WoW Needs to Clarify What Type of Damage Each Class Does and Where It Comes From

Lore Story Forum
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With the revelation of the new cosmic map of WoW that retcons Chronicle, coupled with the thematic class changes since Legion, WoW needs to clarify what type of power each class uses and where it comes from because it is currently inconsistent.

Death Knights, for example, do Shadow damage, and this makes sense because we have learned their power comes from the Shadowlands and the Jailer whom specializes in Shadow/Domination magic.

Warlocks also do Shadow damage, which is inconsistent because their damage comes from Disorder and Fel, as it stands. Warlock Shadow damage then, should not be called Shadow damage. It should be called Fel or something synonymous.

Shadow Priests are the biggest outlier, because Shadow is in the name and in the damage, but in Legion Shadow Priests were turned into Void Priests. Their power is now canonically Void power, but they’re still called Shadow Priests and do Shadow damage, which is inconsistent. Blizzard renamed the “Void” section of the cosmic map to “Shadow,” which is also inconsistent, because you have the Shadowlands and that Shadow magic, which is hitherto not the same as Void magic- its Death. Shadow Priests then need to either be renamed Void Priests, as their entire class fantasy is now based around, or Death Knights need to just do “Death Damage,” or something synonymous.

Mages vs Druids you have Mages doing Arcane magic from the “Order” portion of the cosmos, and druids doing Arcane magic via Elune Power. So, again, which is it? Clarify where these damages come from, the sources of power.

In the example of the first 3 classes you have them all doing Shadow Damage, and yet their damage comes from completely different parts of the cosmic map. So what is it? If this is how its supposed to be, then explain how it is not inconsistent. If you can admit its inconsistent, then make the necessary changes. Fel magic, Death magic, Void magic, etc.

Finally, this isn’t a speculation or debate post. It’s a matter-of-fact this is how the game is versus this is what your map says post, and I’m asking for the inconsistencies to be plainly clarified in game. If you’re going to call your new map the “Refined Cosmology,” then refine the details. Enough of these broad-stroke claims without addressing the manifold detailed implications in-game.

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The inconsistencies were created afterward. If I recall correctly, there didn’t used to be a distinction between shadow, void and fel because originally they really were all sourced from the same place. Chaos wasn’t originally its own element, but debuted in WotLK as part of the designers’ fad with multi-element schools: it was all of them (physical/fire/frost/arcane/nature/holy/shadow) combined.

As for druid’s arcane side, that was originally a gameplay concession because it wasn’t real arcane magic; they just used the arcane element as a substitute for lunar magic because to the game designers didn’t think it was a good idea to create an entire kickable elemental branch exclusively for half of one spec of one class. Apparently at some point it was just quietly soft-retconned into being a type of arcane magic too.

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They’re not limited to just one school of magic.

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Exactly, that’s why I start by explaining that if they’re going to write a new map, they need to address the inconsistencies it leaves behind.

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My bad, then I think I misinterpreted the point of your post.

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I thought this was explained a bit in the new Tazavesh Lore Books.

These six forces existed in strife. Well, not strife in the way one such as you or I would see it. Opposition surely, but whether malignant or benign is unclear. There was imbalance, until there was a need for something more.

They came together (or were brought together, depending on how one interprets the fractal) and gave form to their design. Forged? Scribed? Shaped? The exact word is elusive. Each architect gave a portion of themselves, and thus the pattern was drawn.

The six cosmic forces all gave a “piece of themselves” creating reality.

Reality sits within the middle, tapping into each cosmic force as it needs.

It’s kindof hard to explain on the forums, but imagine reality is a Hexagon, 6 sides creating the shape. Each cosmic force pushes on this hexagon creating a sense of “balance.”

(even if it’s an irregular hexagon, the hexagon always exists)

⬡

The beings “inside” reality, inside this hexagon, can tap into any of these cosmic forces for their own needs.

A Shadow Priest taps into the plain of Void when it wishes to cast Shadow Word: Pain, while also then tapping into the plain of Holy to cast Heal.

A warlock tapes into the plain of Void to cast Shadowbolt, but also into Fel when they want to cast Chaos Bolt.

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False. Shadow is just an alternate word for Void, and Death Knights use Death magic. Death is in no way related to Void/Shadow. The Jailer uses Death magic, not Shadow. This point in particular needs constant saying, on this forum.

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Remember when things were simple, but also more open ended? Before Chronicle? When The Twisting Nether was simply the realm of magic, thought, and emotion?

I think in the old lore, magic was simply divided into arcane and divine. Arcane is raw magic channeled directly from the nether, with Fel being arcane at its most corrupt and extreme.

Divine magic was magic filtered through a divine medium, like a god, or even the power of belief itself. In this version of the lore, shadow and holy magic were expressions of intent and belief. This allowed for a lot of overlap between the different classes and factions. Shadow magic is OFTEN associated with the old gods, but it doesnt BELONG to them exclusively. Its simply malice given form. That’s why warlocks, loa priests, and various other groups can utilize it. The same goes for holy magic with the scarlet crusade. So long as you BELIEVE your intentions are just, you can utilize it.

In my opinion, the pre-chronicles lore allows for a lot more open endedness, player agency, and organic storytelling. As it stands, pigeonholing each form of magic into these discrete, opposing forces just makes the cosmos feel small and restrictive. As the OP clearly shows, it also overcomplicates things and leaves room for massive inconsistencies.

I know WoW has to evolve and expand, but that shouldnt involve haphazardly re-contextualizing decades of worldbuilding.

These are the consequences.

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Incorrect, read Legacy of the Masters (Part 1)

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I think he means in game tooltips:

[Death Coil]
40 Runic Power 30 yd range
Instant cast

Requires Death Knight

Fires a blast of unholy energy at the target, causing (50.3% of Attack power) Shadow damage to an enemy or healing an Undead ally for (265% of Attack power) health.

Now, one could argue “unholy energy” is a merger of Death and Void…

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Thats literally the point of my post. I say in the post that Death Knights tooltips should not say shadow damage then, it should say Death or something synonymous. Read more?

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Read “it needs to be clarified in game” and represented in our ability categorizations.

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I don’t think blizzard is going to add a death school of magic as a mechanic.

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I appreciate your investigation, but I don’t think dividing the universe into hexagons, fractals, and so forth appears to be a effective way of clarifying ability and power categorizations.

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The point rather is that classes can use different types of magic, as they see fit.

A few spells here and there are worded poorly, I agree.

But in the case of Death Knights.

Outbreak can do Shadow Damage, it can be a “shadow based” ability. Nothing says that Death Knights use Death Magic and only Death Magic.

Also, similar to a few other abilities in the game, such as Chaos Bolt, it could be a mixture of the two.

Corpse Explosion could be the Death Knight infusing Shadow into their Undead ally until it erupts into a Shadow Damage based burst.

It this merger of the two magics that causes the effect. Adding Fire to Water creates boiling water.

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We are assuming that classes, in this new lore framework, can use differed orders of magic- an assumption I would like to see officially clarified in plain terms. Beyond that, my point stands that there needs to be clarity on where in this new cosmic framework these powers come from, and flesh out the inconsistencies in game.

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Sane people recognize that using words like “unholy” and “shadow” in in-game tooltips are just fancy adjectives that aren’t meant to convey any real meaning. Too many people here pour over flavor text when you aren’t supposed to. This whole forum has a problem with over-interpretation.

Not everyone here is an over-literal, numerologist madman that pours over every piece of text looking for hidden meaning when there is none, like a few of the posters here (you know who) who start raving about Vorlons and fractals and dissecting The Shining for moon landing hoaxes.

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That being said I do think having 10 schools of magic (one per element, one per cosmic force) + physical would be good.

Eg Shadow Bolt and Mind Flay both be Shadow, Shadow Word Death and Unholy Strike both be Death, Hand of Guldan and Immolation Aura both be Fel, etc

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Your response is also false, because you clearly think the Jailer is related to Shadow. You’re acting like my pointing out your error was “proving” your post, when you’re clearly just wrong.

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Taking comfort in false senses of “we” and “everyone” to mask your own inadequacies.

I didn’t say the “Jailer is related to Shadow.” I initially said you made a haphazard and incomplete reply, which you did, that neglected the entire context of the post while you misquoted one line. Furthermore, I didn’t say “the Jailer is related to Shadow.” I said it makes sense for DKs to do shadow damage if they want to continue this logic of shadow power coming from the SHADOWlands and the Jailer. Or that they need to rename it Death magic if it is indeed not Shadow magic. So far, no action has been taken to remedy this in game.

If you read at all you would ascertain that I don’t agree with WoW’s presentation of this order, and am seeking clarity via official canon to rectify these inconsistencies. You’re just a troll. Get out of here