Arcane Brilliance: The end of an era
by Dominic Hobbs 
Apr 11th 2010 at 3:00PM
Welcome, mages, to this most unusual and unexpected issue of Arcane Brilliance. I'm sure many of you have noticed that your beloved Mr. Pants is not here today, and you're wondering what "that warlock guy" is doing writing AB. Well, it seems that Blizz has decided to put an end to the rivalry between mages and warlocks with an audacious change to the make-up of casters within WoW.
No doubt some have already read the blue posts that have made it into the recent Cataclysm class change threads so this post will come as no shock to you -- but for those that have not, my aim today is to not only repeat their words but also try to analyse their impact, as we see it here at WoW.com. So take the jump after the break and we'll learn more about the merging of the mage and warlock classes.
The post that started this flow of information (that quickly became a flood) was this one on the warlock changes thread:
Zarhym - Cataclysm Class Preview - WarlockOn the continued acquisition of 'mage-like' spells by warlocks, we are aware that this meets with disapproval by some warlocks. However we have a very specific goal in mind for the future of the class and see this as a necessary part of it. I think when you see the whole thing you'll agree it's really pretty cool.
Obviously this threw up many posts of speculation, questions and not a little concern. Not only from warlocks but also many mage players who shared many of the concerns of the warlocks, though from a different viewpoint. I can only assume that the sheer weight of opinions led to the following announcement being issued:
Zarhym - Cataclysm Class Preview - WarlockAs we continue to develop this game we find many new and exciting avenues to explore, not only new areas, such as Outlands and Northrend but new classes such as Death Knights and others we have on the drawing-board. Unfortunately it becomes increasingly difficult to introduce more complexity to an already highly complex game, especially as we endeavour to ensure that our game is balanced and accessible to new players.
As well as developing new and interesting game elements we have also learned what has not worked so well within our original design. In particular we have concerns about the class balance for casters.
There has been an ongoing rivalry between the mage and warlock communities and we see a lot of this is due to the glaring similarities between the two classes. There is also a high level of confusion for new players as to which of these pure spell-caster classes they should select. As more game-play balancing changes have been made this division has further blurred. Not only have warlocks gained many mage-like spells but there is increasing call within the mage community for permanent pets.
In delivering the mage-like spells to warlocks we have noticed that before long in Cataclysm there will be no clear role for mages. As such we will be merging the classes into one.
Exact details of how this will happen will be provided soon.
As well as developing new and interesting game elements we have also learned what has not worked so well within our original design. In particular we have concerns about the class balance for casters.
There has been an ongoing rivalry between the mage and warlock communities and we see a lot of this is due to the glaring similarities between the two classes. There is also a high level of confusion for new players as to which of these pure spell-caster classes they should select. As more game-play balancing changes have been made this division has further blurred. Not only have warlocks gained many mage-like spells but there is increasing call within the mage community for permanent pets.
In delivering the mage-like spells to warlocks we have noticed that before long in Cataclysm there will be no clear role for mages. As such we will be merging the classes into one.
Exact details of how this will happen will be provided soon.
This was pretty amazing news indeed, but I for one agree that the homogenization of the classes has led to some confusion. I am also pretty excited by how this change could open the door for further classes to be introduced.
The WoW.com leads have let me know that an un-named source within the Blizzard dev team has confirmed that last weeks Arcane Brilliance did in fact help push forward this decision. The title image was so evocative of mage-voidwalker concept art that they felt the community was finally ready to accept the changes.
Anyway, we can't really draw many conclusions from this first announcement but thankfully they already had the info we were looking for and it didn't take long to be posted. So now lets look at the details.
Zarhym - Cataclysm Class Preview - WarlockWe want to get as much information as we have available to you as quickly as we can so here's the first of a series of posts that will start to explain the details of how we see this change coming about.
From the release of patch 4.0 the mage class will cease to be within the game. Existing mage players will be converted to warlocks and have access to all the spells, talents and abilities of that class.
In order to accommodate all races that can currently support the mage class, warlocks will subsequently be able to select from the Troll and Draenei races.
Mage utility spells such as portals and conjured food will be available to be learned from the warlock trainers.
Many of the talents from the arcane and frost trees will be transferred to the imp minion. Imps will have a similar talent selection tool to hunter pets.
Some of the mage trainers have embraced the change and will be serving as warlock trainers going forward, while others have given up altogether and will no longer talk to players.
We will endeavor to ensure all the remaining 'cool' mage spells are passed to warlocks so those players being transferred will feel more at home.
Mages will continue to play a role as NPCs in the game but this merging will allow us room to introduce further new player character classes in the future.
From the release of patch 4.0 the mage class will cease to be within the game. Existing mage players will be converted to warlocks and have access to all the spells, talents and abilities of that class.
In order to accommodate all races that can currently support the mage class, warlocks will subsequently be able to select from the Troll and Draenei races.
Mage utility spells such as portals and conjured food will be available to be learned from the warlock trainers.
Many of the talents from the arcane and frost trees will be transferred to the imp minion. Imps will have a similar talent selection tool to hunter pets.
Some of the mage trainers have embraced the change and will be serving as warlock trainers going forward, while others have given up altogether and will no longer talk to players.
We will endeavor to ensure all the remaining 'cool' mage spells are passed to warlocks so those players being transferred will feel more at home.
Mages will continue to play a role as NPCs in the game but this merging will allow us room to introduce further new player character classes in the future.
So as we can see the mage class will no longer exist within Cataclysm and so there will be little obvious need for the Arcane Brilliance column. While this is something we are still discussing here at WoW.com, it is possible that it will live on to cover the exciting changes being made to imps. I have heard that while Christian Belt was a little too emotional at the news to give any clear (or at least coherent) indication, he is interested in continuing with us fulfilling the roll of Imp columnist.
I appreciate that this news will be of some consternation to both mages and warlocks and while we're looking at what will probably be a fairly bumpy road ahead I can assure you that we will do all we can to ease the transition. We already have a series of Blood Pact articles that will explain the use of the various demons you will need to get to grips with. Alongside those articles you will also find information on other topics that many mages haven't had need to address before -- such as threat management on bosses, which is important when you can do enough damage to actually run the risk of over-aggroing the tank.While I'm sure there will be those who feel this is the worst thing to happen to the game we must all learn to embrace changes like this. In the same way that the changes to the old-world will be removing tired and under-used areas of the game -- generating many a nostalgic trip to Desolace and the like -- this change should be seen as invigorating. WoW players are an adaptive bunch on the whole and before long I'm sure we'll look back on the 'quaint' two-caster system in the same way we do at the time before mage-tables and summoning-wardrobes.
A note from the Managing Editor of WoW.com: For those of you not in on the Hobbs/Belt rivalry, this post is a playful jab from our resident Warlock columnist at the regular Mage columnist. Zarhym did not actually say anything quoted above. Mr. Belt will be hijacking this week's Warlock column to respond and will return to writing Arcane Brillance next week.
Every week, Arcane Brilliance teleports you inside the wonderful world of mages and then hurls a Fireball in your face. Check out our recent look at how much I hate damage meters or our lengthy series of mage leveling guides. Until next week, keep the mage-train a-rollin'.Filed under: Mage, Humor, (Mage) Arcane Brilliance
Reader Comments (Page 9 of 18)
Shade Apr 11th 2010 3:59PM
Very in the style of the wrathgate. I applaud Grand Apothecary Hobbs on the surprise attack. Now someone go find King Varian Rossi and have him smash the dirty lock's face in
frito Apr 11th 2010 3:59PM
You really can't expect all the people to be "OH WOW LOLOLOL, EPIC! GREAT STUFF!" On my part, I just tilted my head and said WTF.
Heimdallw32 Apr 11th 2010 4:01PM
Wow, finally! Now Warlocks and Mages can join together at long last, and do what's -really- important...setting Polymorphed or Feared Paladins on fire.
Warlocks and Mages, let us set aside our differences, for Paladins are our real foe. Also rogues. In fact, I-
Wait, did you hear something?
Bonham Apr 11th 2010 4:03PM
For all you wimpy mage QQers saying how this post is way late for April Fools and not funny, think back to all the other lame April Fools jokes we've gotten from Blizzard. They were amusing for a few seconds but I never found myself laughing out loud at any of them. This post actually had me and probably a bunch of other people clicking at the source, and I was frantically scrolling through the entire thread, looking for a trace of blue. You've fooled me sir, and have proved that mages cannot take a joke
WoWie Zowie Apr 11th 2010 4:01PM
lol well done sir
Matthew Rossi Apr 11th 2010 4:02PM
Wait, isn't this true already? There's no real difference between warlocks and mages as it is. You wear skirts and set things on fire from a distance.
Heimdallw32 Apr 11th 2010 4:07PM
They're not skirts! They're kilts! Kilts are for men.
Also, they're not dresses, they're uh, "robes". Yeah. We don't wear dresses. Plus, wearing even leather would crush our paper mache bodies, so there!
Jack Miles Apr 11th 2010 4:34PM
You're right, we're acting like complete pansies doing it all wrong. From now on, we'll follow your example and only use our heads as a shield or as a mace.
Catacomb Kid Apr 12th 2010 12:36AM
"You wear skirts and set things on fire from a distance."
It's been said before, and I'll say it again. I'm only here for the prose. Love you guys so hard.
Eohnavi Apr 11th 2010 4:03PM
I was so confused upon reading this but glad to see it's a joke.
Wolfcat Apr 11th 2010 4:06PM
I just rolled a mage and so read this with much interest. And was then quite upset at what I read because I have no interest at all in playing as a lock. Until I read the comments. Though instead of now being amused, I'm just annoyed that I read through an article that useless.
Matt Apr 11th 2010 4:13PM
a part of me just died... my only character is a mage...
Catacomb Kid Apr 12th 2010 12:39AM
oh matt, I feel a little bad for you. if you never checked back, I want you to know that it was just a joke, your mage is safe, and don't leave the game.
icepyro Apr 11th 2010 4:11PM
Apparently there are no serious RP warlocks out there. I completely expected a comment about feeding on the delicious tears of mages everywhere and how the suffering empowered you. Although the replies of "I loled" have an interesting effect too.
Oh and to those commenting on the source bit, yeah, see, the title of the blue post quoted is also the warlock preview, so that kinda added the extra flavor of the possibility that it is somewhere deep in that very long thread and not linked exactly correct to jump 46 pages or whatever to that part of the thread.
Still, my second impression (first was shock, but the resulting adrenaline rush woke me up to the obvious) is remembering a scene from cartoons. After a trick resulting in a pie to the face, Bugs Bunny responds with the famous line:
"Of course, you realize this means war."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9jHa-y24hM
KJ118 Apr 11th 2010 4:11PM
Your Fel magics do not fool me warlock. Though a clever move to try and break our morale before our power increases, it has failed and you will stand no chance once we have grasped our coming powers of the cataclysm.
MusedMoose Apr 11th 2010 4:13PM
Y'know, this is an example of a truly good prank - had me going for juuuuust long enough that I couldn't stop laughing when I got the joke. Well played, Mr. Hobbs, well played.
Also, I once saw it said that the success in Monty Python's brand of humor is to take an absurd situation and play it absolutely seriously. Seems to me that Mr. Hobbs is taking a page from the masters, seeing as how nothing in this column (besides, y'know, the entire premise) is suggested to be a joke. ^_^
..and having said all that, I have to admit, I'm now kinda disappointed that I can't play a draenei warlock, and won't get to play a NE one come Cataclysm. Ah, well. Just means I'll have to set more warlocks on fire than previously planned.
Socialcockroach Apr 11th 2010 4:15PM
I think the people who are insulted by this wonderful joke are the same people who whined to Blizzard about the Great Zombie Apocalypse of '08. Learn to enjoy the un-expected from time to time, I promise you will enjoy life a little more.
Dude Apr 11th 2010 4:29PM
The problem is not with the readers but with the joke. The time it took Hobbs to write up this useless post could have been spent to actually make quality.
Vaeku Apr 11th 2010 4:20PM
This was so stupid.
If you're going to joke about something, put a disclaimer at the bottom. The "Humor" tag isn't enough.
Also, this is bordering on libel since you're attributing the blue posts to, well, the blues. (I know the source button just goes to the class changes, but still).
hollister86 Apr 12th 2010 11:16AM
....there was a disclaimer on the bottom.