Blizzard = " Fair & Balanced "

#1 - Dec. 3, 2010, 1:23 a.m.

to coin a phrase from a cable news outlet, I think we take a with a grain of salt this same claim with respect to what when into the respective sides with this expansion.

The prove is in the leveling. Level a horde character 1 to 20 and then an alliance character 1 to 20 and tell me which one was the more enjoyable experience. I play both sides and try to remain as objective as I can, but the differences are startling. Look at the difference between Stormwind and Ogrimmar. The former looks pretty much like always like it always did. The are differences but you have to go looking for them. The latter is a completely new city. It is vibrant, it has atmosphere. It has incredible background music making you feel that you are apart of the environment. Stormwind in contrast is dull and unimaginative. Where Ogrimmar invigorates you, Stormwind acts like a sedative. The only excitement that I can see coming to Stormwind is when Horde reach 85 an go back to invading her again on a daily basis.

Do I think that Blizzard as a rule favor horde ? No. This is a nonsense argument. Why would this wish to alienate one half of their player population ? It makes no sense.

Did a lot more effort and creativity go in to the Horde side of this expansion ? Absolutely and Blizzard cannot deny the obvious. Not only just with respect to the ascetics such as the aforementioned geography, but the horde quests are much entertaining and interesting then anything on the alliance side.

Daxxarri

Community Manager

#11 - Dec. 3, 2010, 2:14 a.m.

to coin a phrase from a cable news outlet, I think we take a with a grain of salt this same claim with respect to what when into the respective sides with this expansion.

The prove is in the leveling. Level a horde character 1 to 20 and then an alliance character 1 to 20 and tell me which one was the more enjoyable experience. I play both sides and try to remain as objective as I can, but the differences are startling. Look at the difference between Stormwind and Ogrimmar. The former looks pretty much like always like it always did. The are differences but you have to go looking for them. The latter is a completely new city. It is vibrant, it has atmosphere. It has incredible background music making you feel that you are apart of the environment. Stormwind in contrast is dull and unimaginative. Where Ogrimmar invigorates you, Stormwind acts like a sedative. The only excitement that I can see coming to Stormwind is when Horde reach 85 an go back to invading her again on a daily basis.

Do I think that Blizzard as a rule favor horde ? No. This is a nonsense argument. Why would this wish to alienate one half of their player population ? It makes no sense.

I'm actually in the process of leveling characters of both factions. I applaud that you've been even-handed in your exploration of the content, but unless I've misunderstood, it seems that your concerns are aesthetic, and ultimately, pretty individual in nature.

Personally, I love the 'new' Stormwind. The new graveyard, the new textures, the expanded areas - it is a relaxing, even beautiful, place. While it may not be a locale that gets the blood pumping for everybody, it does project a sense of age and majesty. Orgrimmar and Stormwind contrast each other sharply, and it's appropriate that each city project a different feel.

Did a lot more effort and creativity go in to the Horde side of this expansion ? Absolutely and Blizzard cannot deny the obvious. Not only just with respect to the ascetics such as the aforementioned geography, but the horde quests are much entertaining and interesting then anything on the alliance side.

I can respect that one might prefer the quests and cities of one faction to another, but it's not accurate to state that more effort and creativity went into their creation. It's especially a stretch to say that Horde quests are 'much more entertaining and interesting than anything on the Alliance side'. Feedback is both useful and desirable, but for it to be truly useful, it helps if it's specific and constructive.

So, I would like to ask, which Alliance questlines and areas have you experienced so far? Which Horde questlines and areas have you adventured through? What were you favorites?

Daxxarri

Community Manager

#18 - Dec. 3, 2010, 2:22 a.m.

Inflammatory news references aside, I'd like to keep this thread on topic: World of Warcraft content, not political punditry.

Daxxarri

Community Manager

#38 - Dec. 3, 2010, 2:33 a.m.

The Alliance after the Cataclysm: "Deathwing sure messed things up. Let's try and repair the damage Deathwing caused and make sure our people are safe. Oh no the Horde has taken half our territory while we were trying to save the world."

Have you paid a visit to the southern section of the Barrens recently? Apparently there are some things happening over there, according to rumor.

Say "Hi" to Ol' Durty Pete for me while you're there.

Bashiok

Community Manager

#155 - Dec. 3, 2010, 4:12 a.m.

On alliance I didn't get into any "against the horde" quests till I hit south barrens (even then it was mostly quillboar) and then western plagueland.

Jumping in briefly, sorry Daxx, but the human starting zone is pretty much entirely 'against the horde' quests. Not that it suddenly alleviates everyones thoughts on who got the better content or whatever. I do think that sort of reinforces Daxx's point though that these ideas of which is better may not always be based on complete experience of everything available.

Bashiok

Community Manager

#161 - Dec. 3, 2010, 4:20 a.m.

Ok, so unless you're killing NPC's who have been flagged in a database to be part of a specific faction they are not worth as much as other NPC's on the enjoyment scale?

I realize that's putting words in your mouth, but really is this what it's coming down to?

Bashiok

Community Manager

#178 - Dec. 3, 2010, 4:33 a.m.

Ok, so unless you're killing NPC's who have been flagged in a database to be part of a specific faction they are not worth as much as other NPC's on the enjoyment scale?

I realize that's putting words in your mouth, but really is this what it's coming down to?

No, its not that. Its the idea, the story behind it. Ok sure i'm fighting an orc but from the story point of view the blackrock orcs are more of a sidestory than taking part in the big story.

The fun and excitement for me is that i'm fighting against the opposing faction. That the alliance PLAYERS are taking part in the war on a larger scale than it appears we are. The war is between the horde and the alliance, fighting troggs isn't fighting the horde. Fighting the blackrock orcs isn't fighting the horde. Fighting ice trolls isn't fighting the horde.

Sure they look the same but they are not actually a part of the story between alliance and horde. They are a side story.

I understand that I may be missing some areas since I haven't really gone through all the quests yet. So if I am missing actual areas please let me know.

Sure, I guess I get it, I just don't really agree with the base idea of 'his cookie is bigger than mine'. I'm going to level my characters, I'm going to enjoy the quests or not enjoy them. But that's me. Carry on.

Bashiok

Community Manager

#183 - Dec. 3, 2010, 4:42 a.m.

Yeah Bash, everything is totally fair and equal and there's no bias and your VP isn't the biggest Horde fanboy in the world and everyone who notices otherwise and posts in all the threads that keep cropping up is just crazy.

Horde favoritism was an inside job.