Cataclysm

[ezrast]

Yeah. I think race/class restrictions are stupid in general, but as long as they have them at all, undead hunter makes maybe the least possible sense to allow. Yes, even less than tauren paladins (which are awesome, by the way).

[caladein]

They're really opening them up in this expansion.  Warriors are now universal (along with Death Knights), Hunters/Mages/Priests are open to all but one race, and only two races can't be Rogues.

After those six it sort of falls off a cliff though: Warlocks (7), Shamans (6), Paladins (5), Druids (4).

[Lakov_Sanite]

How does undead hunter not make sense? you are taming animals and using traps as well as bows/arrows. now ok, i can see some animal caring about being around a rotting corpse but you really think a four foot tall spider gives a shit?

[Musashi]

I was pretty sure we already covered the whole Undead Hunter thingey.  I think we went from, "WTF Undead can't be hunters."  Then, "Sylvannas."  And all the naysayers said, "Meh."

[Draegan]

Worgen pet is obviously the best.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Worgen pet is obviously the best.

My human hunter will have one as soon as he can. Hunting dog ftw

[ezrast]

How does undead hunter not make sense? you are taming animals and using traps as well as bows/arrows. now ok, i can see some animal caring about being around a rotting corpse but you really think a four foot tall spider gives a shit?

It's the intimate-connection-to-nature bit that bugs me. Hunter pets aren't just tame, they're loyal companions, and undead don't really have the capacity for compassion to make that work.

[Lakov_Sanite]

I dunno, sure most forsaken are pretty pissed off but I don't think it's anywhere in the lore that they don't have emotions. The scourge are mindless but afaik the forsaken are just humans with a skin condition.

[apocrypha]

the forsaken are just humans with a skin condition.

I'm sure this has been discussed at length before, but I so, so, SO want there to be other options for forsaken than just dead humans. Is there something in the lore that precludes this possibility?

[Koyasha]

I'm sure this has been discussed at length before, but I so, so, SO want there to be other options for forsaken than just dead humans. Is there something in the lore that precludes this possibility?

The original plague only works on humans.  Non-human scourge are much rarer because it is necessary to specifically reanimate them rather than let the plague do its job.

[Rendakor]

Didn't mean to restart an old argument; I just don't remember reading about Undead Hunters.

[SurfD]

Part of the problem with the whole hunter thing is the slight disconnect between "Hunter" (Ie, the traditional pet class in WoW), and "Ranger" (Ie, the bow wielding Elf forrest warden from WC3; which is what Sylvanas was).

Standing lore has it that "Hunters" are a new thing to the Blood Elves, with the purist Rangers looking down on the Hunters for going with the whole Pet Companion thing.  And the tenuous link for the forsaken having hunters is that there is A human (Nathanial Blightcaller) who managed to become an officially accepted Elven Trained Ranger, who was revived as a Forsaken.   So people cling to the idea that if Blood Elves can have Hunters because they are an offshoot of Rangers, then the Forsaken can have Hunters because there is one forsaken Ranger.

[Simond]

Plus Nathanos Blightcaller is awesome. 

[Lantyssa]

How come non-Forsaken can tame blighted animals and spirits, huh?  One makes as much sense as the other.

[Merusk]

I'm sure this has been discussed at length before, but I so, so, SO want there to be other options for forsaken than just dead humans. Is there something in the lore that precludes this possibility?

The original plague only works on humans.  Non-human scourge are much rarer because it is necessary to specifically reanimate them rather than let the plague do its job.

Not only that, but in WC3 the different races reanimated to different undead types.  Zombies/ ghouls were Human, Banshees were Elves, then there's the spider guys.   You see the theme continued in LK with male Vyrkul being Vargul and females being those sexy Valkir.

[Sheepherder]

undead hunter makes maybe the least possible sense to allow.

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death*, and with the beasts of the earth.

* Likely referring to the Black Death.

[apocrypha]

The original plague only works on humans.  Non-human scourge are much rarer because it is necessary to specifically reanimate them rather than let the plague do its job.

Not only that, but in WC3 the different races reanimated to different undead types.  Zombies/ ghouls were Human, Banshees were Elves, then there's the spider guys.   You see the theme continued in LK with male Vyrkul being Vargul and females being those sexy Valkir.

Ah well, if there's an actual reason I'll give up on the idea. Shame, undead gnomes would rock.

[WindupAtheist]

Listen, the Horde is already like 75% elf. You let undead be other races, the other 25% is just gonna be zombie elves.

[Simond]

It's going to be interesting to see how the new races affect the sides in Cata. I suspect that goblins will have a lot of existing Horde people rerolling plus a handful of the "I only play short races" subset, but worgen are going to end up having a bunch of people who rolled NE in vanilla and then swapped to BE in TBC heading back to the Alliance.

Especially on the RP servers, if you know what I mean. 

[Mattemeo]

I'll give up on the idea. Shame, undead gnomes would rock.

They already do rock. Roll a Gnome Deathknight. 

[Mattemeo]

It's going to be interesting to see how the new races affect the sides in Cata. I suspect that goblins will have a lot of existing Horde people rerolling plus a handful of the "I only play short races" subset, but worgen are going to end up having a bunch of people who rolled NE in vanilla and then swapped to BE in TBC heading back to the Alliance.

Especially on the RP servers, if you know what I mean. 

Goblins are going to be immensely popular. I would actually expect to see an increase in Horde players greater than those enticed by the Worgen. People have been asking Blizz to set Goblins as PCs since the Vanilla closed beta, Worgen are as left-field as Draenei but currently lack the /waggle factor. Yes, Furries will probably leap on Worgen like Oprah on a buffet table but they're a minority group - certainly not approaching the demographic more interested in Elves or Goblins. Ain't nobody ditching Second Life for Worgens, let's put it like that.

[Merusk]

Cataclysm: Horde is the new Alliance c.a. Vanilla era.   Enjoy!

[caladein]

Goblins are going to be immensely popular.

Gnomes and Dwarves aren't popular on Alliance so without an exclusive class and overpowered racials (hopefully), I don't see why Goblins are going to be any different.

Yes, people have been asking for them for a while, but that's more to do with their obviousness than with any great "I want to an Orc, but shorter!" sentiment among the player base.

The only population trend I see as a result of the new class possibilities is a small collapse in Taurens as they're more supported by their (previously) exclusive class than anyone else by some distance.  (As for Tauren Paladins?  Good fucking luck getting people to roll Cow over Elf .)

[Bzalthek]

Goblins have been popular for a long time.  I think it's their crazed voiceovers.  Who wouldn't want to play a maniacal, greedy, firestarting, exploding, little ball of fury and vengeance?

[Selby]

(As for Tauren Paladins?  Good fucking luck getting people to roll Cow over Elf .)

My elf is totally going to be a cow when I get the chance!

[Slyfeind]

I know like a dozen people who want to be a goblin just cause they go "WAAZZAP!!!"

[Setanta]

(As for Tauren Paladins?  Good fucking luck getting people to roll Cow over Elf .)

My elf is totally going to be a cow when I get the chance!

This x2. I have 3 80 Tauren already as Shaman and Hunter (Male) and a Female Druid. I'll probably transfer my female human pally to Tauren female because a BE warlock and priest are enough for me.

[Typhon]

I know like a dozen people who want to be a goblin just cause they go "WAAZZAP!!!"

or,  "I GOT WHAT YOU NEED!"

[Fordel]

The Goblin population will dwindle down to gnome territory once people use up the new Cata leveling content.

[Simond]

True. I can see a whole bunch of people making it through the new 1-58 stuff, walking through the Dark Portal then going "Yeah, sod this".

[Malakili]

True. I can see a whole bunch of people making it through the new 1-58 stuff, walking through the Dark Portal then going "Yeah, sod this".

True story.  Its sort of the same reason I still have a level 20 Draenei paladin sitting around somewhere.  Though I did manage to level up a shaman all the way.

[Draegan]

I plan on making a goblin warlock and that will be a very trying time for me.  It'll either make or break me playing the rest of the xpac.  I did make it through with a DK, TBC is easy though, WOTLK on the other hand, might break me.

[Simond]

As long as they tweak the WotLK xp curve once Cata is ready to go live, it won't be too bad.

[sickrubik]

The Goblin population will dwindle down to gnome territory once people use up the new Cata leveling content.

Is that a short joke?

[Fordel]

I know it doesn't reach your usual high standards.