The Queue: Druidic Druids

Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky will be your host today.
Today we'll look at the pressing questions of Arthas' relationship with you, Blizzard's love affair with the Druidic traditions, and Quartermaster dis/sim-ilarities.Jumper asked...
"Where do players fit into the story of the WoW? For example: Eventually players will be able to kill Arthas. How will that be written in the stories?"
Players are the heroes! Grab your sword and fight the Horde! I often find it helpful to think of players as the "reader" or the "third person". You're reading an epic story told via your game. Of course, that's for events that unfold infront of you.
For events that you're a part of, like the death of Illidan, you're usually at the very end of the story. Illidan's transformation from Malfy's "good" brother to the evil tyrant he became is told in various stories. You know going into the story that he's going to die at the end. Who kills him? Well, you do! The journey of how things progress to the point where you get to kill Illidan are must more interesting than the actual act of killing him.
I'm using Illidan in this example because we don't really know what's going to happen with Arthas. We know we're going to face him, but we might not kill him.
StickmanSp asked...
"In the Argent Tournament, why does the Night Elf quartermaster sell a gun instead of a bow? Night Elves don't typically use guns."
All items are the same across all the quartermasters, except for the mount, tabard, reputation token, and non-combat pet.
Karilyn asked...
"Blizzard's site said Noblegarden was based on Druidic traditions. Assumedly like Wintervale... So um, what exactly is up with those Druidic traditions?"
One could surmise that it's because the Druids / Night Elves are the oldest original race still active in Azorth's day-to-day struggles, and their traditions are thus the ones that are most prevalent in world. The Aspects are rather removed from events, and Orcs are not part of the original Azeroth. Every other race is younger than the Night Elves, with the possible exception of the Trolls, but we don't have enough information on them.
You could also say that most people outside of the game have a different definition of what a Druid is (well, somewhat different definition), and that it allows more people to easily relate to in-game events.
My guess is both answers are correct.
Filed under: The Queue






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Slyzer Apr 28th 2009 11:12AM
Its cause Nelfs Know how to have FUN. Bunny ears, anyone?
styopa Apr 28th 2009 11:13AM
"We know we're going to face him, but we might not kill him."
Or, we're going to kill him, and then it will cheerfully be retconned in the next patch.
I haven't noticed logical cause & effect, or lore, to really stand in Blizzard's way too much. :\
Robert M Apr 28th 2009 12:03PM
After all the things Blizz did to Kael'thas Sunstrider, who was at best a tortured soul who's drive to protect his people led to more sinister actions, I, for one, will be completely disappointed if they do not kill Arthas.
Remember how disgusting the ending of Star Wars was? There is no redemption for Arthas, like there was no real redemption for Vader.
Uther losing Arthas is a predicatable explanation when the student's power greatly surpasses that of the teacher, but unlike Star Wars, I hope that Blizzard does the right thing and let's Arthas fall to death.
ballistic3188 Apr 28th 2009 12:15PM
pretty much they already did it to Onxyia apparently i didn't kill him with my 40 friends. oh no it was varian "the chin" wynn that killed her.
I like how phasing makes you feel that you are effecting the landscape now instead of oh i killed you hello your still there. but lore won't ever show we killed the lore bosses. It will always be either a group of no names or some lore character taking our place
Pyornthe Apr 28th 2009 1:50PM
Icecrown was merely a setback!
Balius Apr 28th 2009 3:53PM
...What do you mean, look at the ending of Star Wars? Luke was saved by Vader when Vader killed Palpatine and died himself. That's about as redeemed as you can get.
Gimia Apr 28th 2009 4:07PM
*Warning! Star Wars Lore on WoW Site*
Actually Darth Sidious (Palpatine) lived on after his "death" at the second Death Star. Long story short he learned how to seperate his spirit from his body and was able to transfer his spirit from his old body to a collection of cloned bodies he had supplied on Byss.
*Star Wars Lore End*
Ok that's enough Star Wars stuff for today...
jbodar Apr 28th 2009 7:14PM
@Robert M
Anakin: Now... go, my son. Leave me.
Luke: No. You're coming with me. I'll not leave you here, I've got to save you.
Anakin: You already... have, Luke. You were right. You were right about me. Tell your sister... you were right.
Nope, no redemption there, nosiree. Oh wait, he sacrificed his own life to save his son, the last living Jedi. WTF?
uxjwetr Apr 28th 2009 8:45PM
we might not kill arthas though, you seem to be forgetting that arthas is basically a shell for the real lich king. its possible that we might have phase one be fighting arthas, but nerzhul eventually decides that the body is too weak and seperates himself from arthas and either fights us himself or finds a more powerful host, like maybe a dragon, or takes over the dead yogg-saron and becomes superyoggy.
Joe Smith Apr 28th 2009 11:13AM
I'm going to be (finally) hitting 80 soon. I'm primarily geared with quest greens and blues, and the odd AH find. Any suggestions on where i should start to getting geared for Ulduar? Naxx, or should I grind PVP gear?
Slyzer Apr 28th 2009 11:15AM
Heroics, VOA, Naxx once you are geared for it.
SINisterWyvern Apr 28th 2009 11:15AM
finish off the lvl 80 dungeons and then do heroics
Grak Apr 28th 2009 11:47AM
There are also heroic level craftable epics that you can have made for you if you know any crafters (and the mats are generaly available to buy or grind for), or bought from the AH which will give you a nice boost in some key slots. The titansteel destroyer for example has to be one of the most used two handed melee weapons until something better drops in Naxx.
Also check the quatermasters of varios factions for rep based gear, and start working on dailies to get your rep up for them. Add in the tabard championing in heroics and you'll hit exalted with at least one or two in no time.
Angus Apr 28th 2009 11:51AM
Argent tourney.
I've started doing the dailies at level 77 and they by the time I hit 80 with the shaman I'll have access to an epic DPS weapon for those champion's marks. All the blues there are iLevel 200 and equal to heroic blue drops. You can get exactly what you need for specific slots.
Use quests to open up the tabards of specific factions while doing this and wear those to heroics. If melee, you want Ebon Blade, tank is Argent Crusade (which the tourney will help with) and caster is Kirin Tor. The head enchants and some of their gear is important. Wyrmrest is also big for tanks as they have some impressive gear for getting into raids.
With the gear from the tourney you should do fine in starter heroics and pick up some more gear while working towards the rep items. Doing this also gives you badges of heroism and so even more access to entry level raiding gear.
Doing this my toon should be well able to push DPS numbers well past what a freshly minted 80 should in the first day. This will allow me to pull my weight in Naxx10 and so I should be good enough to do the job going into Naxx25 and Ulduar.
Doing this you should be good to go as well.
Quickshiv Apr 28th 2009 12:31PM
D0n't forget the argent tournament and rep rewards. Identify exactly which heroic epics you need and get groups for those then start working on the tournament and rep dailys for the items you need.
Mikata Apr 28th 2009 1:06PM
Wyrmrest accord = tank gear rep grind
Talamah Apr 28th 2009 11:14AM
what the @#%$!? bunnies don't lay eggs!
Kitrine Apr 28th 2009 11:52AM
You've never seen a Cadbury bunny commercial?
; )
themightysven Apr 28th 2009 1:18PM
this is why we crossbred a chicken with a bunny, the result, hilarity!
also this is why they had to make "Cluck!" available to Horde, so that all sides could enjoy the magic
Agerath Apr 28th 2009 11:14AM
Pretty spartan Queue this week...