This (On Who You Are)

[SpiralLateralus]

http://www.wowpedia.org/Adventurer

Discuss.

[Arrillion]

Where do i get that heart tabard, looks awesome on my shadowmancer.....

Honestly most of my characters aren't the heroic sort. And would likely run as fast as they can if they ever meet a dragon.

[SpiralLateralus]

Well, I'm not claiming that all of our characters participated in these events (mine sure didn't), but this is simply a way to explain PC's in Warcraft.

The idea is that there were mortal heroes there for these events, but they had help from the more powerful folks of the Warcraft universe.

[Arrillion]

I wouldn't like Coth being filled with captain america styled, fearless, dragonhunting demonslaying heroes. It gets really boring. Instead, I'd prefer normal soldiers, mgi or people who try to make a living and maybe to a little heroism from time to time.

[Zarquon]

Do remember that most orcs currently alive have fought in the Third War. Most humans that came from Lordaeron would have to explain how they survived the Scourging of Lordaeron, although those from Stormwind are spared -most- of the recent upheaval. The Scourging of Lordaeron (Warcraft III) and the subsequent Burning Legion incursion occurs in 617, with the beginning of Cataclysm almost eight years later. That means that the orc race as a whole do not have even enough time to bred a single generation, although those in their teens as of the moment might be spared the horrors of war if left in Durotar. As for the night elves, I would assume -all- of them fought for the survival of their home, and elves used to be immortals, so I doubt there would be any elves who have not fought in the Battle for Mount Hyjal if they are of adult age. As for the blood elves, they are pretty much dragged into Arthas's invasion of Quel'Thalas and the subsequent loss of sunwell; they -will- be affected. The dwarves tend to be longer lived, and there are only two types; either those of Aerie Peak who probably fought in the Second War thirty-three years ago, or was involved in the chaos following the Third, or those of Ironforge who probably fought in the Second War too, or involved in the upheaval resulting from the Dark Iron Dwarves and/or Ragnaros. And the Taurens who had to fight for survival against the Centaurs, then dragged into Thrall's Horde! How about those poor trolls living near the Maelstrom who too was dragged into Thrall's Horde? Most of them had to fight too! Honour them, not look down on them as unreallistic; our characters -are- heroes, but even heroes have emotions, lives and feelings, and do remember that our characters are but one amongst thousands upon thousands who fought for the fate of the world.

My point is simple, in the Warcraft Universe, many of the world-shaking, apocalyptic event pretty much -demanded- that everyone participate in them or die, since many of them goes along the line of, "The entire world would be destroyed." Hence, there is nothing wrong in my humble opinion, and in fact pretty reallistic, that many characters would probably be involved in at least one major event, perhaps as a simple night elven archer being spammed in "Eternity's End", a shaman who was produced in the Battle for Stonetalon Peaks to cast bloodlust, or maybe even that brave knight involved in the desperate charge to buy time for Jaina to cast her teleportation spell. You might be healed after that, bearing a nasty scar, or raised as an undead who escaped Arthas's will, bearing memories of that battle that changed your life forever as you stared at the monstrous form of Archimonde destroying entire regiments with a wave. Or perhaps you simply fled the fields of battle, cowering in the trees.

There is a difference between heroism, and fighting for one's survival, and I think the only lucky ones in the entire Warcraft universe who can even claim to escape from the conflicts are the younger generation of humans in Stormwind. The older ones would watch Stormwind burn under the Horde, forced to flee north into Lordaeron during the Second War.

Of course, granted, it is a rare few who managed to do all that the article said adventurers do, but nonetheless, it is my belief that dismissing major events actually negates oppurtunities for character developments and justifications for certain character traits. Still, like I said earlier, there is a thin thread between "Realism" and sheer "Hardcore Raiding".

If you think that the normal soldier, magi or perhaps even a blacksmith, is safe. . .Think again. Remember those poor peasants in Warcraft III you send to build a second base near a goldmine who accidentally gets slaughtered because you left them unprotected? Those peasants are just poor people trying to make a living. . .

Note: Theramore Isle has a lore-population of almost ten thousand, and most of them are survivors of the Kul Tiras Expediton to Kalimdor during the Third War.

Final Edit!: http://wiki.conquestofthehorde.com/Timeline

[Arrillion]

I never said characters should not have participated in the third war or any other war, that wouldn't make sense anyway. But still they are no dragonslaying fearless heroes, just 'normal' soldiers.

[JackofBlades]

Not even that since we can't be pre-made military faction affiliated. Personally I'd imagine it'd take more then 25 people to bring down say, Illidan, but I'd imagine the factions of both Horde and Alliance DID send troops to deal with these threats, troops -and- mercenaries -and- heroes. Meaning to me, characters probably could have been in one of these battles without being accused as err...what did he say, Heroic Raiders, because he was fighting for his faction to quell a threat, which is what many characters loyal to their faction would wish to do. Besides what warrior or rogue would want to see their friends and family (and stashes of cash) destroyed by some jerk and his weirdly undermanned and ill-defended keep of death?