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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsShifting Perspectives: On the matter of Moonkin Form
by Tyler Caraway 
Aug 26th 2011 at 4:00PM
Glory to the moonkin! Since the initial release of information, transmogrification has pretty much been the dominating topic around the WoW sphere. Naturally, being a druid, I really didn't care much about it. That's untrue. In fact, I went through what I've coined as the five stages of druid patch notes:
- Excitement
- Realization that it doesn't matter to me
- Deep depression
- Angry resentment
- Giving up, defeated
I'm not alone in this, and the introduction of transmogrification has brought about a new surge of players asking for the removal of Moonkin Form. This week, we'll lend an ear to those complaints.
The matter of why
The debate in of itself is a rather simple one. There are players who want to see Moonkin Form removed for various reasons. To some, the model is ugly. For others, it's the fact that being shapeshifted into a single form all the time means we can't enjoy a lot of the other neat things that other players can. Silly as it may seem, players really do enjoy the ability to change their appearance nearly any way that they can. All of our guild engineers abuse their portals to obscure locations no one cares about anymore simply because it has a chance of changing them into something else. We get all sorts of fun things like Tauren rogues, Gnome paladins, and the like. Another of our paladins still uses the flask that turns him into a Storm Dwarf for every single encounter.
Frivolous, silly, stupid, inconsequential, however you want to classify it, players love to change their models. They like getting new gear, they like how certain things look, and they like for their characters to look pleasing to them. Transmogrification is a clear indication of this; players everywhere are going absolute bonkers over it. Yet balance druids don't get the same effect. Sure, we can transform our gear to look however we want for running around town, but I can already do that. When I go into battle, when I enter raids or dungeons, I'm in Moonkin Form.
The argument for the removal of Moonkin Form is one of choice. It is blatantly clear that players love choice, that players would do nearly anything if only to get that certain look that they want. On its own, I honestly feel that is a strong point to stand on. The vast evidence that can be used to support it is everything that Blizzard has added into the game that allows players this level of customization -- and frankly, there's a lot. Be that as it may, there are a few common arguments against the removal of Moonkin Form; let's look at them.
Druids are about shapeshifting!
Wrong. Every time I see someone bring up this point, I want to smash my head against my desk so hard that I fall into the floor beneath me. Druids were not originally all about shapeshifting, not in WoW and certainly not in other games. When WoW was first released, druids had only two combat forms, Cat and Bear. There was no Moonkin Form; there was no Tree of Life. Balance druids rarely, if ever, shapeshifted during this time period. It wasn't until the druid class review that our then end talent, Hurricane, was replaced with Moonkin Form.
Druids are not a class centered around shapeshifting; shapeshifting is merely one of our many tools. Shapeshifting's original design, and the design that it still follows today, is that we do it in order to fill into different roles completely; this is why Moonkin Form was not an original form. Cat Form allowed us to be a melee damage dealer similar to a rogue; Bear Form allowed us to be a tank. There wasn't a need for a caster variant because we could cast in our original shape.
Wrong again. Moonkin Form is in no way central to the balance druid design. Back when Cataclysm was in early beta, Blizzard attempted to make Moonkin Form entirely optional. The original utility that it provided was completely stripped away; all you got was an armor increase and the aura which was brought by three other specs. Provided you didn't need the haste increase, you could easily go without Moonkin Form. That last fact was all that the beta testers knew, however, and so we questioned this design intent. It wasn't until Blizzard changed its mind from community input to have Moonkin Form increase damage that we even knew the real reasoning behind the design.
It is beyond easy to remove the need of Moonkin Form -- not to mention, Moonkin Form has taken on a totally different function than it originally held. The first Moonkin Form was all about the buff. There was the armor buff, supposedly for PVP purposes, but honestly the original design was probably just thrown in there for flavor. At the time, Blizzard did jack-all for PVP balancing, and balance druids were purely designed to be a leveling spec. Since it was added into the game and through The Burning Crusade, the utility of the aura was all Moonkin Form really had for it, it was the only reason that we bothered to use it at all; or did you really think that melee for mana concept Blizzard added in The Burning Crusade was helping?
Come Wrath of the Lich King, Moonkin Form slightly changed. Melee for mana was removed, to be replaced with mana from critical strikes. The form was somewhat optional, given that the aura wasn't nearly as important anymore, but the fact that our mana was tied into it meant that we had to use it or we would go OOM. It wasn't until Cataclysm that we saw Moonkin Form take on the shape of actually being used for raw damage; being out of Moonkin Form reduces your damage by 10%.
I feel that shift was rather radical. To go from being a passive utility, to a means of supporting mana, to optional, to utterly required or your damage is going to tank is drastic. There just wasn't a need for Blizzard to take it that far.
We've heard the lines before
Let's face it: Blizzard has constantly been making us false promises. Back when Cat and Bear Forms got their update, Blizzard said that balance and restoration were also slated for form updates, but it only had time for feral. Besides, those two had been around for long, so it made sense to update them first. Fine and dandy.
Then Blizzard turned Tree of Life into a cooldown and created a new look for it. More than that, after players complained that they liked the old look better, Blizzard created a Glyph to allow them to keep the old look. At this same time, Blizzard said that it would get around to updating Moonkin Form as well; it also said that Worgen and Trolls would have unique forms of their own -- which they got, just not for moonkin.
The update to Moonkin Form never came. In Wrath, it was promised but pushed off until Cataclysm release. In Cataclysm beta, it was pushed off again until either the first or second patch, when they'd have more time. Now we can't even get a comment on the matter, but it certainly isn't coming out this expansion. Blizzard clearly has no interest in committing its art team to a task that impacts so few players. I mean, it didn't even create new moonkin models for Trolls or Worgen; both use the Night Elf model that is recolored, as is evident from the gigantic, purple Night Elf ears poking out of them.
If the art team can't take the time to create a new form, why can't the design team at least make the form optional?
Matters of player choice
All in all, it boils down to a matter of choice. Players should have the choice to customize their characters in ways that they see fit. Given that this is the central theme of patch 4.3, it is clearly obvious that this is something Blizzard knows their playerbase wants; why then does it completely ignore a portion of its players? Frankly, it's insulting to see Blizzard use druids in the transmogrification promotional images. Why would I want to waste thousands of gold so that my character can look like he's wearing a different outfit while walking around town? I have an equip macro that does the exact same thing, and it's free. Out in the world, I'll be stuck in Moonkin Form.
Remove Moonkin Form? No. Make it an optional talent? Absolutely. Players should have choice. This entire game is central to players having choices. Why should my customization choices be limited because of the spec that I play? It is absolutely infuriating, the type of hypocritical statements we've seen from Blizzard on these types matters lately. As recent as this past beta, it was reaffirmed that Blizzard wanted to keep druids locked into their forms because the silhouette of a player was super-important. That it is grossly unfair to not know what form a druid is in by looking at their character image. After all, no other class can change the way they look, so I mean, I know that skeleton running at me is a warrior ... or maybe a death knight ... or it kind of looks like a hunter.
Now, with transmogrification and in the various interviews they've given recently, Blizzard reps have said that the silhouette of toons isn't nearly as important any more. Does that mean that Blizzard is finally going to allow druids to enjoy all of the fun things that other players do? I, for one, would love to waste my gold on transmogrification. I would love to go out and farm ridiculous transformation items. Hell, I would love to be able to dismount and start DPSing just like anyone else. I can't do any of these things, purely because of Moonkin Form.
Options -- all I ask for are options. It isn't that difficult.
Every week, Shifting Perspectives: Balance brings you druidic truth, beauty and insight ... from a moonkin's perspective. We'll help you level your brand new balance druid, tweak your UI and your endgame gear, analyze balance racials and abilities, and even walk you through PVP as a balance druid.
Filed under: Druid, (Druid) Shifting Perspectives
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
Hob Aug 26th 2011 5:15PM
@Tyler Caraway
And yet, shadow priests, bears, and cats have the same limitation - no healing spells while in special form.
Rather than removing the moonkin form altogether, is it possible to build a viable balance spec without moonkin form? I went demonology on one of my locks without picking up Metamorphosis, simply because I hated the lack of a dropdown toolbar. I didn't feel like I lost anything.
If the only advantage of playing in moonkin form, as you say, is +10% damage / -15% damage taken, while the advantages of playing balance without moonkin form is +1 talent point for a 31-point balance build, normal damage dealt and taken, full utility for healing... maybe balance players should look at variations in the tree.
I think I'll play with my dual spec and see what happens.
AutumnBringer Aug 26th 2011 5:15PM
I was a Balance Druid before Moonkin form existed. I have not been Balance since then due to Moonkin form - I really don't like it, but hey, that's my issue. To try to say flat out that there's no point to the spec without being in a different form though is a bit far fetched I must say.
Also, it's interesting to note that you want to keep the uniqueness of the spec as a damage dealing druid and also have strong heals be an option while in Moonkin form - seems a bit contradictory.
Tyler Caraway Aug 26th 2011 5:27PM
@Hob
Sadly, there are no tree variations. We take every single damage increasing talent there is to take, all that we could gain out of that talent point would be a little bit of extra Typhoon damage or some additional mana regeneration. There's just nothing to take. A 10% damage increase from a single talent point is pretty significant; it actually goes far beyond the normal talent budget.
The comparison of Bear and Cat in with way just doesn't make sense. Yes, Bears and Cats cannot cast healing spells, but instead they gain a wide array of melee abilities; similarly, Cat actually has a talent to make their healing a smidge better. The better comparison is to Shadow Form.
Shadow and Moonkin Form are virtually identical; actually the only difference is that Shadow Form has a 15% damage increase. (Technically, I guess I should say that Moonkin Form enjoys various perks for being a shapeshift that Shadow Form doesn't have.) The question then becomes, why is there a Shadow Form? What does Shadow Form add to the priest play style?
When it comes to the customization side of things, shadow priests still have that though. Although Shadow Form kind of turns everything into a purple-ish blob, you can actually generally see all of the outlines or the additional special effects that the gear has. Gear is easily visible -- there's also the mounting thing, but we won't go into that. Moonkin Form, on the other hand, is entirely different. Players lose their ability to have any method of customization by using it.
I think the reality is that Blizzard, and players for that matter, need to stop thinking of balance druids as Moonkin, but instead thinking of them as balance druids.
David Sep 26th 2011 9:01PM
"Rather than removing the moonkin form altogether, is it possible to build a viable balance spec without moonkin form? I went demonology on one of my locks without picking up Metamorphosis, simply because I hated the lack of a dropdown toolbar. I didn't feel like I lost anything."
This perhaps the dumbest WoW related statement I have ever read.
Bynde Aug 26th 2011 4:45PM
Please don't get rid of the Moonkin form. It's unique, it's been around forever and anyone going into the Balance spec knows damn well it means Moonkin form so it's not like a surprise or anything. I hate change just for the sake of change. And I'm not crazy about the suggestion to put it on cd, either. Leave it alone. Go fix the human males faces, first. Less harelip, please.
Zaphkela Aug 26th 2011 6:12PM
But that's the thing... it HASN'T been around forever. It was added well into vanilla. I still remember making a druid on the PTR for that patch just so I could stand around and /dance.
paulmewis Aug 26th 2011 4:45PM
Get rid of shadowform too, =P. I can't see the gear I've paid good money to be in clearly through the purple haze.
Hob Aug 26th 2011 5:00PM
Also stealth should not look so stealth-y. How can I see my gear when I'm invisible?
Heather Aug 26th 2011 4:48PM
Well, gosh, mister Moonkin, I guess you can't see your gear.
If you're going to remove Moonkin form, then get rid of Bear and Cat form, too. And don't tell me "they're integral to the class!" either. You want to see your gear while Balance specced? Why can't Bears and Cats see THEIR gear while in THEIR spec?
I rolled a Resto Druid to be a Tree, and I'm still pissed that I can't be a tree 100% of the time. I still think it's retarded as hell to whine about not being able to see your gear. Has anyone taken a look at recent Druid gear?
Seriously? Why would you WANT to see that?
Bynde Aug 26th 2011 4:59PM
Exactly.
Kinda ruins the whole "shapeshift" thing that makes a Druid a Druid if you can't SS or only can SS for a few seconds.
Why Bird form? Why can't my Nelf just jump up and start flying in caster form?
Tyler Caraway Aug 26th 2011 5:06PM
Cat and Bear Form are entirely different from Moonkin Form, there is absolutely no comparison between them. Their both druid shapeshifts, that's where the similarities end.
Cat Form has an entirely different skill set from the standard caster. It allows the druid to behave like a rogue; it increases their attack power, permits stealth, and has a wide assort of melee tools. Bear Form allows the druid to tank, also having a completely different tool set from caster. You cannot use Bear or Cat Form abilities without being in Bear or Cat Form.
Further, each druid race has their own unique Bear and Cat Form model, with each model having five or so different coloring options for the player to choose from. It isn't gear, but it is a level of customization. Blizzard has also shown that they aren't above having items which allow druids to change their Bear and Cat Form models; although I don't really expect we'll see many repeats of the Fandral staff -- I imagine they only created it because they already had to create the Fire Cat model.
Moonkin Form does none of these things. All of the spells that you can cast in Moonkin Form, you can similarly cast outside of being shapeshifted. Players do not have any control over how their model looks, each race has one color and that is what you get. Further, not even every race has their own unique model; again, Trolls and Worgens use the exact Night Elf model.
Bear and Cat Form -do- something for the druid. They change the druid, alter the playstyle significantly, Moonkin Form does not. Tree of Life Form was removed because it created balance issues for restoration druids. They weren't better healers while in Form, which ended up leading to them being weaker healers outside of Form. Further, being in Tree of Life Form put heavy restrictions on the druid -- they couldn't use any of their balance spells -- which made them the absolutely least offensive healer in the game. In short, Tree of Life Form didn't really add anything to restoration druids, it was a shapeshift for the sake of having a shapeshift. Moonkin Form is exactly the same way. It doesn't add anything interesting to the spec, it's there because the vanilla developers got the note in their heads that druids wanted to be shapeshifted all the time.
Kole Aug 26th 2011 5:10PM
I love you Heather. Now please get out of my head. (Seriously though, we feel the same on this.)
Kole Aug 26th 2011 5:30PM
@Tyler
A) If you want to see your armor, then role any of the 9 other classes available.
B) Blizzard could have gone a different route to address the Tree for "limitations" by allowing Balance spells to be cast in Tree form. (Pretty damn weak excuse there.)
C) Druids are a SHAPE SHIFTING class. All specs should be able to shape shift.
D) Blame Blizzard for not updating models of Moonkin form, not the players who want to see it.
E) As I've said elsewhere here: lose Moonkin form, lose the BEST /dance in the game. (Tree /dance was a very close 2nd in awesomeness!)
Out of my 10 level 85's two are Druids. Both were healers until Tree form was tossed into the wood chipper. One is currently a kitteh and the other a lazer chicken. If Moonkin form goes, guess I'll just have two kittehs...
Bynde Aug 26th 2011 6:29PM
"Moonkin Form does none of these things. All of the spells that you can cast in Moonkin Form, you can similarly cast outside of being shapeshifted. Players do not have any control over how their model looks, each race has one color and that is what you get. Further, not even every race has their own unique model; again, Trolls and Worgens use the exact Night Elf model. "
But, Tyler, isn't the idea that the Druid turns into this creature to gain special powers? Like shifting into cat or bear gives you special melee or tanking powers?
They could remove the cat and bear forms too but, still allow you to melee/tank with these *special* abilities. You could have the speed agility or strength of the form, but not the form.
I rolled Druid because i wanted to shapeshift. That's just cool. And there really isn't a good reason to make the change. If you want to see your armor, shift into caster, look at it, then go back to Moonkin.
Lissanna Aug 27th 2011 10:37AM
They at least gave bear & cat form updated models along the way, and gave them options & choices of coloring. Moonkin don't have any real customization options outside of race/faction changing. They need their art team to prioritize moonkin form and make it interesting/cool again.
Heather Aug 27th 2011 1:29PM
@Lissanna: I agree with you, they DO need to do an update on the form, make it look better, etc. My concern is that they're simply going to take the easy, cheap way out and make it a CD because of all the whining instead of fixing what is, in my opinion, the real problem - Moonkin form badly needs an update.
CDave Aug 26th 2011 4:49PM
What id like to see is something along the lines of a green shadowform- a recoloring of your body into a glow or something. When you're in solar eclipse you're yellow, when you're in lunar eclipse you're whitish blue. Then save moonkin form as a cooldown.
Melfina Aug 26th 2011 7:20PM
That would be awesome! I could pick out a gear set for transing based on how it'd look with the aura up, just like I did for my priest when she goes shadow. And they could have a minor glyph for those who want to keep the form.
Boomkin and tree forms have always felt weird to me. Cat and bear makes sense- you transform into an animal, you get special abilities and attacks. The other two just don't have the same thing going for them.
kaanman36 Aug 26th 2011 4:50PM
I think Moonkin form should be a cooldown, like Tree of Life is now. Leave all druid casters in caster form, then pop the Moonkin form cooldown when you need that little extra DPS push.
durandal Aug 26th 2011 4:59PM
I love my cuddly owlkin costume a lot and like you, Tyler, I want to keep it one way or the other. I just wish it was possible to change feather colours by going to the barber's, like our furry brethren. A nice bright mohawk for da trolls, perhaps some voodoo accessories, and tusks for sure. Similar customization options for the other races. That would help a lot and, in my opinion, would be a reconciliating step towards not being able to see mogging effects.
However, besides forever being in moonkin shape or having a glyphing option, I envision a third possibility: A feathery caster form wearing the visible armor. Blizzard has already shown that it's possible and it doesn't look to bad: The Arrakoa folks on Draenor do exactly that.
Lorewise, Malfurion (who himself has lately been seen with feathery extremities) should give us moonkins the new forms for our engagement at the Molten Front. It's only fair.