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 7 of 7)
Dude Jul 24th 2011 8:40AM
Garrosh isn't known for his caution. I daresay the pup's foolishness will damage him seriously enough soon and unable to lead, perhaps fatally so.. viz Twilight Highlands Horde incursion. Thrall may have to be Warchief again even if reluctant. Plus Garrosh isn't amazingly popular with the Troll chieftain or the Tauren either, from memory...
Rmschoir Jul 24th 2011 9:04AM
Yo, dawg, I herd u like sarcasm. . . .
Plainswander Jul 24th 2011 11:14AM
Prediction: Jaine becomes new Sylvanas because Sylvanas is batshiat crzy and we are forced, at Thealls behest, to raid her to dead.
It fixes everything.
Plainswander Jul 24th 2011 11:16AM
Ugh. Please to forgive typos. iPhone makes lousy commenting tool.
Blayze Jul 24th 2011 5:31PM
Of all people, Calia's the best bet for the job of Supreme High Corpse.
poshmax34 Jul 24th 2011 11:20AM
I don't understand it when people complain that the lore department of WoW or whatever, favor the Horde. It's just like writing! The Alliance have always been made out to be the good guys, therefore, they're one-sided, boring to flesh out! Now the Horde on the other hand, have always been made out to be the bad guys, which makes them better, and more interesting candidates for backstory, and current development. It's all in the motivation...
Dreyja Jul 24th 2011 3:37PM
If people can't write compelling good-guys, then they are bad writers.
nobbie Jul 24th 2011 11:50AM
After reading on MMO-C that the "Vengeance of the Void" memo is fake, I'm not so sure anymore after Cryptozoic's announcement of a 3rd playable faction, even if it's only for the TCG yet. Starting as a bipedal Naga mutation in Nazjatar or as an Ethereal on Argus? Yes, please.
Antamune Jul 24th 2011 3:04PM
I LOVE the character of Jaina, and I also love to laugh at the people who think she's weak. WoWpedia her bros. She fought on mount Hyjal, she Fought against her own father AND let thrall kill him even after orcs killed her older brother AND still she maintained a peace between her and thrall. She's the only voice of reason that Varian listens to, she trained as a mage at the age of twelve and quickly became one of the most skilled. Fucking Aegwyn that she was a cool chick and became her Lady in Waiting. She fought against Arthas, and speaking of which, he was her first love and she got to watch as he went bonkers then slay hordes of people both when he was alive and when he was dead.
Jaina is not weak. She can kick your ass while telling you to STFU because she's studying.
Beetch
Dreyja Jul 24th 2011 3:39PM
LOL /high-five. Well said.
Al Jul 24th 2011 3:50PM
"WoWpedia her bros"
I did. All it says is that one of them got killed by a Dragon.
Noah Jul 24th 2011 4:43PM
Well, though I didn't have the money when Twilight of the Aspects came out, I'll definitely buy Jaina's book when Golden releases it. Wolfheart... hmmm. I love Mr. Knaak's work, but Varian is probably my least favorite character in WoW right now. He's like a millionaire with an inferiority complex, just striving to prove himself any way possible, often by beheading anyone who disagrees with him in this case.
What I want to see is a novel focusing on the Burning Legion. Where have they been for the last two years? We haven't had a good handle on them since we sent Kil'jaeden back to the Twisting Nether in the Sunwell Plateau. Is Sargeras really dead (probably not), is he still bodyless or has he found a new vessel to wreak havoc with? Same for Kil'jaeden. I think the coolest thing ever would be for us to discover, for the next x-pac, that Sargeras has found a new vessel, and has been building up his powers. But now he's used them to bring back his two dead lieutenants, Archimonde and Mannoroth. And now, he's created a new portal from Argus to invade and destroy Azeroth. Patch 5.4: Sargeras' Conquest!
Or, how about this.
WoW expansion 4
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: THE LEGION REBORN
That, folks, is what I wanna see.
icepyro Jul 25th 2011 3:13AM
A common thread I see here is about the Horde bias. I'm starting to see the reason for it.
The Horde is the new tradition and as such represented by the newer generation. Most people more easily identify with the plight of the Horde because they too are trying to make their place in the world. Most can identify badassery by the actions the Horde takes to prove itself more so than the Alliance actions to neutralize the bigger threats. Does that make them less?
Many people don't realize just how upsetting Rock 'n Roll originally was. The counter-culture movements of yesteryear are just mainstream today and even fading back as the next generation crap becomes mainstream.
The band formerly known as L80C had to be made by Horde races because that kind of music is a descendant of the cultures involved. The Shamanistic gospel met the jazz beats and when the Undead angst came in, bam.
Interestingly enough as Rock went through it's paces and remixed, disco and pop ascended. There is a reason the Exodar Disco came to be and it's not just the natural chandelier/disco ball at the bottom of the ship. An Alliance version of L80C would be mixing up the old disco/pop into the new dance music. I bet Brann could pop-lock better than a gnomish robot and I also wouldn't be surprised to see Varian moonwalk as good as most Night Elves. Still, most people wouldn't relate a Draenei turning tables atop an elek atop a turtle drifting through space (or something) as nearly as badass as an undead shredding on a dinosaur on top of a shark with frikkin laser beams, but I'd switch to Alliance if they made it happen.
In fact, the Alliance L80C version would be awesome. A dwarf on his axe, male gnome goin nuts on his electronic drumset, draenei male on keyboard with occassional vocal part and covering the band breaks with his turntable skillz, while a male nelf and female human take turns being main leads/dancer.
And that's just it. The Horde is made to be "badass" and "wicked" (both literally and figuratively) while the Alliance is just cool. One incites a more emotional response while both are awesome.
tl;dr - The Horde bias is the natural progression of the developers being able to relate more to them. The Alliance could be just as cool, but it's not something Americans embrace as easily. I would love to see what would happen if some of those in the cultures the Alliance is influenced from came and made the game.
PS- Wrath was a fairly balanced expansion as Alliance got lore and history (what it values) while Horde got some strength and badassery (things its races value). Cata is out of balance because the Alliance didn't get the culture it potentially could have while the Horde did develop more strength (though less honor so a wash on overall badassery). I also still think they could have done a better job of getting both sides to help the Twilight Highland war. Perhaps there should have been more black dragonflight presence so we could do like icecrown and help some cause and do more to help hold the lines while not directly engaging player versus player. Skirmishes are one thing, but directly going for objectives in an established town just can't be balanced well without calling for PvP directly.
chris Jul 26th 2011 4:27AM
Mark my words Jaina Proudmoore will be the true face if the twilights hammer ...........
nonentity Jul 27th 2011 11:08AM
Thrall coming back as Warchief?! Awesome! Even if we don't know when yet, at least now there's something to look forward to.
I had actually, somewhat, unhappily, come to terms with Garrosh being the warchief forever (for ever positive possibility for this character, that he MAY NOT be a douche there are two instances where he is the uber-douche to dash any hope) so this is an amazing surprise.
Also, bad-ass Jaina? Nice. Always liked the character, the Arthas novel fleshed the character out well - actually found her more interesting than Arthas in the book - so this sounds interesting. And as it's Golden writing it not KNAAAAAAK! - very good indeed.
I might actually leave WoW for Guild Wars 2 if it ever comes out and turns out to be as good as I hope but for Thrall coming back I'd at least reactivate my subscription.
Considered not getting the Blizzcon livestream this year after last years giant Meh at Blizzcon but this ... probably gonna get it after all.