Blood Pact: Truth, science and flying monsters
Last week saw things in the world of WoW.com turn on their heads somewhat, with the Archmage Pants and myself trading columns for a week. A little back story might be in order. I was flicking through the forum for the Cataclysm mage changes ("Know your enemy" -- Sun Tzu) and found a lot of crying about spells being removed. For those who didn't read it, the feeling was that spells like Dampen Magic had "no clear role" in the game. Over 1,000 posts later, Ghostcrawler himself felt it necessary to step in and make a semi-retraction of the phrase to stem the flow of tears.
This experience played right into a hypothesis I have that mages are credulous crybabies. I stress here that this is a hypothesis, a tentative explanation for an observation, little better than a guess. However, these things beg to be tested and elevated to the status of theory. And so a test was performed to study both the credulity and propensity for lacrimation of mages. I put forward that this test was entirely successful in validating the hypothesis and that further such studies should be performed to corroborate -- maybe I should ask someone for a research grant. Either way, I feel that we are well on the way to scientifically proving that mages are indeed credulous crybabies.
This, my fellow warlocks, is how you come about facts. It has nothing to do with simply trusting the assertions of someone claiming a list of "facts" with no proper basis in reality. Especially when that someone is a mage.
Anyway, with the sciency bit behind us, I wanted to pick up on one of the hotly discussed topics from our own Cataclysm class change forum post -- that of flying mounts for warlocks. Ok, so it wasn't mentioned in the forum post, but that's kinda the point. Its absence was a glaring hole, bigger than the space where a mage's sense of humor used to be. It was picked up later in the thread with the following:
Zarhym - Cataclysm Class Preview - Warlock
Flying mounts and female Metamorphosis forms are great ideas and something we've had on the wish list for a long time. We can only create so many new creatures during a single expansion, and getting one of these might mean fewer new creatures in outdoor worlds or dungeons. It's just a trade-off and sometimes you have to make hard calls. We'll keep them on the list though.
For me, this is pretty telling. What we have here is a clear acceptance that providing locks with flying mounts is both "a great idea" and "on the developer's wish list." The only argument against is that of resources. This is pretty much the last obstacle to something being put into the game. As a company, Blizzard needs to invest time and effort in areas that will yield the greatest return. Frankly, that comes down to appreciation, so if warlocks want it enough and will appreciate it enough, then it makes the game that much better to encourage more people to play the game. "Yeah I play WoW. I play a warlock. It's sooo cool I can't wait 'til I get my demonic flying mount; it looks really badass." "Hey, that does sound cool; I'll start playing right now."
The big problem seems to be what form this badass flying mount should take. As you might have guessed from the title image, I have been playing around with some ideas and wanted to go through them with you.
Winged steeds are one way to go. In the image, I've just re-colored the model of Invincible (Arthas' mount) to get some kind of feel. This seems the natural progression for the warlock mounts, continuing on from the Felsteed and the Dreadsteed. The winged horse model is pretty new to the game but is obviously something that can be re-skinned, as demonstrated with the purchasable Celestial Steed. The similarities between the two examples in game at the moment are clear (the armor, for example). Change the color a bit (and a bit better than I did), add a few flames and spikes and you're away. Doesn't seem a load of work to be done.
The wings from Malefic Raiment are also another option that are often put forward. I group this one up with any "sprout wings from the warlock" solution and are a basic flight-form variant similar to that of the druids (who have been doing this sort of thing since The Burning Crusade). Though it is undeniably cool to think of growing demon wings out of your back, I found the Malefic coloring to be to rainbow-like for my blood. Also, it was a model that was only designed to display once; there doesn't seem to be modeling for flapping in flight. If it were to work, I believe it would need a new wing form designed from scratch. I like it but think it's asking too much.
Being carried by a doomguard is a silly idea I floated but while it might be a little daft and demeaning, I actually like it and think it wouldn't be too hard to model -- though having the mount above the character may well not be desirable from a mechanics perspective.
Metamorphosis is probably the simplest answer. It's already a form that warlocks can talent into for combat and has the flight modeling all done (though unused). It does open the debate about having a female version once again. I'm afraid I'm not behind this one. If I channel the form of a demon, then I expect to take that demon's form, and while there are female demon forms, this one isn't. Not that I would want to dissuade the development of a female meta; I just don't think that just because there are calls for it, we should let that stand in the way of further use of the metamorphosis as a flight form for warlocks.
My preference would be for growing bat-like wings but understand that would be a load of work. I'd like to know what you would like to see or think is most appropriate. So here's a poll just for that. You'll notice there's a mage trap, so we can simply discount their votes afterwards.
Winged steeds | |
---|---|
Growing wings | |
Carried by a demon | |
Metamorphosis | |
I suggested something else in the comments | |
Warlocks shouldn't have a class flying mount or form |
Blood Pact is a weekly column detailing DoTs, demons and all the dastardly deeds done by warlocks. If you're curious about what's new with locks since the last patch, check out WoW.com's guide to patch 3.3 or find out what's upcoming in Cataclysm from the BlizzCon 2009: Class Discussion Panel.
Filed under: Warlock, (Warlock) Blood Pact, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 8)
Agarus Apr 19th 2010 3:13PM
My suggestion was a Dark Demonic smoke bat like the one from Eragon during the last fight in the movie.
Warlocks need to keep the dark shadow aura feel, and this bat mount along with a good gear set (Tier 5 set anyone?) would be A-W-E-S-O-M-E!
Anyone else agree?
Scunosi Apr 19th 2010 3:22PM
I like the idea of Meta the most, but not as the spell itself, just the idea of turning into a demon that could fly. Personally I think that even though it has wings it doesn't seem like a 'flying' creature. Also, there's the issue of Meta being an important CD-would they have to burn it to fly, reduce or remove the CD, or give Warlocks two versions of the spell? This also ties in to the second problem-it's at the bottom of the Demonology tree! So as much as becoming a demon to fly makes sense for the class, if they used this spell it would have to be seriously reworked, so for now I voted to just continue their mount line by putting wings on the flamey horses.
Dominic Hobbs Apr 19th 2010 3:55PM
In my mind the metamorphosis model being used for a flight form would be entirely separate from the ability to transform into the demon during combat (which would remain as a neat demo trick). But you have all the model work done right there and it's then down to the code changes to give locks the same flight-form mechanics as used for druids.
I obviously don't know the details but it sounds the path of least resistance to me. Everything is already in the game and that's gotta reduce both development and testing time.
ducss750 Apr 19th 2010 3:25PM
Ok...straighten this out for me
Druids, whose entire lore basis rests on form-shifting, are having one of their forms nerfed: put on a spell+CD. Warlocks want to gain a shape-shift so they can fly.
Umm...roll a druid?
QQ aside, I think I'd seriously level my 'lockgirl if she sprouted a nasty pair of wings on command, something like Lady Prestor/Onyxia in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWgW3ogaV84
Vodkamartini Apr 19th 2010 3:29PM
Here's another idea for flight: Demon-mechanical. A pair of Ganarg maintaining the wings and fuselage of a hellrocket made of bone, felsteel and glowing runes, a cockpit made of a two-faced Janus hellmouth, leaving behind an unholy green fire and ash trail. Think of a Fokker Triplane given a demonic look.
But after leveling a druid alt, I'll throw my vote to wingsprout. Just makes the farming easier and having wings sprout out of my lock's back -- be they physical or an eerily-green or firery energy lines -- has a cool factor a frost mage can't touch. Being carried by a pet demon has its allure: I recall the Warhammer 40K novels concerning Gregor Eisenhorn, in which the title character is ferried by an enslaved demon, but that thing is more of a twisted angelic humanoid. But we won't be able to name our taxi demon Cherubael.
A demonic cherub to mount? Now that's ... different ...
Orthwein Apr 19th 2010 3:38PM
I hate to be obnoxious, but is anyone else finding these posts incredibly not funny? If I wanted childish humour in a so called 'warlock' column about how mages suck I could just revisit 2007 instead.
clundgren Apr 19th 2010 3:43PM
I find both this and the mage columns to be both informative and funny. So much so that I read them regularly though I seldom play either class.
/shrug. To each his/her own.
Vodkamartini Apr 19th 2010 3:30PM
Also, female meta form: Just reskin and resize Lady Sacrolash (the demonic dranei in Sunwell Plateau) or one of the Shivarras (Mother Shahraz skin from Black Temple?). I'd go with the latter myself; multiple arms, firery aura, predatory barefoot dancer prance has more of a "look at me" factor than just becoming a really big dranei chick spamming shadowbolts. Though I'd be afraid my human warlock would start a Bollywood dance number after downing a boss. (the more pressing concern though: what do your other arms do during combat?)
Caliyen Apr 19th 2010 3:43PM
"what do your other arms do during combat?"
Make a sandwich?
Vodkamartini Apr 19th 2010 3:50PM
That's what mages are for.
/"Why does everyone automatically assume I know tailoring and cooking?"
Azizrael Apr 19th 2010 3:43PM
We need a flying mount that proves our superiority over mages once and for all. What says superiority like piggy back rides?
Yes, I'm asking for a Jaina mount. I want my Undead 'lock to hop on her back and make her carry me around Azeroth.
chrobry Apr 19th 2010 4:05PM
Personally I would like a Nightmare. Basically same as our Dreadsteed but with ability to fly, no wings..nothing. The reason behind it? D&D Lore (let's face it that's where 99% of the game comes from). The Nightmare is a demon horse, with a hooves made of fire that can fly (by pure magic) leaving behind it a trail of fire and smoke. A scent of brimstone lingers in the air whenever Nightmare passes.
And for Palies they should get a Pegasus.
Traditionally in WoW Pali and Locks got horses. I don't see why that trend couldn't continue in to the flying arena.
Now if only they could make it a quest, something really evil for a lock, like allowing a demon to drain our souls or somesuch, I be in heaven (ahm well maybe a bit lower than that)
Brett the Roman Apr 19th 2010 4:10PM
From a flavour and art standpoint, I think sprouting wings would be the coolest and most fitting option, and here's my take on why:
All warlocks practice demonology to some extent. We summon demons and enslave them, in Cataclysm we'll have an ability where we merge souls with them to increase our own power for a short period of time. Warlocks are demon keepers, through and through.
Some warlocks choose other paths, focusing on the destructive nature of fire magic, or the potent life draining features of shadow magic. We use demons to supplement these playstyles, but it's the demonology warlocks that go full tilt in embracing the study and exploitation of power that comes with being demon keepers.
To that end, they can link souls to share damage, send their pets into a frenzy, use an entirely new demon and become one themselves with Metamorphosis. I think from a flavour standpoint, meta shouldn't be the flying form because it's the hallmark of one of the three paths of choice for a warlock. It may seem a little underutilized now, but in Cataclysm Meta will boost our own abilities more significantly, and won't seem like it feels so out of place to suddenly be running around the field, charging and taunting things.
I think that all warlocks are associated with demon magic enough to be able to magically engineer demonic wings for flight, but when affliction and destruction warlocks start zipping around in demon form, it would seem to take away the uniqueness of the symbol of demonology warlocks. They are so focused on demon magic specifically that they [b]can transform into them at will[/b].
So that's my reasoning for wings before a full demon form for flight. Other thoughts?
Xayíde Apr 19th 2010 4:16PM
A little off-topic:
Maybe taunting and charging are the underutilized parts of demon form, but demon form itself is absolutely not underutilized. I use it every cooldown when I'm playing Demo in boss battles.
Xayíde Apr 19th 2010 4:11PM
How about making Meta a baseline ability that says something like:
"You transform into a Demon, increasing movement speed by 280% and allowing you to fly. Cannot use in combat." (This with the appropriate riding skill)
And the ultimate Demonology talent (Improved Metamorphosis or something) would say:
"Your Metamorphosis can be used in combat and, when done so, increases your armor by 600%, damage by 20%, reduces the chance you'll be critically hit by melee attacks by 6% and reduces the duration of stun and snare effects by 50%. You gain some unique demon abilities in addition to your normal abilities. 3 minute cooldown."
Not perfectly worded, but you get the idea.
arcaneterror Apr 19th 2010 4:17PM
Warlocks don't need a flying mount just so they can feel like special snowflakes.
Archmage Pants 2010!
Dominic Hobbs Apr 19th 2010 4:21PM
"This, my fellow warlocks, is how you come about facts. It has nothing to do with simply trusting the assertions of someone claiming a list of "facts" with no proper basis in reality. Especially when that someone is a mage."
The guy who named Pants, Pants. 2010
themightysven Apr 19th 2010 4:23PM
Ride an Imp with a jetpack
Komiroya Apr 19th 2010 4:30PM
I say warlock mount quest to upgrade the dreadsteed. Give it the same abilities the new celestial mount has. But then only make it available to those who have completed the dreadsteed quest. Gives reasons to visit old school instances, and make it a level 85 only quest. This would be like a badge of honor having this mount.
A) you leveled to 85 as a warlock.
B) paid your respects to the warlock lords by doing the old school quest.
C) makes mages cry because they did not choose to play locks.
D) freaking sweet class only flying mount... Damn Druids and flight form.
That is all.
Another bad-ass horde member/lock
ducss750 Apr 20th 2010 7:06PM
Only if they complete the questchain?? Oh, you mean like the epic Druid flight form questchain? 17 steps and 3 continents to get the fast-flight and cool form..that you can now BUY from a trainer?
I agree...you get your Epic 310 Dreadsteed, upgraded graphics and flaming hoofprints in the sky. Just give me MY Epic Druid bird, with 310 speed and leafs trailing from my wings.
Seriously, Blizz needs to recognize the players that put in the time and grind to get something made of unobtanium...
(Sorry, more tree qq. I do hope GC give locks ponies)