Patch 5.4 patch notes
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The latest patch 5.4 newsBreakfast Topic: Your personal guardian
by Marc Hobbs 
Jun 23rd 2011 at 8:00AM
Suddenly, a heal! A whirlwind! Frost shock; blades; holy light! Noobcakes opened his eyes to find the bugs dead at his feet, and his three loyal friends standing by, their faces solemn. Breathing a sigh of relief, Noobcakes thanked each in turn, and continued onward, secure in the knowledge that his faithful guardians had his back.
There are a number of quests scattered throughout the land that require you to free or otherwise recruit a small, temporary party of casters, warriors, and healers to your cause. If you've done any questing in early Borean Tundra, Howling Fjord, or Twilight Highlands, you're already familiar with this concept of NPC guardians: they are mini-versions of certain classes who follow you tirelessly and fight at your side. During the quests, they only last a short few minutes. But what if they persisted longer?
If you could have a permanent NPC guardian, what class would they be? What race? Which abilities would you want them to have? Would they be summoned or always with you? If you could custom-build an NPC friend/hireling, who would you create?
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Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
sergeantharkness Jun 23rd 2011 12:51PM
Bueller?
RetPallyJil Jun 23rd 2011 12:52PM
My armorer NPC honeybunch lol
Failing that Keeshan's pally buddy who keeps crying about being nerfed. I feel his pain.
winterhawk Jun 23rd 2011 1:07PM
Serious answer: Koltira Deathweaver. He's my favorite NPC in the game, and the DK starting quest where you get to rescue him and he fights by your side is one of my favorites. (Aside: how come PC death knights can't have nifty glowing tattoos?)
Silly answer 1: One of the baby murlocs from the quest in Borean Tundra. Sure, they wouldn't be much help in a fight, but they're so damn cute that that they might distract the mobs long enough for me to run. (Dragon: Rawrrrr! I'm going to eat you and...*distracted by baby murloc*)
Silly answer 2: Lunk, the pacifist ogre. Again, not much help but great for comedy value.
Andrew Jun 23rd 2011 2:11PM
I want Anduin Wrynn. I still snag him as my non-combat companion every time I'm in Stormwind, cause who doesn't like hanging out with royalty (and a disco priest to boot)?
Morgatho Jun 23rd 2011 3:03PM
Id want three NPC's to be with me at all times (greedy I know) but there all remediable : theres Lafoo from the Oracles, Dumass from the Welcome to the Machine and the turtle that helps you kill Nemesis in hijal
jhayes425 Jun 23rd 2011 3:14PM
For my PvP rogue a druid, Tauren or Troll, either one, i'm not picky. It would be perfect for those burst situations and even more pertinent for those situations that are decidedly NOT burst situations but a slow tear down (looking at you damn NE-resto-druids-that-do-nothing-but-HoT-and-spinny-jump). My pally would love a pocket priest (don't even go there...) and my priest would love to have a warrior by his side, someone to kick ass with and kick back a beer or two.
Phoenix Psaltery Jun 23rd 2011 4:13PM
I would like to request a Titan for my guardian.
Thomas Higgins Jun 23rd 2011 4:27PM
I want a Dragon. Red would be nice. Not too big. Able to switch forms into humanoid of course.
Wolfrunner Jun 23rd 2011 4:52PM
I would take a Feralas Sentinel, ala the one from the quests in Thousand Needles. She's not even named, but she's the most bad ass Guardian NPC in the game. Over twice your health, even when you're a warrior in full heirlooms, and the ability to take tank six mobs without even getting hit, oh man! She has evasion, a charge/heroic leap combo, and mocking blow. She duel wields sentinel glaives and reminds you of just how awesome the night elves were in Warcraft 3! (If you haven't done the quests where you rescue her and then get her as a companion for a while, do it!) The only thing I'd add would a glaive throw, an ability to summon an owl that detects invisiblity/stealth, and a nightsaber or hippogryph to ride for when I'm mounted.
On Feralas Sentinel . . . Be mine . . .
Fletcher Jun 23rd 2011 4:55PM
I think you're confusing Sentinels and Huntresses ... but then she *does* act much more like the latter. Me, I'll just go for the best elf; Maiev Shadowsong. Blink, Fan of Knives, Avatar of Vengeance, and if I die she can rez me as a ghostly apparition intent upon avenging my own demise. Plus she's Maiev freakin' Shadowsong.
The guilty shall SUFFER!
Wolfrunner Jun 23rd 2011 5:01PM
Nah, the Sentinels are the entire military arm of the Night Elves, or at least the traditional one. Huntresses are usually members of the Sentinels. In some cases huntresses could be members of the Watchers or some other miltiary body, but I think the watchers are largely defunct at this point in WoW's story.
azuri Jun 23rd 2011 4:54PM
This made me think of the Hero system from Guild Wars. Was always a big fan of it and wondered how that would translate to WoW. Perhaps limit the usage of the hero to outside world questing and prevent them from being used inside dungeon/raids? Ah well, on to my picks. As a dwarven hunter, I play the role of tank/dps/healer all in one package along with my pet so what I really want is personality! To that, give me the main cast of LFG comic! Pick one, anyone, they would all be welcome.
Pella: From one dwarf to another, awesome! Let her start singing while hacking. Duet!
Krunch and/or Ray'd Bool Bloodrage: Whether the scholar or the warrior, both will pummel w/vengeance. Also I believe 1 is capable of knocking out a dragon with a punch? Bring it Deathwing.
Benn'Joon (Benny): Healer with an attitude and a rather pessimistic view of life. Was never a fan of the cheery ones. Just remind me not to get on her bad side...
Cale'Anon Vatay: Another hunter, aweome. Ok, so I'm short, female with a large worg/wolf companion that listens/obeys. Cale is tall, male with a black panther that would rather eat him. Ok....maybe Sooba would like to partner up...
Richard: Chief Warlock of the Brothers of Darkness, Lord of the Thirteen Hells, Master of the Bones, Emperor of the Black, Lord of the Undead, Lord of the Dance, Mistress of Magma, King of the world and mayor of a little village up the coast. Honestly. I would give up my engineering goggles to have this guy on my side. Even as a temp summon. Then we could do a little jig on the dead bodies!
bluskreem Jun 23rd 2011 10:36PM
I'd be tickled pink if the Furbolg Ancestor from the Defender of the Timbermaw trinket would randomly appear when I'm low on health. Sure it wouldn't be very usefull after level; 0, but it would be pretty awesome.
Katherine Jun 23rd 2011 7:25PM
My hunter already has all the companion she needs, but I wouldn't have minded levelling my priest with a companion. Someone who would pull aggro off me if I hadn't damaged them, to save me from all the stuff I butt-pull.
Quezat Jun 23rd 2011 8:28PM
A shaman healer would be lovely for my prot warrior, BUT this shaman must be an oracle from scholozar... I cannot explain how awesome those guys are...and it would give me a healer I actually want to protect.
Gozzix Goldgear Jun 23rd 2011 11:28PM
Flame Leviathan. That is all.
Alyosha Jun 24th 2011 1:23AM
This is cheating a bit, but I'd take Fiona and her entire caravan. I had a blast questing with them in EPL and I was sad that I wouldn't be able to continue on with them. Really, the next expansion could be nothing but travelling from zone to zone and questing with Fiona, Gidwin, Tarenar, and associated special guests, and I'd be thrilled.
Hob Jun 24th 2011 1:54AM
My forsaken warlock would very much like to trade in some demons.
* Imp and succubus, you're safe for this round. However, there's a certain Shivarra who turned in a very impressive resume, so succubus, you're going to want to "up" your game here. But I'll never replace you, imp!
* Voidwalker... I'm trading you in for a beholder (err, "floating eye" demon).
* Felhound. [long pause, concerned shaking of head] Where do I even start? [longer, more awkward pause] Okay, you know what, just pack your stuff and go. Seriously, I'm not even replacing you.
* Felguard, please give your keys to the Wrathguard on your way out.
* [checks roster, picks up phone] Is that swift red wyvern still here? Seriously, get someone to clean out its desk. We've got a terrorfiend coming in this afternoon. Yeah, he's the new guy. He's on contract to fly me around. Yeah, wherever I want to go. [checks roster again] Oh, and imp? You're fired, get someone to clean out your desk. [laughs] Yeah, just kidding! I'll never replace you!
Sinnh Jun 24th 2011 8:35AM
i'm probably too late for anyone to read this but: anyone ever notice that in the daily quest to save Pebble, his title under his name actually says "< player's name >'s Guardian"? I've always thought that was adorable, that he's actually protecting you! I love how he has the elemental animations for fighting whenever you fight something. Haven't tried fighting something since I got him as a pet to see if he still does it.
@Hob: that's pretty funny :)
Kelly Jun 24th 2011 9:39AM
My favorite "NPC-Guardian" quest has to be in Silverpine Forest. Getting Godfrey, Waldon and Ashbury to run around with you... EPIC!
The first time I did that quest, I was being really careful, until I bit off more than I could chew once and thought, "I'm dead." Then, Ashbury healed me to full in .0000001 seconds. After that, I was pulling the entire forest! I never died!
So, if I had to choose an NPC to run around with, it would be Ashbury, hands down. Godfrey and Waldon are nice, but since I failed Healing 101 (impressively, at that), having a constant healer by my side, a healer who'll never run out of mana, despite me standing in the fire constantly... That would make questing and leveling a LOT quicker.