About Kaldorei "shadow" priests

[Feralan]

The subject of "shadow priests" in the guild has come up a few times, so I decided to post a summary of those discussions and the leadership's thoughts here.


1) The priest class as it is in WoW is myoptically focused on the faith of the Holy Light and its opposite the Shadow (and technically, no Light-priest would even be able to use Shadow powers, or vice versa). It doesn't properly represent a Priestess of the Moon at all. "Our" priestesses get their power solely from Elune and have nothing to do with either the Holy Light or the Shadow. Because of this, IC references to talent trees/builds like calling oneself a "shadow priestess" would sound odd or potentially confusing. Also, among the NPCs in WoW only Forsaken and other evil bastards carry the Shadow Priest title, while all Kaldorei priests are called "Priestess of the Moon", "Moon Priestess", or simply "Sister" or "Priestess".

2) Elune is objectively good and would not grant her power to a selfish, corrupt, or downright evil person. Every priest, no matter the talent build, should uphold and represent her benevolent virtues. This doesn't mean they have to act as everyone's loving mother all the time -- a Sentinel priestess used to leading the armed forces for example would have to be able to take a more forceful leadership approach -- but playing any servant of Elune as a callous, shady bastard surrounded by a scary evil aura would never work.

3) Because of point one above and the certified nasty nature of many Shadow-tree abilities, IC use of them should be scarce and considered with care -- especially in non-guild company, to avoid IC and OOC confusion. Nobody is going to say anything about Shadow spells being used in combat (unless the priest was gleefully sadistic about it), but popping into Shadowform and taking one's Shadowfiend for a walk just for fun would not be a good idea.


With this in mind, how can one make a Shadow-specced Kaldorei priestess "work" IC (as opposed to speccing Shadow OOC and ignoring the issue IC altogether, which is another option)? Some dislike the idea altogether, and that is understandable, but I think a compromise is possible.

Natural shadow and darkness are not evil, and the Kaldorei as nocturnal creatures would not have the same dark = scary = evil hangup as humans do, who are blind and helpless by night. And since all Kaldorei have the Shadowmeld ability, it would make sense if there in fact was a view of natural shadow as something like "Elune's protective cloak" which her light casts over her children when they need to stay hidden. Shadowform for example could be treated as an extension of that.

Also, Elune does not advocate peace at all costs. Enemies like the Burning Legion, the qiraji and the Scourge can only be destroyed by force. Lore-wise, the Sisters of Elune do have a martial side: they wear armor, wield moon glaives and bows, draw on the cold fire of the moon and the stars to strike down the enemies of the world, and are the leaders of the Sentinel Army. (Tyrande herself is a good example that the Sisters can be as fierce, savage and ruthless as any of their people if need be ... and that they are not infallible.) Speccing Shadow does not duplicate any of these abilities, of course, but since it is the only available offensive tree, it could be used to somewhat represent a very martially-focused priestess. (Although a Holy or Discipline-specced priestess could easily fulfill the same role.)

Such a character should have strong discipline and even stronger faith, in order not to lose sight of Elune's love and desire for peace and healing among their grim duties would of destroying those who would defile the world. Their duties could also include forcefully setting lost and restless spirits free of their bounds so they can find their peace in death, with the goddess. A dear friend of mine calls that "Elune's final mercy" -- painful, but necessary, and less painful than letting them linger. At the same time, offering a healing hand, an ear and a shoulder for those in distress, or guidance and advice on matters both mundane and spiritual should be a matter of course for such a character, just like with any other priestess.

The Priestesses of the Moon carry great power and responsibility in Kaldorei society. As such, a well-played priestess is a beautiful asset to the guild no matter the spec. Keep Elune first and foremost on their mind and there should be no problems.

[Miluiel]

*cheers*

This clears a lot up for me and makes it easier to see how I can play Milu better.

Thanks Feralan for posting this and making things clear; I hope that I can better use what you have said to round of my lil priestess.

[Ardhel Milwraeth]

Ah, I see. That could certainly be applied to shadow walkers as well (Kaldorei rogues who mattered stealthing into shadows beyond normal shadow melding. Ah and regarding Kaldorei racial characteristics. As a race Kaldorei don't go as... hm... kind of angelic elf's but in fact as something closer to wild beasts or well such forces of nature as storms. Also many races see Kaldorei as arrogant and even a bit xenophobic, not understanding that its in fact more like parent-child relationship toward other younger races on Azeroth.
Oh, but that brings me to a certain question. What is then a relationship between Kaldorei and Draenei, especially in the light that Draenie as a race are actually even older than Kaldorei. Not all of them but...

[Throethalen]

I'd just like to tell how I played Throe as shady priestess in-game.
My storie at that point, that is before Throe was un-corrupted, is as following:
Throe was a pretty normal priestess, mostly doing the healing in the temple, and really being just the person who was in the back when important decisions where made. Then one night she was visited by Elune in a meditation. She granted Throe the ability to spy on the enemies of the Kal'Dorei through the help of the shadow plane. This I showed through using the talent Shadowform. But the shadow plane have certain dangers. One out of many is small dark creatures who suck the life force out of those who dare to enter the place. I used here the shadowfiend for visiual showing when one of them attacked me on our plane. One of the others is: Warlocks and mages can through rituals grant passage to this plane. I was while I was in there, seen by a warlock who possesed me, made me attack people and generaly loose control of my body. I was helped back to the normal me by Tyrande, and the lot of lovely sentinels who was present. Now Throe generaly walk around telling people, whom she thinks has some contact with the plane, of the dangers.

That's really how I used the shadow tree for IC Rping. Of course there is many other ways to do it, both evil and good; just thought my storie might give some ideas

[Sacerdoss]

If i may...when i have been confrusted about this before i tend to use the excuse that as a priest of Elune she has granted me greater abilities to destroy that which causes corruption or is beyond repair. I dont readily walk around in shadow form and if i do myou will notice my face is often covered. The reason i do this is because i do Elunes bidding but i realise as a priest i have two roles, the other is to guide kaldorei in the ways of peace and i cant really do that looking like a black and blue flame!

So simply IC i use it as a gift but i very rarly use it...as a foot note i NEVER go shadow form in the temple of the moon as it is supposed to be a place of peace.

I agree though the idea of shadow powers and there nature of attacking the mind may be evil and not very IC HOWEVER perhaps you could view it as a last attempt to convert the subject or to destroy any remains of the corruption!

All those are idea i use many of them as i quite enjoy RP'ing.