Love or Hate the Mists Artwork?

One thing I like about Blizzard games is the peripheral artwork and assets which get developed. When Panda-rama was announced I was very negative about the idea as it felt cutesie and childish compared with the dramatic setting of Cataclysm, Wrath of the Lich King, and The Burning Crusade. Wrath was my favourite by far in terms of setting artwork, holistic style, and zone assets.

Now that I look at the artwork for Mists of Pandaria I really like it. It has an elegance and classic “asian style” which is stand out as beautiful to an anglo Australian mutt like me. I like it enough to create a top banner for the blog using one of the boilerplate artworks by Blizzard. Imagine how cooler that same image would look with non-panda races fighting in it! Perhaps a bloodelf vs human monk fight. I just have to love monks finally being playable in the game after so many years of killing them in the game already.

The art is perhaps not enough to put at ease all my reservations about fur-covered-love-bears being introduced into the game, but enough to place them next to the other races I dislike a little like Gnomes and Goblins. Yes, I don’t like stunties – both races look like snotlings in fancy dress.

Related articles

• Mists of Pandaria cinematic review (wow.joystiq.com)
• Blizzard Artwork Page for MoP (battle.net)

Next Legendary Goal – Shadowmourne

Now that Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros and Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker have been completed, I’m tempted to keep slavering after more gear with orange text. Next to acquire could be  Shadowmourne. Alas the item requires a lot of runs within Ice Crown in 25 man mode, which will be challenging unto itself while folks concentrate on the content in the new expansion. I’m not one to give up though.

As a Death Knight there is no other weapon that is more appealing, as it seems that it was designed in lore and in mechanics to be thematically perfect for us. Sure, other classes can use it and will get a kick from using it, but the truth is Shadowmourne is the unholy soldier’s weapon of choice.

Shadowmourne… A great two-handed axe fit for a giant, born of sacred and corrupt powers, host of a thousand dead souls and able to be wielded only by the most stalwart armsmasters of Azeroth. Its creation seems nearly impossible; and yet, the rumors do not cease.

Becoming a Legendary junkie is something that could easily become dangerous and be a source of ongoing activity for years to come for me.