Best WoW Dads

Lore Story Forum
1

In the spirit of Father’s Day I thought it’d be interesting to go over the best dad’s in Warcraft history.

And unfortunately Warcraft has the comic book, anime and Disney problem of having most character’s parents either being dead or an obstacle.

Which isn’t unreasonable TBH because ya gotta be economic in writing and if a character’s parents don’t serve a story purpose best to not involve them.

But of course their are exceptions. Obviously the best father is, of course, Calder Gray;

“It’s alive, name. It’s alive!
Go forth, my beautiful angel! Ah, it is so very sad when one’s children leave the nest, isn’t it?”

He’s supportive but knows ya have to encourage your kids to strike out and live their own lives, while still showing affection and implying they’ll always be a bed for them back home should they need it.

And considering his child is made up of several newly orphaned dwarven and human organs and body parts, plus the spinal column of a Thunder Lizard, I’m counting this as interracial foster parenting and exotic animal rescue.

Truly that Mr.Gray is a beacon of positive masculinity.

But tragically not everyone can be the real hero of this story. That’s an unreasonable standard. So I guess Varian did a pretty good job even though he couldn’t possibly be more different to his son.

Genn managed to keep at least one of his kids alive. Granted weird he blocks her from running the family werewolf bloodline but them boomers just DO NOT want to retire.

Zekhan’s father who I don’t think gets a name clearly did a good job. Zekhan remembers him fondly and despite an untimely death he clearly made sure his boy had a good head on his shoulders. He serves his country, he honors his heritage while still being a friend to other cultures, he takes his career seriously and acts like a gentleman despite his lustful thoughts toward Talanji’s dainty tusks.

Ya good a did job, random Darkspear soldier I probably sent to his death while half paying attention to the mobile table quest app while on the porcelain throne.

But who’s the Warcraft Father most deserving of some peace, quiet and a gift that didn’t cost him a red cent this Father’s Day?

3 Likes
2

Thrall. Definitley. He raises Durak the right way so far and let him chose his way.
Honorable mentions to Tirion and Alexandros. I am not fond of humans usually but I can acknowledge a proper bond with your kids.

5 Likes
3

Hrmn… this is a rough one.

Varian is kind of off the list. I mean, he did his best for a single dad and all, but there was that raging alcoholic phase in which he actually struck Anduin (Wolfheart), which then shifted into a super over-protective phase that had Anduin running away (Pandaria), and then he just straight up dies and leaves the throne of Stormwind to a thoroughly unprepared Anduin… He loved Anduin, but he was far from, “best,” dad quality. His saving grace is that he improved on every failing, so you can’t say he was an awful father.

Magni falls into a somewhat similar category. Moira grew up resenting him because she wasn’t born a boy, which led to her eloping with the Dark Iron Emperor, and then he had her husband killed by murderhobos, only to turn into Diamond… They’ve since managed to reconcile things, of course, but clearly there was something wanting in the father role there.

Anasterian is also someone I’d preclude from the list. He had no faith at all that Kael’thas would become a proper king, and having impossible standards for your kids rather than accepting them as they are can be pretty damaging. For what its worth, Kael’thas at least respects his memory, but it doesn’t quite feel like they had much of a father-son relationship at all. Apparently Kael’thas was happier serving as a member of the Council of Six, than some appropriate role in Quel’Thalas.

Terenas is another figure who doesn’t quite make this list. Aside from trying to marry his daughter off to Deathwing (not that he knew, but still), this is another case of a lot of pressure being put on Arthas. The fact Uther was more of a father figure to Arthas than Terenas also speaks to an emotional distancing between father and son Menethils. As for Calia, when Lordaeron fell she didn’t even bother trying to uphold the family legacy, but pursued her own happiness.

Daelin Proudmoore is definitely off the list. Would not give Jaina the time of day when he arrived in Kalimdor. If he’d patted her on the rump and told her in a patronizing voice, “You did very well, princess, but the men are here now, so you can go back to your room and your books while we clean up your mess,” it wouldn’t have felt out of character.

Geesh, the Alliance’s dads are sorely not measuring up.

I suppose Turalyon might actually be higher on the list than most, but that’s by virtue of his absence. Arator hasn’t known either of his parents, but Turalyon had left behind a Legacy of heroism and selflessness that inspired him to become a Paladin. Turalyon was also looking forward to getting to know Arator better after their return, although we’ve yet to see this. Arator himself hasn’t shown much issues stemming from his parents, although for all the screen time and development he gets, it’s not impossible to say their absence hasn’t harmed him in some way.

I think the best father in WoW would be Varok Saurfang. This is another case where he was absent for much of his son’s early life, but left behind a legacy that inspired his son to be a good man. Varok’s grief at the death of Dranosh revealed just how powerful his love for his son was.

Maybe Genn Greymane belongs on the same tier as Saurfang? Liam and Tess both love him dearly, Liam enough to sacrifice himself to save his father from Sylvanas. Genn’s grief over Liam’s death was as real as Saurfang’s. When Tess wanted to become a Worgen to better relate to the Gilneans, Genn tried to protect her from that. He was unable to convince her, but she did reach that conclusion on her own in the end. He’s also been something of a father figure to Anduin since Varian died, so that can’t be dismissed easily.

I guess those are my top three suggestions. Varok Saurfang, Turalyon, and Genn Greymane. Of those three, I’d pick Saurfang as the best, Genn as second, and Turalyon as third.

Azeroth is just a horrible place to try to be a father in, it seems.

[Edit]: As much as I love Cairne, I left him off this list because… just look how Baine turned out. Sorry Cairne, you were awesome, and I bet you did your best, but something is wrong with that boy.

8 Likes
4

Yeah Turaylon. Tried I think. And he did kinda abandon his kid but it was to go fight demons across the cosmos so. Wasn’t exactly a deadbeat.

I’m actually amazed Arator is still kicking. After Alleria said he was the only thing stopping her from going full Cthulu Fhatgn. And that model of his still hasn’t been updated since BC so. Still not sure he’s long for this world.

Huh I outright forgot Thrall had kids.

I really haven’t had the time to sink my teeth into DF’s endgame so far so do they turn up in the story?

I know Liadrin’s daughter pops up in the Belf Heritage quest. And really that time jumps perfect to introduce all-grown-up versions of kid characters.

I’m not sure how the math checks out there. But it would certainly be keeping in the spirit of things though.

I actually am still internet pals with some guildies I met way back in 04 who got married and spawned new players as is it were. And their first born nearly old enough to drink now which is crazy to me. Time really does fly.

So. If WoW players have adult children it’s weird to me like none of the characters do.

1 Like
5

It’s very sad how they never did anything with Arator, to be honest. He showed up at Honor Hold in BC looking for Turalyon, then didn’t resurface until Legion.

There was a rumor that he was supposed to lead a Half-Elf Allied Race that got scrapped and repurposed into the Visage Form for Dracthyr, but I think it was one of those 4chan/reddit type of, “Anon Dev spilling the beans,” type of rumors, the kind that sounds plausible but there’s no solid way of verifying.

As far as I know, Thrall’s kids do not even exist in game. No idea if they even know Thrall was the Warchief of the Horde. Can’t even say for sure they’re currently on Azeroth. I don’t think we got any confirmation Aggra and the kids left Outland to return to Azeroth with Thrall. It’d make make sense.

1 Like
6

Yeah Aggra is, very typical of WoW moms. At least she didn’t get ganked by a rock like Tiffany. Yet. But ya think they could have her do something.

Like to a point I get not really involving characters parents or SO’s. Because if they don’t have a point in the story you’re telling you shouldn’t bring them up. Nothing worse than a book or movie that won’t shut up about completely irrelevant side characters.

But WoW is trying to be a simulation of a living, breathing world. So I don’t see why we couldn’t get some background on Aggra.

Maybe it turns out she’s not a warrior but is one hell of a statesman. So she actually takes over Thrall’s position on the Horde Council when he’s busy shopping for weapons in the Maw. And she just crushes it.

So much so when Thrall comes back they kinda don’t want him to do the job anymore.

And you could show this in game. Just have some Horde meetings be adjourned and have like Liadrin and Voss mutter about how Aggra really needs to come back.

3 Likes
7

Considering Thrall was in the Shadowlands for an indeterminate amount of time, and that Aggra is a shaman and brings that conventional wisdom that really made the New Horde have such a strong story back in WC3 and a lot of promise, that’d make so much sense. Having her sit on the council and earn the respect of the likes of Talanji, Thalyssra, etc… It would make for a fantastic addition to the Horde Council’s virtually undeveloped lore.

3 Likes
8

I seriously don’t understand how they haven’t done anything with the Horde Council.

Because if it were up to me I’d make it like The West Wing meets Parks And Rec.

Maybe just release some videos in the style of CSPAN’s coverage of Congress. But of course it features nothing but fantasy monsters.

You don’t even have to write a joke. The absurdity of that situation sells itself.

I actually think it’d be interesting to see him from the lens of Derek.

Because from what I get out of the Kul Tiran questlines, he’s actually a pretty accurate depiction of a lot of big name Generals from history.

Who are often celebrated in their homeland as conquering heroes. But are also seen as heartless monsters by the people they inflicted conquest upon.

And usually, not always but usually, both of those opinions are true. Historical opinions on everyone from Georgy Zhukov to George Washington to Julius Cesar tends to vary based on one factor;

Where you behind them? Or in their way?

So I’d actually love to hear more about Daelin especially from the opinion of Derek. Who went from battling Orcs on the high seas to sailing under their banners in what for him was pretty much the blink of an eye.

Because if I was doing I’d try to paint Daelin as a good but extremely flawed man. A person who truly would do anything and everything to see his family and people not just survive but thrive.

But when I say he’d do anything, I mean he’d do a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. Guy just couldn’t turn off warmode as it were. Couldn’t live in peace. Was always preparing for the next war, and when there wasn’t one he started seeing threats in every shadow.

So essentially someone who was a good man basically driven insane by PTSD. Which unfortunately is all to common in our world.

4 Likes
9

Both of Thrall’s children make a pretty prominant appearance in the Orc heritage armor quest line. His daughter is too young to do much but be played for laughs with her shyness, but his son is very active with the plot and joins the adventure for a time.

Its pretty great, but its totally burried if you don’t have an orc to play the quest line.

6 Likes
10

Yeah, I don’t have an Orc so I missed this. Nice to see the kids are there though.

11

Seriously. Right now I haven’t gotten to the DF questlines because I’m still yet to see a heritage quest. Because the Forsaken and Darkspear don’t have them and those are my favorite races so. Never got to play one.

Currently grinding out the rep and leveling a Belf, Orc and Worgen just to be able to finally see one for myself.

12

They should really just let anyone play the questline, transform them to the appropriate race Caverns of Time style.

Just award the armor and toys to people of the relivant race to the quest.

Aggra was also in the heritage quest line and is respected enough of a shaman that Drek’thar selected her to preside over the ceremony. So she’s established as kind of a big deal when it comes to traditional orcish shamanisim.

Which shouldn’t be a surprise, since she was introduced in Cataclysm as Thrall’s orcish shaman guru.

2 Likes
13

The worgen one is super disappointing, it was a major letdown compared to the other heritage armor questlines

3 Likes
14

That’s a pretty good idea.

I also have a Dwarf, Goblin, Gnome and Tauren I’m screwing around with. But really I’m so used to maining Forsaken that anything much larger or smaller than them completely throws off my rhythm.

Seriously I was in a BG on my Tauren and I didn’t realize I wasn’t hitting this Gnome mage until he was officially like several yards away. Because I legitimately couldn’t see the lil guy from behind my massive moo.

The squat races are kinda fun in a devious way though. Turns out it’s really easy to take cover or go undetected when you’re 3ft nothing.

15

The worgen heritage armor looks like the ironically lame mascot for some weird werewolf themed californian burger joint

2 Likes
16

So I’ve heard. I was actually terrified what the future of the Forsaken would be after that one. Because it sounds like they officially Bob Barkered them.

Plus I’m not going to front. I’m kinda offended we couldn’t get a werewolf assassin lass leader. For a lot of reasons.

But I kinda feel like I’ve to see it first hand before I can hazard any course correction.

I actually write my Worgen character as being cursed with lycanthropy by a Kul Tiran witch. Who I kinda imply was the author of that awesome Curse Of The Worgen story you find in Karazhan.

I just feel the Worgen aren’t depicted as monstrous enough. I feel like everyone but the Kaldorei should be jumpy around them because ya never know when they’re going to lose it. Especially if the full moon is out.

But the Kaldorei do nothing but hang out with semi feral predators who stalk dark forests at night. So obviously they’re unbothered.

2 Likes
17

There’s a funny little dialogue oopsie during the orc heritage questline where Thrall thanks you for helping his son try to find his way and that he’ll “surely follow the path of the [x]” after meeting you, which gets really weird if you’re a warlock or a death knight.

Shame the writer was fired because C-suite egos bruise like :peach::banana::tomato:. Future heritage quests are back to being a coin flip now.

3 Likes
18

Oof. That’s unfortunate to hear. That company really is a circus of the disquieting.

Speaking of dads though I was about to bring up that heart to heart an Orc has with his boy in Orgrimmar about the Burning of Teldrassil.

But then I remembered that’s apparently just God of War dialogue reworked to fit in Azeroth.

Which is kinda emblematic of the writing quality we can expect here.

And I’m not trying to throw shade. All art is derivative. But there’s a difference between inspiration, homage, and just an outright cheap rip-off.

2 Likes
19

LMAO, omg, it so does now that you mention that. Thanks for the image and laugh :heart:

1 Like
20

I haven’t played Gnome and Tauren yet because I am too lazy to progress the war campaign from Bfa yet another time. I am eagerly waiting for Night elf and Trolls.

Thrall tells the Orc PC that his son is eagerly wishing to become just like us. Not specifically naming the class but the concept is there. And the spirits of the old heroes tell the boy that they expect great things for him as the next generation of their race.

1 Like