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Racial Cultures in WoWFollow

#1 Nov 19 2004 at 1:09 PM Rating: Decent
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One thing that has really impressed me about WoW is the Racial Cultures.

None of them seem to be just "whipped up on the spot to fill a niche". Each one is a seperate culture, each with it's on specific history.

But the one that impressed me the most, the Tauren's. As you progress as a Tauran, you cannot feel that they are an "Evil" race. They hold honor, love of the land, and balance of nature very dear.

Are they part of the Horde? Yes, but they are part of the Horde because the Orcs befriended them and basically saved them from extinction at the hands of the Centaurs. Because of this action, they feel a strong sense of loyalty to the Horde as a whole.

I have a feeling that if it had been the Humans/Night Elves/Dwarves or the Gnomes that had come to the aid of the Tauren, that they would have just as easily sided with the Alliance, and would easily be viewed as a "Good" race.

But one thing I have noticed, in the world that is Warcraft, Good or Evil is really how each side is conceived by their own standards.

Orcs- They have known nothing but battle all their harsh lives, and finally having won their freedom from the Burning Horde, they will steadfastly defend their new-found freedom to the death.

Undead- Having wretched themselves from the sway of the Lich King, they will bow to no more masters. Humans have always sought to eradicate them from the planet, so they are defending themselves as best they can...and giving it back.

Troll- Always all other hands have been turned against them, but when one tribe was given aid by the Orcs when facing the threat of extinction at the hands of Murloc's they have shown a strong loyalty to the Orcs.

Tauren- Stated above.

So, guess I am just rambling on, but I still like how the quests reflect these cultures.
#2 Nov 19 2004 at 1:18 PM Rating: Decent
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At *this point* in warcraft story line, both sides are basically just as evil, save some for the undead seeing as they hate everyone.
#3 Nov 19 2004 at 1:30 PM Rating: Decent
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From my playtime I didn't get the impression Orcs were meant to be evil, what with their whole "returning to their shamanistic roots" thing. I picked up this quest while running to Thunder Bluff from Orc territory that was about killing goblins as payback for Venture Co.'s exploitation of the land--which is violent but doesn't necessarily strike me as all-out evil. More like righteous vengeance.

The Undead did strike me as evil. And warlocks in general seem to be all about being evil, regardless of their race.
#4 Nov 19 2004 at 1:33 PM Rating: Decent
I don't really see any evil in any of the races, except maybe the undead. And even they aren't out for the sole purpose of consuming flesh.

It is an interesting set up, really. Much like the "real world" perception and point of view play a vital part here.
#5 Nov 19 2004 at 1:37 PM Rating: Decent
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I love the orc storyline of the burning blade, doing quests for a guy and then you find out that he is actually the leader of the cult you are sworn enemies against.
#6 Nov 19 2004 at 1:39 PM Rating: Decent
I agree that most races on the horde side are not evil, but after playing a troll shaman for a month I started to get the feeling that I was traped in somekind of halloween hell that would never end. Orcs, Trolls, Undead, Oh my.
#7 Nov 19 2004 at 1:48 PM Rating: Decent
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Kinda slightly-ish off topic, but I think the most evil person in WC III was that human paladin. He was down-right mean.
#8 Nov 19 2004 at 1:51 PM Rating: Decent
He was actually a good guy that got suckered into a bad deal by the lich king. The lich king actually took over his mind once he picked up the sword.
#9 Nov 19 2004 at 1:54 PM Rating: Decent
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Arthas was his name, the lich king is his...wait..that wouldn't be his game that would be his title.

And actually it wasnt the lich king that suckered him into picking the sword up and becoming an undead, but it was his own will for power and hatred for the undead that drove him to seek it out, Which is actually a large portion of the moral to the overall WC3 game is that power(magic in a sense) can do good, but it also is like a disease, if you dont treat it and control it, it will control you and overwhelm you, ala Arthas, Illidan, and the blood elves.

Edited, Fri Nov 19 13:58:19 2004 by VampyreKnight
#10 Nov 19 2004 at 2:01 PM Rating: Decent
Good post, I agree. Taurens own all though, their only true allegiance is to the land. Hence Menkhor the Tauren Druid. :D
#11 Nov 19 2004 at 2:05 PM Rating: Decent
I actually didn't think Illidan was a bad guy either and the elves actually made him an outcast after he saved them.
#12 Nov 19 2004 at 2:08 PM Rating: Decent
Oh man, think they'll have Demon Hunter's later on as Hero Classes?? O.o

Man that'll freaking OWN!
#13 Nov 19 2004 at 2:09 PM Rating: Decent
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4,520 posts
Illidan can be bad depending on how you think of it.

He is more like a rogue than a burning legion goonie. He doesnt seek the worlds destruction, nor does he even care for the world, he cares for his own power.

This is in part because of his early addiction to magic and over the years he has finaly just becomed overwhelmed with the nead to feed the addiction.
#14 Nov 19 2004 at 2:11 PM Rating: Decent
True, but he did save the elves and he didn't have to do so which is why I think he is okay and I believe he turned into what has in the expansion because the elves shuned him for using demon magic.
#15 Nov 19 2004 at 2:13 PM Rating: Good
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758 posts
The only entities portrayed as evil seem to be the undead and all the warlocks. Correct me if I am wrong, but are any of the NPCs of either side good? I haven't met many npc undead, but the flavor text implies a selfish and power-hungry nature. All the NPC warlocks I have met either have no personalities, or they are still evil -- they still seem to serve the Burning Legion.

Anyone know otherwise?

Anyhow, beyond that everyone seems to be basically good, overall, and largely the current state is from misunderstandings and grudges that won't die.

-Drachasor
#16 Nov 19 2004 at 2:27 PM Rating: Decent
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57 posts
None of the races of the horde are evil, they're just misunderstood. Tauren was the race I played the most of while in beta because of their rich culture.


-GutSmith
#17 Nov 19 2004 at 2:35 PM Rating: Decent
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Actually illidan wasn't the one who saved the elves, it was actually the naga witch who did so because she fealt because they shared the same goals that they would be a valuable asset in illidans bid for power and fight to kill the lich king.

Yes Illidan took them under his wing, like he did for the naga, he is not completely selfish, more of an opportunist.

He called upon the naga because they were usefull to him in destroying the lich king. He took the elves under his power because of their power and hunger for magic, which he shares, and he knew that they would be a valuable people to have under control.

In the final campaign of the blood elves, he sends many troops to the gates of the castle just to be slaughtered. He did not care that they had been killed, but moreso was happy because of their will to serve.
#18 Nov 19 2004 at 2:58 PM Rating: Decent
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I think what was meant that Illidan managed to save help the night elves very much during the very first Burning Legion invasion and after he was released when he consumed the power of Gul'Dan's skull, a very important artifact that Illidan used to destroy portals connecting to Azeroth to the Burning Legion's world. He still used magic, which is forbidden when it comes to Night Elf culture because they were the very race that drew the Burning Legion to Azeroth through magic. He'll continue to be an outlaw to both sides but he surely isn't evil.

Keep in mind that Illidan does care for one thing and that is the safety of Tyrande, his brother's wife/girlfriend/whatever. He still has the hots for her. *shrugs*
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