Posted by iTZKooPA on Friday, July 24th, 2009 - 42 Comments
Tags: cross faction, faction choice, goblins, murloc, naga, neutral faction, ogre, the next expansion, third faction, vrykul, wishful thinking, worgen
Could These Be The Faces Of The Future?
Ever since MMO-Champion.com dug up those stupid masks the corner of the Internet that is home to WoW has been a storm of investigation. Shortly after discovering the pair of Worgen and Goblins masks another four pairs, Naga, Ogre, Murloc, Vrykul were found. The discovery dosed the fire surrounding Horde Goblins and Alliance Worgen, while at the same time fueling the idea of a third faction being introduced to World of Warcraft.
In my opinion two factions suck. Few games have implemented just a pair of competitors successfully. This is in large part due to the grass is always greener effect. If you are beaten badly by the opposing team, then the developer likes them more, they are overpowered or there are population problems. Some of the complaints are certainly real, but one way developers, including Blizzard itself, has skirted the issue is by having more than two factions (see Starcraft’s three factions and Warcraft III’s four). As such, I would love to see a third faction, but I don’t expect it to play out as many would have us believe.
Most of what I have seen points to the neutral faction being one in name only. That somewhere down the line you would chose who to fight for, Alliance (obviously) or Horde (fail). It sounds absolutely awesome, and I would love to see it happen, but I doubt it. To implement this Blizzard would have to drastically change the stance on factions, again. Specifically, the company would have to allow players to have characters of different factions on the same server (already allowed on non-PvP servers). Otherwise my Goblin (duh) could never be truly neutral if Solidexplosion was forced to select Alliance down the road because of Solidsamm’s and Solidsagart’s affiliations.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t see a neutral faction happening. In fact I wrote the unique classes hoping this could come to fruition. Blizzard could easily implement a third faction (based on the masks no less), one that stays out of the Alliance-Horde affairs. One that watches from the sidelines offering refugee for any that may require it. One that I will label as the “Swiss” faction. These non-aggressors will act as diplomats between the warring sides, while still contributing to the often combined goals of said sides, such as killing the Lich King. In the long run there’d be more work needed to create a separate entity, but the new content should be far more appreciated than tacking on a choice down the road.
Certainly if a neutral faction was to happen, the cash flush Goblins would be the race in charge, with the battle hardened Worgen, brutal Ogres, and the swarm happy Murlocs lending a helping hand. The multi-talented Vrykul are new to Warcraft, so their addition as a playable class would annoy this purist. After how many times I creeped them, or grinded them for reputation, I believe the fifth slot should go to the furry Furbolgs.
And yes, I know I ignored the Naga masks. While there could be some sort of Forsaken-type branch or tribe, I write off their addition to the line-up of Hallow’s End fun to the fact that they are the incoming bad guys.
Again, I’d love it if Blizzard makes me eat this post with a side of ‘in your face,’ but I just don’t see Blizzard revamping the PvP servers to allow them to go cross faction. It’d be a bit of work, just for a choice down the line. But they have done crazier things. Speaking of the choice, let’s hope it’ll be a cool, lengthy quest line to prove your allegiance.
What would some of the racial benefits be? Goblins get extra gold from kills, Murloc has higher level fishing, and Ogres get, umm, kaleidoscope vision? What is more likely, the labor intensive relative to reward faction choosing, or an entirely new faction? What about blending the two, letting you chose a side, or remaining in the new faction? That’d be interesting.
Related Posts: Leaked: WoW Cataclysm will Feature Worgen and Goblin, Wishful Thinking: Changes To Inventory, Wishful Thinking: Boss Mob Rotation For 5-Man Flavor, Wishful Thinking: WoW On A Netbook, Wishful Thinking: Fewer-Than-Five-Player Dungeons,
By Rikaku on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Personally, I think having a neutral or choose-your-faction based group would be terrible. Some people may think it’s cool, but I just think it sounds terrible. Faction selection should remain when you create a character, not after it’s made in my opinion.
But that’s just my opinion, not everyone’s.
By Albullno on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 9:53 am
i think it could work its way into the storyline quite easily. you could start off doin quests to get your own faction going, then do quests from either or both existing factions, slowly uniting the two together. then, when it came time to face arthas (or his expansion’s equivalent) all 3 factions would be united on one huge front. existing factions could do quests with the neutral faction to further the storyline.
By billybob on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 10:10 am
i think mmo champion are just being stupid, thinking they are playable champion, there just masks they dont tell the future, if there was a neutral faction would they be friendly to both allies and horde? because thats kinda stupid.
plus they would have to redo all of the pvp to include this fake faction.
so i think these are just masks, nothing more, nothing less.
By Maumi on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 10:14 am
My problem with the idea of a new faction is that all the characters are going to start from 1 so no one on that faction would have a shot at a server first kill or the like.
By assface on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 10:18 am
OMG imagine a DK naga. Badass
By Slyfanitor on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Maybe they could do on PvP servers that if you already have for example a Horde character and decide to make one for the neutral you could only switch your neutral character to Horde or just stay in the neutral one, and if you like your neutral character enough you could delete your old horde character or transfer it to another realm and then if you want you can switch your neutral character to alliance side
By veldoran on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 11:14 am
imo, a neutral faction will never happen. if you could play a goblin and then after doing all the opening quests you get to choose what faction you want to side with it would mess with a mechanic that is significantly important: in wow and just about every other mmo, their needs to be a recognizable enemy. example, if you play alliance and you see an orc running around, you know hes horde. if you play ally and you see a goblin running around you don’t instantly know if hes on your side or not. I have to agree with the guys and girls over at wow.com and say that a neutral faction is not ever going to happen. sorry to burst your bubbles but this wont ever happen. As for the masks i think its just blizzards way of screwing with us. I wouldnt mind a playable worgen, but having a playable goblin would mess with alot of things. Booty bay etc.
By Uthers on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 11:58 am
First off Neutral Faction is just a bad way of phrasing it. Third faction, or even, “vague coalition of remaining humanoids and semi humanoids that are neither Horde nor Alliance (technically Grand Alliance, even) but forming a third presumably interested party” fare better. For that matter, the Alliance’s shortened name makes naming a third faction difficult. Grand Alliance versus Outcast Alliance, anyone?
Second, this is something I have talked to my friends about for as long as I’ve been playing the game. I will also add, that I am currently in favor of having the third faction wait for an upcoming update. I wasn’t originally, but I have to admit a certain appeal to working it into Lore somehow rather than just throwing another faction out there.
Third, before i see a third faction, I would like to see the ability to fall out of favour with your home faction. Seriously, we have Druids of all kinds working together, a Blood Elf and Draenei routinely spouting background chatter in the Underbelly, and NPCs that seem to be able to (a) learn opposing faction languages (How DID the Sin’Dorei and Forsaken forget common human exactly, anyway) and (b) put aside factionary differences in order to do other things (admittedly, more Druids than anyone else, but hey, who’s counting?) It would be especially nice in RP servers. Granted, RP is limitted (player actions have no real, lasting effect on the game world. Lack of language learning mechanics. The fact that RP servers are just glorified normal servers anymore. You can’t just attack anyone in your own faction whenever you like. etc…), but what better place to implement Horde humans, Alliance Tauren, Third Party Allied Naga, and whatever else?
I know that most of this stuff just isn’t going to happen. Coding limits among other factors limiting, but as long as we’re speculating (and perhaps dreaming?), why not speculate large?
And finally (ourth), why not allow players to join existing groups? Not like titles (Guardian of Cenarius, for example), but third party groups such as the Cenarion Circle, or perhaps the Sunreavers? All could give a guild name type title, and could give other benefits as well? Perhaps by “joining” the Argent Crusade you gain some sort of buff dependent upon your rep with them, or perhaps even an ability to enact a kind of “diplomatic immunity” shield where you cannot attack or be attacked by other players while the shield holds? There are lots of existing groups that are already sort of mini-factions, and many possibilities therein.
the Uthers
By Trial on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
dont you guys think that it will still take A LONG time to a new expansion?
that starting to play the game is expensive already?
that you are making way too many topics about the same?
its not even here and im sick of it already
By Fuzzy on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
i dont think th expansion will turn out very good until blizz has china playing again. 6million people times $15 a mont is a major loss.
By Moophobia on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
i would love a 3rd faction and think it would add an awesome element to the game. two party systems are never good, bring that third person (faction) in to mix things up!!!!!!
By Dan on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I would love to be able to do this crazy long quest and be exiled by my current faction because of something stupid I did in the quest. (Saved a captured Alliance that was wanted for some crime or something) and then forcing you to start grinding the opposite faction rep to be able to go into their cities. Start out at hated like you already are and you have to grind rep with every city you want to go it. I realize it would be a pain in the ass to people who don’t play much or something but for someone who absolutely loved the KotoR Good/Evil meter and how much work went into being one or the other I could really get into it.
They also need to add an option of learning other languages…..I want to be more than bi-lingual
By Montes on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
DEATH KNIGHT murlok: ARRAGHRHAGHRGH(Army of the dead)
By assface on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I was thinking an easy way bliz could do a 3rd faction is rep. I mean theres already tons of it now, you do quest for horde and kill alliance looks like your with the horde and vice versa with alliance. And bliz really have done crazier things i dont think its out of the question
By higy on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
i don’t think it would work if u chose a race and then chose a faction because there would be horde and alliance worgans, or goblins killing each other and it would confuse many people in pvp.
By Mr.Vincent on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
MMO Champion is just a troll, they wanted to start something and they did.
By Stevo on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
oh wow, they would totally have to reconsider battlegrounds with a third faction. That would be the major drawback from introducing a third faction, i would think…
Sounds great, I can’t wait to roll a worgen!
By Alayea on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I am against there being a so-called “third faction” for one reason only: The current lore would not support it, meaning that there’d have to be yet another ret-con of some sort. I say keep the lore the way it is; one ret-con is bad enough.
By Octaviax on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
A Neutral Faction or “choose-your on faction” will NEVER HAPPEN! Why? Blizzard has said so, and think of all the problems it would have (mainly from PVP)
By Wittgenstein on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Well, the “choose your faction” feature will, in fact, never happen…orcs roaming around Stormwind? nay…
By Drekraijin on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
i doubt a “choose your faction” type thing would be included… but i dont see why a neutral faction wouldnt be put in. id love to make a worgen.
and to the people that say it would be confusing in pvp… all you gotta do is look for red names. lol.
By Kyndranigar on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
If anyone wanted to know the ‘name’ of the third faction, easily it’d be: ‘Cartel’.
Those goblin already employ ogres, naga and murlocs for their endeavors (as well as humans and gnolls).
By cocopuff on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
yea the current lore would not alove any of the stuff mantioned above to waht do you do ? make something up the third fracion wouldent be to hard to include and only the third fraction should be able to choose the fraction to alighn with like scribes/aldor in shatrath and blizz would have to introduce a new liine of classes it odesnt make any sance to see a DK naga or murlock or worgen i think theirs a very good cahnce that blizz might do this day did it before except this is going to be on a larger scale how ever it will cause lots of confusion
By Sancterus on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Third faction or new playable races that should be added.
I think:
Worgen (still cool has bedrock can be playable and could be both horde or alliance)
Goblin (i’m not a big fan of the short guys in this game, but they could be both horde or alliance)
Vry’kul (yes. Although they seem more like alliance since they are basically a primitive species of human)
Pandaren (Blizzard has stated that they want to open up old world. Pandaria has to be opened just above Stonetalon. They would be more on the horde)
Iron or Wildhammer Dwarf (every faction needs either an elf or dwarf…alliance you are so lucky)
Honestly i’d like to see more races and if they just added 2 new races per faction(Horde gets goblin and pandaren Alliance gets vry’kul and worgen. this would give each faction both 1 new druid race) I’d be fine
By 5thlive on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 6:12 am
I would not bet on a third faction due to that fact that it is easier to pvp with 2 sides.
Still if they made a third faction then why not make a fourth to have like horde vs alliance and 3th faction vs 4th faction.
And i have kinda a problem with making goblins a horde because they only join the guy with the must gold and is not loyal to a person any longer than that persons gold.
And many of the other races like murloc and naga is not (from lore) looked as a friend more of a evil. But still there is a few murlocs that are friendly (there is a tribe in Northrend lend by a Night elf in costume), And maybe there is a friendly naga but i will not count on it.
Pandaren will properly not be a race due to the fact that china will not like it that pandas can be killed.
I am more sure about their will be one new race on each side to well make it more fair and easier.
By Longlashes on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 11:08 am
ok come on people this is just halloween masks for wow its not another class we have all seen thos things while playing so they made them as a mask i dont rlly think there would be a nuetral fraction either thats dumb do you really think blizz is going to let us play as a big serpant or a murloc come on think people
By lolumad92 on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Ogre DK? fail
Worgen DK? could be cool
Murloc DK? EPIC
naga DK? cool
Vrykhul DK? cba
:p
By Aviz on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@ Drekraijin
I totaly agree with you there with the names. come on people just look for the red names. I don’t see the problme unless you don’t know how to work the interface menu. and murloc DK would be epic. But what about murloc hunter, with BM talent. Now thats epic
By Sam on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Too bad the masks added later all use existing textures, while the female worgen is still brand new art.
By Chessie on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 3:35 am
There was something that EverQuest did way back when it was starting to try and compete with Warcraft. I recall that they added the ability for a player to “posses” an NPC Monster character. Generally a lower level monster in a relatively low level area. You could then use the NPCs inherent abilities and run around basically making a mockery of newer players who expected the fight to be simple, i.e. drawing the player into aggro range of other monsters. You could never, of course, control a powerful monster (for obvious reasons). It just seems that adding additional factions into Warcraft this late in it’s development would really just be something like what EverQuest did. A way to distract high end players who have achieved so much that they have become bored with the standard game play.
By Apollumi on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 6:24 am
Pandarens would not be horde at all. IF you read wowwiki, it states they hate the NE but love the Dawrves since they love Alcohol as much as them.
the BE hate all of the horde but the Forsaken.
By Joanofdarc on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Yes i have been wanting a neutral faction for years. i think it would be soo cool for play as a centuar!
By Ebek on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
First!
By madarra on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
i dont realy care about new race`s but i would love if they would switch Blood Elfs from green to Blue eyes. i mean they could , Kil`jaeden`s been banished Kael`Thas is dead (for now) and the SUNWELL is restored purified so we got our magic addiction prety much settled so can we pls go back to blue eyes it would be so much cooler
By Pino on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
First of all, a ‘choose-your-faction’ type thing is already on. Ever been to Shattrat? Scryers, Aldor?
Choosing between Horde and Alliance would be more difficult since every race has his own side. Not individuals but complete races made the choice to form the Alliance and others the Horde. Also its easier to recognize your factionmembers by race (sounds a little rascist, sorry for that)
It could be an idea to create a third faction of goblins and ogres, since they’re already part of the neutral factions Booty Bay, Everlook etc But Worgen? Naga? Murlocs? Except for a murloc-pet I’ve never seen a friendly one. Putting them together with the goblins and ogres… Furbolgs would be better, those Sporeggar-guys or Ancients of the cenarion circle. Imagine playing one of those!
But here’s another idea. Why not just let the Ebon Blade return under the Lich King’s command and so create a faction of all DK’s, Horde and Alliance?
Since every DK, Horde or Alliance, already fights for the Ebon Blade and not for the faction they’re in. The Ebon Blade commands them to fight for the faction they were in before they died, but they still even haven’t got a mind of their own.
They would be neutral, they kill both sides and more.
10 races to choose from, giving each race some extra advantages towards others.
To equalize the strength between Horde/Alliance classes and DK’s, there can be a debuff. Horde or Alliance player can say: mommy/daddy is that you? and the DK gets the recognize-debuff, making him/her cry and disabling parry or dodge chance.
Problem would be, that both other factions lose alotta cool daily’s for the Ebon Blade and they would be hostile or hated or something like that with them, like towards eachother.
Not a big fan of DK’s, I see too many decay uh DK’s around. Last time I looked Stormwind turned into an Ebon Blade stronghold. Would love to clear that up.
But if this happens, I will lvl my DK. Made one, was hoping to stand beside the Lich King forever, hearing the words ‘For the Lich King’ everytime again, fighting for his glory for eternity. But . . . . . . fail.
By Nlin on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 4:30 am
I think “neutral” is a bad way to describe the faction. I would love to see the faction to be hostile vs both the Alliance and the Horde.
I don’t see how Blizzard would need a big retcon for this to happen. If Blizzard puts in this new faction it could be because of several reasons, and here is one way to put it:
The goblins see that the Alliance and Horde are getting to powerfull beating the Lich King and decide to make an own Alliance in their own benefit. They call in the Ogres and Vrykul and find a somewhat renegade group of Naga who quickly join them along with troop of Murlocs. In the end Worgen join as well somewhere
Now for this to happen another more important question needs to be asked: What about the cities, starting areas, mounts, if they are hostile vs both Alliance and Horde alot of new quests need to be included than… (Maybe they start at level 65, adding a new zone to outland or “maelstrom zone”, so they only need to make ajustments to Northrend, still very unlikely)
So me thinks these masks are there to support an altered version of “A Mask for All Occasion”
By Zaraken on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 6:02 am
Well if neutral means you start neutral in starting zone but once exit you must choose a side would work. If on a pvp server and you are alliance and you start a neutral character you get no choice your forced alliance, I don’t see the big deal on that argument easy to solve.
Now a true 3rd faction that could be a bit harder and to solve enemy issue 3 way war hostile against Horde and Alliance. BGs easy the queue picks the first two sides that have number needed fight. Make similar but altered a bit of the bgs so it different depending on which two fighting. WG well that needs some fixing anyway.
New faction small size not an issue if they getting races that are the most wanted list like worgen, naga, goblins, ..sigh pandareans, etc. Glad that not mask rather get drakonids masks/race first
By Blight on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Well, actually, a third faction is kind of interesting, and well.. perhaps that is what’s going on, or perhaps a way to switch sides.
Why do I think this?
Well, City of Heroes/Villains (hereafter referred to as CoH for simplicity) has kinda had these ideas that Blizzard implements shortly after they are done in CoH. Like big game changing stuff.
For instance.. CoH implemented a Badge system. The system rewarded you with Badges for exploration, completing certain quests, lore discovery, killing mobs, taking damage, healing, etc and these badges would reward you stuff, like nameplate modifiers (titles) etc. A few months later, this was also implemented in WoW as Achievements.
CoH also announced and implemented another biggie before Blizzard, and that was Dual Spec. 2 different specs you could swap between.
Anyhow, the reason I mention all this is because a new expansion was announced for CoH called Going Rogue. Which will allow you to effectively change faction, and possibly have a third Rogue faction. I’m not entirely clear on the details, I just know faction change is in.
Will we see this in WoW? Only Blizzard knows that, either way, I wouldn’t be too shocked if it was announced at Blizzcon.
By 1st on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 9:42 am
First!
By benrob on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 10:52 am
well this is all good and all and it would be awsome if we got to have a third faction that is ahelper of both sides but i cant w8 for blizzard to open up the pandarians to us and mabey have us explore panderia!
By Longlashes on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
If the nuetrul fraction is real we will learn more about it when blizzcon comes. but there will have to be a ton of stuff to work out like having a new starting place for pvp. then is there going to be a new class along with the new fraction?
By jj on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at 3:59 am
mount ideas
I think orcs should have a new mount a boar and worgens get the wolf murlocs ride a fish thing goblins rhave a jet pack turtle or go cart thingy vrykl thingy midgey should have a RHINO! and naga should ride a snake