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World of Warcraft: "Let's go this way."
Posted: Tuesday July 25th, 2006
by
I've tried desperately to avoid commenting on the whole cross-faction Shaman/Paladin thing. But, when a friend, who asked not to be creditted, sent me this strip idea, I chuckled and couldn't resist my urge to illustrate his idea.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about you can read, by way of "lore", Blizzards plans for adding Paladins to the Horde and Shamans to the Alliance here: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/classcombo.html
I don't really want this thread to devolve into some kind of class-ist/fanction-ist pissing match. But, me commenting on the issue seems to be a virtual requirement (else my email and PM inboxes will both continue to suffer the effects).
In a thread already in existance on this forum [ more info ], I made the comment that Blizzard's decision, in my opinion, was lazy. But, I didn't explain why. I'll do that here then await the innevitable fallout.
In WoW's earliest stages Blizzard execs proclaimed that there would be no such thing as class balance. And, since that is an idea I've been trying to stress for years now, I clapped excitedly at their apparent intestinal fortitude. See, in my mind the only way there could be true class balance is if we're all relegated to playing the exact same damn character. So, what we get is a bastardized version of "balance" referred to as "rock/paper/scissors" meaning class X can't beat class Y but they can beat class Z and class Z can beat class Y. So their idea "balance" is circular. So, if you have a whole army of classX vs. a whole army of class Y... where's the balance? So, I'm of the opinion that you balance a class against the class' role in a group or versus the environment. In essence you balance the class against its own purpose. But since the games release Blizzard has made every effort to balance classes. So much for that intestinal fortitude.
With the idea of "no balance" in mind, they made a faction specific class for each side. The Alliance got Paladins; the Horde got Shamans; and, never the two shall meet. But now, here we are staring down the barrel of the expansion and meet they shall. So, to me atleast, Blizzard is again caving to the vocal minority. They're being lazy and not sticking to their guns.
Just a personal opinion. I can't fault anyone that disagrees. I mean hell it all makes sense from a balance standpoint. It even makes sense from a lore standpoint. But, I can't shake the initial direction for the game. And that's my own cross to bear.
---
Now, I know this is going to be a hot topic. So, here are a few ground rules:
Keep the Easy Ways in mind; Don't direct your responses at anyone; And, don't "agree" or "disagree" with anyone just state your own opinion and let it stand on its own merits.
[ discuss ]
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about you can read, by way of "lore", Blizzards plans for adding Paladins to the Horde and Shamans to the Alliance here: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/classcombo.html
I don't really want this thread to devolve into some kind of class-ist/fanction-ist pissing match. But, me commenting on the issue seems to be a virtual requirement (else my email and PM inboxes will both continue to suffer the effects).
In a thread already in existance on this forum [ more info ], I made the comment that Blizzard's decision, in my opinion, was lazy. But, I didn't explain why. I'll do that here then await the innevitable fallout.
In WoW's earliest stages Blizzard execs proclaimed that there would be no such thing as class balance. And, since that is an idea I've been trying to stress for years now, I clapped excitedly at their apparent intestinal fortitude. See, in my mind the only way there could be true class balance is if we're all relegated to playing the exact same damn character. So, what we get is a bastardized version of "balance" referred to as "rock/paper/scissors" meaning class X can't beat class Y but they can beat class Z and class Z can beat class Y. So their idea "balance" is circular. So, if you have a whole army of classX vs. a whole army of class Y... where's the balance? So, I'm of the opinion that you balance a class against the class' role in a group or versus the environment. In essence you balance the class against its own purpose. But since the games release Blizzard has made every effort to balance classes. So much for that intestinal fortitude.
With the idea of "no balance" in mind, they made a faction specific class for each side. The Alliance got Paladins; the Horde got Shamans; and, never the two shall meet. But now, here we are staring down the barrel of the expansion and meet they shall. So, to me atleast, Blizzard is again caving to the vocal minority. They're being lazy and not sticking to their guns.
Just a personal opinion. I can't fault anyone that disagrees. I mean hell it all makes sense from a balance standpoint. It even makes sense from a lore standpoint. But, I can't shake the initial direction for the game. And that's my own cross to bear.
---
Now, I know this is going to be a hot topic. So, here are a few ground rules:
Keep the Easy Ways in mind; Don't direct your responses at anyone; And, don't "agree" or "disagree" with anyone just state your own opinion and let it stand on its own merits.
[ discuss ]
[ top ]
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