I am extremely tired of seeing this complaint on the forums for World of Warcraft ever since Illidan was revealed as the “final” boss in the first expansion, The Burning Crusade. It seems people can’t seem to grasp the concept of story telling in an MMO, nor how it works. I thought I’d take a moment to give a break down.
In Warcraft 2, Prince Arthas was nowhere to be found. He was a no name paladin-in-training. Yes, heir to the throne, but still nothing worthy of noting. At least no more than young Anduin Wrynn in Stormwind is now. Likewise, Thrall was a slave early on, and nothing of noteworthy significance.
Enter YOU. Your character. Over the course of playing from level 1 to 60, YOUR character has joined with others and led groups or armies to save Stormwind from the Defias plot to destroy the city with their warship. YOU and your allies have ended the threat in Shadowfang Keep. It was YOUR brave deeds that assaulted the Dark Iron nation and overthrew their Emperor. YOU who confronted Deathwing’s brood; Onyxia and Nefarion and slew them both, bringing their draconic heads back to your nation as proof of your heroic deed. From there, you fought in the War of the Shifting Sands against the Qiraji and their masters. Even some gathered together and fought the demigod Ragnaros and assaulted Naxxramas itself! These deeds are heroic beyond measure and will be sung by minstrels for ages!
It was YOU, Dragonslayer, Fire-Fiend, Scourge of the Qiraji, Hand of the Light, Killer of Kel’Thuzad, HERO of the Alliance/Horde who laid siege to Gruul, slayed Magtheridon, and battled through Serpentshrine Cavern. YOU and YOUR ALLIES defeated Lady Vashj and assaulted Tempest Keep to stop Kael’Thas.
Why are Vashj, Kael’Thas, Illidan, and Arthas considered to be such unstoppable, unbeatable, unchallengeable beings?
Vashj never did anything of greatness. She AND HER NAGA ALLIES helped Kael’thas in combat and helped him escape and Alliance prison. She never single handedly lay waste to an army.
Kael’thas had support. He was a leader and a commander of his forces, leading them through the trials his troop faced as a result of biased, racist Alliance commanders (you know who I’m looking at!). But he never left a city in ruins by himself. He never obliterated an army with the wave of his hand.
Illidan. We’re stepping up a notch, I suppose, but what did he do? Where is his greatness from? He bested a powerful demon in single combat. He led his naga warriors into battle. He led HIS ALLIES against Magtheridon in the Black Temple. Bear in mind, he defeated Magtheridon with the aid of HERO CLASS Vashj, Kael’thas AND Akama, as well as all the “no name” troops.
Arthas, likewise, used others in combat. Again, he was a commander, a leader in combat. He never waded into the middle of an enemy force and single handedly slaughtered them all. He defeated Uther as a Death Knight; another single combat battle (though I could argue calvary beats infantry any day). He defeated Illidan, another battle of Hero class vs. Hero class in single combat. He led an army, aka HIS ALLIES against Silvermoon City, facing Sylvanas and her allies on the way. In the end, he overcame those challenges and then went on with Kel’Thuzad, another Hero class, as an ally in combat. Before he was a Death Knight, he commanded knights, paladins, riflemen, mages, and priests in combat.
No Hero of the lore has obliterated armies with the wave of his hand. Archimonde crushed a city, but we’re not really looking at him right now. The Heroes of the Horde and Alliance have been leaders. They command their men, inspire them, and use their strengths and strategy to gain victory.
Hero and allies VS. Hero, that’s what these boss fights come down to. I’m not sure how much more fitting anyone could ask. It took 27 heroes to defeat Illidan. 25 Heroes of the Alliance/Horde, as well as two additional Hero class characters in Maeiv and Akama. 27 vs 1 and it’s still a hard fought battle.
For Arthas, it will be 10 vs 1 (arguably 10 +1 hero class if Jaina or Sylvanas are included in the encounter) for accessible content sake. For the full hard encounter, it returns to 25 vs. 1 (or 26 with Jaina/Sylvanas). How much more epic of a last stand can one ask for? Honestly, the 10 vs 1 is more novel-like than 40 or more.
Sure, Sauron the Deceiver challenged the armies of man and elf on his own, but it came down to Hero class Dark Lord vs. Hero class Warrior King for his fingers to get cut off and lose the Ring of Power.
Usually we have the help of powerful beings anyway. Kalecgos, Sylvanas, Jaina, Tyrande, Thrall, Vaelastrasz, Maiev, Akama just to name a few. And our characters are powerful heroes of legend by the story of the game. Yes, every player gets to experience that, and thus in every player’s “story” they are the main protagonist, the hero.
So drop the whining and complaining because a character from Warcraft III lore is getting killed. It’s called denouement, closure, and a conclusion to the story. When one story concludes, the seeds laid give rise to the next tale. And always…
There is more to be written.
-Swift
“Enter YOU. Your character. Over the course of playing from level 1 to 60, YOUR character has joined with others and led groups or armies to save Stormwind from the Defias plot to destroy the city with their warship. YOU and your allies have ended the threat in Shadowfang Keep. It was YOUR brave deeds that assaulted the Dark Iron nation and overthrew their Emperor. YOU who confronted Deathwing’s brood; Onyxia and Nefarion and slew them both, bringing their draconic heads back to your nation as proof of your heroic deed. From there, you fought in the War of the Shifting Sands against the Qiraji and their masters. Even some gathered together and fought the demigod Ragnaros and assaulted Naxxramas itself! These deeds are heroic beyond measure and will be sung by minstrels for ages!”
You’ll bring tears of glory to my eyes…*Sniff* I didn’t know I was so awesome…I was just doing instances for gear…
“Illidan. We’re stepping up a notch, I suppose, but what did he do? Where is his greatness from? ”
Well……..He destroyed the Well of Eternity, made the Maelstorm, in-look he banished Sargaras, made the second Well of Eternity, forced the Dragons to give Night Elves immortality, and forced the Highborne to become High Elves after travelling the Great Sea.
He did a little more then you’d give him credit for, but in truth, he is -in the end- a Night Elf.
A demon-ridden Night Elf, and despite him doing great things, so did we.
I think we’re on equal terms, Illidan.
“So drop the whining and complaining because a character from Warcraft III lore is getting killed. It’s called denouement, closure, and a conclusion to the story. When one story concludes, the seeds laid give rise to the next tale. And always…”
Well said indeed!