I really wish that Blizzard would consider overhauling the racial traits for each race. The overall discussion regarding classes that are more unique has been kicked around until the horse is dead. However, they haven’t ever updated racial abilities (whether activated or passive). To the minimal extent that they have, it has only been to reduce their effectiveness or eliminate them altogether. In Vanilla, for example, priests each had a unique ability based on their race. This added a certain uniqueness to priests from different peoples. So you could have a Forsaken priest that felt different and played different than a Troll priest. Also, I wish there was a greater degree of difference between, say, an Orc Warlock and a Blood Elf. They have different cultures, different motivations, different backgrounds. Why make them almost identical? Other than like a minor pet damage boost for Orcs, for example, there isn’t anything that defines an Orc Warlock or Hunter that other races don’t also get. So I would request that Blizzard consider revamping the racial abilities to make the same class feel a bit different between the different races.
I’d think that making classes feel different depending on race would be very risky. Right now pretty much every class has all races within a percent or two of each other, letting you choose what you want rather than forcing you to pick the ‘best’ option. Even optimization guides will tell you, “okay it’s technically best to be this race but seriously just play what you want”.
The racial abilities don’t need to be comparatively different for as far as effective functionality. They can balance out things from that perspective. However, the different racial abilities may be set to change how you play your class, rather than the ultimate resulting damage/healing/utility aspect of it.
Might as well go all out with racials being fun and exciting.
The faction divide at endgame is never being fixed. Even if they nerfed Horde and buffed Alliance, people aren’t paying to come back.
So just go all out. Make all the racials fun and crazy.
For example, if your an Orc (which is big and muscly beast of a race) u might get an ability for Warrior that gives you an ability replacing a standard Warrior ability that is unique to your race that works slightly differently than say a Troll (who is more regenerative) or a Blood Elf (who is more suave).
Not all trolls are tall and skinny like the Darkspear. Ice trolls are larger and bulkier, and judging by in-game models much more alike to orcs in terms of stature than they are to Darkspear.
It’s still up in the air but possible ice trolls will become customization for Darkspear.
Yes! Undead must cannibalize people for unique buffs. Delicious Tauren flesh.
Blizzard isn’t capable of balancing 2-24 racial abilities for each class. It would be, in no mild terms, a fundamental redesign of the entire class system in WoW.
I think this is an awful idea and a balancing nightmare. While I don’t think the game should be designed around min/maxers , this idea would just be way too unbalanced, and doesn’t really make much sense.
You are describing a class overhaul, not a racial trait overhaul.
Perhaps, though i don’t think it would be that robust of a change. They already do something similar to talents that replace one ability with another. My idea would be to expand that to races.
Also, it need not be augmented abilities at all, or even an activated ability. It could be a proc ability or it could be a passive that effects the class in a unique way.