World of Warcraft Recruit-a-Friend incentive turns you into a flying panther

For everybody who’s ever dreamed of turning into a flying black panther and taking their buddies on magical rides over the mountains and crags of Azeroth – oh boy, have I got the best news ever for you.

Blizzard has announced a new incentive for the World of Warcraft Recruit-a-Friend scheme that turns you into a flying black panther so you can take your buddies on a magical ride over the mountains and crags of Azeroth. It’s exactly what you’ve always dreamed of!

Look at me, guys. I’m a flying panther. I think I just crapped my pants.

Basically, all you have to do is ask/nag/blackmail a buddy to play World of Warcraft with you, and set up a Starter Edition account for them. That account will be linked with yours, so you get all the cool benefits.

“Behold! The Recruit-A-Friend program has unleashed an all new reward mount—the swift and sleek Obsidian Nightwing,” reads the blurb over on Battle.net. “Unlike most other mounts, the Obsidian Nightwing is not a mount you summon, but rather a mount that you become, enabling you to take to the skies with a friend riding on your back. And who wouldn’t want to ride (or transform into) a winged panther?”

Blizzard knows just what you want.

The Obsidian Nightwing replaces the scheme’s previous X-53 Touring Rocket, although apparently if you’ve still got any of those lying about, you can keep them.

In addition to turning into a flying black panther and all those other things, you’ll also get bonus XP for playing together, and if your buddy decides to sign up for a month, you’ll get 30 days free. What are you waiting for? Start signing up everybody on your Facebook friend list*. Rules and stuff.