Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
In January 2018, I started to play the game Hearthstone. In the game, there is a choice of 9 classes to play from (Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior). Each class has certain cards that are only playable for that particular class, along with cards that can be played by every class. Each class corresponds to a hero (For example, Malfurion Stormrage (Druid), Jaina Proudmoore (Mage), Uther Lightbringer (Paladin), and Thrall (Shaman)). There are alternate heroes that you can either purchase, or obtained through quests (For example, Medivh (Mage), Prince Arthas (Paladin), Tyrande Whisperwind (Priest)). The online card game is just you playing against other people around the world, therefore heroes battling against other heroes. However, I noticed while playing the game, some of the cards, who if you perform certain actions can "speak", say things like "Lordaeron", "Azeroth", and "Burning Legion". After some quick research, I learned that the game used to be called "Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft".
Although I did not play Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, nor Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, I did watch gameplay videos to get some idea on what is the context of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. In the beginning of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the Orcs live in in Draenor, a race consisting of warriors and warlocks. Some of the Orcs are possessed by a demonic army called the Burning Legion. Gul'dan discovered a rift, and eventually with the help of human sorcerer Medivh , opened a small portal into the kingdom of Azeroth, where the Humans lived. The Orcs outnumber the Humans, and eventually learned the Humans superior tactics, organization, and magic in order to conquer Azeroth. The surviving humans escaped to Lordaeron, where they formed a group with dwarves and elves known as the Alliance. The Alliance defeated the Orcs, destroyed the portals, and the humans proceeded to round up remaining orcs into internment camps, fracturing the Alliance.
In Warcraft III, we get 4 different points of view from 4 "heroes". Thrall, the leader of the Orcs has a dream that the Burning Legion is coming. After meeting with the Prophet, who tells him the same thing, he leads his forces from Lordaeron to Kalimdor, a forgotten land. Meanwhile, Arthas, prince of Lordaeron, is committed to protecting his kingdom. After dismissing the Prophet's plea to move his people to Kalimor. He goes investigate a plague that kills humans and turning into undead. Archmage Jaina Proudmoore aides him in finding the source of the plague, but when Arthas wants to purge the undead, Jaina refuses to commit genocide and follows the advice of the Prophet. Arthas goes on his own quest, to find a powerful sword called "Frostmourne", which Arthas believe is the power to save his kingdom. However, the sword is cursed, and Arthas sacrifices his soul to obtain the sword, becoming a Death Knight, a soldier in the Lich King's Undead Scourge. After learning about the Burning Legion, Arthas opens a portal to defeat the Burning Legion head on. However, Arthas is defeated and the Burning Legion takes over Lordaeron.
Meanwhile Thrall and Jaina and their followers reached Kalimor. Initially they clashed, however the Warsong clan, infected by the Burning Legion, who angered the Night Elves that live there and killed their demigod, Cenarius. Jaina and Thrall joins force to free the Warsong clan from the Burning Legion. Tyrande Whisperwind, the leader of the Night Elves, blames the death of Cenarius on the Orcs and Humans, however learns that the Burning Legion is coming towards Kalimor, and awakens the sleepling Elf Druids, including Illidan and Malfurion Stormrage. Eventually, Jaina, Thrall, Tyrande, alongside some information from Arthas, who gave it to Illidan, they join forces to defeat the Burning Legion.
A lot of elements of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is outlined in the Warcraft narrative. Thrall and Jaina seem to fit Joseph Campbell's description of a hero the most, since they followed most of Campbell's steps.
When I first played Warcraft III, I was amazed by its elaborate story telling, and how powerful the message was, which was to unite forces to defeat a common enemy even if the races had a rough history in the past. I also loved the game because you got to play the game from multiple points of view. It also taught me that heroes are not all human, and not all heroes follow the same narrative.
Also, since Jaina is my favorite character in Hearthstone, I love how in Warcraft III she stays true to her heart, by refusing to kill human victims who became a pawn of the Undead Scourge and accepting the Prophet's call. Her development as a character has made a lasting impression on me.
Although I did not play Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, nor Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, I did watch gameplay videos to get some idea on what is the context of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. In the beginning of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the Orcs live in in Draenor, a race consisting of warriors and warlocks. Some of the Orcs are possessed by a demonic army called the Burning Legion. Gul'dan discovered a rift, and eventually with the help of human sorcerer Medivh , opened a small portal into the kingdom of Azeroth, where the Humans lived. The Orcs outnumber the Humans, and eventually learned the Humans superior tactics, organization, and magic in order to conquer Azeroth. The surviving humans escaped to Lordaeron, where they formed a group with dwarves and elves known as the Alliance. The Alliance defeated the Orcs, destroyed the portals, and the humans proceeded to round up remaining orcs into internment camps, fracturing the Alliance.
In Warcraft III, we get 4 different points of view from 4 "heroes". Thrall, the leader of the Orcs has a dream that the Burning Legion is coming. After meeting with the Prophet, who tells him the same thing, he leads his forces from Lordaeron to Kalimdor, a forgotten land. Meanwhile, Arthas, prince of Lordaeron, is committed to protecting his kingdom. After dismissing the Prophet's plea to move his people to Kalimor. He goes investigate a plague that kills humans and turning into undead. Archmage Jaina Proudmoore aides him in finding the source of the plague, but when Arthas wants to purge the undead, Jaina refuses to commit genocide and follows the advice of the Prophet. Arthas goes on his own quest, to find a powerful sword called "Frostmourne", which Arthas believe is the power to save his kingdom. However, the sword is cursed, and Arthas sacrifices his soul to obtain the sword, becoming a Death Knight, a soldier in the Lich King's Undead Scourge. After learning about the Burning Legion, Arthas opens a portal to defeat the Burning Legion head on. However, Arthas is defeated and the Burning Legion takes over Lordaeron.
Meanwhile Thrall and Jaina and their followers reached Kalimor. Initially they clashed, however the Warsong clan, infected by the Burning Legion, who angered the Night Elves that live there and killed their demigod, Cenarius. Jaina and Thrall joins force to free the Warsong clan from the Burning Legion. Tyrande Whisperwind, the leader of the Night Elves, blames the death of Cenarius on the Orcs and Humans, however learns that the Burning Legion is coming towards Kalimor, and awakens the sleepling Elf Druids, including Illidan and Malfurion Stormrage. Eventually, Jaina, Thrall, Tyrande, alongside some information from Arthas, who gave it to Illidan, they join forces to defeat the Burning Legion.
A lot of elements of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is outlined in the Warcraft narrative. Thrall and Jaina seem to fit Joseph Campbell's description of a hero the most, since they followed most of Campbell's steps.
When I first played Warcraft III, I was amazed by its elaborate story telling, and how powerful the message was, which was to unite forces to defeat a common enemy even if the races had a rough history in the past. I also loved the game because you got to play the game from multiple points of view. It also taught me that heroes are not all human, and not all heroes follow the same narrative.
Also, since Jaina is my favorite character in Hearthstone, I love how in Warcraft III she stays true to her heart, by refusing to kill human victims who became a pawn of the Undead Scourge and accepting the Prophet's call. Her development as a character has made a lasting impression on me.
This is an interesting twist on the medium through which you experienced a hero's journey. I play some Hearthstone as well, but I was unfamiliar with all of this lore that you talked about in your post. I think you did a good job in describing the development of Jaina's character, and why her decisions led her to become your favorite hero. Good work
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