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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsWarlock's green fire is not coming at release in MoP, no timetable
by Adam Holisky 
Mar 27th 2012 at 10:00AM
This is no doubt a disappointment for many, especially for warlocks when combined with the news from last night that a demonology tanking spec isn't in the cards. It is, however, important to keep in mind that Blizzard still has done a lot with the warlock class, and all is not lost. There's a ton of changes to the way each spec will be played, and the talent revamp only has a few holdovers from current-day methodology.
The full blue post clarifying this situation after the break.
Wryxian -- Warlock green fire
So we've obtained some additional insight about what exactly lies behind the use of the word "hope" in regard to our efforts to achieve green fire for warlocks. Essentially, we want this updated information out so that we can better manage expectations, especially as the announcement created such a flurry of excitement.
Unfortunately, dear warlocks, those of you who retained a modicum of skepticism were right to, as it would seem that the chance of green fire for warlocks is even less as likely as the wording of the original information indicated.
Since spell effects are not as simple to change around as - for example - druid forms are, we need some additional technology implemented in order to allow the use of red or green fire to be a player choice and not a permanent change that is put in place for all warlocks.
Also, technology aside, we want to do the introduction of something like green fire in the right way. Implementing it in "a quest" doesn't really explain our stance here. We want something as substantial as this change to be an epic accomplishment for you.
So though we have definitely heard your thoughts on the matter, and we've explained what we want to do from our side, green fire will not be available with the launch of Mists of Pandaria. And we haven't a timeframe to commit to, or communicate about, at this stage.
It is with regret that we were unable to clarify these details more when we first mentioned our intent - "our hope" - and we wish we hadn't caused such excitement and raised expectations for those that didn't instantly take the news with an "I'll believe it when I see it" pinch of salt. It seems, as many of us said at the time here and on Twitter and fansites, the proof of the (green fire) pudding really was in the eating.
Unfortunately, dear warlocks, those of you who retained a modicum of skepticism were right to, as it would seem that the chance of green fire for warlocks is even less as likely as the wording of the original information indicated.
Since spell effects are not as simple to change around as - for example - druid forms are, we need some additional technology implemented in order to allow the use of red or green fire to be a player choice and not a permanent change that is put in place for all warlocks.
Also, technology aside, we want to do the introduction of something like green fire in the right way. Implementing it in "a quest" doesn't really explain our stance here. We want something as substantial as this change to be an epic accomplishment for you.
So though we have definitely heard your thoughts on the matter, and we've explained what we want to do from our side, green fire will not be available with the launch of Mists of Pandaria. And we haven't a timeframe to commit to, or communicate about, at this stage.
It is with regret that we were unable to clarify these details more when we first mentioned our intent - "our hope" - and we wish we hadn't caused such excitement and raised expectations for those that didn't instantly take the news with an "I'll believe it when I see it" pinch of salt. It seems, as many of us said at the time here and on Twitter and fansites, the proof of the (green fire) pudding really was in the eating.
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: Warlock, Mists of Pandaria
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
Jem Mar 27th 2012 10:50AM
The way I'm reading it is that it is making it optional that is the technological issue. Green fire exists, but the ability to choose to use it is the sticking point.
I don't want green fire on my lock. Never interested me. I'd prefer the change to be optional so I don't have to have it.
Xantenise Mar 27th 2012 10:40AM
Sounds like the green fire burnt down the dance studio.
malaika Mar 27th 2012 2:44PM
Caused by male and female demons/minions.
Caz Mar 27th 2012 10:51AM
I think some are missing GCs point - making fire green or red *for everyone* is easy. Making fire a *choice* between orange, green or red is complicated and they aren't able to do that right now without a technology upgrade.
Blizz doesn't want to make a universal change for all warlocks - they want to give every player the choice of the three colors.
Boobah Mar 27th 2012 11:08AM
Not GC; Wryxian.
/snark on: Amazingly, not every blue poster is Ghostcrawler's sock puppet.
Scuac Mar 27th 2012 11:45AM
That's exactly what GC wants you to believe.
Scuutor Mar 27th 2012 10:53AM
Oh well. As a warlock, i see the "here's something cool that may not happen" as conditioning. After all, if we warlocks were happy, we'd be mages.
And we can't have that.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go to my record player and turn "a slight case of over bombing" to side b.
Moeru Mar 27th 2012 10:59AM
Brace yourself, the warlocks aren't appreciated posts are comi---
They're already here?
Oh okay.
But seriously. After 7 years of this kind of stuff, people are still taking development talk as holy words of truth?
You're bringing it on yourself.
juqueza Mar 27th 2012 11:01AM
And then a lot of people wonders why warlocks aren't played anymore....
Imnick Mar 27th 2012 11:14AM
If this is why they don't play Warlock then it is their own fault, no promises about tanking or green fire were ever made and if someone read a dev saying "we might but this in but no promises" as "this is going to be in, I promise" then they brought their disappointment upon themselves.
Gorgon Mar 27th 2012 11:02AM
How hard is it to just turn the fire green? No explanation or quests are needed. Just turn it green across the board or make available the glyph overwrite.
Druid's weren't given a choice with the change to that "wrath"(?) spell.
Imnick Mar 27th 2012 11:14AM
They don't want it to be green across the board, that is the issue here.
Wrath was an updating of outdated spell effects, this is merely a cosmetic change. You can see just by scrolling up that not everyone would use green fire if it were an option.
Shrikesnest Mar 27th 2012 11:20AM
Two things:
First, is there -any- amount of qualifying text that will actually have the desired effect? Why is it that when people read "this is a nifty idea that we'd maybe like to do some day, perhaps, if there's time, and if we did here are a few ideas about how we might, theoretically, accomplish this hypothetical change, but don't get your hopes up" but they hear, "CHRISTMAS IS COMING, BITCHES! The instant Mists launches, you're getting everything you ever dreamed of, plus a few things we haven't even mentioned yet! As an apology for all those times we had to nerf your class! And also we find you, specifically, quite sexually desirable!". I'll say it again: manage your expectations, or this beta process is going to be torture.
Second, I -do- find Blizzard's excuses on the matter kind of silly. How many awesome cosmetic glyphs have been announced/datamined for other classes? And now, after they stripped all of the class-specific quests out of the game an claimed that they'd never make one again, they suddenly want this one cosmetic change to involve one? Frankly, if the CM's don't know something they should keep quite instead of layering conjecture on top of conjecture. A simple "don't expect this any time soon" might have sufficed.
Imnick Mar 27th 2012 11:32AM
All the current cosmetic glyphs affect shapeshifting mechanics, the visual effects of buffs or change the mechanics of spells.
There ARE no glyphs that change a projectile spell's model without making any other changes, and developing the system that would allow that to happen is why adding green fire is going to take a while. It'd be more work than it sounds and it is not high priority.
Dude Mar 27th 2012 11:30AM
At least you get to set the warlocks on fire with Embers.
Goose Mar 27th 2012 11:38AM
I'm sure.. Years from now, people will still tell the tales of the great warlock exodus in WoW that finally brought it down once and for all.
kdiddy Mar 27th 2012 11:40AM
This kind of backlash is always Blizzards fault. They already know how the majority of the community reacts to statements such as this. They see how excited people get, then just back track to reduce further backlash. Announce something like this when its actually being worked on, instead of while its in the pipe dream stage. Judging by the blue post above, it seems like something that may or may not happen, not something they are 100% trying to implement. Until its something that's currently being worked on, just keep it in house. Under promise, over deliver.
Daedalus Mar 27th 2012 1:22PM
And you'd prefer an environment where they never comment outside of official announcements? Maybe from now on, they shouldn't talk about anything they're working on until it's in patch note.
"This kind of thing" is always the fault of the hyperbolic players who take any statement from anyone at any level in the company as a guarantee that a feature will be implemented exactly as they see it in their minds, next week.
The original statement about green fire made it very clear that it was something that they'd like to do, but weren't working on yet. If they're not working on it yet, you can probably expect that it won't show up until after we get the stuff they are working on.
Anyone who built up an expectation otherwise has no one but themselves to blame for their disappointment.
kdiddy Mar 27th 2012 1:34PM
I agree with you on most fronts, and you've furthered my point. A lot of the player base is very unrealistic when it comes to these kinds of things, so yes, it would be better if they held thier tongue until its official. I'm not saying I agree with these players expectations, as I'm not one of them, but Blizzard should know by now what type of reaction these types of players will have. Waiting for it to be in patch notes is going a little far(which was intended), but waiting until a feature is in production would calm the unrealistic.
Daedalus Mar 27th 2012 3:15PM
And personally, I'd hate to see an environment where the majority of the playerbase is left in the dark about developer intentions and their vision for the game simply because a vocal minority can't be relied on to behave in a realistic and mature manner.
Blizzard putting stuff like that out far in advance, well before they start working on it isn't just a nicety; the (well reasoned) feedback they get informs their designs, and that's what makes the game great, in my opinion; they don't just dump stuff on us and say "this is what you're getting," they actually take player's opinions into consideration.
Personally, I'd ask what's so wrong with the current system? Blizzard gives us this early insight, most of us comment on it in a reasonable manner, and we all continue to laugh at the idiots ranting about broken promises.