People of WrA and those others who may be coming here today, I pose a question for you- and about our favorite/second favorite/third favorite edgelords.
What’s your stance on the Illidari after Legion, and demon hunters in general? You think they would be disinterested or without purpose in the world- stay neutral while hunting threats? Maybe protecting your homeland from the opposing faction’s advances?
I’m honestly curious to hear what people think about this and what seems to be accepted- maybe even prompt some debate or learning in the process if I can! (That and I may be having trouble organizing my own DH’s priorities after Legion. Ssshhh.)
As a very long-time Demon Hunter RPer, I think that the situations can be different depending on the Demon Hunter. We all have our reasons for walking the dark path, of course, but generally, there are a few categories. Those who began Demon hunting during the 10,000 year-long period known as the Long Vigil, which are almost exclusively Night Elves. And those who began Demon Hunting after the Third War, which are mostly but not exclusively Blood Elves. I think Night Elves that have hunted the Wilds of Kalimdor so long, relentlessly tracking down and eradicating the taint of Demonkind from the Forest will feel a stronger connection to their homeland. I wouldn’t blame any demon hunter for not wanting the Horde to desecrate the Land of Eternal Starlight. It is my hope that Blood Elven Demon Hunters would feel this same way as well, in homage to Lord Illidan. The Horde is in the wrong here.
I think they’re still people, and people respond to that kind of stuff in all kinds of ways.
The “soldier/warrior with no battles left to fight” is such a classic character concept that all you need to do is give your character some legitimate likes/dislikes and quirks to give him some distinction, but then the rest writes itself. If you need help getting inspiration, I’d say you should look at films like Taxi Driver, First Blood, Universal Soldier, Terminator 2, and the like. Or heck, just about any western, as the protagonist is almost invariably some guy who lived a previous life full of death and destruction and the conflict comes from their (often failed) attempt to leave that chapter of their life behind.
Well I can’t entirely speak on everyone’s idea of an idealistic Demon Hunter reasoning/story, but I think, given that there’s no significant demon threat, though you could RP there are still cults and demon baddies hanging around gnarled up regions on the map, you could use your backstory as a reason to do possible edgelord things. Such as, my character dislikes all elves, confusing, he hates elves yet is one, whaaaaaat, he can’t particularly kill all elves or more specific blood elves, so he’s sorta a vigilantly that works as a small time cop/detective and watches for corruption or general @$$ hattery and puts a stop to it. It’s quite a leap of logic but ideas usually snowball from abstract or bizarre concepts.
If you only look to what Blizzard gives you, you’ll find yourself incredibly limited. When I get character ideas for a Demon Hunter I always go straight to Vampire Hunter D but with a bit of Sherlock Holmes. A bounty hunter traveling from place to place, following rumours of demon activity and eradicating it.
With Illidan’s story being concluded at the end of Legion means the story for the class has come to a conclusion until Blizzard remembers to do something with them. Which means roleplayers have a lot of cool opportunities to write their characters in fun ways that suit their style.
Hunt warlocks that roam outside of the sanctuary of cities, tie up loose ends that were left behind when you went to join the Illidari, attempt (and fail) to re-enter society and decide to continue fighting, since that’s something you’re good at, or just training/preparing for even the faintest possibility of the Legion returning. Complacency doesn’t strike me as something they’d approve of, after all.
Barely scratches the surface, but there’s quite a bit of things a DH could be doing post-Legion.
Firstly, I’d like to say thanks for the comments so far. As far as brainstorming goes, many minds always think better than most.
Secondly, between the main ideas given, here’s my pitch for a demon hunter. Here goes-
Blood Elf Illidari. Demon- imp. As such, incredibly sarcastic with a penchant for stirring what chaos he can- and after suffering from trying to deal with inactivity has decided to try his hand and join up with the military of his kin (and distant cousins in the Shal’dorei) to do what he can to further protect them. …when he’s not making an effort to hunt food.
As for dealing with any Illidari on the battlefield, he’ll open an option that they didn’t ‘meet’ and thus didn’t fight, but his loyalties to his home win out in the end and he’ll take to arms (unhappily) against another Demon Hunter if necessary.
Note- I also sorta intended for this to be a sort of thread to let people poke and speculate for fun or seriously if they wanted, about post-legion DH stuffs and whatnot.
I would only caution against making a Deadpool. Sarcastic and a trickster is fun, but in my personal experience can accidentally become Deadpool quickly.
I think that there are still a few remnants of the Legion scattered throughout Azeroth, and if your DH is truly dedicated and lost without demons to kill, they can seek them out and eradicate them.
However, it’s also very interesting to RP a character who feels lost. My demon hunter has been trying to find her niche, and trying to figure out how to just live again now that her personal battle is over. She can make new allies, forge new friendships, and declare her new allegiance. She can consider that her people, who she swore to protect, are part of the Horde - and struggle with her loyalties there, since she definitely wouldn’t agree with w/e Sylvanas is doing right now.
Honestly, there’s so much -more- to do now with Demon Hunter RP than ever before. Maybe your Blood Elf has a Night Elf friend who joined the Alliance and now they both have to deal with the faction conflict! Maybe your DH, unsure what to do with the Legion defeated, continues to seek thrills and decides to join a crew of pirates.
Maybe they struggle with PTSD and seek an understanding group of friends to help them cope with it. Maybe they’re truly addicted to eradicating the Legion, and develop a particularly violent streak in public because they no longer have another outlet (killing demons).
I’ve walked the fine line between intense sarcasm and breaking the fourth wall for a joke. Difference would be that he can be killed, I think- that and he doesn’t have any insane all-knowing voice in his head, just a voice who urges him to blurt what could be funny for a laugh. (Though the concern is appreciated!)
Slow onset of PotC theme
But as for the night elf side of things, the conflict and all- not a bad idea. Might do some extensive brainstorming over that and see if I can fit it in anywhere. (Granted, unnecessary story is never wanted and thus may be cut, but that’s actually a cool door I didn’t think to open before.)
Mine consumed the soul of a Prime Eredar who was actually double crossing the Legion, after realizing that they never intended to hunt the Void, just destroy everything.
He basically directs my character on how to use the fel for good, as the Legion claimed to do, and is trying to help him fight the Void and Old Gods.
Like most neutral orders in the modern world, my suspicion is that the Illidari are staying out of this, but Illidari MEMBERS are 100% free to do whatever they want. So as an order the Illidari are probably dormant, similar to the Death Knights following WotLK. But individual members are fighting for their factions, if they so choose.