INTRODUCTION
NOTE: You can skip this intro, as I’d really like your opinions on what I’ve got going for class halls thus far! To sum it up: this is an old world revamp project that seeks to expand upon the open world and stop borrowed power and systems in general. Shadowlands lore is invalidated by virtue of being an illusion of Yogg-Saron, who we know is tied to the Lich King and death.
Hey there! So I’m currently working on a little project and would like to hear your guys’ thoughts on a few things. Essentially, this is a WoW “reset” that revamps the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, and we return to this revamped Azeroth following the Shadowlands for a fresh MMO experience. Here’s some conditions:
- Shadowlands/Death Lore - Keeping the Original Lore Relevant: In lore prior to Shadowlands, we learned of the tie between Yogg-Saron and the Lich King. This reset project basically sets up the Shadowlands as an illusion made by Yogg-Saron, with only the actual souls and outside forces (i.e. Nathrezim, Naaru) being real. The Jailer, the Eternal Ones, the First Ones, and Zereth Mortis are all just constructed illusions created by Yogg-Saron. Yogg’s justification is to bring order to death (which is otherwise very chaotic and is terrifying for souls), but the Titans say it’s to distract souls from keeping up their guard so he could eventually take advantage of them.
- Systems (or Lack Thereof): No. New. Systems. No borrowed power. No artifacts. No soulbinds. No Torghast. No outlandish currency farming. No relic farming. Everything (including the class halls) are based in questing, dungeons, raiding, PvP, outdoor content, professions, classes… all of the core things that make an MMO what it is. The only thing that you may consider a system in this regard are certain new expansion features (which won’t be expansion-specific and will build upon existing content, like Timewalking) and certain little gimmicks here and there (Darkmoon Faire, i.e.).
With that said, let me get into the class hall concepts! I’d love to hear your guys’ opinions on this.
CLASSES AND CLASS ORDERS
It’s approximately five years after the events of Shadowlands took place, and class orders have set up their bases of operation throughout the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. From an early level, players will be able to fulfill their class (not necessarily spec) fantasy throughout the entirety of the game.
There won’t be any gimmicks or systems this time around (so no mission tables, artifacts, etc.), and they’ll be updated and built upon throughout expansions.
Class Orders and Halls
Class orders will largely be a continuation of the organizations formed in Legion. You won’t lead your class order (a famous lore character of your class will), but you can become a high-ranking officer in your class order.
Order halls will be established throughout the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, and will be where players can learn abilities, talents, progress with their class campaigns, and do other class-related activities.
Here’s a few examples of some class orders and their order halls.
MONK
Class Order - The August Celestials: Under the spirit of Emperor Shaohao and the August Celestials, the monks of Azeroth practice the ancient paths and trials of the four August Celestials.
Order Hall - Shen-zin Monastery: Long ago, when Liu Lang and Shen-Zin Su were still young and traveling the seas of Azeroth, they came across a mountain range that eventually became Winterspring in Kalimdor. Deep beneath the mountains, Liu Lang established the underground Shen-zin Monastery, which he and Shen-Zin Su soon abandoned to continue traveling the high seas.
WARRIOR
Class Order - Valorguard: Under the Valarjar, the many warriors of Azeroth serve as mercenaries of the Valorguard, which has been organized to search for a missing Odyn and stop the raids of a vengeful God-King Skovald, who has seized control of the Helarjar to use their fury following Helya’s death to lay siege to titan facilities across Azeroth (this is essentially the campaign).
Order Hall - Valorfall: The Halls of Valor have collapsed upon the remnants of Tyr’s Tomb in Tirisfal Glades. Convene with the Valarjar and investigate Odyn’s disappearance, turning these ruined grounds into a sacred base of operations to lead the fight against God-King Skovald.
Class Campaigns
Admittedly, some class campaigns weren’t the greatest (the Priest campaign had Paladins saving the day, i.e.). Nonetheless, they all did provide a framework for alt variation and player fantasy.
This version of class campaigns wouldn’t have a good deal of time dedicated to spec-related fantasy in terms of obtaining Artifact weapons. These campaigns instead deal with the lore and history of each class, and face a significant threat against which each class can truly shine.
One thing I’d like to note is cosmic lore. Many people want a more grounded story, and this is what that sequel project does. However, some classes are intertwined with cosmic forces (Death Knights with Death, Demon Hunters with Fel, Priests with Light/Void, etc.). Class campaigns that utilize the cosmic forces in their stories will do so in a way that provides information about the cosmic forces by telling a more grounded story.
I’ll highlight a few class campaigns that do this to provide an example of what I’m referring to.
PRIEST
Class Campaign - Ravings of the Prophet Skeram: Priests in Azeroth come together under an organization known as the Church of the Fallen Prophet, which represents the teachings of a now-dead Alonsus Faol.
Priests will conduct an inquiry into a long line of research that they discovered that was written by the Prophet Skeram (the raid boss and religious leader in Ahn’Qiraj) in which he makes several claims that the first priesthoods were militant groups made to serve a naaru or an Old God that existed upon Azeroth in ancient times. Seek out the buried locations of these priesthoods, and learn the origins of priest practices on Azeroth.
DEATH KNIGHT
Class Campaign - Might of the Lich King: As I stated above, this project invalidates Shadowlands lore (except for the actual souls and actors [i.e. Nathrezim, naaru] within it) by making Zovaal, the Eternal Ones, the First Ones, and all of the realms an illusion created by Yogg-Saron.
Bolvar Fordragon has returned to the Frozen Throne, and has directed the Four Horsemen to lead the Knights of the Ebon Blade in quelling the remnants of the Scourge that have broken free, and to ultimately find the missing fragments of the Helm of Domination so it can be pieced back together and Bolvar can ultimately be made the Lich King once more.
During your search for the missing fragments, some of the original connections made between Yogg-Saron and the Lich King, as well as the Nathrezim’s part in creating the Lich King, will be touched upon. There may also be a communion with a lingering essence of Ner’zhul once the Lich King is restored (as his fragment’s destruction in Sanctum of Domination was an illusion by Yogg-Saron as well).
Ultimately, this campaign is about bringing back the might of the Death Knights as loyal adherents to the Lich King and defenders against disorder in undeath (the Scourge).
Signature Expertise
I’ve had a bit of fun with this one thus far! A class’ signature expertise is essentially a special sub-profession that it practices that plays deep into the fantasy of that class. Providing some examples will help explain them a bit better.
SHAMAN
Signature Expertise - Totemshaping: The art of Totemshaping is an attempt to significantly expand upon the use of totems by Shamans. Totemshaping will allow shamans to discover new carving designs to use for their totems that they use in combat, and can also imbue them with slight enhancements that slightly alter the mechanics of their totem-use.
Designs can be discovered for larger totems as well (i.e. the totems that Highmountain Taurens have on their backs). This will largely be a cosmetic function for back-use (for all races, obviously), but I plan on drafting up an ability concept for shamans that allows them to throw down a giant totem or two while in combat.
Designs will be discovered through campaign quests, certain mob drops, as well as totem designs that you find around the world through exploration. The enhancements you apply to them will come as you level (you’ll get quests to discover these enhancements).
DRUID
Signature Expertise - Shapeshifting: This is essentially an extension of the Soulshape ability given to the Night Fae in Shadowlands. Alongside your regular druid forms, you can learn how to shapeshift into any beast or critter.
Learning to shapeshift is different for each creature. Ferocious beasts will require you to collect enough blood from a beast type to attune yourself to its blood and DNA. Some critters will require certain tasks (i.e. gather nuts for squirrels), and some major forms (like the class mount and other interesting, unique forms) will be class-based quests.
Shapeshifting is meant to be a cosmetic function, but can provide certain powers in combat. When you shapeshift into a snake, maybe you’ll get a buff called “Blood of the Serpent” for 60 minutes, which poisons you when you’re not a serpent but slightly increases your critical strike damage and heals you when that critical strike is dealt.
I’m not great with mechanical buffs like that, so do correct me if that’s something that may not really be great in combat.
Class Mount Challenge
The class mount challenge is an actual challenge. Having your class mount means that you’ve mastered the mechanics of your class, and is very difficult to overcome. This challenge comes in the form of a questline, and will heavily involve class fantasy as a means of obtaining the mount.
Here’s a few examples!
ROGUE
Class Mount - Shrouded Deathstalker: The Shrouded Deathstalker is a gigantic spider that rogues will need to seize from an underground Syndicate menagerie. In essence, the rogue class campaign allows rogue players to serve as members of the Uncrowned, or to be more morally-ambiguous mercenaries of the Uncrowned, to put an end to a rise of underground crime organizations across Azeroth.
The mount questline involves a gigantic Syndicate complex that will test the abilities of rogues to use stealth, poisoning, thievery, and their combat abilities to make it through a crime organization’s headquarters without being caught and stealing the Shrouded Deathstalker from the Syndicate Menagerie to use as the rogue mount.
WARRIOR
Class Mount - Ironbrood Progenitor: The Ironbrood Progenitor is a steel-forged proto-drake (with a unique model frame unlike other proto-drakes) from an ancient clan of proto-drakes atop Mt. Alterac. The questline to obtain this class mount involves earning the trust of this proto-drake clan, and then undergoing several bloody, barbaric trials of war prescribed by the proto-drakes so that you can earn the privilege of earning the companionship as one of their own as your class mount.
I hope you guys enjoyed! I’d really appreciate your feedback thus far. If you have any ideas for other classes (I do have most of the ideas except for mounts and class expertise fleshed out for other classes), please let me know! Don’t hesitate to ask about the other class ideas that I have thus far, too!