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Cataclysm Lore 101
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Post by
Adam500
This is for everyone who keeps complaining that Blizzard is destroying the Lore. I acknowledge in writing this that we don't know everything yet, but I also acknowledge that everything we do know is not all there is to the story. I write this in the hopes that fewer people will post illegitimate complaints about the Lore by educating people.
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead.
WARNING: Some speculation ahead.
An ancient evil lies dormant within Deepholm, the domain of earth in the Elemental Plane.
Hidden away in a secluded sanctuary, the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing has waited, recovering from the wounds of his last battle against Azeroth and biding his time until he can reforge the world in molten fire.
Soon, Deathwing the Destroyer will return to Azeroth, and his eruption from Deepholm will sunder the world, leaving a festering wound across the continents. As the Horde and Alliance race to the epicenter of the cataclysm, the kingdoms of Azeroth will witness seismic shifts in power, the kindling of a war of the elements, and the emergence of unlikely heroes who will rise up to protect their scarred and broken world from utter devastation.
First up: New Race/Class Combinations and why they make sense.
Post by
Adam500
I'll address the class/race changes in the order that the seem the most extreme, incase I don't hit them all tonight.
Night Elf Mages:
Now I have to admit this one threw me for a loop at first (especially since I don't play much alliance). Why would a race who shunned arcane magic (for VERY good reason) accept it back? Well the short answer is, they didn't. Not really. Some players might remember a little place called Dire Maul and people grinding The Insane title are cursing the name of the Shen'dralar.
Who are the Shen'dralar? They are the last remnants of the Highborne, the Arcane Magic using faction of Night Elves from back before the Sundering. Unlike the rest of the Highborne who became either High/Blood Elves or Naga they have changed little over the past few thousand years and still identify more with the Night Elves than other groups. How do they figure into the picture? A Highborne named Mordent Evenshade has recently come to Teldrasil for an audience with Tyrande Whisperwind, citing "There is too much at stake. There is a change on the wind, and we cannot ignore it. I have traveled from the dust and ruin of the past to come to an accord. The time may soon come when the kal'dorei require the knowledge and skill we have to offer."
Tauren Paladins/Priests:
The Tauren, who for those who can't guess are modeled after the Native Americans, have always been a people of Balance. The Tauren have always worshiped the Earthmother who has two aspects (her eyes) in the sun and moon, as well as the spirits of the elements.
Obviously worship of element spirits is covered by Shamanism, and druidism (which the Hamuul Runetotem learned from the Moon-worshiping Night Elf Malfurion Stormrage) covers worship of the moon. This leaves an interesting philosophical question asked by Tahu Sagewind, a Tauren npc added in a recent patch. "What about Sun Worship? (paraphrased)"
This is where the upcoming Paladin/Priest sect of Taurens, the
Sunwalkers
(official name) will fill in a gap.
Troll Druids:
There has been a village of trolls known as the Shatterspears since day one, in an inaccessible part of Darkshore (viewable while in flight). We have official confirmation that the village will be accessible come Cataclysm, and concept art of the new village shows an
Ancient
in the vicinity. Hmmmm very close to Moon Glade.... possibly druids.... and tribes other than Darkspears joining the horde is not unprecedented (Revantusk). Short and simple really.
Undead Hunter:
Who was thier leader again? Okay seriously. I shouldn't need to explain this one.
Dwarf Mage/Shaman, Blood Elf Warrior:
I'll cover these three together, and very quickly. Dwarves have always had mages. Dwarves have always had Shamans (see: Wildhammer clan). Blood Elves have always had warriors (see: Town Guard). None of them have been playable up till now (mage were, however, in beta). Now they are.
Gnome Priest:
Now this one is a bit of a head scratcher. But lets make a point right now: Priests don't have to worship the Holy Light. The Staff of Wow.com said it best I think, the Gnomes in Northrend have had to come to terms with the truth of thier origin. In face of that it might be time for some old-time religion.
Human Hunter:
This is one of those 'could have been done sooner, but wasn't' things. Humans could have had hunters of some varities before now (trappers in Northrend?) but it wasn't a playable class before this juncture. More speculation though.
Orc Mage:
Thrall has been trying to teach restraint to the orcs since day one of the New Horde. This is quite possibly a sect of Orc Warlocks seeing what misuse of magic can do and stepping back a bit. Or maybe not? Honestly pure speculation there.
Thats it for now. Post questions below. I'll edit later with clarifications and answer new Lore queries in the following reserved posts.
Post by
Adam500
Reserved #2
Post by
Adam500
Reserved #3
Post by
Adam500
This should be the last reserved post, to cover my bases.
Post by
Clajjan
I sure am curious about this!
Post by
x3AFFL1CTION5x
Failed post.
Post by
Adam500
Failed post.
Yeah, cause I'm
not
a guy with a life. I'm getting back to this sometime tonight.
Post by
43552
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Adam500
Added info to first reserved post. Hoping to make this a good resource, maybe sticky-worthy to cut down on the Lore-lol and Lore QQ posts.
Post by
Nionofstormwind
Undead Hunter:
Who was thier leader again? Okay seriously. I shouldn't need to explain this one.
If you are referring to Lady Sylvanas Windrunner then you are mistaken. Sylvanas was a Ranger General. She has never been named as a hunter.
If you are referring to someone else, my apologizes.
Post by
xaratherus
Undead Hunter:
Who was thier leader again? Okay seriously. I shouldn't need to explain this one.
If you are referring to Lady Sylvanas Windrunner then you are mistaken. Sylvanas was a Ranger General. She has never been named as a hunter.
If you are referring to someone else, my apologizes.
My understanding was that a Ranger was sort of the prestige class for Hunters.
After all, she uses a number of the same attacks that Hunters do, only farm more advanced.
While I know it's a wiki, WoWWiki notes that the closest you can get to a Ranger currently in-game is with a Marksmanship spec Hunter.
Post by
Adam500
You are not seriously going to argue that Ranger =/= Hunter. Not to mention she brought her corps of Dark Rangers to Northrend with her which would seem to be a precursor to this.
Post by
ArgentSun
This is a thread I intended to put together myself, but with all the stuff I have to do, it was a pretty low priority. I encourage you to keep updating it, because Cataclysm will change
a lot
of the current Lore. Not only the classes. But you already know that.
Post by
babybeluga
If you are referring to Lady Sylvanas Windrunner then you are mistaken. Sylvanas was a Ranger General. She has never been named as a hunter.
Sylvanas was a ranger-general.
Sin'dorei ranger-generals command units of Farstriders.
Farstriders are known to be Blood Elf rangers.
To receive hunter training while in Silvermoon, one would have to visit the Farstriders.
It seems reasonable for OP to make his argument.
I think he is using "hunter" as an archetype and not a statement of lore.
Just as Sunwalkers and Blood Knights are not at all Silver Hand paladins lorewise... but are paladins in the archetypal sense, sharing the same class mechanics.
I think it would be reasonable that Sunwalkers and Bloodknights will share equal class mechanics but entirely different lore, just as a Ranger and Hunter would similarly relate.
Post by
441873
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Adam500
This is a thread I intended to put together myself, but with all the stuff I have to do, it was a pretty low priority. I encourage you to keep updating it, because Cataclysm will change
a lot
of the current Lore. Not only the classes. But you already know that.
Thank you for the words of encouragement. I have a few things left I know I want to do, like add links, cite the original source of some of my speculation, and provide links to some good Lore sites. While I'm working that up though I'm willing and able to field questions or suggestions to become topics in this thread.
Babybeluga made my point about the Ranger = Hunter connection much better than I could have hoped to, and if you would allow I'd like to paraphrase some of what you said in my next edit.
EDIT: Wow >_> Someone posted while I was typing.... quick answer..
You covered the class/race combos of the existing races pretty nicely, but what about the lore of Worgen druids, Goblin priests, ie. the new races and there class combos?
I could address some of these with accuracy but it would mostly be speculation. Hopefully the new races will receive their own posts detailing some oft bemoaned aspects of thier lore (and changes thereof).
Post by
Septimus
*Cough*
Already been done
*Cough*
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