Because over the years since release, and recently at an exponential rate, Blizzard has been removing the "role-playing" part from the RPG of this game.

There's pros and cons to the approach.

I'm sure you want to argue it's "nonsensical" that a stealth class can dual wield axes... but it's even easier to ask how nonsensical it is that you can press a button and "vanish." In broad daylight... really?? We don't have showers in the game, you don't think I could smell you even with your fancy flash powder??

In the end (imvho), Blizzard is making changes that center on what makes the game FUN. Sometimes their ideas don't make much sense. Sometimes their ideas are counter-productive and "dumb-down" the game and/or remove essential challenge. But seriously, if you're so offended by the ability of a Rogue to use an axe, then don't. Currently this game has bigger issues to deal with.

this.

 

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its a design thing. there are different ways to play a rogue. you have the sneaky assassination type rogue who will be either assassination or subtlety spec and use daggers or you have the combat style rogue which is more of a swashbuckler sort of character. so while there are rogues that are the sneaky backstabbing type with small weapons like daggers there are also rogues like artemis entreri from forgotten realms who are more combat oriented than sneaky oriented. make sense?

as far as being different from warriors, the skills available to rogues make them a completely different style of play than a warrior regardless of the weapons your using.

 

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Each WoW class has 3 specs. For a rogue, some skills only work with daggers, like backstab, the iconic Rogue weapon. Since the beginning of WoW, Rogues could use maces, swords and daggers. They can't use 2H weapons or Polearms. Blizzard recently added 1H Axes for Rogues. I'm still not sure why, but it's probably due to itemization. If they make a pair of epic 1H axes with agility, then Hunters and Rogues are good to go.

While Daggers and Swords can be various lengths, I always saw the Mace as a kind of "blackjack" (small blunt weapon) used to knock people out. WoW has a "Sap" skill that does just that. I remember the game Thief where you'd have to sneak up and knock people out all the time with a blackjack and drag the guy off.

I agree the Axes are weird, but there is a Rogue spec called "Combat" which focuses more on good old meleeing rather than "Stealth" or poisons and such.

As for weapon speed, the way I understood it was, a slower weapon does more damage per swing, so special attacks end up having bigger "hits". A fast weapon hits more times, but for less damage, so that "burst" of damage will be smaller. So people tend to go for slower weapons for DPS. This applies to all melee classes. Tanks usually go for a faster weapon for holding aggro coupled with passive and active skills.

In WoW's beta, Rogues could use shields (!), now that was weird, but that was taken out before launch.

EDITS: Tired... :\

 

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The answer to all questions like this regarding lack of RPG, etcetera is very simple:


$$$


NO, I'm not being sarcastic. It comes down to money for Blizz.


Btw, if this was a troll attempt, well done. If not, see answer. RPG does not necessarily = $$$ for common masses that have never played RPG before. Blizz is more interested in the MMO aspect. MMO = $$$


PS: rogues use "vanishing powder" (smoke screen) to vanish. Rogues do not use chakra-powered shinobi techniques. <straightface>

 

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