Now that the dust has settled a little bit I wanted to test the waters regarding the Darkfallen customizations that were unlocked, specifically for Kaldorei. While the majority of classes can be easily handwaved or already have existing examples for the ones with the most logical pushback (I’m looking at you Darkfallen Paladin Sin’dorei.) The one that I’ve gotten stuck on if you can’t already tell, are Darkfallen Druids, is this another case of post release customizations don’t necessarily equal lore changes or do you think that there is some place for an Undead Druid of sorts?
In support, we already have Undead Priests and Paladins in lore who wield a magic that actively causes them pain and is antithetical to their existence. Furthermore Nature doesn’t really ‘abandon’ people like the Light or the Elements have so in theory it’s more about knowledge and technique than anything else.
In opposition, the all druidic orders seem vehemently opposed to Undead as being an unnatural state so if one of their ranks was raised back into Undeath wouldn’t they be completely shunned. Additionally wouldn’t the undead druid see to their own destruction if they are going to remain true to their druidic beliefs, and if they did not they would no longer be fit to call themselves druids for not protecting the natural order?
I made this character on a whim to collect the Leather appearances from the Pre-Patch and while levelling it got me thinking. So what are all of your opinions?
There is death magic druidism in BFA in the form of kultirans and the drust.
An undead Night Elf could probably figure out a way to tap into that force, Ardenweald (a realm of death) and the Emerald dream are also connected and part of a cycle.
So I think it is plausible for darkfallen druids to be a thing.
I’m not entirely sure how you came to this conclusion as I personally have not noticed any particular hatred towards undead among druids or their organizations; at least no more than anyone else. Regardless sentient undead being on the fringe or even outside of the society of their people is a relatively common trait with such characters. To an extent that’s been a long time of the Forsaken, if memory serves. Such can serve as source of personal drama if desired.
In general, I feel like something like this mostly comes down to motivations. There may be a variety of reasons an undead Druid might decide to live on in such a state. Perhaps they believe they have unfinished business from before their death, maybe they simply can’t bring themselves to destroy themselves or are too afraid of death/attached to living to face it again regardless of their personal disposition towards their current state.
The Forgotten Realms sprout them like dead bushes.
There’s a major mistaken assumption in questions like these… That in order to justify your character, that you have to justify a whole crop of characters just like them.
That’s patently untrue. In your personal game canon just as you are THE Champion, the only character you need to justify is your own… and ONLY to yourself.
I’ve been enjoying what little time I’ve had to explore my character and also wanted to state that i have now found 3 canon instances of undead druids/undead using druidic abilities. Yes they may just be mobs for quests, and one of them us removed and was given the undead tag post removal but that is justification enough!
Tortured Druid: A mob in Silithus that uses Moonfire and Healing Touch. They used to be a part of a quest to put their souls to rest but since Cata no longer have any related quests but remain.
Severed Druid/Keeper: Quest mobs in Ashenvale Horde side where you are sent into a Barrow Den to silence the howling dead. I list them together because the druid looks more ghostly and the Keeper looks corporeal. The Druids cast Rejuvination and Wrath, the Keepers cast just moonfire.
Demented Druid Spirit: Removed in Cata and given the undead status after being uncategorized, they were adds spawned during the Ysondre world Boss fight. I can’t find any record of abilities so most likely they were just creeps.
With these three and half examples, I can definitely make a case that Undead Druids exist, and are primarily Resto or Balance oddly enough.
People might not “like” the idea of undead druids, though someone pointed out there being death in druidism with the Drust in BfA.
In general I don’t believe Blizzard gives certain races the playable classes for lore reasons. The RP community has never been their main focus. Content is at the games core.
Yeah I feel like Paladin and Druid shouldn’t have Darkfallen customization options. Unfortunately it’s too late to take them out without creating sh*tstorm from the gameplay only people and mary-sue RPers who only care about aesthetics.
What Blizzard gives are tools for players. What use you make of them is up to you.
Aesthetics, the good, the bad, and the ugly are important RP tools. You don’t like some of them, don’t use them. There’s a few number of rp types that grind my gears… I put them on /ignore and move on.
This is the part where I chime in with sage wisdom.
There is absolutely nothing in-universe preventing a Darkfallen from wielding The Light or Nature Magic. No mechanical reason that they cannot exists; Undead Holy Priests have existed for twenty years, on-top of that; and we can play Undead monks - both of which can be observed in multiple places in-game.
Not liking them for whatever reason does not, in-fact, mean your Headcanon about them being impossible is correct. Thank you.
Note: That last bit is not directed at OP, I just see that misinformed take wearily often whenever this subject comes up.