[Novella] Is Malfurion too powerful?

[MrSaggins]

After reading the quest text about Sylvanas forcing Malfurion into a position that would compromise his traditional neutrality I had grave concerns about the Archdruid properly entering the fray. With the absurdity of his abilities in Knaakian history it seemed all too possible that Blizzard could write the great teacher outside of the bounds of believability, and stretch the fabric of the fiction too far to remain engrossed and immersed in his vulnerability as a character - particularly after the line about Malfurion being "a force of nature".

If you had told me without context that the Horde outnumbered the Night Elves 8 to 1 with Saurfang, Sylvanas and Nathanos on the team and Tyrande sequestered elsewhere, and they still feared they might lose the day I would have flipped a table, but I think this was handled very well. For one, Malfurion could have only mustered his power to such a degree on the Night Elves' home turf, at the foot of Hyjal where they lived for millenia. He couldn't have, say, marched on Durotar and uprooted walking cacti; his druids couldn't skulk about the treetops in the Horde's wastelands; there are no wisps to easily call forth on the deforested planes of Mulgore. It had to be in his people's forests, and that factor of gating his power to a region really balances it in my eyes. He's only a match for an entire army with a token force in some very restricted places, and can't easily turn those powers to the offense. The wisps were his own sort of army of the dead to match Sylvanas', but bound to trees and able to be frightened or abandon his plan altogether. And if you catch him in travel form he's clearly as vulnerable as any druid.

But what do you think? How do you gauge Blizzard's handling of his power level? How about Lorash and Chikkers and Captain manhandlind (goblinhandling?) all of those druids?

[Kyphael]

I didn't read many of the comics, but in-game Malfurion seems awfully restrained or nerfed. If he's so powerful, why is he always getting captured and in need of rescuing by Tyrande? Seriously, since Cataclysm, I have never seen Malfurion display this great power I hear so much about and actually defeat anyone.

[Aucald]

I view most faction leaders as pretty much a battalion unto themselves - measured against your rank and file grunt or footman, a given "Hero" is worth a column of hardened infantry. Though the Horde had a significant numerical advantage against the Kaldorei Sentinel forces they were largely one force arrowing into hostile territory, Malfurion on the battlefield gave the Kaldorei defenders a flanking advantage, and being one "unit" he was also highly maneuverable on a chaotic and changing battlefield. Fortunately (for the Horde) Malfurion's ability to press down against Saurfang's more numerous battalion was down to the presence of Sylvanas, herself of a similar stature to Malfurion, and her "hunt" for the Archdruid kept him from bring his full strength to bear against Saurfang's relentless advance.

It is true, too, that Malfurion enjoys a significant advantage in his homeland - easy access to the source of his powers, his intimate knowledge of the terrain, as well as the presence of a great number of Kaldorei wisps he can employ against an attacking force. Malfurion has shown that in foreign lands he has to get to know the spirit of the region before he can bring his might to bear, much like a Shaman has to treat with the Elemental spirits to use their most considerable powers. If nature is threatened or in pain his power also wanes.

[sopeonaroap]

he got his ass kicked by sylvanas twice. i think sylvanas seems a bit too powerful in the novella, malfurion is just right and saurfang is a little on the weak side. the novellas make it seem like non-magic users (warriors in particular) are cannon-fodder

[Aucald]

he got his ass kicked by sylvanas twice. i think sylvanas seems a bit too powerful in the novella, malfurion is just right and saurfang is a little on the weak side. the novellas make it seem like non-magic users (warriors in particular) are cannon-fodder

Personally I think Saurfang underestimates himself in "A Good War," which is probably down to his experiences in the Third War. Malfurion casts an exceedingly long shadow in the Warcraft universe, especially post-WC3. In many ways that, too, is down to a proverbial trick of the light. Not to say Malfurion isn't powerful, he most certainly is, but perhaps not quite as powerful as Saurfang seems to think. Malfurion wisely lets his legend go before him as well - doing its job of intimidating and sowing doubt among his enemies.

[MrSaggins]

If nature is threatened or in pain his power also wanes.

Oh wow, I didn't know that.

[Qualia]

If anything, Malfurion's depiction in the novella was on the weaker side compared to his other depictions in the novels. Must have not been angry enough for some reason.

[bufferunderrun]

After reading the quest text about Sylvanas forcing Malfurion into a position that would compromise his traditional neutrality I had grave concerns about the Archdruid properly entering the fray. With the absurdity of his abilities in Knaakian history it seemed all too possible that Blizzard could write the great teacher outside of the bounds of believability, and stretch the fabric of the fiction too far to remain engrossed and immersed in his vulnerability as a character - particularly after the line about Malfurion being "a force of nature".

If you had told me without context that the Horde outnumbered the Night Elves 8 to 1 with Saurfang, Sylvanas and Nathanos on the team and Tyrande sequestered elsewhere, and they still feared they might lose the day I would have flipped a table, but I think this was handled very well. For one, Malfurion could have only mustered his power to such a degree on the Night Elves' home turf, at the foot of Hyjal where they lived for millenia. He couldn't have, say, marched on Durotar and uprooted walking cacti; his druids couldn't skulk about the treetops in the Horde's wastelands; there are no wisps to easily call forth on the deforested planes of Mulgore. It had to be in his people's forests, and that factor of gating his power to a region really balances it in my eyes. He's only a match for an entire army with a token force in some very restricted places, and can't easily turn those powers to the offense. The wisps were his own sort of army of the dead to match Sylvanas', but bound to trees and able to be frightened or abandon his plan altogether. And if you catch him in travel form he's clearly as vulnerable as any druid.

But what do you think? How do you gauge Blizzard's handling of his power level? How about Lorash and Chikkers and Captain manhandlind (goblinhandling?) all of those druids?

Why Malfurion should be powerful and should wipe the floor with everyone bar few selected powerful being, like Thrall, Khadgar, Velen, Kael'thas etc. There is absolutely no need to nerf him for the sake of Sylvanas or any other regular (anduin included).

[Beloren]

Yes, nerf Malfurion.

We should do the things he does instead.

[Eazy]

he got his ass kicked by sylvanas twice. i think sylvanas seems a bit too powerful in the novella, malfurion is just right and saurfang is a little on the weak side. the novellas make it seem like non-magic users (warriors in particular) are cannon-fodder

Uhm... no. Malfurion won.
She was kneeling, had less HP, was moaning with pain.
If Blizzard didn't mean it, they wouldn't add that in the game. Simple as that.


Then Saurfang attacked him from the back.