Hi, I wanted to try out some Pandaren roleplay, and read a few things about their lore.
The first thing I notice is that there are few Pandaren roleplayers, which is good since they should be a rare and mystical race. Then again, the few people I see roleplaying a pandaren often play two stereotypes: The annoying random oddball, or the pretentious wise sage.
There is a small problem with Pandaren as their culture is also inspired by stereotype ancient Chinese in media, often saying wise things in a round-a-bout way without saying a lot though. I also donât like the fact that Pandaren should always be stoic or happy as that takes a lot away from the flexibility of roleplaying one?
I was thinking of roleplaying a pandaren criminal, inspired by Asian triads, working as a cook as a front, doing shady dealings in the back. Is this possible with a Pandaren? Or are they really limited with their lore?
We have several examples of Pandaren criminals both in game -most blatantly with Madam Goya and her little triad- and in bonus short stories where it gets mentioned here and then.
As for Pandaren always having to be either stoic or happy this is simply not true. Just of the top of my head thereâs for example Foreman Mann, who is so mean and cranky she is nicknamed âThe Mean Queen of Greenâ.
Pandarenâs culture and the way they guard themselves against the Sha involves not letting emotions rule them. But this doesnât mean they do not experience the emotions. It means not letting them go overboard. When a pandaren from Pandaria gets angry they donât fly off the handle, they try to stop and count to ten. That kind of stuff.
And thereâs absolutely ways for you to inject some variety in your pandarenâs personality. Itâs been a decade since the mists parted. That is a lot of time for someoneâs personality to adapt and change.
So, please, donât limit yourself! Roleplay a pandaren as per your own understanding of one!
I have foggy memories about Gina Mudclaw in Halfhill, who basically just send you to collect money from the othersâŚ
I canât remember they are in debt or they are paying for⌠uhm⌠âprotectionâ, but Gina WANTS her money, and she donât really care how you get it, by force, sweet words, or paying with your own moneyâŚ
Thats⌠kinda dark
There are indeed âBadâ Pandaren around
Madam Goya and her triad is⌠basically that, a triad and she is the Boss
But you donât have to go further than the Jade forest Widow Greenpaw, the Jade âwitchâ is the best example, you donât need any mystical or supernatural reasons to go and be bad; no Sha involvement, nothing special
Maybe a little insanity from grief?
"Widow Greenpaw says: I believe I heard some young whipper snapper in my garden out back. Letâs go look for him.
Widow Greenpaw walks around to the garden at the back of the house. She stops in front of Shin, who is a jade statue.
Widow Greenpaw says: Ah, here is the boy. Doesnât he look special? My late husband and I always wanted children.
Widow Greenpaw says: You should join our family, preserved forever in jade.