Thrall's return to the Horde and more lore from San Diego Comic-Con
by Mathew McCurley 
Jul 23rd 2011 at 8:00PM
Metzen might have spilled the beans on what we can expect from BlizzCon this year, including some big revelations about the Horde and Thrall's place in it. Around the 51-minute mark of the panel, Metzen muses about how awesome it has been, growing the Warcraft story from its simple beginnings as an RTS and getting to flesh out the world. At one point, Metzen says, "One day, come on, your Warchief is coming back. Right? There's more with Thrall," and emphatically mentions BlizzCon, indicating Blizzard has much to announce on the subject.
Not only that, but Metzen responded to what many people consider a Blizzard bias toward the Horde with the announcement that the next big book in the Warcraft universe will be written by Christie Golden and focus on Jaina Proudmoore. Wolfheart, the next novel by Richard A. Knaak, is also going to focus heavily on the Alliance, according to Metzen. After listening to Metzen's emphatic discussion of the upcoming novel, it appears that it will forever alter Jaina in earth-shattering ways. Metzen even calls it "badass."
Check out the GameSpot video of the Blizzard SDCC 2011 WoW, StarCraft, and Diablo Swag Show panel for the entire, hour-long discussion. The meaty lore bits start about halfway in. Metzen loves Thrall, and his utter adoration of the character and his story just seeps through every word he utters. We may dance around with the Mary Sue comments, but I think it's pretty cool that he loves his character so much.
Now, what will that mean for Garrosh, baddest dude on Kalimdor? Saurfang's old position? Voluntarily leaving politics because politics are awful, and just wanting to run around bashing in people's faces? I bet we'll know by BlizzCon.
Check out the GameSpot SDCC panel video over at BlizzPlanet.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new tier 12 armor!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Radioted Jul 23rd 2011 8:06PM
Oh, they're writing an Alliance book! Well, that settles that! No pro-Horde bias for Blizz at all!
/sarcasm
//actually kidding about the sarcasm
Iirdan Jul 23rd 2011 8:15PM
Sarcastic sarcasm?
...I think my mind may have exploded.
Josho Jul 23rd 2011 8:37PM
INCEPTION
SR Jul 23rd 2011 8:38PM
He... He didn't just divided by zero, did he? I mean, like, accidentally the whole thing?
Drakkenfyre Jul 23rd 2011 9:01PM
Seriously.
"Having a book written by an author outside of the company" isn't a way to disprove a bias.
Stormrage was written. Where's the difference there? Is it because he was more neutral-leaning?
"Hey, we're totally not biased, another book is coming out, and it's about an Alliance character" is totally NOT a way to prove you aren't biased. For that matter, there's been a comic line featuring an Alliance faction. Another featuring an Alliance-aligned character, and another upcoming book about Wrynn. Doesn't change anything.
Artificial Jul 24th 2011 5:37AM
@Drak: Of course it doesn't change anything. Anyone deluded enough to think they have anything to prove (or, in this case, disprove) on the subject isn't going to be swayed by anything short of completely stomping out of existence the faction they think is being favored.
Lucidique Jul 24th 2011 6:14AM
Round circle! Boxed square!
Angus Jul 24th 2011 10:40AM
They're having Knaak write it though, which means Varian Mary Sues, Rhonin shows up for no reason, Jaina loses the ability to cry due to some amazing power from a new badass character that is totally more powerful than anyone but Rhonin or maybe a titan, and at the end you are left wondering why you didn't just give yourself a lobotomy and save youself the money to buy the book.
Ringo Flinthammer Jul 23rd 2011 8:07PM
I don't know if I can handle a full novel of Jaina crying on every page.
Dwuffy Jul 23rd 2011 8:54PM
http://wow-tng.org/images/mortica/jainalovesthrall.jpg
Dreyja Jul 23rd 2011 10:00PM
/facepalm
Really Ringo... give the girl a break. ;-p I still think she's one of the strongest characters in the game. If she hadn't cried in the Citadel I'd think her as dead and wretched as that zombie-tart Sylvanas. ;-p
vinniedcleaner Jul 23rd 2011 11:21PM
mmmmmmm.... zombie tarts
Tim Jul 23rd 2011 11:34PM
Quiet. I'm trying to think.
gewalt Jul 24th 2011 10:50AM
strong? wtf has she done to earn that title? crying cause "im proud of my king" is the exact opposite of strong.
sorry, the jaina character has been ruined. no book showing her as a hot headed fire mage is going to fix that. She fell in love with a complete loser who had no morals and nothing but unrestrained anger and all she could do about it was go emo and stare. and cry.
THATS NOT STRONG
Reklisc Jul 24th 2011 11:17AM
@gewalt
People just can't seem to read more into things than just a single moment, huh?
Jaina's been worried ever since the 2x Varians became one again (and then one-shotted Onyxia like a boss) that Varian's "Lo'Gosh" persona would make his hate for the Horde a problem if he met with them again. The fact that he could actually keep a cool head after Saurfang asked for his son's body, made Jaina proud of him.
I mean, c'mon, I've been to weddings and have seen many guys cry out of happiness too.
Noah Jul 24th 2011 4:32PM
@ Gewalt
You clearly know frak about WoW lore then. If you've read ANY of the books or comics, you should know that Jaina had the strength to turn away Arthas (her near-husband) when he asked her to stand beside him in the culling of Stratholme (that was in WoW btw, did you ever run CoS before they frakked the entrance scene?).
She had the strength to take what was left of her people away from the Eastern Kingdoms after the culling and bring them to Kalimdor at Medivh's suggestion. She had the strength to ally herself with the ORCS, which had previously invaded and nearly wiped out the human kingdoms, and to purge Grom Hellscream of the blood curse he put himself under again. She had the strength to maintain that alliance even after the Burning Legion was defeated, though she could have just as easily turned her weapons on the orcs and maybe even have destroyed them.
When he father sailed to the Eastern Kingdoms and tried to exterminate the orcs, she had the strength to TURN ON HIM, her OWN FATHER, in favor of peace with the orcs, and helped Thrall strike him down. She had the strength to kill the demon Zmodlor, not to mention wield Aegwyn's magics.
During Wrath of the Lich King, she had the strength to turn on her own king, who wanted to destroy Thrall and Sylvanas during the Battle of the Undercity, and teleported them away against his will. And finally, she had the strength to march on Icecrown Citadel HERSELF and try to bring Arthas back with nothing but a few soldiers at backup.
Jaina Proudmoore has more strength in one fingernail then you could have in twenty bodies. I may be horde, but I respect her, and I think that if anyone could rule a faction as well or better then Thrall, it's Jaina frakkin' Proudmoore.
So say we all!
Blayze Jul 24th 2011 5:21PM
You mean when she said "boohoo I'd rather run away from this problem and abandon these innocent civilians to either Arthas and/or Mal'Ganis"?
Yeah. Real show of strength there, from both her AND Uther.
icepyro Jul 25th 2011 1:35AM
So uh... this is a day late I know, but IIRC:
Cry of happiness is still crying?
I will grant that Jaina is strong. I will grant that gewalt is wrong. I think Blayze is wrong too. But still.
She turned and ran away crying from Arthas. That's strength to stand up for what's right from her near-husband, but she still cried.
She cried trying to get people to listen to her and leave. She still cried when she did leave to go to Kalimdor. She had the strength to do what was right, but it's still sad and she probably wept at the thought of those left behind that wouldn't listen.
She cried in mourning of her father, even if she did have the strength to do what was right and let him be killed.
I'm not sure, but I bet there were tears of rage in Undercity. There were tears of lament as she raided icecrown. There were tears of pride at Varian letting Saurfang reclaim his son's bodies.
She may be strong, but she isn't stoic strong. She does what's right, but it always seems to cost her dearly. If Metzen continues to make her strong by forcing her to sacrifice those she cares about this way, then yes, she probably will cry every page. Otherwise she will probably marry Varian, which is equally sad. Not that Varian doesn't have his reasons for being how he is, but after all both have been through, they both deserve better and it just sets up more drama (and probably another set up sacrifice) later.
SmokeTheBear Jul 23rd 2011 8:09PM
Is there anything WoW related that Metzen doesn't describe as "bad ass?"
jimmybh Jul 24th 2011 2:36AM
Is there anything WoW related that's not bad ass?