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The background, plot, and setting, like most [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard]] games, bear notable resemblance to tabletop games such as ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'' by [[Games Workshop]], and ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' from [[TSR, Inc]] (later bought out by [[Wizards of the Coast]] in 1997). It's said that Blizzrd offered the first Warcraft game to [[Games Workshop]] as a game based on the Warhammer universe, but Games Workshop turned them down{{Fact|date=October 2007}}. The fantasy works of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] also served as a foundation; many of the races are patterned after Tolkien's, and the Elvish languages used in the game (Thalassian [http://www.wowwiki.com/Thalassian] and Darnassian [http://www.wowwiki.com/Darnassian]) are made to sound like [[Sindarin]] and [[Quenya]], the [[Elvish language]]s used in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. However, large portions of the setting are drawn from modern-day sources and references, ranging from [[Star Trek]], Star Wars (Toshley's Station), to the [[Cthulhu Mytos]], to [[Thundercats]][http://www.wowwiki.com/Sword_of_Omen], to third-world proxy wars.
The background, plot, and setting, like most [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard]] games, bear notable resemblance to tabletop games such as ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'' by [[Games Workshop]], and ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' from [[TSR, Inc]] (later bought out by [[Wizards of the Coast]] in 1997). It's said that Blizzrd offered the first Warcraft game to [[Games Workshop]] as a game based on the Warhammer universe, but Games Workshop turned them down{{Fact|date=October 2007}}. The fantasy works of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] also served as a foundation; many of the races are patterned after Tolkien's, and the Elvish languages used in the game (Thalassian [http://www.wowwiki.com/Thalassian] and Darnassian [http://www.wowwiki.com/Darnassian]) are made to sound like [[Sindarin]] and [[Quenya]], the [[Elvish language]]s used in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. However, large portions of the setting are drawn from modern-day sources and references, ranging from [[Star Trek]], Star Wars (Toshley's Station), to the [[Cthulhu Mytos]], to [[Thundercats]][http://www.wowwiki.com/Sword_of_Omen], to third-world proxy wars.
==Addiction to Warcraft, Warcraft in media==
== Geography ==
== Geography ==
The majority of media in the Warcraft universe takes place upon a planet called [[Azeroth]]. This planet has three continents, named te [[Eastern Kingdoms]], [[Kalimdor]], and [[Northrend]], all of which are separated by a giant ocean called the Great Sea. In the center of the Great Sea is a humongous, everlasting vortex called the Maelstrom, and there are also several small islands aside from the thre main continents throughout the sea.
The majority of media in the Warcraft universe takes place upon a planet called [[Azeroth]]. This planet has three continents, named te [[Eastern Kingdoms]], [[Kalimdor]], and [[Northrend]], all of which are separated by a giant ocean called the Great Sea. In the center of the Great Sea is a humongous, everlasting vortex called the Maelstrom, and there are also several small islands aside from the thre main continents throughout the sea.

Revision as of 01:28, 18 November 2007

The Warcraf universe is a fictional universe in which a series of games and books published by Blizzard Entertainment are set. Players were first introduced to the world of Azeroth in the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. This world exists in an ethereal plane called The Twisting Nether. In this universe's history, inter-world travel is rare, but can be achieved using magical portals. Known worlds include Azeroth, Draenor, Argus, K'aresh, and Xoroth.

Concept and creation

The background, plot, and setting, like most Blizzard games, bear notable resemblance to tabletop games such as Warhammer Fantasy Battle by Games Workshop, and Dungeons & Dragons from TSR, Inc (later bought out by Wizards of the Coast in 1997). It's said that Blizzrd offered the first Warcraft game to Games Workshop as a game based on the Warhammer universe, but Games Workshop turned them down[citation needed]. The fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien also served as a foundation; many of the races are patterned after Tolkien's, and the Elvish languages used in the game (Thalassian [1] and Darnassian [2]) are made to sound like Sindarin and Quenya, the Elvish languages used in The Lord of the Rings. However, large portions of the setting are drawn from modern-day sources and references, ranging from Star Trek, Star Wars (Toshley's Station), to the Cthulhu Mytos, to Thundercats[3], to third-world proxy wars.

Geography

The majority of media in the Warcraft universe takes place upon a planet called Azeroth. This planet has three continents, named te Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, and Northrend, all of which are separated by a giant ocean called the Great Sea. In the center of the Great Sea is a humongous, everlasting vortex called the Maelstrom, and there are also several small islands aside from the thre main continents throughout the sea.

The Eastern Kingdoms is the primary home of the Alliance faction. The continent is varied, though mostly traditional fantasy-based, and divided into four kingdoms. From north to south:

  • Quel'Thalas, a High Elven (now Blood Elven) kingdom that has lost most of its former glory.
  • Lordaeron, a former human kingdom that has been overrun by undead.
  • Khaz Modan, a Dwarf kingdom.
  • Azeroth (the kingdom has the ame name as the planet), the last still prosperous human kingdom.

The continent of Kalimdor is an ancient wilderness; the upper half is a mostly peaceful, magical forest where the Night Elf race dwells (or used to dwell), while the lower half is mostly plains, waste and desrt where various primitive and/or nomadic races live. Kalimdor is the primary home of the Horde faction. The kingdoms and upper/lower halves of the continents are further divided into smaller regions which in turn are divided into sub-regions (particular geograpic features or sites of interest, such as woods or dungeons).

The third continent, Northrend, is an icy continent in the north of Azeroth, comparable to Scandinavia. Northrend featured in the Warcraft III expansion, and will feature in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion pack to World of Warcraft.

Second in importance to Azeroth is the planet of Draenor. The original homeland of the Orc race and the Ogre race, ts world was torn apart when an Orc warlock named Ner'zhul opened too many gateways to other worlds, causing it to crumble and phase into the mysterious dimension called the Twisting Nether. The remnants of the world are now known as Outland, and it features in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal and Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, and most prominently in Worl of Warcraft's first expansion World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

Other planets in the universe include Argus, the original homeworld of the Draenei race; K'aresh, the original homorld of the Ethereal race; and Xoroth, the homeworld of the Nathrezim and Dreadsteeds. The planet of Azeroth has two moons, named White Lady and Blue Child; and Draenor/Outland, according to the skies seen in the Burning Crusade expansion pack, has dozens of moons (though they mght just be other visible planets).

Places beyond the planets include the Great Dark Beyond, Warcraft's equivalent of outer space; the Emerald Dream, a dreamscape resembling what Azeroth would look like if animals or sentient races had never in any way altered it; an Elemental Plane where the elemental lieutenants of the malevolnt deities called the Old Godsare banihed; and the ark Blow, a hellish, little-referenced underworld the canon o whch is debatable.

Races in Warcraft

The main races of the Warcraft universe include a standard variety of fantasy species. In the original Warcraft computer game, there were campaigns for both humans and orcs, and Warcraft II added high elves, dwarves, trollsgres, goblins and dragons. Warcraft III added the night elf and tauren races, as well as the undead, the fish-like naga, and many others.

The MMORPG World of Warcraft has ten playable races, divided into two camps, the Alliance and the Horde. The Alliance is comprised of Humans, Night Elves, Gnomes, Dwarves, and the new Draenei. For the Horde the races are Orcs, Trolls, Forsaken Undead, Tauren, and the new Blood Elves. The "new" races were made available with the Burning Crusade Expansion. In addition, there are neutral races like sporeggar and goblins. Well known and hostile races include the Naga and Murlocs.

Organizations

Within the Warcraft universe allegiances are most ley to be formed between characters of the same race. Most races have warred with one another during their history, so cooperation between races has en difficult. Su cooperation has seemed only likely at times of great peril, where worldwide detruction was imminet. However there are some organizations that exist outside racial lines. These organizations are buupon narrow common goals, such as the preservation of nature or the advancement of mining technology.

Media set in the Warcraft universe

Computer games

Other

Other media

Tabletop games

Collectible card games

Books

See also

References

  1. ^ http://warcraftcardgame.com/2006/05/ctober-25-release-date.html
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