warcraft Free Interesting Fact

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1. VanAllen says

   I haven’t found the difference between the “2nd Edition,” and the original, I suspect that it is a 2nd Printing. It is an excelent addition to a gamer’s library, as WoW is a massive game, and u can’t remember everything you encounter, or need to find to do a “Quest.” I have been playing for several years, and still find myself referring to this atlas.

   Carol

   December 11, 2009, 9:35 pm
2. Talton says

   I can’t remember reading so much whining and nit-pic for the most inconsequential and lame reasons. One guy in here is complaining that many maps are printed on 2 pages and span across the binding and complains that they can’t be “cut out”.

   Please tell me. What kind of rational, thinking person purchases a beautiful hardcover reference book to cut it up??

   Many of the complaints I’m reading are that this book could be “so much better”.

   The bottom line is . . . if you play World of Warcraft you know this game is absolutely huge. It is breathtaking and often staggering in it’s expanse and enormity. This game will always be changing . . . maps change, creatures change, anything can be rehashed and redeveloped in the game at any time.

   This is a reference book.

   Doctors don’t have just one book. Teachers, lawyers, students and professional people who require a reference book do not have just one . . . why? Things change. Life changes. We need many books.

   This is just one, very excellent, very thorough and very well-designed and constructed reference book for the game of World of Warcraft. I have this one and “Dungeon Companion” and yes . . . I want, and will purchase more to have on-hand for reading and making references to while I journey through the game.

   This is a tremendous reference book and I highly recommend it. I also recommend, that for the scope of this game . . . you will find you need more than one guide at your fingertips . . . and indeed . . . this is an invaluable one to have!

   If you’re into the game . . . buy it!

   December 12, 2009, 9:46 am
3. Tanner says

   This book is awesome… and has just what it advertises. (I don’t understand folks complaining that a book dosen’t have things it never said it did.) Itss a wonderful map book with good details on basic things such as travel paths, vendors, trainers, herbs, mining etc. And its a large hardbound glossy book for only twenty bucks. I’ll definitely be buying the other two. I’m extremely happy with it.

   December 12, 2009, 9:39 pm
4. Namba says

   It’s always nice to have the latest guide book, and that’s why I bought this after installing the Lich King. Enough of the original game area had changed with this latest expansion that I thought it was time for a new map book. I was disappointed to see that not even the new harbor area of Stormwind was shown in the book. Additions like that in the game were the primary reason for my buying. I would hesitate to upgrade any of my books in the future, just because they were updated editions, until I have talked with other people to see whether there is really any new additions to the old content.

   December 13, 2009, 10:06 am
5. Uyoa says

   u get more info and easier access from Quest Helper than this book delivers and QH is free. I was also disappointed in the fact that the area covered is limited to such a small region of the game. For the price it looks mice, but is useless

   December 13, 2009, 9:34 pm
6. Sherrill says

   Outstanding! This collection of savvy essays on World of Warcraft lures the reader into a Wonderland of Virtual Philosophy. You might cease leveling your toon and start musing about questions that a WoW Caterpillar might ask. Are you an Avatar or a Creator? And does it matter?

   Luke Cuddy’s and John Nordlinger’s World of Warcraft and Philosophy provides surprising insights that will delight the brains of gamers and non-gamers alike. Before I was saved by World of Warcraft and Philosophy, I had considered attending a 12-Step meeting for my addiction to MMORPGs. Now, after reading this delicious book, I’ve morphed from Slacker to Philosopher! I’m contemplating the philosophical puzzels and social polticking that the developers have begun incorporating in WoW.

   So why would a gamer want to think about philosophy and ethics and stuff? Considering that the storyline of most MMORPGs concerns the eternal war between Good and Evil, smart gaming makes sense. Anyway, maybe hardcore gamers want to get in touch with their Inner Heroes (or Villains).

   I wonder if one of my personal heroes, Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with One Thousand Faces, would approve? When I taught game design, I used Campbell’s classic as a textbook as MMORPGs seemed to follow the prototype of the Hero’s Journey. However, unlike film and literature, MMORPGs give the Hero infinite choices to make as he or she progresses to the ultimate levels of Uber. Choices that require players to use their Free Will.

   Professor Monica Evans suggests that WoW players must often decide whether to choose Evil over Good and that the developers of the game are writing more content to force players to “think” ethically.

   For example, when faced with a decision whether to torture a human NPC or give up some phat quest booty, what should a Good player do? (And while the torture was never described nor rendered, the idea of torturing a human–rather than just killing one–was enough to make players pause and start a Blog on the subject.)

   Does it make a difference that the NPC your Avatar has just tortured will respawn in 12 seconds completely healed and a perfect victim for the next player?

   That’s for you to decide. After all, underneath our heroic or heinous Avatars, WoW players are, for the most part, human beings. Perhaps we’ll learn to embrace our “Inner Shadow” by playing MMORPGs. Perhaps we’ll decide whoever gets the best toys, weapons, most discoveries, etc. “wins” the game. Whatever! After reading this book, I think most gamers may realize that there’s more to gaming than owning the best armor, mounts, weapons, or whatever won’t make WoW more fun if we put Greed before Need and are blasted by everyone on the server.

   Whatever your gaming style, BUY THIS BOOK! At the very least, you’ll never feel guilty playing Wow again! It’s philosophy! Your Avatar is a window to your soul, leveling is a ladder to knowing thyself, and there’s nothing more important than that…says lots of Philosophers!
   Besides, playing WoW (and other MMORPGs) is a great place to meet people from around the globe. World of Warcraft and Philosophy book is an absolute must read for gamers!

   December 14, 2009, 9:45 am
7. Nesler says

   This book has been way too long in coming. Over twelve million people are now playing World of Warcraft, and another couple hundred thousand play Everquest2 and other similar games. All those wanderers of Azeroth, Norrath, and other decadent fantasy realms can now apply their arcane knowledge and MMOG experience to the equally arcane realm of Philosophy. This book features a great group of authors (both philosophers and gamers) and an equally impressive selection of articles that span the range of ethics to epistemology. Mayhem meets Metaphysics. Political philosophy is introduced through guild leadership insights. And it all goes down easily because this strange juxtaposition is leavened by a steady flow of humor. Interesting and quirky references abound, from Plato and his metaphorical cave to Adam Smith’s description of the economics of cyberspace. Even Nietzsche makes a super appearance.

   Monica Evans introduces us to the lore of World of Warcraft, discussing misdeeds and other noteworthy misadventures. Plato and Kant are introduced innocently and unobtrusively, yet I could feel the gentle increase of my intellect by at least +2!

   Another highlight is Miquel Sicart’s Warrior angst and consequent in-depth philosophical discussion of game play, game community, and game ethics. Again, I felt a nice increase in INT +2!

   You could even call it a sexy read, as the ethical implications of flirting and role play are explored in the most unlikely places. OMG! I just got a boost in charisma +1!

   This book makes the game itself more fun. After settling in to read for a bit, I rejoined my guild and found myself considering many things I hadn’t previously pondered. Is the rogue really female and does it matter? How much real money is that epic loot worth? Does the game play affect our real personas? What linguistic influences will carry over into RL? What’s the etymological root for noob? Tank? Or griefer? How long before folks are going to the doctor to report that their health bar is low?

   A true delight for the thoughtful gamer! Belongs in a spot on the book shelf between Plato’s Republic and Neil Stephenson’s Snow Crash.

   December 14, 2009, 10:26 pm
8. Huntington says

   I got this book a few weeks ago, mostly just for something to read while on Amtrak going home for break. Basically I just wanted to read something quick and easy, and most of these “Based off of…” books are quick reads, so i thought I pick this one up and to my pleasant surprise this was a DAMN good book. The author Christie Golden, whom wrote another Warcraft book I enjoyed, Lord of the Clans, writes this great and tragic story of how a Noble race fell from grace and became a force of destruction because of their own inability to think for themselves and to be led blindly. The book is filled with touching, and emotional scenes, mostly concerning the main character, whom most of the book talks about, Durotan, as he finds himself stuck between duty to his people and what he knows is right in his heart. SPOILER: One of the most particularly well written scenes in this book is when the horde overruns the Dranei city of Telmor, and Durotan see’s the brutality of the new orcs and the wrongs they are doing but he knows in his heart he must obey orders or die because of Gul’dan’s orders. He watches as Orcs kill Dranei men, women, and children, and Golden’s writing really shows here the pain this character feels is heart as he watches this happen and when he has to do it himself. By far the best Warcraft book I have read, and probably one of my all time faves ever as well.

   December 15, 2009, 9:48 am
9. Slate says

   A fantastic Warcraft-lore read. It gives insight into not only the history of the orcs and the origins of the Horde, but the Draenei as well (and their flight from Argus).

   Seeing Draenor/Outland prior to the events in the “World of Warcraft” was a treat as well. Oshu’gun, the Temple of Karabor (aka the Black Temple) are just a few places covered.

   With periodic narrations by Thrall and featuring characters like Velen, Durotan, Orgrim Doomhammer and Kil’Jaeden, it’s chock full of Warcrafty goodness.

   The characterizations were largely solid, though one may find themselves questioning the validity of some decisions (“Why yes, I think we shall imbibe of this demon blood. Capital idea if I may say so!”) made by the key players. Of course, with a continuity mostly in place prior to being written, the author had to work with and around what was already established as canon.

   Regardless of that hiccup, this book is a mandatory read for anyone interested in Warcraft lore, especially time periods preceeding the “World of Warcraft” game’s setting.

   December 15, 2009, 9:55 pm
10. Kawahara says

    Don’t get me wrong, this book served its purpose of giving me a fairly entertaining download of the backstory behind WoW. It was a bit more graphically violent than I anticipated, though I can live with that. If the intended effect was that I feel anger and revulsion toward the orcs and sympathy for the Draenei, the butchery certainly achieved that. In fact, my Draenei (my only ally toon, actually) has seen a lot more playing time since I read this book, and I went so far as to delete my level 40 warlock based on a RotH-inspired dislike of warlocks. So, any book that can drive that kind of real-life (if playing the game equates to real life) behavior change must be pretty decent.

    The plot itself kept me interested, and I nodded my head in recognition of the in-game bits such as descriptions of how the warlocks summon their minions and how those minions look and behave, etc. I found myself wanting to read it, to see what was going to happen, so yes, it was a good book and worth the money. I can’t personally give it more than three stars because Christie Golden’s style is just a little off for me. I like fantasy books, I just don’t really like when they are written in “fantasy” style to the point where it feels forced. Hard for me to put my finger on what I’m trying to convey here, suffice to say that when any character in a book — particularly an Orc — responds to a question with the word, “nay,” instead of a simple “no” and the dialogue is peppered with “shall” in place of “will,” I start to get turned off. Minor complaint, and I’m more critical than most when it comes to an author’s “voice,” so most fans of the WoW universe will probably not be the least put off by it.

    For me, though, it keeps me from putting this book in with others that I would rank 4- or 5-star works. Three stars isn’t bad from me, though; oh nay, verily I sayeth that it be not.

    December 16, 2009, 9:55 am
11. Erlandson says

    This was the first WoW book I have ever read and I have to say that I was pretty happy with it. It wasn’t the best book I have ever read but it was very entertaining and I always enjoy background stories for things that I am interested in.

    I am an avid WoW player and over the years I have played I have become more and more interested in the “why” and “how” of what I am doing… like “How did Lordaron fall?” or “What happened to Karazhan” – things of that nature.

    All-in-all this was a fun and enjoyable read.

    December 16, 2009, 9:58 pm
12. Meagher says

    We all think of the Orcs as mindless beast… well this book gives us insight into how the Shamanistic Orcs got to be the Horde. As a WoW player that has never liked the Horde, this book inspired me to roll an Orc Shaman. Also it tells where the Draenei came from…

    I loved it so much I sent my sister a copy!

    December 17, 2009, 10:24 am
13. McLemore says

    I would give this zero star if I had the option.

    First to address the pros: The story did follow the lore pretty well and Christine Golden did a pretty good job holding the novel together while Rosenger tore it apart. The pacing of the story was very good and it would be a pretty good and engaging book if not for the blatan short comings.

    Now to the cons: Like the previous book Rosenberg wrote, the story is terribly one sided. The author fails to show the intelligence of the orcs and never chose to write any major casualties of the alliance in a WAR. After playing the game, I know there are major victories in the actual lore. Rosenberg presents the orcs as mere infants with twigs.

    Nearly every page you read orcs getting slaughtered left and right. He never really specified how many orcs there are and so it’s incredibly hard to picture in your head how many they have left because every battle orcs die by what seems like the hundreds. I think by his account the orcs actually ended up with a proud army of -5502,231 instead of 0. It is nothing more than a mere, poorly written summary of what actually happened.

    Unfortunately, Christine Golden’s involvement in the story was not able to raise the low score and terribly predictable plot. The characters are not developed.

    If Aaron Rosenberg is reading this review I humbly suggest you read a real warcraft author named Richard Knack. Or even read the works of your co-author. Rise of the horde and War of the ancients should get you started.

    December 17, 2009, 9:31 pm
14. Underwood says

    This book by Christie Golden continues the process of “novelizing” the classic Warcraft II computer and its expansion, Beyond the Dark Portal. The story centers around the characters Khadgar, Turalyon, Alleria, and so forth, and tells the story of the human expedition to defeat the Orcs in Draenor once they threaten the world of Azeroth a second time.

    Golden, as in her earlier books, does a fairly good job of characterization. She tends a bit towards the “soft, misunderstood” side (she’s not that great at making complex “evil” characters), but generally tries to create a decent characterization for the purpose of the story.

    The weakness is in Golden’s execution of both the story and setting. Although Golden didn’t really have control over the sequence of events in either, it is really in her descriptions that the story shows its weakness. Golden is not great at describing either battles or greater strategic warfare within this novel, but more to the point, she fails to capture the SIZE and grandeur of the conflict. Remember, this is a war that devastated the greater part of a CONTINENT, in epic battles of warfare and magic – yet with Golden, you never really get a good feel for its size and scope.

    I would strongly suggest you get this from a library first, before deciding on whether or not to buy it. Golden is a decent author, but she is clearly not the best within the Warcraft novel genre – that belongs to Jeff Grubb.

    December 18, 2009, 10:28 am
15. Thalmann says

    A very good read, offering a wealth of background information to the World of Warcraft enthusiast.

    December 18, 2009, 9:37 pm
16. Shieh says

    Beyond the Dark Portal is probably the novel that most resembles World of Warcraft: in it, the Alliance vastly outnumbers the Horde at every turn, easily dispatches them and slaughters their soldiers and heroes, and still claims moral outrage when an orc actually manages to hurt one of them. As any veteran of a WoW PVP server will tell you, this is remarkably true to the game’s experience.

    This premise does not make for a good work of fiction, however. The heroes of the Alliance consist of characters who any WoW player will already know are, for the most part, destined to survive the book, and if this weren’t enough to kill any dramatic tension in combat scenes, it is coupled with the fact that the Alliance. Always. Wins. Each time the orcs manage to gain some advantage, the Alliance easily counters it tenfold. The orcs take refuge in the ruins of Auchidoun, and find a few powerful allies? The Alliance recruits an army of dead draenei and reenacts the Battle of Pellenor Fields.

    Only in a single battle at the beginning does the Horde manage to win a fight, and even then, they fail to bring down anyone important. The Alliance, meanwhile, continually slaughters at least one important, likable, and sympathetic Horde hero with each clash, often in an anticlimactic manner. (See: Khadgar’s duel with Dentarg, Danath’s fight with Kilrogg, and the casual defeat of Kargath Bladefist, who isn’t even mentioned by name.)

    By the end of the book, I was amazed that there were still any orcs left on Draenor to eventually appear in WoW. Time and time again, they are slaughtered wholesale, and yet any time they manage to defend themselves, the Alliance characters (who are given de facto status as the heroes of this book) are horrified. Particularly egregious is Danath Trollsbane, a character I was begging the writers to kill. Early in the novel, he is not only willing but *eager* to torture an orc prisoner; however, later, when a friend of his has been subjected to such, he is utterly horrified. The hypocrisy is staggering, and I sincerely wish that the writers had included at least one character capable of calling these “heroes” on their bull.

    This is a story that could have been great, and was in the original game. A small band of soldiers and heroes, marching into a hostile, ruined world, alone and outnumbered, trying to put a stop to the orcish threat, exploring an alien landscape, meeting strange new foes and stranger allies, and all the while racing against the ticking clock of Ner’zul’s great ritual. Instead, we got a story about a massive army marching through a portal, crushing the pathetic remnants of the Horde, slaughtering their champions at every turn, and making the orcs look about as threatening as a battered kitten.

    Perhaps the sort of sadistic Alliance player who enjoys griefing in Hillsbrad will enjoy this book, but for the rest of us: there are better ways to kill time between flight paths.

    December 19, 2009, 9:46 am

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