So in playing the Alliance half of the 8.1 quests, I’ve come to think the text is a little more nuanced than expected in regards to the balance of power between the Horde and the Alliance.
Part 1: The Alliance has less soldiers than the Horde.
Whether this is a factor of war loses, a more prolific portfolio of species, or the Alliance simply being in decline, but it seems to me that the Horde on average outnumbers the Alliance by a significant margin. Wrymbane compounds this by saying “Overwhelming numbers have always been a tactic of the Horde.”
Now this could simply mean that the Horde has higher concentrations of troops in the warzones it chooses, but the point stands that the Horde often outnumbers the Alliance in battle. This compounded by the physical size and power of many of the Hordes people’s.
Part 2: The Alliance has more heroes.
With Jaina, Tyrande, Malfurion, and Velen beng chief among them, the Alliance has much stronger individual, powerful characters supporting overwised numbered, and physically weaker soldiers. Not to mention that each of the example heroes are from nations that have been destroyed, ravaged, or heavily damaged by Horde races.
Part 3: Sylvanas and Saurfang.
After the events of the Cataclysm the Forsaken are likely by the far the largest army in the Horde. Hillsbrad, Gilneas, Silverpine, and Anderhol all would have fed that army to great proportions.
The orcs on the other hand always maintained that honor until Garrosh got much of them killed, but even at that orcs are defined as one of if not the most prolific race on Azeroth. Other than that all of their people can fight in one capacity or another, orcs mature more quickly than humans (Granted this is by old lore, but I’ve yet to see in contradicted).
This to me explains the greatest reason the likes of Baine and CO don’t immediately rebel against Sylvanas: Doing so would be as geopolitically foolish as if the Kaldorei up and left the Alliance. The Burning of Teldrassil was evil, but it did succeed in the short term of keeping the Horde united against the Alliance…if only a means of survival.
Part 4: Sylvanas is not morally grey, yet.
She’s someone was brutally murdered, who’s mind, soul and body was torn to pieces by Arthas. She is also the Ranger General that did, and still does, defend Silvermoon. I expect to see this dichotomy play out more as we see her back against a wall and as she faces resistance from the Horde itself.
Part 5: Superweapons and why they haven’t been used.
Another poster came on here the other day with a suggestion to textually confirm that the Vindicaar and the more potent forms of the Plague to be reserved in a sort of MAD scenario. One line of dialogue from Velen saying it’s in reserve for a more opportune attack could fix that, but even then.
The Plague is upsetting to most of Sylvanas’ allies, and we therefore only see its used when the majority of forces present are Undead and Goblin. That, or in situations like Lordaeron. Not to mention that it ruins the land it’s used on, and the Horde needs resources and territory.
The Vindicaar on the other hand is a powerful, but completely irreplaceable weapon that can only be at once place at a time. Given that we know their are cosmic threats out there, it’s surprising the Lightforged are even helping the Alliance with ground operations.
In Conculsion: The Alliance is weaker as a nation, but better united and with stronger heroes and weapons. The Horde is more populus, and has more of it’s relatively simpler weapons than the Alliance.