For the...Horde?

[Teigan]

Lorewise, the Wrathgate sequence has me about convinced the Alliance ain't so great. Seems like Jaina and Thrall were on the verge of an alliance, when good ol' King Wrynn decides, "hey, I'm gonna try and kill Thrall!" Backstabbing, if you ask me. The fall of Undercity to a common enemy, combined with the common enemy of the Lich King, could have been a turning point...seemed like Thrall wanted to work with Jaina on it. I'm actually rather moved by the whole thing. It ended with Jaina saying "It didn't have to be like this." She froze and ported everyone away, like breaking up fighting dogs with a hose. And then there I was back in Wrynn's chamber, with my tallstrider dead at my feet...not happy. /sigh, can't we all just get along?
What does that questline look like from the Horde side?

Playerwise, I know a LOT depends on the server. Eldre'thalas Alliance trade chat...well, put it this way, I've thought of getting my Mom involved in the game, since she would like it, but I wouldn't want to expose her to trade chat. I don't know what I would do if I had kids that wanted to play! But then, Horde trade chat on Madoran or Eldre'Thalas isn't any better.
Does a realm exist, on either side, where trade chat isn't a gutter?
There's helpful people on each side, even though it seems like Horde on both Eldre'thalas and Madoran is a little better in that regard. I can't say too much about the instance/heroics/raiding on either side though, since I've not done much of that. And my husband does like battlegrounds and we always hear how Horde is better for that. I wish that faction change meant you kept your race, but just changed your allegiance. Now, THAT would be interesting! lol

[Helio]

lol.. non-gutter trade chat? I'm sorry...doesnt exist.

[Kayb]

honestly, i don't think you can base your choice on the player base, there are just as many good people as there are moronic ones on both factions, regardless of server. i've got high level characters on both factions, and I find horde to be a far richer experience. better story and character drive imo, but each to their own.

give horde a try, and if you don't like it, change back *shrug*

[Sarayana]

I wish that faction change meant you kept your race, but just changed your allegiance. Now, THAT would be interesting!

I was thinking about that... I don't see why you necessarily have to feel allegiance to a faction leader because you're of that faction. That's like saying I have to support Stephen Harper... I think it's particularly striking in the case of the humans, because the faction revolves so much around one person. I'm thinking in opposition to the orcs' history, which is largely group-based, or the forsaken, or the trolls, or... well really. Anyway, there are significant individuals, but the suffering was shared by the whole group. When I think about the humans' history, the part that's easily picked up through gameplay, it really has to do with the Wrynn family.

Anyway, my point is, I don't see why a forsaken has to feel allegiance to Sylvanas or a human to Varian. You can play a faction and disagree with your faction leaders and their policies. After all, we don't choose where we're born and we're not all happy with our country/community/leaders. Why should our characters necessarily be? When I started realising what was going on in Westfall, I was appalled. It doesn't mean I'm not proud to be alliance.

I've no idea if I make sense or I'm just repeating the same nonsensical argument, so I'm gonna shut up now. @_@

[Kalliope]

Anyway, my point is, I don't see why a forsaken has to feel allegiance to Sylvanas or a human to Varian.

I don't like Varian and as a hunter, I love Sylvanas. And I tend to prefer playing alliance, since that's where I started.

Your milage can and will vary. As long as you're with your hubby, you'll be fine on either side, but really, there are good people and idiots on both sides of the faction line. You can play both sides and be happy, and you can play both sides and be miserable. It's all about who you're sharing the journey with.

[Teigan]

Lore...quests...things to consider. As well as being a dwarf.

Sarayana: not nonsensical to me. I'm with you.

As for players...well, a little story I'm fond of, courtesy of "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul" (yes, those books are a little cheesy, but they give you warm fuzzies)

A Tale of Two Cities

A traveler nearing a great city asked a woman seated by the wayside "What are the people like in the city?"
"How were the people where you came from?"
"A terrible lot," the traveler responded. "Mean, untrustworthy, detestable in all respects."
"Ah," said the woman. "You will find them the same in the city up ahead."
Scarcely was the first traveler gone when another one stopped and also inquired about the people in the city before him. Again the old woman asked about the people in the place the traveler had left.
"They were fine people; honest, industrious and generous to a fault. I was sorry to leave," declared the second traveler.
Responded the wise woman: "So you will find them in the city ahead."

[Tygamoon]

I've had the same happen to me as with Sarayana. I didn't faction change but have been part of the horde community for a few years now. It seems that the maturity that people have associated with Horde has not been helped with the faction change at all. Now it may be my battlegroup or something but the worst name callers and and epeeners are horde side. Not sure about the pvp though. Back when I still did that it sure seemed to me that horde was just as bad as alliance. Or maybe that was just me nubing up my team XD

[Adam-Savage]

Horde are more mature I find. However I'm accustomed to the Alliance like environment and pretty much everyone I know that plays is Alliance. I just wish we could learn some pvp skills or learn to listen.

[Rhyela]

I'm happy on both sides, though because my husband and brother both seem to prefer Alliance, that's where I end up playing. And, at this point, I feel like I've been Alliance so long that it would be tough to suddenly switch and play with a bunch of people I don't know. The only solution would be if my whole "entourage", so to speak, were to transfer with me and frankly, I don't see that happening. So, Alliance I will continue to be.

[Sonata]

Happy on both sides!
But server population reflects this. Some may have douche alliance some not, some say Horde are more mature, this in my opinion is not true, both sides have twenty year olds who act like twelve and do bum jokes on trade.
BG's are good, we don't take the game seriously...we always do a "Good job guys" even if we lose. We tried our best that's what matters, but we do sometimes get those self-proclaimed sergeants.
In AV Misery's Alliance knows the deal and in Eye of the Storm (how the heck do they do it D:) our Horde shows us our place. This is how it's been atleast back in BC.
If I must say, play the side you feel like playing but don't say the one is better than the other...both sides have rotten apple players.

[Noor]

/leave trade(2) works miracles. I don't think I've had trade chat on for years on most of my characters. I may go back if I want a spot for the weekly raid, but that's about it.

But, I've found that both Horde and Alliance have the same amount of morons... And I hate to say this, especially after the introduction of Blood Elves. I would ofcourse recommend MY server to play the Horde. Then again, if you want to raid, I wouldn't come here. We're in the bottom 5 apparently. But the people seem to generally be nice, which is why my husband and I stuck around for so long.

[Chrizesu]

/leave trade(2) works miracles. I don't think I've had trade chat on for years on most of my characters. I may go back if I want a spot for the weekly raid, but that's about it.

But, I've found that both Horde and Alliance have the same amount of morons... And I hate to say this, especially after the introduction of Blood Elves. I would ofcourse recommend MY server to play the Horde. Then again, if you want to raid, I wouldn't come here. We're in the bottom 5 apparently. But the people seem to generally be nice, which is why my husband and I stuck around for so long.

I agree our server is the pits for raiding, but when it comes to genuine people we're rich.

[Kalliope]

/leave trade(2) works miracles. I don't think I've had trade chat on for years on most of my characters. I may go back if I want a spot for the weekly raid, but that's about it.

But, I've found that both Horde and Alliance have the same amount of morons...

^^^^
THIS.

The catch is finding a group of nice people who also know how to raid. xD

[Lazuly]

Lorewise, the Wrathgate sequence has me about convinced the Alliance ain't so great. Seems like Jaina and Thrall were on the verge of an alliance, when good ol' King Wrynn decides, "hey, I'm gonna try and kill Thrall!" Backstabbing, if you ask me. The fall of Undercity to a common enemy, combined with the common enemy of the Lich King, could have been a turning point...seemed like Thrall wanted to work with Jaina on it. I'm actually rather moved by the whole thing. It ended with Jaina saying "It didn't have to be like this." She froze and ported everyone away, like breaking up fighting dogs with a hose. And then there I was back in Wrynn's chamber, with my tallstrider dead at my feet...not happy. /sigh, can't we all just get along?
What does that questline look like from the Horde side?

Thrall has a good heart, but he lacks the strength to keep the more belligerent members of the Horde in line. Garrosh, for instance, constantly provokes Wrynn and has nothing but insults and scorn for the Alliance, yet Thrall can't seem to control him at all. There are a faction of Orcs that really like Garrosh's pro-war rhetoric, which is going to cause problems really soon. The truce between the Alliance and Horde has already broken down mostly, thanks to the Wrathgate.

The upcoming development that upsets most Horde people seems to be that Garrosh will end up deposing Thrall in Cataclysm. Most Horde folks I know really don't like Garrosh or his attitude. I think that lorewise, the Horde is going to go through some unpleasant times when the next expansion comes. I think there will be tension within the Horde along race lines (because Garrosh only thinks Tauren and Orcs are 'strong enough' and has little respect for the other member races). Garrosh will also be pushing a very strong policy of violence towards Alliance, too. It'll be an ugly time compared to when Thrall's ideals were in charge.

[Teigan]

That is unpleasant to hear. Garrosh, with the superior race thing..very 3rd Reich. Ugh.
What about the pockets of Horde-Alliance cooperation, say in Outlands, Northrend, Moonglade? I wonder what will happen there? I know Blizz wants to keep the Horde vs Alliance mentality that spawned the original Warcraft games (way back in the day!) but, really, what sense does it make to regress to all-out war...it would seem counterproductive in the face of a giant, evil world-consuming dragon and all.

So, this would be the scenario if I was writing it: Big nasty dragon has crunchy snack of Wrynn and Garrosh. Jaina and Thrall lead world to peace, we make joint effort to kill big nasty dragon and win.

I think I've hijacked my own thread.

[Saturo]

Jaina and Thrall lead world to peace

Thrall and Jaina sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G

[Teigan]

Oh, no. Think of the children...um...or don't! lol

[Ryno]

I love Alliance and I would kill to be a Dwarf again.. if only the guild was with me.

There's an alliance branch, if you really want to go that way. And I could try to be on more there with ya.

I like both sides... I've played through both, for the most part.

The Horde does have more character to it (lore-wise), compared to the Alliance. But that's just what I've seen.

[Noor]

With all this dwarf loving talk, I went off and created a dwarf hunter...

[Foru21dr]

I also play both factions and like both. Started out as Horde and then some new friends signed on and wanted to be Alliance so I created new characters. I've been swapping back and for based on what I feel like playing that day and have fun on both sides.

(I do get confused though some times in the BG's as it may take me a second or two to figure out which side I'm on when I first get in.)