Breakfast Topic: Architectural wishlist
by Mike Schramm 
Jul 4th 2008 at 8:00AM
Lone of Bleeding Hollow asks when we'll see architecture, and immediately, a few other players pop up to shout out my answer: we already saw some Egyptian creatures and styles appear around Ahn'Qiraj. But his request for a specific type of architectural style is an interesting one: is there a kind of architecture you haven't seen in game yet that you'd like to?A few people say they want to see Asian architecture, and as we pointed out a little while back, Darnassus actually borrows a lot from Eastern architecture. I'd like to see a city or village in World of Warcraft with a Northeastern United States, Cape Cod kind of fishing town feel -- Booty Bay is a nice fishing town, but it's a little too far south for my personal tastes. We are heading north for Wrath, however, and since there are not one but two coastal areas open up there, I might just get my wish. Fans of Viking and Norse architecture will also get their fill in Wrath, I'll bet, and consdering the Forsaken, as Neth says in the thread, are getting their own architecture, Gothic style will also be a highlight.
Are there any styles or cultures that you'd like to see represented in Azeroth that haven't been?
Filed under: Undead, Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Breakfast topics, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jessierockeron Jul 4th 2008 8:26AM
I'd like to see some sort of pacific island type of style. I think those islands near the maelstrom make a great place for that, but unfortunately, that might be another expansion after WoTlk
PimpyMicPimp Jul 4th 2008 8:34AM
The lack of central Mongolian late classical architecture is a slap in the face and points to Blizzard's hatred for it's Mongolian players (who mostly play Pallies, which is self-evident when you look at the correlation between lack of Mongolian buildings and the nerfs handed down to Pallies every single patch).
Honestly, when WAR comes and brings with it it's Mongolian influences I'm out of this racist, unbalanced hell-hole called WoW.
Percinho Jul 4th 2008 8:53AM
There's ALWAYS someone who starts banging on about central Mongolian late classical architecture. when will you let it go and finally accept it's not a patch on nouveau-modern neo-mock-Baroque?
Jessierockeron Jul 4th 2008 8:59AM
Where is Mongolia anyways?
Elmo Jul 4th 2008 11:10AM
Mongolia lies north of China it's the reason the great wall was build.
anyway, WoW's centaur are mongolian. their leaders are named Khan's, they are nomads and of course they are 'attached' to their horses.
I'm somewhat missing some real African stuff, quilboar are about as close as it gets.
Akussa Jul 4th 2008 8:41AM
I'd love to see some more Greek and Roman architecture. Most of it only exists as ruins of the high elf society...see Dire Maul, Feralas and Dark Shore.
mk Jul 4th 2008 9:07AM
personally i'm excited to see the gothic architecture in-game. as for what i'd like to see added, gimme some midcentury modernism and giant 70s disasters made of concrete thx
Aler Jul 4th 2008 9:22AM
I'd love to see some cliff dwellings - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff-dwelling - a city built directly into the vertical face of a shear cliff.
We already have cities built underground (Undercity, Ironforge), or in a canyon (Orgrimmar), or on a mesa (Thunderbluff), but I'd like to see a real vertical city, something completely new.
Jessierockeron Jul 4th 2008 10:35PM
Technically, Ironforge is in a mountain, but I see what you're getting at, the entire city does have a roof.
Dan Jul 4th 2008 10:56PM
Have a look at the screenshots of that giant tree, while I'm no expert (and you only get a short glimpse) it looks similar.
Menalaous Jul 4th 2008 9:38AM
Being from an East Coast fishing village originally, I think something like a Maine or Newfoundland style town would be pretty cool, especially if influenced by norse towns (ie what might be expected in WotLK). I wouldnt mind too seeing a boom bust style, wooden shanty town around some huge mine or something. As far as actualy arcitecture goes though...definitaly some early roman (ie Romulus/Remus timing early)/ classical agrarian arcitecture. A city or town built INTO the ground. Not under it. But the door is above ground with the building built into the side of a hill/sloped downward would be cool and fit well with allot of the WoW races.
kabshiel Jul 4th 2008 10:36AM
Loch Modan has a town built into the hills, I seem to remember.
Verses Jul 4th 2008 10:12AM
Old French-Colonial architecture, like you find in eastern parts of Canada, for example: in the old part of Québec city or Montréal.
DeathKnight-toBe Jul 4th 2008 10:50AM
Id like to see more horde orc style stuff but more modern or advanced.
Huts in diry with lots of spikes is ok for war posts,old places or improvised places,but the new stuff should look better.Not SW style better just like if it wasnt built by caveman.
But it seems I might be getting just that! Some of the screens of the horde town in northrend show big well done structures of more than just wood and carpet but stone and metal that seem on par with alliance quality but still looks definetly Orc-made.
Urthona Jul 4th 2008 11:21AM
I want to see some sophistication with regard to Trolls, specifically, Zandalarian architecture.
I GET that the trolls we're accustomed to are all scattered, warring tribes who spend too much time fighting and scavanging to improve upon makeshift bamboo huts and eroded ruins, but the Zandalarians are a millenia-old society led by priests and mages. I can't expect Yojamba Isle to be retrofit, but perhaps in an expansion when we actually visit Zandalar, we can see Troll architecture in its pure, young state.
I'm imagining something that starts like Angkor Wat and Peruvian temples, but ends up shaped like something made by Gehry merged with Gaudí. Made of solid steam. Out-magic the Blood Elves, please.
Menalaous Jul 4th 2008 12:01PM
@10 good point! I forgot about Dwarven towns. Its been a while since I played ally
Dunwich Jul 4th 2008 12:20PM
Art Deco.
I don't care what race. I don't care where. I just want it. And I want it now.
the sparten Jul 4th 2008 3:33PM
we are likely to see some greek architecture in Dalaran.
mateo Jul 4th 2008 4:06PM
Windows! I want transparent windows added to buildings
(and ships, etc.)!!
Sean Riley Jul 4th 2008 7:07PM
HAUNTED HOUSE! HAUNTED HOUSE! HAUNTED HOUSE!
And I mean a classic, proper manor style haunted house -- those little huts in Tirisfal Glades don't cut it. I'm talkin' southern gothic, huge, swamplands outside kinda deal. I want them to ratchet up the scripted sequences and really have a go at scaring us.
Also, I'd DIG on an instance set across lots of zeppelins in a massive goblin air war. Can you imagine how much fun that would be?