Days ago, in a more or less exciting presentation, the latest expansion of World of Warcraft was revealed. It is called “Legion” and mainly deals with the namesake burning legion, which attempts once again to destroy Azeroth. But what do we know so far and what does it mean? And how thought out does everything seem this time?
When the demons ring 3 times …
The burning legion is not only the name of the foes in the latest WoW addon but also a very important part of the existing Warcraft story. After the War of the Ancients (10,000 years ago) and the attack on Nordrassil (Warcraft 3), the demon brood under the leadership of the dark titan Sargeras is attempting for the third time to destroy Azeroth.
Gul’dan sets the stone rolling, who was banished from Draenor and travels to our Azeroth to make the former tomb of Sargeras a portal nexus of the burning legion. Meanwhile, he awakens the captured remains of Illidan and frees other dark creatures that the night elf guardians had kept sealed away from the world. The largest invasion of the burning legion so far begins – and this is a statement that raises high expectations.
The new area: The Broken Isles
In general, the concepts of the different areas sound pretty exciting and the developers have once again managed to create quite a colorful mix. Suramar will probably satisfy the little lore freak in me, as the old elf city played an important role in the novel series and certainly offers plenty of information about the culture of the highborn night elves.
Val’Sharah offers insights into the emerald dream and thus forms a strong contrast between “healthy nature” and “corruption”. The other areas also sound promising, as they have different themes; from the original lore of the druids, the Vrykul, and the pure Valkyr.
Since Blizzard wants to place even more value on storytelling, I am optimistic that at least the leveling phase will captivate me, possibly for two nights without sleep.
Demon Hunters and Artifact Weapons
Both the new hero class and the artifact weapons sound exciting, but the information is still sparse. I am particularly interested in the reason why the demon hunters are joining the Horde and Alliance, as they originally belonged to the Illidari – a loyal elite unit that also suffers from the thirst of magic that Illidan and Kael’thas quenched with fel magic.
Gameplay-wise, the class seems exciting, especially with new mechanics such as the double jump or the ability to see enemies even in invisibility and through walls. How much of this will be found in the final version remains to be seen, as usually some aspects are removed during the beta phase.
The artifact weapons seem fantastic at first glance, as they combine many aspects that have long been requested. A weapon that gains power over time, is tied to exciting class missions, and can also be visually customized? At least the idea has already convinced me.
I am also pleased that they are adopting certain aspects of the garrison despite the criticism, such as the new champions in the class halls. While this is another step towards “We are the absolute superhero,” when even important characters like Lady Liadrin let us command them around, it is probably just a logical consequence after all the deeds we have already accomplished in World of Warcraft.
The website reveals even more …
Some details from the official “Legion” website have remained unmentioned so far. Those who look carefully can indeed recognize some placeholders that Blizzard will surely fill in the coming months to maintain the hype and further increase anticipation. In addition to a four-part audio play series for the new addon, there will also be some comics and videos that hopefully reveal more of the story and shed light on the various main characters.
For we know that Sylvanas will play a bigger role, but no word has been said so far about her exact actions. I also have high expectations for the naga antagonist Tide Mistress Athissa. She should be more than just the typical “throwaway naga” and I am burning with curiosity as to why her fanatical devotion to Azshara even surpasses that of Lady Vashj – for she was at least in the books unmatched in “fangirlism” (and jealousy).
Logical gaps in the lore
As exciting as most of the presentation sounded, I am also confused about some aspects of the lore. A small point of criticism is Frostmourne, whose shards one must collect as a frost death knight to forge the artifact weapon. So far, it was said that the shards were securely locked away. And now they are just lying around in Icecrown? The shards of the most powerful death knight weapon ever? … Really?
A second important aspect is the location of the addon. The “Broken Isles” do exist in the lore, but they were raised from the depths of the sea by Gul’dan (the “original”) only a relatively few years ago. So how can lush vegetation and even an entire world tree have formed in such a short time? In the case of the elves and their Nightwell, I can still understand that they may have lived under a magical dome, but how did the Vrykul manage it? Or are they completely new islands? Or – as I fear – has this detail been completely forgotten?
I am hyped! But …
For many reasons, I am looking forward to the addon. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it gives me some incentives to return to Azeroth. Especially the lore surrounding the new elf race or various races of the legion intrigues me greatly, as well as all aspects related to the naga and Queen Azshara. I will probably also take a look at the PvP again, as the new system sounds much more motivating than the previous one.
At the same time, I am skeptical. None of the previous announcements sound like the big “game changer” that will long-term solve the motivational problems of World of Warcraft. Fairly, it must also be said that much remains unclear regarding “Legion”. A hasty judgment would not do justice to a game that has already managed to captivate me anew five times.
