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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Do you have qualms about playing the other faction?
by Nik Mitchell 
Sep 21st 2011 at 8:00AM
Talk to any self-proclaimed altoholic: They'll tell you stories of rolling characters on both sides of the two factions that split the World of Warcraft. For many, their attachment to one side or the other is merely dependent on "What do I want to play today?" However, for me, playing the other faction has some serious consequences: pangs of agony, nervous twitches, tummy trouble, you name it.
I started WoW on one side but quickly found myself tempted to try the other (I heard they had cookies) and never looked back for years. I filled out all 10 slots with the faction I loved. Seven 85s later, I get the whisper from my officers that they are swapping sides as a pet project. The worst of all isn't really that I'd consider playing the dark side again; it's that my closest of guildies are happily getting entrenched. Lured by the real-life friend of another, lo and behold, they found a level 25 guild that would gladly receive some potential recruits... and now my guildies want me to join them, too.
Now don't get me wrong -- I don't deny the opposite faction their right to exist (well, except every time I get killed in Tol Barad), but it feels so completely wrong to be rolling this character (not to mention having to delete my mid-30s mage). What about you? Have you ever had a question of conscience to even begin to create a character of the opposite faction?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 6 of 8)
Amaxe Sep 21st 2011 9:28AM
I've tried it a few times. What makes it more difficult is the starting from scratch and not having the support of my mains.
If Blizz ever works out the transfering of Bind on Battle.net heirlooms, it would probably make it easier to start from scratch.
Wolftech Sep 21st 2011 10:47AM
As long as they are on the same server, then you can just send those heirlooms through the mail to your toon in the opposite faction. If they are on different servers, well, I think that will probably be released with Mists of Panderia
Amaxe Sep 21st 2011 11:07PM
Different servers. Sorry, I should have specifically stated that.
I have 10 Alliance toons all in a vanity guild so I can't roll a Horde on that server.
robsmith77 Sep 21st 2011 9:30AM
Never.
snarkygoldfish Sep 21st 2011 9:31AM
One of the recent columns here when interviewing the bloggers summed up my feelings on the Alliance more succinctly than I had previously been able to. "I prefer the humanity" of the faction.
I am someone with only one level 85, and a few up-and-coming toons in both factions...and while I do enjoy both of them, there isn't the same warmth to me Hordeside. I am not warlike, I have nothing to "prove," and nor am I an aggressive player (or RPer for that matter)...and when it comes to RP -- hordeside seems, on the various servers I have peeked into, verymuch dominated by Blood Elf political "familes" and squabbles. Not my sort of story.
I dunno, the Alliance seems to offer more sorts of stories for me (personally) to explore.
Arrowsmith Sep 21st 2011 9:36AM
I stay Alliance because I started this game with the goal of playing a Dwarf that shot a gun. Back in Wrath, my friend and I had the chance to join our guild in a server and faction transfer, but we both agreed we like the way our characters already look. That said, I'd happily change my Dwarf to a Goblin just to keep him the same height (yes, that's the only reason I'd faction transfer these days. Freynor was not meant to be tall).
Kylenne Sep 21st 2011 9:38AM
I played Alliance at the very, very beginning of my WoW career, back in BC, for about 8 months or so. This despite every one of my favorite races at the time being Horde, except for Night Elves (Draenei intrigued me but just confused me as a WC3 nerd). Because my boyfriend at the time played a Night Elf druid, hated Horde like you would not believe, and was one of those particular kind of asshole players that was ragingly (almost hilariously) prejudiced against Blood Elves, which were naturally my favorite race from WC3. He refused to play Horde with me at all, not even rolling a little alt with me or anything. So I rolled a Draenei mage and sort of petered along. Even though I loved the character, I would always sort of gaze longingly at the Horde, heh. I secretly rolled some Horde toons on an RP server and had ridiculous amounts of fun in snatches here and there where I could. When my BF and I had a particularly messy breakup, I bolted for Horde as soon as I could and have been there ever exclusively since. It felt like I just came home to where I belonged, tbh. I do miss my old Draenei, but my heart really belongs to red side (and specifically Blood Elves). I've had little Alliance toons here and there but they never last very long because I think I associate the Alliance too much with my ex. I did roll a Night Elf to experience the new Cata quests though, specifically because I *hated* questing in revamped Kalimdor as Horde and frankly found myself cheering for the Night Elves. So I wanted to see that conflict from the other side.
Alliance also screams stereotypical fantasy milieu to me, and...I have no interest in that. The predominance of humans and human architecture in the Alliance questing just pisses me off, as one of my pet peeves with most fantasy games is their humanocentrism. As Horde, the predominance of Orcs bothers me, but much less...because they're Orcs. And, somewhat weirdly, as a POC I just identify more with the "band of misfits and outcasts that came together for mutual survival in a world that would see them all dead" theme of the Horde. I jokingly refer to Alliance as the The Man faction, but that's certainly some of it too.
Caliea Sep 21st 2011 10:01AM
I just started playing an Alliance toon for the first time since I started WoW 2.5 yrs ago.
I'm loving my cute dwarf priestess (flying braids during heals are great!), but it just feels WEIRD! It took me probably 2 weeks of playing before I stopped having tense moments every time a Stormwind guard walked by me. I've done too many (For the Horde!) runs to feel comfortable running around Stormwind unprotected and alone.
And as for my first BG -- I was in WSG, in the enemy flag room and an orc ran by me. I didn't even blink... until he shot me in the back. (my nameplates were missing). I was nonplussed at first, until I realized HE WAS THE BAD GUY. Oh... and all the BG maps are backwards O.o
I'm enjoying the change, but it's been a paradigm shift, to be sure.
Stephanie Sep 21st 2011 10:08AM
Once, for a short moment right before rolling my first alt, and my first Horde, I had a pang of guilt. Now, I just avoid mentioning that my main is Alliance when playing my Horde characters. Only once have I come across a person that was so FTA! that they were rabid but I meet new ferocious FTH! players every other PUG. It is just easier to keep it to myself, and make sure I don't call for Hero when on the red side.
Mordok Sep 21st 2011 10:10AM
I play both but usually only Horde when I get tired of losing in battlegrounds. It is nice to win once in a while and when I get depressed with losing over and over the Horde is the only way to go. At least on the two servers I play the most.
dany.erunamo Sep 21st 2011 10:18AM
I first played a NElf due to my LotR fandom for the House of Fingolfin, but, after playing WIII and dive in the history of Thrall and the "orc redemption drama", I felt compelled to give Horde a try.
The rest is history. For years playing Horde at Shendralar and no need to reroll. Ever. Humans look likesome kind of esclavist intolerant (and getting even "better"). Gnomes make me feel like playing "Tiny Toons". Dwarves and nelves give the counterpart, being quite respectful.
But nothing like orcs, tauren and belves. So sorry, with all due respect.
And my guildies give'em (Alliance) no chance!
And yes... we have cookies!! :D
jesuslavex Sep 21st 2011 10:19AM
0 Alliace toons. Nothing but a bunch of over tattooed trust fund kids
Bynde Sep 21st 2011 1:22PM
That spell better. :)
arixian Sep 21st 2011 10:30AM
I've noticed that people who started out playing on PVE servers are more likely to play both factions. People who started out playing on PVP servers like myself tend to stick with the faction they started with. For myself I was Alliance on a server where the Horde were very dominate in population so the gankings and camping I experienced while leveling my first character really turned me off to that faction in general. Even now I can't get myself to level a Horde past more than just their starting area. I've heard similar tales of people who played Horde and were camped by Alliance.
For those asking why I started on a PVP server then a: It was where my friends were, and b: I didn't know any better at the time.
Kadzeroth Sep 21st 2011 10:34AM
I started with a Horde toon at launch, got to about level 14, then learned all my friends were playing alliance. So that's where I went. I have multiple horde alts and enjoy both factions however, seeing the whole gamut of the story is great!
perasitewow Sep 21st 2011 10:44AM
At the end of Wrath I faction changed my main to horde because Alliance progression on my server was pretty stale. I had always been Alliance. I felt dirty playing Horde.
I spent forever just trying to find my way around Org. I totally gave up on finding anything in Undercity or Thunder Bluff.
But then something strange happened. I learned to love my little Belf Pally. She was originally a male human, and now I could never imagine her as anything but a female belf. It just fits her. With my newfound love for her, it seemed weird to have my alts on Alliance, so I faction changed my mage and my druid.
I wouldn't say I'm die hard Horde now, but I'm certain my main will always be Horde. My little lowbie alts can play around in Alliance.
D Sep 21st 2011 10:51AM
I play mainly Alliance, but only due the fact that I started Alliance. I think the Horde has better lore, definitely a cooler more recognizable symbol and more camaraderie(maybe that last one is just me). I play with my family so a transfer starts at 75 and goes up. I don't dislike the fact that I choose Ally to start, I just think the Horde has a few things better.
Rai Sep 21st 2011 11:16AM
Same. I'm only Alliance because I knew people on Alliance when I started playing.
acehawkblade Sep 21st 2011 10:58AM
I have multiple max level toons on both sides and raid 4 nights a week .. 2 on Alliance and 2 on Horde. There is a lot of lore that can only be experienced by leveling on both sides.
Shinae Sep 21st 2011 10:59AM
I would play Alliance if I had a home there.