I think the real problem is that they really didn’t do much to build these “old” characters up, before putting them on the main stage. Baine basically was a dormant NPC that learned to speak in BfA and his first real action as a ingame protagonist was defying Sylvanas. It’s like they skipped the introduction of WHO Baine actually is. Basically, what’s missing was an epilogue after the Siege of Orgrimmar, where every Horde leader gives us a quick insight of his definition of the Horde. I don’t think that Baine is Alliance just because he is against “senseless” violence. But it is questionable that the most recognizable moment of his history (before BfA) was also an action that benefitted the Alliance on a military level. Of course that leaves a bad taste in the mouth of any Horde player. Cairne’s introduction back then was in WC3 - we got to know him there and when he appeared in WoW, there was no need to build him as a character. Baine on the other hand, just like Mekkatorque, was a side-character most of the time.
I get that his BfA storyline was supposed to be the official introduction of “his personality / character” - and in terms of character traits and priorities not a bad one - , but I really hope that Blizzard has more in store for him that actually gives him some patriotic “For the Horde!”-vibes and… makes him relevant on the battlefield.
That is a fact. Not an opinion. In his entire history he has done nothing for the Horde apart from some weird moral standouts to ease his own conscience.
So he should be dead by now. He is hated by the majority of the Horde community for good reason. He is the most hated character we are supposed to like because of his friendships with Anfuin and Jaina.
Yeah, with the “Daughter of the Sea” pipes in the background. That was imho the most defining moment for him and hit the Tauren vibe perfectly. I also liked that he was the one who reminded everyone that there is still a freaking huge sword in Silithus when they were about to start another war. When I read that, I was like “Finally, a leader with a brain that actually cares about Azeroth!”
It was his moment of weakness. He was willing to give the alliance victory in the ongoing war if it means he can sleep at night. He always puts his friendships with the humans first. Never the Horde. He has no friends within the Horde. He reminds us of that in Dragonflight when he mopes to Mayla about Anduin still missing. If I had the chance to kill a single character it would be Baine.
Edith: Nobody cares about the sword in Silithus. It is a plot divice that lost its purpose by the end of Legion when Magni used the artifacts to neutralize the dark powers of Sargeras.
By the time Shadowlands is over and we enter the Dragon isles with a civlian expedition the thing is already forgotten again.
WoW is a slow moving medium in it’s storytelling, so do not expect cliffhangers to be resolved within mere five years. It is not like the World of Warcraft is supposed to make sense anyway.
No. It wasn’t resolved because Blizzard forgot about it. It was only used as plot device to make Baine sad and have players emphazise with him. It served no other purpose so far.
It jumpstarted an expansion, gave Baine character development, showed his ability to think rationally, prioritize important problems and, at the same time, pulled away the Earthen Ring and the Circle of Cenarius from the destruction of a world tree.
In short: It was “only used” for multiple reasons of storytelling.
Baine was just a side character before Cairne died. Like with most leaders the Horde has nowdays, they only get the job becuase anyone else who could have been it, Blizzard killed them all. So excuse when I am not rooting for a character that is mostly responsible for ALL of the Horde’s identity problems.
I liked Shadowlands because it had nothing to do with Azeroth and explored the cosmic parts of the lore and magic. I have zero interest in Dragonflight and my Dracthyr is so far my only character on 70. I doubt I will level another one.
In Baine’s case, it’s different. Both Arthas and Bolvar had more story in WC3 and WoW, when they finally sat on the Frozen Throne, that was the end of a chapter for them. Baine on the other hand is a character that only recently got proactive, so to just leave him be for the next years would be a step back - he basically just begun his ingame story in BfA.
Just using the story that is presented to us ingame. And I am saying it again. Baine’s defining character trait is his love for peace and his friendship with Anduin and Jaina. That is the sole reason he exists.
