Blizz please, PLEASE re-think Goblin Shaman

#1 - Dec. 6, 2010, 7:50 p.m.

Blizzard, please, please, PLEASE re-think your "explanation" of Goblin Shaman.

"Exploiting the elements for profit"?

Seriously?

These are the elements were're talking about, not some stupid jungle trolls. They don't bend to one's will, rather, they assist those they deem worthy to call to them.

Only one thing drives the Goblin race: greed.

Almost all the other class combinations make some sense (with the exception of Worgen Druids, but that's for another topic).

Human Hunters - Is there really that great of a difference between an archer and a hunter in WoW?

Dwarf Mage/Warlock - The (less insane) Dark Irons have moved into Ironforge and have started to teach their dark/taboo arts to other Dwarves. It's almost their way of paying rent to the Bronzebeard clan.

Dwarf Shaman - This took some getting used to, but it's at least more believable than Goblin Shaman. The Dwarves, when you look back at their origin, are closer to the earth than any other Shaman race. Combine that with the Dwarves are generally a peaceful race. They're certainly not trying to take advantage of the elements for their own personally gain...

Gnome Priests - Remember, I said ALMOST all the new race combos made sense. This one just baffles me. Well, I guess a couple Gnomes could have found Jesu-, er, the Light...

Tauren Preists/Paladins - This one I liked actually. I thought it was clever. The Druids worship Elune, the Moon Goddess. The Sunwalkers branched off from the Druids and now worship An'she, the Sun God. The Moon and the Sun are just two sides of the same coin to them, and are the eyes of the Earthmother. I like it :)

Troll Druids - The Trolls love their many, MANY Gods, so I can accept Trolls gaining their new Troll abilities from Loa.

Worgen Druids - This one is almost as terrible as Goblin Shaman IMO. Since the Worgen curse is traced back to the Night Elf Druids, they're more susceptible to Druidism? I guess that could make sense, but what about the NPC Druid Trainer you encounter around level 2? She makes it seem the people of Gilneas have been using Druid "abilities" long before the exposure to the Worgen curse. Come on Blizzard, you can do better than that...

Night Elf Mage - Kaldorei. Enough said.

Blood Elf Warriors - They should have been able to be Warriors since the beginning of BC. Warriors are the most basic class in lore, any race in the Warcraft universe can be a Warrior.

I don't know, maybe it's because I'm FINALLY getting around to reading "Rise of the Horde", but the elements don't seem the type to allow themselves to be manipulated for profit...

Or maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps there's been some new information released that I missed regarding the Goblin Shaman. If I did miss something, please let me know.

TLDR:

I like the story/lore of this game, but Goblin Shaman make zero sense. Please adjust the lore so they're at least somewhat believable.

Bashiok

Community Manager

#49 - Dec. 6, 2010, 8:37 p.m.

I thought about it. I think we'll keep them.

12/06/2010 11:50 AMPosted by RaimeusThese are the elements were're talking about, not some stupid jungle trolls. They don't bend to one's will, rather, they assist those they deem worthy to call to them.

The elements have quite the history of being somewhat easily exploited by any conjurer with a couple reagents and a few words to summon simple elementals.

And, really, if the Light can be exploited, then certainly the elements can.

I think the point here is intent. Even though the goblins may first and foremost be looking toward personal gain, their actions in-turn happen to be defeating horrible demons, life-stealing undead, and world-killing dragons. The Light and elements probably don't mind that too much.

Bashiok

Community Manager

#52 - Dec. 6, 2010, 8:50 p.m.

12/06/2010 12:41 PMPosted by RaimeusSo it's more of a "means to an end" situation? The elements may not be completely agree with how the Goblins do things, but at least they're fighting the same enemy.

Works for me, thanks :)

It's also important to note that the elements are not 'good' or 'bad' but instead strive, as elements do, for balance. You could make the argument that the majority of enemies we fight, in one way or another, disrupt the balance, and thus their end is desired by the elements to set things straight.

And you could also potentially argue that you yourself are a disruption to the balance. I think you just have to accept some of that stuff as a victim of this being a game and not a book.

If we had a book where someone took a hundred pages going around killing raptors trying to get enough leather so they could learn to become a better leatherworker, it'd probably be a pretty weird book. In the same way if we tried to force a game and all of its mechanics into a strict adherence of rules in how these things interact it'd probably be a pretty weird game.

Bashiok

Community Manager

#74 - Dec. 6, 2010, 9:27 p.m.

12/06/2010 1:04 PMPosted by Gloridhel
12/06/2010 12:50 PMPosted by BashiokIf we had a book where someone took a hundred pages going around killing raptors trying to get enough leather so they could learn to become a better leatherworker, it'd probably be a pretty weird book. In the same way if we tried to force a game and all of its mechanics into a strict adherence of rules in how these things interact it'd probably be a pretty weird game.

and by weird you mean boring.

Yes.