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Idea for this post came from Blog Azeroth shared topic, suggested by Spinks. What does it mean to be Horde or Alliance. I’ve always mainly played on Alliance side, with only few Horde characters, so I’ll take a look from that view.

I see Alliance as proud and sophisticated, giving great value to intellectual pursuits. Due this I think many look down to the Horde as barbaric and inferior. Art and all around shinyness has bigger factor than functionality. Just look at the armor of some NPCs, city guards for example, they look like they’re made for parades, not battles. This goes with architecture aswell. Everything is nice and clean. In combat Alliance favors weaker but more role specific units. Main strength of the army comes from the various and highly adept spellcasters. In physical strength Alliance is no match for the Horde, maybe only the Dwarves giving some meatshield but I’d just bet eventually they’d get steamrolled just aswell.

Now, this is how it feels to me, in a lore / RP / whatever perspective. However it doesn’t mean I agree with it. I am a diplomat and peace loving to the heart. I think there has been enough hate and bloodshed with the two factions and we could live in peace and let the past be past. That is not going to happen anytime soon, not even a brief truce, unless we get invaded by Burning Legion again or something. The battle at Angrathar gave me some hopes but it didn’t take long to have it all down the toilet again.

And what about the faction leadership? Phah! Bunch of snobs (not all of them ofc) powdering their wigs and wondering what kind of lion’s head shield would match with the new bling bling sword. Varian Wrynn and Fandral Staghelm as worst of the lot. Take Varian for example, that rabid hateful hyena. I was embarrassed and ashamed of him during the battle for the Undercity and with the conversation that happened in Dalaran just after Brann Bronzebeard’s assault on Ulduar. If I had known what kind of ass Varian is I would have told that altar boy, Thomas, who offers the quest The Missing Diplomat, to.. well something nasty. And Fandral Staghelm? More like Fandral the Prideful Weathercock. “I have the vision that she lacks” and bla bla bla. The guy is so full of himself it just makes me sick. Gragh.

They’re not all bad though. In a way Jaina Proudmoore is my hero. She is a strong independent woman who values all life. During the invasion of Burning Legion, Medivh talked Alliance and Horde to unite but I think it was Jaina who ultimately kept it all together. Not only that but also after defeating the Legion, there was a time of peace between the humans of Theramore led by Jaina, and the neighboring Orgrimmar by Thrall. If there ever would be improvement between the relationship of the two factions it would be up to Jaina and Thrall to see it trough.

What’s great in being a druid is that you get to be a part of an organization that doesn’t have all that hate and mistrust between members of opposing factions. This is of course the Cenarion Circle. Both Tauren and Night Elves serve side by side protecting nature and restoring the damage done to it. Then there is also the Argent Dawn but they’re not so open in it as Cenarion Circle is.

All that said, what does it ultimately mean for me to be part of the Alliance. Well you certainly won’t see me yelling “For the Alliance!” or anything. “For Azeroth” maybe. Or “For the trees” as some dryads have been known to do. When looking at Alliance vs Horde I think it’s the races that determine which sides banner I choose to carry. On Alliance I can identify with the Night Elves and the Draenei but on Horde only the Tauren feel close enough to me. Heh, also one particular Wowhead comic comes to my mind. And with all the rant I just did on this post one might think I hate the Alliance. No, that’s not the case. I don’t hate it I just.. I just facepalm a lot.