One of my biggest criticisms towards the writers is that they don’t seem to understand what, exactly, the Horde is. The writing in both MoP and BfA has been panned in this regard, but it’s all symptomatic of a bigger problem. The faction itself often doesn’t feel like it has an identity of its own, instead taking on the identity of its current warchief. Under Thrall and Vol’Jin, this identity consisted of a nebulous, honour-bound nobility motif, without a lot of examples of what nobility actually meant to the Horde.
Under Garrosh and Sylvanas, the results were, arguably, even less satisfying.
Ultimately, the writers don’t seem willing to commit to the idea of the Horde as the evil faction, and I believe most Horde players don’t wish to play an evil faction. But without that tumultuous inner conflict, how do we define what the Horde is without making them a red Alliance?
In Star Trek, specifically the series taking place around the time of The Next Generation, the Federation and the Klingons had a dichotomy that I could see applying to the Alliance and the Horde. Unlike The Original Series, Klingons were rarely depicted as being villainous. Their cultural norms, including what they perceived as noble behaviour, was vastly different from the Federation, but the two factions often worked together against common threats, and despite the occasional conflict, they were staunch allies during events like the Dominion War.
The Klingons often demonstrated attitudes which their Federation counterparts considered barbaric. They emphasized honour, tradition, and rituals, whereas the Federation focused far more extensively on logic and tolerance. Where the Federation might put together a risky operation to save a single officer, the Klingons would expect their officer to die honourably in battle and recognize their sacrifice, rather than sending in more troops to save them. They believe in holding grudges, and settling disputes through show of strength. It was never villainous, per say, and the “good” Klingons were never shown to be malicious or cruel simply for their own twisted enjoyment. They were harsh, and strict, but also fair, and had a greater allowance for personal freedom and belief than might be allowed in the homogenized Federation.
I feel like the writers tried to implement some of these themes with the Horde, but more often than not, they come across as bloodthirsty and undisciplined. In Wrath of the Lich King, during a quest in Icecrown, a band of Horde warriors attacks a group of Alliance soldiers engaged with the Scourge. There’s no real reason for this: both sides are attempting to defeat the Lich King, and by attacking the Alliance, the Horde simply ensured both sides would be wiped out in that area. They were closer to Uruk Hai from Lord of the Rings in this instance: attacking for no other reason than because they can, because all they’re capable of doing is destroying things, because all they want to do is fight, regardless of whom or for what reason.
I think the Horde would be more interesting, and more satisfying, as an amalgam of other heroic methods. Why can’t the Forsaken utilize the most pragmatic, straightforward means to achieve their goals, without being evil? Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones was pragmatic, but the books never tried to make him out as an amoral villain. Orcs, Tauren, and Trolls can all showcase the same reverence for ritual and individuality seen in the Klingons without resorting to smashing everything in childish fits of rage.
And there’s plenty of examples of haughty, yet obviously superior elves acting in an ultimately altruistic fashion…just saying.
My point is, I think the Horde is more than capable of being a heroic entity in the Warcraft universe, without simply being transformed into a diluted version of the Alliance. They can play out the heroic tropes the Alliance isn’t capable of, and vice versa. I certainly don’t think they need to constantly demonstrate strife and internal conflict to carve out their own identity, and I definitely don’t think they need to be turned into villains every few expansions.
I mean…