Incoming LOOOONG post:
This is a really good thread and its something that I’ve thought about years ago as well, although back then my opinions came from a more pvp-centric perspective of the game. Back then people were always complaining about balance and nerfs (World of Roguecraft, anyone?), and it got me thinking about Blizzard’s mechanics behind the game. And although this is a story forum, I think game mechanics is a crucial part of the plot and how the plot is delivered (the “show me, don’t tell me” part of lore).
Take the Tauren/Orc vs Human strength comparisons raised by other posters in this thread - lore wise, the strength discrepancy is there, but the problem is you can’t let a Tauren/Orc Warrior do more damage than a Human warrior because then PvP and PvE content becomes unfair. Many of the “RPG” elements of WoW (Raid firsts, Arena, Battlegrounds) require 1:1 balance ratios.
In the RTS Warcraft 1, 2 and 3, this is okay because the lore is fixed. You complete the missions, and whatever happens is canon. Plus you’re fighting against the Ai, so there is no need to “balance”. You can write a cut-scene where Tyrande one-shots units and that power discrepancy never affects the players. But everyone knows if you walk your in-game Lvl 1 Priestess of the Moon alone and let her get snared/swarmed, she dies in horrendous fashion to even basic units. In the RTS games, the only “balance” issues comes from versus games, which has no bearing on the storyline. So in a sense, the mechanics is detached from the lore (the “show me, don’t tell me” and “mechanics” occupy separate universes).
What comes next is half spitballing and half trying to recall an old argument I had with a guild mate years ago, so bear with me:
In WoW, we know the story cannot be split from the mechanics because the “show me, don’t tell me” is the mechanics. How do you allow lore where a Tauren/Orc Warrior is supposed to be stronger than a Human without alienating your Human players? How do you show your Night Elves are super stealthy guerrilla fighters without alienating your blundering Goblin and Tauren players? (And make it “canon”. This will be important later)
Blizzard’s solution so far has been to make raid content the de factor “lore” of the game. Again, like the RTS, Blizzard makes the Ai the punching bag to try and split the difference. Ever notice how in raids you have those little objections? Just like the RTS missions, the players get no choice in the objective. You finish the objectives, kill the Raid Boss, and Blizzard moves the story-line forward with each new raid content. This is how a 25-man Human group can kill the same Big Bad raid boss as 25-man Tauren group. Its the Ai that “loses”, and Human players can feel strong and powerful (the “show me, don’t tell me” part of the lore) without affecting the mechanics (Tauren are supposed to be stronger than Human).
But we know this system completely deteriorates once we bring in player-to-player interaction. Because the Tauren player is supposed to feel stronger than his Human opponent, but for mechanic and balance reasons, we can’t have that.
My solution is:
- Move away from instance-based raids and dungeons, and instead move WoW’s in the opposite direction and bring it to the open world RPG. World Bosses instead of Raid Bosses for PvE’ers. World PvP for PvP’ers.
- Mechanically - players must be solid
- Revamp the zones to add “assault zones” except for Capitals
- All those calendar events (time walking dungeons, etc.) - move them into the World
Its getting late, so I’m going to vomit what comes next:
#1, #3 and #4 are tied together - Blizz can show “unequal” mechanics because there will be numerous zones for the players with unequal terms (as it should be in real life and real WoW Universe). For example - SW City gives 100% buff to Alliance, -50% debuff to Horde attackers. Capital Cities are the highest tier of raid for PvP’ers, as they should be. (I will get to PvE World Boss content later). Faction Leaders are Tier S characters and get LONG story-arcs. The story should no be going through Faction Leaders like they’re the cast of Lost or The Walking Dead (killing them off left and right and bringing in new characters with zero development).
For PvP’er Lore - if Faction Leaders don’t change, how will the players get to see story progression? (The “show me, don’t tell me” dilemma) Well, this is where assault zones come in. My idea is to make EVERY ZONE an assault zone, except for Capital Cities. Why? To prevent stagnation. Blizzard has discretion to toy with EVERY zone and mix things up.
Blizzard has something similar with Battlefronts, but they need to bring it all into the Open World. All those calendar events? Scratch those and randomize them into PvP and PvE events. And make them NUMEROUS.
For example - this week, Horde are bringing an incursion into Ashenvale. NE are defensive - they have defensive buildings. Horde players are Offensive and get to hire mercenaries (NPC’s) that follow the player and do more damage then Alliance NPC’s. Tauren and Orc get buff to HP and damage, but debuff to movement speed. Alliance players get buff to range if they are standing on ramparts, and NE get buff to attack speed to represent agility. There is a Local Commander, but the PLAYERS also are ranked. Bring back PvP Ranks and highest Rank in the Zone gets a FLAG on them so enemy knows they are ranking commanders. Killing a ranking commander creates a debuff on the side that lengthens the graveyard resurrection.
At the same time, Gilneas is counter-attacking in Silverpine. Horde holds Shadowfang Keep. Human paladin’s gain a buff against Undead Players. No such buff against Non-UD players. All Worgen get stealth ability. But Horde players get to collect lanterns that when placed on certain points, create zones that Alliance players cannot stealth in. Tauren and Orc players get buff to HP, but get a debuff that gives Alliance players a guaranteed crit on first attack because Tauren/Orc are big and cannot stealth through the forest of Silverpine. NE’s get buff to attach speed, movement and crit because Silverpine is their natural element. But NE’s take debuff to HP.
For PvE - Twilight Hammer is doing something in Silithus. Alliance and Horde can participate. Horde Tauren/Orc get buff to HP and damage. Alliance Warriors and Paladins get passive defense buff if standing near each other. NE Hunters get passive attack speed and crit buff, but automatically get a debuff with enemy mob or Horde player gets within 5 yards of them. Both factions take extra magic damage from Twilight Hammer, but Undead takes reduced damage because they are dark and emo and would probably join the Twilight Hammer if they could.
Faction to kill World Boss gets epic loot. Factions can interfere with each other, but automatically get debuff that carries over when they fight World Boss. (So if a PvPer wants to mess with a PvE’er, he gets a debuff which will make raiding harder). Factions can also work together and share in the loot (this gives the PLAYER discretion and choice!)
At the same time, Silvermoon City is under attach from Demons and Burning Legion. Some reckless Blood Elves have tapped into forbidden magic, and now Demons are spawning everywhere. Horde get buff because its their territory and they outnumber any Alliance (as they should). Blood Elves get buff to magic, but -15% HP. Tauren/Orc Warriors have more HP/Melee Attack then Blood Elves (as they should), but take more damage from Magic. Alliance can try to participate, but they run the risk of getting swarmed by Horde. Better loot for Alliance than Horde.
And round and round we go. Blizzard would have 10 different zones going off every week. The Players have direction to join, fight, cooperate or even AFK. Player choice would be affected by what buff and debuff affects their race/class. And since its randomized, this week its Horde attacking some zones and Alliance attacking other zones, then next week the script gets flipped.
This also has the benefit of bringing in zones and factions that are never used from old expansions. They Death Knights - want some lore progression? Bolvar has lost control of the Scourge, and a new Undead Wave is coming. Necropolis are flying over Plaguelands, and Lights Hope Chapel is under siege. The Death Knights have a camp in one area of the zone, and the Knights of the Silver Hand control another area. Players can elect to cooperate to fight off the Scourge, or fight each other.
Hey Deepholm and Uldaman - what have you guys been up to the last couple of expansions? Oh nothing - well here’s Blizzard’s randomized world event for you. A giant worm is tunneling in Deepholm and the Cenarion Circle needs heroes to assist. Uldaman - a Titan construct has gone haywire and need heroes to fight it. Dwarves and Gnomes get the spotlight and players have to help them create a device to stop the Titan. Dwarves and Gnomes get buffs, while other races don’t. Horde players get no buff, but can choose to interfere with Alliance if they wish.
Character development - switch up NPC’s. Faction Leaders are S-Tier characters, but we have a bunch of middle character NPC’s. THESE are the characters that Blizzard and toy around with. And kill off. Horde Clan Commanders and sub-Commanders. Dark Rangers. Druids of the Claw.
Want more dwarf lore? Bring an assault zone in Twilight Highlands that show off Wildhammer clan lore. Dwarves can recruit Wildhammer NPC’s that fight alongside the player.
Want Undead Lore? Bring an Assault Zone in Northrend that ties in Undead with those Undead Blood Elf vampires. Want Paladin Lore? That same Assault Zone for Alliance would left Knights of Silver Hand attack said Undead Players/Blood Elf Vampires. Want even more Paladin Lore? Alliance Players get to work with Scarlett Crusader NPC’s and you have unified Paladins fighting the UD. Give Alliance players the option to “join” the Silver Hand -OR- the Scarlet Crusade for this one Assault Zone as they fight against the Undead.
If you made it to the end of my post, god bless you. If you didn’t, god bless you anyway. My TLDR is: Bring everything to the WORLD, and let Blizzard roll the dice and randomize all the zones every week.