I have always wanted to main a rogue but for some reason they never feel like they ‘fit’ in the fantasy of what we do in WoW (except for legion class hall). I went to Dragon Isles and thought “this would make so much more sense on a warrior, druid, mage, hunter, etc” because of the fantasy of exploration, challenging beasts, and gaining knowledge.
I usually just main another class and then spam dungeons & pvp on my rogue.
Do any lore nerds play rogue? How do you ‘justify’ it?
Rogues like sneaking. Rogues don’t have to kill all the things. They can just sneak past the thing, pick the lock, pick up the loot and celebrate with an ale at the tavern while everyone else is still killing the things.
I more mean justify them in the context of dragonflight. Why would a warrior go to the isles? To protect the new allies, to fight challenging foes. Hunter? To explore new lands and tame new beasts. Mage? To gain knowledge and power from the new dragon aspects.
So why rogue?
The energies from the various beasts, elementals and the land itself infuses an extra push to the powers of the rogue. Giving an extra ‘edge’ to their attacks & abilities.
Over the ages of their adventures, they’ve gained mild manipulation over shadow, using it to their advantages of subterfuge & strikes – They’ve gained various small elements of intelligence from other beings and cosmic forces of how to strike them down, or evade their wrath.
In some cases, you’ve even collected artifacts of roaring potential & spectacular power to present before these very beings - to be granted a boon, and reflect as symbols of your skills to the world, or show your ‘awakening’ or allegiance to those who would dare oppose you - Should they be fortunate enough to spot you, or misfortunate enough to not spot you, and gaze upon you in their final moments.
As a rogue, you look upon the Dragon Isles. The elementals. The primalists, proto-dragons, and other monstrous beings with a smirk. You see the skies darken with a thundery storm, spotting a glimpse at Raszageth through the lightning clouds and place your hood up, smirking wider.
“What glorious intelligence will be acquired. Powers to attain & reflect, wisdom to earn and symbols of my achievements to collect – Will be earned from the feats of my new adventures?”
With a quick hand-motion your dragon appears seemingly from no-where behind you, as you hop up quickly & sour upon the clouds - Ready to reach your next destination:
"There’s so many different reasons it could be. For one, they could go to the Dragon Isles for the money, anticipating a huge paycheck from the Alliance and Horde or even the dragons for the rogue’s assistance in resolving issues. Imagine the rogue deciding to take one big job before retirement, and what bigger job is there than either exploring or plundering the legendary Dragon Isles? (rogues aren’t inherently altruistic 
)
Other reasons could be vengeance or ambition. There’s the chance to harness greater power, get their name in history books or both. As for vengeance, maybe the rogue has a grudge against elementals because a loved one was killed in the Firelands.
They could be seeking knowledge of the history of the dragons or the Titans (maybe your rogue is being hired by the Explorer’s League or Reliquary. They could even be a member themselves).
For all the lore cares, the rogue could have a crush of Alexstraza and be doing this mission to the Dragon Isles in the hopes of impressing her .
Even the PC’s physique or abilities may influence their reasons to become a rogue. Any Warcraft race can become a rogue with enough justification, but it’d be easier for, say, a Night Elf or Goblin than a Draenei or Tauren.
For plunder and riches!
Think about it, dragon isles is ripe with treasures just waiting to be looted.
Sometimes I also face this issue, hence why I didn’t do DF on my DK cause he really has zero reason to be there.
I thought I’d provide some inspiration, or roleplay towards Death Knights or your character for their role in Dragonflight 
{Alexstrasza sends you a letter}
Death Knight sipping a pina-colada on lawn chair taking the letter: “Hmm?”
{Death Knight opens it to read}
“I’m claiming that 'I.O.U ’ for what you did during the Legion invasion. Time for penance. Help the Dragonflights to restore your honour … Or at least start.”
{Death Knight picks up weapon and lops it over shoulder}
Death Knight: “So let me get this straight … To help the Dragonflights: I have to help them against many threats, but primarily the Incarnates - who are dragons, proto-dragons and primal dragons … Henceforth, to restore my honour for harming dragons & disturbing the rest of another dragon … I have to slay some dragons?”
{The Death Knight smirks, as the runes in the weapon glow brighter}
Murdering a lot of red dragons makes me think it is better for my DK to avoid ANY and all places with dragons, lol I mean I’m sure the consequences of that action will ever effect things truly. Yet it just doesn’t feel right, plus with the way I RP my dk he isn’t one for adventure or shiny things that clink.
You’ve obviously missed out on reading Fritz Leiber’s Fafrd and the Grey Mouser series or the somewhat less talented but still quite readable Gary Gygax Gord the Rouge series
You’ve also seemed to have missed out on Shaw’s adventures.
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Spoiler: Alert
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(In a fit of pique after his TSR ouster, Gygax literally destroys the World of Greyhawk in the last novel.)
Technically they aren’t dragons but proto-drakes that refused the Dragon transformation.
You do realize I’m talking about Legion with this statement? When you go hunting for the dk mount and had to kill a whole mess of red dragons right? Has nothing to do with the proto dragons
Rogues are pretty much the murder hobo made into a class. You can imagine any reason, really. Money. Notoriety/infamy. Service - like Shaw.
Perhaps Shaman and Druids and Paladins and Mages and Hunters have evident reasons to be there, as far as lore. But Rogues operate on their own agenda behind the scenes for the most part.
I have an Arcwine habit and will do literally anything, ranging from pulling weeds to slaying gods, for 30g.
Heck one very good reason would be recruited by Shaw to seek how much “honoring the truce” the Horde is actually doing. or the obverse for Horde rogues.
PVP quests are still very much a thing in Dragonflight.
Because they left so many ivory and gold statues of themselves laying about unattended.
In all seriousness, why are any of us here? Alexstraza in her “visage” is a 12 foot tall super-hero. In her true form, she’s a building sized dragon goddess. And she’s not alone. She has a peer-group of similarly building-sized dragon gods, an array of lesser dragons and drakes at her beck and call too. Let’s not forget her army of drakonids.
Why is anyone really on the Dragon Isles? Does this somehow feel like a situation they couldn’t handle on their own just yet?
Her inadequacy to the problem is demonstrated when Rassy tears open a new one when they have their one on one. Alexstrazsa has been humbled by mortals before and that was when she HAD her Aspect powers.
Rogues got the lock on swashbucklers in Warcraft. What’s more swashbucklery than piling on a ship and going adventuring on some lost islands?
What could be more useful that a forward scout with advanced skills at infiltration and tactical response on an exploration mission? Rogues are trained to avoid being seen, assess threats, and strike with precision where necessary to preserve the secrecy of their mission. They are invaluable for exploring hostile terrain.
Cursewords here on my Rogue.
I am going to admit to foul doings IRL, but I have practiced stealing wallets with the purpose of putting it back. Putting it back without being caught is pretty fun.
Sometimes it feels like there is a shadow there to help hide the hand.
There is a shadow we can work with. Maybe we can play with the Shadows in DF