Unless you’re specifically trying to eliminate the concept of “Classes” from the game, then all of your design choices should be trying to play into the Class Fantasy of each class. By removing class-specific gear, you serve only to erode away what differences do exist.
Every class should feel completely unique from each other, with a rich history and iconic visual theme that help it resonate with players. I’ve wanted to play a Blood Mage from WC3 since the moment BE’s were finally added in TBC, but there’s always been this wishy-washy response from Blizzard as to whether it was a Destro Warlock, or a Fire Mage. With the new Hero Talents, it seemed as though Blizzard had finally committed to an answer, yet by making the new “Kael’thas” set from MoP Remix class agnostic, it once again blurs the line between these classes.
Off sets have existed since BC. Let’s not pretend that this is new.
Example here:
Stop trying to ruin fun. This was a good change and made those sets actually worthwhile. For fudgsicle’s sake, it’s three lousy pieces of gear. There’s an ENTIRE SET on my Fury Warrior above.
We’ve seen pretty consistently that players enjoy Class-exclusive sets. It’s a major reason the Tier 2 and MoP CM sets remain so highly coveted; they have a very clear class identity.
I think “lookalike” gear just erodes the identity of the classes involved. It’s not really a “Paladin set”, for example, if everyone has access to it. It’s one of the reasons I’m sort of bummed the Arathi set is all agnostic, instead of really letting Paladins and Priests immerse themselves in their class fantasy.
Otherwise, the only difference you’re really left with are the visuals of your spells.
Whereas many may have only wanted one set for their class of choice, removing the restriction allows Blizz to recycle these sets to a larger number of people.
E.g. I only bought the Paladin and Hunter sets before, all I cared about. Now I have to consider others.
Probably because it doesn’t mean anything? Your class fantasy isn’t the same as mine. Why can’t a fire warlock have the class fantasy of being like Kael’thas? Because you picked some arbitrary label to slap on him as a mage only? Really it sounds like you’re just gatekeeping what is an acceptable “mage” and what isn’t based on your own biases.
And what about the other classes? What makes the scarlet crusade paladin class set vastly incompatible with a warrior?
Stop being such a Karen, let everyone dress however they want. There are murloc onesies, sailor moon sets, etc. I’m so happy Blizz is slowly pulling the cord.
They’re different design philosophies. You can totally have a game without traditional class structure, that doesn’t make it a lesser game. But you do have to make a commitment to a design choice.
If they just decided “you know what, everyone can have glowing eyes, and whatever color they want, and they can wear whatever armor type or use whatever weapons”, you wind up muddying the waters. Eventually, you’re going to be left asking yourself “what really distinguishes Frost Bolt from Shadowbolt or Smite?”.
WoW’s strength was always in having races and classes that are instantly recognizable fantasies. Whether or not anyone agrees is irrelevant; that’s how the game was designed. Doing away with that design choice undermines a foundational element of what WoW is.
Warcraft’s identity has always been in playable factions and characters that both look and play differently.
You’re turning a mole hill into a mountain. They’re sets that were limited time and they have lookalikes from the trading post that are still class specific. It doesn’t erode anything, not as you say. I went and got the Kael’thas mage stuff but I don’t even play mage. I just took it for that off chance I might one day. I do play warlock and shadow priest though, and now I can use them so yay!
I don’t see this as a bad thing. If they can’t find a way to differentiate between a paladin and priest outside one has mega bulky shoulders, they need to hit the design board again.
If my priest wants to use a bow… so what? Tyrande and night elf priests used to. Does my class fantasy of wanting to be a kaldorei priestess suddenly become invalid because it doesn’t fit the human not-Christianity look?
The problem isn’t the gear or what you cosplay as. Whats the difference between frost bolt and shadow bolt and smite?
One does frost damage, one does shadow, and one holy.
Unfortunately wow has left the nuances of that difference in the dust and no amount of kael’thas cosplay will change that.
WoW’s strength was letting you live your own story regardless of what the mascots and talking heads want. This isn’t a moba or looter shooter or hero gacha. Demon Hunters arn’t all illidan clones. “Instantly recognizable fantasies” and COMPLETLY dependent on the individual. I don’t like kael’thas. He isn’t my fantasy. And i would appreciate it if people would stop telling me what I can or cannot dress up as because it conflicts with their class fantasy.
