23 images of the female pandaren customization
by Mathew McCurley 
Mar 22nd 2012 at 1:00PM
As goes the community, so too I go -- I was worried about the female pandaren model. The male pandaren looked so great at BlizzCon that I really didn't think Blizzard could surpass it. Personally, I think it works and fits well. Check out our gallery for lots of shots of the female pandaren.
It's open warfare between Alliance and Horde in Mists of Pandaria, World of Warcraft's next expansion. Jump into five new levels with new talents and class mechanics, try the new monk class, and create a pandaren character to ally with either Horde or Alliance. Look for expansion basics in our Mists FAQ, or dig into our spring press event coverage for more details!Filed under: Mists of Pandaria
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
Mperiolat Mar 22nd 2012 4:40PM
Well, I was making more an observation on the quality of the design rather than how a woman should "see" herself in a fantasy world. In my opinion, Blizzard did a better job on the Panderan female model than they did on the worgan. Nothing more or less than that.
CursedMonk87 Mar 22nd 2012 6:53PM
Yep, I liked the female worgen at first. 78 levels later and I just can't stand it anymore. She stays in human form whenever I'm out of combat. I guess I'm seeing the perma-snarl with puppy eyes doesn't make sense anymore. Why don't their eyes glow like the males' (which are awesome)? Not to mention the hunched-over jerky running and simply bizzare animations otherwise. She is a hunter afterall and the one thing I do like about her is the Feign Death animation.
I digress. It is my plan to race-change her to a pandaren, but if we don't see some less smiley, care-bear faces on the otherwise fantastic models, she'll probably be getting a sex-change as well.
Strawder Mar 22nd 2012 9:35PM
Yeah, now more than ever, they need to own up to the mistake that was post-alpha Female Worgen. Let the handful of people who like it, keep it, but give the rest of us the choice of Cata Alpha female Worgen, please.
I want to play one, I want to roll one, but by level 20, I can't take it anymore.
Ametrine Mar 22nd 2012 1:08PM
Spectacular!
Pyromelter Mar 22nd 2012 1:34PM
I have to say, when the model first came out I was a bit skeptical, now after looking at all of these pictures, I have to say I am quite pleased at how they turned out. I think blizz really got it right with all the different hair styles too, but the facial models and skin customization looks all appear to be really well done.
Pyro approves of all the different Pandaren ladies.
Philster043 Mar 22nd 2012 1:12PM
To be honest, my initial reaction? That body type isn't too flattering - same as the female dwarves - and I can't see many female (or otherwise) players going for it (other than the simple reason of having a fresh starting experience in the game.) But I love what they did with the face.
roseclown Mar 22nd 2012 1:17PM
So what, you expected pandaren's to be skinny? :/
No offense dude, but I'm a gal and I am ready to roll this one like yesterday. Will there be some people who discriminate? Yeah, sure. But i discriminate against the Draenei and Worgen ladies for their back problems. We all have our issues.
Ametrine Mar 22nd 2012 1:19PM
Flattering, maybe not, but it is racially realistic.
RS Mar 22nd 2012 1:20PM
I have to say though, I've never really seen a thin panda.
As Turpster stated..."More cushion..."
I like them.
Matt P Mar 22nd 2012 1:21PM
I have to disagree; I think a lot of people will roll female Pandaren. Not everyone will, but not everything in game appeals to the entire game population.
loop_not_defined Mar 22nd 2012 1:22PM
Yeah, we really don't need YET ANOTHER body type matching the skinny norm. More variety is better.
Tesia Mar 22nd 2012 1:24PM
Really? I'm female, and I don't need my characters to look sexy. My main is a gnome. Of course I am going to roll a Pandaren, and not just to have a fresh starting experience. I would be really surprised, and frankly saddened, to learn that women who play this game are so shallow that they feel they have to roll only sexually idealized toons to have a great WoW experience.
quasarsglow Mar 22nd 2012 1:24PM
I beg to differ, actually.
I think this body shape is actually quite cute and will attract those players that like a "pretty" race. Here's my reasoning, while those who want "pretty" may find a human-looking short, squat race less attractive, there is an extra level of separation in that players who want "pretty" aren't actually bear-faced.
Another thing, I'm relatively certain that pandaren aren't short. Short and squat seems unattractive in todays society. Being taller and curvy is far more acceptable. If you bring up gnomes, their society tends toward more playfulness which is inherently cute, even if they are shaped like basketballs with legs.
I alts tend toward female tauren and trolls because I am more like that shape than any of the others (thicker legs, taller, muscular).
That said, my main is forsaken and shadowy and super evil and that is my "escape" time.
Edymnion Mar 22nd 2012 1:27PM
Actually, I know a 50-something female that specifically rolled a female Tauren because "nobody can say I'm too fat to be a cow!".
Soulestream Mar 22nd 2012 1:28PM
She's little in the middle, but got much back.
+1 for the model.
Philster043 Mar 22nd 2012 1:32PM
This is the fastest I've ever been downvoted haha. Sorry for having an opinion! It is just the way I feel about it, we will see in time whether I'm right or not :)
Ellemir Mar 22nd 2012 1:33PM
I like it curvy. I would have been fine with more plump. I know a guildmate who's annoyed they're not as fat as the males. I also have several dwarf female characters and love them.
snarkygoldfish Mar 22nd 2012 1:38PM
Uuuuh. hai! Please don't make assumptions about the opinions of female players, that's just silly and shallow! (and probably why you got downvoted so quickly.) A good model is a good model.
I am a female player, and CANNOT WAIT to play one. It's.... me-shaped! I love this! I thinks it's fabulous when different body-types / physiques / shapes get represented in games.
Pyromelter Mar 22nd 2012 1:40PM
You know, that was my initial reaction to the initial screenshots of the panda-women too, but after looking at that gallery, I have to say I kind of like it.
I believe the panda-women will eventually fall into the niche that tauren females fall into, there is a dedicated fanbase of people who love the tauren female model, due to better posture and better fitting armor, as well as just looking better and being not as lumbering as the male tauren. The pandaren females do resemble the sort of pear-shape of female dwarves, but the female dwarves look kind of squished down, out of proportion, these models look like they have a very good symmetry that is pleasing to the eye (well my eye at least. Both eyes in fact.)
Also Phil wasn't trolling or being a douchecanoe, can we get his comment back at least into the gray?
Philster043 Mar 22nd 2012 1:41PM
Also: @roseclown - NO, I didn't expect female pandaren to be skinny and I certainly don't want them to be skinny. I never said anywhere in my post that I wanted them to be. But I also NEVER play female toons either. I am a guy, and play male characters, and I am happy with playing most of the male models (the exception being, funnily enough, the human model). However, I have had plenty of people comment to me that they only play blood elves because they don't like how all the other races look. I don't think this model is going to change that trend, but do I want female Pandaren to be skinny? No. But I also don't play them either. I'm going to play a male Pandaren.
The female Pandaren do look great and I love it. I just don't think it will make people roll a female Pandaren... other than the face and hairstyles, which I think are extremely charming, and the starting experience. I'm going to fully expect seeing a lot more male Pandaren than I do female Pandaren on my server. And a lot of female blood elf monks. That's all I'm saying.