thankfully, there are no achievements related to exploring the place.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column. Leave your questions in the comments, and we'll do our best to answer 'em!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
Alex Ziebart Jun 19th 2011 11:21AM
Because I felt like giving my 2 cents on the race/class thing:
Some classes make sense that anybody can be those things -- like hunters, mages, et cetera. Some of them really don't, like paladin. Already with the addition of tauren paladins, it means we're unlikely to get tier sets with a true paladin aesthetic anymore. The whole argent champion, fist of the Silver Hand, faithful of the Light sort of thing can't really happen because that's not the tauren. And to a lesser extent, that's not the blood elves. Alliance paladins are champions of the Light, blood elves sort of are but sort of aren't, and the Tauren worship something completely different. They're Sunwalkers, not paladins. There is no coherent VISION across the class anymore. They can't make a Sunwalker set for tauren and a Paladin set for the Alliance. And if they did, what would Blood Elves wear? The Paladin set because they're Paladins or the Sunwalker set because they're Horde?
Paladin sets from now on will just be magical warrior sets instead of HOLY warrior sets, and that's kind of a shame.
I don't know exactly where I was going with that or what the point of it was, and that's why this was a comment on The Queue and not a post of its own. :D
Joseph Smith Jun 19th 2011 12:13PM
I know it will never happen, but I'd love to see every set be different based on race. I know they've done sets based on instance, sets based on class, but it would be really cool to see all the dwarves have a similar look wether they be priests, rogues, shaman, or paladins, or Orcs have a theme based on wether they're Warlocks, Shaman, Hunters, or Warriors.
But I'm well aware of the limitations on the art team, and creating that many different (though similar design) sets would be well out of their time constraints, I'm sure.
The Dance studio MUST take priority right now. :)
Nosh Jun 19th 2011 12:36PM
I appreciate why we can't have specific races start off as say a Paladin or a Warlock but how about having the ability to approach a trainer at max level and change your existing class, maybe through a set of quests to "Unlearn" your existing class then a new set of starter quests tailored for a high level character to introduce you to the new abilities/requirements of the chosen class ?
llcjay2003 Jun 19th 2011 12:46PM
@Nosh: I have seen the request for a paid class change on the WoW forums as well. However, I'm not trying to be snippy, but this is a horrible idea. The leveling process is where you learn to play your class. Allowing someone to go from, for example, a priest to a druid would cause many problems. People already complain about "bads" not knowing how to play. Imagine if people could change their class without having to level it and at least get some experience with their abilities.
razion Jun 19th 2011 1:02PM
@Alex Ziebart: But ALL classes DO make sense in that any race can become any of them.
The only thing preventing any race from wielding the Light is faith. *Period*. Your faith in your ability to use the Light literally grants you the power to do so--regardless if you are living, dead, or undead, as we learned in Wrath. And as we have learned in Cataclysm, you do not necessarily have to believe in the Light to use it, either.
The paladin is a class that is defined by being a just guardian--a vanquisher of evil, and through your faith in your ability to do this task, you are granted the power to do so. This is the base philosophy that ties ALL paladins together--that no matter if you believe in the Light, a twisted version of it, or the eye of the Earthmother, that ALL of them wish to drive evil out from the world, to make it a safe place for those who would do it good, and to ultimately be their stalwart protectors and warriors. I have a feeling that future paladin armor is going to reflect this--defense of the weak, protection of the innocent, and the vanquishing of evil.
For Death-Knights, the only requirement is that the person in question can have experienced life and death--or rather, that their soul can be severed from their body.
If you want to be a warrior, rogue, or hunter, you just have to pick up weapons and train with them (and as for rogues, size has nothing to do with stealth, as we saw in The Shattering. Tauren can make perfectly good rogues, it just requires the deceptive mindset).
As for warlocks, mages, shaman and priests, one simply has to study the magic (and in the case of priests, believe in it. And in the case of shamans, have that trait of humility that allows them to be a tool of the elements). And while their respective cultures may frown upon learning such magics, there isn't anything at all that can stop any Draenei from suddenly taking lessons in Fel magic.
It is extremely far-fetched-- and indeed, a lot of class combinations can seem far-fetched. But to say that no combination can ever make sense is to frankly deny that any combination can exist at all because in the long run, there is nothing genetically different that will prevent any race from going along any of those class paths.
This goes on for all classes:
Alex Ziebart Jun 19th 2011 1:08PM
@Razion
That's great, except it isn't how Blizzard handled it. The tauren aren't paladins. They seriously are not paladins. Mechanically yes, but in the game, no. They have nothing to do with the Light. They're Sunwalkers and draw power from the sun, from nature. They're more like druids in plate than the paladins we see in the Alliance or even with the blood elves. Thus, the paladin aesthetic cannot be about the Light anymore -- the Light is not the glue holding the overall class theme together. There is no theme holding it together.
So Blizzard could have kept it consistent, but they didn't do that. The reality we have has diluted what it means to be a paladin.
icepyro Jun 19th 2011 1:15PM
Paladins are still Light/Sun themed in general. While they can't make any sets specifically for paladins, they can make them holy looking. I mean, priests all worship various deities and I think Blizz has done a pretty good job keeping them looking good. With the introduction of Goblin Shaman, that class also now has a different tone depending on race, but the sets still look good.
While I would love some set to look unique to some unique organization, I don't think this is the end of the paladin aesthetic and even if it is, I'm sorry, but we can't all be unique snowflakes.
@Nosh: I could write an entire page of why that will not happen, not to even mention playerbase. Suffice to say, we will sooner see all classes start for all races.
MGabriel Jun 19th 2011 1:29PM
One thing I will point out about the Blood Elves in regards to the aesthetic is that some of it (not all, just some) is based on before the 3rd War. Back then there were High Elf Paladins of the Silver Hand and a lot of that carries over into WoW. It's the reason I've seen given as to why Dwarves don't have their own Pally Rams, because they were Knights of the Silver Hand and thus keep the Traditions. Same with Sin'dorei when they were Queldorei and have the Charger as well, albeit Red barding for obvious reasons.
I'd also argue that thanks to the Naaru sacrifice that the power the Elves pull from the Sunwell is Light based...but really then you're getting into philosophical debate.
Elovan Jun 19th 2011 1:36PM
@Razion
While it's true that technically anyone of any race could become any class, there needs to be a likely hood that a significant portion of the population of that race would be that class before that combination becomes playable. It's one of the biggest arguments against Forsaken Paladins, sure, it's feasible that a Forsaken could not turn his back on the light and choose to bear the pain that constantly being in contact with it would bring as a Paladin, but very few Forsaken would actually do so, few enough that it would be silly to make Forsaken Paladins possible and see a bunch of them running around in game.
Noyou Jun 19th 2011 1:42PM
@Alex
You hit the nail on the head with the Paladin thing. It's a holy warrior of the light. So by altering that concept for the Blood Elves that pretty much went out the window. Gnomes don't have hunters and right now picturing a gnome fumbling around with a bow running after a pet doesn't sound like that great of an idea to me. Not a game changer in either way. Orc Paladin? Yeah not so much. I wouldn't feel too horrible about an Undead or Troll Paladin but Orc? No way. Sorry Orcs. For that matter the more you think about Goblin and shaman the less that should make sense. But they sneaked that in on us (not really) along with Dwarf warlocks. I would also like to see some kind of smallish buffed mechanic based on your alignment. I know it would be a pain but Paladins or priests who go and attack towns and gank lowbees should not get the same blessings as ones who do not. I understand that could be a whole slippery slope thing but really you should lose something, rep or honor. They could give out buffs for being neutral or evil for that matter. I'm probably in the vast minority on that one ;)
Raposa Jun 19th 2011 1:48PM
since we are talking about paladin sets here, am I the only one to die a little on the inside when I see a tauren wearing the blood knight armor? you know, that black and red level 60 pvp set, that looks like what blood elf paladin npcs wear.
Elovan Jun 19th 2011 1:49PM
@Razion
While it's true that technically anyone of any race could choose to train themselves and become any class, there needs to be a significant portion of the population that chooses to do so before it becomes a playable combination. This is one of the biggest arguments against Forsaken Paladins, sure, your character could choose to not abandon the Light and deal with the excruciating pain that comes with being in constant contact with the Light necessary for being a Paladin, but very very few Forsaken would actually choose to do so, and it would be ridiculous to make it a playable combination and see far more Forsaken Paladins in game than would make any sense.
Ken Jun 19th 2011 2:05PM
I get the whole race/class restrictions, but I don't get the reasoning. For instance - Gnomes. They can be both Warriors and Priests. Why not a Paladin? Isn't a Paladin basically a warrior priest?
razion Jun 19th 2011 2:08PM
@Alex Ziebart: True enough (to an extent), although it's a bit more complex a philosophy than that. The tauren's belief is based on druidic roots, this is true (and to an extent, shamanistic). The way Taurens are Sunwalkers exist in a way to cope out that lack of balance that they believe was not being filled--that being sun worship to reflect all the moon worship that was occurring.
Although, does the belief on trying to extend that balance extend even further? At this point I'm only going into speculation, but I've always seen the tauren as trying to fill out those defensive and offensive roles that were not being filled in their eyes by the other half of the belief spectrum. This would allow them to take on that aspect of the Paladin, and allow them to utilize those beliefs in Mu'sha to exercise a different sort of balance to the world--by protecting what needs protecting, and vanquishing what needs vanquishing, as opposed to the healing they perceive the elves to do.
That was always how I managed to link them more into being 'paladins' than druids, although it is entirely just my own reasoning. Certainly it hasn't been established by Blizzard, but it does help fill in that missing link between the classes that would allow them to be considered paladins. :)
JimJ Jun 19th 2011 2:37PM
Actually there ARE some Fosaken paladins, as seen in the ICC raid. Sure, it would be weird lore-like, but not imposibble. Also, it is known that blood knights aren't technically paladins either (Blodd elf "paladins") As far as I can remember, blood knights force the light to work with them, instead of just drawing the power from it. In-game, it would be unfitting to see such race/class combinations, but lore-like it makes perfect sense. Even in the RPG of WoW, you can be whatever, alabait of a good backstory. It is not the usual role of such race (say a Troll paladin) but it could be possible, just not so that can be implemented in-game.
Blindskwrl Jun 19th 2011 2:39PM
The druid sets sometimes represented one race over another; the T5 Nordrassil set was clearly Night-E;f inspired while the T6 Thunderheart set was obviously Tauren. So clearly there's still the possibility for uniquely themed class sets, you just wont be each race each tier.
Ancient.astronaut.theorist Jun 19th 2011 2:56PM
I find it funny people are defending Orc paladins and Draenei warlocks; but no one has mentioned how retarded Tauren rogues would be.
@Noyou - dwarf warlocks make sense now; since there's a truce between the 3 dwarf factions ATM, the wildhammers brought shamanism to iron forge, and the dark iron brought warlocks. So lore wise, if you're playing a dwarf lock, you're racially a dark iron dwarf.
thebitterfig Jun 19th 2011 3:32PM
Two thoughts. [1] Trolls look awesome in paladin gear. Lore? Mood? Whatever. They just look awesome in that kit.
[2] There are plenty of Draenei warlocks. They're called Manari Eredar.
Noyou Jun 19th 2011 3:35PM
Dwarf warlocks make sense? I disagree. First of all I don't see how they let dark iron scum into IF without a full on civil war. Warlocks? My Dwarf shaman and hunter will have none of it. None! Just because Magni's daughter is dark iron by injection don't mean we have to accept it. Pfft.
LouCypher Jun 19th 2011 3:59PM
I'm glad I'm not alone in lamenting the armor options of Paladins. As a Blood Elf, I always thought the Paladin sets looked like something appropriate for the Alliance (re: Care Bear), not something befitting the "Blood Knight" that I am.