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How Awesome Would It Be If…

November 15, 2009 :: Posted by - Plectical :: Category - Other, Role Play

How awesome would it be if players could perform a treasonous act and move between factions? Sure, players can faction transfer already but imagine how cool it would be to see a Night Elf Rogue stalking the streets of Ogrimmar. Many of the differences between classes have already been eliminated (Alliance can be Shamans and Horde can be Paladins), why not take the extra step and allow players to do the unthinkable; commit treason.

Any players wishing to Benedict Arnold would have to perform an extensive quest line that truly imparted the gravity of the decision they’re making (Something similar to the Death Knight starting experience). Players can’t simply switch factions, they’d have to prove their dedication to the cause. Imagine putting the citizens of Goldshire to the sword or making the streets of Hammerfall run red with blood.  How about flinging open the gates of Stormwind to a Defias Invasion or setting explosives in the Deeprun Tram.  The options are endless.

Obviously there would be an initial uproar over the change. The Undead would lament the introduction of humans into Undercity and Draenei would riot when Blood Elves were admitted into the City of Exodar. BGs and Arenas would be filled with cries of treachery as Dwarf attacked Dwarf and Taurens worked alongside Gnomes.  Further, Blizzard would also have their hands full balancing all of the new racial combinations that would start popping up in instances and raids.

Ultimately, treason would be the ultimate quest line that Blizzard could introduce into WOW (a natural extension of the innovation in phasing that we saw in WOTLK), and if Cataclysm were truly as apocalyptic as Blizzard is inferring, then the old rules should no longer apply. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to log onto my Human Warlock and plan a raid on Darnassus.

On a side note, if you aren’t up to date on 18th century portraiture, that my friends, is Benedict Arnold.

Comments (4) :: Add Comment
  • Ozimandias

    This is a really interesting idea that I initially rejected outright because of player silhouettes seems to be such an issue with the game. What I mean is that each class/race combination in WoW has a distinct look to them. At a glance you can identify each combination without so much as a second thought. An Orc warrior looks very different from a human warrior, which looks different from a dwarf rogue and an undead warlock. This is a fundamental game play mechanic that I don’t think Blizz would be wise to implement.
    But on second thought, it would fly in face of the rules, and as you said, “The old rules should not apply.” I really do think that this is a terrific idea! Paying for things out of game and all of a sudden you are a different race or faction just doesn’t sit right with me.

  • veneretio

    I think this would have been super cool. I say would have because I think it really needed to be implemented when they first launched faction changes. I just think it’s too late now. Imagine if the end of the quest line was going into some weird, sketchy laboratory and getting transformed into your new desire race. (maybe even have a quest after the transformation that you had to do to prove your loyalty?)

    Anyway cool thought, nice post.

  • EQ2 already did it

    This has been done and done VERY well in EQ2. The betrayer quest allowed you to change factions and you were locked out of the cities for roughly 2 weeks while you earned the trust of the other faction. It was an awesome feature but I’m not sure it was a “WoW” type quest ;)

  • Brian Middleton

    Cool idea. I can see the QQ in the forums now. Once the quest chain is completed I see a branding of some sort, not a label, but a piece of iron pressed against the traitors forehead marking them forever <insert evil laugh here>. Gotta have a cool cut scene for that!

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