The Queue: Back in the land of weather
by Alex Ziebart 
Oct 26th 2011 at 11:00AM
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Alex Ziebart will be your host today.
Today is my first day back in Wisconsin post-BlizzCon, and I have just one word to describe how it feels to be back home: cold.
Phoenix asked:
Alex, you've been saying for years how much you hate pandas. Are you going to quit in MoP?
Over pandas? No. I still think Pandaren are silly, but quitting the game just because of that is dumb. Quit when you're not having fun anymore. Maybe Pandaren contribute to your lack of fun, I don't know, but don't write off the rest of the expansion because of panda people.
While we know nothing of Mists of Pandaria's raiding yet, what we were shown at BlizzCon is an expansion that offers more variety in gameplay then we've ever seen in WoW before. PVE scenarios, challenge mode, pet battles ... those seem a lot more interesting than what either Wrath of the Lich King or Cataclysm brought to the table. I'll take PokeWoW over the current state of archaeology, that's for sure.
Play Pandaria. If you have fun, keep playing it. If you don't have fun, don't play it. Don't quit in a huff over one little thing. If you're quitting because of what you saw at BlizzCon, you probably haven't been having fun with the game for a long time and need to take a break, anyway. In that situation, there's very little Blizzard could actually do to excite you.
Some of you asked ...
With Alex becoming Editor-in-Chief, does that mean he'll stop writing and be working behind the scenes all of the time?
Ideally, no. While I have no doubt I'll have busy days (or weeks) and will need to pass my writing assignments off to my minions from time to time, I'm going to try to continue to regularly write everything I do now ... if not a little more. That's just how I roll.
coville asked:
Are Monks being classified as a "Hero" class like Death Knights? and if they are, will they start at level 1 or some higher level?
No, monks are not a hero class. They will start at level 1.
Jamie asked:
Are the devs really serious about removing flying until max level? I should imagine areas like Icecrown & Storm Peaks are going to require a little tweaking in order to make them playable. Right?
The developers were specifically referring to the Pandaria zones. You will continue to be able to fly in Outland, Northrend, and the regions opened up by Cataclysm. However, when you step on Pandaria, you will be unable to fly until the level cap.
Foggy Weather Flying?
josh asked:
Since Pandarens are now a playable race, does that make the Pandaren Monk pet a slave or a pygmy species?
It's just a kid. Your student/squire!
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!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 19)
Deathknighty Oct 26th 2011 11:02AM
I can't wait to make a Pandaren Monk with a Pandaren Monk pet and do pet battles. :D
Shinae Oct 26th 2011 11:06AM
MONKception!
Ullaana Oct 26th 2011 11:10AM
I'm hoping my "Lil Stinker" can do a gas attack. Bwah-ha-ha!
RS Oct 26th 2011 11:41AM
It's a Pandawon! (bad put yes....)
Daedalus Oct 26th 2011 12:05PM
Actually, that makes the PokeWoW thing seem like a brilliant ploy by Blizzard to bring back anyone who'd actually quit over Pandaren: "Oh, hate pandas, do you? Wouldn't you like to come back and use a multitude of pets to beat the snot out of a Pandaren Monkling?"
wybenga42 Oct 26th 2011 1:25PM
Pandaren back in 2005: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/media/wallpapers/other?view#/panda-xpress
Ooglie Oct 26th 2011 1:14PM
Well, I guess there are some who are excited by this pet battle thing. To me, though, it would be at the bottom of my things to add to the game. Also, the dungeon challenges? Like it's not already a race to finish the dungeons as fast as you can. All those ADD tanks out there should love that, but it holds ZERO interest for me. I'm holding out hope that Pandaria is a VERY interesting place and there's lots of nice story elements to explore because the other "Feature" additions (Other than the scenarios which sound interesting) sound dull as rocks.
Nathanyel Oct 26th 2011 1:19PM
I think "humanoid" companions (Pandaren Monk, Argent Squire/Gruntling, Ethereal Soul-Trader, the Winter's Helpers, Curious Wolvar Pup/Oracle Hatchling) will be examples of those that don't work in the Pet Battle System. They stated that not every pet will work with it, and "it's actually a person squiring for/accompanying you" is an excellent reason for that. And don't just look at the battles themselves, you would be able to _sell_ them on the AH...
Mycroft Oct 26th 2011 1:47PM
My boomkin with mini-boomkin will face you off!
Drakkenfyre Oct 26th 2011 2:09PM
wybenga, Pandarens go back as far as 2001 in Blizzard artwork. A wallpaper from 2005 means nothing.
Daedalus Oct 26th 2011 2:03PM
@Ooglie:
I think you're missing something. My attitude towards dungeons sounds like it lines up with yours, but I'm actually extremely excited about the dungeon challenge thing. Why? Because maybe it'll get all the "gogogonownownowpullpullpull" people out of the damned queue. If the people who like to run through the dungeons as fast as possible can get additional reward for that though the challenge system, I'm hoping that leaves the LFD queue filled with players who, like me, are more laid back about it.
Grovinofdarkhour Oct 26th 2011 2:16PM
^
fallemwarrior Oct 26th 2011 3:08PM
Pandaren hunter with a panda pet and non combat panada
Suzaku Oct 26th 2011 6:12PM
@Drakkenfyre: Actually, the first pandaren artwork is dated alll the way back to 1999.
http://www.wowpedia.org/File:Twopandaren.jpg
http://www.wowpedia.org/File:Shodo-pan.jpg
They've changed quite a bit since then.
MrJak Oct 26th 2011 6:26PM
It's be... Pandamonium...
Suzaku Oct 26th 2011 6:42PM
Suggested Pandaren Monk character name: Lonepanda.
Suggested Pandaren Monk pet name: Andcub.
See: http://www.wowpedia.org/File:Lone_Panda_and_Cub.jpg
Twill Oct 27th 2011 12:56AM
WHY IS NOBODY OBSESSING OVER THE AWESOME THAT IS MULTIPLE BRAND NEW BATTLEGROUNDS THAT AREN'T JUST A NEW MAP OF BGS WE HAVE?!?!
PAYLOAD IS COMING TO WOW!!! :D
" Stranglethorn Diamond Mines - Payload style gameplay.
Valley of Power - Murderball
Azshara Crater - DOTA
New Arena - Tol'vir Proving Grounds
"
Jamie Oct 26th 2011 11:05AM
I'm sure we'll see many Pokémon references in game. Calling it now Pet Battle Master Ket Chum (clearly a Pandaren).
What are the writers (who are interested in this feature) going to use in their team?
My team will feature engineering pets heavily. Lil'Smokey is going to be my main pet.
Deathknighty Oct 26th 2011 11:09AM
I'm going to try and compose a team of pets that should not really be considered pets, like the pandaren monk.
Shinae Oct 26th 2011 11:10AM
My enchanted lamp. I love lamp.
Or a broom with water attacks to reenact the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.