Quality of Writing in World of Warcraft
It's spotty. Most of it is serviceable quest text - nothing to write home about one way or the other. There's a few clever lines here and there ("You know this because you are psychic") and some interesting characters emerge - Latronicus Moonspear has a distinct voice, despite the fact that whoever wrote those quests had every reason to phone it in - but occasionally you'll see a true gem, or a real stinker.
Here's a gem: High Overlord Saurfang. You may have heard of him, and if so you're probably familiar with the somewhat absurd challenge he issues to anyone who strikes up a conversation with him in Orgrimmar:I am he who watches they. I am the fist of retribution. That which does quell the recalcitrant. Dare you defy the Warchief? Dare you face my merciless judgement?
Saurfang was first placed into the game so that he could receive Nefarian's head and stick it on a pike. In order to facilitate this role, he was given stats and abilities designed to ensure that mean spirited Alliance players couldn't kill him to prevent completion of the quest.
This, combined with the fact that he's right out in the middle of the first open area near the bank and auction house, where any Alliance hoping to stir up a big brawl would go looking for trouble, earned him quite the reputation. But it wasn't until after the Opening of Ahn'Qiraj that he was sufficiently legendary to have his own Badass Facts meme. It also wasn't until then that he got some really notable writing:
I am Saurfang. Brother of Broxigar. You know me to be the Supreme Commander of the Might of Kalimdor. An orc - a true orc warrior - wishes for one thing: To die in the glory of battle against a hated enemy. Some of you have fought in battles. Peace has been with us for many years. Many years we sat idle but many years we battled. In those years - where strife the land and Legion and Scourge sacked our homes, killed our families - these insects dwelled beneath us. Beneath our homes - waiting. Waiting to crush the life from our little ones. To slay all in their path. This they do for their god. And for our gods? We defend. We stand. We show that as one. United. We destroy. Their god will fall. To die today, on this field of battle, is to die an orcish death. To die today is to die for our little ones. Our old ones. Our… loved ones. Would any of you deny yourselves such a death? Such an honor?
First of all, there's a some strange grammar here, but every source I turn up with google seems to confirm that this is how the speech appeared in the game. Beyond that, the speech seems at first to be proud warrior race guy talk, but there's also an unusual concern for children.
Well, check this out:
High Overlord Saurfang says: The winter after the curse was lifted, hundreds of veteran orcs like me were lost to despair. Our minds were finally free, yes... Free to relive all of the unthinkable acts that we had performed under the Legion's influence.
High Overlord Saurfang says: I think it was the sounds of the draenei children that unnerved most of them... You never forget... Have you ever been to Jaggedswine Farm? When the swine are of age for the slaughter... It's that sound. The sound of the swine being killed... It resonates the loudest. Those are hard times for us older veterans.
Garrosh Hellscream says: But surely you cannot think that those children were born into innocence? They would have grown up and taken arms against us!
High Overlord Saurfang says: I am not speaking solely of the children of our enemies...
It may painted with broad strokes, but it's still a fine picture.
Or at least, I like it.
As for the stinker? The Wrathgate Cinematic. I mean, when Putress shows up it breaks through to so bad it's good, but before that everyone is just trying too hard. Way to put your best foot forward, guys!
I've copied the quotes from WoWWiki.
Here's a gem: High Overlord Saurfang. You may have heard of him, and if so you're probably familiar with the somewhat absurd challenge he issues to anyone who strikes up a conversation with him in Orgrimmar:I am he who watches they. I am the fist of retribution. That which does quell the recalcitrant. Dare you defy the Warchief? Dare you face my merciless judgement?
Saurfang was first placed into the game so that he could receive Nefarian's head and stick it on a pike. In order to facilitate this role, he was given stats and abilities designed to ensure that mean spirited Alliance players couldn't kill him to prevent completion of the quest.
This, combined with the fact that he's right out in the middle of the first open area near the bank and auction house, where any Alliance hoping to stir up a big brawl would go looking for trouble, earned him quite the reputation. But it wasn't until after the Opening of Ahn'Qiraj that he was sufficiently legendary to have his own Badass Facts meme. It also wasn't until then that he got some really notable writing:
I am Saurfang. Brother of Broxigar. You know me to be the Supreme Commander of the Might of Kalimdor. An orc - a true orc warrior - wishes for one thing: To die in the glory of battle against a hated enemy. Some of you have fought in battles. Peace has been with us for many years. Many years we sat idle but many years we battled. In those years - where strife the land and Legion and Scourge sacked our homes, killed our families - these insects dwelled beneath us. Beneath our homes - waiting. Waiting to crush the life from our little ones. To slay all in their path. This they do for their god. And for our gods? We defend. We stand. We show that as one. United. We destroy. Their god will fall. To die today, on this field of battle, is to die an orcish death. To die today is to die for our little ones. Our old ones. Our… loved ones. Would any of you deny yourselves such a death? Such an honor?
First of all, there's a some strange grammar here, but every source I turn up with google seems to confirm that this is how the speech appeared in the game. Beyond that, the speech seems at first to be proud warrior race guy talk, but there's also an unusual concern for children.
Well, check this out:
High Overlord Saurfang says: The winter after the curse was lifted, hundreds of veteran orcs like me were lost to despair. Our minds were finally free, yes... Free to relive all of the unthinkable acts that we had performed under the Legion's influence.
High Overlord Saurfang says: I think it was the sounds of the draenei children that unnerved most of them... You never forget... Have you ever been to Jaggedswine Farm? When the swine are of age for the slaughter... It's that sound. The sound of the swine being killed... It resonates the loudest. Those are hard times for us older veterans.
Garrosh Hellscream says: But surely you cannot think that those children were born into innocence? They would have grown up and taken arms against us!
High Overlord Saurfang says: I am not speaking solely of the children of our enemies...
It may painted with broad strokes, but it's still a fine picture.
Or at least, I like it.
As for the stinker? The Wrathgate Cinematic. I mean, when Putress shows up it breaks through to so bad it's good, but before that everyone is just trying too hard. Way to put your best foot forward, guys!
I've copied the quotes from WoWWiki.