World of Warcraft®

@Morphface: Ironforge? Darnassus? I have not heard of these places. Whereabout in Stormwind are they?

@Acrisor: Well said kind sir.

@Acrisor: How is the current talent system flexible? There are talents you have to take because they define your class and some because you can't move over to the next tier. (Have you seen a feral without feral charge lately? Or a restro with, for that matter. Catching my drift?) In Cata I can freely spend 3 talent points? On what? Nothing that could change my toon's playstyle much. Is that flexible? Vanilla talents up to wotlk were flexible, but probably caused cofussion to many new players. I've seen newbies with really bad talents(do not mean a hybrid). I'd love to play a true hybrid druid(feral-restro or restro-feral). Feral in Vanilla was a lot more hybrid then now. People hated playing against a good feral for that ;) I don't think it's ever going to be like that since nowdays everyone can heal themselves. Anyway, I think the change is this time for the better(Can it even be worse then now?)
You guys are just scared of any changes. Better the devil you know...

@Acrisor:
just a little note on the "monk can do dps, tanking and healing - and this will ruin the balance"
Druids can do dps(ranged and melee), tanking and healing 2. so i dont see why this would ruin the balance. :)

@Kîba: regarding druids, I agree with you, but I consider one class enough. If Blizzard Entertainment does not consider it enough, then so be it, they can add many many classes that can do everything. It is their product, and they can do whatever they want with it. So, if they want monks and druids doing everything, I have nothing against it.

However, the clients loose the taste for their product, and the decreasing number of active players shows it. Now, I think the cause of this is not the old content that kept the players playing the game, but the new content and modifications that make the product too easy. As result Blizz will loose money, and the remaining players will loose fun, because a part of their friends will no longer taste the game. The interactiveness of the game between players may fade away slowly in the future, as it does now, simply because players feel to equal, they don't feel special.

In conclusion, it does not matter how much content exists in this game, it matters the ideas behind the content together with the flexibility and complexity and role playing of the players in the game. Each class must have a role, a specific role, a special role, that combined with a complex talent system, make it unique for every player (or at least makes the players feel unique).

@Kîba: pallas can do everything to

@Morphface: was going to say just that. We have 2 classes that can fill all roles already. I don't see any server with only druids and paladins though. People will still play the class they want to play. Each class plays differently. The monk's proposed healing style sounds interesting to be honest, but not something that could keep a tank up if he's taking massive single target damage. Perhaps they will have interesting abilities, such as taunting for a few seconds to absorb the damage themselves? It sounds interesting and very different to the current healers.

Overall, I think we'll have to see how this expansion goes. Every expac there are people crying "it's the end of WoW, run away" and every expac, people are still playing. This may just be the xpac to revitalise the game to some degree. Let's see how it goes.

ps, the new talent system makes much, much more sense. Chances are you'll be changing your talents for almost every situation based on what you'd need the most. Definately creates more choice, and more care in choosing those talents. Currently you have to take roughly 36-38 points per spec, no matter your class, with a mere 3 optional that really don't change a damn thing.

@Suljina: You say that on every expansion people think it is the end of WoW and they still play afterwards, you are somewhat right, but not entirely. Only a part of these people still play, many left the game and play other games. This is why WoW is no longer the No. 1 mmorpg game as it was back in 2005-2008. So, for the past few years, WoW lost players, they did get some new players, but mostly they lost players simply because they were not satisfied with the game.

Regarding talents, you are right, the new talent system makes more sense, based on the situation, and that is exactly the problem, my problem. There is nothing complex, there is nothing difficult or exciting about it, it is too easy. Most people don't want to play an easy game, they want to get captivated in the game, they want to test things, do some math, and see where they did wrong. That is what talents should be: thinking hard on choosing between what you want and what you like, some of this and some of that.
I don't say the old talent system was flexible, no, it was not. In fact it was interesting and flexible back when we had hybrids, but this is another story lost in time and history of the game.
I think a new talent system will be great, but not this talent system they presented us with. Things should be way more difficult in my opinion.
I like to exercise my mind when playing games, this is probably just me and my taste.

@Acrisor: Firstly, there are many more MMORPGs nowadays than there were back in 2005. Not only big names but a zillion little "free-to-play" games as well. In the last few years, the market has taken-off, and naturally has diversified with a ton of other companies getting in on the market. It would be crazy if with all its success, WoW was still one of the only MMORPGs on the market.

Paladins and Druids have been able to fulfil all 3 roles since Vanilla... infact back then, Shaman could too, correct? So the idea that Blizzard will ruin the game by "introducing" a class that does this is farcical.

While I think it is WAY too early to forming an concrete opinions on any aspect of the expansion, the proposed talent system (which may well change before launch) offers more flexibility and variety, and more importantly, more meaningful, truly significant variety between players of the same spec. The whole hybrid thing is exactly what they're proposing; a Holy priest can choose what would normally be a Shadow talent ability, a tank can grab some dps ability to help at critical moments, etc. The IDEA (and no-one knows how it will actually work out...) is that people have more choice, more variety. The current model leaves a few talent points that are likely to be spent with any variety. The majority are spent in the same talents time and time again. Instead they're proposing a ton of meaningful choices, each offering different possibilities and playstyles.

This also sounds like a lot more 'mental exercise' than simply choosing where the last few points go. Each spec has unique abilities of its own - more than now, by the sounds of it. In addition you have 3 choices for each of the 6 tiers. That's 729 different possible combinations. How can you possibly think that's LESS complex than the current dilemma of where to spend the last few talent points - haste or mana efficiency? Deciding whether to get 3% more haste or 3% cheaper instants is one thing - deciding which type of heal to go for, which type of fear to go for... these are far bigger decisions. Hell, Warlocks (of any spec) for their final tier have to choose between 3 abilities, one of which allows them to CAST WHILE MOVING. Tell me that's less diversity and flexibility than the existing system.

Nobody knows how this expansion will work out - or the future of WoW as a whole. But so far I hear a predictable if lamentable landslide of Hatred for Pandas(TM), and the usual amount of fear of the unknown. The changes proposed offer the potential to re-vitalise the existing class/spec structures, and bring new, fun possibilities. I'm afraid I hear little in your arguments that makes any sense when reviewing the facts.

@Zaalbeth: I can not understand you, I simply can't. I don't like the idea of just 6 talent points and that's it. No matter how many combinations are possible, or what combinations are possible, it is still just 6 talent points. Probably is just my taste, and you will never ever understand me, because you have a different taste and opinion about the game.
We will see how this will be in the end. I strongly hope the Blizzard Entertainment decisions will satisfy everyone at MoS launch.

@Acrisor: lol I think you will find my friend that only a very small percentage of wow players want to do math when they log into their game

@Kîba: So you know it the monk Will shure be like the Pally if you know what i mean

@Morphface: Shamans can do everything too. Just .. uh .. very badly.

@Shaindy: yes both, you choose your faction then are unable to communicate with other Pandarans on the opposing faction...which is weird...but then again it would be weird talking to a horde as alliance.

@Shaindy: uhh .. try this for a difference.

Werewolves are imaginary, supposed to be dangerous, bedded in European and US mythology and scary.

Pandas are real, actually are dangerous, bedded in Chinese lore and - here's the thing - not the slightest bit scary.

@Klukkluk: They can't?

@Klukkluk: they can't!

@Petanca: why can't they?

Pandaran are a race, not a class. There will be Pandaran DKs, you can choose ur faction then.

@Skader: There will NOT be pandaren Death Knights - Blizzard said this early-on.

Like all races, only some classes will be available - browse the original releases for the list.

Since Pandaria has been protected, hidden, during the invasion of the Burning Legion, the rise of the Lich King and all the events of the Cataclysm, how could there be pandaren DKs? Leaving aside of course the obvious possibility of lone, exceptional individuals.

@Ident: reveal* soz for the typo

@Morphface: I can't remember where I've read this but I know that we won't be.

@Morphface: It was one of the questions asked on the Classes, Items and Proffesions panel:
I have 10 characters, will you add an 11th slot so we can have all 11 classes?
Not sure just yet, might keep the current character cap but let you have them on any realm, so you can have many many charaters on one realm

@Sisten: that's more or less the same thing. If they do this, you will be able to have *50* characters on 1 realm, nevermind 11 ;)

@Raakshas: They answered that at BlizzCon.
They said they wanted it done just as much as we do, they just don't know when they'll do it.

@Zunduriel:

It's worth noting that Vashj'ir is about the size of three Outland zones in total, given that it has three subzones. Add in the rest of the levelling zones, and I think it's pretty large overall.

Plus, we'll be on foot, which will make it seem even larger.

@Rheggash: + they have allready said that the zones WILL be larger and with running around on ground mounts, it'll seem MUCH larger, so i think it'll compete quite nicely with the size of Northrend.