I maintain that the Belf/Draenei swap was largely designed as a “give them what they like from the other faction.” Draenei was the analogous to the Orcs bulky girth, and the Belfs were the Alliances beauty.
According to the data I can find (and it seems to end after 2019) Draenei are 3% of the total population, while the more competitve Allaince races are Humans 11%; Nelfs 11%; and Velfs at 4% with a significant unlocking system to get them.
I don’t mind the Dreanei, but I seem to be part of a vocal minority who wants a less bulky OPTION for the males. (and maybe a more bulky option for females). I don’t mind being in the minority, but why do think they’re so low?
tl;dr - If you don’t play a space goat because of the model - why?
only thing i really disliked at first was the casting animation when healing, where they put their arms all the way back, looked kinda awkward, but it grew on me
I have a lightforged paladin. Two words though: Goat legs. Ultimately I found I couldn’t get past it. I only have that AR because I was like 2 emissaries away from getting it just from doing the stuff for VE.
Males are ridiculously proportioned like a cartoonish caricature
Females all have the same ugly unattractive static faces and most importantly they have low res hooves that is just pathetic. Did they forget the hooves when they upgraded the model in the past?
I don’t like them because there are not half a dozen of them currently lounging in close proximity to me wearing scandalous clothing, taking turns to giggle and feed me small pieces of fruit and while one gently fans the room with a large plant thing.
Mostly the female models- too uhhh… Too MoonGuard Goldshire for my tastes. If you get what I’m saying. Same with female Belves/Velves.
Tbh I don’t like alot of the female models.
I like being something that looks strong and alot of female models just don’t do it for me.
Only reason I have a female LF is because the horns are cool.
Also as someone said earlier- they aren’t alien enough. This goes for the entire draenei race imo. The designs don’t scream “I come from another planet” to me. Now that I think about it, Orcs are technically aliens and well, they don’t look too alien either. What can I expect. It’s a video game. I can’t expect everything to be realistic all the time.
If I am to play alliance it would be a draenei, though I hate their walking animations (The male one, specifically) and the bulk is silly. Slim the upper body a bit and you’re already much better off. imo.
As I recall there was a Reddit post from a former developer admitting that Blood Elves on the Horde was because of a strong demand from Asian markets to have a pretty looking race on the Horde.
The Draenei males are too bulky for my tastes but I like the female Draenei model and have a number of characters that are either Draenei or LF Draenei.
However I’m still annoyed that the model update in WoD messed up my Shaman’s ponytail and made it all droopy and sad.
I mained a male Draenei warrior back in BC. Then when I came back in legion made a night elf. Fast forward, I unlocked lightforged and made a male pally. The run animation bothers me now for some reason and I never thought about it once back in the day. Bummer cause the LF armor is awesome.
I like the females but the males look weird to me. They’re like a skinny kid that put on one of those poofy $10 Hulk outfits they sell at Walmart for Halloween.
