BlizzCon Day Uno: Pandas!

So, I don't know if you guys heard, but China stereotypes the Pandarens are coming to WoW!
It was a pretty exciting first day here at the convention. A lot of new announcements and plans for the fourth expansion. I'm not going to go over every single one, cuz all you need to do is go to wow.joystiq.com and you can get all the information there. I'm also lazy cuz I've only had 7 hours of sleep the last few days.
Mists of Pandaria. It's a risky chance they're taking, but I think at this point, Blizzard has to take that chance to continue holding the attention of its gamers.
Pandas and China Pandaria
The biggest news was obviously the new expansion. Pandarens (those Kung Fu Panda looking pandas) will be the new race and the Monk class will be the new class. Monk class is NOT a hero class, and will start at level 1. Yep, when you are leveling your Panda, I can bet you'll be in dungeon qs full of Pandas. Or maybe not...
The response has been largely mixed, which is no surprise, since when they trademarked the title, the speculation of pandas was also received with mixed feelings. You either love the idea, are freaking SO EXCITED to be a panda, or you freaking hate the idea, think its stupid and wtf pandas!
I understand the skepticism. I think they look outrageously cartoony, especially compared to other races. The idea of Pandarens besides Taurens and Orcs, or Night Elves and Humans, is really odd (hey don't they belong in a zoo?). And it's really hard not to look at them and think, Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda). So I get it.
But at the same time, I think you should give it a chance. The content and videos you see are actually really pretty. I loved the geography and concepts so far, and they really make the world feel like almost ancient China. Rice Paddies, mist surrounded rock pillars. It's a beautiful world. It's also massive, and we will get to explore every inch of it.
The Pandas are a risky race to choose, but it would be difficult to pick up another race. The idea of how the Horde and Alliance come across Pandaria isn't so far fetched that it's bad plot device. Blizzard is extremely lucky to have The Sundering and Deathwing to hide and shake things up.  Nice, convenient lore devices there. I think the oriental feel of Pandaria is great for the artists. The buildings and new creatures have a distinct look to them, and while it sometimes screams stereotypes, I think it breathes a lot of beauty into WoW that has been missing. Seriously, you should see this Giant Turtle island you start on as a Pandaren. Awesome!
The Monk
If you really hate the idea of pandas, well fear not because you don't have to play them at all to play monk. Monk will be available to all races except Goblins and Worgens. There could be many reasons for it. I created a lore theory behind it. The starting areas (which you would be at because Monks start at level 1) are phased areas that deal with the Shattering, and it's aftermath. Having Pandarens magically appear to teach the two races how to be Monks would make no logical lore sense whatsoever.
Anyways, the Monks feel on the little demo I played is hard to describe. You have three power resources, a Chi bar, which is your main power source, then two orb bars that are like runes or something. You get dark and light orbs and a certain amount allows you to use certain moves. Considering I only got to level...er...4? I didn't get to do much with them. The neatest thing about Monks, feel wise, is that they do not auto attack (OH NOES). This allows for more martial arts like play style, which I think is really neat. Also, Monks get Roll...we roll. A lot. Just running around, and then you ROLL. ROLL!
War
 Back to the story. Instead of pulling out Dragonball Z a new super villain on us, like the last expansions, the main villain will be, "war". Basically, red vs. blue. Horde vs. Alliance. It all makes sense now, Garrosh being Warchief. It was the right move to make him Warchief, because let's be honest. If Thrall was in charge, we'd be making cake for Varian. By having two hot blooded, war hungry leaders to take us to war, there isn't a "good" or "bad" side.
Although, in essence, we are all bad. We are basically disturbing a beautiful, rarely touched world that has lived in peace for years. We even bring about evil spirit creatures, that are created by the negativity of our actions. This concept of "war", the villain, makes us all seem like villains.
Talents!
The talent system as a whole is completely different. There are core abilities, which are abilities that all specs should have. Then there are specialization abilities, which are the abilities that pertain specifically to your specialization. Then the talent system, which consists of tiers. At every 15 levels, you choose between three talents, which all have a similar function (Crowd control, Healing, Damage Mitigation, Movement), but do it in a different way. For example: Crowd Control: One move may stun, the other may be an AOE fear that has a CD, and no specific control, and the last will be a single fear that you have more control over.
This is Blizzard's attempt to kick the min/max cookie cutter spec out, and allow for more customization.
They are implementing this system pretty well so far. They went through every. single. talent. tree (how does GC not lose his voice)for. every. single. class. and we got a good look at what they are hoping. I like it a lot! I think it's a good system and is in the right direction.
Do I think it'll actually work? I'm not sure it's enough. I feel like it will be very difficult to balance each talent so that it is an actual personal decision instead of a cookie-cutter one. But it is definitely still way too early, so we have plenty of time to watch it unfold.
Also, talents can be changed like glyphs can, which is great for me! I can simply swap some things so I can have a PvP build and a PvE build without a 3rd spec. I accept :D
Druid Changes
Hey! Cha-cha-changes!
We are now a 4 spec class. Feral has been split up into two specs. Feral (Cat) and Guardian (Tank). It makes sense, and I think its a fair change. Druids are specifically a hybrid class, and our greatest feature is our flexibility. That being said, will being a hybrid player be viable in a raid or dungeon environment, where we each specifically play a role? The last (uber) talent tier involves being a hybrid.
Note: (This is what they have so far, and can of course, be subject to change)
From Sunfyre's Nest: 

• Heart of the Wild (6 min cooldown):  Dramatically improves the Druid’s ability to serve combat roles outside of normal specialization for 45 sec.  Balance:  Healing spells generate Lunar or Solar Energy and benefit from Lunar and Solar Eclipse.  In addition, 50% of Intellect as Agility, 100% of hit rating as expertise rating, and increases armor by 95% while in Bear Form.
• Master Shapeshifter:  Improves the Druid’s effectiveness at briefly switching between forms.  Your melee abilities increase your spell damage by 10% and your non-instant spellcasts increase your attack power by 10%.  Both effects stack up to 3 times and last 15 sec.  Each ability used which benefits from one of these effects consumes one application of that effect.
• Disentanglement: Shapeshifting now removes roots.  In addition, shifting into a form heals the Druid for 20% of maximum health.  This heal cannot be received more often than once every 30 sec.

Will this be okay for raids? Will we be wanted? I'm not sure.
Also, Shamans can spec into a totem talent that basically does what Tranquility does. :( Rawr!
 Anyways, on a positive note.
We did get a new cooldown.

• Cenarion Ward (30 sec cooldown): Protects a friendly target, causing any damage taken to heal the target for 2660 every 2 sec for 6 sec. Gaining the healing effect consumes the Cenarion Ward.  Useable in all shapeshift forms.  Lasts 30 sec.

And Nature's Swiftness finally buffed.

• Nature’s Swiftness (3 min cooldown): When activated, your next Cyclone, Entangling Roots, Healing Touch, Hibernate, Nourish, Rebirth or Regrowth becomes instant, free and castable in all forms.  The healing and duration of this spell is increased by 50%.

Finally! That was a change we really needed.
Oh, and I can choose to summon healing Treants....I can be a treant with more treants. :O
As a restoration druid, I feel weird. With the 4.3 changes and now these, I feel constantly jipped as a druid healer. We never get new spells, we get our form taken away, and we get buffed, then nerfed in an endless cycle under the disguise of "balance". I see the new changes for other classes and I'm excited for them. But I don't feel that excitement as a restoration druid.
And I can't imagine rerolling. But sometimes I feel like I should. Druid is what I am in this game though. I just don't know.
Other Changes
No more ranged slot. No more Relics! Mages, Warlocks, and Priests can be Harry Po'er. No more minimum range for hunters. Eee gads!
PvE Battlegrounds? Yes please! Scenarios? Even more! Challenge Dungeons? YEAHHHHH!!! Transmog items! So pumped!
GOTTA CATCH EM ALL!
No I did not spend BlizzCon playing my Nintendo handheld. Blizzard is implementing Companion Battles, which are essentially Pokemon battles with your cute collectible pets. It's kind of ridiculous. There are some you find in the wild, others you obtain normally. They have a Pokedex Journal that keeps track of them, and where you can find them. You can eventually trade them off as well. You'll get to name them. It's super effective everything, but without the balls.
I personally think this is neat. I love Pokemon. Why not tap into a franchise that is beloved and has transcended generations time and time again.  
Blizzard's Future
We've got SWTOR on the horizon, Rift purchasing bus advertisements outside of the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend, and FTP games everywhere we look. Blizzard's got it tough, and Mists of Pandaria is risky. A comical looking race, a NEUTRAL comical looking race. Pokemon. A newly revamped talent system. Again. It's a lot. But at this point, Blizzard has got to take the chances. If they played it safe, they wouldn't make it. It's what makes them a great company. It's how they pave the way in their industry. I thnk Mists of Pandaria has a lot of new stuff to look forward to, and we're just getting started! I am looking forward to seeing their future.

PS. I'm not sure if I loved or hated the Contests. I'll get back to you.