Remember Dranosh? Saurfang the Younger, Heart of Draenor, Varok’s son? Remember how he died at the Wrathgate and how we fought him at Icecrown?
He, according to Thrall’s thoughts, would have been Warchief of the Horde during the Cataclysm if he hadn’t died.
And that made me curious. Say that Dranosh had lived. Let’s say he didn’t perish at the hands of the Lich King. Let’s say that he was given the mantle of Warchief when Thrall stepped down.
How would he have done? How would things have different? What would have stayed the same? Would Dranosh succeed at being the Warchief of the Horde? Or would he fail the Horde?
What do you think?
Well based on Blizzard wanting to have the faction war present in Cataclysm, I feel that the factions would still clash. However that element of hate would be absent and it would generally just be about securing resources and territory. Over all Cataclysm would play out the same, and the real change would be after Deathwing’s death.
Dranosh wouldnt devise the whole mana bomb attack on Theramore. And I think that there wouldnt be an attack at all.
Instead Pandaria is discovered and either the war for resources and territory plays out again or an uneasy joint expedition is sent to investigate the new land, as members of the faction scheme in the background and end up releasing the Sha and stuff.
Depending on Garrosh’s role in this he could develop into a more noble character or break away with his followers into a threat. I cant picture a Seige of Orgrimmar, but perhaps he takes control of an area of Pandaria or seizes a Horde stronghold, like Warsong Hold.
If he survives this raid, Wrathion wouldnt scheme to break him out of prison as he woukd recognize him as someone uncontrollable due to him rebelling against Warchief Dranosh.
No rescue of Garrosh means no WoD and thus either another character or group start Legion. The question being if theres something in between Mists and Legion or not.
Most of the flashpoint moments wouldn’t have occurred, or escalated so quickly.
The Twilight’s Hammer ambush only worked because everyone, Alliance and Horde alike, assumed the worst of Garrosh as a warmonger, nevermind his personal rivalry with Varian.
Cairne wouldn’t have died and Vol’Jin wouldn’t have fled into seclusion in southern Durotar, so Dranosh would’ve had two level-headed advisors vs. indulging himself solely with ego-feeding orcs.
Dranosh wouldn’t progressively isolate himself and indulge his worst instincts to spite his subjects out of a desire to shield his wounded ego. The short-lived orcish supremist state wouldn’t have existed.
The Forsaken never would’ve been sent to invade Gilneas, and the night elves would basically show up, save them from the worgen curse, then leave again.
Theramore, even if war broke out, wouldn’t have been mana-bombed. Dalaran wouldn’t get purged. Teldrassil wouldn’t burn.
Most of the world-ending threats would have the full attention of the factions.
Basically Thrall’s insecurities ruined everything.
I think the biggest question is “How could they have made him a good warchief but different from Thrall?” I barely know anything about Dranosh Saurfang; that may be due to my own lack of attention when playing Wrath, but I never got a sense of strong personality from him.
That’s fair. From what I saw of him, he was pretty much exactly as his nickname “Saurfang the Younger” described him as: a younger version of Saurfang, a little quicker to anger and not as experienced. He also didn’t really have a problem cooperating with the Alliance.