The Game that won't die continues not dying (WoW)

[loomer]

They're finally implementing a feature that was in EQ2 from launch and something people have wanted since launch, yeah.

Though on checking the QnA they have on it, you can apparently only become another race instead, so, bollocks. Nevermind then (I also wonder why they consider it better to let you suddenly be a Blood Elf than do a few quests to end up Horde aligned...)

[Oskuro]

Considering the new City of Heroes expansion is all about switching sides, I guess it won't be long before WoW gets on the bandwagon (as usual).

I was thinking that Gilneas' position makes it adequate as an starter zone, even though it would dump alliance players in the middle of the Horde starter area (not worse than what was done to the Blood Elves, though).

Anyway, since international politics have robbed me of my Pandaren dream, I fully support the motion to have Murlocs become a playable race. The "mrrrglglglglgl!" emote will be epic!

Oh, and regarding Hero classes, if they do as they did with the DK, they might add a Hero class themed after the expansion so... Sailor? Pirate? Goblin Sapper?

[Stofsk]

We won't ever get Pandaren as a playable race, and probably never actually in the game as anything but a reference either. Pandaren piss off the Chinese censors too much, and they have way too many players over there.

Why is that so? Was there also some controversy over Kung Fu Panda in China?

[SAMAS]

They like scenes showing violence towards Pandas as much as they like Democracy.

[Steve]

...they let you switch a toon's race? That's... well, I guess they figure it'd too much trouble to fit faction-changing into the game system as-is.

I'd at least prefer the ability to learn other languages.

[loomer]

I would've at least liked them to give the language-learning to RP servers. I can understand taking it out on PvP realms, to an extent, but they did pretty significantly restrict cross-faction interaction on RP servers - though it does open up the Translator's Profession as an option, where you get a few people who go along to events to translate via IM or physical communication with the other faction's translator.

Except it's basically never done.

[CaptainChewbacca]

We won't ever get Pandaren as a playable race, and probably never actually in the game as anything but a reference either. Pandaren piss off the Chinese censors too much, and they have way too many players over there.

Why is that so? Was there also some controversy over Kung Fu Panda in China?

Pandaren culture is a mismash of chinese, japanese, and korean cultures. China takes offense to their most recognizeable national symbol being portrayed as anything but 100% Chinese.

[Edward Yee]

The thing re: faction switching though is that you can switch race/faction (together) but not class -- for example, dwarven, human and draenei paladins may only switch to blood elves, and vice versa.

At least this would allow me to stop agonizing over playing a Death Knight or not and just play one... (My longstanding plan for Alliance has been to create one, get a ton of Stone Keeper's Shards / Wintergrasp Marks of Honor, then use those to buy up as much heirloom gear as possible to boost any Alliance alt I could come up with. Most likely now that's just what I'll do with the Horde.)

[Oskuro]

Regarding the race/faction change, why implement it as a gamne mechanic, when you can do it as a database operation and charge for it? Seems like Blizzard is really getting into the microtransactions thing too. Next they'll be implementing a rent-a-pet that loots other people's kills for you (subtle Silk Road reference)

[Ghost Rider]

Eh, new race that will have some highly valued raid ability, a new possible hero class that will get nerfed, and more places for loot.

Really, play for what you enjoy and stop wondering of Blizzard's insanity beyond "So, wait...people want (insert whatever)? Let's charge $15-40 for it!"