Factions in WoW Shadowlands are a permanent choice that will limit players. Less freedom? Cortyn from MeinMMO thinks that’s actually quite good.
Even before the release of Shadowlands, there is a lot of discussion going on around the new expansion of World of Warcraft . The factions are an important part of the player experience, if not the core feature. However, players are being pushed into a decision they actually don’t want to make. Because each faction comes with different bonuses and abilities. Many long for the freedom to switch anytime to be optimally prepared at all times. The choice of faction is already causing frustration.
I believe this compulsion to be bound to a decision is something that would benefit World of Warcraft.
These are the factions: In WoW Shadowlands, there is a faction in each of the four new zones. At max level, players must choose one of the factions and then gain access to numerous contents. These are not only story quests but also soul binds (a kind of secondary skill tree) and two exclusive abilities that only the corresponding faction can offer.
What is the problem? Factions can only be switched with considerable effort. Since “Player Power” is tied to the factions, meaning actual abilities, many players fear making the wrong decision. This is accompanied by the fear of not being able to play “optimally”.
Game Director addresses design decision
In a rather lengthy conversation with streamer Preach, Game Director Ion Hazzikostas also spoke about the factions. The entire discussion is quite interesting and definitely worth a look.
In the interview, Hazzikostas defends the design of the factions and the plans to not be able to switch factions easily. He lists several points:
Factions are meant to be a fundamental decision of character identity, similar to the chosen class or race. Both cannot be changed during the course of the game. A (nearly) permanent decision is intended.
The entire story of the Shadowlands is based on the premise that players will join one of the factions and the others will not be available. Diluting that would weaken the story that is to be told.
Players can already make a lot of adjustments. Changing talents, equipping different gear, and swapping essences before each boss is already a considerable amount. They want to avoid even more such decisions “during the content”.
Preach, on the other hand, argues that a large part of the appeal for him lies in competing with other players. However, this requires a “level playing field” where all players have the same conditions. This is only possible if essential abilities, such as faction abilities, can be switched freely. Additionally, there is a danger that players may be excluded because of their faction choice:
If it turns out in professional guilds like Limit that faction X is the best for a class, such information slowly trickles down to the rest of the player base. Those who do not have the corresponding faction may not be invited to a group.
Emergency solution exists: However, Hazzikostas also mentioned in the conversation that there is indeed a possibility to make all faction abilities accessible to all players should everything go wrong. However, this is not the goal of the developers, and instead, they want to first develop and balance the system before considering such a step. Unlocking all abilities for all players would only be the absolute last resort if all other plans of the developers should fail.
Permanent decisions have an appeal
I definitely do not belong to the faction of players who wish World of Warcraft was turned back 15 years and everything returned to how it was in Classic. I much prefer modern WoW. Nonetheless, I can appreciate certain aspects from the “old times” and would welcome their return.
An example is the difference between fire mages and frost mages. I was a fire mage for most of my Vanilla time and loved it. Switching specs was expensive and something one only did in the most extreme situations – similar to the factions. This created a bond to a specialization and provided exactly the feeling that Hazzikostas would like to achieve.
I remember being envious when a frost mage next to me went into Ice Block to survive a deadly effect.
I also remember how envious the frost mages were of fireball crits that could achieve damage numbers they could only dream of.
Back then, switching specs also meant farming new gear. My items with “+ Fire damage” would have done little for me as a frost mage.
Was it annoying when I desperately wanted to play frost? Definitely. But at the same time, it bound me to an identity and forced me into a role I had to identify with.
Today, I can customize almost everything. I go into a rest zone, change essences, talents, and specs. All mages are somewhat alike – and if they’re not, they’re just 4-5 clicks away.
Yes, I might curse my faction occasionally. Maybe I’ll occasionally find that my chosen ability is not optimal in PvP or a certain dungeon. But I’m confident that there will also be many situations in which my faction will make me happy.
If that balances out at least roughly, I find the choice of a permanent faction good. Decisions with consequences make characters more interesting – total freedom, on the other hand, often makes them more boring.
Or how do you see it?
