Just how strong is Turalyon in War Within?

[Thadeus-caelestrasz]

Now you know how I feel when people have a complex for Illidan. Something I suspect you have given how far you’re going to defend him and his writing.

It’s no secret I dislike Illidan. I strive to be factual about why. Eg; if people like Illidan’s visual design, that’s fine. I only bring up the 90’s comic character comparison when they claim he’s original or when talking about him as a whole.

@Xusho-tichondrius

Who? How? The only way to interpret it this way is by taking Xe’ra’s ramblings as fiat, which obviously we shouldn’t as she gets vaporized for her hubris and incorrect analysis.

Which writers? I don’t know the names of all of WoW’s writing team, but I’ll name a director - Afrasiabi, worst of the Cosby Suite crew and director during WoD, Legion and BfA. You’re making the mistake of blaming the character instead of the developers in charge of the story.

@Xusho-tichondrius

To be clear, you’re saying that the demon hunters being pro-Illidan (literally the Demon Hunter as well as their creator/trainer) is an example of writer bias towards him? Even when that same organization can also actively choose to take a traitor and Illidan-Hater as their second in command?

Supporting him is one thing, but they take it to insane levels as a cult of personality. The same people who deride the Army of the Light as zealots ignore the ILLIDARI’S literal cult worship of Illidan (one dissenting voice, yipee ). Double standards are my pet peeve.

@Xusho-tichondrius

Turalyon was not hit with a nerf bat or an idiot ball, he tried to punch above his weight-class (at least strength wise) and lost. That happens. Xe’ra was a brand new character of dubious power, I don’t see why you think either of these characters were warped in anyway around Illidan (Xe’ra cannot possibly be warped because its been her only characterization since creation).

I meant the idiot ball, as the story acts like Turalyon was wrong to be angry with Illidan for killing his commanding officer, guardian angel and powerful ally against the Burning Legion. Say what you will about Lightforging Illidan, he’d still have been able to fight the Burning Legion if it had succeeded. And Xe’ra presented as a powerful Naaru only to be reduced to Illidan’s jobber (know what a jobber is?) in a gratuitous one-hit-kill.

@Xusho-tichondrius

He was on the cover of the expansion as a major fanfavorite, If I’m talking about “hyping him up” I’m referring plainly to Blizzard understanding who’s popular.

While I see what you mean, and people like what they like, popular doesn’t equal good quality.

@Xusho-tichondrius

There was a singular excuse in that he was tired, and considering he was an immortal elf that was already a formidable warrior prior to getting fel-juiced up it would make sense to explain how a just-previously teen paladin in training managed to beat him.

There were more excuses than that. There was also “Illidan underestimated Arthas” and “Arthas being juiced up by the remaining power the Lich King could spare”.

@Xusho-tichondrius

Not really retcons when they simply explain why something happened, not that it didn’t.

In Vanilla, Illidan was portrayed as brooding and driven insane by his loss at Arthas’ hands/the wound Arthas inflicted on him. In Burning Crusade, this mostly stayed. The lore was gradually retconned approaching and in Legion.

@Xusho-tichondrius

I guess this is technically correct, but only because the only other thing the guy has ever wanted is to destroy the Legion so it’s not really saying anything.

Now tell me how many other Warcraft characters ended their story getting nearly everything they wanted?

• Garrosh? Nope.
• Arthas? NOPE!
• Tirion Fordring? Nope.
• Draka? Maybe if you don’t count Durotan’s absence in Shadowlands, so nope.
• Kael’thas? Nope!
• Sylvanas? Nope!
  I’ll wait.

Whether you respond or not, this was worth typing. Turalyon is not a perfect character, he has his issues and things I’d like to be different, but I prefer Turalyon’s worst to Illidan’s best.