Much debate amongst my world of Warcraft friends have been about why the races chose to be with either the Horde or the Alliance. The primary races of either faction are Orcs for horde and Humans for alliance, but the issue of what drives the races to join one or the other requires an analysis of both the general structure of the races, their ideologies and the history.
Humans are fundamentally opposed to orcs due to prejudice. Many humans, especially their king Varian Wrynn, have a seething loathing for all things orc. This stems from their long history of war. Orcs invaded Azeroth while under demonic influences. They ravaged the country side, pillaged innocent folks, and slaughtered thousands. Thus, humans are opposed to Orcs due to the events of the first two wars. Also, afterwards, they equate any aggressive action by an orc as reflective of the Horde as a whole.
Dwarves during the second war came under attack from the Orc Horde and humans and dwarves had been friendly for a while at that point. Thus, it was natural for them to side with their friends.
The Gnomish reasoning is much like that of the dwarves, especially since both races are near symbiotic. Also, Orcs have a history working with goblins, the gnome’s racial enemy.
The Worgen siding with the alliance is simple as well. First, they were members of the Alliance during the second war (when they were all humans). Second, the Night elves have, despite being the cause of their affliction, made amends by giving control over their curse. Last, after refusing to join the Forsaken, the latter decided to exterminate them seeing them as a threat to both their existence and their supremacy of Lorderon.
The Draenei is also very easy. When they first arrived on the Orc home world, the orcs embraced the newcomers and taught them their ways. Draenei did not share their abilities. Eventually orcs resented them for this. When they became corrupt, the Draenei were the first victims of the horde’s demonic rage. Afterwards, Bloodelves under the influence of Illidan, the Burning Legion and Prince Kael’thas attempted to exterminate the remainder of their race. Also, humans, dwarves and high elves all worship the light, of whom the Dranei are the chosen people.
The High Elves, though not a player race, remain with the Alliance simply because they wish to separate themselves from the bloodelves as much as possible.
The Night Elves, on the surface, seem odd. They worship and respect natures, their fellow members of the Cenarian Circle the Tauren are part of the horde, and when they first met humans and orcs they attempted to eradicate both peoples. At first it would seem a simple game mechanic. The alliance needed a race in Kalimdor, to not make it a “East v.s. West” battle (though it seems to be anyways.) Also, in the three Warcraft games elves took part of the Alliance. But, there is also the issue of order v.s. chaos. Humans live in a very rigid class based society similar to the Feudal system. The Night elves live in an even more rigid society. They killed and exiled their own people for using magic. The primary religious order is only accessible to women. Their laws on nature preservation are strict and harsh. Thus, they would do well with rigid law abiding societies like the Humans and Dwarves. There is also the belief amongst certain people (myself included) that a factor in the Night Elves decision in choosing Humans over Orcs is both Orcs were tainted by demons and Orcs are ugly.
Two things seem to unite the Alliance, a dislike or hatred for Orcs and their allies, and the belief of rigid social structures.
Orcs have a strong hatred for humans. The fact that they lost the wars against humans is not the reason for their hatred. Orcs understand and accept the horrors of war, and death in battle is seen as an honour. But, after the second war, Humans enslaved the majority of orcs. Used in slave labour and gladiatorial battles, they lived in cages and had absolutely no freedoms. When Thrall liberated them, many orcs could never forgive the humans for enslaving them. Thus, despite Thrall’s desire for universal peace, most Orcs would never trust a human.
The Trolls of the Darkspear tribe joined the horde because the orcs saved them from annihilation at the hands of the Naga they dubbed ‘the Sea Witch’ and her murloc slaves. Thus, as a people, they are indebted to the orcs and Thrall especially. Also, orcs have fought alongside trolls before in the second war, making it not odd for them.
The Goblins have always preferred being neutral since it is more profitable. But, during the second war many fought alongside the horde. The Bilgewater Cartel, though, has joined the orcs because after their home was destroyed by Deathwing the orcs and they banded together against a force of humans aiming to kill everyone and capture Thrall. There is also the issue of Orcs never mistreating Goblins due to prejudice (unlike humans who think they are ugly crazy being that wish only to swindle everyone and explode things.) On the contrary, Orcs have always valued their invention and friendship. Goblins also have a dislike for their engineering rivals the Gnomes.
The Tauren who chose to join the Horde did so much for the same reasons than the Trolls. The Orcs saved their clans and escorted them to their new home of Mulgore. Tauren also have much respect for the Orc’s shamanistic traditions and reverence for the Earth whom they worship.
The Forsaken joined the Horde simply because they Alliance would love nothing better than to kill every undead just because they are undead. It was a decision of survival. The Orcs accepted them because they desired a foothold in the Eastern Kingdoms. The Forsaken’s tendency of ‘winning at all costs’, which has included using plagues and blighting the land making it unliveable for anyone except for themselves, has made many of their allies weary of them. Despite that, they remain loyal to the Horde.
Bloodelves have chosen the Horde also for necessity. Before the demonic taint, the Humans treated the weakened elves with contempt. Not being able to stand the mistreatment the Bloodelf leader decided to join Illidan and the Burning Legion, whilst the remainder of them requested to side with the Horde in hopes of a fairer treatment, which they received. One of the reasons why the orcs accepted the bloodelves is sympathetic suffering. Like the orcs, the Bloodelves were tricked into consuming demonic energies. The Bloodelves became too desperate to satiate their addiction to magic and not de-evolve as a result, thus when a solution was presented most took it without question. This is much like the orc’s desire to be as powerful as the dranei and was thus tricked into serving the demons.
One thing seems to join the Horde together: survival. The Forsaken’s crime is to exist. The Bloodelves is attempting to not de-evolve at any cost and making a tragic mistake only orcs would forgive. Trolls and Tauren is that without the orcs their people would no longer be.
**As a side note, despite the fact that Tauren and Night Elves are members of the Druidic order of the Cenarian circle, this is against the desire of the elves. Taurens have not been allies with the Night Elves since the first Demonic Invasion and have always been regarded as savages and animals.
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