Hope Taran'zhu dies

[Combatbutler]

False. We don't know that.

Yshaarj was prisoned by the Titans. The Pandaren have had to dealt with them since the beginning. They didn't ask for that cursed land but they were given it.

The Sha could've unleashed themselves at one point. They kept manifesting over, and over, and over. For all we know they could've just finally bursted free and to the surface on their own from all the build up.

Yes but they do feed off emotions, if there are no outsiders around to unleash them, that means the inhabitants of Pandaria would eventually fail to keep themselves in check.

Not sure about if they could handle the Horde, but they are pretty badass in the Vol'jin book. However, their main issue in the book is the fact that there are so little of them left to defend Pandaria after all that had happened.

The big battle has to do with a Mogu/Zandalari army marching on the Monastery, and even then they only muster 33 members (Including Chen, Taran Zhu, Vol'jin, and Tyrathan [the token human]) to defend it.

well unlikely they could handle the whole offensive in hindsight, it is a well organised army after all and there is no wall to stall them, but anyway how is the writing style of the book and does Michael Stackpole care for the established universe unlike a certain other author.

[Avellon]

Well, Pandaria is a breather from the normal story thread, I consider it a "side-story" arc but they did give great significance
I do like the illumination part of the story, how at least in theory, the paragons of this world (our characters) will mature over the course of dealing with the Sha, Mantid and Mogu.
It's a story about growth and gaining wisdom, outside of the life-long war we see among the alliance and horde.
Hopefully this "growth" we see here, and the, in theory, illumination the characters may experience, will make the defending of Azeroth easier.
As Wrathion mentioned, a divided Azeroth will resoundingly fall once the full force onslaught of the Burning Legion will begin.

[KrazyK923]

False. We don't know that.

Yshaarj was prisoned by the Titans. The Pandaren have had to dealt with them since the beginning. They didn't ask for that cursed land but they were given it.

The Sha could've unleashed themselves at one point. They kept manifesting over, and over, and over. For all we know they could've just finally bursted free and to the surface on their own from all the build up.

They wouldn't though. The Pandaren act in a way that they wouldnt. Things only go to hell after -we- unleash them.

well unlikely they could handle the whole offensive in hindsight, it is a well organised army after all and there is no wall to stall them, but anyway how is the writing style of the book and does Michael Stackpole care for the established universe unlike a certain other author.

The book is mechanically fine. Personally I think its entirely unnecessary. I know you can say that about basically all of the WoW books, but this one, far and away, is entirely not needed. Nothing really happens that you couldn't have figured out from the 5.3 reactions. Most of the other books at least progress the story or add something new, this one doesn't.

The book suffers hugely from coming out so far after 5.3 has been released. All of the tension is immediately dispersed when you realize all of these characters will survive. And nothing significant story-wise happens.

Most people have been fawning their goddamn mines over this book, and I can't figure out why. The characters are fine (For the most part) but it isn't anything other than exceptionally mediocre.

[Verdugo]

They wouldn't though. The Pandaren act in a way that they wouldnt. Things only go to hell after -we- unleash them.

You dont know that. By your own words, Shado Pan already forgotten how massively can Sha manifest. What makes you thing that few centuries in the future, they would still have such rigorous training. Sometimes, it takes one weak mind to bring all hell loose.

[KrazyK923]

You dont know that. By your own words, Shado Pan already forgotten how massively can Sha manifest. What makes you thing that few centuries in the future, they would still have such rigorous training. Sometimes, it takes one weak mind to bring all hell loose.

...because they've been doing it for 10,000 years with virtually no incident? And every single piece of lore has told us that the Pandaren know how to act so that the Sha don't manifest.

The most they've dealt with is little bubble-ups of Sha, nothing like the Prime Sha.

They haven't "forgotten" how much they can manifest, they've never seen them do as much. The Lord of the Shado-Pan (Taran Zhu and his predecessors) are really the only ones who know that. The common Pandaren don't know the Sha in that manner, and why? The way they live stops that from even happening.

[Verdugo]

...because they've been doing it for 10,000 years with virtually no incident? And every single piece of lore has told us that the Pandaren know how to act so that the Sha don't manifest.

The most they've dealt with is little bubble-ups of Sha, nothing like the Prime Sha.

They haven't "forgotten" how much they can manifest, they've never seen them do as much. The Lord of the Shado-Pan (Taran Zhu and his predecessors) are really the only ones who know that.

"The moment of laxity spawns a lifetime of heresy" as they say.

[KrazyK923]

"The moment of laxity spawns a lifetime of heresy" as they say.

I'm not sure how many ways I can say "The way in which the Pandaren live prevent the Prime Sha from ever manifesting" without simply giving up.

We have every piece of lore about the Sha saying as such, hell, even the words of God (Blizzard) have said as much.

You're free to believe whatever you want, but that doesn't mean its canon.

[Combatbutler]

I'm not sure how many ways I can say "The way in which the Pandaren live prevent the Prime Sha from ever manifesting" without simply giving up.

We have every piece of lore about the Sha saying as such, hell, even the words of God (Blizzard) have said as much.

You're free to believe whatever you want, but that doesn't mean its canon.

Problem is the pandaren are not the only inhabitants, that could unleash the sha. There are the Yaungol, Mantid and Hozen as prime candidates.

[owbu]

I actually enjoy someone mentioning all the crap our "heroes" have been causing for years now^^
We are like the most shizofrenic mass murdering psychopaths ever.
And I always felt a little bad, when, after a session of mass murder for the forsaken, someone praised me, because I rescued a kitten in the next area

[KrazyK923]

Problem is the pandaren are not the only inhabitants, that could unleash the sha. There are the Yaungol, Mantid and Hozen as prime candidates.

My question to that would be why hasn't it happened before?

It would have to be that the Pandaren or Shado-Pan have that shit down-pat. Which then returns back to the "We fucked it all up" point.

[Combatbutler]

My question to that would be why hasn't it happened before?

It would have to be that the Pandaren or Shado-Pan have that shit down-pat. Which then returns back to the "We fucked it all up" point.

I guess the shado pan keep order through force if things get out of hand, though in their short story it is hinted that their order is constantly dwindling, making it possible that the Sha could manifest in a few centuries, though that is pure speculation on my part.

I actually enjoy someone mentioning all the crap our "heroes" have been causing for years now^^
We are like the most shizofrenic mass murdering psychopaths ever.
And I always felt a little bad, when, after a session of mass murder for the forsaken, someone praised me, because I rescued a kitten in the next area

I prefer the term mercenary, they do pay us all the time. ;P

[Arrashi]

"The moment of laxity spawns a lifetime of heresy" as they say.

What's wrong with lifetime of heresy ? Its awesome !!!!

[Verdugo]

My question to that would be why hasn't it happened before?

You know, mention of world-wide war would be quite outlandish 200 years ago. Anything can happen. Shado Pan would need to be an army of cold, unemotional clones. As long as there is individuality, there is potential for weakness.

[KrazyK923]

You know, mention of world-wide war would be quite outlandish 200 years ago. Anything can happen. Shado Pan would need to be an army of cold, unemotional clones. As long as there is individuality, there is potential for weakness.

Not cold and unemotional. They balance their emotions.

Also, the Mantid Swarms aren't unknown. They happen like clockwork. The Pandaren know when its coming.

[Verdugo]

Also, the Mantid Swarms aren't unknown. They happen like clockwork. The Pandaren know when its coming.

Mantid were preparing, one time, they would feel strong enough. One day, they would have enough veterans. And that day wouldnt happen like clockwork.

At that point, they would find new wall they could cull their weak on.

[Verain]

He's right to hate the horde, wrong to fear the alliance.

If he had chosen Alliance from the start, none of this would have happened.

[Airwaves]

The whole point of why he is the way he is, comes from his absolute and dedicated role he has brought himself into

Which he failed at miserably and we had to go in and save his arse. Someone else who hasn't fallen to the sha should be leading the shado-pan now not the guy that failed at it.

[yetgdhfgh]

Well his constant whinging is getting on my tits so i wont be sorry to see him go

Yadda yadda ya sacred vale yadda ya

I bet he never even went there before the celestials let us in

[TheDangerZone]

Seriously, I don't get the Taran Zhu hate. He's kind of an ass, but his motives and beliefs are well developed. That makes him one of the most interesting characters, even if he is not the most amenable.

[Florena]

Seriously, I don't get the Taran Zhu hate. He's kind of an ass, but his motives and beliefs are well developed. That makes him one of the most interesting characters, even if he is not the most amenable.

The arguments against him generally boil down to "we saved his ass and Pandaria's collective ass and he lumps us all in with Garrosh, F*** him."