Anyone else already grown tired of the Asian theme?

[Xeraxis]

The music is awesome, but the bosses suck. A few funny lines here and there, but the bosses just suck, so do the dungeons/raid zone(s). Probably the worst raids I've ever seen to be honest.

Most overrated expansion in all of WoW is hands down mop.

I don't follow lore much at all.. but in Cata I knew Deathwing was the ultimate goal, in ICC I know Lich king was the ultimate goal.... WHAT THE HECK is the point of MoP?

You apparently don't follow it all.

[oplawlz]

I was tired of it before the beta ended :P

[Pool of the Dead]

Implying that I'm racist or xenophobic because I'm tired of the Asian theme is like implying that someone is racist against Mexicans because they don't like Mexican food.

As I said in the OP I don't hate the expansion, I'm just tired of the theme, and yes I do get enjoyment from people getting defensive over it. No, it wasn't a troll post, it was a post I knew would be received as a troll post regardless of how it was worded.

I enjoy Asian culture, the point I was making is that MoP is far more ancient-history based than the other expansions. Northrend having sections of zones relating to Norse mythology isn't the same as every zone in Northrend being a reflection of Norse mythology. Look at Icecrown Citadel for example and try to find a place in real life that looks like it as opposed to finding a place in real life that looks like the wall on the border of Kun-Lai Summit.

The redeeming figures in Pandaria for me are the Mogu and the Sha (more-so the Sha because there is still much to be learned of it's origins and how it relates to the rest of Azeroth)

So you chose the most "recognisable" part from one expac and compared to to the Least recognisble part from another Expac for your point?

How many places have you seen like the Dread wastes in real-life?

[Anjerith]

While the surface theme of Pandaria is "asian" in origin, very little of the experience in it is actually ABOUT anything asian, its about two sides that were allies after decades of hatred and how the changing landscape of the world after the shattering is destroying the respite of the Third War.

[Agoonga]

I like the Pandaren music a lot. I'm not sick of the Asian theme.

[Xerra]

I do wonder at times if stomping on rodents and using beer to.. enhance your power is being a little over played.

[Banzhe]

I find it hard to motivate myself to play because the lore in this expansion (with the exception of Wrathion and Alliance vs Horde developments) simply isn't keeping me hooked. I'm considering simply getting my characters to 90 and waiting for the next expansion. I was one of the optimists coming into this expansion, but it kind of misfired.

The main thing is that it doesn't seem very creative; I was hoping to see something other than a mash-up of real-world Asian themes in WoW. What we ended up with is a conglomerate of every Asian/Kung Fu stereotype all rolled into an expansion, rather than improvising a unique Pandarian culture as a foundation with other existing WoW elements added onto said foundation.

Everything from the Great Wall to the 5-fist Kung Fu aspects has simply been tossed from the real world into WoW, which is why I feel that disconnect. Not a bad expansion so far by any means, but I just can't motivate myself to be interested in lore that is so very closely mirrored from reality.

Anyone else feel the same? Despite my constructive criticism, I am excited to see how defensive people get over this.

Constructive means adding something to a discussion that could improve the aspect in question, your offering your opinion with no constructive points.., so I don't see why any one would get defensive about anything
Honestly it sounds like you thought this expansion would differ from all the others, and that somehow you'd get a full 5000 year history education on Asian culture.

[mvaliz]

Constructive means adding something to a discussion that could improve the aspect in question, your offering your opinion with no constructive points.., so I don't see why any one would get defensive about anything
Honestly it sounds like you thought this expansion would differ from all the others, and that somehow you'd get a full 5000 year history education on Asian culture.

Here's his constructive point:

I was hoping to see something other than a mash-up of real-world Asian themes in WoW. What we ended up with is a conglomerate of every Asian/Kung Fu stereotype all rolled into an expansion, rather than improvising a unique Pandarian culture as a foundation with other existing WoW elements added onto said foundation.

You actually proved his point about people getting defensive instead of reading what he said, because you get defensive instead of actually READING what he said.

[reef]

i would have liked to have seen this thread with a survey at the top taking a poll - how many people like/dislike the theme, etc. oh well :/ anyways... i've leveled up at least 6 toons from 1-86+ since mop and i have to say that the mop zones are my least favorite by far. :/

[SamR]

Pandaria is fantasy China. Just like Stormwind is fantasy Europe.

I mean, you don't really think real-world China is a bunch of people doing kung fu in mountain-top temples, right?

It's OK not to like Asian themes or visuals. But please don't try to rationalize your dislike by pretending it's because it's too stereotypical. WoW has voodoo trolls speaking in a patois and bearded Scottish men who get drunk all the time. The whole Warcraft franchise is built on stereotypes.

[Glorious Leader]

Pandaria is fantasy China. Just like Stormwind is fantasy Europe.

I mean, you don't really think real-world China is a bunch of people doing kung fu in mountain-top temples, right?

It's OK not to like Asian themes or visuals. But please don't try to rationalize your dislike by pretending it's because it's too stereotypical. WoW has voodoo trolls speaking in a patois and bearded Scottish men who get drunk all the time. The whole Warcraft franchise is built on stereotypes.

The thing is I never felt those stereotypes were ever really over the top and cheesy. Sometimes the panda shit does get a bit cheesy. Overall I didn't really care because I didn't pay attention but at one point I was carrying steamed buns for somebody and I realized wtf is going on here. I live with asians, alot of asians in my area and my friends all speak Cantonese. I guess I'm just more sensitive to their stereotyping I guess.

[Moradim]

outland was memorable, northrend was memorable, cata was ok, I liked hyjal/vashjir. this xpac's zones are decent, but nothing strikes me like say, nagrand or howling fjord for example.

[Daedius]

I don't know about you OP, but I'm really loving this expansion so far. From the scenery and theme, down to the humor and quirks, and the new innovative ideas such as Scenarios and that Farming thing to name but a few...

[nyc81991]

I think as future patches come out we will be more and more focused on the Horde vs Alliance theme. Hopefully bringing us back to normal Azeroth more to deal with attacks from the other faction and attacking them back.

After all the final raid is going to be on Orgrimmar.

[Deleted]

I said when this was in development that if they make pandarens all over and put only one type of story influenced from "medieval" asia and tv shows, it will get boring really fast. Seems I was right, and for many it has.

Now, what is the true problem? The true problem is that it's modeled too much after what we know of China. Most of us know it from bad tv shows and hollywood movies... and that seems perfectly mirrored in MoP.
Let's take WotLK since people said that's also influenced after norse culture and stuff as a counter-point. First zones, Howling Fjord and Borean Tundra, Howling Fjord was clearly norse-themed but... Borean Tundra? not at all... there were the taunka, whom seem to be modeled after bizons and have a tribal american culture similar to the tauren. You had the nerubians, spider people, something I don't rememeber reading about in norse culture, and in fact is something you don't really see much in any culture.
Now, what was next, Dragonblight and Grizzly Hills. Grizzly Hills seemed somewhat swedish-finnish in a way, but also canadian. On the other hand, Dragonblight might have passed as norse from looks... except you were dealing with dragons and magnataurs. Then Scholazar and Zul'drak, one being a jungle, nothing really norse about that, and the other being a troll empire with inca/mayan architecture somewhat and the troll weird culture. And last, Storm Peaks, clearly norse, and Icecrown, norse in middle with that town there, undead in rest. And Crystalsong that I couldn't pinpoint with Dalaran having oriental spires and themes. Now, as you see, there are a few norse themed zones, however, the amount of those that are not kind of hides this better.

In MoP however you have a different situation, since there's less zones and all kind of have pandaren or mogu, the oriental chinese like influence is everywhere. No matter in which zone you go you can't escape it. The only possible exception might be those sha infested lands, Dread Wastes and maybe Kasarang Wilds, but, because of number of zones and the pandaren presence everywhere, it feels like it's oriental culture everywhere... it's not, but it sure feels like it.

Overall, I think Blizzard did a poor job here. They should have introduced some major races that had some zones for themselves and weren't oriental themed one bit. They did not, they threw pandaren everywhere and put a bunch of cheesy quests that are too related to stereotypes known of oriental culture.

[SamR]

I don't think he has a problem with it being Asian themed... he has a problem with the Pandaren culture being a mimic of existing asian history. It's not the looks - it's the story just being China/Asia retold instead of just being a whole new original culture/land with asian themes/designs.

I'm sorry, but Pandaren culture is not a mimic of existing asian history. It's an idealized fantasy world. Pandaria is as much a mimic of existing Asian history as Storm Peaks is a mimic of existing Northern European history.

If you want nuanced and subtle, WoW isn't the place to find it. I mean, Freya, Thorim, Mimiron, and Hodir...

[nekobaka]

I am sick of it. At first it was nice when I saw all the pictures for the zones and art when MoP was first announced. Now I feel like punching a panda at times. While questing I would perk up on the more hord/alliance quests(I leveled both factions) and then got annoyed when I did panda quests. As an expansion that has a large focus on an asian theme, it just feels overwhelming along with what I feel is cheesy voice acting and portrayal of Asian cultures. This comes from someone who lives in Hawaii and is Chinese and would visit Buddhist temples with their grandparents.

It is possible that my mind isnt being all free and is still fixated in the themes I enjoy in Warcraft, from Dwarves, Titians, Naga, Elves, and Orc or that I am just being too fixated on my perception of asian culture that it distracts me from viewing the culture of pandaria which is a mix of asian and other cultures. For now though I perceive it more of an insult and a joke towards asian culture along with the voice acting. Also that "slow down" script is personally used way too often that it is no longer comical.

[SamR]

The thing is I never felt those stereotypes were ever really over the top and cheesy. Sometimes the panda shit does get a bit cheesy. Overall I didn't really care because I didn't pay attention but at one point I was carrying steamed buns for somebody and I realized wtf is going on here. I live with asians, alot of asians in my area and my friends all speak Cantonese. I guess I'm just more sensitive to their stereotyping I guess.

I just don't like the idea that you can't make games or movies that reference Asian culture because of oversensitivity. It's like how so few Asian actors get cast in regular roles. Because producers are afraid that they might get flak for stereotyping...even though they freely and happily stereotype white cultures. So better to not hire the Asians at all and just use white actors so as to not offend anyone.

[rt7]

well i've had to turn the music off, can only handle so much of the high pitched asian style violin or whatever.

wotlk will always be the best wow expansion for me atmosphere wise, vikings and undead.

[Glorious Leader]

well i've had to turn the music off, can only handle so much of the high pitched asian style violin or whatever.

wotlk will always be the best wow expansion for me atmosphere wise, vikings and undead.

I liked the space theme from tbc overall the best personally. To this day going through that fucking portal for the first time and looking up at the nebula sky in hellfire peninsula is still one of the greatest things I have ever experienced in a video game. It was so good. Having said that Wotlk is a very close second.