Concerned that too many Race/Class combos are diluting identity and culture

[Lingxiu-the-forgotten-coast]

@Maldazzar-medivh

As far as things like “how stealth works”, I think that’s missing the point. Rogues are more than just “people who can stealth”; they’re outlaws, assassins, and thieves. That’s what makes them so cool and iconic. It is not, however, compatible with the same core fantasy of every race.

Every race is capable of subterfuge and misdirection. Every race is capable of underhanded tactics. You’re right, Rogues are more than a class that sneaks around; they pounce on opportunities, they create and exploit openings, they punish mistakes and inattention, and they set ambushes and surprises, as well as mitigating those very things thanks to their paranoia and outside-the-box thinking.

What in the above suggests this is somehow inapplicable to Tauren, who produced both Magatha Grimtotem and Baine Bloodhoof?

@Maldazzar-medivh

Tauren are extremely honorable, enough so that it is a defining characteristic of their race, and the Grimtotem were exiled for much that reason. I would say the same probably holds true for the Draenei, they’re not a people that would really seem to have assassins and cutthroats in their midsts.

Tauren are extremely honorable; they are not a hive-mind. Those willing to pursue the path of the Rogue are that much more noteworthy on a personal level. Plus, you can maintain the honor of your race while being underhanded and sneaky, it depends on your actions and your goals.

@Maldazzar-medivh

Similarly, while the Eredar are the de facto “Warlocks” if ever there was one, the Draenei are obviously not a race that would ever have Warlocks. That is about the most fundamental restriction that exists in the game, and if ever lifted, would essentially being an admission of “the lore doesn’t matter at all”.

And there may be individuals of the race that fail to hold up to that ideal. They may make a quick deal to avoid death, or in a rage ask for forbidden power to correct a wrong. Then they go to Exile’s Reach and join the Alliance formally. Done.

@Maldazzar-medivh

Because if you remove all these restrictions, then you honestly may as well remove all of the races and classes, and just let people play different-looking humans, and one class that can play every “spec”. WoW gets its “flavor” from treating Races and Classes differently, they are themselves cultures and identities.

That flavor is not diluted unless you allow it to be. If someone plays a Tauren Rogue, it does not impact your interpretation of the world unless you choose to allow it to.

@Maldazzar-medivh

You don’t choose a Tauren because “I want my character to look like a cow and have hooves”. The Tauren are a people with this rich history and lore, whose “vibe” is one of being gentle giants, having a great reverence towards nature and the Earth Mother. I wouldn’t mind seeing them a bit more assertive in the Lore, but to cast that aside and just say “well they can be Rogues and Warlocks and everything else”, simply throws that history and theming to the wayside.

I picked Tauren in Vanilla because they were the only race I enjoyed the aesthetics of; the fact that they were easily the most ‘heroic’ race in the game was a nice secondary. It’s also incredibly counter to ‘Tauren Culture’ to disturb spirits and elements with technology, yet I became the most prolific Engineer Azeroth’s ever seen and constantly test explosives on local wildlife.

The point is, your character’s background is determined by you, using the setting of the world you’re in. If you took a route less traveled, you need only explain how and why and bam, it’s justified.