Breakfast Topic: Which NPCs cause a double take?

You have to hand it to Blizzard. They have a way with pop culture references and inside jokes. One of the methods that developers use to express their sense of humour is in their naming of the various NPCs in the game.
For instance, the two Triumphant Armor vendors located outside Crusader's Coliseum. Champion Isimode (which I'm going to pronounce as "easy mode") is the vendor for the Alliance players, while Champion Faesrol (or "face roll") is the vendor for Horde players.
Harrison Jones guided us through the introductory parts of Zul'Aman (or at least, tried to). Unlike the real Indiana Jones, Harrison didn't didn't last very long after your raid hit the gong. He'd end up resurfacing again in an escort quest in Grizzly Hills (aptly named Dun-da-Dun-tah!).
Firefly loves might have missed this NPC over in Zangarmarsh. The engineering Grandmaster K. Lee Smallfry is a nod to Kaylee Frye who is the engineer on the television series.
Last but not least, a few Goblin NPCs are named after a few prominent Star Trek characters. In Booty Bay, there's a goblin named Scooty (Scotty)! The first time I ran Gnomeregan as a Horde player, I came through here and did a double take on the name. You could imagine my pleasant surprise when I activated the transporter only to emerge on the other side to be greeted by Sprock (Spock).
Which NPCs have you run across that have caused you to look twice?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Humor
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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 11)
Jessca Sep 7th 2009 9:16AM
re: Terok and Empok Nor
what a great thought, I had never noticed that before.
Sparks Sep 7th 2009 8:40AM
The most bizarre one is Reagan Mancuso in Thrallmar. She's a reference to a character from an obscure (but awesome) webcomic called Templar, Arizona.
http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=22225#comments
http://templaraz.com/cast-reagan.php
Blizzard have excellent taste, apparently.
Shrike Sep 7th 2009 11:42AM
...
I *never* noticed that, and I read Templar, Arizona all the time!
I wonder if Spike knows (probably, given con-goers)...
Killchrono Sep 7th 2009 8:45AM
The four level 1 turtles standing around the level 80 rat in the Dalaran Sewers.
All they needed was a man in a tin can suit and the reference would have been perfect.
evestraw Sep 7th 2009 9:22AM
havent noticed the rat being 80
SnapDragon Sep 7th 2009 2:48PM
In the same vein, I fished many times in the black market area of the sewers before my subconscious finally twigged on why that Sewer Shark (tm), "Segacedi", was there! ROFL...
Uduhn Sep 7th 2009 8:49AM
Amazed this hasn't even been mentioned yet...
In Dalaran Sewers, in the Arena area (if I remember correct) there are 4 turtle critters standing in shallow water and looking up at a rat critter standing on its hindlegs!! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ftw!
Being a kid in the 90's I find this, together with Mario & Luigi and the whole Legend of Zelda questline, to be epic homage!
tgcam Sep 7th 2009 8:51AM
Datalore Smallsphere is a reference to shortround from temple of doom, continuing the indiana reference from harrison jones. might also be a goonies reference too now that i think of it (character named data in it i believe played by the same child actor?)
pepolicious Sep 7th 2009 9:13AM
Don't forget ST:TNG's androids: Data and Lore :)
jargidge Sep 7th 2009 10:49PM
It is both a Goonies and Indiana Jones reference. The Actor who played Short round also played Data from Goonies. Thus Datalor Smallsphere.
Tiniwini Sep 7th 2009 9:37AM
Can u smellllllllll what the Rokk (ck) is coooking ;)
quased Sep 7th 2009 8:51AM
Oglethorpe Obnoticus
The Gnomish Engineering Trainer in Booty Bay, named after the all-knowing AI installed in the ship of the two Plutonians, Emory and Oglethorpe in Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Orbnauticus is, in fact, a huge mirrorball.
"This is Orbnauticus, and he is all knowing."
pyratus Sep 7th 2009 8:52AM
An Ethereal outside one of the Auchindoun Instances.. "Slim "
pyratus Sep 7th 2009 8:52AM
An Ethereal outside one of the Auchindoun Instances.. "Slim " {Shady Dealer} (wouldn't let me do lessthan morethan, but you get the point.)
Killchrono Sep 7th 2009 9:01AM
It's funnier when you talk to him and he complains that people think he's shady.
Keyra Sep 7th 2009 4:06PM
< = <
> = >
Just FYI for if you ever need to type these in :-)
crsh Sep 7th 2009 8:58AM
A classic one is the three bankers in Stormwind, from left to right you have Olivia, Newton and John; still makes me chuckle after all these years.
Amaxe Sep 7th 2009 10:11AM
Wow... I've been playing for a few years and *never* made that connection
Uduhn Sep 7th 2009 8:59AM
Haha see post below, didn't see your comment before adding my own.
How cool that Splinter is lvl 80 and the Turtles are lvl 1, didn't even notice that myself!
A girl in a yellow tracksuit, a tauren & a rhino-man in punk-clothes and a pink mini-version of Yogg-Saron/C'Thun would also be spot on! :D
Baruti Sep 7th 2009 8:59AM
I love the Innkeeper in the Legerdemain in Dalaran
She is called "Amisi Azurewind"...
My Girlfriends main character also called Amisi (She made her pre-BC)
Even tho it's pretty damn unlikely the Innkeeper is named after my Girlfriend, it's still pretty funny!