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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 5 of 18)
Fairlane Dec 9th 2009 9:51AM
It is the symbol. If you can draw a toilet seat, you can draw the Horde symbol.
ChasW Dec 9th 2009 9:16AM
Alliance players probably just don't care as much. Alliance is generic fantasy archetypes - you choose Alliance because you like or are comfortable with humans, dwarves, and elves. You choose Horde because you want to play the Horde, specifically. The character models catch your eye, or you like their lore, or you're tired of fantasy tropes and want something new. There's a whole different psychology behind the two.
I'd bet most Alliance don't even care that the Horde exists, much less have a reason to show pride in their choice. They aren't choosing Alliance as a counter to Horde, whereas most Horde players are probably making their choice as a specific counter to the Alliance. That will make a *huge* difference in how the two groups react in relation to each other.
Keveline Dec 9th 2009 9:25AM
Orcs and Trolls aren't "generic fantasy archetypes"?
Clappy Dec 9th 2009 9:27AM
They're not generic archetypes in the sense that they've never really been playable in most other games. In most fantasy games Orcs and Trolls are just depicted as evil. Warcraft has one of the only stories that depict Orcs, Trolls and Undead as more than just your generic 'Bad Guys'.
Jeff Dec 9th 2009 6:11PM
Really? I just picked Alliance because they were prettier.
Lur Dec 9th 2009 9:17AM
What core philosophical principals has Blizzard created for the Alliance in game?
Honor and Glory?
Victory or Death?
The Alliance is just another Lord of the Rings standard fantasy replica and no more explanation is given for their group philosophy in lore other than the fact that they exist.
They lack pride because Blizzard didn't put much in the lore for them to be proud of...
DoctorOnline Dec 9th 2009 9:18AM
I have Alliance pride.. in private. I feel that if I show Alliance pride in a public space, people are just going to call me a 12 year old boy and treat me like I have brain damage. Just because I don't play the 'tough' and 'counterculture' Horde doesn't mean I'm some kind of lesser person.
Sure, there's some truth behind the little kids on Alliance thing, but you find those on both sides. I'm proud of the Alliance from a lore standpoint. Sure, Varian's kind of a retard sometimes, but I feel there's a certain nobility and quiet pride of the humans, Draenei, etc; something the Horde doesn't have. The Horde seems to be the 'louder' of the two sides, what with their battlecries and their portrayal as ruthless and bloodthirsty in the Warcraft media. Makes sense that people who prefer a more forthright and vocal outlook on life would choose the similar side, and therefore have a natural instinct to be more vocal about their support.
The difference, I think, is best illustrated in our two Shaman spells: Bloodlust vs. Heroism. I like the noise heroism makes over bloodlust; it's like a bunch of soldiers putting their weapons together and cheering as they muster their strength to take down a foe 'together'. Bloodlust just kind of sounds like an individual orc going on a rampage.
Liz D Dec 9th 2009 9:52AM
This is the best remark I've seen, and I concur. I'm Alliance main, and fiercely proud of being human. But it is a quiet nobility, a pride of self and a sense of worth and heroism. I'm not out to rub it in anyone's nose, and much as much as I think Varian is a dork and an dangerous leader, as Garrosh will be, I'll still take on any damn Hordie who tries to walk into Stormwind and kill my king.
That said, I still play Horde occasionally, and played Horde as my "main" for the first year or two I played. I encountered the most egregiously juvenile behavior I ever saw on Horde and not on Alliance.
If I had to guess why Horde is better represented in the mosaic than Alliance... I have paid attention to the endless tweets from @Warcraft on building the mosaic, I have considered going over to add to it... but I don't feel I have anything to prove.
vyskol Dec 9th 2009 11:43AM
I find the "alliance are all 12 yr olds" stereo type to be quite amusing. Of course, you know who's spreading this stereotype? The horde 12 yr olds and basement dwellers who wish they were still 12. :P Okay, maybe 14.
But seriously, think hard about the teens and tweens that you know. What faction are they more likely to be attracted to? The normal, default, "good guys"? Or the "evil"/misunderstood/oppressed badasses?
You know, because all the teens prefer Luke over Vader. :P
Oni Stardust Dec 9th 2009 12:52PM
I was about to make a similar statement. Alliance players can't show their pride without being metaphorically attacked by Horde players.
A good example of this the the J!nx website. They have a system up where people can post pictures of themselves wearing the products they sell, and other people can make comments on these pictures.
Go find any picture of somebody wearing an Alliance t-shirt, any picture, and look at the comments. Every one I have looked at without exception has had Horde players making comments putting the Alliance or sometimes even the person in the picture down. You don't see the Alliance being rude to the Horde players when they post their shirt pictures.
The only place I've seen where Alliance have enough relative safety to show any pride is the comments in a Totemly Cool video.
And on that note, throw up the A-sign! FOR THE ALLIANCE, F**K THE HORDE!!!
RetadinMan Dec 9th 2009 4:08PM
@Oni
TotemlyCool for the win.
"For the Horde? Hell no! Fuck the Horde! That's right!"
D Dec 9th 2009 4:34PM
@DoctorOnline -- I think you just summed up perfectly how I feel about the Alliance.
One thing I find odd is how much Alliance players are looked down upon by Horde players. In my experience I've seldom seen the opposite. When I meet a WoW player IRL and they play Horde, the look of smug dislike for me the moment they find out I play Alliance is off-putting and childish. I seldom see that same reaction to Horde from Alliance and I personally think there's something great about both factions. The Alliance players I know don't seem to care much about faction either way. The Horde players I know -- faction is everything and their faction is how the identify themselves in-game (and even IRL).
I don't feel the need to shout my individuality from the rooftops and I've never felt a strong desire to be part of the "us against them" mentality that I see in the Horde players.
Melchior Dec 9th 2009 9:19AM
FOR THE HORDE!
elkewulluf Dec 9th 2009 9:35AM
"For the Horde" indeed. :P
I've always played horde. I played a Dwarf one time... I hated Alliance questing and lore so "dramatic sound effect" I never palyed them again! DUN DUN DUN!
No really though, I do love the Horde.
Trolls FTW!
Sinthar Dec 9th 2009 9:20AM
Hmmm faction pride. Imo its hard to be proud of faction with a leader who acts like a spoilt kid most of the time (he may have reason, but kings n leaders have to put personal feelings aside for the greater good, those that dont are usually 'retired' forcebly). Then again, if i were horde i would have similar problems with Thrall, a particularly ineffective leader (from the alliance point of view at least), as he cannot seem to control, or even know, half of the actions of his beloved horde.
Im not sure why Blizzard made both leaders so ineffectual, but its hard to have pride in a faction either ran by a child like mentality, or an completely ineffectual one (or both).
JC Dec 9th 2009 9:22AM
Larisa is full of it. I looked at 40 something pages and its about 50-50
DeathwishXIII Dec 9th 2009 12:36PM
Yeah, I thought the same.
Ishnai Dec 9th 2009 9:27AM
I think it has to do with the general plight of the horde as a whole. I mean, if you look at what has happened to the leaders you can't help but be sympathetic towards them.
Another biggie for my lack of, er well, pride for the Alliance is Varian is a leader too ruled by his emotions. His hatred for the Horde may be justified, but when one has a common enemy (who in this case can turn whoever dies back into something that will kill you), it is childish that he can't control his feelings long enough to see the advantage the Horde warriors would be to destroying the common enemy.
Deadly. Off. Topic. Dec 9th 2009 9:35AM
Sadly though, Garrosh is doing the same thing on the Horde side... and I'm not that impressed if they're planning to axe Thrall out of the position he rightfully has and put Garrosh as leader.
One of the best things I saw was at AC Tournament where Thrall is warning Garrosh to behave and while I was impressed with how Thrall was attempting to be diplomatic I was severely displeased on Garrosh's responses.
FireStar Dec 9th 2009 9:26AM
Everyone i've ever known (no kidding) that is alliance does not really care about the faction thing. I've met lots of Horde (myself included) that has a lot of pride For the Horde (or mostly just saying allies suck and we need to kill them blah blah).