Our leaders (and the tough task of replacing them)

by Mike Schramm Nov 30th 2007 at 10:50AM

So what's the deal-- do we elect our leaders or what? Obviously, I can't think of a single leader in WoW that's actually elected, by the players or anyone else. Thrall is a Warchief, so you'd assume he has to be overthrown, and that seems to be the case with most of the faction leaders-- King Bronzebeard isn't leaving anytime soon, and though the boy king of Stormwind sits pretty precariously on his throne, there's probably a few legal strings (and big black dragons) holding him in place. I can't think of any seats that might change hands anytime soon.

Save one: you have to think that if anyone's days are numbered, it's Sylvanas'. We already know she's got a bone to pick with Arthas, and if anyone isn't coming back from Northrend ali-- err... undead, it's probably her. Who would take over Undercity then-- Varimathas? If something did happen to Sylvanas in Northrend, the whole Horde might be upset, and considering Jaina may end up in on the action as well, no one's probably safe.

Still, even if our leaders get toppled anytime soon, I doubt elections are just around the corner. I don't think we really live in a democracy here-- more like a military dictatorship.

Tags: arthas, bronzebeard, dictatorship, leaders, monarchy, sylvanas, thrall, tribal-leadership, warcraft, wrath-of-the-lich-king

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Blizzard, Lore, NPCs

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Valyre Nov 30th 2007 11:07AM

WoW is based on a pseudo-medieval setting. Historically irl, there weren't democracies back then. The Greeks (even older time peroid) had something sort of similar, but not the moder day interpretation.

This article highlighted to me that the faction/race/location leaders are a lot like how guilds are run. Typically someone steps forward and wants to lead a group. There's no mass election to create guild leaders, nor do most guild members have the option of picking who they want.

There have been votes to dismiss a GM, but those tend to result in a disband anyways.

JPN Nov 30th 2007 11:12AM

It would be cool if there were a new faction leader in Wrath....if someone got overthrown....

Matrim Nov 30th 2007 11:13AM

If Sylvanis went down I think the Royal Apothecary Society would just put her back togeather. Hopefully not sewing her togeather wrong.

Or they could just wait till she respawns?

Juneau Nov 30th 2007 11:24AM

Loving the Monty Python references in that thread.

bub Nov 30th 2007 11:27AM

Someday WOW will die. It wont be anytime soon, but one day it's new user base will fail and off it will go, up to that blinking light in the sky.

Thijz Nov 30th 2007 12:11PM

Yeah, it's a pretty strange thought. Now you're all like 'well, i've got a lvl 70 shaman, and i pwn with my frost shock!!1' but how will that be in, say, 10 years?
Will you ever be able to show your grandchildren what you've worked on for so long? Will they ever know what 9 million players were addicted to for all those years?

Skuling Nov 30th 2007 11:32AM

It is a a military dictatorship.
There all more or less Kingdoms

Varimathas would obviosly take command over the forsaken, he has a few bones to pick with the scourge him self.

Rhiandieynna Nov 30th 2007 12:42PM

I wonder in 20 years or so if WoW might exist but more in a VR setting? Like, holodeck type stuff. Wouldn't that be fun?

Tarbh Nov 30th 2007 12:54PM

I love Taurens to bits, I will always identify them as my main race in wow, but one must wonder how many more winters the great Cairne Bloodhoof can endure, and weather or not he will pass on the totem to Baine. Maybe he will have to prove himself in northrend, either way, NEEDS MORE COW(Bell)LORE PLEASE! :D
(That's for both Blizz and Insider)

Raegn Nov 30th 2007 2:10PM

I don't see anyone other than Syl switching up. Although, it would be cool if players were able to gain control over certain portions of land. I know - it's rife with negative possibilities and would need to be very regulated - but wouldn't it be cool to run Durotan? Position troops in places.. take military action. It would kind of allow the RTS of the initial warcraft to come back.

On a different note, I was in a guild once where elections were held for GL. That way everyone had something to aspire to and incentive to help others. Fun stuff.