Tigole talks about Inscription and Hero Classes in Wrath
In an interview at Computer and Videogames, Tigole mostly discusses some things we've already heard about, such as the Lake Wintergrasp PvP zone and the process to unlock the Death Knight class, but also reveals a few very tasty little morsels of new information as well.First, he tells us a little bit more about Blizzard's philosophy behind Inscription, the new trade skill slated to be released with the expansion. While it appears that only one inscription will be allowed to be on a spell at one time, their goal is not to create one or two all-powerful inscriptions that will be used above all others, but to give players a variety of valid choices as to how to modify their spells. The example he gives is that of Frost Nova. One player might choose an inscription that gave their nova a longer range, while another might choose one that would lengthen the duration of the root associated with it.
And what's this? More hero classes?
Tigole opens up on the further progression of Hero Classes beyond the announced Death Knights with some news that's likely to make lore fans everywhere (Including this one) squeal with joy. Current plans are pointing to the addition of an Archdruid hero class, possibly related to the opening of the Emerald Dream and the continuation of the story behind its corruption, including finding out what exactly Malfurion Stormrage has been up to since we saw him last.
I'm already dreaming about what an Archdruid class could do, as well as thinking over the possibilities of the Emerald Dream storyline. Could we see the return of Ysera and meet more of the Green Dragonflight? Will there be a showdown between Malfurion and Fandral Staghelm for the title of Archdruid of the Night Elves? Will we learn more about the nature of the nightmare that's gripped the Dream and driven many green dragons insane? Hopefully Blizzard will elaborate on this more in the future, and we'll finally get not only another Hero Class, but also the next new chunk in a tale that's been a crucial part of the World of Warcraft storyline from level one in Darnassus all the way up to Sethekk Halls in Outland!
[Via MMO-Champion]
Filed under: Druid, Mage, News items, PvP, Expansions, Lore, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King, Inscription
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Magenificent Feb 6th 2008 11:51AM
ARCHDRUID!
dAnixx Feb 6th 2008 3:02PM
ARCHDRUID!! :D
badb Feb 7th 2008 8:13AM
Arch druid!!!!!
Whoo Hoo!!!
Solnova Feb 6th 2008 11:58AM
Obviously, one of the talent trees is going to be "Staghelm" and the 51-point talent will be, "Contempt: make your target feel bad about themselves. 25/50/75% chance of causing your target to convince the other faction to raid you."
Spoony Feb 6th 2008 12:00PM
Archdruid.... did they really ever do anything that a regular druid couldn't do? i always figured archdruid was simply a title bestowed upon the druid leaders not something that will change up the class enough that all druids don't just drop what their doing and reroll archdruids for the cooler class name.
Byamim Feb 6th 2008 12:01PM
Careful! The section about the Archdruid hero class was not in quotes. That means Tigole didn't necessarily say that, it's possibly just rumination by Computer and Videogames.com. But yeah, Emerald Dream and archdruids would be awesome.
jtrain Feb 6th 2008 1:44PM
Gotta agree. There are like 2 sentences about this, and it wasn't in quotes. If you read the article, the whole idea of an Archdruid sounds like total speculation on Computer & Video Games part. I need a little more than that to start getting excited about anything.
Not to mention that even that rumor states that it will be introduced after WotLK, so there will be only 1 hero class at launch.
Cap Feb 6th 2008 3:14PM
Ya, it says the bit about the Archdruid was just a "hot Zitron tip". Guess I'm ignorant of who Zitron is and I'm supposed to care about his tips.
Zhalseran Feb 6th 2008 12:03PM
I'm intrigued as to how an Archdruid would be any different from a normal druid. As it is they pretty much wrapped up all the abilities of both druids and Malfurion from W3 into the druid class.
clozer Feb 6th 2008 12:15PM
Druid lore? Meh.
Paladin/Death Knight/Arthas lore? Win.
Baluki Feb 6th 2008 12:17PM
I just don't see how creating an Archdruid class (or Archmage for that matter) would be a good idea. They would have to be considerably different from normal druids, and they've pretty much used all the druid spells from WC3 already. Would an Archdruid not be able to shapeshift? Would an Archdruid also be limited to Night Elves and Tauren? Seems like a bad idea.
One thing I've always thought they should do is give people who spec so far (51 points maybe) into a talent tree a different class title. Archdruid could be a title given to Balance druids, for example. Or Pyromancer for fire mages. Or maybe these special class titles would just be something you get once you hit 80.
Cynra Feb 6th 2008 1:29PM
I've always been fond of that idea. It reminds me of older RPGs where you were prompted at specific points in your leveling to choose one specification or another and could potentially result with different ending classes (for example, Vandal Hearts comes to mind). Further specialization in a tree at the exclusion of others would result in a specialized individual, perhaps warranting a specific and unique name. And to further emphasize this difference, perhaps acquisition of the title and talents/skills of that are only opened up after you do a series of heroic quests.
Characters lacking this specialization would be called by their base class. It would just be formalizing the differences between the trees a bit more by emphasizing that specialization.
Archdruid? Sounds nifty, but I can't quite seem to imagine how it would differ from normal druids. Furthermore, would releasing this heroic class effectively replace most of the existing druid population? Hero classes should probably complement the existing composition of the world, not replace it.
Necrotica Feb 6th 2008 12:18PM
I'd really like to know what an Archdruid is...? Just another druid?
Screw them, bring on Battlemage Hero class or Necromancers!!
Jordrah Feb 6th 2008 12:46PM
battlemage ftw
Naix Feb 6th 2008 2:52PM
Necromancers Necromancers Necromancers
Smurk Feb 6th 2008 12:19PM
If the Emerald Dream is a likely future expansion, I wouldn't expect Archdruid to be introduced as a player class a year or two beforehand.
twh Feb 6th 2008 12:35PM
Forget that. Give me a real paladin hero class. A Paragon! The hero that was supposed to be kicking @$$ on the front lines instead of healing everyone from the back!
Wolftech Feb 6th 2008 12:37PM
Forget all this Death Knight and Archdruid crap..
Give me Pandaren Brew Masters, Geomancers, Wardancers, and Shodo-Pan!
Adam Feb 6th 2008 12:38PM
Yeah, three things:
First, i really don't think they'll introduce any of the "Archsomething" hero classes, since they seem on the whole to be not much different from the non-Arch versions of those classes.
Second, the Emerald Dream will have to be its own expansion one day, so I doubt there'll be too much about it other than maybe a few quests/mentions of it like there was in BC. But, I could be wrong, the fifth portal from Azeroth to the Emerald Dream is on Northrend so there could be more but I doubt we will actually go there.
Third, whatever next Hero class they make it has to have a healing tree at least. I also think they really should be bringing out two hero classes with the expansion instead of focusing so much on Death Knight.
Urthona Feb 6th 2008 12:42PM
I agree that Archdruid seems overly limiting, since most people don't like playing Tauren or Night Elves, and I can't see them opening the Hero class to other races without its base class - druid - also being made available to other races.
I had anticipated that the next hero class would be a healer/caster class... but ruled out archmage and archdruid as both were severely limiting. A-Mage is an imba mage with all new spells, A-Druid is an imba druid with even more redundancy. Weirder things have happened. Whatever, right?
grumble...
Was hoping they'd open up an ALL-NEW Hero class with a simple pointed name that suitably describes its role, while also being oblique enough to allow several race options. I'd mused on "Prophets" emerging from a spiritual walkabout in Silithus, with various spells from the arcane, nature and holy schools. Something mysterious like that would be easily available to races like Trolls, Draenei, Night Elves, and Tauren... maybe any class with a priest or shaman.