So I was remembering the different types of Ogre games I wrote ideas for in the Ogre megathread, and I thought that Saurok could offer some interesting mini-games. Itās something we get each expansion for things like world quests, such as with the Tortollans in BfA.
So far, one idea I had was inspired from Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages for the Gameboy color. There is a part of the game where you wash up on an island full of lizards named Tokay. They steal your stuff and, through the power of puzzle and exploration, have to get it all back before going to the next dungeon.
The main part of note is a mini-game, where you have to toss meat, which falls down from the ceiling, to Tokay walking down two lanes at different times and speed. I found a video of someone playing it to show this mini-game off (6:25 if the video doesnāt take you to the timestamp)
This got me thinking that Saurok, hungry for meat, likely had a problem with hordes of them swarming over the butcher shops at once, causing mass chaos. Thus, the Saurok decided to implement a āfast foodā service. Saurok pay to go down a lane and get tossed meat, which is where you come in.
I figure implementing this idea might be better if you are stationary, where you can toss things like drumsticks, which would be instant toss, to BIG pieces of meat, like ribs, which take a second or two to chuck but would give you more points.
It could start off slow, with a few Saurok running down a lane you toss the meat to, ramping up gradually where more Saurok come at once at different speeds, and occasionally some fast Saurok spawn glowing red, starving, and wanting to get their food and out of the area ASAP. The more Saurok you feed and the longer you are in the game, the more points you get and the less likely youāll get your face eaten.
This is just a fun mini-game idea that could work as a world quest for Saurok rep, as well as for some achievements. It shouldnāt be frustrating to play, but could offer some challenge and something different from your typical quests. As I think of other Saurok game ideas, Iāll be sure to post them here for some idea inspiration.
You took the words right out of my mouth! I too have always loved the Lizard men in fantasy and would love to play as a Saurok in WoW. I fully support this!
Also forgive me if this has already been said, but as a possible racial for this race, I would love to see them run on all 4ās as their own mount, like the Worgen currently do.
Sorry I havenāt been active as much lately. Iāve been really busy with college work, so free time has been very limited. That should change soon, as I get more and more work done.
Iām happy to see other lizardmen fans. Thank you for the support!
Itās very possible to have some form of Running Wild as a racial, though it might need some changes to be more unique for Saurok. It would be fitting, given that Saurok weāve seen can be fast and leap up high, though a lot would depend on how much more civilized playable Saurok would be compared to the more feral-like tribes. If playable Saurok utilized the Worgen models like the NPCās do, it is definitely possible. Something to think about, for sure.
I did find some videos regarding Lizardfolk in Dungeons and Dragons I wanted to share for Saurok idea inspiration. First is a video on their lore:
This video is about general information and also some interesting facts about Lizardfolk:
This humorous video talks a bit about them as a playable race while showing some awesome lizardmen artwork:
While originally meant as an enemy monster, they apparently, if I understand correctly, did become a playable race in 5th edition thanks to the book called āVoloās Guide to Monsters.ā With any luck, we might see Saurok get some love and become a playable Horde race in the future.
Itās funny that you posted this video, I was actually watching that video today as it randomly came up in my YouTube news feed. It caused me to google playable Saurok in WoW which lead me to your forum post hereā¦ great minds think alike!
Arguably they could be a contender for a Pandaren counterpart as an Allied Race. Making them neutral.
Every base race has a counterpart Allied Race. Blood elves- Nightborne. Orcs- Magāhar. Trolls- Zandalari. Goblins- Vulpera (both short races).
There is some theme here clearly. What about Pandaren?
Iād see either Saurok being a Horde race and the original Jinyu from there being an Alliance race or they would make them a Neutral Allied Race in regards to Pandaren.
I admit Iāve not done the research the OP has done and Iāve not read through all 200+ post to this thread. With that being said. Iāve been spitballing ideas for racial skills for this race.
These are just a few that came to my mind. Some of them are kind of a copy of other current races and would probably need to be tweaked or changed to had its on personal flavor.
But I wanted to throw out what I was thinking and see what everyone else thinks and ask to add your own ideas as well.
(Racial idea names are definitely subject to change, Iām just spitballing these off the top of my head)
Lizard Run - As I said before, I would love to see them be their own mount like the Worgen. Iāve also noticed from some of the NPC models in game it appears they already do this, so hopefully wouldnāt be hard to do.
Cold Blooded - Maybe a natural resistance to fire damage but subject to cold damage? (Idk just a thought)
Lizard Bite - As one of the AD&D videos said they have powerful Jaws and I can easily see this being a racial in game doing a small or moderate about of dot / bite / bleed damage.
Or if not the Bite, how aboutā¦
Tail Swipe / Tail Whip - Maybe a swipe of your tail stuns the target for % amount of time (similar to the Taurenās Warstomp).
(Or for the Bite & Tail Whip - Since having both would be a bit overpowered, What if they shared a cooldown like the Goblins Rocket boots and Rocket belt? The Lizard Bite could do a Bite/Bleed/Dot Damage, Or the Tail Swipe/Whip could do a Stun. If either is used, It shares a cooldown with the otherā¦)
Regeneration - Yeah we already have two Troll races with similar abilities but Iām adding it to the list just because it was also in the AD&D video for the lizardmen
Fast Swimming / Under Water Breathing - I know the Undead can already breath underwater but I would think the Saurok would be amphibious and move fast in the water,
(Whether or not you agree or disagree about this racial, I do think the swim animation for this race should be slithering through the water like a snake or crocodileā¦)
Anyway these just a few ideas off the top of my head. What are some of yours?
I donāt think any race currently playable has any form of racial debuff/weakness, which would probably not be well received by players for obvious reasons.
Yeah makes sense about the weakness. Youāre probably right. I probably should have known better than to have added that one. My bad.
As for taking less damage, I could be wrong but I thought Magāhar Orcs take 10% less damage to curses, diseases, and poisons. So maybe a natural % resistance to heat/fire damage?
So Spring Break has kinda started for me, though itās mostly going to be me doing a bunch of quizzes, a project, and working with a program that I will be using in my accounting career. I wanted to mention a few things before I do some post responses.
First, Iām thinking of doing a revamp of the first post of the megathread in the near future. Unless the forums have changed, I recall that you are unable to edit posts after a year has passed on said post. June 19th 2019 is when I made this megathread, so I want to make sure to tidy it up and update it with some new thoughts Iāve had.
Second, Iām still debating on making a discord. It not only would be for playable Horde Saurok support and general lizardman stuff, but it would also be for Stonemaul Ogre support as a playable Horde race. Those of you who know me will know that Ogres are one of my most wanted races and that I have written up a lot of stuff for the Ogre megathread, and I want to make sure that Ogre support keeps going in some fashion. I have a name in mind for this union between Ogres and Saurok, but I havenāt had much time to look into actually planning out a discord. If anyone is particularly interested in an Ogre/Saurok discord, please let me know. Iām still considering whether I will make one or not.
Third and last, I do have a few posts in mind I want to do in the future. Iāve mentioned doing a post of what the Saurok can do for the Horde as members, and Iām also planning to look at Argonians from the Elder Scrolls series. Iām needing to do some research, as Iām not as familiar with them or the Elder Scrolls series, but I will see if they can inspire any Saurok ideas. There are also more real life lizards to look at, and Iām also keeping an eye out for in-game Saurok stuff to see if there is anything of note.
Now for some post responses!
Overtime, Iāve googled Saurok and different terms regarding playable and allied race, and was happy to see this megathread become one of the top results for most of the searches. Happy to see others are finding it through that way!
Nothing wrong with spitballing ideas. Itās handy to share some ideas to potentially offer some inspiration.
Iām also of the type to believe that, within reason, a currently playable race having a racial should not mean that no other race can have that particular racial or a similar one. For example, Forsaken not breathing underwater shouldnāt mean an aquatic race canāt breathe underwater also. Another example is if Gilblins became playable and could breathe underwater via gills, it shouldnāt stop something like playable Jinyu/Ankoan from being able to breathe underwater. Just how I view racials, of course.
It really depends how they would utilize a racial where you have an both an advantage and also a disadvantage. Something like Everquest worked as it wasnāt really designed around PvP for the most part, but while it could add some flavor in WoW, I really donāt know how that would best be utilized in the game. I suspect that any new races going forward would mostly have positive racials.
The idea itself isnāt a bad one. Itās moreso in the context of WoW specifically that it would need to be tested and explored. Sure, the idea of someone going āOh! An enemy Saurok player! I should use my cold magic on them!ā is a neat concept, but I do recall at one point that Forsaken were weak to Paladinsā undead skills, which got changed at some point either during development or after the game first came out. I canāt remember the reasons given, but balancing might have been one of them. It also depends on what the devs want to accomplish when they design racials and balancing for PvE and PvP.
The other racials are neat ideas. Iāve gone over a few throughout the thread and written about them, but itās always good to see others write their takes on them. I will say that Saurok likely would not breathe underwater, as they donāt have gills, but they would be able to hold their breath longer underwater, much like how real life lizards can.
Happy to see others come and post their thoughts, ideas, and support. It is much appreciated!
Theyāre a nice place to pull ideas from especially since they appear tribal but still stand toe to toe with some strong civilized nations and even win hard.
Whenever I get it up and running, Iāll be sure to post a link here. It may be a bit, as Iām trying to focus on finishing up a bunch of quizzes and a project. Iāll also have to look into how to design a Discord and such. Right now, I just wanted to gauge interest in such an idea, but Iāll try to look into it when I can.
On another note, I did find this neat video that shows off some lizards with some beautiful scale patterns. Would be potentially useful in inspiring some Saurok scale customization options:
Iāve wanted a reptilian race since I mained an Iksar Necro in Everquest. Saurok fit the bill nicely, now if theyād just reintroduce them outside pandaria we might get somewhere. My main beef with the sethrak people is I feel sethrak is the clearly inferior option and I highly doubt they will make two playable reptilian races. So go Saurok!
Good to know, maybe there is hope. I honestly would have no problem with any additional races if some people want them. I mean Iām a mechagnome, I love it, but it isnāt for everyone. I donāt think I could play a Vulpera but Iām not mad they exist or anything. Now if theyād just make playable Makrura.
I know what you mean. My Mechagnome is Coaxial. Iām very taken with him. So much so I made three more shortly after I started playing him.
I do hope blizzard adds more races with the AR system, and I really wish theyād just go nuts. Saurok, Sethrak, ankoan, Gilgoblins, Arrakoa, botani, Saberon, ogres, high elves. Give us everything.
Itās important to keep talking about what youāre into. Blizzard may not make your race now, but if they never hear you, or they see you stopped talking, why would they think itās still a desire?
Ermā¦ Got a bit off topic there.
I think folk need to drop the us vs. them mentality with ARās. Hating on other ARās just makes folk be jerks. No one wants that.
Makruraā¦ Iād genuinely like to see how theyād do armor.
)