World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

[Skyblade]

Well, I must say, I am looking forward to this expansion. So far, the majority of their additions are looking good. Their expanded talents, new abilities, flying mounts, new monsters, and Outland itself are all hunky dory. I do, however, have a problem with the Dranei. Specifically, the history of the Dranei recently released by Blizzard contradicts the information that we have been given in Warcraft III and World of Warcraft.

To combat the demonic entities that made their way into the Titans' worlds from the Twisting Nether, the Pantheon elected their greatest warrior, Sargeras, to act as their first line of defense. Sargeras, a noble giant of molten bronze, carried out his duties for countless millennia, seeking out and destroying the demons wherever he could find them. Over the eons, Sargeras encountered two powerful demonic races, both of which were bent on gaining power and dominance over the physical universe.

The Eredar, an insidious race of devilish sorcerers, used their warlock magics to enslave a number of worlds that they had invaded. The indigenous races of those worlds were mutated by the Eredar's chaotic powers and turned into demons themselves. Though Sargeras' nearly limitless powers were more than enough to defeat the vile Eredar, he was greatly troubled by the creatures' corruption and all-consuming evil. Unable to fathom such depravity and spite, the great Titan slipped into a brooding depression. Despite his growing unease, Sargeras sought to rid the universe of the warlocks for all time, by trapping them within a vacuous corner of the Twisting Nether.

And then we have this information, from the history of the Dranei that Blizzard has recently released:

Nearly twenty-five thousand years ago, the eredar race arose on the world of Argus. They were extremely intelligent and had a natural affinity for magic in all its myriad forms. Using their gifts, they developed a vast and wondrous society.
Unfortunately the eredar's accomplishments caught the attention of Sargeras, the Destroyer of Worlds. He had already begun his Burning Crusade to eradicate all life from the cosmos, and he believed that the brilliant eredar would be pivotal in leading the vast demonic army he was gathering. Thus, he contacted the eredar's three most prominent leaders: Kil'jaeden, Archimonde, and Velen. In exchange for the loyalty of the eredar race, Sargeras offered untold power and knowledge.

Now, according to the original information, the evil of the Eredar was part of the cause of Sargeras' corruption and transformation into the Dark Titan who was the bane of all life. But the recent info says that the Burning Crusade had already started by the time Sargeras encountered the Eredar.

How hard could it be for a company as rich as Blizzard to fact check information they've distributed a few dozen times? I've put up with a lot (I didn't even complain that much when the basic plot of Warcraft III turned out to be nearly identical to that of Starcraft), but come on, Blizzard, pay some attention to what you say every once in a while!

[stuffing]

Yes yes, we all know that Metzen screwed up. He wrote the story a long time ago so give him a break.

[Tavrobel]

Yes yes, we all know that Metzen screwed up is the only person who actually writes anything that has anything to do with the game's plots whatsoever, so it's not surprising that no one else caught him in his faux pas. He wrote the story a long time ago is endlessly awesome and should be worshipped like a freaking god, so give him a break, because he's not Sargeras.

[stuffing]

thanks for the fix :0

[Madame Adequate]

I have a bigger problem with Elves being on the same side as the Undead and Trolls.

[Tavrobel]

Blood Elves. All things red are obviously evil. Especially those who rely on large mounts.

Not that Orcs or Trolls are evil. That's just foolish.

[Endless]

I'm glad that they're putting Blood Elves in the Horde for two reasons:
1) Kids will play Horde and maybe the overall level of the Alliance will rise.
2) The idea that the Alliance is good and the Horde is evil needs a swift kick to the face. TBC contributes to the kicking.

[Markus. D]

muahaha,

yay for the horde! maybe finally they will overdominate the Alliance.

yahh... weehh.... >_>

[Madame Adequate]

I'm glad that they're putting Blood Elves in the Horde for two reasons:
1) Kids will play Horde and maybe the overall level of the Alliance will rise.
2) The idea that the Alliance is good and the Horde is evil needs a swift kick to the face. TBC contributes to the kicking.

Err... no it doesn't, it does the exact opposite. It reduces the Blood Elves to being a bunch of mercenary murderers, shows that the Draenei (One of the few races it seems are really good, like the Alliance equivalent of the Tauren) joined the Alliance pretty much by default, and generally reinforces going back to Horde evil, Alliance good.

[~SapphireStar~]

I like the idea of evil elves. Finally the Horde gets a sexy race!

[Endless]

How are the Blood Elves evil? They're no more evil than Orcs are, or the Forsakens. How are they even "mercenary murderers"?

[Madame Adequate]

Primarily because they've captured a Naaru and, basically, tortured it until they learnt its secrets. Their use of the light is a defilement and an affont (Although to be fair the only Alliance race which actually comes close to being good enough to use the Light in the first place are the Dwarves.), and every time a Blood Knight throws a spell around it will be profane.

And the Forsaken are pretty smurfing evil too, so yeah, they're about on a level. I'm not saying neither of them have a good reason to be evil, but that doesn't change the fact that they are pretty [img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img]ty.

It was before TBC that the Horde could easily be argued to be more good than the Alliance. Now, the at least hugely questionable race of the Blood Elves joined the Horde (Okay, nowhere else for them to go, but the Horde didn't have to let them in.), whilst the completely unblemished and blameless race of the Draenei joined the Alliance, pretty much without looking at the situation at all.

It is pretty clear that Blizz's idea is that the Horde are the bad guys and the Alliance are the good guys, despite the several years they've just spent trying to be more nuanced.

Edit: They are mercenary because they will do anything for a hit of magic and they are murderers because of pretty much the same reason.

[stuffing]

I, for one, am rolling a Draenei Shaman.

And by the way, if you know your Warcraft lore, you'll know that the Nightelves hate the Highelves ( aka Bloodelves ) for using magic and whatnot.

[Endless]

Primarily because they've captured a Naaru and, basically, tortured it until they learnt its secrets. Their use of the light is a defilement and an affont (Although to be fair the only Alliance race which actually comes close to being good enough to use the Light in the first place are the Dwarves.), and every time a Blood Knight throws a spell around it will be profane.

Sure it's bent, but in the end, they're fighting the Scourge and the Burning Legion. There are warlocks in the alliance who rely on fel energy, but it doesn't make the Humans & Gnomes as a whole "evil". Same goes for the Orcs and Undead.

And the Forsaken are pretty smurfing evil too, so yeah, they're about on a level. I'm not saying neither of them have a good reason to be evil, but that doesn't change the fact that they are pretty [img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img]ty.

But they are doing their hardest to get rid of the Scourge, and help the Orcs/Taurens/Trolls in their fights. There are even priests.

It was before TBC that the Horde could easily be argued to be more good than the Alliance. Now, the at least hugely questionable race of the Blood Elves joined the Horde (Okay, nowhere else for them to go, but the Horde didn't have to let them in.), whilst the completely unblemished and blameless race of the Naaru joined the Alliance, pretty much without looking at the situation at all.

I suppose you mean Draenei, since the Naruu =/= Draenei. Anyway, why the Horde? Well, the Night Elves can't stand them (to say the least), and some might see their past alliance with the Naga as not great. However, they are also trying to get rid/put under control their addiction to magic, much like the Orcs had to do to get rid of the cursed blood of Mannoroth. that's why the Tauren and the Orcs can accept them, because they see the similarities with what the Orcs went through. The BE/Forsaken link is more complicated because of the hatred of the BE for everything undead, but at the same time the knowledge that many of their dead friends/families are now part of the Forsaken. Sylvanas, for example.

It is pretty clear that Blizz's idea is that the Horde are the bad guys and the Alliance are the good guys, despite the several years they've just spent trying to be more nuanced.

I think it's pretty clear that it's not black & white like you think it is.

Edit: They are mercenary because they will do anything for a hit of magic and they are murderers because of pretty much the same reason.

The BE joining the Horde are the ones who can keep in check their lust for magic energy. those who don't go mad.

[Madame Adequate]

But they are doing their hardest to get rid of the Scourge, and help the Orcs/Taurens/Trolls in their fights. There are even priests.

And when you roll a Forsaken priest, and talk to Shadow Priest Sarvis, you'll see where I'm coming from

I suppose you mean Draenei, since the Naruu =/= Draenei. Anyway, why the Horde? Well, the Night Elves can't stand them (to say the least), and some might see their past alliance with the Naga as not great. However, they are also trying to get rid/put under control their addiction to magic, much like the Orcs had to do to get rid of the cursed blood of Mannoroth. that's why the Tauren and the Orcs can accept them, because they see the similarities with what the Orcs went through. The BE/Forsaken link is more complicated because of the hatred of the BE for everything undead, but at the same time the knowledge that many of their dead friends/families are now part of the Forsaken. Sylvanas, for example.

Yes, my mistake with Naaru, I fixed it now. And I'm not saying the Blood Elves have much of an alternative to the Horde (Although honestly, WoW should have three factions: Horde, Alliance, Illidan.) but that doesn't necessarily mean the Horde will accept them in return. There's no way Trolls and Elves are going to view each other as anything other than mortal enemies. The Forsaken are only there because Magatha pulled strings for her own ends - the Horde is being extremely unwise in making two alliances of convenience like this. They actually only have three reliable races - and there aren't that many Darkspear Trolls or Orcs left. Which I suppose is the justification for it, now that I think of it. But I still think it's very unwise.

The BE joining the Horde are the ones who can keep in check their lust for magic energy. those who don't go mad.

Well yeah, except that the entire species appears to have gone mad in their lust for magic. xD