I’m not interested in harping on this expansion’s similarities to Mists of Pandaria beyond this statement: this was a lot more interesting the first time it happened.
It’s weird, because the loss of Teldrassil and Undercity are a much bigger deal than most losses we’ve experienced. But the war that followed, even without the benefit of comparison, feels much more…disjointed? Confused? Inconsequential?
Post-MoP, what happened next was going to be a bigger deal. Even as poorly as the Hellscream Trials turned out, closure for the Horde and Alliance was important enough that we put it forward as a good idea. But now it feels like a lot of the Horde players want to move on and a lot of the Alliance players want to let them and I can’t blame either of them. Heck, I can’t even blame the people who didn’t bother with the war at all.
So, what are we going to do now? Move on? Forgive? Pretend it didn’t happen? What are your characters going to do? What are you going to do?
We agree it’s probably just a 1 expac armistice at best thanks to how predictable the writers are.
As for my characters, it will be a combination of relief (Yay! Not going to likely die and can stop killing people I would otherwise never even consider killing) with other things depending on the character.
My DH is going to still be heavily conflicted since he’s still seriously mentally scarred from the Garithos (humans) and isn’t going to overcome that easily.
My Zandalari will be relieved, but he will be understandably bitter to an Alliance he and most his kin now rightfully regard as violent Imperialists. He, however, will move on at at least attempt to convince others not to point their hatred at broad groups and only at individuals (Jaina, Anduin, Shaw, Genn… basically the cast of leaders involved who did not get seriously maimed like Gelbin. Gelbin actually gets respect for being a gnome who stood his ground).
Xins will be relieved, but likely a tad cold to any Tushui who thinks he should feel sorry for the actions of the horde when he committed no war crimes.
In my darkest dreams, I like to think the backlash from the community, combined with BfA’s inarguably lackluster performance, would warn them off from this storyline for awhile.
But as long as I’m dreaming, I’d like a warp stalker mount.
Given that I am a Detroit Lions fan, as much as I would love to have hope we wont get another hot war in game, I have no hope to pull from other recreational things i watch.
I was hoping for for a memeworthy, cheerful expansion before we get to the gritty old god expansion.
Bfa might have similarities to Mop, but it was far more dreary and depressing. How about a vacation xpac? Something entirely on the beach, or perhaps a deep woods camping trip with lots of hozen and no legendary necklaces.
Tam’s going to keep on keepin’ on. Warchiefs get deposed. Alliance and Horde squabble. Big monsters invade with their armies. She’s not an expert on foreign geopolitics or metaphysics. She’s just another Goblin trying to make her own way in this crazy world (of warcraft).
As for what I’m going to do? The same thing I usually do. Wait to see what happens while I continue to play/RP/discuss lore/whatever. If I get bored or find what I’m doing uninteresting, I take a break from WoW and maybe try again later.
Karithien’s been ready to end the war the second it began. He’s the only character I can really justify participating in it, Horde-side, and that’s explicitly because with Undercity gone, Silvermoon is in direct danger (not really because then they’d have to move it from the BC map but he doesn’t know that). If there were literally any excuse, he’d be happy to not fight the Alliance. If we depose Sylvanas by violence, he will probably participate. Because genocide is bad.
As for me I’m just going to hope we stop doing big faction conflicts. I can’t remember quite who said it first (Enekie, maybe?) but I’m going to echo an opinion I read years ago and say that Horde vs Alliance has the potential to be the most interesting writing but it never is, so I’m pretty done with it. I’m tired of being the evil faction (this is why I play more Alliance now than I ever have).
I personally will continue to play FFXIV, ESO, and GW2.
In terms of my characters?
Taalva is more convinced than ever that the Horde should be ground to dust, down to the last sentient life form. Shes not stipid enough to go on a killing spree but loyal horde members to her are no better than rabid monsters.
Aelyndris, my Blood Elf DH is, lets say upset about Teldrassil and has fully defected to the Alliance and has every intention of holding to her new loyalties.
Veyalia my Belf Lock will continue to put herself, her family, and people before anyone else
Erylaedris, my Void Elf Hunter wants to see the people responsible for Teldrassil punished, but also does not want to see innocent members of the Horde blamed or punished for something that was not their fault.
Saehri, my Draenei DK is much like Eryl in that she wants to see those responsible punished or given the opportunity to atone and doesnt want to see the simmering hatreds boil into mindless violence. She doesnt have much hope for that however and is quitely waiting for another war to occur.
My other characters dont have enough of a story to really form much of an opinion.
Keep my runeblade… or… rune submersible claw ready and wait patiently for the next war. Update my bingo card of flimsy, bass-ackwards reasonings, justifications, and headcanons.
“If I follow along and commit enough blood curdling atrocities, I’ll gain their trust and can put the Horde on the right path” is the Free space if you’re wondering.
But I’m really hoping something different happens this time around and they really do scrap the factions, however I want to see some serious consequences for the Horde or at the very least an apology and promise to not do anything like this again.
Eiryss is going to take a break from contract work for the Alliance, return to Azuremyst isle, and work on building the talbuk ranch she always wanted.