With Battle for Azeroth, a lot will change in WoW. Above all, the positions of Horde and Alliance are likely to shift.
With World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, the factions of Horde and Alliance are more in focus of the game’s events. By the end of the expansion, both sides will be more clearly defined, and their positions will be clearly recognizable. While the Horde oscillates between two extremes, the Alliance must awaken from its passivity.
The narrative producer Steve Danuser and Ely Cannon, lead artist of World of Warcraft, spoke about the topic of factions and their development with the magazine Polygon.
The Horde is torn between honor and brutality: The Horde has been split even before. On one side, there are the more “evil” members, like the Forsaken. They are seeking conquest and trying to expand their people – at any cost. They do not shy away from plague or mass extermination. Any means are justified for the end.
On the other hand, there are the characters driven more by honor, such as Orcs or Tauren. They dislike dishonorable behavior and brutality, like what Sylvanas is planning.
However, there is also a lot of space in between. Blood Elves and Goblins often look out for their own advantage – but sometimes still have a sense of honor.
Both sides have always existed in the Horde. The developers “want to show where both positions have their place in the Horde” – because it is more than a homogeneous mix. The individual races have drastically different views.
Alliance must choose a path: The Alliance has always taken the role of the reacting side in the past of World of Warcraft. The Horde acts, and the Alliance reacts.
Now, after the burning of Teldrassil, the Alliance must consider what it wants to do. Will it slip back into passivity once more? Would the homeless Night Elves allow that? Or is the Alliance trying to solidify its position as the controlling party in Azeroth? Perhaps the Alliance, which has always been calm and collected, is seeking revenge for the first time.
Is a world without factions conceivable? When asked whether World of Warcraft would work without factions, the response is rather skeptical. Many players identify with their side, having fought for Horde or Alliance for over a decade. This identification cannot simply be taken away – and from a story perspective, that wouldn’t happen so quickly either.
Cortyn says: It seems certain, however, that both factions will be fundamentally different by the end of Battle for Azeroth than they were at the beginning of this expansion. This is a great opportunity for Blizzard to give both factions a new, clear identity. In doing so, the identification of players with their faction will also be strengthened.
Where would you like to see your faction at the end of Battle for Azeroth?
