Originally Posted by
Omedon
So with the horde storyline, I have a strong, STRONG feeling that Blizzard will absolutely divide the playerbase in one way or another and... like intentionally disappoint some of them, in an effort to almost... I don't know, condition the player sentiment, perhaps to combat toxicity. I'll explain.
I see the Horde discussion over this entire expansion storyline as creating some notable sub-factions along the line of certain sentiments.
1) Loyalty to the idea of the horde as interpreted by Saurfang. I believe this is the path most intended for players. We are Zekhan, basically. But it's not the only subfaction, of course.
2) Loyalty to the office of Warchief. "I swore an oath, I must uphold, regardless of who the warchief is." This, I believe is the choice being given to players with Saurfang in 8.1, and honestly, both sides make sense when seen on this axis.
3) Loyalty to Sylvanas because of belief in the spark of humanity we saw in "three sisters," or something to that effect. I think the story that ultimately gets told will allow this sentiment to be satisfied and have closure. If Sylvanas is no longer warchief or even forsaken leader down the road, I do believe she'll get a sendoff that makes her rearview image palatable to this subfaction, if not other segments of the playerbase.
4) Loyalty to Sylvanas/The horde because "YAAAA BURN THE ELVES AND THEIR BABIES." This subfaction, this right here, I do not believe can or should come out of the BFA story or any story with satisfaction or validation, and I think Blizzard agrees 100%. In fact I think this subfaction is subtly (or perhaps not so subtly) being told by BFA "adapt or abandon, because... no."
Subfaction 4 conjures discussions to the tune of "these people are sick," or "what is wrong with you?" I don't think that's entirely fair because I think an RPG has to provide a seperation of player and character. At the same time, decent people looking for escapism into subfaction 4 might want to read the writing on the wall and realize that the player will not, in this faction war storyline that indeed does deign to godmode our characters to a degree, be given the option to be that evil because that just isn't how this game works. Neither side will be cast as the villain because both sides have every right to expect a mostly heroic power fantasy out of a game like WoW. Ultimately, we all have to "win" or else why are we paying to play? If you're casting everyone to win, you can't cast a vilainous player to win, because then everyone else loses.
Sylvanas alone, pointedly and canonically, owns the burning of Teldrassil because a) she is an NPC and b) it was an objectively villainous act. She's a villain in that story. The playerbase was intentionally removed from that moment because ultimately we have to be cast as heroes. Think of the potential storylines that validate subfaction 4. They're not heroic. That subfaction aren't heroes. They're villains. In canon, you will never be cast as a villain, you just won't.
If you are part of subfaction 4, that's your right, I can't tell you how to RP your character, but honestly... look at how the story is being told. Prepare yourself for what's coming. It won't be kind to you, so maybe get on board with the options that will indeed be presented to you for the sake of your engagement and your enjoyment.
Just my more-than-two-cents.