Lore for locked Class/Race combos

Community General Discussion
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Lately there have been several discussions about opening up all available classes to all available races. Frequently, the only counterpoint raised in those discussions is the game lore.

To that end, I've prepared the following regarding which non-hero classes are locked to each race and how those classes might be explained within the confines of the existing lore (or with as little deviation as possible).

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Standard Races
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Human
Locked Base Classes: Shaman, Druid
  • Shaman:
    • Tidesages (Counter Culture)
    • Power of my Enemy (Anti-orc counter-culture)
    • Totems: Harvest Wicker dolls
  • Druid:
    • Drust druidism (Kul Tiran Culture)
    • Harvest druidism (Gilnean Culture)
    • Kal'dorei disciple (Night Elven Connections)
    • Forms: As Night Elf; emphasis lion manes.


Dwarf
Locked Base Classes: Druid
  • Druid:
    • Wildhammer
    • Forms: Earthen lion, earthen bear (similar to artifact appearances)


Night Elf
Locked Base Classes: Shaman, Paladin, Warlock
  • Warlock:
    • Defiance of tradition (Counter Culture) [Risk of satyrism]
  • Paladin:
    • War Priests of Elune (Cultural drift)
    • Night Warriors
    • Mount: Moonbound Nightsaber
  • Shaman:
    • Adopted Culture (Draenei)
    • Totems: Statues of Elune


Gnome
Locked Base Classes: Shaman, Druid, Paladin
  • Shaman:
    • Scientific Curiosity (Bind elementals with technology)
    • Totems: Gearspring gadgets
  • Druid:
    • Tinker
    • Forms: Mechs
  • Paladin:
    • Defiance of tradition (Counter Culture)
    • Mount: Sacred Goat


Draenei
Locked Base Classes: Rogue, Druid, Warlock
  • Rogue:
    • Rangari [Don't start with the hooves, stealth is shadow magic]
  • Druid:
    • Kal'dorei disciple (Night Elven Connections)
    • Forms: Marsuul [Cat], Elekk [Bear], Arcane Construct [Moonkin]
  • Warlock:
    • Defiance of tradition (Counter Culture) [Risk of Man'ari coloration]


Worgen
Locked Base Classes: Monk, Shaman, Paladin
  • Monk:
    • Gilnean fight club boxer
    • Search for Balance
    • Learned from Pandaren (new Tushui NPC shipwrecked in Gilneas bay)
  • Shaman:
    • Search for Balance
    • Professional Illusionist
    • Totems: Derby Hats
  • Paladin:
    • Sister Culture (Stormwindian)
    • Search for Balance
    • Mount: Running Wild, Twoform Clydesdale


Orc
Locked Base Classes: Priest, Druid, Paladin
  • Priest:
    • Power of my Enemy (Anti-human counter-culture)
    • Shadowmoon Devotee
    • Priest of Goldrinn
    • Field Medic (like Gnomes)
  • Paladin:
    • Warpriest of Goldrinn
    • Power of my Enemy (Anti-human counter-culture)
    • Search to end Fel Corruption
    • Mount: Dire Wolf
  • Druid:
    • Shu'halo disciple (Tauren Connections)
    • Blessed of Goldrinn (Wild God connections)
    • Forms: Frostwolf (Cat), Battleboar (Bear), Tusked Owlbear (Moonkin)


Forsaken
Locked Base Classes: Shaman, Druid, Paladin
  • Shaman:
    • Dark Shamanism (Elemental Control by coersive force)
    • Totems: Gravestones
  • Druid:
    • Mushroom on the Log (Drust Druidism)
    • Forms: As Tauren, but plagued with exposed sores
  • Paladin:
    • Mad Devotion (pain causes insanity, race-specific debuff "Agony" increases damage, healing, costs, and wounds by 1% per stack, max 10 stacks, resets with Cannibalize)
    • Mount: Skeletal Warhorse


Tauren
Locked Base Classes: Rogue, Mage, Warlock
  • Rogue:
    • Defiance of Tradition (Grimtotem, Counter Culture) [Don't start with the hooves, stealth is shadow magic]
    • War Effort Counterintelligence (like SI:7)
  • Mage:
    • Defiance of Tradition (Counter Culture, Dalaran training)
  • Warlock:
    • Defiance of Tradition (Grimtotem, Counter Culture)


Darkspear Troll
Locked Base Classes: Paladin
  • Paladin:
    • Freethinker (Loa devotee)
    • Mount: Holy Raptor


Blood Elf
Locked Base Classes: Shaman, Druid
  • Shaman:
    • Shu'halo Disciple (Tauren Connections)
    • Totems: Hovering crystals
  • Druid:
    • Defiance of Tradition (Counter Culture, Botanist)
    • Shu'halo Disciple (Tauren Connections)
    • Forms: As Tauren, no horns. Emphasis on enormous eyebrows. Lynx (Cat).


Goblin
Locked Base Classes: Monk, Druid, Paladin
  • Monk:
    • Prizefighter
    • Learned from Pandaren (new Houjin NPC visiting Kezan)
  • Druid:
    • Tinker
    • Forms: Mechs
  • Paladin:
    • Paladin for Profit
    • The power of Gold (Glistens with the Light)
    • Mount: Gilded Trike


Pandaren
Locked Base Classes: Druid, Paladin, Warlock
  • Druid:
    • Mistweaver (let into the Emerald Dream by Yu'lon)
    • Forms: August Tiger (Cat), August Oxen (Bear), August Crane (Moonkin), Sky Serpent (Travel)
  • Paladin:
    • Brewmaster (Way of the light... brew)
    • Mount: Rolling Brewkeg
  • Warlock:
    • Brewmaster (Drunken nightmares summon demons)
    • Summons: Pink Elekk (imp), Alemental (voidwalker), Scrumptuous [Cake] (succubus), Indigestion [Terrible Turnip] (infernal), Keglord (dreadlord), Brewguard [hozen] (felguard), Brewhunter [keg pony] (felhunter)


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Allied Races
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Dark Iron Dwarf
Locked Base Classes: Druid
  • Druid:
    • Druid of the Flame (Firelands connection)
    • Forms: As Night Elf, but flame emphasis


Lightforged Draenei
Locked Base Classes: Monk, Rogue, Druid, Warlock
  • Monk:
    • Learned before Lightforging
    • Learned from Pandaren
    • Learned from Draenei Monks
  • Rogue:
    • Rangari before Lightforging
  • Druid:
    • Kal'dorei disciple before Lightforging (Night Elven Connections)
    • Forms: Lightforged Marsuul (Cat), Lightforged Elekk (Bear), Lightforged Warframe (Moonkin)
  • Warlock:
    • Enslavement of Demons (The one path is the Light)
    • Summons: Lightforged variants of standard Warlock summons


Void Elf
Locked Base Classes: Shaman, Druid, Paladin
  • Shaman:
    • Dark Shamanism (Elemental Control by coercive force)
    • Totems: Mini Ethereal elementals
  • Druid:
    • Unstable Anatomy (from partial etherealization)
    • Defiance of Tradition before transformation (Counter Culture)
    • Forms: As Blood Elf, but nebulous
  • Paladin:
    • Netherlight Champion (Void infusion)
    • Mount: Ethereal Voidstrider (bandages around whorling energy)


Kul Tiran Human
Locked Base Classes: Paladin, Warlock
  • Paladin:
    • Tidesworn Warpriest
    • Mount: Tidesblessed Shark
  • Warlock:
    • Defiance of Tradition (Counter Culture)


Highmountain Tauren
Locked Base Classes: Rogue, Mage, Priest, Paladin, Warlock
  • Rogue:
    • Bloodtotem Tribe
  • Mage:
    • Defiance of Tradition (Dalaran Transplant)
  • Priest:
    • Priest of An'she
  • Paladin:
    • Sunwalker
    • Mount: Spirit of Eche'ro
  • Warlock:
    • Power of my Enemy (Anti-burning legion counter-culture)


Nightborne
Locked Base Classes: Shaman, Druid, Paladin
  • Shaman:
    • Vintner
    • Totems: Arcwine bottles
  • Druid:
    • Reconnection to tradition
    • Forms: Manasaber (Cat), Galaxy Bear (Bear), Leyline emphasis on other forms
  • Paladin:
    • Defiance of Legion Occupation (Counter Culture)
    • Spellblade (Arcane Paladin)
    • Mount: Leyline Spider


Mag'har Orc
Locked Base Classes: Druid, Paladin, Warlock
  • Druid:
    • Laughing Skull tribe (call of the Goregrond Wilds)
    • Forms: Same as Orc Druid would use, Laughing skull mask on the shoulder)
  • Paladin:
    • Lightbound repentant
    • Mount: Lightforged Wolf
  • Warlock:
    • Enslavement of Demons (The one path is the Light)
    • Summons: Lightforged variants of standard Warlock summons


Zandalari Trolls
Locked Base Classes: Warlock
  • Warlock:
    • Loaspeaker
    • Summons: Various loa in place of standard warlock summons. Voidwalker = Krag'wa, Dreadlord = Eraka no Kimbul, Infernal = Akunda, Imp = Jani, Succubus = Pa'ku, Felhunter = Gral, Felguard = Gonk



TL, DR: Skim for the race you wish to discuss, read the bullets, and comment accordingly... the goal being to structure the conversation about new class/race combos
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Okay, I'll get the ball rolling. Let's open up the discussion with the two most problematic combos above: Night Elf Warlock and Draenei Warlock.

These two races react unpleasantly to fel magic: the first transforms into a satyr from prolonged exposure (even their demon hunters drift in that direction) and the second turns red or is broken into a devolved wreck.

For other races that would face this problem (Mag'har orcs, who would turn green, and Lightforged Draenei who would explode), it could be circumvented with lightbound subjugation of the demonic servants. Warlocks for these would basically be 'pet priests'.
...However, that evasion doesn't work for the Night Elves or the regular Draenei. The first (Night Elves) has not shown any inclination to crusade and recruit against the target's will--particularly with demons which stand as a long-time enemy to their people. The second (Draenei) might be inclined to subjugate with the light, but doing so is no different than how the Lightforged Draenei would use the Warlock class... it feels forced and redundant.

So what is the alternative? Well... Azshara's Highborne were changed by their abuse of arcane magic, so it might be possible to hand-wave that Night Elf Warlocks are Highborne (just as they did with the mages). It feels a little hollow, but it works as a counter-cultural exploration, just like orc warlocks already do.

As for Draenei... the only way I can think to give them warlocks would be to also give them Broken character customization. That way, the class could heavily imply that it will slowly corrupt the caster, eventually devolving them into Broken. Adding a few heads that lack horns and instead apply torso tendrils would do leaps and bounds for opening up Draenei lore.

I'm eager to hear your thoughts on the topic.
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So, my problem lies in goblin druids. It was bad enough lorewise they became shamans and priests. If you look at the Taunka and how they control the elements, and the churches from the 15th century, it makes sense. But druids are one with nature even more than shamans. Druids like to take care of nature. Goblins like to put a tasteful gas station on an ancient forest.
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Not every race needs to be every class.
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11/10/2018 10:36 PMPosted by Annanetta
So, my problem lies in goblin druids. It was bad enough lorewise they became shamans and priests. If you look at the Taunka and how they control the elements, and the churches from the 15th century, it makes sense. But druids are one with nature even more than shamans. Druids like to take care of nature. Goblins like to put a tasteful gas station on an ancient forest.
Yes. As do Gnomes, their technology profanes the environment around them and is thematically dissonant from the Druid philosophy.
That's why they wouldn't be druids, they would be tinkers. Short of the odd aberrant appearance in a druid-specific context (such as Moonglade, where their presence would appear to be for the purpose of clear-cutting with shredders, or the Dreamgrove where they would likewise be an invasive force, and only for 10 levels at that), they would be thematically distinct. The only reason to frame it as a druid is to save development resources on producing a new class: if tinkers have the same basic mechanics as a druid then the same game balance applies.

This falls into the category of "same mechanic, different aesthetic", into which several of the bullets drift. For instance, lightbinding demons into obedient servants to do one's bidding doesn't make you a warlock, but the game might handle the situation by sharing the mechanics from the warlock class.

11/10/2018 10:37 PMPosted by Twibiju
Not every race needs to be every class.
Not the purpose of this thread. The goal here is to demonstrate that some class options have strong justifications. You will note that some of the arguments are weaker than others: changing a class's aesthetic or draping it in a different power-source is a weaker argument than a counter-culture, and counter-cultures are a weaker argument than cultural drift.

For example, a Mag'har orc has a better justification for the Druid class than an Azerothian orc does, but both have less justification than a Dark Iron dwarf, due to the Dark Iron's direct ties to Ragnaros, the Firelands, and consequently the Druids of the Flame.

All that said, classes are the means through which players interact with the game, and races are the means through which players define themselves aesthetically. Increasing the options where the lore does not require backflips is thus a beneficial act, because it widens the target audience without hemorrhaging the existing playerbase.

EDIT: Typo
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For LF dranei warlocks I was thinking they could change the schools of magic to light in place of shadow and fire in place of fel. Change the icons and their lore is that they're "inquisitors" kind of like how BE paladins were initially called blood knights.

Edit: they should also change the icons too. The warlock skill icons don't fit the inquisitor theme. But LF demons that are enslaved would be super cool.
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11/11/2018 02:30 PMPosted by Holidaymug
For LF dranei warlocks I was thinking they could change the schools of magic to light in place of shadow and fire in place of fel. Change the icons and their lore is that they're "inquisitors" kind of like how BE paladins were initially called blood knights.

Edit: they should also change the icons too. The warlock skill icons don't fit the inquisitor theme. But LF demons that are enslaved would be super cool.
There's a fascinating plot vector that has already been seeded for this sort of thing. When you think about it, Yrel is essentially doing this with the orcs on AU Draenor. Which would mean she considers them--and all not indoctrinated in the light--to be demons. Having the Lightforged do the same thing with Legion remnants would be a good way to give the race some flavor (outside of being shiny goodie-goodies), would add appeal to them over regular Draenei (because they'd have a class the regular one can't use, currently or possibly ever), and would set some good precedent for class reskinning on other races.

Unfortunately, as you said, it would require damage type changes, new icons, new demon textures, and even spell effect recolors, which means the option is much more involved than just flipping a switch. It's the sort of thing that would be put forth as an expansion feature, rather than a patch afterthought.

Then again, Blizzard loves to do that. Look at the huge deal they made about Gnome Hunters. They even mocked them during Nesingwary's Hunt in Highmountain... despite the fact that gnomes have been making guns for ages.
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Would love to see all these one day. But I don't think blizzard wants to do it. I do hope one day they will add a no limits server so we can just play any race/class combo we want and just focus on gameplay. (Just like in overwatch where they have skins that don't have anything to do with the universe they live in).
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11/14/2018 12:53 PMPosted by Terranox
Would love to see all these one day. But I don't think blizzard wants to do it. I do hope one day they will add a no limits server so we can just play any race/class combo we want and just focus on gameplay. (Just like in overwatch where they have skins that don't have anything to do with the universe they live in).
That's an intriguing premise. Such a server (maybe called an Unbound server) would have to be insular, meaning it could only cross-realm with other unbound servers, and could only allow character transfers to and from other unbound servers. It would also require a few new game resources, such as generic faction forms for druids and a generic paladin mount (unless the developers were willing to actually give them new forms, and let the lore catch up later :O).

As for all of them being made available in any other context... there are a few options on my list that are <big> stretches. The worst offenders are the 'appropriation' classes, where a race's only connection to a class is through a faction ally. Gnomish Paladins, for instance, are a weak showing because their only interest is through their connections to humans and dwarves.

Humans are another problem in that regard. Since the humans in the game are Stormwindians and that nation is very much a theocracy, their heroes have very little inclination to explore other sources of power. Short of a new plot development there is little reason for humans to deviate. In fact, only Shamanism is taboo in their kingdom, so you can't even pursue it from a 'forbidden fruit' angle.
A reflavor is an option... tying all things human to the light as the Lightforged Draenei do. But Anduin would need to abdicate before something like that could happen; even as a priest/paladin he is too gentle to turn the faith of his people into a hammer.
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That's quite an interesting read. Thumbs up!

I don't necessarily agree with all of it, but I like how you have introduced a few plausible options to cover each of the missing combinations.
I tend to forget that Trolls and Dwarves have such a rich choice of classes, too.
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Let’s talk about two of the more amusing options in the list.

First, the Goblin Paladin. Somebody made a joke (I really wish I could remember who it was) about Goblins believing in the Light… the light glistening off of their piles of gold, that is! I remember being incredibly amused by this, suddenly picturing a goblin wearing armor made of literal melted gold, using greed for treasure as justification for a crusade. It is just such a Bilgewater thing to do. Like Goblin Shamans, it puts an amusing spin on an established organization and demonstrates how the playable races can influence the flavor of a class.

The other is the Pandaren Warlock. Pandaren are typically regarded as docile and easy-going. It’s hard to picture one engaging in dark arts; the most wicked they get are rogues and even those often present as monks with daggers. So how does a Pandaren get into slinging fel magic and subjugating demons of the twisting nether? The short answer: he doesn’t.
The Pandaren Warlock is a drunk. As brewfest demonstrates, concentrated drinking in Azeroth can spawn forth aberrations capable of tormenting others (see the Pink Elekk). The Pandaren Warlock gets so drunk that his brew fever lashes out at others… his enemies in particular. From bringing his brew to life to defend him (the alemental as a voidwalker) to hallucinating a giant keg golem (the dreadlord), the Pandaren Warlock takes Brewmastery to a new level of absurd. If other players aren’t nonplussed seeing an elekk appear and shoot fireballs, at least the enemies will be.

Options such as these add comic relief, particularly for classes that are typically stern and uncomplicated.

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They should unlock them all. There are always talented individuals of any race (ideally) who would be capable of learning something that their fellows usually don’t embrace. the race/class situation as it is, feels kinda well racist like there are no exceptions.

Now I understand the practical problem -
Since we have druids, it would be quite the undertaking
to create unique druid forms for all the various races, and that sounds
I admit like a nightmare,

but races are largely cosmetic - I’d undo all racial abilities
and unlock all classes, and let us just play what we want.

personally, I’d like a gnome of every class. That’s my personal dream.

FFXIV & GW2 both allow every race to be every class,
and it doesn’t hurt the immersion (imo) when I play those games.

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To enable currently locked race/class combos, they should have scenarios (And maybe unlock requirements) that you could complete, then newly created characters would start at level 20, similar to allied races.

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Rogue should honestly be available to every race regardless. The biggest issue with Draenei and Tauren is the inappropriate assumption that rogues are ‘evil’ somehow and thus go against the Lawful Good nature of the two races. Entirely unjustified assumption.

Let’s look at Paladins as a perfect example of why. In gameplay all are simply Paladin, full stop. However we know that this is just a gameplay conceit, similar to how ‘all undead priests are shadow’ and ‘all lightforged are holy/disc’ or whatever justification because otherwise they would explode out of the universe or something else unrealistic. On topic; we have Vindicators, Sunwalkers, Paladins, Blood Knights (and whatever they’re ‘officially’ called now), etc. They all function in a similar method because gameplay says they have to; but the different races view them very differently in what they do.

Rogue can, and should, function very similarly. While rogues aren’t a unified group in the same way paladins are, it would be dumb to say that all are lawless evil sociopaths who go out of their way to kill and steal. Look at SI:7. They’re officially sanctioned and work at the pleasure of the King of Stormwind. They’re not out randomly cavorting with knife and stabbing willy nilly. They’re watching, taking notes, discovering what information they can that’ll help their faction. They’re the eyes and ears on the ground who learn what a foot soldier can’t because of y’know… folks get stabby when they’re being watched by the enemy faction.

Draenei have the Rangari, and given they spent 25,000 years going from planet to planet it only makes perfect sense to have not just the hunter side of things, but also a rogue side. The hunters of the Rangari go find out about the local flora and fauna. What lives here, what can we eat, where is it safe. The rogues of the Rangari find out of anyone else lives there. Are their sentient life, do they have a culture; is it a friendly culture? Should we back off and stay away or make friends? That’s what the Eyes of the Prophet would be doing while the hunter side of things is finding out if that not-quite-a-deer alien deer is edible.

The Lightforged specifically note in their gossip/quest text that they’ve spent a thousand years attacking in hit and run and subterfuge. They’ve been on Argus under the Legion’s noses sneaking around sapping their sentries and what have you. They’d have rogues. That would be like, their thing. People might argue they glow but suspend your disbelief.

As for Tauren, the Grimtotem are a thing and should be brought back in. Least of all because it would give more customizations to the Tauren and they need it, badly. We know that, Magatha’s sociopathy aside, several of the Grimtotem pledged loyalty to Baine Bloodhoof around the time of the Cataclysm. They’re not all evil and it would be a nice way to add some much needed Tauren lore into the game. Much like the gnomes, they’ve been left out a lot of the time, and giving them any new lore would be nice. Let it open up a new class for them and more options. It’d be nice.

Same with the Highmountain. Already they have little in the way of character classes available (Only five! Tied with the Lightforged!). However we know the Feltotem were a part of the Highmountain given the red tattoo options. Handwave that any Highmountain rogues are simply members of the less-scrupulous Feltotem tribe and are willing to get their hands and hooves a little dirty to get work done.

There. Easy lore for rogues for the four races they’re still not available to.

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But there’s no direct relationship between the Dark Irons and the Druids of the Flame. That’s like saying you should know how to perform heart surgery because you live next door to a doctor.

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You’ve elegantly expanded on what I was going for with each of those, and I agree completely.

No direct relationship, yes, but at least a means of connecting to druid tradition. If you live next to a doctor and you interact with them, you might be inclined to do some research about medical practice… if only to have some common ground in conversation. If you don’t, though, there’d need to be some inciting incident to even inform you that information is out there, and you’d need a reason to want to seek it out.

I didn’t say that Dark Irons had a good lore justification for druids, just that it was better than Durotar and Mag’har Orcs, who would basically be starting from scratch. Their history with Ragnaros and the Firelands would mean they’d at least have had the option to meet a druid before becoming heroes.

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This doesn’t work to begin with, the idea of locking races and classes helps make it believable. I’m still annoyed they made Gnomes hunters and Night Elves mages. For one, gnomes are pathetically small compared to their beasts, I’m reminded of a picture with a wolf eating the gnome as their “first and last” gnome hunter. As for NE, well they’re supposed to stay away from arcane magic due to their history with Queen Azshara, out of fear it’d bring the attention of the Burning Legion to their world again.

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Honestly, the hardest one to excuse is Lightforged Warlock, and we’ve already got Lightforged Shadow Priests running around, so…

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I’d give you a million likes if I could just for this!

I’d love to have a Void Elf Paladin

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Yea I’m guessing alot more people would like unbound servers. Since the classic servers are something I would like unbound servers where it’s anything goes cosmetic and gameplay wise. Honestly alot of the limitations in the game right now are related to lore or arbitrary limitiations (like equal class numbers or wanting other models to be used such as the reason why monk and goblin monks weren’t a thing). So as much as I would like these new comboes in the live game a unbound server might make more people happy.

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