I know, I know, “Oh boy more panda wank, here we go”, but I just want to ask a simple question here.

Is there some unwritten rule that says pandas can’t be badass?

I mean, I know real pandas are pretty “cuddly” as far as bears go but does that really overwrite the potential badassery of all panda-related things?
Because when I see imagery like this:

—that looks pretty fucking awesome.

Furthermore, as per my knowledge, yes the Pandaren were once a sort of “April Fool’s Joke”, but they were then written into the lore, and people actually begged for them to be added to the game. Needless to say I’m wholly confused by the droves of people claiming Mists of Pandaria is ridiculous. Blizzard has given what people have wanted for so long—including making them begin as a Neutral faction, something they adamantly refused to do in the past—and people are complaining? I’m confus.

I suppose it’s a prime example of Unpleasable Fanbase at its finest.

Personally, I’m looking forward to the expansion. Perhaps I’m a bit biased though because I adore Chinese-themed things, but the immediate lack of Everything On Fire sounds fantastically appealing (dear Deathwing, go fuck yourself). As for the talent changes and other new things, we just don’t really know enough about it yet, I think. It’s too early to be making such rash generalizations.

And as for Pet Battles = OMG POKEYMANS RIPOFF!! Uhhh… World of Warcraft is a game all about everything fighting everything else. It would only make sense for “Hey we should come up with a use for them there companion pets!” to come down to them fighting each other as well. Pokemon is so popular that anything involving tiny monsters fighting each other is immediately likened to it. I’ll just be glad for something else to do in-game besides grind this or farm that.

I probably had more to say but it’s getting late in the evening and the prospect of simmered porkchops with potato n’ onion gravy is getting too much to bear. (See what I did there? Too much to bear? Pandas? OHOHO~ No really, I’m hungry. Herbing Druid, awaaaay!)