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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Do you mind being the unsung hero?
by Fox Van Allen 
Jan 5th 2012 at 8:00AM
Of course, we're never the real hero. The real hero of the fight against Deathwing was Thrall. Anveena vanquished Kil'jaeden. It was Tirion Fordring who saved the world -- and you -- from complete destruction at the hands of the Lich King. It's like we're the Secret Service agent who saved Ronald Reagan from being assassinated. But if we were also the agent who saved Gerry Ford twice -- and then traveled back in time to save JFK and Lincoln, too. And then found Saddam Hussein and killed Hitler. And also maybe you caused the Big Bang too. It's an inevitable fact of MMORPGs. You're always there, but you never get the credit.
Does that bother you at all? Do you wish that it was your character with the statue along the entrance to Stormwind? Or are you OK with your character's role, serving as the bridesmaid in every wedding to ever occur throughout history?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
highfive Jan 5th 2012 10:01AM
Sorry but I can't afford to make exceptions. I mean once word leaks out that a hero has gone soft, people begin to disobey you and it's nothing but work, work, work all the time.
Tribunal Jan 5th 2012 10:13AM
I like how we can't get the credit (not epic enough I guess) but we can get the blame (because it's supposed to be funny). It's mostly a Cataclysm thing to kind of poke fun at the re-invented quests.
"I thought some adventurer took care of him last time I asked", etc type thing.
Redbeard Jan 5th 2012 10:26AM
Having the Named Heroes take the credit for things we do in WoW both reflects real life and at the same time is annoyingly like reading a David Eddings novel. When does somebody in an Eddings novel who is not a noble/all-powerful-sorcerer/god (or an associated hanger-on) actually perform some major task? Likewise, how often is the General or Political Leader given the credit for the military victory when it was the grunts who did the actual work?
When a WoW character says "Heroes!" I know that really means "Lackeys!" Blizzard has made it pretty plain that while we do all these great deeds, we never really get anything other than a polite dismissal when the "real leader" shows up to take credit. Just look at the books; they're filled with the elite interacting between themselves, certainly not us.
hairy_fedd Jan 5th 2012 10:35AM
I don't mind that my character doesn't get credit. I mind that my character's race doesn't get enough credit. Next expansion, Blizzard is going to introduce Pandaren in a big way, and yet Gnomes still get nothing other than "You ALMOST got Gnomeregan back," and "smart and short, punt them."
It kinda saddens me that the Pandaren are going to get more fleshed out, and treated with more dignity than Gnomes who have been in this game since the beginning.
Joakim Jan 5th 2012 10:50AM
One thing bugs me. It's, well - the vendors. IF I'm an exalted hero bards write songs about (I hope), why the Hell do I just get a discount!?
It should be free! Heck, they should give me an axe for free!
But no, oh no. I get a dsicount, for saving your sorry ass from Hogger. Fu... Blast.
Also, I really would espect at least a salute from guards. I don't mind if people don't throw palmleafs in front of my horse (or dragon), but come on - a salute? How hard could it be!?
But hey, things are pretty good in Azeroth. I mean there you don't have to wait until the bards sing songs about you to buy a tabard. Now, Outland ...
Btw, hero's should be given a tabard. Not be forced to buy it.
Yours truly,
The One Who Did All The Fighting
shomechely Jan 5th 2012 10:56AM
It's enough for me that every time I walk around Dalaran the NPC's say hello and call me by name. Maybe that's why I still have my hearth there. In Dalaran, I'm a rock star.
Amaxe Jan 5th 2012 11:01AM
Yes, it annoys me, and it has gotten worse since Cataclysm.
The sad thing is, it didn't use to be that way. In WOLK, doing the quests, you were given the sense of being the up and coming hero, the one who was destined for greatness. Now... we're just a flunky for Thrall, we're cannon fodder.
It is what I think I like best about TOR. With individually instanced areas, and quest writing, the character is the hero. As you leave one planet for the next, you have the sense of your character having accomplished something to make the world a better place.
Yes, 349,999 other players (assuming that story on Massively was correct on # of players) have that same sense, but still... isn't it nice to feel like a hero?
I wish WoW would learn this approach. Otherwise I feel like, "Meh, let Thrall do it and then you can send me a letter on how it turns out."
bethontheharbor Jan 5th 2012 11:12AM
Does it bother me? A bit. It would be nice as many have mentioned , if they could somehow build in a trigger when talking to NPCs that acknowledges you accomplishments to help cement our places in lore. You know Varian could thank those who are 81 plus for their efforts in the war in Northrend. Something like that.
BTW: We all know that JFK was the second shooter on the grassy knoll thereby securing his place in history.
Don't believe me? ask "da boys from the Dwarf!"
Smashbolt Jan 5th 2012 11:17AM
When I leveled my main through Grizzly Hills and that NPC mentioned about my heroics in Westfall, I smiled. They remembered me.
When I leveled an alt through Grizzly Hills and that NPC mentioned about my heroics in Westfall, I though "WTF? I'm a draenei. I've never set foot in Westfall."
I like that as it moves forward, the game is cognizant of what we've done as players. I accept that we can't be centre-staged as heroes mostly due to game mechanics. I just wish that the game would react a little more sincerely to what my character has done in-game, not what "the heroes" have done while assuming I was one of them.
I think the Corrupted Ashbringer is a good example. It dropped off Four Horsemen in level 60 Naxx. It was Mograine's weapon, and carrying it with you made a plot point: while in your bags or equipped, Scarlet Crusaders became friendly, Argent Dawn was hostile, and if you took it to Scarlet Monastery, you'd get a special lore event.
I want more stuff like that. Like how cool would it be if some item dropped by present-Illidan would change the dialog in Well of Eternity? Or if attacking 85 Ragnaros with Sulfuras made him emote something?
Amanda A. Jan 5th 2012 11:36AM
Illidan in WoE does make a comment if someone has the Warglaives on them. :)
b.church2 Jan 5th 2012 11:55AM
I wouldn't like a statue or anything similarly grand like that, but the NPC messages and emotes that some give you as you pass are a very nice touch, as are the discussions that NPCs have about players, such as the original Stormwind Recruiters that I think were mentioned above and also in Wintergrade Keep.
The only problem I have with it is when the NPC makes a comment about how they couldn't survive without me aiding them, as I always feel guilty when I realise I haven't helped them for ages. *cough* SSO *cough*
Langis Langley Jan 5th 2012 12:23PM
This is part of the reason why I'll never take MMOs too seriously. Fun diversion, nothing more.
Spider Jan 5th 2012 1:09PM
It doesn't bother me at all, especially not in this game. I've always been interested in the overarching lore of WoW, which stems from the original RTS games. The heroes and main characters were always ones who I wanted to focus on. I still feel like I'm watching a game to find out what happens to them, I just get to live there and be part of it as well. :)
Rommster Jan 5th 2012 1:15PM
Blizzard has done this in very subtle and appreciated ways, at least to me...
My favorite moment in Lich King is when you first reported to the commander of Wintergarde and some guy comes running up while you're talking to him and says something like "Sir, all the heroes are here or coming, blah, blah, blah...even the Scarab Lord is here...". That hit home with me. A nice reference to the Gates of AQ event, didn't mention the guy on my server who got the title by name (I went and looked it up after the fact and it was "Lawdog", so I'm sure glad he wasn't referenced by name), but certainly gave me a sense of certain people who achieved something very difficult at the time in-game getting recognition.
Was a nod to that character without taking me out of the moment, definitely made me as a more middling level hero go, "Man I wish he was talking about ME", and also elevated each server's Scarab Lord (or those who had them at the time) to a certain non-unsung status.
More of THAT would be welcome!
Ylspeth Jan 5th 2012 1:15PM
It bothers me a little bit. At least in the sense that I am this hero who has done all these amazing things, why is this quest giver telling me I have to dig through 20 elek droppings?
Ametrine Jan 5th 2012 2:52PM
I'd rather be an unsung hero than have something like "And lo, the dread maddened Aspect Deathwing was slain at last by the noble Roflpwnzor and his allies of the mighty guild BRB FBI LOL..." entering lore.
CyberNigma Jan 5th 2012 5:27PM
Guild Wars has some good examples of you being the hero (or at least your party leader and maybe the rest of the party).
Raids are supposed to be Epic.. If you want heroic then you need to look at smaller battles (just like in the movies)..
Heroic vs Epic...
bushkanaka86 Jan 5th 2012 6:20PM
I have never desired to have a statue of my name but I have always wanted the quest givers to recognize me. Once I kill some mega boss, then to have someone ask me to go collect food or pelts for them seems silly. I wouldn't mind it as much if the quest giver recognized me though. "Sorry to bother one such as you with such a menial task but we are short handed and supplies are low..."
NPCs should be able to check achievements and respond to you based on those achievements. Like if you have the 50,000 critter killer achievement the animal lovers in Borean Tundra hate you.
Awesome Jan 5th 2012 7:06PM
Honestly, I think it'd be cooler to have ingame NPC recognition. Nothing crazy. Just have NPC's notice you, stand at attention, say something different after certain quests or once you're exalted. And those NPC's that stole the kill should definitely, if you ever talk to them, talk to you more personally, and credit your help.
e.g. Varian. Lets say the average player gets "Your service to the Alliance is appreciated hero!" or, "Rise now, and face your king" when they right click Varian, Players who killed Onyxia, should get something more personal, like "You again? Don't tell me we have another black dragon in our midst *chuckle*" or "Ah, , it's good to know the Alliance, and me, can count on your power and goodwill"
something like that would be MUUUUUUUCH better than a big a** statue. PLus, it'd be a pain to have to travel to the statues.
shirtntie Jan 6th 2012 2:19AM
I would like more.
You know with all the advancements made with this game you would think our avatars could get more recognition. Why cant we have phased areas where we see statues of ourselves in cities?
In some areas the NPCs will cheer you on by name, or was that only a Wotlk thing, i cant remember.
There are some many ways you can be proud of your avatars outside of the game like you can make posters, little toys that look like your character, you can have t-shirts made, but in game you cant really get a lot of recognition. Its sad.