Back from Day 1! Nice to see everything finally announced. I got some playtime with the new races and I have to say, I love them a lot so far.
Both starter zones need some fleshing in the quest department, but it looks like each zone is going to follow a similar progression as the DK starting zone. Rather then being a character just randomly appearing in the middle of a zone, each of you start off with a "reputation" already built and hinted by the NPCs.
Worgen start out in Gilneas, which has taken a very Transylvania aesthetic that you would see in an old movie. The men wear long black coat, the women black dresses with little fancy hats, etc... You are actually captured by the other Gilnites and a few of the NPCs want you killed, but one of the NPCs has to much faith in that he can "cure" you. He ends up using a potion that turns you into a human, but it's only a semi-change, as you are still a Worgen and can transform at anytime. This is when you start the quests to push back the Forsaken.
Racials are pretty simple right now. They have less time under the effect of curses, a sprint ability, better skinners both in skill level and even a skinning time boost, and the most interesting, is the "Two Forms" ability, allowing the Worgen to transform into a human or back again, the animation is great, I could start around all day just making myself transform. The only downside is you can NOT choose your human form, it will be made based on which Worgen options you pick (my blond braided Worgen, as a human, was a balding old redhead.)
The Goblins on the other hand started on a island just east of Durotar. The place if very tropic with monkeys and raptors, and has some hilarious quests. I had one in which I had to clear out the monkeys, so I threw out bombs disguised as bananas, blowing them sky high. The Goblins keep most of the style they have developed over the years, which insane makeshift gadgets, improvised housing and weapons, etc... They have some funny animations, like I swear when they cast a spell they look like they are throwing it like a baseball.
Racials are actually my favorite of the two new races, with only Two Form being close for the interest scale. Goblins get a "super discount" on vendors, meaning they always pay price for items after exalted discounts, even if they are not exalted. They get an attack and cast speed boost, alchemy specialization, and something else involving money I am drawing a blank on. However, the two skills that stole the show for me were Hobgoblin Servant and Rocket Belt.
Hobgoblin Servant is a big dumb ogrish creature that you can summon every 30 minutes, and allows you access to your bank. Makes them a very good option for a bank character just for that alone. Rocket Belt has duel uses, you can either launch the rocket as a weapon, doing some decent damage, or my favorite, use it to rocket jump. I had way, WAY more fun then I should have with that ability. Getting chased by 5 raptors? Rocket Jump! Need to get on a rock a little out on the ocean? ROCKET JUMP. It was a lot of fun.
Graphics wise the whole thing looks beautiful. If no one noticed, play the trailer and look at the WATER. During the Art Panel the artists shows that they redid the entire water system for the game. It looks GREAT. That is all I can say, just take a look at it.
Also, I want to say one thing. The idea of changing the surface of the planet for EVERYONE was weird to me at first, then during the preview panel they won me over with one word, FLOW. Outland and Northrend have a great leveling "flow" in which zones easily lead to other zones of the next highest level. Old World, however, was very random in the zone design, not having a clear flow from various zones to others. You often would feel like you were running around all over the place.
Blizzard is redoing the zones in order to redesign them with a better flow system, meaning leveling will be easier, less time consuming, and more focused. Considering how much more I love the leveling after hitting Outland/Northrend, I have to say I would love Old World to play like that.
I am a bit tired so that is all I am going to write for now. I may post more in the future as I play the races some more.
Both starter zones need some fleshing in the quest department, but it looks like each zone is going to follow a similar progression as the DK starting zone. Rather then being a character just randomly appearing in the middle of a zone, each of you start off with a "reputation" already built and hinted by the NPCs.
Worgen start out in Gilneas, which has taken a very Transylvania aesthetic that you would see in an old movie. The men wear long black coat, the women black dresses with little fancy hats, etc... You are actually captured by the other Gilnites and a few of the NPCs want you killed, but one of the NPCs has to much faith in that he can "cure" you. He ends up using a potion that turns you into a human, but it's only a semi-change, as you are still a Worgen and can transform at anytime. This is when you start the quests to push back the Forsaken.
Racials are pretty simple right now. They have less time under the effect of curses, a sprint ability, better skinners both in skill level and even a skinning time boost, and the most interesting, is the "Two Forms" ability, allowing the Worgen to transform into a human or back again, the animation is great, I could start around all day just making myself transform. The only downside is you can NOT choose your human form, it will be made based on which Worgen options you pick (my blond braided Worgen, as a human, was a balding old redhead.)
The Goblins on the other hand started on a island just east of Durotar. The place if very tropic with monkeys and raptors, and has some hilarious quests. I had one in which I had to clear out the monkeys, so I threw out bombs disguised as bananas, blowing them sky high. The Goblins keep most of the style they have developed over the years, which insane makeshift gadgets, improvised housing and weapons, etc... They have some funny animations, like I swear when they cast a spell they look like they are throwing it like a baseball.
Racials are actually my favorite of the two new races, with only Two Form being close for the interest scale. Goblins get a "super discount" on vendors, meaning they always pay price for items after exalted discounts, even if they are not exalted. They get an attack and cast speed boost, alchemy specialization, and something else involving money I am drawing a blank on. However, the two skills that stole the show for me were Hobgoblin Servant and Rocket Belt.
Hobgoblin Servant is a big dumb ogrish creature that you can summon every 30 minutes, and allows you access to your bank. Makes them a very good option for a bank character just for that alone. Rocket Belt has duel uses, you can either launch the rocket as a weapon, doing some decent damage, or my favorite, use it to rocket jump. I had way, WAY more fun then I should have with that ability. Getting chased by 5 raptors? Rocket Jump! Need to get on a rock a little out on the ocean? ROCKET JUMP. It was a lot of fun.
Graphics wise the whole thing looks beautiful. If no one noticed, play the trailer and look at the WATER. During the Art Panel the artists shows that they redid the entire water system for the game. It looks GREAT. That is all I can say, just take a look at it.
Also, I want to say one thing. The idea of changing the surface of the planet for EVERYONE was weird to me at first, then during the preview panel they won me over with one word, FLOW. Outland and Northrend have a great leveling "flow" in which zones easily lead to other zones of the next highest level. Old World, however, was very random in the zone design, not having a clear flow from various zones to others. You often would feel like you were running around all over the place.
Blizzard is redoing the zones in order to redesign them with a better flow system, meaning leveling will be easier, less time consuming, and more focused. Considering how much more I love the leveling after hitting Outland/Northrend, I have to say I would love Old World to play like that.
I am a bit tired so that is all I am going to write for now. I may post more in the future as I play the races some more.
