Worgen (playable)

This article is about the playable worgen and the Gilneas faction. For general history of the race, see worgen.

   
Worgen

	
		
		
	
	
Character classes
Death knight, Druid, Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior
Main language
Worgen
Secondary language
Common
Starting zone
Gilneas City, Gilneas
Racial leader
King Genn Greymane
Capital
Darnassus, Teldrassil
Racial mount
Unknown

The worgen are a race of feral wolf-beasts whose very name inspires fear.

Records indicate that the worgen existed for a time in Kalimdor. In fact, more recent evidence suggested that their true origin might have a connection to the night elves and a secretive druidic order from Kalimdor's distant past. This proved to be correct as the curse originated from a druidic sect who followed Goldrinn, known as Druids of the Scythe. They shapeshifted into the feral worgen and eventually lost their minds to its violent nature. The other Druids agreed that they must be locked away, and thus put them into eternal slumber deep beneath a tree... until the day Arugal and Velinde Starsong tampered with the Scythe of Elune. It was the night elves, after all, who created the curse in the first place. Obliged to help their newfound allies, they re-introduce them to the Alliance.

The worgen's first verified appearance in the Eastern Kingdoms has been traced back to the Third War, when the archmage Arugal utilized the wolf-beasts as a weapon against the Scourge. Arugal's weapons soon turned against him, however, as the curse of the worgen rapidly spread among the human population, transforming ordinary men and women into ravenous, feral creatures.

Arugal adopted many of the worgen as his own and retreated to the former mansion of Baron Silverlaine, the estate now known as Shadowfang Keep. The curse, however, was not contained. It persisted in the lands of Silverpine and extended even into the fabled walled nation of Gilneas, where the curse rapidly reached pandemic levels.

The citizens of Gilneas found themselves trapped, with no hope of escape. They retreated deeper within the isolated domain, and there they survived, fearful of the savage presence that lurked just outside the barricades.

Tensions among the displaced citizens escalated over time, resulting in a civil war that now threatens to destabilize the embattled nation even more.

There are those among the Gilneans, however, who cling to hope. Many believe that a cure for the worgen curse may exist, although others have nearly given up, fearful that if the barricades should fall, their humanity will be lost forever.

Induction to the Alliance

Worgen are the new playable Alliance race introduced in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and will be able to choose a class from death knight, druid, warrior, hunter, mage, priest, rogue, or warlock. Outside of combat, worgen can appear in either their human form or their worgen form. They immediately turn into their worgen form when entering combat or activating their Darkflight racial ability.

Recently the Greymane Wall was shattered by the Cataclysm. Setting their sights on the now-vulnerable country of Gilneas, the vile Forsaken have started an invasion of the kingdom. In their hour of greatest need, the worgen of Gilneas called out for their old allies' aid. The Gilneans are now back in the Alliance, and with their new allies by their side they aren't giving up their home without a fight.

Your Character

When starting a Worgen character, the first 5-6 levels are played as a human fighting in the Gilneas civil war at the beginning of the Worgen invasion of Gilneas City. After finishing the questline in Gilneas City, during which the player becomes a Worgen, the player is moved to Duskhaven, prior to the Forsaken invasion of Gilneas.

Lore reasons for classes

Druid

As stated above the worgen curse was created by night elf druids, and that the night elves feel somewhat responsible and are helping the worgen fight for their city. During this time the night elves have taught the worgen the terms of magic that led to their creation, druidism.

Mage, warlock, priest, rogue, warrior and hunter

The worgen have retained the the skills they had as human citizens and choosen to continue using them after their transformation.

Death knights

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Death knights are a bit more tricky, and Blizzard hasn't provided any actual lore or reason for how worgen can have become death knights (or vice versa). A possible solution is found out in the BETA quest line in Silverpine forest. Darius Crowley and other worgen leaders have been offering the humans of Lordaeron to drink their blood and become worgen so that when they die they can't be resurrected as Forsaken. Seeing as this takes place after Wrath of the Lich King, some of the humans that did this might have already been death knights ^{[citation needed]}. Alternatively, such worgen death knights may have actually been transformed Wolfcult members, already in the service of the Lich King (indirectly through the Shade of Arugal), who regained their free will during the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel along with the rest of the death knights. Though Blizzard has stated that being a Worgen Death Knight is purely for gameplay mechanics and not actually tied to the lore.^{[citation needed]}

Starting attributes

	Base	Mage	Priest	Rogue	Warlock	Warrior	Druid	Hunter	Death Knight
Strength	23	23	23	23	23	26	24	23	111
Agility	22	22	22	25	22	22	22	25	75
Stamina	20	20	20	21	21	22	20	21	99
Intellect	16	19	18	16	18	16	18	16	25
Spirit	19	21	22	19	21	19	21	20	41

Racial Abilities

Darkflight (3 min cooldown)
Activates your true form, increasing movement speed by 70% for 10 sec.
Viciousness (passive)
Increases critical strike chance by 1%.
Aberration (passive)
Reduces the duration of all curses and diseases used against you by 15%.
Flayer (passive)
Skinning skill increased by 15 and allows you to skin 0.5 seconds faster.
Two Forms (1.5 sec cooldown)
Transforms you between human and worgen forms. You will revert to worgen form in combat.

Gallery

Male worgen druid

Male worgen warrior

Male worgen mage

Male worgen warrior (Build 12539)

Female worgen
(work in progress)

Female worgen
(work in progress)

Female worgen
(work in progress)

Female worgen
(work in progress)

A Gilnean worgen in human form

Concept artwork of the worgen racial mount; not finalized

Worgen creation screen

Worgen in stealth mode/animation

Worgen artwork

Worgen artwork

Worgen druid in cat form

Worgen druid in bear form

External links

WorldOfWarcraft.com 

YouTube A playthrough of the worgen starting zone by Jessie Cox of OMFGcata, Part 1