For Prosperity...

I've also decided to start copying and pasting posts from the official forums and posting them here so they can get more exposure, since more of them deal with how to enhance the Alliance experience.

Today's post comes from long time Draenei enthusiast, Alanii on how the starting area for her chosen race can be improved.

I 've been toying around with the idea of creating a thread that voices what I would like to do with the Draenei low-leveling experience. Inspired by Lochnar's similar thread on the subject, I've decided to make my own, with my own hopes and dreams poured into it. And since it's not secret I love Draenei, I will be writing this about their 1-20 leveling experience.


1. As you start in Ammen Vale, you notice that the area has been cleaned up of debris. The pod in the center has been fully repaired, and you see Draenei training fiercely as an inspiring figure looms above their exercises. A Draenei woman we will come to know as Kasharu. Kasharu will guide your character through Ammen Vale, issues a few quests suitable of cutting your teeth in her new militaristic vision for the Draenei people. Some of the quests designed that they almost kill you in some instances. Through these 1-5 quests you are introduced to a Draenei warrior named Torthur, a Draenei Magi named Voli and a Draenei Anchorite named Jarhul. These characters will level with you through the 1-5 experience by accompanying you on certain quests.

2. You set out to Azure Watch with your small band of Draenei companions who share a bit of flavor text as you travel. Now instead of travelling on foot to Azure Watch, a 60% Elekk carries the 4 of you to your destination. As you come to Azure Watch you find it has also been repaired and fortified with Naaru-style architecture, everything salvaged from the various crash sites throughout the city.

3. From here you do a few quests that send you to various areas killing hostile furbolgs and driving away Naga (much like you did in BC) with a few twists here and there. You also do a few quests explaining Draenei mages and their techniques, and getting to see them in action. You find Silvermyst Isle has added a small Draenei fishing village in Draenei architecture, this area gives you a few quests on the small island. Odyesyus' landing has been reinforced with Northrend style human architecture and gives you a few quests and insight on Draenei relations with the rest of the Alliance.

4. When you return to the mainland, you find disturbing reports of Orcs in the area, though no confirmed cases. As you are sent to investigate the reports coming from the road leading to the Stillpine Hold, you are ambushed by a group of 7 orcs. You and your leveling allies fight them off, and you decide to check on Stillpine hold to see if this means it has been attacked. Your suspicions are confirmed and the Stillpine have been decimated by Horde encroachers. You aid the holdouts in fending off the Horde attack, and slay a Horde commander that took control of the den, there you learn of a coming Horde attack.

5. With this information, you report to the Exarch of Azure Watch, who is troubled by these recent events. He tells you to report this to Velen. As you ride to the Exodar, your companions continue to share flavor text, this time relating to their feelings on the attack, and reflecting on what they lost the last time the Orcs attacked them. As you come to Exodar, you see it has been repaired for the most part, though it still remains firmly rooted in the ground. As you ride into the Exodar's court, you see Draenei mages summoning a portal to Shattrath, where you see Draenei and Broken refugees from Shattrath filing in to the area.

6. As you come to the Vault of Lights, you find that Ishanah has made her return to the Exodar, and she speaks with Velen. As you relay the information of impending attacks with Velen, he solemnly nods and says he has foreseen it, but he does not know the outcome. Though he urges you to refrain from attacking current Horde forces, he sends you to Akama, who has also made his return from Outland to settle in Azuremyst with his Ashtongue Deathsworn clan. Velen tells you to trust his skills in subterfuge, and tells you to accompany him in watching the Horde troops.

7. Your leveling buddies (who literally gain levels as you do) are told to continue on to Silvergale Watch on the formerly Bloodmyst Isle without you by Akama. Akama takes you and a few Ashtongue to check on the Horde forces. As you come to Emberglade, you find out the entire area has been clearcut, and Horde have already set up a landing. Akama decides the time to act is now, and denies Velen's orders. You and the group of Ashtongue assault the camp, destroying it, and taking hold of Demolishers in the camp to destroy incoming Horde ships. With the job completed, he tells you to go directly to Silvergale Watch instead of reporting back to Velen, he suspects they will attack there soon as well.

8. When you come to Silvergale, you find it has a similar silvery glow to the land like Silvermyst, and it has been completely cleared of the pollution. On your way to Silvergale Watch, you are given a few unrelated errand quests by Kessel and his friends. After that, upon coming to Silvergale, you reunite with your leveling buddies as well as Kasharu. When you report to Kasharu the coming Horde attacks, she becomes inconsolable with rage. Just then, Horde attack the Watch, and you successfully repel the raid through a few quests alongside Kasharu and your leveling buddies. It is during these quests you get to see Kasharu kick ridiculous amounts of ass, and learn she is quite powerful.

9. From here, Kasharu sends you on quests to attack outlying Horde posts that have been set up in areas to try to pin the Draenei in one position. During these quests, you are joined by your buddy Torthur. While on these quests, you are also sent to Morae's Refuge which has been built upon the Cryocore.

10. At Morae's refuge, you find that Morae has become an Anchorite, and leads this area in healing the sick and helping the less fortunate in the area. From here, you are given quests to slay a few demon camps that stubbornly resisted the Draenei's efforts in exterminating them after cleansing the island of the radiation. You are joined on these quests by Jarhul, he helps you smite the evil demons with the power of the Light, and uses it to heal and rescue Draenei in some areas. During this time you also have the option of going to Bloodcurse Isle.

11. You are also given quests to go to Bloodcurse Isle. Where, to add injury to further injury, you find Naga are summoning a magic storm to destroy both the Draenei and the Horde. Voli accompanies you here. This area is constanly raining, raining so hard it forms a thick, grey curtain and you are constantly slowed by 40% while travelling here. Upon climbing to the peak where the shrine is, you find a very powerful elite Naga sorceress. You fend her off while Voli absorbs the power of the storm for one minute. This involves dodging waterspouts and tornados on the small platform while damaging the sorceress. After one minute, Voli fully absorbs the storm, and blasts the Sorceress with its full power, insantly killing her.

12. After these quests, Akama finds you in the Bloodmyst town square. He tells you he has discovered Horde are sending a large fleet of troops to the Vector Coil, which they rested from Draenei hands. They intend to overload it, and cause it to eminate its aura of corruption again, in order to slow the efforts of the Draenei. He accompanies you to the Vector Coil and gives you a few quests. One involes you and a team of Ashtongue infiltrating the docked Horde ships on the west side of the Vector Coil. After the crew of these ships are dismantled, the Ashtongue sail them out to sea. Akama explains that they will pretend to be Horde ships, before kamikazing them into the incoming Horde ships. After a few minutes, you see this play out, and the Ashtongue on the ships swim back to shore.

13. With the reinforcements intercepted, you climb to the peak of the Vector Coil to find a powerful elite Orc Warlock dressed in the Corrupter warlock set. You and Akama contront him. While the Orc warlock is too strong for you to kill or hurt in a significant way, Akama tanks him and easily cuts him down to size - in the meantime you fight off his underlings and demons. After he is killed, you report back to Kasharu.

14. Kasharu tells you that trackers have returned with intelligence that suggests the Horde were able to land a force on Wyrmscar Island. Upon approaching the island, you find they have a fortress set up in classic Orc design, with wooden walls and fortifications. Kasharu and your Draenei leveling bodies join you. You find that while they are the same level as you, they are also now elite, and wear special garb. Torthur wears a white&gold version of Warrior T5, the flames are purple instead of orange. Voli wears a purple&white version of Mage T5, and Jarhul wears a blue&gold version of priest T4. Kasharu wears her standard Vindicator set, with a Hammer of the Naaru.

15. While on the Isle; Kasharu gives you a quest to kill a large amount of Horde soldiers on the island (all of which are elite, but easily handled by you and your companions), Voli gives you a quest to kill the Blood elf magisters that are using the leylines on the island to summon a portal for more reinforcements, Torthur gives you a quest to kill 3 powerful Horde officers on the island, and Jarhul gives you a quest to purge powerful Forsaken units, all of which die nearly instantly from a special sigil he gives you that strikes them with a powerful Holy Fire spell.

16. After all these quests are completed, Kasharu gives you a quest to go to the very top of the Isle, where Horde have built a large fortress, to kill the commander of the troops there. After fighting your way up, you find that the fortress is devoid of the commanders presence. Just then, a stream of Horde soldiers pour in to the fortress, which you and your elite allies fend off, until gradually your leveling buddies die, one by one, except for Voli, who Ice Blocks at 1 health and remains so. Eventually, it becomes too much for even you and Kasharu. Kasharu places you in a Divine Intervention spell you cannot cancel, while she selflessly fights on. As soon as she hits 1 health, she gains the buff "Undying Will" and refuses to die. She continues to fight on, going into a holy frenzy.

After killing a large amount of Horde troops, the Commander personally shows up. He is an old Orc warrior dressed in red Death Knight uncommon armor (The blue set, though he is not a Death Knight). Upon showing up, he recognizes Kasharu, and the following interaction takes place:

Blood Guard Harzhur: Enough of this! I will slay these Draenei myself.

Harzhur enters the room, where Kasharu stands admist the carnage of Horde bodies, and the bodies of Torthur and Jarhul. Harzhur stares hard at the Draenei woman standing before him.

Blood Guard Harzhur: You... I remember you. Arklon...

Kasharu: Yes, Arklon, where you and your wicked allies slayed my people. You took everything away from me, you black-blooded fool. My husband, my children... I will never have them again because of you.

Blood Guard Harzhur is taken aback, he slowly draws his axes, but is hesitant.

Blood Guard Harzhur: You do not understand... We -

Kasharu: No, I understand completely! You Orcs are nothing but bloodthirsty monsters! You betrayed us on Draenor, and now after all we have done to help this world, you betray us here too!

Kasharu: You took everything away from me, and my people on Draenor. And on this day, you seek to take away everything our people have given their blood, sweat and tears for! Am I to wait for you to see reason here, while you actively come to take away everything I care about!?

Kasharu grips her hammer tightly, and enters a battle stance. Her eyes begin to glow a fierce gold.

Kasharu: No.

Blood Guard Harzhur charges.

Blood Guard Harzhur mutters: I take no joy in this...


17. Kasharu then casts a Lay on Hands spell on you, healing you and her to full. You are then able to join her in fighting the Blood Guard. Voli unfreezes herself as well, standing back and casting spells at 1 health. Upon reducing the Orc to 30%, Kasharu rears her hammer back while golden holy energy flows around its head and her hands gripped around the base - she casts one last devastating strike, instantly reducing his health to 1.


Blood Guard Harzhur: Finish.... Finish me. If it will repair the pain my people have caused you...

Kasharu clenches her teeth, and takes a step to him. She brings her gauntlet clad fist across his head.

Kasharu: After everything you Orcs have done, you deserve a slow, painful death. I will take no pleasure in putting you out of your misery.

Just then, a portal opens and Velen appears through it.

Velen: My daughter, calm yourself. This is not our way.

Kasharu glares at Velen defiantly.

Kasharu: No, Velen! I am tired of listening to you! I am tired of sitting by as a pacifist while watching our people die! My family, Velen! My beloved was tortured to death! My children...

Kasharu fights back tears under a guise of fierce anger, her voice shivering in pain.

Velen: I understand your loss, Kasharu. We have endured much, but we will never heal this pain if we seek vengeance for past wrongs. Let go, my child. Let go, and be healed.

Kasharu pauses for a moment, staring at Velen. She suddenly turns to Harzhur, bringing her hammer onto his skull and killing him swiftly. She turns back to Velen, who looks on unphased.

Kasharu: I am done listening to your ramblings, you blind fool. I will make sure these Orcs are kept away from our people, and that they are stopped before they become what they were on Draenor. I swear it to you and the millions of our slain people. The Orcs will feel reckoning.

Kasharu turns and storms from the fortress.

Voli kneels beside the bodies of Torthur and Jarhul, and weeps quietly.

Velen turns to you, with a sigh.

Velen: I see it in your future, young one. I see what you will do. You will commit many atrocities in the future for what you feel you must do. I cannot dissaude you, but I must tell you: Remember the past, but do not act on it.

Velen disappears through the portal behind him.

Off-Topic: Virtual Choir 2.0.

Here is what happens when you use Youtube to assemble more than 1500 people to sing a single song...

Proof that Blizzard's writers are not as good as you think...

Taken from the Official Blog.

Yet this auspicious event ended in tragedy. The details are still unclear, but word has spread that an incredibly powerful Twilight's Hammer agent, shrouded to hide his identity, interrupted the ceremony and struck down Thrall with dark magics... casting his spirit into the four domains of the Elemental Plane. If these terrible rumors hold true, the Earthen Ring -- indeed, all of Azeroth -- has potentially lost one of its greatest champions.



…Is this the end of the Son of Durotan?

Excuse me, the writer inside me is going to go outside and puke his guts out.

There's a line between subtlety and blatant. This takes a running leap over that line, screaming, "LEEEROOOYYYY JEEEEENKIIIIIIIINS!!!!!"

Do we really need more Thrall?

MMO Champion discusses about a rumored epic quest line centered around Thrall in Patch 4.2.

Seriously, I'm starting to get sick of this spineless hypocrite.

Was three books, the whole of WoW-Vanilla, TBC, and Wrath, and WCIII not enough?

Come on, Blizzard. Alliance lore is stagnating and you're putting in MORE lore for this putz?

Gotta love the Horde....

...when people say amazing things such as;

Lady Sylvanas is way hot.

'Nuf said

Just go to show, that even if you make a corpse with all the personality of a turnip dress like some Jersey Shore tramp, the little wankers will act just like Ivan Pavlov's dogs.

Why no Blizzcon for me, never.

Ah, Blizzcon. Sweet, endearing, Blizzcon.

The primary reason why I am not going, and frankly have no inclination to go, is the ticket prices. Granted, that can be overcome by someone who has a steady job and some money saved up. That, in it of itself, is not a problem. The problem is that some of us are still looking for jobs and our best bet is to apply for as many as humanly possible and hope that one sticks.

Some would say that the amount for tickets aren't that big a deal. Sure, by themselves, no. But for those who don't have the luxury of living near Anaheim, you have to include travel fare, consumables, and hotel stay. As someone who is notoriously bad with his money, I can safely say that it adds up a *lot* faster than you think.

If it weren't bad enough that your asking price for tickets is only going upwards in an economy going down, but the entire experience for those that would like to go just to see what the hubub is about only seems to be available for Horde players.

I have been told, by multiple individuals, that if you have the unmitigated gall to admit that you prefer the Alliance over the Horde, you will be treated with hostility. I'm just waiting for the occasion when some unsuspecting person gets bumrushed and beaten up by a group of teenage boys, and beaten savagely, all the while, said teenagers scream, "FUR DAH HORDE!!!111".

It's an ironic thing that Blizzard has brought upon themselves. Since Warcraft 3, they have always paraded how awesome the Horde was, at the expense of the Alliance, and now it's starting to go into areas they would have rather not, on a professional basis.

So, let's recap:

The Blizzcon experience is expensive, Alliance unfriendly, and there's no guarantee that you'll even have the chance to do what you'd like there.

Don't get me wrong, I would like to go to Blizzcon and see the sights, it's just not written in the cards for me and frankly, I'm not too broken up about it.

A temporary hiatus from the game, but not the blog.

Next monday, my timecard for WoW expires.

The primary reason is that WoW has become too much of a liability in terms of time required and money, especially when I still need to look long and hard for a job. It's in part my fault for not being better with my time, I will admit, but part of the design of WoW should not be left blameless on this account.

However, just because I am leaving the game for a while as I look for work, does not mean I can't say what I feel here. And best of all, you can't get banned by Horde loving Douchebags that hate the idea of ANYONE calling out the horde for the bad things they do. If you want to bring it on, I've got ten friends here, (insert ten names of Bad-ass individuals here), that'd be more than willing to let you have it.

In another post, I'm gonna list another reason why I left the game and it has more to do with the above paragraph than the money, but it's not the exact reason. Beware the dwarf, people!