They at least could’ve had Anduin be upset or exasperated.
“That went off the rails. Still, perhaps they can be convinced to sue for peace. Get me a line open to King Rastakhan”
“About that sire… We killed him”
“YOU WHAT?!”.
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If by “in the background” you mean “nazjatar”…
“We’re trying to drive a wedge between the Horde and the Zandalari” was always a nonsensical post-facto rationale that instead had the effect of turning an Alliance victory into an Alliance defeat.
I was there because the Zandalari were part of the Horde and were supporting the Horde’s military campaigns against the Alliance and so we blew up their navy and sacked their seat of power in order to make it so they couldn’t do that anymore.
Nowhere in Alliance questing anywhere does it say that we’re there to try and sever their relationship with the Horde. Everyone involved considered their relationship with the Horde to be a fait accompli, and so we were there to make their relationship with the Horde militarily irrelevant, not end it.
So we get back to Boralus in triumph but everyone is standing around wringing their hands and acting like we lost. It’s like after we won the Battle of Lordaeron, where we get back to Stormwind and there are coffins and crying widows everywhere and everyone looks sad and scared in Stormwind Keep.
The Alliance is allergic to winning, like if they ever actually have some self-confidence they’re worried the Light will smite them for their hubris. It’s no wonder Alliance battleground groups are some of the most defeatist losers in the game.
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There were a lot in the cinematic.
Yeah. And?
Oh, thought you said it’d be like.
Dazar’alor was also just weird in concept too. Like, so the story tells us that the goal is to put a wedge between the Zandalari and Horde; to prevent Rastakhan from fully committing to the Horde. But … like … if he wasn’t already committed to them after you imprisoned his daughter, one would assume he wasn’t taking that choice lightly. And burning down his house and blowing up his fleet would have the opposite effect.
Then we get into the destruction of the Golden Fleet, which happens immediately … before the raid even starts. And it honestly came off as more dangerous to the plan putting Gelbin and his big red button on the front lines. Especially with the bombs being preplaced, which means they could have been detonated at any time? Which means a core objective of that raid, did not need the raid to occur to be achieved?
Finally, we have the suicide mission? Since we we’ve already established that the Golden Fleet objective did not require the raid to occur, then the drawing the Horde away and all that Alliance death … occurred for a shot at talking with Rastakhan? That’s it … that was the plan? And this isn’t even something I can throw at Anduin, since both Genn, Jaina, Gelbin, and Shaw take major roles in the planning process? What were THEY doing?!
That doesn’t even get into Blizz’s unreliable narrator and habitual noncommittal nature when it comes to portraying Alliance acts of “grey” and “aggression”. Its almost like the people who sold BfA as a Faction Conflict expansion … didn’t actually put much thought into how to write a Faction Conflict story. And it was merely all an excuse to check some story thread boxes off and settup SLs? Damned coherent storytelling or consequences!
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Wat? O_0 Though it can be seen they may have taken some inspirational factors, I think that’s a bit of a stretch.
The Elves in WoW along with Quel’Thalas concept was largely inspired much from the Elves from ‘Lord of the Rings’ - Tolkien, the writer of such - derived his Elves from mentions in the ancient poetry and languages of Northern Europe, especially Old English. These suggested to him that elves were large, dangerous, beautiful, lived in wild natural places, and practiced archery. He simply invented languages for the Elves including Sindarin and Quenya.
OMGOSH YES!?! RIGHT!?
That’s why I’m coming to love Grand Magister Rommath, because of how much shade he throws on the Alliance and will only work with them if absolutely necessary and still with a grain of salt, lol.
Yes!! That’s something that kind of vexxed me too tbh.
When I read ‘Shadows Rising’ I anticipated ‘Oh finally, Shaman are getting some love - especially in the spiritual powers, death & sorts!’ then was disappointed when they just raked it all mostly to Death Knights …
There’s a lot more of your thread I agree on though too - some I was a bit ‘Eeeh’ but with the right writing could easily work.
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Nope the architecture, boat style, some phrases (Selama as a greeting) , the hookahs in all the inns, the spires that look like minarets, etc.
“but most of the architecture is art nouveau”
And art nouveau is based on ottoman aesthetics next question
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Well … yes.
As said, there’s some inspirational factors; but I could easily point out features from other cultures too.
For instance, back in the forums OG days when BC was relatively new - many speculated with Blood Elves that Blizzard had much of their content shared more characteristics with Persian themes in terms of architecture (including hookahs).
But as said, they had a large inspirational factor from Tolkien’s Elves in terms of personality, which was in alignment to Northern Europe, and particularly Old English – It was also strongly suggested ‘Sin’dorei’ was actually a close phrase inspired towards Tolkien’s ‘Sindarin’.
In terms of language, and behavior there’s some mild combobulated features from various themes it seems (As mentioned, Selama as a greeting) along with Blizzard having thrown a posh French twist on them though, both in style, architecture and society in certain parts. I can see a large portion of the art nouveau based on ottoman aesthetics like you said though.
Looking into it, I suppose you’re right it’s not too much of a stretch; but certainly not solely based or leaned most upon that aesthetic. I’d say the Elves of Quel’Thalas havea cool mix of a few cultures and unique themes, which is what makes them so entrancing.
The Alliance is doing great in Random BGs. I have pretty much switched to doing BGs on alliance exclusively.
I dont disagree, but this is an over-simplification of art nouveau. There are solid aesthetic distinctions between the ottoman style of geometric patterns with a paradise theme, bringing the beauty of nature and heaven into all spaces, and the art nouveau aesthetic of organic shapes and naturalistic motifs. It is almost a pendulum swing from the ottoman style, which picked up some modern materials and swung back past on its way to art deco.
… That’s… The Middle East… ie “The Orient” in colonial terms… because Blood Elves are an Orientalist re-interpretation of MENA…
Nobody has denied this.
Most of the MENA world region was colonized by France particularly lol like you see French cultural influence across North Africa especially and a lot of West Asia eg Lebanon
Not an oversimplification, as I’m not speaking to its various forms and developments, I am speaking strictly to the material, historical reality.
Sure… but if the BEs were based on late 19th century france, saying that their art style was ottoman influenced, while true, wouldnt capture the truth very effectively.
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Late 19th century France was speaking in Trans-atlantic accents, surviving after being decimated in invasion, indulging in dangerous tactics in order to survive, wearing robes, baghla styled ships, saying Selam(a) in greeting, making pilgrimages to a magical fountain and even allowing those who are normally enemies to do the same (dalaran high elves), and had minaret spires? They had a government controlled by an informal triumivrate of a militaristic leader, the head of the military, and the head of the “religion” (in the sense Magisters also oversee the sunwell as per Rommath)?
There are far more parallels to 19th/20th century Orientalist perspectives than France.
“If” is doing a lot of the work of that sentence, the instances of French basis are few and far between.
I suppose Liadrin could be a reversal of St. Jeanne D’Arc (warrior woman receiving visions, but betraying the King instead). And they drink wine? But I feel like this “they’re French” basis is because they’re haughty and pretentious lol
If you’re looking for a strong French-inspired race, the Nightborne are right there.
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I got a nasty lecture once for suggesting that to someone who was Persian, so I tended to split the two by default (Don’t even get me started when they talked about rugs lol), additionally ‘The Orient’ my mind generally streamlines / goes to the most referenced of that phrase for countries and regions like - Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan first then towards the other Eastern parts. Anyway, looks like we’re in agreeance then with the Persian inspired themes & there was simply misinterpretation on that particular note.
Coolbeans. 
Hmm, regardless of the colonisation history; that’s not to say that they don’t hold any value in the Elves theme.
As for the ‘posh’ vibes, that’s very much seen especially in the accents of their dialog & language. But I quite enjoy having a mixture of enjoyable elements from various cultures nonetheless.
That being said though on further thought to the ‘Orient’ statement through consideration & research, I do see a very upper-class oriental touch with the material of the clothing (Silks / lush fabrics of sorts) they reference, then the style they use with the robes & clothing seems to ring out Ancient / Traditional Japan & China themes mostly I find (If you look at references you’ll know what I mean).
From various comments, statements and deflections you’ve made in this thread and others in the past - I get the strong feeling you’re somewhat staunchly Anti-Western Culture / Anti-West Civilisation.
It could just be that I’ve simply observed the more firm & blunt representations you’ve deducted, if so then no worries lol; but thought I’d address it incase someone notes that too later & decides to inappropriately lash out.
Hmm, I think that’s just regional numbers / the more higher populance has better gear & experience.
For instance on Oceanic (The servers I play), I’ve been playing my Alliance alts a bit more since they seem to be on the thrashing winning streaks lately. Additionally, warmode is overrun with the Alliance — Going Warmode as Horde is pretty much suicidal most the time. It’s the reflective equivalent to US based realms that are Horde dominated, whereas Oceanic is more Alliance dominated.
Non-sequitor to my response to your claim, which is that there are more French themes than Orientalist-reinterpretations-of-MENA themes. What are the French cultural elements in the Blood Elves besides wine and possibly Lady Liadrin?
Also “Western Culture” doesn’t exist. US culture barely (regional cultures are more accurate), “French Culture” certainly (by force of the French state that suppressed regionalisms), Spain has various strong regional cultures (ergo their “Autonomous Regions” post Civil War), etc.
Lived in France for a minute, aunt lives in Spain, uncle lives in England, and I’m mixed Irish and Italian and Spanish down the white side (County Tipperary, Naples, and Andalucia specifically) so wrong there too.
Reducing the rich cultural complexity of French culture to “lol they’re fancy and pretentious! clearly France!” is far more “Anti-Western” than anything I’ve said lol
Well cultural studies and numerous references would beg to differ, but that comment in its own right seems to ring out ‘Anti-Western’ too lol. Feeling I was more right than wrong with the response provided.
Additionally, ‘haughty’ and ‘fancy’ are different words with very different meanings, hence why I quoted it with the observation.
That doesn’t necessarily give default innocuousness.
The literature style seems to have a hue touch-basis though that could simply be perspective so I’d understand if that one’s wavered; but the formality & behavior seems akin to their likes.
But as said in prior comments, they clearly take reference from numerous cultures. Not just the one setting or singular cluster of cultures. Though I’d imagine writers, and game developers alike do this intentionally to give a ‘unique flare’ to some of the races and kingdoms they have.
Name them, by all means.
Name the French ones.
Already did, lol - I didn’t say there was a lot. 
I already came to agree with you there was much other inspired reference - Along with other examples I referenced in past comments made.
Well aside from random books you can find around that genre in various libraries or if you’d walk into a study-course for ‘Cultural Studies’ - if you simply google ‘Western Culture’ you’ll see like 20 links on the first page, followed by a buzzilion other references & links.
The term ‘culture’ is simply the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. An ‘umbrella term’ which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these those groups.
Western Culture is a pretty wide spectrum. As for specified examples, you look to one of the countries under its wing; for example Irish Culture is considered ‘Western Culture’, but you wouldn’t say Ireland has no culture; they even have unique aspects that weren’t from the heavy influences that came by later on like Anglo-Norman, English and Scottish culture, such as their folklore (And some of the paganisms that were mostly wiped out the crusading Catholics but that’s a whole other subject).
Broadly Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization, Western lifestyle or European civilization, is the term used very broadly refer towards heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, belief systems, political systems, and specific artifacts and technologies that have some origin or in many cases association with Europe.
The comments made by you I feel seem to refer any culture that’s not predominantly classified under ‘Eastern Culture’ simply ripped off from it, which would be wrong - But again, that could simply be a misinterpretation. There’s statements you’ve made that I actually agree with whether it was strongly or otherwise; which you’ve seen - though that doesn’t imply all the suggestions or opinions made are without disagreeance or fault.