Breakfast Topic: Getting to know your NPCs
by Zach Yonzon 
Aug 28th 2008 at 8:00AM
One of the coolest things about the World of Warcraft are the various NPCs that we see all over the place. Players who've played Warcraft 3 get an extra thrill when meeting characters from the popular RTS, for example. There's Thrall in Orgrimmar, whose life story has been all over books and re-told in past Blizzard games. In Dalaran, the overrated Rhonin and his wife, whose lives have been chronicled over several Richard A. Knaak books, make an appearance. Lor'themar Theron first appeared in the Warcraft manga and subsequently showed up in Silvermoon City when The Burning Crusade was launched.Of course, not all NPCs get the benefit of books or comics to tell their story. Our favorite Griftah only has his story told through the game. Then there are those NPCs whose origins come from somewhere closer to home -- real people who have made some impact on the game one way or the other. These include quest giver Ahab Wheathoof, who is an homage to young fan Ezra Chatterton, and Dalaran pet supplies vendor Breanni, who is a nod to the creator of the popular WarcraftPets site devoted to vanity pets. There are many, many more NPCs in the game world we all love. Whose story would you like to know more about? Is there an NPC that has piqued your curiosity? What could be the story behind the unassuming Kaja? How about we learn more about Cro Threadstrong and his hatred for apples? There are so many stories in WoW... which one would you like to hear?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast topics, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Tomah Aug 28th 2008 8:19AM
I'd like to see some story for Chepi, the Reagent Vendor in Thunder Bluff. I make it a point to visit her any time I have to vendor anything in that city.
And I'd like to see a CoT instance with Aedis Brom and Christoph Faral, the dwarf and human that wander around Stormwind telling war stories, fighting on your side.
Ametrine Aug 28th 2008 9:24AM
Agreed on Aedis and Christoph. On my first Alliance toon, I loved following them around, listening to their stories...
Mattarias Aug 28th 2008 11:50AM
I totally agree on Chepi. My favorite reagent vendor by far.
Also, apothecary Lydon. He's fun.
BenMS Aug 28th 2008 8:22AM
Now that would be cool - we could actually see the time that Aedis had to carry Christoph's finger in his tobacco pouch.
Bob Aug 28th 2008 8:26AM
Innkeeper Allison. How does she know about Staghelm's research?
SunGod228 Aug 28th 2008 8:43AM
My favorite has to be Captain Placeholder, and the awesome song "Lament of Captain Placeholder" that followed his leaving.
magicswordking Aug 29th 2008 5:08AM
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
I for one, wish to see an Admiral Placeholder show up in Northrend, perhaps on the flying battleship the Alliance has brought to Icecrown.
Verakum Aug 28th 2008 8:49AM
Medivh inside Black Morass.... i have loved this Prophet through out the whole Warcraft serie so when i could see the Actual Old Dark Portal and Medivh opening it it was something awesome, that day in the instance i was talking to my guildies about him and all, though it dissapointed me that not many knew him.
Also thrall in Old Hillsbrad :P
ThorinII Aug 28th 2008 8:54AM
I'd like to know why John Turner claims to care so much about the orphans, yet he won't talk to me so I can make a donation. They should let you donate money, grey items, etc... to help the orphans and gain rep with your home city.
arrogance Aug 28th 2008 9:07AM
More Rexxar and Misha!! the quest where you kill a Gronn with them is awesome. i want them to have serious business in northrend as well.
Zali Aug 28th 2008 9:12AM
I am very interested in the story of Natasha, the lvl 4 human girl that follows Wildlord Altelarion around. We know very little about her, but what we do know opens up an interesting can of worms. She fell from a giant bird and Antelarion caught her, and she is from Eng-land.
As far as I have found, it is the only specific reference to Earth that isn't tongue in cheek, like the Paris Hilton NPC. It makes you wonder how a 4 year old child from England, Earth, Sol Solar System, Sector Zed Zed Nine Plural Zed Alpha, Milky Way, Universe, ended up on Draenor. Some sort of cosmic rift? Did a Mage open a portal to earth and forget to close it and a plane, woops, flew through it? Did the plane from The Langoliers end up zipping over Draenor before plunging into the past?
bob Aug 28th 2008 9:38AM
42?
Bregor Aug 28th 2008 9:48AM
However she got to Azeroth, we can be sure it was very, very improbable.
ScorchHellfire Aug 28th 2008 3:49PM
what really boggles my mind is the question of is she the same natasha thats in one of the buildings in old southshore?... and if so... wtf?!
JR Aug 28th 2008 11:41PM
Maybe too late to reply to this, but anyway...
According to wowwiki, Natasha is "...a reference to Bill Cosby's stand-up comedy show 'Himself' where he has a skit about a kid following people around on a plane (that's what the 'fell from a bird', probably plane, is from) telling everyone that he's 4 years old."
shard Aug 28th 2008 9:14AM
WTB More Chen Stormstout PST.
Kung Fu panda's before the onset of jack black, hell yeah.
moonspeaker Aug 28th 2008 9:56AM
without any doubts niby and impsy. they are the most fun and crazy npcs in game so far
(for those that don't know he's the one that learn warlocks to summen infernals aka EL POLLO GRADE)
Shionia Aug 28th 2008 9:18AM
- Arator, and why he's "the Redeemer"
- Commander Adaris in Skettis
- You can never have enough Garona!
peagle Aug 28th 2008 9:20AM
Topper McNabb: Quest involves going back into the past and building towers behind his farm. A follow-up quest involves trying to blind him, but he hoodwinks you and steals your wallet.
InnaJungleStylee Aug 28th 2008 9:50AM
This guy should be worth 10,000 honor and 500 arena points to all Horde who can kill him.