Forum post of the day: They know their lore
by Amanda Dean 
Nov 7th 2008 at 9:00AM
The Warcraft storyline has come a long way since Orcs and Humans. Bobbyjeh of Aman'Thul asked how Blizzard maintains their "seemingly endless lore and story arc. Nethaera responded that the company has a Historian on staff as well as an expanding department dedicated to lore. They cover all three of the major Blizzard universes. They help to keep continuity in the game and keeps things interesting for our resident Lore Nerd.While I was doing the quest chain for my Swift Flight Form, I wondered to myself. What does someone who's been asleep for so long know about Outland? I've often wondered how it is that new Draenei characters all crashed "one month ago." As some pointed out, there has been some discontinuity in the Warcraft Universe. But Blizzard does a pretty good job of keeping their story straight. No stranger than C3PO saying, "Thank the maker," when technically, Darth Vader is the maker. We accept these plot holes and move on.
What's interesting to me is how Blizzard manages to include many video game and pop culture references. I love the Linken quest chain in Un'Goro Crater and Winterspring. The one thing that has driven me crazy since the Burning Crusade was released was the whole Skettis/Skexies thing. Sure there's lore around the Arakkoa, but does it really need to involve so many dark crystals?
It seems that the story, as we've known it in the strategy games will be coming to a close with Wrath of the Lich King. I'm sure the lore masters at Blizzard are working feverishly to expand it. Blizzard had hinted that Wrath will not be the last expansion to WoW. We still have plenty of existing content to explore. And there will the historians will continue making history.
Once Arthas is under control, where do you think Blizzard will take us next?
Filed under: Fan stuff, Blizzard, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King, Forums, Forum Post of the Day
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
UBD Nov 7th 2008 9:11AM
Uldum or the maelstrom.
hENNIFER pANTALON Nov 7th 2008 9:05AM
WoW is only letting you play on the development realm ;) too bad none are listed.. stupid restarts! I resort to learning about LORE? HOW DARE I!
joerendous Nov 7th 2008 9:29AM
We're taking it straight to the bugs. You apes want to live forever?
Rex Nov 7th 2008 9:05AM
Maybe a pre-orc human world(s) where it all begins or Emerald Dream.
Suite Nov 7th 2008 9:06AM
Im really hoping the Emerald Dream.
Really theres a lot of things they could do with it.
Luke Nov 7th 2008 9:08AM
In the expansion after Wrath, we'll probably have to deal with the Old Gods again, this time all of them. Or maybe something to do with the Infinite Dragonflight.
Amaxe Nov 7th 2008 9:09AM
Emerald Dream certainly works. Depending what they do with Titans on LK, it is another option
Amaxe Nov 7th 2008 9:09AM
Also, the goblins and their home continent
Wispur Nov 7th 2008 9:10AM
I still hold out hope that it'll be a Maelstrom themed expansion with playable Nagas.
(The Nagas would be a rogue faction like the Darkspear trolls).
Hey! Don't shake your head! I could happen.... maybe...
Aaeris Nov 7th 2008 9:10AM
Wait. Blizzard hinted Wrath may not be the last expansion for WoW? Warning Spoiler Ahead: Water is wet, Ice is cold, and WoW will never stop expanding.
andyjay220 Nov 7th 2008 9:10AM
With the Caverns of Time there are limitless options for accessing earlier points in the lore, even pre-dating Warcraft I. I would love to be able to go back and be a part of the war on Azshara or something like that.
Agathon Nov 7th 2008 9:12AM
ugh, is this working?
Niomi Nov 7th 2008 9:15AM
Emerald Dream is a popular answer, although I would enjoy that I would prefer the Maelstrom with an underwater city and a amphibious playable race.
Freakygamer Nov 7th 2008 9:15AM
Emerald dream would be nice, but really I'd just like to see where they take the whole story arc. Will it be as awesome as the first time we saw Arthas take the throne?
Give me some new lore that I can go "OMG, no wai" to. :D
Kjelin Nov 7th 2008 9:16AM
Honestly I hope Wrath is the last expansion. Next gen MMO baby.
I'd rather rock out a new Blizzard MMO/Starcraft 2/Diablo 3 than play another expansion of wow.
Especially if the next MMO lets you transfer your guild/names from world of warcraft into itself.
I love WoW, probably way too much, however even level 80 is a tad ridiculous. So are the ever expanding talents and skills. There is a curve to the playability/time needed/content and eventually it curves down in to decline.
I think Wrath is the apex of this curve and if there would be another expansion after this, it would only lead to a decline.
Warcraft like all things, must come to an end.
dAnixx Nov 7th 2008 9:19AM
warcraft must come to an end? Never! I mean, sure World of Warcraft can get outdated, but some people will still play it, and even if WoW dies, there will probably be a second WoW, or a new warcraft rts.
Kjelin Nov 7th 2008 9:23AM
Eh, Maybe I should have said World of Warcraft. I was really just trying to throw in a cheesy reference.
However the point still stands. That
MOAR!!!!111!!!!
Isn't always better.
Wulfkin Nov 7th 2008 10:03AM
I've got to agree, I hope they don't go nuts with expansion packs. Look at a game like Everquest, which used to be the King of MMOs, but severely lost its quality after the first 4 or 5 expansion packs and then became a joke after the 10th!
Thing is I think Blizzard know this. There is still one unnamed project in Blizzard development alongside Diablo and SC2, and ill bet anything its a new shiny MMO. Whether its Warcraft or not remains to be seen, but i really wouldnt be surprised if by the we get to WoW Patch 3.5 or whatever that there was a new Blizzard MMO on the horizon.
Luke Nov 7th 2008 1:04PM
I'm guessing WoW will be like Halo 2 or Starcraft. People still play those games, because they were well made and inexpensive to play, even though there are newer games out there.
Ancro Nov 7th 2008 9:17AM
It really depends on whether they plan on having the Emerald Dream be separate from the Maelstrom. A lot of people are in to the idea of going to visit Ysera and find out what Malfurion is doing to end the Nightmare, but that might be difficult without dealing with the Old Gods at the same time, who are probably the most likely corrupter of the Dream. To do that, we need to take down Queen Azshara, leader of the Naga who was transformed from her Night Elf form to an octopus monstrosity (look forward to C'thun + squid arms, is what I'm betting).
After that, we start heading back to Outlands to enter the Twisting Nether, probably heading back to Argus (the home of everyone's favorite squid-faces) to take on the true leaders of the Burning Legion, this time not to force them back, but to end the destruction of countless worlds and other species. This part of the trip will likely be where we actually get to meet up with the Titans and take part in a semi-"final chapter" part of the story.
In between either of these, however, could be a major war with the Horde and Alliance taking on a gigantic showdown for the control of Azeroth, in which I look forward to providing Jaina and Thrall a copy of Varian Wrynn's head as a weddding gift.