Blizzard reveals newest Class: a class that ROCKS

Crossroads Inc. · Post by **Crossroads Inc.** » 2008-04-01 02:23pm

The deeds of every great hero inspire countless songs of triumph, virtue, and epic adventure. But although a hero’s glory endures in song, the creators of those songs are seldom remembered. After ages spent singing of the heroic exploits of others, the bards of Azeroth are finally stepping into the spotlight on their own terms, proving once and for all that while just about anyone can pick up a sword or cast a spell, only a true hero can vanquish evil with the power of ROCK!

Armed with a trusty axe, killer riffs, and a ton of attitude, the guitar-wielding bard is the second hero class to be introduced in the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion for World of Warcraft. The bard excels both as a solo performer and as part of a solid group lineup, able to front in a number of roles as varied as his musical repertoire. The bard’s extensive Metal skill line grants the potent transformational ability "I Am Murloc," as well as direct damage effects like "Epic Solo" that will rock foes into oblivion while powerful Indie debuffs such as "Tape Jam" and "Shoegazer" keep them in check. If things heat up, the bard’s Punk tree can support the party with a wide range of abilities, such as "Nonconformity," which dispels fear, mind control, and similar effects, or "Mosh Pit," which briefly boosts the group’s movement speed while its members stay within range.

To fuel his or her powers, the bard uses a brand-new resource system called "groove." Selecting an ability launches the Fret Bar, which will display a number of riffs the player needs to activate using a new guitar-based keyboard peripheral that will ship with Wrath of the Lich King (a special Frostmourne-themed axe will be sold separately). The better the player’s accuracy and timing, the more powerful the resulting ability becomes. The riffs also become more difficult as the bard’s abilities progress, ensuring that the bard gameplay experience remains fast-paced and skill-oriented. Executing abilities also builds up groove, which further fuels the bard’s epic rock powers. Some abilities such as "Epic Solo" require a certain amount of groove to be unleashed, and the more groove, the more powerful the effect.

The time has come for the bards to claim glory for themselves. No longer will they remain shrouded in obscurity while less-talented adventurers are hailed by the masses.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2008-04-01 02:28pm

YES! I also heard that the Bard's class Epic Weapon quest is that you rock your way through Molten Core until you get to Ragnaros. Instead of the thing with Majordomo, he reaches down into the lava and pulls out a GIANT flaming guitar, and you have to battle him. It looks just like a heavy metal cover, it's awesome!

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2008-04-01 02:42pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:YES! I also heard that the Bard's class Epic Weapon quest is that you rock your way through Molten Core until you get to Ragnaros. Instead of the thing with Majordomo, he reaches down into the lava and pulls out a GIANT flaming guitar, and you have to battle him. It looks just like a heavy metal cover, it's awesome!

Pure awsome
I will in fact, start paying for WoW right now in order to get my Bard on. Oh how I never thought I'd say that.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2008-04-01 04:16pm

Hey, didn't you guys hear? They also announced a new unit for Starcraft 2!

Decue · Post by **Decue** » 2008-04-01 04:30pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Hey, didn't you guys hear? They also announced a new unit for Starcraft 2!

And World of Warcraft will be coming on console!

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-04-01 04:32pm

April Fool's, suckers!

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2008-04-01 05:14pm

And to think, I might actually play WoW again if they really did put in a rock-bard.

Undead, of course. \m/

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2008-04-01 05:41pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Hey, didn't you guys hear? They also announced a new unit for Starcraft 2!

Anyone wanna bet that actually makes it in to the game, like the Hydralisk in Warcraft 3?

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2008-04-01 05:44pm

Brother-Captain Gaius wrote:And to think, I might actually play WoW again if they really did put in a rock-bard.

Undead, of course. \m/

This. I played a D&D game where we were all bards and had various magical instruments. Our lead guitarist was an orc with a 3 foot mohawk. With the obligatory literal face-melters.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2008-04-01 05:46pm

Vendetta wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote:Hey, didn't you guys hear? They also announced a new unit for Starcraft 2!
Anyone wanna bet that actually makes it in to the game, like the Hydralisk in Warcraft 3?

Or the Marines and Space Orks, and Zerglings? Ofcourse, seeing how much work they've already put into them.

Darksider · Post by **Darksider** » 2008-04-01 07:14pm

Anarchist Bunny wrote:
Vendetta wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote:Hey, didn't you guys hear? They also announced a new unit for Starcraft 2!
Anyone wanna bet that actually makes it in to the game, like the Hydralisk in Warcraft 3?
Or the Marines and Space Orks, and Zerglings? Ofcourse, seeing how much work they've already put into them.

Space orks?

does blizzard do anything that doesn't rip off WH40k?

seriously. did anyone else immediately think "ogryn" when they saw this?

good think i's just an april fools joke, or they might get their asses sued by games workshop. They seem a little trigger happy with the lawyers

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2008-04-01 07:58pm

Darksider wrote:seriously. did anyone else immediately think "ogryn" when they saw this?

No, I thought Tauren with a gun. Honestly, how could you think of ogryn? Ogryn aren't minotaurs.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-04-01 08:31pm

Darksider wrote:
Anarchist Bunny wrote:
Vendetta wrote: Anyone wanna bet that actually makes it in to the game, like the Hydralisk in Warcraft 3?
Or the Marines and Space Orks, and Zerglings? Ofcourse, seeing how much work they've already put into them.
Space orks?

does blizzard do anything that doesn't rip off WH40k?

Actually, WoW has space GOATS, not space Orcs. The Orcs were (until the evil cousins of the Space Goats showed up) a primitive tribal people on par with the Native Americans - inter-tribal raiding and hunting, but not war as we understand it. Sort of like the Tauren, but of primate rather than bovine descent.

The fungal people aren't Orcs and never went into space - they're currently struggling for survival in a dying bog on a shattered world, pinched between Fungal Giants, the Naga, and everyone else butchering each other across the landscape. Poor little sporregars....

Oh, nevermind - it's not like Blizzard gives a damn about their continuity anymore anyhow.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2008-04-01 08:46pm

"Udder Chaos"

Good lord.....

Shinn Langley Soryu · Post by **Shinn Langley Soryu** » 2008-04-01 09:50pm

If there's enough popular demand for the Bard, then they might actually include it in the final product.

Also, I hope they actually include the Tauren Marine and the Murloc in StarCraft II. In any case, I don't think Blizzard has anything to worry about from Games Workshop lawyers.

loomer · Post by **loomer** » 2008-04-01 09:54pm

I would LOVE a bard class like that. Playing WoW by rocking out? Yes, please. I hope they decide to actually incorporate it someday.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2008-04-01 11:09pm

Ah Blizz...still trying to top Pandaran Express. And pfft, the Bard will get included as soon as the reciepe to make the tinfoil hat gets included.

Jawawithagun · Post by **Jawawithagun** » 2008-04-02 12:39am

loomer wrote:I would LOVE a bard class like that. Playing WoW by rocking out? Yes, please. I hope they decide to actually incorporate it someday.

Until your awesome riff becomes victim of the almighty backstab for the thousandth time

loomer · Post by **loomer** » 2008-04-02 01:07am

Backstab is actually pretty weak in WoW, you're more likely to fall prey to an ambush/vanish/ambush/reset/vanish/ambush combo if you can't move or cancel epic riffs.

I love pulling that combo on people, incidentally.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2008-04-02 01:39am

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Hey, didn't you guys hear? They also announced a new unit for Starcraft 2!

That little planet-view through the "broken" page at the bottom is pretty neat.

Gomu Niwatari · Post by **Gomu Niwatari** » 2008-04-02 01:49am

If this weren't a joke, I'd actually play it!

Jawawithagun · Post by **Jawawithagun** » 2008-04-02 03:13am

loomer wrote:Backstab is actually pretty weak in WoW, you're more likely to fall prey to an ambush/vanish/ambush/reset/vanish/ambush combo if you can't move or cancel epic riffs.

I love pulling that combo on people, incidentally.

Ah well, I don't play rogues I just fall victim to them.

Post by **Kuja** » 2008-04-02 11:10am

Ghost Rider wrote:Ah Blizz...still trying to top Pandaran Express. And pfft, the Bard will get included as soon as the reciepe to make the tinfoil hat gets included.

You have to admit, Epic Solo would really help on those mass pulls in Shattered Halls.

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2008-04-02 11:15am

Pfft. Bring a paladin-tank and look at those pulls again. *polishes armor*

Post by **Kuja** » 2008-04-02 11:19am

White Haven wrote:Pfft. Bring a paladin-tank and look at those pulls again. *polishes armor*

Dude, everyone knows paladins can't tank worth crap. Their taunt is clunky , they break their group's aoe, they steal gear from REAL tanks, and real players know that aoe tanking is a LIE.

<-----Bendux, Kara pally tank.