A New Level of Gameplay
Since the release of World of Warcraft, the game has not only attracted millions of players, but has also maintained its market by constantly providing new challenges, increasingly complex gameplay options, catering to the needs of subscribers with a wide range of play styles, from casual chilling to hardcore raiding. Each expansion provided new areas to explore together with new quests, either new races or new classes, and many updates to the leveling system, talent system, abilities, as well as new ways of sharing experiences (via guilds, dungeons, raids, achievements etc.).
After the Burning Crusade, the Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm, the new civilization of the Pandaren makes its appearance in Azeroth, when version 5.0 of the game, called Mists of Pandaria, hits the servers, possibly next year, even though the release date has not been announced yet.
New Race and New Class
Previous expansions have contributed either a new class or new races to Azeroth, but now, for the first time in the history of Azeroth, we are to welcome both, as the continent of Pandaria reveals its mysteries and its inhabitants pave the way for a new way of fighting for many other races as well.
The Pandaren are peaceful race, resembling pandas, and they join the ranks of both the Alliance and the Horde. Their racial traits include perks such as 100% bonus on well fed buffs, increased cooking ability, doubly long-lasting rested bonus, reduced fall damage, and a special ability to put enemies to sleep. These, especially the increased stat benefits from food, and the stun ability, will most probably make the Pandaren very popular among raiders.
Monks are to be the eleventh fighting class in Azeroth. Deeply spiritual, but also nimble fighters, monks are specialized in martial arts. They can wield, among others, staves, one handed axes, and maces, but their distinguishing talent is their ability to use their bare hands and feet in combat. A rough combination of discipline priests, druids, and enhancement shamans, monks will wear leather armor and will be able to act as healers, tanks, or melee DPS, depending on their chosen talent build.
Level Cap and Quests in Pandaria
With a new continent come new quests to solve, both at a low level (in the zone serving as a starting point for Pandaren characters), and at high level, which allows players to level to the new cap, which will now be set at 90.
Of the five zones in the new land, the Jade Forest leads the way into the continent, and level 85 players can begin their journey toward level 90 here. The Valley of the Four Winds, the Kun-Lai Summit, the Townlong Steppes and the Vale of Eternal Blossom make up the rest of the new areas. The area, as well as its inhabitants present a multitude of Asian motifs and symbols in their appearance, their spirituality, even their names.
Improved Talent System, Character Progression and Multiplayer Experience
Among the many functional novelties to accompany the new expansion, the most intriguing ones seem to be the enhancements brought on spec-building, which appears to take a step in more sensible and also fun direction, by allowing players to specialize more easily and more effectively in their field of choice.
Beside talents, spells and abilities will be rethought too: characters will learn them automatically (will this lead to the class trainers starving to death?), and the addition of new spells together with the removal of outdated ones.
An interesting novelty appears to be the introduction of the concept of "Scenarios", which are apparently a mixture between group quests and dungeons: PVE quest events which require a group of players to complete, but no roles (such as tank or healer or DPS - any combination of classes will work) and takes the gamers through a linear event in the story of a questline.
What Users Say
The initial reactions of players to the announcement were mixed, as usual. Hardcore raiders are excited about the great well fed buff of the Pandaren, levelers are intrigued by the monk class, goth fans believe that panda-like beings with silly animations look childish and trivial, while Warcraft gurus brag about their having anticipated the coming of the Pandaren. Generally, the official word stirred the entire gaming (and ex-gaming) community. It is yet to be seen if the Mists of Pandaren will convince former players to return to Azeroth, or if it will drive some disappointed souls away. New players are less and less likely to start playing (for more than a short trial), as fresh start will now require five purchases.
The fact is, the game has become more and more linear with the advent of the Lich King expansion, and increasingly "hack-and-slash" oriented with Cataclysm. With the introduction of quest-helping tools, the dungeon finder system and added emphasis on raids, the game requires less intelligence and more grind/playtime. The game's initial requirements of brain muscle and creativity have been replaced by endless hours of grinding and killing, granted, with increasingly improved visual effects. It seems that World of Warcraft has outgrown its own success and it is now directed toward the hardcore gamers who are willing to invest time and money and then some more time into grinding. With the Panda expansion apparently following this direction (simplified instructions, easy spell rotations, linear questing, straightforward tasks), at the first glance it provides little challenge for intelligent, but not hardcore gamers. However, anything new will turn curious eyes toward Azeroth.
Whether Pandas will take over the world or whether the whole of Azeroth will become deserted like Dalaran after the launch of Cataclysm, time, and through time, gamers will be the judge of Blizzard's initiative of announcing another expansion so soon after Cataclysm.
Sources
- Battle.net
- Blizzcon 2011 official page
Noemi Csiki - Noemi Csiki teaches English and writes non-fiction and short fiction. She has experience in proofreading and an interest in language ...
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