Fundstück: Lawbringer

Für mich, als angehenden Designer, ist immer auch der Hintergrund einer Designentscheidung der Entwickler in Bezug auf die Story sehr wichtig. Farbpsychologie, Klischees, kulturelle Verhaltensmuster und einiges mehr spielen dabei eine wichtigere Rolle, als sich der "Ottonormalverbraucher" eingestehen würde.
Ein Text, den ich zufällig bei einem meiner Streifzüge durch das US-Forum fand, wertet diese Phänomene in Bezug auf das T1-Set Lawbringer aus.
Das Set ist sehr umstritten und oft auch als Lolbringer verschrien.
Doch auch wenn die - vermutliche - Intention seitens Blizzard nicht hundertprozentig durchgehalten wurde, so ist es diese kleine Analyse durchaus wert gelesen zu werden.

Let us discuss the term Lawbringer, the equipment the name represents and the roles in which a Paladin of the Light may take under such a pretense, analyze it's set abilities and it's art design, and try to discover the meaning of this armor set.

Merely a name?
The term Lawbringer can be interpreted in many ways, however the OP decides that it is to bring the "Law" to the Horde. This perplexes me, for the Horde, in a political viewpoint share their own laws and regulations as is expected of an individual group of assimilated nations such as the Horde. No, I do not beleive that the Alliance is so blind and fallacious to beleive that we will indeed be bringing the Law to the Horde. Instead I beleive it is a name that represents itself in a more "Civil" nature. Bringing Law to the people.

The Design.
The design of the Lawbringer armor is in a form and fashion of full plate. Many layers of plate gear done in a decorative style and laced in gold and possibly fine silver. The shoulder pauldrons arc in a very dramatic light, seemingly attempting to emulate the design of spreading wings, the tips aiming directly into the sky as if beckoning to the heavens. It's shape beside the Helm of the Paladin also indicate possibly an archway, as if protecting the Paladin from outside influence or darkness. The Aura presented by this gear is that it is ceremonial in nature, and it is to be expected as by design it does not provide much function for full combat, indeed I beleive that it is done in a symboliccal nature.

The design seemingly is intended to provide the atmosphere of brilliance and grandeur. The bring awe in the light of the people. Amongst the regular rank and file soldiers of the Alliance, a group of one or two Paladin walking on their glowing chargers, covered in the platewear of Lawbringer would stand amongst the grim militia and the weary soldiers as a sign of power. A fist of the Alliance and a sign of hope. The gold and fine metals are not that of a poor nation, not a nation without power or tradition. In essence the Lawbringer armor is intended to show the people that there is law, there is a government, there is a kingdom that these people serve, to the death, so that the Law may exist.

The Effects of Lawbringer.
The Lawbringer set, is heavy in Stamina and Intellect, statistics proven to aid any player in it's survival and endurance during combat and combat casting. The amounts are, indeed higher than most gear in total before Lawbringer. To most of us, heroes of battle, epic Warriors and masterful Mages, impeccable Rogues and diabolical Warlocks, the Lawbringer set now is a laughable representation of armed combat. However to the people of the Alliance in a roleplaying sense, the Paladin was an inequitable force of nature with this armor on. Seemingly able to do battle for days against legions of foes before even considering death.

However the Lawbringer's main features were designed as if a Paladin, in the need for battle would find himself on the front lines, he could quell combat not with his blade, but with the fiery hearts of the people he was sword to protect. For the blanket of Law cannot cover those who are dead and dying. The improvement to the Judgement of Light suggests the Paladin's desire to endure, and despite the amazing healing on the set, it also offers an extra capability to perform critical strikes and spells, and obvious offensive talent to allow the Paladin to fight amongst his peers regardless of their strength. However it's ultimate ability, to heal his allies in his group with every hit with a small ability of health.

If you were a man of the city, a man under siege trying to protect your family, and in the darkness where all is lost a Paladin in Lawbringer rose to your side and offered you a blade. Would you not follow him? Would you not follow the bathing light in the midst of all that is filled with destruction and shadow?

Conclusion.
In the end, it seemingly seems that the Lawbringer set was not something issued for Judgement or Redemption. It was not a set designed to be given to a Paladin who must bring Justice to those that deserve it. It was meant not for the Paladin, or for self. It was meant for those that the kingdom was sworn to protect. The Law protects the innocent. In truth, it does not protect the criminal for they have foregone their innocence. It protects those that follow the king, follow their government the same way we follow our symbols, our Flag, our light.

The Paladin represents the golden Lion of the Alliance, and Lawbringer is the armor set given to those Paladin's on the street, in the aid-stations and in the frontiers of Azeroth, where the hand of the people may not reach, there are those that fear not the dangers of the enemies of their beleifs. For where there are citizens of the Alliance, there must be Law, however thin. Where there is Law, there is the Paladin, the hand of Justice, the Lawbringer.

Thanks Krysta.
~Glyx