Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Anyways I'm honestly kind of feeling good about these post epilogue dialogue stuff. Anduin being benched (for a while) is a surprise but a welcome one, to me at least. And makes some sense, I think anyone would need to take some time to collect themselves after what happened. As for that model, maybe its a post-raid update to his current model? It is weird that he came back physically unscathed. I would've expected the white hair to stick around (though that may be too similar to Jaina's situation, I guess).

Agreed—Anduin's presence has sort of neutered the Alliance as a faction and prevented them from embracing the more interesting, nuanced edges of the Alliance. The reason I'm fairly happy with putting Turalyon in charge is precisely that. They'll get to be a little more dubious for a while, though I do fear they may just turn him into a Loot Pinata instead of giving him a real plot as dictator.

[PhillyCheese]

What is it with the emphasis on preserving family connections at the cost of the safety of the planet? They also had Matthias and Flynn decide to go on an expeditionary date instead of the former actually doing his job, too. The interpersonal stuff makes the characters look a little bit haphazard in their handling of their extraordinarily important roles.

It's not necessarily that bad, and both plots are fine, but it definitely makes the characters come off as silly.

It's basically Darion admitting that there always being a Lich King is stupid. Besides, he lead the Ebon Blade, not Wrath of the Bolvar. Not really.

[Nymrohd]

In two expansions:

"How could you do this, Turalyon!? No one could've predicted that he would reclaim Lordaeron after he said he would reclaim Lordaeron!"

At the very least, seeing the Alliance as a military dictatorship could prove very interesting. It's going to be nice to see them be the aggressors for once, or at least get to start collaborating with the Lightbound and grow a pair in the process.

Ì mean at least finally the Alliance will have a war leader who actually has seen the most war of them all.

[PhillyCheese]

This dialog is perfect.

Genn makes a very good point here to Lor'themar, god I wish the Horde hadn't gotten dragged through the mud all for the sake of Sylvanas's arc.

[ChairmanKaga]

What is it with the emphasis on preserving family connections at the cost of the safety of the planet? ...The interpersonal stuff makes the characters look a little bit haphazard in their handling of their extraordinarily important roles.

It's not necessarily that bad, and both plots are fine, but it definitely makes the characters come off as silly.

Regarding Bolvar, without the Dom Helm what is he supposed to do?

[AOL Instant Messenger]

This dialog is perfect.

I'm kind of surprised they're letting him actually be himself and stay ideologically-tenacious instead of cuddling up with Theron and parceling out the blame to Sylvie. This is a surprisingly muddled back-and-forth where both sides have a point—Theron is reasonable (by the standards of WoW leaders) as per usual, but Genn's call for justice is by no means misguided. It gives them both good characterization, too, since Lor'themar is allowed to show his strengths (reasonable, diplomatic) and flaws (a little bit craven, flip-floppy) in equal measure, same with Genn. This is surprisingly good, in general.

[Makabreska]

The 9 year old in me is frothing at the mouth at the thought of Turalyon leading the Alliance. That dude was so bad ass in Warcraft 2. Hopefully all those years of waiting for him and Alleria to return will finally pay off, because I didn't feel like it did back in Legion. He was way too neutral and his armour sucks.

I want him to be a grizzled Alliance veteran crushing orc skulls and conquering Lordaeron.

Don't think we can expect much of faction conflict in the future. Blizz is kinda done with major conflicts.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Ì mean at least finally the Alliance will have a war leader who actually has seen the most war of them all.

That's what I'm hoping for, for sure. I'd love to see the Alliance under strong leadership for once.

[GabrielKnight]

This dialog is perfect.

I don't see anything special about a guild looking to push rated bgs.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Regarding Bolvar, without the Dom Helm what is he supposed to do?

Seemingly sit around with Taelia to resolve his family problems. It seems unclear what he'll do after that—he may be a leader in some respect again later, but he may just be being put on the Shadowlands Bus with Sylvie and Andy.

[PhillyCheese]

Don't think we can expect much of faction conflict in the future. Blizz is kinda done with major conflicts.

Turalyon is definitely bait for a "Who do you choose? The Light or the Alliance?" kind of thing but we'll see if he actually follows through with it.

I can see them building up to him making the good choice just like Illidan but spinning it at the last second. Of all characters to choose a higher power over Azeroth, he makes more sense than Sylvanas.

[Fahrad Wagner]

Get yourself a man that looks at you the way Wrathion looks at Daduin

*giggles*

This dialog is perfect.

It truly is. Many in the Horde enabled Sylvanas to go too far: Lor'themar is one of the many sad examples (as much as I love his character).
It's also good writing to see Genn react like this, at least that's my opinion.

[Wangming]

well at least we are getting the scarlet crusade story coming
and im guessing we will get plenty of alice in wonderland references because Calia is the white queen and the scarlet leader can be called the red queen

That's clever. I like it.

[huth]

Regarding Bolvar, without the Dom Helm what is he supposed to do?

Take a well-deserved break.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

It's basically Darion admitting that there always being a Lich King is stupid.

I gather that's the Doylist intention—I'm just saying the Watsonian excuses are a little funny. Same with Flynn and Matthias being absent. Of course Anduin needs to be out in the open for Sylvanas to (hilariously) kidnap him while Genn screams at the sky, which is the Doylist reason, but Matthias not being there to warn him because he was out on a date is the very funny Watsonian reason.

[PhillyCheese]

Seemingly sit around with Taelia to resolve his family problems. It seems unclear what he'll do after that—he may be a leader in some respect again later, but he may just be being put on the Shadowlands Bus with Sylvie and Andy.

I think they will just have Bolvar and Taelia doing their own thing on EK/Kalimdor. This is just an excuse to punting the Ebon Blade to Northrend where they (likely) won't be involved in a revamp story.

[ChairmanKaga]

Seemingly sit around with Taelia to resolve his family problems. It seems unclear what he'll do after that—he may be a leader in some respect again later, but he may just be being put on the Shadowlands Bus with Sylvie and Andy.

I meant like the expectation he would return to ICC with Darion and do what? (yelling off the side at the Scourge) "Hey remember me? I was your interim Lich King. Stop rampaging. Stop it now!"

[AOL Instant Messenger]

It truly is. Many in the Horde enabled Sylvanas to go too far: Lor'themar is one of the many sad examples (as much as I love his character).
It's also good writing to see Genn react like this, at least that's my opinion.

Indeed, this is above the usual cut of WoW writing—of course, that's not saying much, but they're at least both acting realistically and in fairly nuanced ways (for their personalities). Lor'themar isn't acting out-of-character in doing either, of course, since he has always been a little craven—this isn't all that bad for a leader in a situation like his, of course, and I still maintain he's easily the best leader on Azeroth next to Velen.

- - - Updated - - -

I meant like the expectation he would return to ICC with Darion and do what? (yelling off the side at the Scourge) "Hey remember me? I was your interim Lich King. Stop rampaging. Stop it now!"

Fair enough. That's a reasonable argument—it would just be a little more sensible for Darion to point that out instead of focus on Taelia.

[draugril]

I'm kind of surprised they're letting him actually be himself and stay ideologically-tenacious instead of cuddling up with Theron and parceling out the blame to Sylvie. This is a surprisingly muddled back-and-forth where both sides have a point—Theron is reasonable (by the standards of WoW leaders) as per usual, but Genn's call for justice is by no means misguided. It gives them both good characterization, too, since Lor'themar is allowed to show his strengths (reasonable, diplomatic) and flaws (a little bit craven, flip-floppy) in equal measure, same with Genn. This is surprisingly good, in general.

Credit where credit is due, this feels like a very natural dialogue given the established characters. This is a conversation that these characters would have, even if the players weren't "watching."

[PhillyCheese]

I checked again and Calia was at the judgement, at least the first part. Did she sneak off during the second half with Voss or something, or did they just remove her from this because she makes players so butthurt?

If so... why is she integral to 9.2.5?? Unless the questline is Forsaken players killing her.

I also think Velonara should've been here.