Forum Post of the Day: Dalaran and faction animosity
by Amanda Rivera 
Oct 9th 2007 at 8:00PM
But some are not happy with the prospect of another neutral city akin to Shattrath. As Sorun of The Venture Co sees it, shifting Dalaran from an Alliance city to a neutral city would only harm the lore. He says that the factions want to hate each other, want to be pitted head-to-head at every turn, and certain elements in TBC and elsewhere have shown a trend toward cooperation he doesn't like at all. Drysc mentions that no one has yet confirmed that the city will be neutral, and Neth makes a valid point on the subject later on in the thread:
I think it's a bit too early to be worried or upset about what is and isn't going to be in Dalaran. When we are further along and have information on it, we'll share it with you all. In the meantime, remember, Dalaran is filled with the world's most powerful magic users. While they work together, they are also filled with many different personalities and more importantly, have a bit of a crisis on their hands by the name of Malygos. I am going to hazard a guess that the Kirin Tor are going to be using all the available resources they can to survive the onslaught.
Irregardless of whether or not Dalaran ends up a neutral city, the forum thread raises an interesting topic: do players really want to hate members of the opposite faction? I know there is plenty of rivalry between the Horde and the Alliance, some created by the game itself and some created by the players. But I personally play characters of both factions and can't really say I prefer one over the other. Maybe I'm in the minority, I'm not sure. Perhaps you can help out here. Do you prefer hatred and animosity between the factions, or is cooperation more your thing?
| Yes | |
|---|---|
| No |
Filed under: Factions, Forums, Polls, Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
draeth Oct 9th 2007 8:11PM
I as well play on both sides, but strangely enough I hate whatever opposing side Im up against that day. On ally days im yelling stupid horde and horde days im yelling ally noobs
Ockhamsrazor Oct 9th 2007 8:12PM
Interesting pole topic.
I do not hate them, as I have friends on both sides I play with.
But it does feel damn good to gank a gnome doesn't it?
Just watch the small bones if your undead and plan to eat one, they are a choking hazard sometimes if not properly squished, LOL.
Serenatias Oct 9th 2007 8:14PM
Dalaran hasn't been closed for generations. It's only been shut off since WC 3, which I believe is under 10 years before the events of World of Warcraft.
Dahkeus Oct 9th 2007 8:18PM
I still need to read more into the lore of WoW. I've read about 4 books and from what I can tell Thrall of the orcs (which seems to be one of if not the head honcho of the Horde) does not hate the humans, but only fights against them in protection of his people. Neither the alliance or the Horde really seem to be the 'bad guys' even though the Horde might carry that rep since they are both against the Burning Legion.
While I don't expect the Horde and the alliance, I don't quite understand why the Horde and alliance are supposed to be so grudgingly against eachother. But then again, I also don't understand how Thrall would allow any Orcs to continue to become Warlocks, let alone any other leader of a faction opposing the Burning Legion.
Oh well, back to the books I go.
Tripno Oct 9th 2007 8:24PM
At the risk of sounding silly, I think "hate" is a pretty strong word. I often see it tossed around in general chat about the opposing faction, and although a lot of people are probably in character when they say it, it still bothers me. I play on a pvp realm, and I have no problem fighting an alliance (I'm horde) when I run into one. But I do it for the excitement and challenge of a tough battle, not because I don't like them.
The rivalry is what makes the game fun, but I see it as friendly competition. I have no issues with neutral towns... actually I enjoy people watching in shattrath, getting to see new people (mainly alliance) up close and checking out the cool gear they're wearing.
Although it's a game, there are real people on the other end, and I choose to acknowledge characters AND the people behind them.
Erika Oct 9th 2007 8:23PM
I do like ganking gnomes. But who dosent. I have toons on both sides and i help other sides if i can.
maxpowers156 Oct 9th 2007 8:25PM
Irregardless isn't a proper word!!! ACK!!!
Charles Oct 10th 2007 9:50AM
I think that sometime in the future, it would be interesting for an expansion to bring together the Alliance and Horde to face a great threat, like back in the day when they fought they Burning Legion. Thing is, it would totally ruin PVP. So...probably would never happen. Or perhaps you'll be able to choose your faction.
MagnumPrimers Oct 9th 2007 8:29PM
I don't hate the Alliance, I just don't like [some] of them. I usually leave them alone, but if I see a level 2 human warlock running through Silverpine. I won't think twice about not killing him. (that happened yesterday)
Syung Oct 9th 2007 8:28PM
It's... really hard to say. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Whenever I'm playing my blood elf mage, I'll make a rude gesture at any draenei I see. And my human rogue harassed a tauren once by chasing him around the Barrens and mooing at him (he was drunk).
But another time, I saw this sharply dressed tauren sitting in the inn at Booty Bay. He nodded at me, I nodded at him, and I thought, "He is the coolest ever."
I guess I'm a light RPer, and it depends on the character? And on how I'm feeling at the time.
my2cents Oct 9th 2007 8:40PM
I don't understand how people can get mad at Blizzard over lore issues when they're referring to lore that Blizzard created in the first place!! This is their story to tell; they can take it in any direction they want. If they decide that the mages of Dalaran have a bigger foe in Malygos than the horde, and choose to team up with them to fight him, then that now IS part of the lore. It's an ongoing thing. However, if they included something in WoW that simply contradicted the lore (i.e. if the upcoming caverns of time event for Stratholme had gnomes living in the city) then I would understand. But for what happens with the lore from this point forward, it's Blizz alone who gets to make that call
Nick Thomas Oct 9th 2007 8:41PM
53% hate the opposing faction ATM, shows a lot about humanity... are people really that stupid?
Maybe if people could figure out that its the same people on the other side, we wouldn't have so much war(in-game and irl).
Syung Oct 9th 2007 8:51PM
Regarding the Dalaran thing, it does seem weird. I mean, how long have the undead at Tarren Mill been asking people to kill the mages around Dalaran? How can they be neutral with that going on? Thinking about that, what'll happen to those quests when the city is opened up?
Jp Oct 9th 2007 8:52PM
I wonder what species would consider 6 years to be generations?
Jamesisgreat Oct 9th 2007 9:06PM
@13 - maybe the writer is a mayfly - they don't live very long.
Varatil Oct 9th 2007 9:12PM
Depends on the person, some people on the Horde are pretty damn awesome. Of course on my server half those people are probably also people on the Alliance too.
Anyway the point is this: If you hate everyone except one person, do you hate everyone?
In before "Save the drama for your mamma."
BigBear Oct 9th 2007 9:28PM
I think some of the terminology is used wrong. "People don't want another neutral city akin to Shattrah"
Shattrah is NOT a neutral city. It is a sanctuary enforced by A'dal. Neutral cities are like Area 52 or Gadgetzan. Conceptually I could easily see Dalaran being neutral and in fact would support it. I think a large city (the goblin ones are mere outpost) where both factions must go but their dislike of one another could overflow into fights would be good. It would really mean the designers could have fun with the layout of the city.
In the main wizard sections and living quarters, guards could be very prominent. Make them mostly mages and give them the ability to magical teleport any combat instigators to them for summary execution would really disuade people from doing more than eyeballing each other.
Then have sections that are more shady. Back alleys where the rogue element reside. Areas where wizards who focus on less accepted arts congregate and so forth. Make the guards rarer and make that city section just a little bit more dangerous (perhaps even NPC's who try to "mug" you).
This area could also provide you with some interesting quests. Doesn't Dalaran have a large underground dungeon that once held someone famous? Perhaps this could open into a new Battle Ground. Both teams enter the secret entrance to Dalaran's dungeon where they must rescue a prisoner, escort and protect them out the same way the other team is also doing the same thing. Whichever way the BG goes, it could also record wins. First side to free 20 of their own gets a 30 min city wide buff that makes shops 10% cheaper to buy things from or some such.
Shattrah promoted the "working together" concept. Dalaran could really promote the "appear to be working together" concept.
Dave Oct 9th 2007 9:32PM
The split factions is a shaky lore at best, especially considering the ones that are together for sketchy reasons...
The only people who really "hate" the other faction, just don't care about the lore and they're monkeying game functions as emotion. it's a forced split, because I guess they figured keeping them split like in the RTS games (regardless of the peace and common enemies) made more sense than just letting everyone pick whatever race they want and making up whatever teams they wanted.
Logically, the alliance and the horde have the exact same reasons for wanting the major bad guys we fight to be dead, don't they? There are bad orc clans, there are bad tauren, there are bad elves, bad humans and both sides kill them equally. We're unable to talk to each other for the same silly reason, but honestly can Blood Elves not talk to Night Elves? I can't understand what Humans say as a Tauren, but I know what Medivh is saying? Logic goes out the window when they have to have a contrived solution to keep something vaguely lore related in the game.
I'd rather see a single force, a single economy and allow people to join a particular faction with any character they want. Some factions are allied with others, some are at war with others, but ultimately they all share the same resources and world and are against the same enemy. Which is really what WoW is, they're just not being honest with the lore and wanted to keep it twisted.
Ichigo Oct 9th 2007 9:41PM
#7 QFT.
Irregardless is a nonsensical word. It's a mash of irrespective and regardless.
Please for the love of god don't use that word again!
;-)
derick Oct 9th 2007 10:03PM
It's split pretty amazingly in half.
327 for each?
Wow.
I don't hate.
I wish there were cross-faction instance possibilities.