Scarlet Blouse Gentleman receives NPC for fact checking efforts
by Anne Stickney 
Oct 30th 2010 at 8:00PM
Unless you've been living in a cave since BlizzCon 2010, it's highly likely you've heard of the unnamed gentleman in the scarlet blouse who managed to catch Alex Afrasiabi and Chris Metzen in an error during the Quests and Lore panel at the convention. The man and his question have since gone viral, the video of his question and the answer receiving over 2 million views on YouTube. He's since posted a video in response to the internet's reaction, and the original video even appeared on The Soup as the clip of the week.
According to a post on Reddit, the popularity of his question and answer have not gone unnoticed by Blizzard staff, as Falstad has made his return to his rightful seat on the Council of Three Hammers, accompanied by ... a gentleman in a scarlet blouse. This NPC, named Wildhammer Fact Checker, is an obvious tribute to the man who was clever enough to catch the error and confront Blizzard on it. While the NPC does not appear to be on the beta servers as of yet, blue poster Valnoth confirmed the existence of the NPC on the official forums. Hopefully, Falstad's loyal Fact Checker will continue to keep the record straight as far as who should be where and who definitely isn't deceased, in the future.
[Thanks to reader Otown for the tip!]
According to a post on Reddit, the popularity of his question and answer have not gone unnoticed by Blizzard staff, as Falstad has made his return to his rightful seat on the Council of Three Hammers, accompanied by ... a gentleman in a scarlet blouse. This NPC, named Wildhammer Fact Checker, is an obvious tribute to the man who was clever enough to catch the error and confront Blizzard on it. While the NPC does not appear to be on the beta servers as of yet, blue poster Valnoth confirmed the existence of the NPC on the official forums. Hopefully, Falstad's loyal Fact Checker will continue to keep the record straight as far as who should be where and who definitely isn't deceased, in the future.
[Thanks to reader Otown for the tip!]
BlizzCon 2010 is over! WoW Insider has all the latest news and information. You'll find our liveblogs of the WoW panels, interviews with WoW celebrities and attendees and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!Filed under: News items, BlizzCon
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Texicles Oct 30th 2010 8:06PM
lulz!
Banic Rhys Oct 31st 2010 6:42AM
I'm guessing you also read the title as "Scarlet Blouse Gentleman receives NPC for fart checking efforts."
Texicles Oct 31st 2010 9:27AM
Actually, it was really a perfect storm of hilarity that sent me into a fit of giggles. The Red Shirt Guy and his awkwardness, the fact that he bear-blasted the devs with his question despite his awkwardness, the fact that Anne called him "Scarlet Blouse Gentleman" (/adjustsmonocle) and that the response was not only to restore Falstad to his rightful place, but to honor the aforementioned Cardinal-clad Jackanape with his own NPC, gave way to an Anne-Stickneyesque bout of giggles on my part.
Remember that episode of The Simpsons where it's explained that Mr. Burns is in fact very sick, but like a bunch of people trying to go through a door at one time, none of the individual diseases can get through to actually kill him? That was what the funny thoughts were doing in my head and the only one small enough to sneak through the door was "lulz!"
Alex Ziebart Oct 30th 2010 8:06PM
Crimson Tunic Lad
Qot Oct 30th 2010 8:29PM
Definitely better. Blouse is usually what a shirt for a woman is called. Plus, that's an item actually in game.
http://www.wowhead.com/item=33228/crimson-tunic
Chokaa Oct 30th 2010 10:23PM
@Qot
Blouse refers to the way the shirt opens/closes. The army's ACU top is a blouse.
Cassie Oct 30th 2010 8:09PM
That's awesome. Kudos to the kid for catching that... and kudos for the response video, it's not easy to live with Asperger's. My little brother has that and it can be hard to handle but he seems to be doing quite well. Power to the crimson-clad loremaster! :)
NynjaMonkii Oct 30th 2010 9:47PM
It depends on the severity of it how hard it can be. I have mild Asperger's myself, and while my teenage years were extremely difficult, in my adult life I've managed to control most of it, appear "normal" to most people, and generally have it easy. However, my son by contrast has a much deeper case, he's currently classified as Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified) (PDD-NOS), and he's having trouble learning to speak, socialize, or imagine. He's three now, and he's been in therapy since he was two, and he's getting better, but I don't forsee his life reaching the same quality of life I've been able to achieve, and it makes me sad.
Seriously though, coming from first-hand experience, kudos to that guy for getting in front of that crowd and asking that question! I find it hard to speak in front of 5 people, let alone a few thousand!
Killchrono Oct 31st 2010 11:08AM
Seconded with the first-hand experience. I'm a diagnosed aspie too, and even though I've come leaps and bounds with overcoming my own problems, I feel for and hugely support someone who is still struggling with the symptoms of the syndrome. Few people understand just how big of a deal it is for someone with asperger's to get up in front of a crowd and perform any act of public speaking; someone I know once described the anxiety an aspie feels in a situation like that is the equivalent of what most people feel during their driving exam. What seems like a tiny emotional burden is amplified tenfold for someone with the syndrome. Now imagine feeling that way every time you feel the slightest tinge of stress or anxiety – that’s basically the kind of problem I had to deal with during my childhood and teenage years, and what this guy was probably going through when he got up on stage.
This guy has balls. Massive, rock-hard boulders, and he deserves kudos for doing what he did with the condition he struggles to overcome. Someone give him a cookie!
arcaneterror Oct 31st 2010 3:17PM
I have Asperger's, I'm 15, and dear god is it difficult. High school sucks, so many people, so much peer pressure... This is why I prefer WoW.
Red Shirt Guy is a pretty cool guy, eh asks questions and doesn't afraid of anything.
Lee Oct 30th 2010 8:09PM
Awesome! I'd seen this earlier and thought it was a fake
Well done that man!
brian Oct 30th 2010 8:12PM
Excellently done Blizzard! Givin' props where they're due.
Dreyja Oct 30th 2010 8:41PM
I'd be so thrilled if I was this kid. Kudos to him. I just assumed that Falstad was up to something that we hadn't heard about yet.
Juanin Oct 30th 2010 8:15PM
Amazing!
I hope they put this guy in the Death Knight starting zone if they don't give us new lore for new death knights, like "The Lich King is indeed DEAD".
Cephas Oct 30th 2010 8:24PM
There is indeed lore for the new Death Knights. http://www.wowpedia.org/Quest:A_Special_Surprise (scroll down for Goblin and Worgen versions)
Mr. Tastix Oct 30th 2010 9:29PM
They don't have to change the Death Knight starting area to reflect the Lich King being "dead" (or, in the very least, there most likely won't be anymore death knights) because the DK starting zones have always been under the premise that you are playing in a time -before- the current events.
It's the same for goblin and worgen death knights. The starting area is in a timeline previous to current events. After you do them, your character would then most likely find out that the Lich King has already been defeated and that Northrend's soldiers are there as a clean-up effort, for the most part.
Blizzard have already stated they want to remake Northrend and Outland quests to reflect such changes.
gamerunknown Oct 31st 2010 8:51AM
So the Lich King is dead then there's a shattering which causes Gilneas to open so there are Gilnaen worgen that Arthas converts into Death Knights... Lol, what?
Mayhew Nov 1st 2010 11:56AM
"So the Lich King is dead then there's a shattering which causes Gilneas to open so there are Gilnaen worgen that Arthas converts into Death Knights... Lol, what?"
This was addressed in the Quests and Lore panel, I believe. Basically, Alex said that there was lore to support non-Gilnean worgen who became death knights. So if you're a worgen death knight, you are *not* a Gilnean worgen. So there's the answer to your Lol, what.
Eirik Nov 2nd 2010 3:54PM
As an earlier commenter pointed out, "A Special Surprise" shows that yes, you (worgen) are Gilnean, but via Shadowfang Keep, not through the Gilneas quests.
Darkdust Oct 30th 2010 8:17PM
Very nice. Though the name could use a little more polish, perhaps...