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 5 of 7)
maverick1701 Jul 23rd 2011 9:02PM
Step one: Jaina marries Varian and becomes queen of a unified Stormwind/Theramore kingdom.
Step two: Thrall and Jaina 'accidently' manipulate Garrosh and Varian in dueling to the death - and since they're both so dumb they actually manage to kill each other.
Step three: In an ironic twist of fate, Thrall and Jaina end up blaming each other for the "tragedy" and continue to wage war as the leaders of the Horde and Alliance respectively.
Step four: Fanfic writers continue to write Thrall/Jaina slash stories despite this
Oh and Aggra marries Deathwing and becomes the new Black Dragon consort.
Sounds about right, ya?
Stillwell Jul 23rd 2011 9:09PM
You forgot the part where Jaina stands idly by as Garrosh murders Varian, in an attempt to stave off a "costly war" that will end up occuring anyways.
Traitor Queen of the Alliance.
Miz Jul 24th 2011 6:39AM
I'm pretty positive that would happen if Knaak were the author.
Ronin Jul 23rd 2011 9:19PM
I'm afraid that any attempt to demonstrate that Blizz doesn't have a pro-Horde bias, would just be closing the barn door at this point. That horse has already taken off. They've simply spent too much time ridiculing Alliance players while boasting about (and cheering on) the Horde. There's really nothing they can do to change that.
I'd still welcome their trying, though ;) But I don't think writing another book is going to do anything to overcome the issues of how they've written the _game_. And I'd be willing to bet that Blizzcon will present plenty more examples of Horde fan-service while treating Alliance players as second-class.
trefpoid Jul 23rd 2011 9:57PM
you got all the cool quests last expansion, all the lore filled moments (I had to go through Dragonblight with an Alliance toon to realize that Muradin wasn't dead, which I'm sure disturbed lots of Horde people when they got to ICC and had no idea about this) and a human was the guy that lead us to victory, not to mention that the greatest hero the alliance has ever seen took the mantle of Lich King to save Azeroth entirely. Let us have a little spotlight this expansion please, you got all the attention for two years.
Dreyja Jul 23rd 2011 9:58PM
hear, hear!
Gaurisk Jul 23rd 2011 10:10PM
The only guy in all of Northrend that anyone in Orgimmar had a none to pick with, the real Lich King, the orc who opened the door for the corruption of their race and blew up Draenor for an encore, Ner'zhul was written out of the game **in a novel** so that the Wrath expansion could focus more on the Jaina's old squeeze and Varian's childhood bro.
Yes, the favoritism is overwhelming.
Dreyja Jul 23rd 2011 10:14PM
The hurrah was for Ronin's comments.
I'm sorry but a raid-bosses origin doesn't really have anything to do with a bias in the story. Heck, if that were the case then really WOW is really about Trolls. ;-)
It has way more to do with where the HEART is in the story and let's face it the heart of Blizz beats for The Horde. I don't think it's purposeful and they are trying to be balanced but Metzen get's jazzed about those stories and it trickles down. If I saw other key members of the company trying to put together an Alliance version of L80C (formerly known as) or even putting some Alliance characters IN said band - I'd start to have hope. This is because these are the things the company does for FUN. Then I would hope that the people who write the stories, the quests, etc. actually enjoy the Alliance and want to do right by that side of the story.
Arrohon Jul 23rd 2011 10:27PM
@trefpoid
By some of that logic you could also say that humans were the villains of the expansion. Arthas is a human and the main bad guy. Most of the undead army are former humans (easiest race to turn into zombies). Fordring was a completely neutral character. You happen to forget that he's the leader of a group that includes Horde races. I honestly don't see the point of arguing about whether or not Blizzard favors ANY faction. Will arguing change anything? No. Accept that you can't change it and live with it. A lot stress is caused by worrying about something out of your control. You can live a happier and less stressful life is you accept that you can't change somethings. It doesn't mean that you can't disagree with those things but you just can't change it.
trefpoid Jul 24th 2011 2:16AM
It doesn't matter if Tirion is the leader of the Argent Crusade, he is still a human. Where where the orcs (or any horde member) in the final cinematic? why wasn't Thrall or Saurfang or Garrosh fighting with Tirion over who would take the helm of the Lich King? me, as a horde member, felt completely left out there. Like we did absolutely nothing to kill the Lich King. I really feel the previous expansion was fully dedicated to the Alliance.
And I couldn't care less if Blizzard favours any faction, it's just that it puzzles me that Alliance members feel like Blizzard is all about the Horde when the Alliance had a whole expansion for them. I really felt like we did absolutely nothing in Northrend and the only good moment we had was with Saurfang and his son. Just enjoy the Cataclysm, it'll be your turn again next time.
Hurbster Jul 24th 2011 1:42PM
Intimating that the Alliance had a whole expansion concentrated on them is utter rubbish. I've played through numerous times as both Alliance and Horde and I certainly felt no lack of focus while playing as a Hordie. I had fun recruiting the Taunka and going 'NOW i get it' after all those Forsaken quests dealing with the plague. Did the Alliance get to recruit anyone ? No.
Bolvar may be an alliance guy but where and with what lore is Wrathgate most commonly linked with ? Where in fact DID WE GO when we did Battle for the Undercity ? The only lore the Alliance got out of that is to get even more pissed off with Jaina and her wussiness.
Linking Arthas with the Alliance - well we might as well still call Sylvanus an elf rather than Insane Queen of the Forsaken.
Kaphik Jul 23rd 2011 10:04PM
If you actually watched the video, the way Chris Metzen said his comment, and in the context, it comes off as a sarcastic impression of a forum post one would find on the WoW forums.
Yes, there is going to be more to Thrall, but the feeling I got from watching the whole thing was that it's going to be much more than him just taking his old job back.
arawn.chernobog Jul 23rd 2011 10:05PM
> Jaina written by Christie Golden
> Varyan written by Richard Knaak
We all know what's comming as soon as these novels hit:
- "Jaina for Queen of Stormwind, please"
Dreyja Jul 23rd 2011 10:28PM
I would pay to see that. :)
Dice Jul 23rd 2011 10:28PM
I can trust Knaak, Despite his somewhat amateurish writing style. But Metzen I can't trust, he's completely biased and no matter what the other authors write he'll twist in unbelievable ways to be an advantage to his precious hordlings.
Nyarsz Jul 23rd 2011 10:32PM
Mmm. If Thrall really returns to the Horde as a Warchief, while being the new aspect... It would be interesting how the Alliance reacts to that situation. One of the most powerful living beings is a Horde leader, their perceived enemy.
Even if Thrall is a pacifist and an example of a great guy, the simple fact of being an orc and this important must be a shock for many alliance members...
Tael Jul 23rd 2011 11:41PM
Thrall is never going to be the new Aspect, though.
He ACTED as a stand-in for the Earth Aspect in a ritual in the latest book.
I have a feeling the new Earth Aspect will be that hatchling we save in the Badlands.
Arrohon Jul 24th 2011 12:01AM
Yeah, I wasn't going to mention anything because it would be a nice spoiler. However; you already started in so I'll give you a spoiler anyway. Don't read on if you plan on reading Twilight of the Aspects soon. Thrall actually thinks about how he CAN'T be an aspect. Unless they retcon it and say that he was wrong (which won't happen because Blizzard knows full well who the next aspect will be by now and they wouldn't release a book that contradicts their current plans) there is NO way he'll become as aspect.
watspr02 Jul 24th 2011 1:29AM
I actually envision him as either becoming an Avatar for the Aspect or helping it learn earth magic that a shaman would know. All of the other aspects were established dragons that knew their own stuff when they became Aspects. This one will be a baby, so someone has to teach it. Thrall and the Earthen Ring seem to be the best source. That way he would get both viewpoints (alliance and horde) and see that neither is really right or wrong. They are just grey.
Luotian Jul 24th 2011 8:18AM
Oh, but I wanted Thrall to go away. He's just so...boring.
However, Jaina book by Christine is gonna be AWESOME. I am so beyond excited, I can't even tell you :D.