I’ve been doing the rounds quite a bit on my home server’s forums, and obviously Battle for Azeroth has been a massive point of contention for a lot of people from a story perspective, and possibly from a gameplay perspective. I mentioned that it’s laughably silly, almost farcical that we would have an expansion called “Battle for Azeroth” following an expansion dedicated to the warring, deadlocked races of the Horde and Alliance putting aside their differences to protect their world from demonic invaders.
For example: it’s ridiculous that the Highlord of the Silver Hand would voluntarily become complicit in genocide, or alternatively, participate in the war effort against his fellow comrades, assuming any of them returned to their respective factions following Legion’s conclusion.
But that’s not the only issue with the story, although I think it’s amusing how often it seems to be overlooked.
The main issue is Sylvanas. Yes, the writers are claiming she was secretly a bad person behind the scenes, etc. etc., but this is a really nonsensical cop-out. I invite you all to cast your minds back to the Broken Shore scenario at the beginning of Legion. Sylvanas actively helps the Horde, goes well out of her way to rescue Vol’jin, and even has some playful banter with Varian Wrynn during the big demon bossfight towards the end.
Why am I saying this? Well, if you consider these events, her characterization between Legion and Battle for Azeroth is totally inconsistent. I don’t believe for a second that she was “lying” or otherwise misleading anyone. You know why? Because that’s a retcon, used to explain the glaring plothole that is this particular inconsistency in the story.
The writers would have you believe that Sylvanas has nothing but contempt or hatred towards her contemporaries in the Alliance, but this was clearly shown not to be the case in Legion. She almost seemed sympathetic to the Alliance’s plight when Wrynn fell in battle. Obviously there was the conflict between her and Graymane, but there’s been one ever since Cataclysm. Nevermind the fact that she was depicted as taking her position as Warchief very seriously, and looked determined to carry on Vol’jin’s work.
And this is what bothers me. Instead of her continuing to lead the Horde in a logical way, Battle for Azeroth commits blatant character assassination so that she could be the aggressor in a renewed conflict. Essentially, this is Garrosh all over again.
I don’t blame Sylvanas for what she’s become. She really isn’t at fault here, considering she’s a fictional character in a fictional setting that has no choice but to bend to the whims of incompetent writing. Obviously, in-universe or roleplay or however you want to put it, we have no choice but to play ball and roll with the direction the story is taking. But make no mistake- BfA Sylvanas is not Legion Sylvanas. She’s not the Sylvanas that was so sentimental by having her necklace returned to her by a Blood Elf recruit, a necklace given to her by the sister she threatened to kill, that she broke out into a somber elegy that is such a powerful moment it completely overrides the background music in the Undercity.