Breakfast Topic: Who'd be next to die in WoW Faction Leader Survivor?
by Andrew Ross 
Oct 17th 2011 at 8:00AM
Cataclysm killed off Cairne Bloodhoof and apparently Magni Bronzebeard (I'm still hoping that one can be reversed!). Before that, we (apparently) killed off Kael'thas, the Blood Elf leader, and Zul'jin, one of the Troll leaders. Heck, Fandral Staghelm, while not exactly a leader, was just killed off in 4.2. Blizzard isn't afraid to kill off its own creations, so who do you think Blizz will kill off in the future?
I'm sure Magatha Grimtotem is up next. Revenge is sort of a theme we got going on in WoW, and I doubt that old meatloaf-to-be will be useful in the next expansions as anything other than a raid boss. But she can't be the only one.
Personally, I'm betting on Sylvanas. Something big is brewing, and despite the fan hate of Garrosh, I have a severe doubt Metzen will let us off the hook on that guy any time soon. The Undead are going to need to be brought further into the Horde, and unless we're getting a third faction (/pray), I'd be we'll be finally putting that Undead to rest.
Who else do you think will be going the way of Cairne? Will the death knights' leader, serving no known purpose, get the axe next? Will Thrall perhaps die for real? Or will someone bump off the cheese master?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Stella Oct 17th 2011 8:04AM
Not Sylvanas. She's too good of a character with fantastic story telling potential.
I think Varian. Blizz is already grooming Anduin as a leader.
Phredreeke Oct 17th 2011 8:20AM
Problem is Anduin would be too diplomatic for a racial leader. I don't see them killing off any racial leader anytime soon though.
Daedalus Oct 17th 2011 9:14AM
Yeah; I hate to say it, but if any Wrynn's days are numbered, it's probably Anduin. They're setting him up to be too good to live.
That, or something happens (like seeing his dad get killed (preferably by Garona's offspring, for continuity's sake)) that hardens him and takes him from a "can't we all get along" priest to a "burn the unbelievers" priest.
LynMars Oct 17th 2011 9:17AM
Many of them have fantastic storytelling potential (though Velen seems to find more use as a plot device, given his age and powers). Part of telling a good story--and having that potential as a character--is the ability to kill off those beloved characters before they become too stale.
Varian and Garrosh inspire a lot of annoyance from some and love from others; that's actually a really good mix. Part of the reason people expect Sylvanas to get killed is because of the great story surrounding her currently, and if it were to go that way, it would probably be very cool (or had better be).
As for Anduin being "too diplomatic" it might make a nice change for the Humans to be the ones promoting peace instead of war for once on Azeroth--and there'd be plenty of folks, among Humans and the rest of the world--trying to keep that from happening. Whenever there's a change in regime, there are always malcontents who want things 'the way they used to be" or to change in another way.
ravyncat Oct 17th 2011 9:33AM
I don't see them killing Sylvanas.
Out of faction Leader Survivor I actually expect her to come out on top. Both because she has a few more valkries to resurrect her and also because she is utterly ruthless. Her story explained her motivations and she wants to put off final judgement as long as possible. I think she will take out anyone and anything that threatens that and she will do it without a second thought.
There is also no one (yet) that has shown up as a clear successor to lead the Forsaken.
Angus Oct 17th 2011 10:38AM
Ravyncat: Koltira. He's even got motivation aplenty to off her now. He's one of Arthas' old guard. A DK that made a name for himself and she acted like he was a forsaken at EPL when he's not. She really didn't have the right to snatch him and send him to the dungeons under Undercity to "re-educate him". I think he's going to come back and once he figures out that she's only got the Valks to keep her from oblivion, he's sending the girls all screaming into the abyss, one head at a time.
ravyncat Oct 17th 2011 12:38PM
See, I don't see Koltira having any affection or loyalty at all towards the Forsaken. Especially not after being dragged to Under City by Sylvanas.
He still seems more loyal to the Ebon Blade and the friends he has there--Thassarian for sure--than to the Horde. I think most DK's are more loyal to themselves than to the factions they served in life.
I can see him taking out Under City in an angry rampage but that would just be because he was pissed. I do not see him ever wanting to lead it.
If they ever replace Sylvanas, I think it should be with a Forsaken. It would be fitting and would show that they have found a reason to live and go on even without their queen. I think rule under Koltira would be more like a military dictator had moved in; he would not inspire them to keep going.
Wrathkind Oct 17th 2011 1:48PM
@Stella "Blizz is already grooming Anduin as a leader."
[Is Twilight Father considered spoiler? If so... spoilerish conjecture coming up!]
I was under the impression that Anduin is meant to succeed Archbishop Benedictus. I'm assuming the Archbishop is permanently removed from the Cathedral of Light before the next expac. That opens the way for Anduin to ascend to head position of the Church of the Holy Light.
B1ue Oct 17th 2011 4:52PM
@Wrathkind
That is an excellent point, and one I did not think of on my own. I feel a bit silly for missing it, actually.
Though, hmm. Despite his birth rank, he's not very far into his training yet. Pretty big step up from Acolyte to Archbishop. He does have those years as king of Stormwind on his resume, so leadership potential is there. Maybe he could pull it off.
kodakmsr99 Oct 17th 2011 5:45PM
If anything, I think we will see Koltira take Varimatahas' place as a 2nd in command. Heck she might even have a thing for Koltira. Similar circumstances in their creation. Sylvanas died at the hands of the lich king, was turned into a banshee after who knows what kinda torture, then regained her body. Koltira was killed by Thassarian. Taken back to Acherus. Raised. Then had to fight and claw to become one of the leaders. Plus both are former High Elves.
I see the male version of Sylvanas comin our way if you ask me.
Prissa Oct 17th 2011 5:57PM
@Ravyncat
Two words: Lilian Voss.
They set up her story brilliantly, and I dearly wish to see her further on.
Wrathkind Oct 17th 2011 8:55PM
[I don't think Twilight Father is in game yet, so spoilerish conjecture ahead...]
@ B1ue
If Twilight Father is publicly revealed, the likelihood of the Church structure collapsing is pretty high. How would potential successors hold the Church together if faith in their ability to actually root out evil is severely compromised? Would the public trust the successor without suspecting yet another Twilight Cult infiltrator?
I think Anduin is in a position to hold the Church together by virtue of being Prince. Even if only as a political figurehead who takes the Archbishop title as a formality, Anduin could galvanize those betrayed by Twilight Father. Advancing the Prince from Acolyte to Archbishop could easily be a really good PR move for the Church.
Phredreeke Oct 17th 2011 8:05AM
They've already killed Sylvanas. Then her val'kyr brought her back.
Helston Oct 17th 2011 11:03PM
Twice.
Jamie Oct 17th 2011 8:05AM
Can Sylvannas die? Seeing as she's undead?
Therinor Oct 17th 2011 8:08AM
I am sure she could be killed permanently... we have killed several enemies who were undead. Sure, in an MMO, running instances many times, it doesnt feel like it, but story-wise, we have killed undead villains before, for them to stay dead =)
AudreyR Oct 17th 2011 9:08AM
She did die but her Val'kyr brought her back. The kicker is that she experienced the oblivion, somehow, that she was praying DK back when Arthas was torturing her. She decided it's not for her.
Daedalus Oct 17th 2011 9:53AM
@Therinor:
"Killed permanently?" In WoW? I'm fairly sure death as an unending irreversible state pretty much doesn't exist in this game. Warcraft characters recover from death like people in our world recover from stubbed toes. Death rarely slows anyone down; in fact, it usually makes them more powerful.
Even minor characters tend to come back as tortured spirits; condemned to an unlife of haunting a small patch of ground, providing exposition to anyone who happens by.
Tabasa Oct 17th 2011 9:59AM
Sylvanas has actually died three times so far.
The first was her "actual" death to Arthas prior to being turned. Then she died a second time in her short story, and was revived by one of the Valkyr. And then a third time to Godfrey, and was again revived by one of the Valkyr.
She's still got Valkyr around. So long as they're still there, she's not going anywhere.
Therinor Oct 17th 2011 10:09AM
Daedalus, I am aware that, just like in Marvel comics, most big characters dont stay dead, of course.
However, story-wise, we have killed undead before. I.e. Kel'Thuzad... story-wise, unless I am totally wrong, he is considered dead. Lady Deathwhisper can be considered dead. Sure, we can still run into ICC and fight her, but so can we fight Arthas and see the whole Bolvar-thing once a week =)
Putress, Alexi Barov, Ras, Lord Godfrey... sure, we can chainrun their instances, but I'd say story-wise they can be considered dead.
Ofc, someone might go and bring them back, but isnt that possible with other races as well? I mean, if you put it that way, no one ever really dies, but thinking that way, no one ever is dead, because someone could go and raise King Llane, Uther, Lothar...