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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 6 of 18)
Astarch Dec 9th 2009 9:27AM
It's because Blizzard doesn't write the faction as "The Alliance" they write it as "The Humans of Stormwind and these other funny looking guys who do whatever the humans say"
Alliance players aren't attached to the alliance, they're attached to their personal faction.
Mutak Dec 9th 2009 9:28AM
I've said it before. Horde have a chip on their shoulder and feel the need to talk up their side more than Alliance does.
Perhaps people who are searching for a strong group identity go for horde specifically because of this. They just want to feel like a part of the in crowd.
Sumitra Dec 9th 2009 11:23AM
@Mutak
THIS.
Many people play Alliance or Horde without much sense of faction pride Most people I've met have characters on both sides, including me.
Horde has been created from the beginning to be underdogs. Deliberate retconning from Blizzard has attempted to make them more noble and downplayed the -- well, frankly, evil -- nature of some of the Horde races, as seen in their quests. I find a lot more people I know feeling comfortable with a Horde identity now than when the game started 5 years ago, when they really were looked on as "the bad guys".
A lot of the vocal players who exhibit this whole faction pride silliness are just looking for a group to identify with, and as underdogs the Horde fit the bill. It's the same reason people strangely wrap up their identities in sports teams they aren't members of... or root for underdog operating systems, or other ridiculous things. Rooting for an underdog gives them a sense of belonging and importance they aren't getting from their real life. I can relate, having had those type of feelings when I was younger. But most folks grow out of this phase as they mature, thankfully.
Bikhai Dec 9th 2009 4:38PM
"Rooting for an underdog gives them a sense of belonging and importance they aren't getting from their real life."
Wow, aren't we on a high horse. It's actually that kind of better-than-you sentiment that made me steer away from the Alliance as a faction choice, and it's what has put the chip on my shoulder since I started playing Horde. You can quit trying to psychoanalyze horde players and their inadequacies as real-world people, because the more you do, the farther up your own ass you get.
Yeah, I identify with the Horde mentality. Seems to me that striving to overcome adversity, attempting to make good on past indiscretions, and trying to move toward peace under Thrall's banner isn't quite as awful and desperate an attempt at fitting in as you make it out to be.
Kylenne Dec 9th 2009 9:28AM
I think the nature of the factions themselves explain all you need to know. The Horde has had an incredible figurehead in Thrall, one of the most beloved lore characters there is. I started off my WoW career as Alliance because I was pretty much forced to, and I always refused to go on city raids to kill him, even after the achievements for the bear came in. Alliance have never really had anyone to look up to like that, because they're more fractious by nature (to the point where to this day people still question why the Night Elves joined up). We don't even see faction pride in the game for Alliance, why would we see it in the player base? Every attempt Blizzard has made to do it has felt shoehorned in and contrived imo (trying to build up Varian as a naked attempt to give them a Thrall-like figure). Where is there an Alliance equivalent of that awe-inducing quest where you induct the Taunka into the Horde? I've done that quest on so many toons it's silly and I get chills every single time. I read the oath out loud, for pity's sake. There is nothing blue side that compares to that.
And I have to echo the other comments drawing parallels to real world minorities. Being several of them myself, when you are not in the majority, your group tends to come together out of necessity. And there's a certain camaraderie there when you're among your "tribe" (whether it's an actual tribe, or a religious group, or even just a subculture). It comes from being the underdog, really.
sarah Dec 9th 2009 9:29AM
I started off playing on the Alliance side for a year and then switched sides to the Horde to see what it was like.
I've been playing the Horde for more than a year now. FOR THE HORDE!
i think its the whole underdog loyalty thing as well as the vague perception that the alliance is a stuck up snooty lot.
On the alliance side were that there too many people so i rarely saw people i recognized. And they were of a younger age bracket.
I prefer the smaller population of the Horde who i can recognize by name or at least guild, who are generally older people.
Cat Dec 9th 2009 9:32AM
As the owner of the knitted Alliance mitts you featured earlier this year, and one half of the couple on this wedding cake topper: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39163900@N04/3599700722/sizes/l/in/set-72157619306847094/
I have to beg to differ.
Cat Dec 9th 2009 9:52AM
Although that said, Ithere's probably something to the poster who mentioned Alliance players feeling more loyalty to their personal faction. I'm night elf first (love the lore, love the zones), Alliance second, and I have to say, I'm not the biggest fan of my faction leader. I do like playing Alliance and although I've tried to play Horde, it just never sticks. But I like the Alliance because I'm a night elf, not night elves because they're Alliance, if that makes sense.
Tabasa Dec 9th 2009 10:30AM
That wedding cake is adorable.
lemur Dec 9th 2009 9:33AM
The Alliance symbol is harder than the Horde to recreate. I've been trying to make an Alliance beanie for my boyfriend but, well the Lion is rather difficult
Crimson Dec 10th 2009 4:32AM
^ This
Also hordies know how to represent better because horde races are more primal, vocal and savage.
Thus the need for Battle Cries is needed as well is a rock band AFKAL80ETC ^^
FOR THE HORDE!!!!!!!!!
Deadly. Off. Topic. Dec 9th 2009 9:36AM
I just realized the Horde symbol looks like something you can brand into a cow, but the Alliance symbol looks like something you sew onto clothing.
Mark Dec 9th 2009 11:17AM
How do you think we Hordies keep track our good tauren from the bad ones? =)
Nina Dec 9th 2009 1:20PM
ME NOT THAT KIND OF ORC!
fernando Dec 9th 2009 9:36AM
My guess is horde players are more hardcore than alliance players (isn't Ensidia horde?). I have 80s in both factions but prefer The Horde, although I started with the Alliance... This did a lot of people I think. The 'bad' guys are always more fun to play than the 'politically correct' ones... although I will stick to undead males and blood elf females, not a fan of the other horde races tbh. I also find the Worgen very attractive and will develope a wolf something, whilst I won't a gobblin... But I wished Blizzard made it possible to move toons to the other faction without changing race. Didn't Ms. Windrunner do just that ?
Beaudenoir Dec 9th 2009 10:31AM
Hmm guys..
http://href.hu/x/atjd
Short but, compact.
Snuzzle Dec 9th 2009 9:38AM
I play both Alliance and Horde, but I consider myself inherently Horde. I feel far more loyal to the Horde than the Alliance, when I got to fight for Battle of the Undercity on my Horde characters, I felt awed and proud to be fighting next to Thrall. I did it on my Alliance characters... and just wanted to kick Varian's head in.
Why can't you enjoy playing both sides but feel more pull to one than the other?
Cathubodva Dec 9th 2009 9:40AM
Not to mention on the symbol of Lordaeron , the lion on the hilt is roaring. Lion on the alliance banners has his mouth smugly shut. It's downright obnoxious.
Gamer am I Dec 9th 2009 9:43AM
@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.
Gamer am I Dec 9th 2009 9:43AM
Gah, that was supposed to be a response. Ignore this post.