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by Mike Schramm 
Dec 9th 2009 at 9:00AM
Now, it could just be specific to this outlet -- perhaps Horde players spend more time online, or have more free time in general, and thus have the knowhow and chance to submit their pictures. But this issue has come up before (on our podcast as well): while many Horde players are ready to jump in and shout "For the Horde!" at a moment's notice, not so many Alliance players are as open about their allegiances. As Larisa asks: where's the faction pride?
I suppose I'm probably suspect number one: I've played my Horde characters for longer, so even though I've been playing Alliance toons for over a year now, I still consider myself a Hordie. And you could argue that being Alliance means you're more default and less aggressive by nature -- everyone knows Horde are the folks who pick a fight.
But certainly, even though Blizzard has done their best to engender some Alliance pride (and I'm sure they'll keep trying in the future), it just doesn't seem there. Why aren't we seeing more Alliance stepping up for their faction?
Filed under: Horde, Alliance, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Blizzard, PvP
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 18)
Gamer am I Dec 9th 2009 9:15AM
Because the Alliance is the majority, it seems like Alliance pride would be like male pride or white pride or straight pride. For the same reasons that those examples don't exist, Alliance pride doesn't exist.
earthexile Dec 9th 2009 9:23AM
Um I am totally proud to be male and white, without holding any hate for the other people of the world. White men have a lot to be proud of.
Many great scientists, writers, warriors and poets were white men. We have a rich heritage and a track record of great civilizations.
White pride without hate does exist. But people would have you believe that being proud of being white means you're a racist. Not the same thing at all.
Snuzzle Dec 9th 2009 9:43AM
But do you hear people strutting around crowing "WHITE PRIDE!" or "Straight and proud!" Do you see bumper stickers on cars touting such? No, you don't.
Frankly, I'll bet if you walked around with a "White Power!" tshirt, you'd get a beatdown. But I could wear a tshirt that says "Girl Power!" and get much approval, especially from other women.
I cannot count how many bumper stickers, tshirts, tattoos, headbands, and keychains I've seen for gay pride, black pride, girl power, etc etc.
That's why you see more Horde shouting their allegiance form the rooftops. The Alliance are the default "good guys" in the same way being straight or white is seen as the majority group. So the underdogs, the minority, tend to to wave their differences around and are more likely to announce their pride in them.
If that makes any kind of sense.
Gamer am I Dec 9th 2009 9:44AM
@earthexile: I'm perfectly aware that majority/non-oppressed groups can have pride in themselves without that pride being hateful, but many people aren't, hence the hesitancy to have white/male pride.
Also, you need to consider that racial pride, female pride, gay pride, etc. come out of a history of being repressed. Minority groups were often told that they should be ashamed of who they are, and in spite of that, they still like themselves. That's where that kind of pride comes from; liking themselves for who they are in spite of society telling them they should not. (The same could possibly be said for some Horde players, who may have been pressured to play Alliance instead) White/male pride doesn't have such a base, and for that reason, some people view it as being baseless, even if it isn't.
Mao Dec 9th 2009 10:31AM
"White pride without hate" earthexile? It takes a special kind of ignorance to I don't know, WORLD HISTORY, to say that with a straight face.
MightyBurebista Dec 9th 2009 7:10PM
@Gamer am I: Oh, believe you me, White Pride does exist. And despite what your local Anti-Defamation League agitator might say, NOT all of them "hate the darkies". There is indeed a non-neglectable number of loonies in the White Pride spectrum (those falling more into the "White Power" or "White Supremacy" factions), just as there is definitely a non-neglectable number of looines in the Black Panther Party. But what were we talking about again? o_0
Todd Dec 10th 2009 7:53AM
"But do you hear people strutting around crowing "WHITE PRIDE!" or "Straight and proud!" Do you see bumper stickers on cars touting such? No, you don't."
Guess you've never been to a Nascar race.
scarab2501 Dec 9th 2009 9:15AM
The Alliance need a cool figure to stand behind. A new battle cry and less, and I mean MUCH LESS, blue space goats! Worgen will the best and probably only appealing thing for the blue side. I've always loved the Horde in all its forms and will continue to, even when I cancel my account soon.
Orcs rule, Humans eat gruel!
DoctorOnline Dec 9th 2009 9:23AM
I don't know why everyone seems to hate the Draenei so much. I've always seen them as a wonderful, peaceful race who has seen a lot of suffering but still regards all peoples with fairness and equality. The fact that Velen steps forwards to cleanse the Sunwell and redeem the Blood Elf people even though the elves have been slaughtering their people since before they even reached Azeroth, seems to be an incredibly noble thing to do. They're not perfect people, as demonstrated by their prejudice towards the orcs, but their openness and willingness to consider each individual without clouded judgment has always resonated with me.
snowleopard233 Dec 9th 2009 9:26AM
I’m going to ignore that statement about my beloved space goats. Just remember that if I were a lesser Draenei fan I’d downvote you right where you stand!
Deadly. Off. Topic. Dec 9th 2009 9:42AM
The fun thing about Draenai is that they took over the Exodar and they still didn't really know how to fly it. Who crashes into a planet?
Vaeku Dec 9th 2009 9:43AM
"Orcs rule, Humans eat gruel!"
Wow, I haven't heard a remark like that since the 4th grade.
Anyways, I also don't understand the hate behind the Draenei. I mean, sure, they're an alien race, but you don't see anyone in the Horde against the orcs, who coincidentally, are also an alien race.
As for why no alliance pride, I have to go along with the other people who said that the alliance doesn't have a single BIG faction leader to stand behind. The Horde has Thrall (and then Sylvanas secondary), while the Alliance has... um... Varian? Magni? Those two combined don't have enough loyalty from the players to equate Thrall. And the other two, Tyrande and Velen, are so out of the way that people just don't care.
DoctorOnline Dec 9th 2009 9:45AM
Well, they were under attack at the time. I'd be like trying to drive a car with an angry cat in your lap.
Note: I do not recommend attempting this for illustrational purposes.
Raze Dec 9th 2009 10:23AM
What 'prejuidce towards the orcs'? When is this mentioned beyond a few fluff statements in some obscure quest I've never done? Attempted genocide aside, there's no indication in game that they dislike the orcs any more than any other Horde race.
They're perfect. Perfect is boring. That's why I don't like the space blueberries.
Jabadabadana Dec 9th 2009 12:04PM
Personally, I don't like Draenei for two reasons:
1) The entire retcon of their lore is so completely changed from WC1 that it has always bothered the crap outta me.
2) Blue space goats don't belong in fantasy game, especially when there already existed an earlier non-space goat/eredar model/version of them.
Chris Anthony Dec 9th 2009 12:43PM
@Jabadabadana, that would be the fantasy game with steam engineering, functioning airplanes, and melted-down nuclear reactors, right?
Just so we're clear.
Bikhai Dec 9th 2009 3:40PM
@Jabadabadana/Chris
Not to mention the swarms and swarms of humans. I mean, humans are total fantasy creatures amirite?
vyskol Dec 9th 2009 9:15AM
I think because the horde tend to be portrayed as the underdogs or the downtrodden, their situation is more likely to inspire fiercer loyalty.
To draw a horrible real-world parallel, you don't see many rich white Americans proudly shouting their status to the world, but there's a lot of black/hispanic/ethnic/cultural pride and solidarity....
That being said, I do have an alliance symbol on my van. :) And no, I'm not a rich white American. I'm a middle-class white Canadian. :P
zed Dec 9th 2009 10:11AM
Beat me to it.
The Horde races are, by and large, given many reasons to feel like the proud, struggling minorities of the Warcraft world. It gives them a different sense of purpose. I have played toons on both sides, and I know I'm generalizing.
The Alliance races have the same sorts of things to be upset about as the Horde, but they don't feel like REBELS (at least not as commonly as Hordies do). Rebels yell. Downtrodden people are more likely to band together and paint their symbols on walls and proudly wear their colours everywhere.
I'm not saying I think the Horde are better (I'm currently playing a proud Draenei). I just think this is why the players who identify with them are more likely to get the tattoo (and other such stuff).
zombiesauridae Dec 9th 2009 9:19AM
It's totally the symbol.