Shifting Perspectives: Why (or why not) to play a troll druid

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-27-2010 @ 1:49PM

Marwynn said...

I have to point something out. The article, for some reason, brings up Varian Wrynn and how he'd declare war on the Horde at the right time and calls that stupid. Nevermind that it was more of a threat and that war is a foregone conclusion.

But the thing is, with the new Troll starting area, Vol'jin shows you what went down between him and Garrosh.

Vol'jin pretty much threatens Garrosh's life. Telling Garrosh to watch his back because Vol'jin will end it with an arrow to his heart.

So much for steeple-fingered machinations, huh?

11-24-2010 @ 10:41AM

Allison Robert said...

I leveled through the new troll starting area on the beta and that's something I thought about while writing this article, but Vol'jin's "conversation" with Garrosh isn't really equivalent to Varian's premature threat. This is how I see it, although I acknowledge that not everyone will:

The conversation between Varian and Thrall is a meeting of ostensibly neutral parties: The Alliance and the Horde are not in a formal state of war at the time, and still -- strictly speaking -- aren't now. However, Varian's threats at both the Undercity and in Dalaran make it fairly obvious that the Horde should prepare for Alliance hostilities in short order. I like Varian as a character a bit more than I did previously (though I still think that Blizzard made a serious mistake leaving so much of his characterization to the novels and comics), but by any measure, this is still dumb. His threats aren't being made the weight of other Alliance leaders brought to bear; they're emotional responses to stressful situations.

Vol'jin and Garrosh are allies when their conversation takes place, and still allied afterwards. Vol'jin's been around the orcs long enough to know that their politics are conducted with a sort of chest-thumping bravado; there's a certain peacockesque quality to how the orcs run things. They strut and puff and pontificate about honor and a host of other inconsequential matters while attempting to deal with something. He also sees Garrosh eject all non-orc/tauren from outside the center of Orgrimmar because they're "too weak" to adequately defend the heart of the city. Vol'jin isn't declaring war on the orcs; he's attempting to influence Horde policy. His threat is being made from within the context of Horde politics, not as a challenge to the system as a whole. I see it arising from the need to convey both trollish strength and the stupidity of pointless bellicosity to Garrosh. The ultimate aim is to remind Garrosh that not everyone is on board with what he plans to do.

Varian and Vol'jin's threats look similar on the outside, but they weren't meant to accomplish the same ends. Varian's outburst is an early, unofficial declaration of war; Vol'jin's threat is a defense of his race and a reminder to Garrosh that he can't make policy without deriving consent from other Horde races. The Darkspear don't intend to leave the Horde; they need the orcs. Unfortunately for Garrosh, the orcs also need the rest of the Horde races, particularly if Garrosh can't keep his dumb mouth shut.

Anyway, that's how I see it.

11-24-2010 @ 11:38PM

roseclown said...

@Allison

Full agreement from me.

12-02-2010 @ 3:19PM

Marwynn said...

I'm going to respectfully disagree. Vol'jin's threat is thus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jg11_E3DfQ&playnext=1&list=PL2B09CC0A82B698B5&index=20

I prefer this version with its cooler voice acting.

"Ya be no warchief of mine."
"I know exactly what I'll be doin' about it, son of Hellscream. I'll watch and wait as ya people slowly become aware of ya ineptitude. I'll laugh as they grow ta despise ya as I do.

And when the time comes day ya failure is complete and ya "power" is meaningless, I will be there ta end ya rule swiftly and silently.

Ya will spend ya reign glancin' over ya shoulda and fearin' the shadows, for when the time comes and ya blood be slowly drainin' out, ya will know exactly who fired the arrow dat pierced ya heart."

As for Varian's outbursts... good for him. Here's what he said in the Ulduar trailer:

"At the Wrathgate, the Horde's "partnership" killed more of our men than the Scourge! I'm done with your Horde. May this Death God take you all."

Is that what you meant about telegraphing his intent for war? He's pretty much saying he's done trying to work in conjunction with them. Now, what he says in the Undercity is a declaration of war:

"I was away for too long. My absence cost us the lives of some of our greatest heroes. Trash like you and this evil witch were allowed to roam free -- unchecked.
The time has come to make things right. To disband your treacherous kingdom of murderers and thieves. Putress was the first strike. Many more will come. I've waited a long time for this, Thrall. For every time I was thrown into one of your damned arenas... for every time I killed a green-skinned aberration like you... I could only think of one thing. What our world could be without you and your twisted Horde... It ends now, Warchief. ATTACK! FOR STORMWIND! FOR BOLVAR! FOR THE ALLIANCE!"

He's a monarch. It may be the Alliance but he's its leader and if he knows he'll have their support in this. This comes right after the Wrathgate after all, and emotions would be running high for everyone. Also, let's not discount the fear of the Forsaken plague used in the attack. He may not have consulted with the other Alliance leaders but I'm fairly certain they'd have been behind him on it.

I'm sorry, I don't see this genteel and subtle point Vol'jin was making. His entire point was that Garrosh is incompetent, the rest of the Horde will see it, and he will be the one to kill him.

Both Varian's reaction at the Undercity and Vol'jin's "conversation" with Garrosh were emotionally driven, but I disagree with your two points.

What exactly did you want Varian to accomplish? Keep silent, build an army, and declare war officially by striking first in secret attacks? That may be "wise" but it's certainly not honourable. He's from the Kingdom of Azeroth, of good ol' Stormwind, raised from birth to fight and follow certain codes. Surgical attacks are well and good, but to him and really to probably most Alliance citizens, it wouldn't do well for their pride to build an army in secret and attack.

Vol'jin's crazy. And I like him for it.

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