Breakfast Topic: How do you feel about using guns in WoW?
by Amelia Ramstead 
Oct 10th 2011 at 8:00AM
A while back, I wrote a Breakfast Topic on technology that got folks up in arms. It seemed that while most people were fine with the majority of steampunkish Gnomish and Goblin technology (and some absolutely loved it), the one piece of equipment that ground more gears and got the cranky juices flowing was the gun. The people who didn't like it found it intrusive and at odds with the world around them.
I'm personally of the "Are the stats better? I'll take it!" variety, so gun or bow, I don't think about it that much. I don't care for the noise of the gun, but that's my only gripe. At the same time, I don't do much roleplaying, so I don't have to worry about whether a gun would be appropriate for my character's storyline. Plus, my characters that are able to use guns are alts, so I'm not terribly committed to them.
What about you? Are you vehemently anti-gun? Or are you cool with it, as long as the stats are an improvement? If the stats were exactly the same, which would you go with -- a gun or a crossbow? Aha -- see, you do have a preference! Tell us what drives it!
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
gitsnak Oct 10th 2011 8:03AM
From an RP PoV I only ever use guns, as I feel it sits in the background of my character.
naixdra Oct 10th 2011 4:52PM
I feel a lot like this.
Despite the fact that I don't play on an RP server, but as an engineer whenever I use bows something just doesn't feel right.
Luckily I won't have to transmogrify my gun, because I rather like the way the S10 rifle looks on my forsaken.
Guapa Oct 11th 2011 4:35AM
I like the basic idea of a gun, but I do not like the noise and the bloodshed that comes along. Bows are silent and stylish, but they take up to much space (especially the ammo) and are too inaccurate, especially when your target is on the run. So, personally, I prefer to curse my targets to death.
Oh wait, we were talking about WoW? Well, I guess my opinion still remains valid.
Blackroot Oct 10th 2011 8:03AM
I love bows, personally. I will be transmogging my crossbow on my hunter to my old Sunfury Bow of The Phoenix in 4.3
The added bonus will also be the change in sound.
firestorm8908 Oct 10th 2011 9:06AM
Oh me too. That was the best looking bow imo.
Boz Oct 10th 2011 9:41AM
You could easily have said, "I don't like guns," but instead you chose, "I love bows, personally." Even in the second paragraph you mentioned the bonus was the sound, rather than, "Guns sound annoying." It was a subtle, positive way to demonstrate your opinion - a rarity on the internet - and I appreciate that enough to want to want to recognize you appropriately.
I can only imagine how the internet would read if everyone wrote from a similar angle.
Kudos, Blackroot.
Blackroot Oct 10th 2011 12:18PM
Boz
Mutual admiration incoming....
A very kind reply, many thanks. It is also rare to see someone taking the time to consider and write a response like yours. Much appreciated.
I am often told I am a "glass half-full person" rather than a "glass half-empty person". I usually respond "Actually, my glass is full".
Aids Oct 10th 2011 8:07AM
My tauren hunter, Cowwithgun, just wouldn't work without them.
green_jerm Oct 10th 2011 8:05AM
Cool, but WTB Silencer sometimes heh.
Sleutel Oct 10th 2011 8:32AM
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/silencer.aspx
You're welcome. :D
SamLowry Oct 10th 2011 11:43AM
An in-game checkbox would be even better (my laptop won't let me use addons).
All we need now is a monkey silencer. I've heard of (and would support) tanks who threatened to kick hunters who insist on playing with that irritating little monkey.
Blayze Oct 10th 2011 12:37PM
I use this baby myself:
http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info18781-MutedSounds-combatonly.html
Gets rid of all the clangs and human male aggro grunts!
Sleutel Oct 10th 2011 6:35PM
@SamLowry:
This isn't an addon in the typical sense. It's just a file that you download and drop into your data folder, which the game then uses to replace the default gun sounds. You should be fine to use it, even if your computer can't handle other addons, since it won't create any additional load on your CPU or RAM.
Omacron Oct 10th 2011 8:06AM
I don't get the problem people have with firearms and other technology in WoW. The social mores and systems of government in Warcraft are exceptionally modern, if anything, it's the use of melee weapons that's uncharacteristic. I say we should have more guns and more tech used in a distinctly fantastic or "warcrafty" way, rather than eschewing it to pretend the setting resembles a "medieval" setting at all.
Artificial Oct 10th 2011 1:44PM
As someone who's played Warcraft games since Warcraft II, and fondly remembers fighting in submarines to protect my offshore oil-drills so my tankers can get their precious oil to my oil refineries, I'm continually puzzled by the people who seem to have confused WoW for a *medieval* fantasy game. It's been industrial age for as long as I've known it. Having a problem with guns, that actually were around in medieval times, seems particularly obtuse. Given the technology and time period that has always been the warcraft setting, not only are guns fine, Gatling guns and artillery are perfect in-setting.
sonatasun Oct 10th 2011 1:49PM
I'm attracted to the high gothic theme of World of Warcraft. I find the intrusion of technology into this theme kind of distracting because they are too noisy.
I never liked the distracting roar of those road hog motorcycles I see some ride in the game. The sound of gunfire during a raid fight isn't exactly gothic either. I'd just as soon see the game limited to swords, bows and magic.
Blizzard probably will not rid my experience of these devices, but maybe they could put a muffler on those motorcycles and silencers on those guns.
Sqtsquish Oct 10th 2011 2:26PM
I personally feel it is no issue since the use of explosively flung shrapnel in our world has been used for a very very long time. I mean we have motorcycles and helicopters- the only issue is the sound....which I LOVE- makes me feel like I am blowing crap away.
COGCaptainQuackers Oct 10th 2011 8:07AM
Personally I prefer whatever is appropriate for my character, so my main, who is a troll uses a bow and NEVER anything else, while my dwarf and goblin use guns and crossbows.
Revnah Oct 10th 2011 8:06AM
While I personally dislike guns in WoW and find their sound very annoying, they are very much in-character for people like Dwarven Hunters, or Humans or Forsaken. I wish there was a gun-or-bow option for every ranged weapon drop, or a possibility to "reforge" or "re-engineer" them.
My own hunter is a Draenei and anything other than a bow just looks weird in her hands. Of course, that's my personal subjective opinion which is why I think there should be a choice. As it is, the best-in-slot weapon is usually EITHER a gun OR a bow and that almost forces raiding hunters to go with that weapon, whether they like it or not.
LynMars Oct 10th 2011 9:01AM
Luckily Transmog will fix that visually. Guns/Bows/Crossbows share a type of ranged weapon type and so will be able to be transmogged into one another. They did it specifically due to Hunter preferences for particular types of weapons visually and that tendency you noted for the BiS endgame item to be a Bow OR a Gun, and rarely (if ever) a crossbow.
It does NOT work with main hand vs one-handed items, though, even if both items are a mace, due to the difference in healer/caster weapons vs melee/dps weapons and the need to keep fist weapons separate. :\