Ever wondered when a night elf priest would actually be able to feel like a Moon priest, or a Pandaren warrior, rogue, hunter would feel like they can utilise a measure of chi and brew that seems more a racial thing.
In fact, a gnome warrior or hunter feel more gnomish and less generic, well this is the answer , a system that gives a selection of racial spells themed on the race that can substitute cosmetically class abilities of your choice, so that your class feels a lot more it belongs to that race.
With character customisations coming in for the races, now is the perfect time to extend racial customisations to even the classes through this.
RACIAL CUSTOMISATONS IN CLASSES
TLDR Version It’s simple really,
This is where you swap 1 or 2 key class spells with a racial version on each race so it really feels a lot more like it’s the race playing that class rather than say a generic hunter or mage with a different skin. You can glyph the class version back in. [Race ability substitutes suggested below]
Because much of your character (like his race) also exists in the class whose abilities are seen just as much as the model.
Concept [Full Version]
When you think about it, your class mechanics/abilities are jas visible a part of your character as its body, especially decked in armor. A proper customisation options for races would not only involve the character model, but the classes it plays.
Races have some impressive and very distinctive class lore for certain classes. And find that a racial influence can be very distinctive, yet unreflected in the playable class’ abilities [Moonpriests? Tidesages? Drust Druids?]
Blizzard should take those classes in the races and give them some distinctive ability swap that screams their race.
Example:
Blizzard would select 1 or 2 key spells or fillers /features with a racial one but you can glyph the normal version back in. I suggest providing a 3rd AoE version, AoE s are very distinctive
Void elves for example will use a void bolt instead of fireball, shadowbolt, smite, etc, Twilight devastation or that nasty Void Beam from invasion enemies like King Phaoris in the minor horrific Vision in Uldum for some aoe abilities across classes, the tenatacle slap corruption effect replaces some melee weapon abilities. You can always glyph back to the normal
- Blood Elves - swaps a key spell or two with a fire/sun version
- Night elf/Nightborne - swaps 1 or 2 key or filler spells for moon/star arcane version (can glyph back)
- Orc - swap say fireball for and a few others for a shaman like lavalash or frostbolt with an earthshard.
- Troll - swap a spell or two with a blood version
- Lightforged - swap a spell or two with Light version e.g. arcane shot or arrows are light arrows
- Void elves - swap the key spam/filler spells of many classes or one of the frequently used spells with a void version.
- Gnomes: replace some abilitieies or minions with machine bots and gadget versions
- Goblins replace some with alchemy and explosive versions similar to the one in island expeditions
You get the jist:
- It has to be a frequently use spell, I suggest 1 key spell and 1 filler
- You can always glyph back to the normal one.
- Each class on each race is going to have a look at to see what might be done
There are creative ways to show that this is a certain race in that class: But note that not every class will likely have something.
Race by Race Customisaton Themes In Classes
Here are some examples that each race has based on their lore/core features. Now you may be able to think of vetter versions than I’ve listed, by all means do tell us about it.
- Gnomes: Gadgests and gizmos: pets, minions, timed/delayed events can have replacements.
- Goblins: explosives & alchemaic concotions.
- Blood Elves: fire sun & light racial spell
- Night Elves; Star & Moon arcane magic racial spell
- Troll : Tiki mask voodoo & Blood effect
- Forsaken: Defiled ground & undead minions
- Pandas: Brews and Chi abilities
- Draenei : Crystals
- Dwarves: Titan aspects with unique visuals. related ability? Beer?
- Orcs; shaman elemental spells & ancestral stuff
- Tauren: Earth stampede (abilities cos the ground to shake as the Tauren stomps), Totem Stomp: replaces certain weapon & ranged abilities with a swing or throw of that iconic racial stomp
- Worgen: Pack rush (aoe abilities) and ferocious frenzy (themed on Feral Worgen]
Humans: Mount up on horses for certain abilities? Human has nothing i can think of, because pretty every class, apart from Shaman and Druid are actually based on the human version. We are basically playing the human version off all these things. I f humans could be druids and shaman, then some abilities on those classes should be modified
Allied Races: Inspired By Island Expedition Teams:
- Nightborne: Warp caster abilities & Chronomagic spell
- Void Elves: Void abilities
- Lightforged: Light Abilities
- Zandalari: Loa aspects appear on certain spells: Each class has a Loa patron, that patron will appear and use its ability instead of your normal class ability.
- Kul’tiran: Tidesage & Drust spell visuals
- Dark Iron: Mole Machine for movement abilities & Golem
- Mag’har Orc: Same as orcs
- Mechagnomes: Same as gnomes
- Highmountain tauren: Same as Tauren
Some of these would need a unique visual created for them.
Take a close look at the Island expedition teams, and what were used there, now see if some of those abiliteis can be used to substitute key class abiliteis, with the option to glyph out, and bingo you’ve got race customisations in classes.