Breakfast Topic: Can't we all just get along?
by Anthony Joseph Lanman 
Aug 12th 2010 at 8:00AM
Ever since I first looked at my character's skill list (almost six years ago now) and saw there was actually a skill bar for languages, I have had an idea planted in my head. If my character has the technical ability to learn languages in WoW, why couldn't I choose to learn Orcish? This notion led me further to ask, "Why can't I be in a cross-faction guild consisting of both Alliance and Horde races, working together to accomplish great deeds?" When I relayed this idea to my guildies at the time, one guy actually told me it was the stupidest idea he'd ever heard. Really?
There has always been precedent in the game for this kind of cross-faction cooperation. We can see it in groups like the Argent Dawn and the Cenarion Circle. Hell -- even the Twilight's Hammer is more racially progressive than the Horde or Alliance. And don't even get me started on that racist jerk Varian Wrynn. Oh, I know he was mistreated in captivity by orcs, but his mistreatment is nothing compared to what Thrall endured at the hands of humans, and Thrall's first instinct has always been of peaceful resolution rather than conflict (and for reference, I'm an Alliance player, folks).
So, hypothetically speaking, how would Blizzard implement such a drastic change in gameplay? We already have PvP servers, which I would consider to be the antithesis of the idea I'm proposing. Could we not have some kind of faction-cooperative server? Or perhaps designated cross-faction guilds on existing PvE servers that would be banned from open-world PvP? Since I'm primarily a PvE-focused player, this wouldn't really affect me, although I know that many, many players would disagree.
Would you, as a player of WoW, be for this idea or against it, and why? If for, how would you propose implementing such an idea? I know that many out there will be appalled by such an idea, but I can't help getting a little teary-eyed thinking about downing the Lich King with my best tauren buddy by my side. A beautiful thought.
Have you ever wanted to write for WoW.com? Your chance may be right around the corner. Watch for our next call for submissions, and be sure to sign up for Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com. The next byline you see here may be yours! Filed under: Breakfast Topics, RP, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
Jamie Aug 12th 2010 8:08AM
"And don't even get me started on that racist jerk Varian Wrynn."
Just because it's in the Breakfast topic doesn't make it justified, there are plenty of Varian haters do we really need one writing the breakfast topic?
I don't want people to downrate this simply because it's an opinion from someone who respects Varian's decisions to continually try to make efforts of getting on with the Horde despite his torrid past interactions with them, frankly this is one of the biggest reasons why cross-faction servers wouldn't work, the player base is just too different :P.
Sir7 Aug 12th 2010 8:13AM
So this got weird fast.
Daedalus Aug 12th 2010 8:20AM
Yeah; I have to agree; usually I like the breakfast topics, even when they're a bit out there, but that reads more like a troll commenting on a lore post than a bona-fide article.
You can disagree with Varian, (personally, I'm undecided; I strongly disagree with most of his sentinments and actions, but it's really hard to fault the guy, given what he's been through...) but I think "racist jerk" is kind of overstating it a bit. The scene in Icecrown with Saurfang Sr. pretty much dispels that for me.
nonentity Aug 12th 2010 8:22AM
"Varian's decisions to continually try to make efforts of getting on with the Horde"
.... what are you talking about?
How he vowed to wipe out the forsaken, the orcs, the horde after the Wrathgate, an incident that clearly affected both factions, not just his own.
Or how he immediately went to "zomg they R betraying us" when ensorcelled Garona and the Twilight cronies attacked him AND Thrall at the summit of Theramore?
Or how he went straight to "ILL KLL YOUS ORCS" when the characters in Stormrage, including an orc, appeared before him in Stormwind, even despite many assurances by his supposed friend Broll that she was ok? I think he tried to kill her like 3 times or so before he grudgingly decided NOT to attack her after Broll had assured him a couple times. And then he still closed with something like "you're making a mistake, can't trust them orcs" or something.
Or how his SI:7 kidnaps Thrall when he goes on Earthen Ring business to save the whole fucking world, AFTER he stepped down as Warchief and handed the reins to Garrosh?
Nothing like this sounds much like continued efforts of getting peace with the Horde. The only ones who ever seriously tried achieving that were Thrall and Jaina. Without Jaina bugging him endlessly Varian wouldn't have lifted a finger to try for peace.
RedMosquito Aug 12th 2010 8:24AM
I agree. This was an intreresting read up until "that racist jerk Varian Wrynn".
klink-o Aug 12th 2010 8:31AM
I'm not downranking you simply for your opinion but because, even after repeatedly reading your comment, I still can't figure out what your opinion is.
Anyway, I've always felt this was a major shortcoming of WoW and really most MMOs- the segregated community. It really doesn't make much sense to effectively cut off large portions of the player base from interacting with each other when your goal is to create a game based on group play. Sure, I understand you can't completely eliminate factions and PVP along with them. But fully isolating half of the players from the other half? There's got to be a better way.
Jamie Aug 12th 2010 8:46AM
Fair enough, I guess I'm not great at these opinion posts, lets just say I don't agree with the Varian hate and we can agree to disagree here.
vinniedcleaner Aug 12th 2010 8:48AM
I have to say that this is one of the best written guest articles I have seen. Bravo...
It's refreshing to see another player who isn't a Varian fanboy and actually sees a need to address a segment of the WoW population that has gone unnoticed.
blizzardsprules Aug 12th 2010 8:50AM
"respects Varian's decisions to continually try to make efforts of getting on with the Horde despite his torrid past interactions with them"
Oh so that's what he meant when he said 'I'm done with your Horde, I hope this death god takes you all', ty for clearing that up
vazhkatsi Aug 12th 2010 8:57AM
hell, for a while during the zombie attack both sides could communicate and it was friendly, friends united in attacking and annoying both factions and trolling both sides.
Jamie Aug 12th 2010 8:58AM
I think actually many people aren't Varian fanboys and frankly a little less Horde in the world would be a good thing from an in game perspective, no more WSG, Lordaeron back int control of the Alliance, no more Garrosh Hellscream.
Unfortunately stating a couple of such things generally riles people into a down-rating storm, this however is where reality/fantasy/fanboyism do merge, so forgive me if it appears that way.
But that isn't what this topic is about and my comment at the end of my original post was supposed to be a throw away remark, if you do read WoW.com you'll notice my post are generally are in jest and light humour. Talk about picking up the ball and running away simply because you don't like what's being said.
Pneumonia Aug 12th 2010 9:07AM
"and frankly a little less Horde in the world would be a good thing from an in game perspective"
But couldn't the exact same thing be said of the alliance?
It takes two to tango and, to be fair, your pro-Varian view is just as biased as the Varian haters' anti-Varian view.
Clydtsdk-Rivendare Aug 12th 2010 9:11AM
@Jamie
Only if that "little less Horde" is Garrosh.
Jamie Aug 12th 2010 9:36AM
Okay, I can you folks are right your assessment of my comments, I guess I got a lot carried away with the unprofessional tone the guest writer took.
I would like to consider the guest writers to be just as unbiased as the usual writers here are on WoW.com, but in this case that hasn't happened.
I know, the WoW.com writers do state their opinions but never in such a way like this.
Suzaku Aug 12th 2010 11:21AM
"Varian's decisions to continually try to make efforts of getting on with the Horde despite his torrid past interactions with them"
Varian in no way makes "continual" efforts to get on with the Horde. At all. I've read the comics and done the quests.
He made one attempt at a peace summit and then was kidnapped by the Defias on the way. After finally getting back to Stormwind, he made it extremely evident that he had absolutely no desire to reschedule the peace summit and was extremely pessimistic about the idea, and only agreed to it because Anduin and Jaina badgered him into it. Just as Varian and Thrall managed to start getting along, the Twilight Cult showed up and ruined everything.
From that point on, Wrynn has shown nothing but contempt, barely masked at best, for the orcs.
In the book description for the Shattering, Wrynn starts getting so violent towards them that it alienates Anduin, who leaves Stormwind. In the comics, Anduin likes the orcs and pretty much gushes over how awesome Thrall is, and begs for Varian to spare Med'an's life after Med'an saves his (Varian: "I've been no child killer--but for Garona's cub, I could make an exception!"). At one point in the comic, Anduin even asks his dad if there's something wrong with him, because he doesn't like fighting, the way that Varian does.
Chandranath Aug 12th 2010 10:19AM
If my character has the technical ability to learn languages in WoW, why couldn't I choose to learn Orcish? This notion led me further to ask, "Why can't I be in a cross-faction guild consisting of both Alliance and Horde races, working together to accomplish great deeds?"
i agree with this guys idea i mean sure lets have the guilds or stuff liek that in pve realms
but it would be fun to down the lich king with a troll by my side or finnaly understanding those high level alliance that pop into blood elf starting zones that pretty much try and make friends with me.......its annoying weird they never try to kill me but when imalliance i get slaughtered by orcs with no second thought wth?
Nawaf Aug 12th 2010 10:46AM
For those of you who haven't read it. http://www.wow.com/2009/04/26/varian-wrynn-is-right/
Elmouth Aug 12th 2010 11:04AM
If you think Variann's a racist jerk, let me introduce you to mister Garrosh hellscream, the new Warchief, who hates anything not Orc (even his own horde people) for no valid reason whatsoever.
Mitawa Aug 12th 2010 11:22AM
@ Elmouth
Ah- but nobody likes Garrosh, and we all tend to resent this move of Blizz to put him in power, even if it's temporary. Garrosh and Varian were made for each other... but I truly feel sorry for you guys, because our idiot on the throne WILL be temporary, and you're stuck with yours. Forever.
I applaud you trying to make the best of your situation, but I just want you to know that I feel just as sorry for you with your permanent jerk as you do.
>.>
Pneumonia Aug 12th 2010 11:22AM
Personally, I think it's great that some people are pro-Varian, others are anti-Varian and so on with the various leaders. This would be a very boring game if everyone (NPC's included) agreed that all the leaders and main characters were throughly good eggs and any disputes could be amicably settled with a nice game of cricket.
That's not World of Warcraft, that's all too British!
What I'm trying to say is, the disagreements, opinions and ultimately warfare, are sort of what make this game fun for a lot (obviously not all) of people.