Open letter to Blizzard

Well this is more of an open post than a letter but it is about World of Warcraft so indirectly it is aimed at Blizzard.

I’ve been playing World of Warcraft for years, on and off. First time I entered WoW was back in 2005 and I was very excited from watching my friend play whenever I could. It was really fun and over the years I ended up with 4 lvl 80 characters, a Paladin, a Hunter, a Death Knight and a Priest. I really enjoy the art-style and I consider it to be very immersive. But what I am concerned about is how repetitive and linear the game has become.

After playing the new expansion “Cataclysm” for a few days as a Goblin, I want to salute Blizzard for bringing in the clowns of the world of Warcraft. Goblins are, by far, the funniest race I have ever played as and they feel truly unique.

What I don’t like is that there are no new classes. And the classes that exist are not distinctive (Sure, we do have DPS, Tank and Healer), nor does it matter what race/class combination you choose. You will always be able to do everything, and get all achievements. And now we get to what this “letter” is all about.

I wish that the choice of class and race would have a significant impact on some parts of the game-play and its events. I have always wondered why the different races get “racial” abilities that are insignificant in comparison to other skills. The racial abilities could do so much more and actually mean something other than being just another skill.

For example, when playing as goblin you get an ability which enables you blast yourself forward much like the mages “blink” ability. This ability could be used for so much more. Why not have dungeons (instances) where it actually matters what races you have in the team? The goblin ability could come to use in an event where the player needs to time it to jumping through or over some gap in the floor to do something on the other side so that the rest of the group can pass and go that way. If you don’t have a goblin in your group, you can’t take that path. Or a hunter for example, that must send his or her pet through a hole in the wall and guide it to some button on the other side to open a tunnel or whatever? Or the DK’s death-grip could be used for pulling a distant lever, grabbing a rock on the other side or something like that.

I would love that. I would love those moments where my class/race actually contributes to the path that my group can take. As it is now, almost every instance feels the same. You just fight your way from point A, being the start of the instance, to point B being the end or exit. Nothing special in between. Just some bosses and enemies that are always the same, every time you do these instances.

I would also love if professions would also work this way. An engineer could repair some machinery to open up one path, while a miner (several miners could be required) can clear a path for the group. So much could be done with all of this. I hope that I will someday see these kinds of things in World of Warcraft. It would greatly enhance my gaming experience.

Tnx! Please leave your comments below :)