Patch 4.3: Warlock tier 13 preview
by Alex Ziebart 
Sep 9th 2011 at 1:30PM
Warlock - Faceless Shroud
A set with the flavor of the Old Gods about it - General Vezax from the Ulduar raid was a reference point. Any warlock tier is a great opportunity to bring a dark and warped aesthetic to player gear and this set was especially ripe for the treatment.
Replacing the caster's face with writhing tentacles was the 'hook' I started the concept with and built out from there. We always try to include numerous points of illumination into a tier set as it helps to tie the various armour pieces together – whether that be glowing gemstones, fiery runes or, as in this case, bulging otherworldly eyes!
Replacing the caster's face with writhing tentacles was the 'hook' I started the concept with and built out from there. We always try to include numerous points of illumination into a tier set as it helps to tie the various armour pieces together – whether that be glowing gemstones, fiery runes or, as in this case, bulging otherworldly eyes!
Tentacle face? Tentacle face. Additionally, Blizzard included a warlock tier retrospective with this tier 13 preview. They might be encouraging you to use transmogrification in patch 4.3. Just maybe. And heck, why shouldn't they?
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Look at what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back! Filed under: Warlock
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Erzfiend Sep 9th 2011 1:37PM
Personally, I really hate it. I saw that they'd posted a preview on Twitter, and I was a bit nervous...clicked it...and damn.
John Sep 9th 2011 2:19PM
At first I thought:
"Are those DUCK BEAKS???"
DarkWalker Sep 9th 2011 3:22PM
One reason to be glad for Transmogrification :)
MattKrotzer Sep 9th 2011 3:42PM
If the tentacles in the face ACTUALLY writhe... it'll be worth it.
Coco Sep 9th 2011 5:20PM
Seeing as how the warrior was based on Deathwing, and t12 is based on FL bosses, makes you wonder if we'll be seeing some tentacles in the Deathwing encounter, no?
gboyd Sep 9th 2011 5:32PM
Actually, Coco no. It doesn't make me wonder if we'll be seeing tentacles in the Deathwing fight. If you read Blizzards description, they reference Ulduar's General Vezax as the inspiration for this fight, not Deathwing. It does make me wonder if each of the sets will be targeting random bosses from all of the various raids in the game though.
Personally, i find this set hideous. I remember when Warlock gear made the other classes jealous... /sigh
I still have my full Felheart set and fully plan on Transfiguring all my gear to look like it.
Suzaku Sep 9th 2011 6:10PM
Gboyd: They say that this is an Old God / Faceless One-themed set that used General Vezax as a reference point. The name is "Faceless Shroud".
You may not have noticed, but Deathwing, the Twilight Cultists, and the Faceless Ones are all servants of the Old Gods.
dehne Sep 9th 2011 1:39PM
Eh..just a bit unimpressed..just a bit :P
I like the tentacle face..but the color is just off putting.
Would have been great with some tentacles on the shoulders, and maybe a more sickly purple, rather than the mixture of colors
Revynn Sep 9th 2011 1:55PM
There are often 3 or 4 different recolors of each set that are developed. Normal, Heroic and 1 or 2 other concepts that they rule out or use for offset pieces.
I agree on the coloring, it's a little much. But Dark Coven had 3 different color schemes that were all significantly different. Blue/Purple, Green/Brown, Orange/Gray. Hopefully the other version we get will be a little less colorful and a little darker.
Snuzzle Sep 9th 2011 2:04PM
I agree. Way too colorful for a warlock set.
Rainbow Tentacle Face, go!
Leviathon Sep 9th 2011 2:05PM
Eh faceless ones tend to be that color though.
Snuzzle Sep 9th 2011 2:09PM
That color yes. Not those colors plural. I see purple, blue, gold, red, green, black, orange....
I think if they had stuck with the Faceless color scheme of maroon/brown and even added in some sickly green or purple it would have been fine. This confetti of colors is just not fitting as a warlock.
Astoreth Sep 9th 2011 2:17PM
I would rather have a mix of colors than the drabfest that was T11, honestly.
Adam Sep 9th 2011 4:13PM
The Amazing Technicolor Dream....er...shroud?
loop_not_defined Sep 9th 2011 4:57PM
The Heroic version usually has the "cooler" colors. If I remember right, Blizzard previews the Normal version, which probably shouldn't be as cool as or cooler than the Heroic version.
Revynn Sep 9th 2011 1:41PM
I hope they continue to do this sort of preview. Explaining their methodology and aim with each tier set makes it a lot easier to see where they were going with the theme and get us to say "Oh yeah, I see what they were going for" instead of "Dude, WTF is that?!"
Nina Katarina Sep 9th 2011 1:42PM
I'm going to have to see how those face tentacles animate before I make any stylistic calls. In that shot they make a duck face, which I'm pretty sure is not Blizzard's ultimate design goal.
Lina Sep 9th 2011 1:50PM
Oh god, I didn't even think about the possibility of it moving...
John Sep 9th 2011 2:50PM
"duck face"
Exactly!
quack quack!
Erebos Sep 9th 2011 3:21PM
So much what Nina said. Glad my lock isn't my main...
Fingers crossed for my priest :\