Breakfast Topic: Fixing Faction Imbalance
by Elizabeth Harper 
Jul 22nd 2006 at 9:30AM
Blizzard's announcement yesterday that the Horde would have access to paladins and the Alliance would have access to shaman has been getting mixed responses on the forums. Some seem to find this the most equitable solution to faction imbalances - now each side will have access to the same classes and abilities. Others, however, think that with this change there will be no longer be any defining difference between the Horde and the Alliance, and that you may well flip a coin to decide which to play. For myself, I remain undecided - and am adopting a wait-and-see approach to watch how Blizzard plans to run with this change.
While this is one way to address the continued concerns of Horde players with regards to PvE imbalance, but it certainly wasn't the only way they may have gone about improving the situation. And so, readers, if left to your hands, how would you have addressed the issue? Is there another way to help bring a bit more PvP power to the Alliance and a bit more PvE power to the Horde, while maintaining their sense of uniqueness?
Filed under: Horde, Alliance, Breakfast topics, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brian Jul 22nd 2006 11:11AM
I think most people are overreacting to the news of the change. Blizzard has surely:
1) Considered all the objections to it that have been raised.
2) Dealt with them as best they could in the expansion. They have ten levels of new skills and talents to work with along with dungeons designed around the fact that paladins and shaman are available to both sides.
For all the complaining that there isn't enough to do in the game, that it is too static it amuses me that every. single. change. that has ever been announced is met with a huge wave of resistance.
Trollbert Jul 22nd 2006 12:39PM
Of course there's a difference between Alliance and Horde! One is noble, righteous and powerful, and the other are filthy human, gnome, nelf and dwarven scum :-D
FOR THE HORDE!
Molnek Jul 22nd 2006 12:40PM
I honestly don't know what I would have done in this situation but couldn't blizzard have at least disquised this change as two new classes with some slight variations, sure people would catch on but other people would be too busy goig YAY NEW CLASSES!!! Basic wsg ploy send in a decoy and only half the defense relizes that
cheezedog420 Jul 22nd 2006 1:49PM
I don't particulary like how the two classes where just cut and paste into place... Why not do something a little more inventive like make undead Death Knights, or Orc blademasters for horde charicters wanting paladins, and something like Dwarf Brewmasters for Alliance charicters wanting there own shamen?
(ok, I not done a great job thinking of something for for the Alliance... but it would not be that hard to create a new class...)
Ellesra Jul 22nd 2006 3:17PM
>Others, however, think that with this change there will be no longer be any defining difference between the Horde and the Alliance, and that you may well flip a coin to decide which to play.
Um... in all seriousness, does anyone actually pick their faction based on it's qualities in the endgame? Most people choose for various aesthetic reasons, and I don't see why this will change that.
I do have both a Shaman and a Pally kicking around, and I don't play either of them very often because they're both boring. If disassociating the two classes from each other will help Blizzard turn them into something more unique then I'm all for it.
-El
Fynar Jul 22nd 2006 3:49PM
I think access to the different classes is going the easy way out. Now if they did Dark Knights and some kind of morphed Shaman....that'd been cool and different.
I always wanted something different for each side...
Blackjack21 Jul 22nd 2006 6:54PM
I think having both available, blizzard will be able to diversify the classess more. They were working towards making both too similar to each other. Maybe they can work paladins as a holy plated spell caster with more offensive spell variety. I don't know where the Shamans could be taken, kinda of an open field for them casting/melee.
obo Jul 22nd 2006 9:28PM
"Um... in all seriousness, does anyone actually pick their faction based on it's qualities in the endgame?"
Not their first character. But I know at least two people who went from Alliance (Pally and Lock) to Horde Shammy to have more fun in PvP.
Hell, I know the Switcher video was a joke, but it made good points.
blackheva Jul 23rd 2006 12:23AM
I think it's a bit of an easy way to answer the balancing problem. I think they're saving the distiguishing classes for the supposed hero classes they're going to implement.
NoNemes Jul 23rd 2006 6:59AM
i had the same idea but u had it first... heres what i wrote:
draenei lore before they butchered it did indeed state draenei as shamanistic.
Blood elves never did stop worshipping the sun or light in general they still believe in the light like the alliance does.
as of now they have 5 class choices out of a max 6.
see where im going with this?
minor lore modifications could allow for blood elves to be paladins from a group of ex-silver hand high elf paladins that became blood elf paladins after their home was bumrushed by arthas. (wasnt silver hand located in lordaeron and NOT in SW or IF anyway?
small lore modifications could allow for draenei to be worshippers of the light and respecters of the elements, embracing the elements of their new home on kalimdor, and as such, shamans.
whaddya say?
Da Strange Jul 23rd 2006 7:27AM
It would have made alot more people happy to add in 2 new classes with the next expansion.
Anti-Pallidins (Horde Pallidins)
Maybe some small direct damage spells.
Some medium sized heals.
A line of once every two minute small instant heals.
Comparable "Paladin" Buffs.
Chain (with plate at 40) and a "bubble" spell.
Give it to Orcs, undead, and Blood Elves.
Bards (Horde Shamam)
Buffs based on area around the bard (Group only)
Small heals.
Medium sized DD spells.
A line of once every two minute small area of effect damage.
Leather (with chain at 40)
Give it Night Elves, Humans, and the Drani (SP?)
There you go 2 new classes added in with an expansion you got to pay for and some pally love for the horde with some shaman love for the alliance.
Michael Jul 23rd 2006 11:09AM
It has already been said by the posters before me, BUT....
The real main difference as I see it is the RP storyline between the two. I have characters on both sides of the "fence" and truly enjoy playing each. To that end BLIZZARD should have been more creative in their naming of the classes.
As I recall the game(s) that started the Warcraft phenomenon had answers to this (well at least one as I recall) the Horde side of the conflict had "Death Knights" (OK it's been a while since I played and the name may be incorrect....but work with me here)
So say I (we)
Cowsaytoung (Tauren Hunter)
Endante (Human Wizard)
Ironbiter (Dwarven Fighter)
Druidia (Dark Elven ....Druid??)
Bonz (Undead Rouge)
Chris Jul 23rd 2006 5:53PM
I think its legit; it'll stop Horde from complaining about Pallies in PVP and Alliance about Shamans. I really don't see any other way to "re-balance" the two faction's classes without making much more drastic changes, and as any real life society, WoW players aren't always too open to changes.
twh Jul 23rd 2006 5:57PM
Balance? What balance?! Blizzard's had a blatant pro-Whorde bias since WC3 it's disgusting.
This is only further proof that it doesn't care about the players of the Alliance that want to take it to the front lines, if not all Alliance players.
You used to be cool, Blizzard. What happened?
Shaktila Jul 23rd 2006 10:36PM
I for one am really disappointed in this move. I liked the distinction between the two factions that the classes brought. I liked that uniqueness. And anytime you start to chip away at that uniqueness it diminishes both factions and upset any of the passionate players. And as much as each side bitched about it, I liked the rivalry between the shamans and the pallys. I think that rivalry added alot to my perception of the two factions.
As for the imbalance issue currently felt by players, I thought this was just too much of an out. There must be better solutions to the problem then this.
To my understanding a shaman's totems do not effect everyone with in the totem's radius in a raid. Just the people in the shaman's immediate group. That said, why non just keep the same area of effect, but make it work for players in the raid? I think that would be a fair solution.
But maybe that is just too simplistic.
Zms Jul 24th 2006 12:07AM
WTF #12?
Alliance benifit from this as well? Infact, it now lets Bliz design the rest of the game with events and situations where Pallies and Shammies are *needed* as opposed to useful.
They couldn't do that before. I believe this change will benefit all Pallies and Shammies, now from either faction.
Stacking Tranquil Air and Blessing of Salvation ftw!
twh Jul 24th 2006 2:22AM
Benefit? I see nothing that can give the Alliance anything really beneficial in PvP.
Instead, they gave what the Whorde was always whining for in raids to get their sets. Now, Blizzard's capitulated yet again for their orcs and rotting corpses.
Alliance gets shaman... utterly useless in raids and fairly problematic in PvP. Not to mention the overpowered racials all the Whorde has only makes it worse.
Chad Jul 24th 2006 9:49AM
Now wait one goldang minute. According to WOWWIKI, Draenei will be Shamans and Paladins?
Whozawhatnow?
Molly Jul 24th 2006 11:21AM
Do you really think they would do this without revamping the classes in the exspansion? They are going to redefine both to give them specific rolls now. That's kind of a given.
I play Horde, and I'm not happy about the prospect of naked belf bubblers dancing all over mailboxes, but at the same time, having healadins around could really help in pve.
I think people just need to be patient and wait to see what Blizzard does with both classes before they totally flip out over this.
j. curtis wood Jul 24th 2006 11:37AM
I think it would be a good idea to swap the NATURE of the classes. Alliance Paldins work for the Light. It would be kinda cool if Horde Paladins worked for the Dark. The reverse for Shamans. Just to keep things appealing. Something like that.