Has there ever been a piece of lore saying that priests and paladins use the light in different ways? Would be happy to know where if so!
2 Likes
From what I understand, undead priests are typically shadow priests (cult of the forgotten shadow).
While paladins and priests can and do wield the light, priests tend to channel it temporarily. Paladins are infused by it, body and soul.
3 Likes
What is in need of an explanation is more that, when UD paladins exist…why would they be horde?
It was previously stated that using light as UD comes with a lot of pain/suffering only the most extreme individuals can handle (and alot turn insane).
If we assume all UD paladins that are there using the light are exactly this:
light-fundamentalists with absolute faith…then why should we expect them joining the very faction that consist out of what they fought in live.
I doubt a fundamentalist would change his mind so easy.
I expect it’s something similar to how Druids and Shamans use Nature in different ways.
If I remember correctly, the two concepts are somewhat intertwined, at least in the original Warcraft lore. In Warcraft I, you can recruit Priests from the Church. In Warcraft II, Alonsus Faol (if I’m not mistaken) realizes that Priests are too vulnerable in combat (no armor, shield, or mobility), so he trains them to become Paladins. Even in Warcraft II, there’s a Church where you can research Paladins and their spells, effectively turning your Knights into “Priests on horseback”. Their spells are also very similar to those of the Clerics in Warcraft I: Healing and Holy Vision, with the addition of Exorcism (versus undead). The two concepts are closely intertwined.
I think you shouldn’t look for too much internal logic in a fantasy game anyway. Trying to come up with logical justifications for their arguments by appealing to the lore is pretty laughable.
Let’s be honest: the people writing the story aren’t always the original creators, and there are quite a few inconsistencies. It’s clear that neither Priests nor Paladins really make much sense on the Horde side.
2 Likes
There is no real answer, there is some vague lore from a 2001’s novel Blood and Honor stating that Paladins are infused with the light where as priests channel it.
But that predates Wow and lore changes.
If Undead priests can wield the light, so can Paladins imo I wouldn’t lean too much into it.
I just hope Dwarf paladins get their own racial mount and maybe in the future we have some in-game explanation on the dwarf shamans as well. Maybe a quest chain tight to a weapon/gear item or an ability revealing why specifically dwarfs are the shaman race of the Alliance.