If these 2 would be the 2 new playable races, here's why i'm thinking they would end up being Goblin for Horde and Worgen for Alliance:

1) The "Stumpy" Factor: As many in this post have already pointed out, the Alliance already has 2 "stumpy" races as is (The Dwarfs and the Gnomes), so it would make sense for Blizzard to make one for the Horde. The reverse could be said for the reason Worgen would be on Alliance side (the "Animalistic" race argument that others have posted here, of which the Horde already has Taurens, also applies), since in all likeliness this race might be taller then the average human due to their bestial nature.

2) The Goblin/Gnome Rivlary: Though they don't neccesarily hate each other, Gnomes and Goblins have a sort of rivalry going in which each believes their Engineering skills are superior to the others. Which leads to reason #3...

3) Engineering Modifier: The Alliance already currently has a race with a + mod to Engineering (Gnomes), so I don't see Blizz giving em another race with the same mod.

4) The Fantasy Lore Angle: Though Blizzard has given Goblins more of a mercenary aspect (working for the highest bidder), in most traditional fantasy literature and some other MMOs Goblins have typically been an "Evil" race. For example, in the Warhammer universe, they make up one half of the Greenskin race (along with the Orcs). While the same can be said for the Worgens, there is currently lore in the game that would explain the Worgen's presence in the Alliance. Any Alliance person who has done the whole series of quests involving the Scythe of Elune would know that it was a Night Elf who used the Scythe to bring the Worgen into Azeroth during a certain conflict. They fought alongside the Night Elves for awhile during this time. Though she describes them in her journal as being wild in nature, she mentions also that as long as each pack has a leader, they seem to be organized. Later in her journal she describes Worgen being tainted (an allusion to Arugal). So, the explanation Blizzard could use is this may be a tribe of Worgen who remained somewhat civil. As for why the Goblins would join the Horde, they could simply say a certain group of Goblins decided it was more "profitable" to work for the Horde. As others mentioned, Goblins are never seen in most Ally towns, but are commonplace in few Horde ones, which seems to suggest that while the Allies will have dealings with em, they may not completely trust them (most likely due to their mercernary nature).

5) The "Ugly" factor: Let's face it, Goblins are not a particulary attractive race, and most "ugly" races end up on the Horde side. Though Blizz attempted to remedy this with the Draenei, they still came out looking way prettier than any Horde race (save for the Blood Elves). And looking at the Worgen masks, while bestial in appearance, they're definitely more attractive looking then Goblins are. The one downside I see to this could be this could create even more unbalance between the sides, as while some of us wouldn't mind playing Goblins (myself, for one), I see Worgen being the more popular race choice of the two.

As for what this would mean for the existing Goblin towns, they would most likely remain neutral, otherwise the netutral AH's would be gone. These would be goblins who remained loyal to their main credo (whoever pays the most). On the other hand, they could also make both races neutral races. If they did, you would most likely have to pick a side either at the Character Creation screen or through a quest you got at the end of their newbie area.

Edited, Jul 21st 2009 8:37am by Graymalkin

Edited, Jul 21st 2009 8:40am by Graymalkin

Edited, Jul 21st 2009 8:43am by Graymalkin

Edited, Jul 21st 2009 8:44am by Graymalkin

There are a crapload of races in the world of warcraft that I know I would want to be able to play ingame. I would love to see the nagas and worgen being a playable race. I also like the idea of creating dryads too, but centaurs aren't exactly that male version of dryads. So maybe dryads could be like a class you can play only as a female gender for Night Elves. It would be so sick if they could make a pandaren race for the horde and maybe a neutral faction for murlocs and nagas (are they on the same terms?). Satyrs could be a cool race to create too; like an anti-nightelf race besides the bloodelves. No.. wait. I got it. Add a Nerubian race to the horde... yes.. hahaha i would love to play a crypt lord warrior. ARG TOO MANY AWESOME RACES!!!

Edited, Jul 20th 2009 4:21pm by MKDefiancx

I don't necessarily see why the Alliance might automatically get the Worgen as an "animalistic" race, and the Horde get the Goblins as their "first short race".

If you think about it, the Horde have NO short races, while the Alliance have two. If they (Alliance) got the Gnomes, then that would continue an Alliance trend to mixed-height races (short and tall), while the Horde would continue their (seemingly natural) trend to non-human-looking races with the Worgen.

Goblins should not be a playable race. People hate gnomes enough as it is...why make a midget race that's even uglier? LOL

But on a more serious note: The worgens do look pretty cool...But I say they make dryads a playable race. Or perhaps centaurs. Or both...Maybe dryads would be the female version of the new race and centaurs would be the male version. I dunno. There's no four legged race out there, I think that'd be interesting. And for roleplayers, it would open up some neat venues.

Could you imagine a Goblin with a wee Gnomish World Enlarger?

Saying that. There already is a midget race for the Alliance.
Personally doubt that these are the races Blizz' plan on introducing just yet, and that the masks are just a herring of some sort, but fingers crossed and who knows.

Something I think would be neat if they just made a 3rd faction. This faction would hate horde and alliance and of course alliance and horde would hate them just like they hate each other. Only problem would be trying to fit them into BG's though. Guess they could make them so that they do a home city quest and eventually you have to align yourself with either horde or alliance. Make it so that you HAVE to at a certain point pick one or you can't leave the newbie area they start in.

Goblins seem closer to horde then alliance IMO. I mean you don't see too many Goblins running around alliance cities do you? Far as Worgens go though I don't see how they really should be alliance either.

Goblin would be kinda neat to play.

I want pandarans!