WoW: Burning Crusade Shaman/Paladin Shots

[bapenguin]

There are 4 new Screenshots (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=352353#post352353) from the upcoming WoW expansion.

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/previews/wow/thumb.be_paladin2.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/previews/image.php?image=www.evilavatar.com/images/previews/wow/be_paladin2.jpg)

See the press release Inside (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=352359#post352359) for some background story as well.

[bapenguin]

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - Paladin-Shaman New Race/Class Summary

As we draw closer to the release of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, more of the secrets shrouding the Draenei and Blood Elves are being revealed. One legend involves the noble leader of the Draenei, Velen, and his vision. Velen’s vision was given substance in the form of Nobundo, a one-time Draenei priest who had devolved while the orcs decimated his race and tore the planet apart. Like his fellow Broken, Nobundo had lost contact with the Light, and so he ventured far into the deserts of Outland to meditate and pray for guidance.

After decades of silence, an unfamiliar voice finally answered his prayers. It was not the Light that whispered to him, but the wind. The breeze spoke to him of lost truths, of the might of the elements--of the delicate balance of power embraced by the shaman. Nobundo listened eagerly and learned all he could. When he judged the time was right, he departed the desert determined to use this knowledge to help the Draenei race.

Meanwhile, the Blood Elves busied themselves by establishing the fearsome Blood Knights. Their founding was made possible through the capture of a naaru from Tempest Keep by Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider. Kael’thas delivered the naaru to Silvermoon, where Magister Astalor Bloodsworn began months of study and experimentation on the naaru. Eventually, Astalor and his fellow wizards learned how to manipulate and corrupt the naaru’s luminous energies. In the end the wizards devised a process by which the powers of the Light could be transferred to recipients who had not earned such abilities. Instead of feeding upon the naaru's magic, the blood elves would wield the naaru's Light-given powers themselves.

Lady Liadrin, formerly a priestess, had recently renounced her vows, for she felt the Light had abandoned her people. She learned of the wizards' achievement and volunteered to be the first to bend the stolen powers to her will. With her decision a new order was born: the Blood Knights. These renegade paladins are able to harness the sacred powers of the Alliance’s noblest heroes.

These new developments with the Draenei and Blood Elves mean that World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade will allow Alliance players to create shamans, and Horde players to play as paladins, using the newly uncovered races. The ability for players of both factions to use any class opens up exciting new gameplay opportunities, with fresh group-play dynamics. Those who have faithfully pledged their allegiance with one faction or the other will finally have the opportunity to try out a class that was once unavailable to them. While Alliance shamans and Horde paladins mostly share the same talents as their counterparts across the battlefield, they will also enjoy some unique abilities to themselves, similar to the priest class’ racial specialties. Stay tuned to WorldofWarcraft.com for more information.

[captainstrombosis]

Woot, now the Alliance folks can see how funny watching someone Bubble/hearth is! Of course now the Whored get to feel Frasht shawk!

[raze2026]

Still hate this idea. Why are they destroying the only unique aspects between the races? Balance? There are plenty of other ways to acquire balance than this.

[Goronmon]

Still hate this idea. Why are they destroying the only unique aspects between the races? Balance? There are plenty of other ways to acquire balance than this.As long as you have unique classes, people will go nuts over balance issues associated with the classes. Sure, it may be the easy way out, but it takes care of the pally/shaman whining and allows each faction a new class to play with, without having to try to force an entirely new class into the mix.

In the end, I don't think this will be a big deal at all. Most of the people I have seen bashing this decision don't even play the game anymore.

[Lind]

Woot, now the Alliance folks can see how funny watching someone Bubble/hearth is! Of course now the Whored get to feel Frasht shawk!

I think I saw some patch note saying that using Hearthstone while "bubbled" isnt going to work anymore.

[saneman]

I look forward to this change.

I like the additions to the lore. Having Draenei shamans makes sense given the race's background. Before anyone complains about the Eredar retcon... yeah that's been explained already. I like the story behind the Blood Knights. In my view, it paints the Blood Elves as unscrupulous, arrogant magic addicts. It gives the Alliance a great reason to hate their living guts.

I'm going to have fun come Burning Crusade time.

[bean19]

It also means that some people will play the Drenai. . . even though they are hideous.

[SymetriX]

It also means that some people will play the Drenai. . . even though they are hideous.

What are you talking about!? Everyone's going to be using the Drenai man... it's the alliance's only big/intimidating class. And the only one slightly non-humanoid looking. I like it.

[bryan]

This just smacks of a cop-out. They were trumpeting the shaman/paladin uniqueness, now it's completely gone. I was gonna quit this game last week, but I lost a bet, and now this girl I really like is talking about rolling alts for when the expansion comes out.

THERE'S SOME SORTA CONSPIRACY GOING ON, I TELLS YA.

[SexualChoc]

I want to see what the racial talents are going to be with Paladins and Shamans. I mean for Priests, Dwarfs are the best due to Fear Ward. I wonder if someone is going to be loved alot this time aswell?

[BigJonno]

I'm actually thinking this may unbalance PvE. It's always seemed to me that paladins and shaman were designed with the knowledge that they'd never find themselves on the same side, especially taking their buffing abilities into consideration. Can you imagine how much a paladin's buffs in conjunction with stuff like windfury and grace of air totems is going to power up a group. In a five man group, people generally look for a tank, a healer and a DPS class and then the other two can be anything. It surprises me that more people don't insist on having a paladin/druid and a shaman taking up those two other slots. I think people are going to start wanting a paladin and a shaman in every damn group.

[SexualChoc]

I'm actually thinking this may unbalance PvE. It's always seemed to me that paladins and shaman were designed with the knowledge that they'd never find themselves on the same side, especially taking their buffing abilities into consideration. Can you imagine how much a paladin's buffs in conjunction with stuff like windfury and grace of air totems is going to power up a group. In a five man group, people generally look for a tank, a healer and a DPS class and then the other two can be anything. It surprises me that more people don't insist on having a paladin/druid and a shaman taking up those two other slots. I think people are going to start wanting a paladin and a shaman in every damn group.

Yeah. I mean it's normally Warrior, Priest, Mage, Rogue and random to get the best. Druids can fill in any number of roles, Paladins can do a bit of tanking and healing, Warlocks and Hunters have dots and pets, Shamans have the totems. A good Shaman/Paladin combo and you've got a formidable force.

[Shifteh]

but it takes care of the pally/shaman whining

Tauren Shaman get warstomp.

That's what you'll hear, over and over.

And jesus christ are they running out of ideas or what? And please explain to me how you can have a dark paladin, who loves 'teh evel' and has a "Holy" talent tree.

Welcome to the World of Elfcraft.

[bryan]

Can't wait till Warhammer comes out.

At least they hold their lore sacrosanct.

[BigJonno]

No, they don't. GW has been pissing all over their own lore for at least the last 10 years when they started kiddifying Warhammer and 40K. I think it's one of the main reasons the old Warhammer Online was canned, it was blatently closer to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and the Warhammer Fantasy Battle of that era than anything recent. They apparently also wrote off some of the best novels in their back catalogue. (I say apparently as it was something that I heard here in a Warhammer related thread. I believe someone mentioned it when I put Space Marine forward as my favourite 40K novel.) They've actually slightly redeemed themselves recently with stuff like Inquisitor, but they're still price-gouging bastards.

[Savok]

Worst. Lore. Ever.

Bryan, EA has Mythic/Warhammer now, expect it to fall apart like everything else.

[Captain Awesome]

It seems more and more WOW fans are having huge problems with this new expansion. Which from what I've read, I can't blame them. Is this an expansion you have to get?

Meaning will this add furthur gameplay you cant get now in the current game? Or is it one of those expansions that you literally have to pay for to get past a certain area or world?

[BigJonno]

There are basically three seperate parts to the expansion.

1) Level cap raised to 70, so that's a whole 10 levels worth of new content.

2) New races, which will include new starting areas.

3) A new profession, Jewelcrafting.

So I'd say that there was one thing that will become integral to the game which will only be available if you have the expansion, which is jewelcrafting. Unless they make it 60+ only or something.

[bryan]

You don't get the expansion, you get jack.

Ok if warhammer is out... what's the next mmo then?

[Savok]

If you're in a guild a you need the expansion, if you're on a PvP server you need the expansion. Even if you don't get the expansion, you have to deal with the expansion, hope you like getting ganked.

[Savok]

To my knowledge, there isn't a next MMO... well maybe whatever Bioware is up to, plot'll be shit but at least the mechanics might work.

[Heretic Machine]

http://static.flickr.com/59/197202803_e554bf794d_m.jpg (http://static.flickr.com/59/197202803_e554bf794d_b.jpg)

I just fucked your continuity! :p

[balamoor]

You know guys no one on the planet likes to Rip the Wacraft Dev team as much as I do, but after reading the lore ...it's not half bad, and a hell of lot less offensive than say Tauren Druids, or Alliance Warlocks.

The Blood Elves are stealing anything they can to not fade out of existence, so they have twisted the Paladin Class into the Blood Knight class, they are soul stealing Abominations of the Light, Hell yes! I for one am tired of this shades of grey Bullshit that Blizzard has been doing with it's classes. Folks saying that continuity is fucked doesn’t really know Warcraft lore, cause as I said if you can accept an Alliance Warlock and a Tauren Druid you could damn near accept anything.

[BigJonno]

I don't find Alliance warlocks hard to take, it's the orc ones I find implausible. They've been the demon's bitches for decades and now they've finally got rid of their influence Thrall's going to allow orcs to study demonolgy. WTF?

[balamoor]

I don't find Alliance warlocks hard to take, it's the orc ones I find implausible. They've been the demon's bitches for decades and now they've finally got rid of their influence Thrall's going to allow orcs to study demonolgy. WTF?


For more continuity Fuckage

Orcs Fighting alongside Undead WTF?
Night Elves using Firearms WTF?!
Gnome Warlocks? WTF!!!??

I think what Collin Murray (The apparent new head Pilot of the DEV team) is trying to get across is no this isn't old Azeroth major shit is happening and the races are pulling out all stops just to survive...to me that sounds a hell of a lot cooler than Blood Elf Hunter, Blood Elf Druid, Blood Elf Warrior.

Yeah I know no one is more surprised that I have come to this conclusion than me , but what I’m seeing may draw me back to Warcraft, if they are sincere in also bringing a viable elder game to non-raiders then there is nothing to keep me away.

[Savok]

You know guys no one on the planet likes to Rip the Wacraft Dev team as much as I do, but after reading the lore ...it's not half bad, and a hell of lot less offensive than say Tauren Druids, or Alliance Warlocks.

The Blood Elves are stealing anything they can to not fade out of existence, so they have twisted the Paladin Class into the Blood Knight class, they are soul stealing Abominations of the Light, Hell yes! I for one am tired of this shades of grey Bullshit that Blizzard has been doing with it's classes. Folks saying that continuity is fucked doesn’t really know Warcraft lore, cause as I said if you can accept an Alliance Warlock and a Tauren Druid you could damn near accept anything.
Are you high? Seriously, are under the influence of something? The hell is wrong with Alliance Warlocks? And while I agree with you on Tauren Druids (don't forget female Druids) at least they like nature.

Blood Elves, how are they Paladins? "we stole it, lol!"

That's fucking epic shit right there.

And the Draenei guy had a vision, a fucking house cat can have a vision doesn't make them a god damn Shaman.

[bean19]

You don't get the expansion, you get jack.

Ok if warhammer is out... what's the next mmo then?

Gods & Heroes (http://www.godsandheroes.com) - It's being made by the designer of Diablo II, Stieg Hedlund.

Maybe you should read EvAv's exclusive intervew here (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14006). I recommend watching the E3 video (btw Gods & Heroes was the most awarded MMO from E3) - you can watch it here (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/godsheroes/media.html).

[bean19]

To my knowledge, there isn't a next MMO... well maybe whatever Bioware is up to, plot'll be shit but at least the mechanics might work.

Dude. You just aren't looking. If you don't love Gods & Heroes that I just pimped like crazy, then there are still a number of big-tim MMOs coming out besides Warhammer (a 2007-2008 title).

Games that should make it this year or early next are Tabula Rasa, the previously mentioned Gods & Heroes, and Age of Conan. . . plus a bunch of crap that might be really good or might suck. . . still, I saw those 3 games at E3 and G&H made my jaw drop. The others look really good too.

Everyone bitches about too many sequels, but then even well-informed people like you guys don't know dick about the new IPs.

[Savok]

I'll admit, I forgot about Gods & Heroes (never been a big fan of the era anyway), the others... well Tabula is published by NCSoft, they've pushing questionable content recently and the staff layoffs... Age of Conan is another very much "wait and see".

[balamoor]

Are you high? Seriously, are under the influence of something? The hell is wrong with Alliance Warlocks?

Nothing I guess unless you count the whole almost having yoru entire culture obliterated by Deamons.

Blood Elves, how are they Paladins? "we stole it, lol!"
No more silly than Vampire, how do you live? "I drink the Blood of others lol!" Cmon guy your talking about silly in a game that has bipedal Livestock, and Gnome Transporters.


That's fucking epic shit right there.
Okay never read the Elric saga, or Chronicles of Amber for that matter, The lack of Epicosity my be too big an insult for you. :D Seriously Sav you have to admit that Blizzard has been playing fast and loose with there pseudo lore since the second game...It's not like Han shooting first or anything.


And the Draenei guy had a vision, a fucking house cat can have a vision doesn't make them a god damn Shaman.

Asimov once made a very good analogy between Science Fiction and Fantasy, it basically says that unlike Science Fiction, Fantasy requires a bit more of an suspension of Disbelief.....anywho I just can't get worked up about Lore in a game where I see the same fucking Dragons Head hanging at the gates of Stormwind every other day.

Maybe I am high, but I like what they are doing with Blood Elves, and I could give two shits about the Tentacle people from space. If Blizzard decides to let me progress my character in an elder game without having to do some dumbass raid, I will probably start playing again….hell it’s not like there is any other MMO out there worth a damn at this point.

Edit: Caveat, I should have said fantasy MMO's because as most would agree both EvE and CoH/CoV are very tasty .

[saneman]

So can someone (seriously) explain to me how Draenei are Space Paladins/Space Shaman/Space Whatever and Orcs are not?

[Hemalin]

So can someone (seriously) explain to me how Draenei are Space Paladins/Space Shaman/Space Whatever and Orcs are not?
And more recently, the Blood Elves stole technology from the Draenei and also sabotaged their dimensional ship, which crash landed on Azeroth. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/faq.html) and At the prince's signal the elves stormed the dimensional fortress, quickly defeating its automated defenses and claiming its satellite structures. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/classcombo.html)

[Savok]

Nothing I guess unless you count the whole almost having yoru entire culture obliterated by Deamons.
This has stopped humanity in the past when?

No more silly than Vampire, how do you live? "I drink the Blood of others lol!" Cmon guy your talking about silly in a game that has bipedal Livestock, and Gnome Transporters.
You're missing the point, they stole a class, literally.

Okay never read the Elric saga, or Chronicles of Amber for that matter, The lack of Epicosity my be too big an insult for you. :D Seriously Sav you have to admit that Blizzard has been playing fast and loose with there pseudo lore since the second game...It's not like Han shooting first or anything.
Well they've been retconning the hell out of everything recently, they might not be at Han shooting first yet, but they're close.

Asimov once made a very good analogy between Science Fiction and Fantasy, it basically says that unlike Science Fiction, Fantasy requires a bit more of an suspension of Disbelief.....anywho I just can't get worked up about Lore in a game where I see the same fucking Dragons Head hanging at the gates of Stormwind every other day.
Very few things in MMOGs make for permanent changes, simply the nature of the beast in that regard. And Asimov was not talking about excusing bullshit simply because something was fantasy. What if the Dwarves started having sex with their rams? Suspension of disbelief or bullshit, I'll let you decide.

[Zeal]

I will join the Burning Crusade.

Blood Elf Warlock

[saneman]

so it's their mode of transport that does it?

so if they'd stepped through a wormhole instead, they'd not be space paladins/shaman whatever?

[Heretic Machine]

so it's their mode of transport that does it?

so if they'd stepped through a wormhole instead, they'd not be space paladins/shaman whatever?

No, then they'd be sliders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliders)!