"I think the Alliance has had some strong moments this expansion: Jaina's arc is interesting.... The Dalaran sequence was a pretty awesome Alliance win. We've spent more time with Varian and Anduin than in any other expansion." I like how Jaina acting like a psycho bitch is considered a "win" for the Alliance. Playing through the Dalaran "purge" left me feeling pretty sick with a bad taste in my mouth being Alliance.
Dev goes on to say "The overall story depicts the Alliance drawing together while the horde is splintering apart." Umm? I see the Humans of the Alliance working against the Horde but I see a lack in the other races contribution? How is that Alliance coming together? Then he says the Horde is splintering? lol. If anything they're being united in their convictions against Garrosh. Darkspear, Sin'dorei and Tauren uniting against Garrosh.
I don't know, it's just not hitting home for me. I don't feel rallied or "connected" at the moment with the Alliance. I think that's why I felt more in tune with the Horde's story and dilemma, that whole "we're grouped up to survive". The collective story of the Horde is just very much more interesting at the moment. I think it's because the Alliance does not at the moment have a clear "goal" in terms of story. If you look at the Horde each race's story is about surviving, and the story arc for the faction as a whole moves toward that direction. You don't really see a faction encompassing story holding all the Alliance's races together, that is what is missing imo.
What can be done about it? The Alliance needs a Hero, someone like Arthas or Uther or even Tirion. A main backing point figure leading the charge for the faction. You could maybe argue that Blizz is trying to set Varian as this figure but yeah.....haha. The Alliance needs an "Aragorn", someone that I can rally behind and be proud to serve my "king" so to speak.
Also they should bring back the Knights of the Silver Hand and the new Argent Dawn as major strong points of the Alliance. I've always seen the Alliance as the "Beacons of Light" type faction with their paladins and priests ect. Alliance races have more relation to the light than the horde races, even though horde races can be paladins and priests you generally connect alliance and those classes in the same vein of thought.
I feel the same. It did not make me feel heroic, which is usually how blizz tries to make us feel with our characters. I always felt that the heroes on both factions (ergo us the players) are beyond the petty conflict of the racial hate and conflict between the common rabble of Horde and Alliance peoples. It has been shown numerous time how the Heroes of both sides have come together and worked in unison to defeat the large evil at hand.
In the quest A Celestial Experience Xuen brings out what your "Sha of Hate" is manifested as. Either Garrosh for Alli or Varian for Horde. I understand the hate for Garrosh because of what the Orcs as a whole have done to Humans and the Alliance in general. Mainly invading Azeroth and trying to conquer everything. Understandably they should be forgiven and the past should not be dwelt on because they are not like that now.
But if you notice in the wowhead comments for the quest Horde players state that they don't think Varian should be shown for their characters. "One thing though; my characters -don't- hate Varian." "Indeed. My character couldn't give two hoots about Varian. On the other hand, as a troll, she despises Garrosh for what he's done to her people and the Horde in general. Should have been him appearing..." "My blood elf doesn't hate him, but he is terrified of Varian's truly outrageous chin; does that count?"