World of Warcraft
From Devwiki
(Texts copied from World of Warcraft Wikipedia article).
The Warcraft universe is a fictional universe in which a series of games and books published by Blizzard Entertainment are set. Players were first introduced to this universe in the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. Known worlds in the Warcraft universe include Azeroth, Draenor, Argus, K'aresh, and Xoroth.
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Concept and creation
The Warcraft universe's background, plot, and setting, like most Blizzard games, bear notable resemblance to tabletop role-playing 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). The fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien also serve as a foundation; many of the races, such as Orcs and Dwarves, are patterned after Tolkien's, and the Elvish languages used in the game, Thalassian and Darnassian, are similar to 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), Cthulhu Mythos, Thundercats, and third-world proxy wars.
Geography
The majority of media in the Warcraft universe takes place upon a planet called Azeroth. This planet has four continents, named Azeroth, Lordaeron, 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 three main continents throughout the sea.
The Eastern Kingdoms, the conjoined eastern continents of Azeroth and Lordaeron, is the primary home of the Alliance faction. The landmass 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 which shares its name with this northern continent of the Eastern Kingdoms. * Khaz Modan, a Dwarf kingdom. * Stormwind, the last unspoiled 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 desert 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 geographic 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 is featured in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion set, 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 now known as outland. The original homeland of the Orc race also the Draenei home world and the Ogre race, this 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 World of Warcraft's first expansion World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.
Other planets in the universe include Argus, the original home-world of the Eredar race; K'aresh, the original home-world of the Ethereal race; and Xoroth, the home-world 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 might just be other visible planets).
Places beyond the planets include the Great Dark Beyond, Warcraft's equivalent of outer space; the Emerald Dream, a dream-scape 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 malevolent deities called the Old Gods are banished; and the Dark Below, a hellish, little-referenced underworld the canon of which is debatable.
Homelands
Warcraft Novels
* War of the Ancients: Archive * Warcraft Archive * Cycle of Hatred * Day of the Dragon * The Demon Soul * Lord of the Clans * Meric * Night of the Dragon * Of Blood and Honor * Rise of the Horde * The Sundering * Tal'kraa * The Last Guardian * Tides of Darkness * The Well of Eternity
Worlds
Other Planes of Existence
* The Twisting Nether * The Elemental Plane * The Emerald Dream
There are several creature types in World of Warcraft. They are vulnerable to different spells, equipment properties, and enchantments. For example, the racial bonus of the Trolls, Beastslaying, gives them an extra boost when killing creatures in the Beast category.
Most standard animals in the game are Beasts, such as bears, wolves, raptors, etc.
Critters are typically harmless and low level. They're more intended for ambiance and to give larger predator animals (cats, wolves, etc.) something to chase.
Hateful, twisted or otherwise inherently evil creatures who take pleasure in the suffering of others. Demons are the races which make up the majority of the Burning Legion.
Dragonkin - anything dragon-based; range greatly in power from tiny whelps to massive dragonflight leaders.
Elementals - Chaotic manifestations of the elements (fire, air, water, earth, arcane/mana, life) ranging in power from minor spirits to massive Princes, Aspects and Lords.
Giants - Huge creatures, usually Elite. Usually humanoid in appearance (i.e. Mountain Giants, Sea Giants).
Humanoids - Includes all the playable races (including Forsaken), as well as Pandaren, ogres, and a variety of other intelligent or semi-intelligent living creatures that do NOT include nerubians, centaur, naga, nor dragonkin.
Mechanicals - * Moving devices created through a mix of expert engineering and magic.
* Usually associated with Goblins or Gnomes, although the Burning Legion has also been known to make use of mechanical creatures.
