I do not like that the story narrative is seemingly moving forward with the idea that everything the Horde did under Sylvanas’ rule was exclusively her and Nathanos’ fault.
I do not think that is a very fair or believable outcome, after so many innocent people were killed. Setting Derek free and no material resistance to her regime until an Old God went on the loose is too little, too late.
I think the Horde is in need of something to spark real contrition and self-reflection, because laying all their sins at their warchief’s feet has been tried before. It didn’t work. They need to do more than start a council.
I want to like the Horde again, but right now, I can’t.
Nobody really believes the Horde is blameless, there’re multiple instances of NPC dialogue in-game sharing your opinion. The player base is just as aware of the issue.
But I’d imagine most understand that if forgiving those trespasses by the Horde are the price for true peace, at long last, then it’s an acceptable cost.
We all just walk away and ideally everyone lives happily ever after as best they can.
I can understand that interpretation, but this isn’t the first time The Alliance, and we, as players, have been asked to forgive the Horde for what they’ve done in hopes of a lasting peace. Unfortunately, it did not work. I don’t want to try again, and I don’t think it’s realistic that people would be willing to try again. Once bitten, twice shy.
I’m of the opinion that this outcome also makes the ending of MoP a lot worse. It makes Varian’s threat seem very hollow when that was supposed to be a cool moment for the Alliance. Now, even moreso than at the time, it falls flat.
Well the guy who made the unofficial threat is dead and now his son -who is a very different person- is in charge. Both Genn and Tyrande (at the very least) seem to agree that it’s only a matter of time before the Horde attacks again.
Then again, the circumstances under which the peace is being negotiated are different too.
Varian also had no personal relationship with the Horde and just made a threat before walking completely away and leaving the Horde entirely up to its own devices. I suppose that’s the basis of a lasting peace…
Anduin is at least engaging in prolonged peace talks up to and including an actual treaty. He also has a close relationship with Baine, who I assume he’ll want to work with closely in the future.
He’s not just wagging his finger at the Horde and walking away. He’s more likely to see any violations of the treaty before things get out of hand, and unlike his father, he has a direct line to Baine.
I would very much like to see an end to the major hostilities between the Alliance and Horde, (continued bickering is fine) but as far as conflict resolutions go, this isn’t very cathartic. It just sort of feels like the Alliance took all the hits, then, as soon as they got the upper hand, an Old God happened and now the Horde doesn’t want to think about what they did.
And in the next chapter, it will be the Alliance in the form of Tyrande (and perhaps Genn with her) who kicks us back into war again. Which should make some Horde players at least, happy that this time they won’t be the villains.
And maybe Alliance players will have their own version of a meaningless fork to choose.
Look, it’s MoP 2.0. It was always going to end this way. It’s one of the many, many, many things players didn’t need to, ‘Wait and See.’ Everyone knew this was how it was going to end.
It’s fine to not like it, but let’s not pretend there was EVER any other option on the table here.
That doesn’t really address the issues at the core of all this. The Horde and the Alliance HAD a treaty after MoP, which the Horde promptly broke in WoD. I don’t think it’s fair to brush away that the fact that the previous armistice was very, very similar to the one we’re heading towards now.
I don’t recall any references to a treaty being signed. Yes, Varian threatens to end the Horde if they fail to uphold honor, and then walks right away. Vol’jin doesn’t even get a chance to respond.
Dramatic and badass? Yes. Way to forge a lasting peace? No.
I know sitting down at a table and hammering out peace negotiations is not generally dramatic fodder for a fantasy epic. Then again, the details of hunting down stragglers, holding tribunals, and engaging in talk of reparations doesn’t tend to be something the genre revels in either.
The post-MoP treaty is referenced at the end of Siege by Tyrande and some of the Stormshield guards in Ashran. Just because it is only alluded to or not given focus doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
What’s more, at the end of Seige of Orgrimmar, Tyrande mentions that Varian talked her into allowing the Horde to use lumber from Azshara on the condition they abandon Ashenvale- so long as they don’t break the new treaty.
I can provide links if you need them.
But the fact remains that there was one, and to frame the previous peace like there wasn’t is unfair and untrue.
I’ll admit that since I play pretty much only Horde, I would have never spoken to Tyrande or Stormshield soldiers later, so yeah. Never saw any of that dialogue. Links would still be appreciated, though.
This was going to be the outcome from the start. From the moment Anduin went ‘There can be no peace with Sylvanas as Warchief’, not mentioning the Horde as a whole, this was the endgame.
Well I just learned apparently I’m not allowed to include links in my posts, but If you look up Garrosh’s tactics page on WoWpedia and the Stormshield guard dialogue, you’ll see the treaty mentioned.
In the meantime here are the direct quotes
Tyrande “I support this peace, but I do not share the High King’s confidence. If the Horde breaks treaty to engage us again… my people will be ready.”
Guard Dialogue: Stormshield Guard 1 says: The Horde is growing bolder every day. They attacked another one of our outposts this morning.
Stormshield Guard 2 says: Did those mongrels forget that we’re supposed to have a treaty?
Stormshield Guard 1 says: It looks that way. I think they fear that if we do find the artifact, we’ll end up using it against them.
Stormshield Guard 2 says: If they keep attacking our soldiers the way they have been, they may just drive us to it.