#its okay though cause tyrandes okay with it

[languor-em]

Arth.... Ass.... 😳

Silly little valentine's gift for my bro @necrotalvus !!! We are, in fact, WoW trash. But we are trash, together 🥺

Anyway he's an Arthas kinnie (jk jk- unless 😳) so he asked me to do a doodle of him and I, in all my wisdom and grace, am incapable of taking any Warcraft character seriously.

Anyway- Vol'jin and other troll memes forthcoming. Love you all. Frostmourne hungers, and it's kinda cold in here 😳

[sylvanas-girlkisser]

Okay so I’m gonna use my degree and do some actual game analysis cause I guess that’s what the quarantine has brought me to.

“Class Identity/Fantasy” has been a major topic in both WoW and Hearthstone discourse for the last couple of years. To my knowledge “class identity” isn’t very well defined, which makes sense given it’s an industry not an academic term. For the purpose of this rambling internet post, I understand it as: “The fantasy archetype or trope which a playable class (or subclass) is meant to embody”.

The language Blizzard uses to discuss class fantasy is inherently flawed. It assumes that there is a platonic ideal of what for example the paladin trope represents, rather than being archetypes that are by no means distinct and which different people both in the fandom and among the developers will view interpret differently. Furthermore Blizzard tends to talk about “getting back to class identity” which speaks to an idealized past wherein all classes were perfect embodiment's of their associated class identity before being “corrupted” by the needs of innovation and a developing playerbase. Doing a thorough breakdown of the flaws of this paradigm is outside the scope of this article, and frankly not something i have the brainjuice for unless you paid me like 200 usd and a bottle of tequila.

- INTERESTING PART STARTS HERE -

It seems to me that the WoW and Hearthstone teams are taking fundamentally opposite approaches to the design challenge of class identity:

WoW tries to drill down to the core of a class and figure out, what above all else this class is “about”. They build a hunter classhall, make it be a hunting lodge on top of a mountain and say: THis, this is what a hunter is all about, your hunter can be more than this, but your hunter cannot be excluding this. If you are a hunter, then you are honored to be blessed by an eagle spirit and you want to sit around a campfire with your fellow hunters and plan to hunt a great beast (tm).

Hearthstone on the other hand, tries to find and push the boundaries of each trope. They started out saying “we can all agree Rexxar is a hunter” and then proceeded to ask: but can a cyborg porcupine be part of the hunter identity? what about a bug princess/elder god? What would a dragon associated with the hunter class look like?

Personally, I think the latter method is better. For one I think it gives more interesting characters and abilities for the player to interact with; more importantly though, it fits better with how  the player actually understands class identity: as inherently fluid and individual. Ghostly mastiffs might not be a part of  my hunter class identity, but I can accept that it is part of another hunter’s class identity.

Obviously WoW and Hearthstone are two very different games, with very different play affordances (that’s a fancy way of saying “ways you can play or imagine to play the game”). Hearthstone also only has to design for 9 (soon 10) distinct class identities, whereas WoW has to design for 12, with an average of 3 subclasses that each also needs to feel distinct from the others.

I think an interesting choice (not saying its the right choice) for the WoW team, could be to lean into the current expansion’s theme with regards to class identity. Instead of trying to create an evergreen hunter with skills and theming that will slot seamlessly into any expansion, look at what a Hunter in the shadowlands would look like. Give beast master’s an ability that centers having their pet die and be resurrected in combat, or survivalists a trap that makes ghosts temporarily corporeal. Then when “World of Warcraft: Tyrande has turned evil so we must kill her to re-establish the status quo” comes out, take all those abilities away. If there were some you felt worked well, then just re-flavor them to be about the moon or some shit.

Would this be costly and require hiring more designers? Yes, i guess we will just have to accept only 3 cinematics of Saurfang looking sad, and maybe Bobby Kotick could buy a new yacht every other year instead of every year?

[the-short-stouts-tavern]

The Last Drop

“This shall be remembered as one of the darkest days in Azeroth.”

The beautiful forests of Val’sharah, for days, had become hustled with the encroaching corruption slowly filling its lands. The war between the druids of Cenarius and the satyrs of Xavius came to a head at this location. At the Temple of Elune, the night elf goddess of the Moon. There, the priestesses and druids banded together to prevent this holy sanctuary to become corrupted as well.

There, they were forced to do the unthinkable. Ysera the Dreamer, former Aspect of the Emerald Dragonflight and protector of nature - corrupted by the Nightmare - was brought down.

Standing before the verdant remains, Tyrande Whisperwind, High Priestess of Elune, spoke a silent prayer for her departed friend.

“But hope remains.”

Tyrande walked forward, to the beautiful flower that erupted from the center. She took within her grasp a small, almost miniscule thing. A teardrop.

The Tears of Elune. It floated effortlessly from her hand, but never left her eyes.

She turned around and took another look at the heroes that helped her. The ones who secured this bittersweet victory. Who comforted her in their presence as they tried to help her find her beloved husband, Malfurion.

“Heroes, I must ask that you take this to Dalaran. No doubt Xavius and his ilk will try and attack this place again. It is better if it is secure in the city.”

She waved her hand forward and allowed the tear to float gently through the air. It finally laid rest in the plated glove of a dwarf.

“I won’t let ye down, ma’am.” The dwarf replied, bowing his head respectfully.

Beside Kegoc stood the druid night elf Nysian, leaning gently on his staff. He watched the tear in the dwarf’s hand, then looked away.

This was noticed by Tyrande, who walked over to the druid. “Though I am not as connected to the Emerald Dream as you, archdruid, I know how it feels.” She laid her hand on the druid’s shoulder. “But Elune’s grace has given us a chance to move forward. It is what the Dreamer would want.”

Nysian took a breath, then nodded. “Yes, my lady. You are correct. I will...move forward.” He moved his hood over his head, the hood forming a triangular shape as it struggled to keep his ears inside.

With a final goodbye, the two heroes slowly began to walk away from the temple.

Kegoc watched in front of him as the tear danced in his palm, as they walked slowly down the walkway in the center of the forest.

“It’s amazin’ how weightless it floats.”

“Yet the burden is weighed heavily upon us.” Nysian replied, walking in front of Kegoc. This sudden shift in character perplexed the dwarf, who stepped faster to stand beside the night elf.

“Oy...you alight, lad?”

Nysian kept walking. “It’s going to be a long walk back and we’re going to need to find a suitable hippogryph rider to fly us to Dalaran. We must make due haste.”

He soon found that he had gotten a few feet ahead before he turned back to see Kegoc standing still, staring him down. “....what?”

“It’s going to be a long walk, an’ I know ye kin stay quiet fer ages. So speak up.”

Nysian narrowed his eyes, then sighed. “I may just be a bit worried about what we have on our person.” He pointed at the floating tear in Kegoc’s hand. “And, keeping it out where anyone can see it.”

Kegoc frowned, then moved the tear into his bag. “My apologies, lad. There, no one kin’ see it.”

Nysian was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you.”

“...........”

Kegoc and Nysian stood silent for a moment, then started to notice a loud cry slowly come into earshot. They looked around.

“..aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAA”

The duo looked up to the sky and saw a burning figure spin gently through the air. After a moment the gentle falling became a free fall. “AAAAAAGH”

Kegoc and Nysian stepped aside as they saw this unfortunately familiar figure tumble on the ground and into the grass nearby. Sparks floated around as the mage slide belly-first through the ground, causing a small fire to erupt nearby.

Slowly, the figure stood up and dusted his robe. “Ahh, that is not good vantage point for travel.”

Kegoc smiled as he walked forward. “Ah, Nittenook. Was worried about ye.”

“Ah, really?” Nittenook smiled.

“Nah, but th’ mountain isn’t on fire so I’m good regardless!” Kegoc replied with a grin as he smacked the draenei’s side.

“Haha. Highmountain was big fun! Should all go next! Tauren very angry up there and weird drogbar things punched me off mountain.”

“Haha, yeah, sounds g-....wha’?” Kegoc frowned.

“Yes! Punched right in face. Was not very fun. Seemed nice, though.” Nittenook frowned.

Nysian sighed, but couldn’t help but smile at the reemergence of another friend. He walked forward. “It’s good to see you, Nit. And....”

After a moment, Nysian narrowed his eyes as something came into view.

“Nit, what is that on your back?”

Nittenook looked over at the druid, then smiled wide. “Ah! That is another treasure from Highmountain.” He turned around. On the back of Nittenook laid a basket strapped around his body. In that basket was the form of a giggling baby tauren.

“Is she not cute?” Nittenook moved his hands to unstrap his backpack and grasped the baby in his arms. “Was just in a river on Highmountain. Was very close to bears. Probably left there to feed, so free stuff!”

Kegoc’s eyes widened as he took the tauren from the draenei’s grasp. This abrupt action caused the baby to begin crying. “What are ye THINKING, Nittenook?!”

“....freeeeeee stuff?”

“This is, clearly a lost child, Nittenook.” Nysian watched the bawling baby with a grimace. “It reeks of wet fur and irresponsibility.”

“That irresponsibility is just th’ burnin’ cloth from him.” Kegoc replied.

“WHAT?” Nittenook spoke up over the wailing of the baby. “CANNOT HEAR YOU FROM DEFECTED CHILD.”

Nysian grimaced. “It’s, probably a good idea to silence that child before Sargeras himself comes in.”

Kegoc sighed, trying to rock the child gently. “I don’t do well wit’ children. I only had Sareva around when she were but 5, an’ she was a problem child.”

“WAAHHHHHHHH”

“Hmph. Let me try.” Nysian walked forward and grabbed the child from Kegoc, moving it up. The tauren sniffed slightly as it watched the druid.

The druid stuck his tongue out. “Myaaaaah”

The tauren giggled, clapping its hands.

The druid shifted his face to form the head of a cute baby seal, with a few ‘arf’s which prompted even more laughs. It seemed like it was working.

The next form it took was the form of a cat head, and the fangs from the head must have been too striking, because the frightening visage prompted an even more horrified cry from the baby. “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH”

Nysian shifted his face back, frowning. “Ugh...”

Nittenook grabbed the child back. “The child, she seemed okay with me.” Nittenook nodded. The child sniffed, then giggled as it shifted around in the draenei’s warm robe. Warm being, charred.

Both Nysian and Kegoc stared at the mage, then at each other. Then they both sighed. They knew splitting up the team was a bad idea, but noooo. Sareva told Nittenook to see about the Highmountain tribe, then told them to go to Val’sharah. Deal with more places at once to fight the Legion fast.

Feh.

Kegoc took off his plated gloves and grabbed the child again. This time, away from the cold plate, the child seemed more accepting. “This is ridiculous.”

Nittenook scratched his beard of tentacles, frowning. “Is it not wise to take rewards from the land? We did so on Draenor?”

Nysian frowned. “We did, but they were boring things on the ground. Love-lost necklaces, a stick holding up a rock..a bird here and there. We never took an orc child.”

Kegoc nodded, gently letting the tauren shift around in his hands. He sat down, putting down his satchel and letting the baby down on the ground. “Besides, th’ last thing we need in our lives is a child on our adventures.” He narrowed his eyes. “Also, Nit, this here is a male, not a female.”

“Pah!” Nittenook looked away. “Preposterous. I know a female cowman when I see one.”

“Nit, you didn’t know Meirah was a female draenei for a long time.”

Nittenook looked over at Nysian, then ‘pah’ed once more. “She was showoff. Tried too hard. Ample symptoms of male draenei. So easy to get confused.”

“Hm, not to everyone else, bud.” Nysian sighed.

Kegoc nodded, then looked up at Nittenook, letting the tauren crawl around. “Also, losin’ focus here. Point is, we’re headed t’ Highmountain t’ deal with this fast.”

Nittenook frowned. “Aw.”

Nysian walked forward. “Hold on, now. We must first go to Dalaran, and then we can go to Highmountain.”

“Th’ lad’s family is probably worried sick, Nysian.”

“And I accept that.” Nysian continued. “But we have a mission, do we not? We must get the tears of Elune t-...to...t-”

Nysian stopped, eyes focused away from Kegoc, his mouth shaking and gaped. Kegoc, blinking, turned his head around.

The three watched as the tauren held up the floating tear of Elune, giggling from the light it brought.

“.............wa-”

Kegoc was interrupted by the tauren taking a large bite into the precious Pillar of Creation, effortlessly chewing into the base. It began to shimmer from the solid shape from before into a liquid form, which the tauren greedily suckled fully into its mouth, much like a baby cow would do to its mother’s udder.

With a burp, the tauren giggled.

Nysian and Kegoc looked devastated.

Nittenook clapped his hands. “Good girl mancow!”

The tauren let out a happy cry of content as its form began to glow a blue, heavenly light. Slowly the tauren began to float into the air.

“...N...Nittenook, GRAB HIM!” Nysian cried out.

Nittenook, taken aback by the order, composed himself as he began to run forward. “Friends, it is okay! She is more powerful than ever thanks to our help!”

“Nittenook, just...gently grab him an’ put him on the ground. We need t’ get th’ Tear out a’ him...

“Just...Nittenook, just....” Nysian gritted his teeth, frustrated. The soft-spoken druid was never one to show his frustrations often, opting to let those around him do it for him.

“Look, I bet she is able to control her height!” Nittenook clapped. “Oh, is so nice to see magic child become adept a-”

“PUT HER ON THE GROUND, YOU...IDIOT.” Nysian shouted.

This caused the child to stop giggling, looking over at the druid with wide eyes. Nittenook, as well, looked over, a shocked expression on his face.

The child’s eyes narrowed as he let out a loud burp in the direction of the druid. This not only caused a small shaking of the ground around them, but it also caused the light around the baby to shine brighter. With a cry, the baby erupted in that light, shooting itself high into the air, faster than anything the trio had ever seen. With a shimmer, the baby seemed to shoot far to the west.

.........

“Great.” Nysian composed himself, moving his hand to his face with a grumble. “Just....great.”

Kegoc sighed, moving his hand over his gray beard. “Aye, grand.”

“Now I need to...find a child holding the power of creation....could feel faint...” Nysian began to walk away from the two.

Kegoc sighed, putting on his gloves and picking up his bag. “Right....come along, Nit.”

Nittenook watched as the two began to walk away. Kegoc stopped, however, looking behind him.

“...Nit?”

“...did...Nysian mean that?” Nittenook asked Kegoc, frowning.

“What, the....oh.” Kegoc grimaced, looking away for a moment. “Lad, it’s a bit...complicated at th’ moment.”

“...I see.”

“Come on, lad.” Kegoc motioned for the mage to follow him, as he began to walk behind the druid.

The mage, scratching the side of his beard, slowly began to follow.

And yet, unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure loomed in the greenery above them. A wicked grin crept along the figure’s face.

"Well...that’s not something you see every day.”

TO BE CONTINUED.