Well the storyline is as forced as I figured it would be. Hugely hypocritical decision of Thalyssra after witnessing what happened to Alleria.
The more I think about Legion races joining a single faction the more annoyed I get. It should have been one faction-specific allied race (Zandalari for Horde, Dark Iron for Alliance) and two neutral that are willing to help both factions (Nightborne and High Mountain). From a gameplay perspective that gives Horde a "night elf" race and Alliance a "tauren" race.I guess my efforts to liberate and save an entire race from extinction were meaningless, though.
The nightborne/Horde story apart, these conversations does give some much needed insight into why the void elves would rejoin the Alliance - or said in another way, why they would be exiled: they threaten the Sunwell with their void powers. While it's true, I think, as some have pointed out, that the blood elves would be among the last to exile someone based on them being, simply put, 'different' - their void powers threatening the Sunwell threatens everything the blood elves are, everything they have fought for. For Lor'themar and the blood elves it's probably like Kael'thas himself has returned, infused with the fel, twisting the Sunwell for the Legion. To their eyes it's like saying orcs such as Saurfang would - like on Draenor and in Outland - be infused with the powers of the Legion and become fel orcs - the orcs wouldn't stand for it, it threatens everything the have fought for and accomplished, their very identity.It's true that unlike Kael'thas or the fel orcs, Alleria is in full control of her own powers, she answers to her own consciousness and will and not that of the Legion or the Void Lords, but the blood elves are wary, possibly ignorant of this fact, and might simply not be willing to accept the possible, and plausible, dangers and consequences of letting the void elves stay in Quel'Thalas.
Let's end the argument for those saying "Nighbourne shouldn't have picked horde because I helped them" by asking Blizzard to have all allied races neutral. Then I can reroll a Lightforged Draenei with the Horde because I helped them on my Horde toon. No? Ok let's move on then.Others are right, they were looking for support following Legion after we/Legion decimated their people and reached out to the Horde due to the affinity with the Sin'dorei.
I wish for King Wrynn to let the Nightborne in the Alliance. Sylvanas will not have them!
still pretty upset that the Horde embassy building is copy-pasted from our horrid WoD garrison while the Alliance gets a fancy one... oh well
A few quick thoughts I have on the currently announced allied races. A few of the races make so much sense to go to their assigned factions. Dark iron are already a part of the alliance and their queen is on the council of three hammers.High mountain tauren have much in common with their counterparts in Kalimdor. They have been separated for likely thousands of years .Light forged draenie are also kin with those from the exodar. With the fast movement of time in the nether many more years have passed for them than have for the exodar draenei. I imagine many of them were not born on Argus but many of them would have known Velen before they all left Argus. It's like a family reunion. If they were to join a faction the alliance is the only one that makes sense.Nightborne as others have addressed are the most conflicted race of all six. The older ones that were around during the war of the ancients were the same race and kin of the night elves. There are likely nightelves who have siblings or cousins who are now. nighrborne. Culturally they are far apart though as we all know. With the horde and alliance both having helped them I would have liked these ones to be neutral and let the individual pick their factions. Also shouldn't Thalyssra be grand magistrix now?For the high mountain and nightborne and light forged draenei it doesn't make sense to me that they would side with one faction and eliminate the aid and trade they could have received from the other Zandalari only have ties to the darkspear and they are hardly close. Zul'jin refused to join them during their reemergence in Cata. Both factions have fought against them time and time again. I'm hoping to read their story soon but the troll ties would be the only ties they currently have.Void elves. I'm indifferent about them. They look cool from what I've seen but how many can there be? High elves have been offered as a race because of their low population. They are ten percent of the size of blood elf population. What percent of the blood elves are going to take up with the void. I like the bit in the story t hst the void contaminates the sunwell so can't be near it. That makes some sense but populations don't. If a good portion of the blood elves become void elves wouldn't that weaken their hold on Quel'thelas? I guess we'll have to see but I would have preferred high elves.
Blue tweet:How do you feel having Pandaren shared between both factions has worked out? Would you do the same if new races were added?Not a fan of it overall. We just didn't want to deny anyone Pandaren. https://mobile.twitter.com/Ghostcrawler/status/360765802590384129So blizzard are not particularly fans of more playable neutral races. So its highly unlikely we will see them any more going forward. Also this is not the only time they've stated this.
It's interesting that Horde folk aren't complaining about not getting the Lightforged or Dark Irons or Void Elves but loads of Alliance folk are in tears over not getting the Nightborne. There's multiple instances of Tyrande treating the Nightborne with disdain and lack of empathy throughout the campaign, while Liadrin is compassionate and understanding to their plight. She's been in the same place as Thalyssra, as have all Blood Elves. Who would you rather accept a helping hand from, the person who is looking down on you the whole time, or the person who says 'I've been there, I know what it's like and I want to help'?
First Arcanist Thalyssra: Good luck, $p. As for me, I am going to test my skill in Ashenvale. For the Horde!.Feels weird and out of character. Unless, they are turning her into a villain. Tyrande was mean, so im gonna go kill her people.