I am just going to file this one under “Not for me” as it just seems strange. Mixing voodoo and light based RPG elements does not make sense.
Only reason they are doing it is because the body type fit with the existing plate armor options. I would accept the idea of a VULPERA Paladin before Zandalari.
I am not the OP. And never said abomination in any of my posts.
It does line up with the class fantasy, as far as I can tell you’re just struggling to see any manifestation of the light used in a militant manner beyond the human/drawven stereotype.
We know humans managed to derive militant use of the light in WC3 from priests becoming militant to defend in a war against a legion/orc invasion while still maintaining their connection/faith with the light. That was the complicated part, how do you fight while maintaining that connection? Knights of the Silver Hand did it, so why is it not possible for others to do it? The space goats did it external of Azeroth so we know that the light being used militantly isn’t an idea exclusive to humans/dwarves/Azeroth.
Heck, the bloodelves are able to pull it from the sunwell and that doesn’t apparently bother people. Siphoning light out of a Naaru doesn’t bother people either. So if that’s the case, why does being gifted light through Rezan seems so far fetched? Morevoer, why does some retaining the connection to the light through true devotion seem even more farfetched? Talangi is very explicitly a priest, that’s through all of the Nazmir quest line before the death of Rezan. Moreover darkspear and Zandalari have been practicing priesthood, paladins come from militant priests… this debate over whether they canonically make sense or not is stupid.
By this logic, Draenei shouldn’t have paladins (although they, like zandalari paladins, existed for millenia as opposed to the 30-40 years human paladins have existed) because they venerate the naruu and call themselves vindicators, not paladins. You’re stuck on the idea that knights of the silver hand are the only characters in-game to wield the light. This couldn’t be further from the truth and, if anything, humans and dwarves (as well as Blood Elves via High Elves) are the noobs on the scene according to lore that’s existed for many years. You also seem to be stuck on game mechanics and class names. Paladin is the name of the class for character creation purposes, but mechanically they’re the same as prelates, sunwalkers and vindicators. As for the Light, many cultures in WoW channel the Light via different means. It’s been clear for many years that the Light will answer to anyone with strong enough conviction in their beliefs whether they think they’re worshiping Loa, Naruu, Anshe, some wishy washy christian-like “light” or even if they’re evil like the Scarlet Crusade or undead knights like Sir Zellik.
Every deity in wow is wishy-washy. But I get it, I want a deeper more immersive story, so to all of you satisfied with the current story feel the need to inform me that I need to toe the line or be quite. I have never made the case to not add them into the game. I just want a story that makes me want to read it more then once. Like lotr I have read them at least 20 or so times in my life and even though I know how they end, I am still pulled into the story hanging on every page, excited to turn the page to see what comes next.
Paladins are virtuous defenders of the weak, and tireless, unfaltering enemies of the undead. Mixing elements of the warrior and the clerics of the Holy Light, the paladin is a tough melee fighter.
The paladin is a “warrior of the Holy Light”. They uphold all that is good and true in the world and revile all that is evil and sinister, especially undead and the Burning Legion. They offer succor to the beleaguered and smite their enemies with holy fervor. They are particularly potent against undead, as these creatures threaten the goodly races and the Holy Light burns them terribly. The presence of any evil is reprehensible to paladins, but they focus their efforts on destroying undead and demons.
These warriors uphold the tenets of the Holy Light and defend their factions from the predations of any threat. Found in almost every corner of Azeroth fighting the forces of evil and barbarism, these stalwart warriors of faith ceaselessly uphold their vigil against demonic forces from beyond the Dark Portal. Paladins are the embodiment of good and selfless dedication to the protection of their peoples. They help the innocent and punish the wicked. As such, paladins are generally of good alignment.[2]
During the Second War, some paladins’ eyes glowed with inner power of the Light, such as the paladin Turalyon. This is not the case for all paladins, though it occurs in-game with certain paladin armor sets.
The Code
The paladin’s code requires that they respect legitimate authority, act with honor, help those in need, and punish those who harm or threaten innocents. While they may adventure with others from different organizations, they will never knowingly associate with evil persons, nor continue an association with someone who consistently offends their moral code. Paladins may accept only henchmen, followers, or cohorts whose intentions are good.[3][4]Paladins must be good or will lose all Light-given abilities if they ever willingly commit an evil act, becoming ex-paladins. Atoning is usually a long and difficult process.
In exceptional circumstances paladins may act unlawfully if they are certain it is for the greater good, but they must never work for unjust or evil causes knowingly. Since paladins believe in honesty, honor, and loyalty, even pretending to support what they know is an unjust cause in order to bring down a greater evil is heavily frowned upon.
Paladins don’t always have to work within good or neutral organizations, as seen by the Scarlet Crusade and others; however, they do have to believe they are working for good organizations or have faith that their cause is good and just. Paladins can be evil (as illustrated by Renault Mograine and Arthas, before he took up Frostmourne), but as long as they believe their cause to be just, the Light will continue to serve them.
Second War
Archbishop Alonsus Faol perceived that the pious Clerics of Northshire, who suffered such terrible attrition in the First War, were ill-suited for the dangers of combat. Along with many of the surviving Clerics of Northshire, he sought those of only the greatest virtue among the knighthood of Lordaeron and tutored them in the ways of magic. Led by Uther the Lightbringer, it rested upon these paladins — christened the Knights of the Silver Hand — to heal the wounds sustained in combat and to restore faith in the promise of freedom from orcish tyranny.
Post-Second War
The holy paladins led the battle against the orcs and helped save the lands of Lordaeron from ruin. Though 15 years had passed since the end of the Second War, the paladins worked selflessly to protect humanity from the gnawing jaws of evil. Empowered by the Light, these mighty warriors brandished both their warhammers and holy fire in the battle against all those who would trample the weak and innocent.
Third War
The Knights of the Silver Hand was at its height until the time of the Plague. As paladins were immune to the Plague, many members of the Order survived the initial push of the Scourge. The Order of the Silver Hand was disbanded by prince Arthas Menethilwhen Uther refused to aid in the purging of Stratholme. Later, after Arthas was seduced by the power of the Lich King, he killed many paladins upon his return from Northrend, including Uther, leaving only a scattered few.
Following the invasion of the Scourge, many of the order’s paladins joined a zealous group of followers of the Light known as the Scarlet Crusade. These paladins became fanatical in their ambition to destroy the Scourge, to the point that those not wearing their colors are deemed corrupted. Others decided to join the Argent Dawn. Some paladins also turned from the Light and joined Arthas Menethil as death knights.
Others fled south to the Kingdom of Stormwind. The paladin order, still referring to themselves as the Order of the Silver Hand, thrived under new leadership at the Cathedral of Light in Stormwind City. Over time, followers of the Holy Light spread their philosophy to the dwarves of Ironforge, who soon adopted the tenets of the order as well. Though decimated, the Knights of the Silver Hand eventually began to recover.
This is all subjective authority, the last paragraph literally contradicts any semblance of moral high ground within the paladin as a class. If my perceived form of justice for you killing Zandalari and Rastakan is beheading you in-front of your family and elimating your race a threat, the light will continue to serve because I perceive my cause as just. The whole identity is only structured to show a requirement to be dutiful and devout to a cause you believe in - aka faithful.
From wowpedia which sources a Blizzard interview: “The Light is not necessarily “good”, it is a primal force with its morality characterized by how it is wielded”
I’m honestly not sure what you’re trying to say with this second one. You’ve quoted history that only shows the humans as using the light for branching causes to suit their narrative of justice. That doesn’t provide any rationale as to why Zandalari paladins are bad outside of “they arn’t hunting scourge, our class fantasy is dead!” with a complete disregard for what any other branches of Paladin’s do. Your fantasy as a human paladin is still intact, but that doesn’t mean that others cant adopt militant use of the light for different causes.
That is all from the wow wiki.
Nothing just sharing the story of the 2nd and 3rd wars
It does nothing to say that Zandalari shouldn’t be Paladins. The story of Human Paladins pretty explicitly states that there are different ways to conduct yourself as a paladin and that your cause is subjective. Which is to say that any race can create a paladin order and on pretty much any grounds.
I appreciate the share, but it’s also all stuff I’ve read before. The human story line is well developed because of the early stages of the WoW franchise it was a specific story line. That storylines also expired because the LK is dealth with, we’re now fighting along side converted deathknights. The legions defeated, and the horde is no longer bound by it being that we’ve worked together to defeat world enders (argus, deathwing, sargeras, LK… etc). So at this point paladins are just playing the game of murder the other faction, but that’s fine as long as you’re able to build a story around why you’re doing it. WoW’s always been about developing your own characters story, but seemingly that’s been lost on people when it comes to race/class combos.
Sorry, you human paladins all look, and act the same.
It’s really sad that you resorted to mockery, simply because we have a difference of opinion.
It’s really sad you can’t take a joke.
I have never been against the addition of new class options. My case as always been for a stronger more immersive story.
I agree with you. I have always loved wow for its story. I just feel the last several entries have been a little weak.
That was a joke?
Just depends on how you look at it. I can create a strong point as to why my Troll would be a mist-weaver, could also create a strong point as to why my Tauren would be a paladin. Not everything is going to be able to have flushed out lore the same way the OG class/race combos did.
It was. I guess someone could take it negatively, but if you had heard it come from my mouth, you would have known it was a joke. I mixed up one human paladin that dislikes Z troll paladins for another.