The Wait is over..The New Alliance Race is disclosed

[Brakogar]

The New Alliance race will be the uncorrupted version of Draenei which apparently live in Outland.

Here is the Gamespy Article

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/world-of-warcraft-expansion/705785p1.html

Please allow me to be the first to say...

WTF???

[Leyujin]

Thank gods it's not Pandarens, or I would be very mournful. Not because I'm the type who thinks they're just an april fools joke, but because lorewise, I always thought the Pandarens belonged with the Horde, not the Alliance. My pathetic justification for leaving this game is now gone! Hurrah!... er, wait...

[Brakogar]

I am also glad that they are not Panderans for lore sake. What shocks me about the Draenei is that it was the most logical choice for an Alliance race but it was popularly downplayed so much as a possibility (because people said it would suck) that I honestly didnt think that Blizzard would have them.

[EnheilRas]

PAndaren *were* an April Fool's Joke
The possibility they could be an Alliance race was *also* an April Fool's joke, but by Ian McCulloch of Machall fame.

[Abric]

PAndaren *were* an April Fool's Joke
The possibility they could be an Alliance race was *also* an April Fool's joke, but by Ian McCulloch of Machall fame.

They exist in the world, just aren't a major part of it.

Warcraft 3's Expansion orc campaign... doom.

[Gloomberry]

I was rooting for Pandaren as the new Alliance race (I'm Australian, but I'm posting on an American board, therefore I can use the word "rooting" in the American sense of the word in case my fellow Aussies take objection to me rooting for Pandaria). Tis a shame, but Pandaria will live on in my heart.

The new Alliance race is the Lost Ones, a tribe of Draenei oppressed by the brutal Broken, as mentioned in the Burning Crusade Beastiary. It'll be fun to have something new to play with.

[Aquizit]

...I'm curious though.. Draenei are shamanistic.... but no shams for Alliance right? ...


So.. like.. what could they be? .. Hunters, Warriors.. that's pretty much it.

[Fallacy]

Not surprised.

Just a little thing on Pandarens: They actually have more lore behind them than the Draenei do. We actually know that they have a nation in Azeroth located (most likely) on an island in the South Sea, whereas we don't even know where these Draenei live, or how they managed to survive or why they didn't join Akama in Outland.

EDIT: I've been looking around a bit, and some people have gotten into their minds that what they were describing were Eredar, which has no basis at all, especially since the article specifically lists them as Draenei, and that the description perfectly matches the picture of the Broken in the Burning Crusade bestiary.

[Xorek]

Dranei would defintely be allowed rogue, and I could imagine priest.

maybe mage? maybe druid? Part of me also thinks it would be an interesting paladin

[Malebrignon]

Too bad. Murloc, Pandaren, Naga, or Kobold all could've convinced me to play Alliance past 20 for once. Hunched over, corpse-like creature? Naw.

[Fhenrir]

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/images/bestiary/thebroken.jpg

I'll try one.

[Malebrignon]

Hmmm.... they actually gonna look like that or like the existing Draenei within the game. Their current graphics hold no appeal.

I still want murlocs. I want to be in an all-Murloc heavy RP guild.

Glaahglgh: Glllalwllellllall!
Agllealllgall: Agaagalgl!
Glaahglgh: Mllalallelalelaleals!
Malealellli: WTF?
Agllealllgall: ((No OOC chatter please.))

[Hifazat]

Well I am actually happy with this. It provides a new unique alliance character and it breaks the mold of the traditional tolkienite alliance of "men, dwarves elves and short folk".

I was damn pleased when the Horde got Blood elves. I am happier with this change.

One thing I love about blizzard is that they do not pander to the lowest common denominator. They do what they want and build the way they think the WoW story works and functions.

One very happy alliance member.

[Fallacy]

Yep, according to what the article says, they will look more like the Broken we seen in the Bestiary than the Draenei we see in-game. They might get an overhaul, as well, when the expansion comes out, like the other Elves are.

[Alucian]

I think I can live with that.

I won't be rolling one, though. :)

[EnheilRas]

Alliance already have 3 priest races in-game. They might not be able to be priests.

I hope they can't Shadowmeld... I couldn't take both Night Elves and Draenei doing that on the Alliance...

[Garbhan]

F*ck.

[Tyrsza]

Picked these up from the general boards:

http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4116784fb.jpg


http://www.wowwiki.com/Image:4116772yv.jpg

[Garbhan]

Ok, those don't look TOO too bad... sept for the tentacles... at least there aren't any krill-eating whale teeth. I might not have to reroll troll...

[Leyujin]

Well I am actually happy with this. It provides a new unique alliance character and it breaks the mold of the traditional tolkienite alliance of "men, dwarves elves and short folk".

I was damn pleased when the Horde got Blood elves. I am happier with this change.

One thing I love about blizzard is that they do not pander to the lowest common denominator. They do what they want and build the way they think the WoW story works and functions.

One very happy alliance member.

Hmm, I don't know... I rather think Blood Elves for the Horde is pandering to the lowest common denominator... now OGRES, that's where it's at. Or Pandarens.

[Hifazat]

The blood elves i can see as a horde race personally because hey they are evil. Until WC3 the horde was evil with the bloodlust and all. During WC3 you have them being created as 3 dimensional characters.

The blood elves fit in more with the horde in my opinion, because the Night elves and the Blood elves will not be together ever.

I do agree that ogres would be great.

Now panderan I would not tolerate at all. It was an an April fools joke. The players liked it so Blizzard gave them an easter egg. They were never meant to be a PC or NPC race.

[Garbhan]

I wanded Alliance Ogres =(

[Vilmah]

Ha. Awesome. Although I'm still miffed that they get a cool-looking race, and we get... y'know... ELVES... ><

Oh well.

[Keraph]

I SO called it from the beginning!

Though I can't shake the Eredar-like appearance of them, and that would make little sense...

[Karkarov]

I dont know. I am dissapointed they get something neat and interesting and monster like and horde gets.... elves. Yay. .... They even look like night elves just with different skin color. I will probably roll one just for a break but eh... It seems like fanservice was expended on the horde and actual content on the alliance.

[Gannarak]

Blood elves have a great history and I'm sure will provide and interesting twist to the Horde. Ogres would have been just another swarm of idiots with little interest other than being big. I like the new alliance race design, its original, and it will also provide an interesting twist to the Alliance. I wont roll a Blood Elf, or change side just for a a new race, (everyone will have one of the new races anyway) but I think its nice.

J-

[Leyujin]

Blood elves have a great history and I'm sure will provide and interesting twist to the Horde. Ogres would have been just another swarm of idiots with little interest other than being big. I like the new alliance race design, its original, and it will also provide an interesting twist to the Alliance. I wont roll a Blood Elf, or change side just for a a new race, (everyone will have one of the new races anyway) but I think its nice.

J-

I'd say that the Blood Elves will have their own swarm of idiots. In general, I find Tauren players to be either mature or decent players, with slightly below normal percentages of kiddies/idiots, and in general they have little interest in "being big". Ogres, well, I can't speak for them, and you'd certainly have a lot of the "me dumb ogre" or "hulk smash" rp. But I'd still take them over Elves any day of the week. And anyone willing to play a female ogre would have to be a VERY special breed ><.

[Rasta]

dang... almost makes me want to reroll alliance...... almost.

but, as i have some... tee hee... choice names reserved for blood elf chars, and the fact that i couldn't /poke undead squishiness whenever i want, i think i'll just stay where i'm at. and just learn to ignore all the /humping and /grinding that'll be constantly going on in the belf newbie zone.

[Brakogar]

Another strange development...

WoW Wiki is claiming that the New Alliance Race are Eredar??

http://www.wowwiki.com/Rumored_Races

That doesnt make any sense to me since Eredar are the rulling caste of Demons and known to be field Warlocks, Necros and mages. However in the Gamespy Article, the description of the so called Uncurrupted Draenai could easialy fit an Eredar.

This is too weird and would not make sense lore wise at all if it were Eredar.

We will have to wait until Blizzard gives the final word on this.

[Tyrsza]

More stuff from the general forums:

http://img189.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00415kt.jpg


http://img422.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11472063237704hs.jpg

[Brakogar]

There is no doubt, those are Eredar.

That Booth Picture shows almost identical Head Ridges to Archimonde.

This is way too weird. Why would demons ally themselves with the Alliance and why would the Alliance accept them since the Demons goal is actualy to consume and destroy all of Azeroth??

[Rasta]

More stuff from the general forums:

http://img189.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00415kt.jpg


paladins?! wtf?! (judging from that book he's swinging, and his armor/hammer)



Edit: EREDAR PALADINS?



WTF?!

[Leyujin]

And furthermore, what do Eredar or Dranei have to do with leaves? ?=(
Well, they certainly filled the "ugly/badass" role for the Alliance, but it also makes no sense at the moment. Maybe the Alliance has fallen further than I thought. They're now being controlled by the Burning Legion!

*Sticks demonslaying on his axes and prepares for a crusade*

[Vilmah]

I dont know. I am dissapointed they get something neat and interesting and monster like and horde gets.... elves. Yay. .... They even look like night elves just with different skin color. I will probably roll one just for a break but eh... It seems like fanservice was expended on the horde and actual content on the alliance.

I totally agree.

It will be a sad day indeed when there are naked blood elves, dancing in the streets of Orgrimmar.

My Blizzard... my Blizzard... why have you Forsaken me?

[Fallacy]

I still don't think it's Eredar. This pic http://www.wowwiki.com/Image:4116772yv.jpg looks way more like the Broken http://http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/bestiary.html .

[EnheilRas]

My Blizzard... my Blizzard... why have you Forsaken me?

Check the Undercity.

Lots of people being Forsaken there.

[EnheilRas]

The blood elves i can see as a horde race personally because hey they are evil. Until WC3 the horde was evil with the bloodlust and all. During WC3 you have them being created as 3 dimensional characters.

Remember that the Quel'dorei are joining the Forsaken, not the Horde. As such, they will never be equals in Horde culture. The Trolls just will not have it. In fact, you'll likely to see many trolls becoming enraged, and Queldorei being openly beaten in public by them.


The blood elves fit in more with the horde in my opinion, because the Night elves and the Blood elves will not be together ever.

The Horde never turns down a people in need. Our sympathy is our weakness.

[EnheilRas]

Another strange development...

WoW Wiki is claiming that the New Alliance Race are Eredar??.

Anyone can write anything in a Wiki, all they have to do is write up an account.

Eredar are two stories tall.

[Vilmah]

My Blizzard... my Blizzard... why have you Forsaken me?

Check the Undercity.

Lots of people being Forsaken there.

Thanks for pointing out the pun there, buddy. =P

[Abric]

Uuuuuuh.

Somebody needs to make a post about Blood Elves. I got a whole bunch of hate on that retarded idea.

...

Don't think the Darkspear have any beef with elves (more than anybody else.) Since... you know... it was the Forest Trolls that were getting their butts whooped.

Abric > Enheilras

Forsaken = Horde

Sylvanus -/+ Jana (Lonely Nights) *Thrall

[Keraph]

Yeah, one thing I must note: The Darkspear Trolls, those we are allied with, have no hate, nor reason to hate, the Sin'Dorei. They'll get along juuuust fine!

[Gloomberry]

A pic of the new Alliance race has been leaked on a Korean website. No joke. I didn't think to copy the link, though it might still be on the official WoW forums somewhere.

Nope, just checked, looks like they've all been deleted.

Here's a screencap that confirms the Gamespy article: http://www.wowwiki.com/Image:4116784fb.jpg

Apparently, Night Elves who died at the battle of Mt Hyjal and were trapped as wisps melded themselves with demons, and now they've come to the Alliance for help. Her'es the full story: http://www.afstudios.net/playground/imageDump/screenshot.jpg

It looks like that green dude off Dragonball Z, only blue-skinned (and he had really weird hips too ...). He also looked like a priest (robe and mace). Curious.

So there ya go.

Blah, I can wait. I need to go do laundry and hunt dinner ...

EDIT: Found it: http://thisisgame.com/board/view.php?id=46587&category=8001

And another pic (even more controversial!): http://www.blizzplanet.com/images/news/wow/e3-2006/eredar-e3.jpg

DOUBLE EDIT: Already posted by Tyrszar. Heh. ^_^

I really need to fix dinner ...

[Brakogar]

Here is another Leaked Pic showing an "Eredar" in the character screen.

http://www.wowguru.com/gallery/files/eredar-char-select-blurry-id1308/

The Pics appears legitimate as it is a screenshot from a booth monitor.

I must say this but doesn't that character model look REAL crap?

I hope that it is a beta or early model and not the final thing.

Here are a few pics of the E3 Blizzard booth with a statue of Ilidan looking crazy.

http://www.blizzplanet.com/?action=news&id=745

BlizPlanet also has a fan made explanation on the background of the new race based on the leaked content. It appears that these Eredar are the product of a mutation of the wisps used to defeat Archimonde. The fact that supports this is that their starting area is Mount Hyal

http://www.blizzplanet.com/?action=news&id=743

Here is a booth Video

mms://windyvod.hvod.nefficient.co.kr/windyvod/thisis/E3%202006/WoW_E_Intro.wmv

[Leyujin]

Uuuuuuh.

Somebody needs to make a post about Blood Elves. I got a whole bunch of hate on that retarded idea.

...

Don't think the Darkspear have any beef with elves (more than anybody else.) Since... you know... it was the Forest Trolls that were getting their butts whooped.

Abric > Enheilras

Forsaken = Horde

Sylvanus -/+ Jana (Lonely Nights) *Thrall

Before Alterac Valley got revamped, the Troll Bounty Hunter, who collected Night Elf heads, talked about them as traitors and kinslayers and bigots, oh my. And he is a Darkspear, who never really had contact with the Night Elves before this. All elves are viewed by Trolls as misguided, traitorous kin that have either slain their own ancestors, or dismantled the Troll empire. So basically, trolls hate or dislike all elves. Except mayyybe the Shatterspear, but they're tripped out to hell and all dancin' fools.

[Alucian]

Oooh...Illidan...you can rock my socks anyday... <3 <3 <3

*cough*

Eredar! I like the idea. :D

[Fallacy]

It's been announced. It's officially Draenei.

[Tyrsza]

Yup, its Dreanei.

From an interview with Jeff Kaplan on the New York Times website:

the Draenei share a heritage with one of the major enemies in Warcraft, Archimonde. They are both descended from the Eredar. Lots of players have wanted to play demons, and Draenei are the closest you can get to looking like an Eredar. They have these cool forehead features, and one of the customization features is switching around these facial features and the tendrils hanging beneath the chin and so on.

Pretty awesome. ^.~



Link to the Article (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/technology/10warcraftqa.web.html)

[Leyujin]

Interestingly, Draenei females aren't ugly as expected, keeping 4/5 Alliance females "pretty". But frankly, yes, yes, Blizzard can make lore as they like. But there is such a thing as a discordant story. If, in LOTR, there were suddenly spaceship traveling bird people who joined Sauron and turned the tide against the Free Peoples or whatever, the story would lose major cohesion and become a farce.

I frankly think that's what's happened here, because precedent has the Draenei in no way connected with the Light. In FT, the draenei were using shamanic magic such as chain lightning and healing wave, and the Lost Ones and other Draenei in SoS and Blasted Lands continue this proclivity. These "uncorrupted" draenei also look very minimally like "corrupted" draenei, like how a trogg could potentially be a corrupted human. But all of a sudden, we have good eredar who wield the light who've passed over many planets allied with "good energy beings" called the naaru (lawlz) who are now allied with the Alliance. They frankly fit Starcraft better than Warcraft.

There's nothing that can be done, and I'm just inclined to ignore it. All I really want is a more dynamic world pvp environment... which might be just a futile wish as a coherent story. Maybe I'll just go work on my map where the Nerubians wtfpwn Arthas at the Battle of Icecrown. ^_^

[Keraph]

I'm distraught. There's a HUGE hole in the lore now. I tihnk I'm gonna cry >.<

I wanted Draenei, but not like this.....not like this

/wrists ;o;

[Hifazat]

Has the official lore been set out yet or not? Ie. why the Draenei are now part of the alliance?

*so badly need to play WC1 to WC3 again*

[Leyujin]

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/draenei.html

[Hifazat]

Thanks alot. Now to PM Manus with alot of questions.

[EnheilRas]

As I understand it, the Draenei never used Shamanism.

They adapted it when they began the corruption of Fel, which deprived them of the powers of the Light.

An interesting note is that we now know who the "God" of the Light is..

[Xeran]

From the general descriptions I saw and the screenshots, appearantly the new race can have Paladins.

*Xeran feels sick*
*Xeran visits Undercity*
*Xeran becomes a Forsaken*
*Xeran and Abric talk about 'bewbies' in the Drag*

[EnheilRas]

RazielHex: the new Expansion Alliance race
DyreJestyr: ...
DyreJestyr: How the hell did they end up with Drawnei?
RazielHex: they look like little Eredar
DyreJestyr: Which one was that?
RazielHex: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/technology/10warcraftqa.web.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
RazielHex: Archimonde was an Eredar
DyreJestyr: Wow.. weird.
DyreJestyr: They look evil.
RazielHex: they can be paladins
RazielHex: fuckin' paladins
RazielHex: Draenei fuckin' Paladins
RazielHex: Every where
RazielHex: bubblehearthing
RazielHex: I can't take it
DyreJestyr: Lol

[Rudrah]

Q: Why did you decide to add the Draenei as the new Alliance race?
A: The Draenei visited many worlds in their travels and explored much of the known cosmos on their quest to find safe harbor. During this exodus they befriended the enigmatic Naaru -- a race of beings with a deep affinity for the Holy Light of Creation that empowers the paladins of Azeroth. The Naaru blessed the Draenei with this power in an effort to help them in their struggle. This makes them a natural ally of the Alliance races who embrace this holy power.

In addition, the Draenei hold no affinity for certain Horde races. They outright hate the Orcs, who nearly drove the Draenei to extinction in Outland. And more recently, the Blood Elves stole technology from the Draenei and also sabotaged their dimensional ship, which crash landed on Azeroth.

Am I allowed to cry, as this very consistent world where the best technology (gnome and goblin) was made of steam/explosive devices that could blow in your face, as just been destroyed by sci-fi elements? It is a very personnal feeling, but I think such a thing as a ship that soars through dimensions totally breaks the mood set by previous Warcraft lore.

How did the bloodlusted orcs armed with rudimentary weapons managed to tear down Dranei by the hundred in Dreanor, when the latter had the technology to travel between dimensions (and probably just wipe out the orc race with a giant PEW PEW paladin lazer gun, while we're at it...)

*cry*

[EnheilRas]

Oooh God, Paladins with lasers..

Shooting out of their magic bubbles

Oooh God no..

arrrrgh

[Hifazat]

Kill me now. Good god, dimensional ship? Please stop the pain in my brain!

[EnheilRas]

there are gnomes with world enlargers inside my head
hacking away at grey matter.

[Gannarak]

Space... the final frontier. These are the paladins of the starship Enterprise

Dranei will have phasers ! And Shields ! We'll have to call them JordiLaForge and JeanLucPicard !

Well, at least I'm on the Horde side, I'll get to kill them for having such a lame excuse to be there :P

J-

[EnheilRas]

Jordi's already taken.

Goto Gadgetzan

[Gannarak]

Yeah.. I know.. well we can call him Worf !

J-

[Rudrah]

Dimensionnal Ship

Binds when used
Races: Dranei
Requires Level 60
Requires Dimensionnal Traveling (1)
Use: Summons and dismisses a rideable dimensionnal ship. This mount goes at a ludicrous speed, passing through matter, time and dimensions like butter.
Cooldown: 3 sec
3 sec cast
Item Level 60


"Hey there! I'm a paladin of demonic descent! Gnomes can't serve the Light, but the demon-blooded sure can!"

[EnheilRas]

That Draenei Pally BubbleHearthed to PLAID!

[Daedraug]

This isn't in any way supposed to be a smart-assed question. I'm honestly wondering:

Is there a particular reason why everyone is hellbent on this ship thing being tech based instead of magic based? Other than the reason that the name itself inspires sci-fi feelings?

I know bliz tends to do some pretty inexplicable things sometimes, but I don't know why everyone just assumes they're going to take some crazy left turn.

[Brakogar]

And more recently, the Blood Elves stole technology from the Draenei and also sabotaged their dimensional ship, which crash landed on Azeroth.

Does it say anything about magic in that Quote?

It doesnt even allow it to be open for interpretation, it actualy says technology.

Entaro Adun! The Blood Elves have just shot down a Protos Arbiter

[Gannarak]

OMG, the next expension will be:

World of Starcraft

new Horde Race: Zergs
new Alliance Race: Protoss

How could we not see it coming !

J-

[Xorek]

zergling warrior

I'd play that.

[EnheilRas]

/roll Ultralisk

[Leyujin]

Omg... just think of five Lurkers at the Bridge in Alterac.

[Abric]

That Draenei Pally BubbleHearthed to PLAID!

...

The Nuke wins. Welcome to my Navy, son. You've earned it.

AbricOOC
~Only one man would DARE give me raspberry!

[Pistos]

Sweet I was right, I guess my picture of the new alliance race wasn't wrong. :o

Hehe I might have to come back for the expansion.