I'm sure most of you remember my rant a while back...especially in regard to prestiges. I've received a few questions about how we'll be moving on in the future, and what will happen to them. I also had many questions when the Runemasters and Necromancers got taken down, and I made comment that retcons would be necessary for them by the next restart.
A decision was made about prestiges as well.
A while ago, I would have just been resigned to the idea that nothing would ever really change. Some things the playerbase is simply too attached to, and wouldn't give it up willingly. However, as I was ranting about this, Cressy said something to me, in the ever so eloquent manner that only she is capable of: "It's you guys' server. If you don't like it, grow some balls and change it."
Her way with words always continues to amaze me.
Normally I wouldn't put a thread like this out here without having a firm idea of "what will happen next?" I don't know what will happen next because it's still being discussed and I'm still evaluating what I feel comfortable with letting happen or not happen. However, I feel that it is fair that everyone on the server know what is going on and so that they can make their decisions regarding prestiges intelligently.
Prestiges are going to die, and never come back. It may not happen today, or tomorrow, but the system will be buried by the next restart, whenever that happens to be.
I'm sure I just became the most unpopular person on the server.
I always come across as that guy that hates anything custom or new. Heck, maybe I am. However, there are several reasons why the prestige system fails, and has failed since it was thought up. I'm going to bring up the strongest points as to why the system needs to go, however:
1. Prestiges can kill RP as often, if not more often, than they create it.
When the system was put in, it was thought that prestiges would, essentially, create new RP for folks and give them something to work towards. Moreso than that, however, it was a hope that prestiges would spark interesting RP both during the training process and after the training process. That hope. however, ended up falling flat.
I can't count the number of times I've seen arena tournaments or other PvP events ruined due to the presence of a Myrmidon/Gladiator prestige stealing the spotlight. I can't count the number of times I've seen people complain about the power of prestiges and get turned off from an RP because of that. Because prestiges are intended to be more powerful than normal characters, they get a free pass to walk over others during events and it's not fun for anyone involved. This can cause a lot of friction between players.
Prestiges were meant to be awe inspiring to a limited degree, but this happened not because of the character's accomplishments, but because of a roll bonus. Prestige characters often weren't given any respect, nor were most prestige characters responsible for creating RP on the server. Instead...
2. Prestiges were taken for reasons of power, not character development.
Let's be honest: prestiges are nice because people like roll bonuses. People like being special and important. Some prestiges were used to further characters, but most of the time it was a bid for power and little more.
Aside from that power, the prestige system does nothing that couldn't be done with a personal storyline. Who plays an apprentice who, over time and through a trying quest, becomes a full Mage? No prestiges involved, and you'd have essentially the same story. The only exception to this were certain prestiges that served as vehicles for storytelling, Dragonsworn being the obvious example. Even then, I think many people tried to go Dragonsworn as a default, not for the RP possibilities.
3. Prestiges do not make sense given WoW's class system.
I've mentioned this before. Many of the prestiges we used in the past were d20 transfers...even if we changed the titles to be something different from the d20's interpretation, many of them simply don't make sense in the current scheme of things. If we removed them, then what's the point?
WoW Shaman are a combination of orc shaman, troll witch doctors, and tauren spirit walkers.
WoW Hunters who spec Beastmastery might as well be beast masters, those that spec Marksmanship are essentially dead shots.
WoW Fury Warriors are berserkers and/or bone crushers, WoW Arms Warriors by default have the most iconic blademaster skill.
The list goes on.
WoW's classes were never meant to advance in this manner.
4. Prestiges are rigid.
The recent system in particular was given flak for being *too defined*. Titles in general, as long as we're drawing them from the d20 or any other limited source, will remain very limited in terms of customization.
I wish I could say for certain what will come in the future. There is talk of possibilities that will attempt to fix these problems, or we'll simply get rid of them entirely. The future is still uncertain.
The question also arises as to what will happen to existing prestiges when the restart eventually comes. Many feel that forcing a retcon on these characters would be disrespectful to their work. On the other hand, so long as any prestige character exists, the above problems will persist.
There is also the question of drama. Though, my personal opinion is that if everyone is not mature enough to handle the removal of the system, then perhaps that is proof enough that it needed to go a long time ago.
I will attempt to keep people informed as to future developments on this issue. I felt it was necessary to announce and get it out there, so people can choose whether they wish to keep working on their prestige characters or not.
I may write more on this later.
A decision was made about prestiges as well.
A while ago, I would have just been resigned to the idea that nothing would ever really change. Some things the playerbase is simply too attached to, and wouldn't give it up willingly. However, as I was ranting about this, Cressy said something to me, in the ever so eloquent manner that only she is capable of: "It's you guys' server. If you don't like it, grow some balls and change it."
Her way with words always continues to amaze me.
Normally I wouldn't put a thread like this out here without having a firm idea of "what will happen next?" I don't know what will happen next because it's still being discussed and I'm still evaluating what I feel comfortable with letting happen or not happen. However, I feel that it is fair that everyone on the server know what is going on and so that they can make their decisions regarding prestiges intelligently.
Prestiges are going to die, and never come back. It may not happen today, or tomorrow, but the system will be buried by the next restart, whenever that happens to be.
I'm sure I just became the most unpopular person on the server.
The Problems With Prestiges
I always come across as that guy that hates anything custom or new. Heck, maybe I am. However, there are several reasons why the prestige system fails, and has failed since it was thought up. I'm going to bring up the strongest points as to why the system needs to go, however:
1. Prestiges can kill RP as often, if not more often, than they create it.
When the system was put in, it was thought that prestiges would, essentially, create new RP for folks and give them something to work towards. Moreso than that, however, it was a hope that prestiges would spark interesting RP both during the training process and after the training process. That hope. however, ended up falling flat.
I can't count the number of times I've seen arena tournaments or other PvP events ruined due to the presence of a Myrmidon/Gladiator prestige stealing the spotlight. I can't count the number of times I've seen people complain about the power of prestiges and get turned off from an RP because of that. Because prestiges are intended to be more powerful than normal characters, they get a free pass to walk over others during events and it's not fun for anyone involved. This can cause a lot of friction between players.
Prestiges were meant to be awe inspiring to a limited degree, but this happened not because of the character's accomplishments, but because of a roll bonus. Prestige characters often weren't given any respect, nor were most prestige characters responsible for creating RP on the server. Instead...
2. Prestiges were taken for reasons of power, not character development.
Let's be honest: prestiges are nice because people like roll bonuses. People like being special and important. Some prestiges were used to further characters, but most of the time it was a bid for power and little more.
Aside from that power, the prestige system does nothing that couldn't be done with a personal storyline. Who plays an apprentice who, over time and through a trying quest, becomes a full Mage? No prestiges involved, and you'd have essentially the same story. The only exception to this were certain prestiges that served as vehicles for storytelling, Dragonsworn being the obvious example. Even then, I think many people tried to go Dragonsworn as a default, not for the RP possibilities.
3. Prestiges do not make sense given WoW's class system.
I've mentioned this before. Many of the prestiges we used in the past were d20 transfers...even if we changed the titles to be something different from the d20's interpretation, many of them simply don't make sense in the current scheme of things. If we removed them, then what's the point?
WoW Shaman are a combination of orc shaman, troll witch doctors, and tauren spirit walkers.
WoW Hunters who spec Beastmastery might as well be beast masters, those that spec Marksmanship are essentially dead shots.
WoW Fury Warriors are berserkers and/or bone crushers, WoW Arms Warriors by default have the most iconic blademaster skill.
The list goes on.
WoW's classes were never meant to advance in this manner.
4. Prestiges are rigid.
The recent system in particular was given flak for being *too defined*. Titles in general, as long as we're drawing them from the d20 or any other limited source, will remain very limited in terms of customization.
What's In The Future?
I wish I could say for certain what will come in the future. There is talk of possibilities that will attempt to fix these problems, or we'll simply get rid of them entirely. The future is still uncertain.
The question also arises as to what will happen to existing prestiges when the restart eventually comes. Many feel that forcing a retcon on these characters would be disrespectful to their work. On the other hand, so long as any prestige character exists, the above problems will persist.
There is also the question of drama. Though, my personal opinion is that if everyone is not mature enough to handle the removal of the system, then perhaps that is proof enough that it needed to go a long time ago.
I will attempt to keep people informed as to future developments on this issue. I felt it was necessary to announce and get it out there, so people can choose whether they wish to keep working on their prestige characters or not.
I may write more on this later.
Have you hugged an orc today?
- I am not tech support. Please do not contact me regarding technical issues. -
- I am not tech support. Please do not contact me regarding technical issues. -