Why not tattoos?

[Miah]

Warcraft isnt ancient times. Heck, its full of robots and traditional pirates and magic too. I can't see a reason why a goblin tattooist would be irrational thinking in a pirate port.

[Shane]

Yea, I agree with Miah, I mean WoW has already got motorbikes, sniper rifles, vampires, werewolves, valkyries and what not.

[Bovel]

I am well aware of this and am a strong opponent to the badly executed 'modernisation' of Warcraft. Still I prefer the 'ancient' feel of the game and world contra the modern one. And I think I am not alone in the belief that it will loose the shine if it became even more modern.

[Jonoth]

There is an .addrpitem command now in Coth, which means everyone could, if they desired, get the most shiniest, glowingest gear their little hearts desire. But wearing it requires a damned good RP explanation. The same is true of tattoos. In different parts of the world tattoos are an old tradition, not necessarily tied to modern technology. I think that worst case if the idea is for people to have a valid reason for it then perhaps make the tattoos a level 80 item so that people with profiles can petition for the item ONCE, and have it as part of their profile description. Also you could allow an approved char to later acquire a tattoo if they don't already have one by ticketing or PMing a GM with the RP reason as to why they have gotten one.

[Terant]

I don't understand why this is so controversial. Who cares if people have tattoos?

[Hentick]

I don't understand why this is so controversial. Who cares if people have tattoos?

Quoted for truth.

[Binkleheimer]

I am well aware of this and am a strong opponent to the badly executed 'modernisation' of Warcraft. Still I prefer the 'ancient' feel of the game and world contra the modern one. And I think I am not alone in the belief that it will loose the shine if it became even more modern.

Well, the whole steampunk thing has been around since WCII.
In fact, most fantasy has a stempunk element to it whenever gnomes are introduced.
Besides, I find it kind of humorous.
Also, Magi-tek.

[Miah]

I don't understand why this is so controversial. Who cares if people have tattoos?

Quoted for truth.

This.

With all the crazy stuff people walk around in for Armour and clothes, I think seeing someone without all that, causally showing off tattoos rather than huge hunks of metal and glowyness strapped to them would be much better.

[PiesOfNub]

Some of you are looking at this the wrong way - WoW isn't in the past. WoW has it's own universe, governed by a totally different set of rules. It's one in which magic and machinery can combine into demented, insane works (Ulduar, anyone?).

WoW only retains a sense of "being in the past" because that's an aspect of our own world that Blizzard, and several others, have used to allow us, the RPG nuts, to familiarize with the settings.

As for tattoos, Goblin tattooists on portsides seems entirely possible. However, tattoos within Azeroth seem to be more of a ritualistic thing. I guess a tattoo from a Goblin may consist of a guild brand/isignia, or even a red heart with "Mom" written across it. We don't have these models/textures ingame, so as several people have suggested, just chuck that in your FlagRSP/TotalRP/whathaveyou.

[Miah]

Heck, I HAVE a character that is a tattooist. She works with glyphs, and tattoo's them onto the skin of people. So yeah i agree, that it might be rare to see people with tattoo's just for the sake of it, but ones with meaning or effects, entirely possible

[Vind101]

Well I agree i believe there should be tattoos allowd.

[BountyHunter]

If we can have tattoos present in our FlagRSP then it's clear we should be able to wear them as a shirt too. The only difference is what the character model looks like and that's always a real plus.

[Beltharean]

Heck, I HAVE a character that is a tattooist. She works with glyphs, and tattoo's them onto the skin of people. So yeah i agree, that it might be rare to see people with tattoo's just for the sake of it, but ones with meaning or effects, entirely possible

Glyphs
Glyphs are runes inscribed on an object. As with marks, a glyph can not be inscribed on an object in the possession of an unwilling creature. Glyphs activate immediately upon completion. Again, some inscribes are able to extend the life of a glyph or even to make one permanent.

Marks
Marks are runes inscribed on a creature. The subject must be still, so marks cannot be inscribed on unwilling creatures, however a mark can be inscribed on any helpless creature. Marks generate their effects immediately upon completion. Some inscribes have the ability to delay mark activation or even to make a mark permanent.

Marks are in the realm of the Runemaster, so if those glyphs you're tattooing on people have any purpose other than being purely aesthetic I'm going to have to go out on a limb here and say that that's probably not allowed, but don't quote me on that. And in any case, glyph would be the wrong word for what it is you're tattooing onto people.

[Vind101]

*sigh* I really wish this could be approved so us characters with FlagRSP description that have tattoos can use visual effect.

[Vedaal]

To me, this seems like a good idea. Sure, for a while there could be a fad of wearing tattoos, but like all fads, it will pass.

Lorewise, I recall reading in various places about different groups that practice tattooing that does not necessarily have religious/spiritual significance, and is more about displaying cultural identity. For example in Rise of the Horde, members of the Warsong Clan are said to be recognisable by their tattoos, it makes sense to me that other clans would practice this. As well as them, there are Blood Elves, who also supposedly do a lot of tattooing since becoming Sin'dorei.

And I believe for other races there could be a totally valid argument for having tattoos. For example for trolls they might merely be an extension of the facial warpaint, with tauren it might be dyed-in symbols, like those their druid forms have.

As for Alliance races, I can definitely see both dwarves and night elves sporting tattoos, especially given the fact that night elf females already have some as standard, and the Ironforge dwarves could understandably have picked up tattooing from their Wildhammer cousins, as the two groups get on quite well, and it looks like Cataclysm will bring the two Clans even closer together.

So I'd say there's a valid argument for non-prestige classes to bear such tattoos, and have them for cultural purposes.

All my opinion, and some facts may not be entirely correct, please point out to me if they aren't.