So, I’m not sure if it’s just me, but it becomes somewhat immersion breaking when important NPCs like racial leaders just… don’t have a unique model. And I was under the impression they’d slowly add them, but it’s been 17 years and there’s still many without them. And in some cases, they have their original model from Vanilla. (Ignoring the WoD base race updates)
Then things happen and we get a 2938th iteration of Sylvana’s model. When other leaders are sorely lacking in that department. I understand that this is something that would have to be done over time, and I don’t expect it in 10.0, but I’m hoping to draw attention to them, as it’s saddening to see some races just outright get ignored. (I’m only mentioning leaders with models older than WoD, not counting the base race updates, as that’s arguably when the model designing of the game stepped up.)
This is a list of NPCs I think would constitute important that are in dire need of a model update:
Alliance:
- Moira - She has the oldest model on this list, all the way back 17 years ago (not counting the WoD Base Model Update). Even worse, the NPC that replaced her in BRD was given a unique model. She is used, for all intents and purposes, as the leader of the Dwarves. I am well aware there’s a Council, but she’s always the one used when the Dwarven Leader is needed. The others (like Falstad in BFA) are just there as backup. There’s a lot of potential here, be it her taking up Fearbreaker from her father, her delving into the Dark Iron roots of her son/late husband, etc. She is also one of the only characters to lead more than one race - as she also leads the Dark Iron. Unlike Lor’themar, who received an update due to the Blood Elf Heritage quest, Moira did not receive an update for the Dwarf Heritage or the Dark Iron recruitment, or even for the 9.2.5 Dark Iron Heritage.
- Dagran II - Moira’s Son. He has been an infant since Cataclysm. In the books, he’s a toddler that can have full conversations with Anduin and walk the floors of Ironforge. Though time has passed since then - he should be around 10 years old now. (In the year 32 it was mentioned he was 6 or 7 by Anduin, Dragonflight is the year 35) It’s weird that the NPC that will grow up to be the King of Dwarves has not been updated in 12 years. As a dwarf, he’s unique - as two books describe him differently. The first one says he has pale white skin with red hair and blue eyes, but the most recent book describes him with grey skin, white hair, and green eyes without any trace of red. This could just be his Bronzebeard and Dark Iron halves fighting, but if even the authors you hire don’t know what to settle on, that should be a sign he needs a model update.
- Falstad/Muradin - As said above, they are leaders of the Alliance, but just utilized less than the others. Updating them should still be important, just probably not as high priority as others.
Anduin, Tyrande, Mekkatorque, Velen, Genn, Alleria, Turalyon, and Jaina all have updated models. (Going through the other races)
Note: I did not include Prince Erazmin, as he passed leadership over to Mekkatorque at the end of the questline.
Horde:
- Lilian Voss: Although she has received updates in BFA, it’s strictly gear. Her actual model is still her model from Cataclysm. Although it seems likely Calia is the defacto leader of the Forsaken, a lot of players see Lilian as it, and even if she doesn’t officially become it - it would go a long way to update one of the fan favorite character’s models.
- Rokhan: Rokhan became the leader of the Darkspear at the end of BFA. He wasn’t really used much until BFA, but as a racial leader, he is deserving of a unique model. He is the second oldest model on this list after Moira, being introduced in Wrath.
- Gazlowe: Much like Rokhan, Gazlowe became the new Goblin leader at the end of BFA. He still uses his basic Cata model as well.
- Mayla, Geya’rah, Thalyssra, and Kiro: Although these are models from the last expansion, they are not unique to them. They are simply using NPC or Player Models. Kiro MIGHT be a unique model, but I can’t find a source either way. I do know Mayla and Geya’rah just use the female model of the playable race though. EDIT: Apparently Thalyssra’s model was re-used on trash NPCs, so that’s a thing as well. Lol.
Thrall, Baine, Lor’themar, Calia (and Derek, technically?), and Talanji have unique models.
Note: I do understand Gazlowe and Rokhan not having unique models yet, as they just took leadership. But the Allied Race ones at least should’ve had them from the moment they decided they were going to be Allied Races.
Neutral/Both
- Aysa/Ji - We were told at the end of SoO that Aysa and Ji left the factions to live together on the Wandering Isle, but that the devs didn’t have time to flesh out new Pandaren leaders, so they were remaining in-game for game reasons. However, during the Legion class hall - it’s stated the Ji returned to Orgrimmar, which implies Aysa likely returned to the Alliance, backed up by the end of the second Siege of Orgrimmar, where they are both mentioned by other leaders - as such, giving them unique models would be nice, and maybe encourage the devs to actually use the Pandaren in something for the first time since MoP?
- Li Li Stormstout - You might say “Why are you saying Li Li is important?” - Well, that’s the thing. In BFA, they brought back Chen and Li Li… but Li Li was still a child. The problem arises when you realize that Li Li is older than Anduin. Li Li, being Li Li, as anyone who has seen her dialogue knows, would have forced herself into the narrative by now. She would’ve rushed to help with the Shadowlands. She would rush to help with the Dragon Isles. Her not being there is… odd, to say the least. She deserves an adult model that fits her the next time she is put into the story.
To note, almost every leader on this list doesn’t match the artwork Blizzard releases of them. This was a major complaint with Gallywix, which is what resulted in his model update. The only one listed that does follow the artwork is Li Li, and that’s because for some reason Blizzard seems intent on keeping her a child even though canonically she’s like 20/21. Also, Aysa/Ji have no official artwork to my knowledge, so that’s why I can’t say if they do or don’t.
- Please let me know if I missed any important NPCs. I did my best to get through all the ones I could think of. I do not play Horde, so I only know racial leaders on that side.