Is World of Warcraft Set After Warcraft 3? A Deep Dive
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Yes, definitively, World of Warcraft (WoW) is set after the events of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. The game’s timeline picks up approximately four years after the conclusion of Warcraft III, making it a direct sequel within the broader Warcraft universe. This temporal separation allows WoW to explore the aftermath of the events depicted in the real-time strategy games, developing existing storylines and characters further while introducing new conflicts and challenges. Let’s delve into the specifics and explore some frequently asked questions about the relationship between these two iconic Blizzard titles.
The Timeline: From Warcraft III to World of Warcraft
The timeline of the Warcraft universe is crucial to understanding the relationship between the different games. The core events are measured using a timeline that begins when the orcs first came through the Dark Portal, which is considered year zero. Most significant historical events happen before that, including the creation of Azeroth and the rise and fall of various empires.
Warcraft III and its expansion, The Frozen Throne, depict crucial events leading up to the start of WoW:
- Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos: This game introduces major characters and conflicts. It tells the story of the orc invasion of Azeroth, the rise of the Scourge, and the fall of Lordaeron, among other pivotal occurrences.
- Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne: This expansion continues those storylines and introduces several important expansions to the overall story. The expansion delves further into the events that set up the geopolitical stage of Azeroth that we see in WoW.
World of Warcraft starts about four years later, in approximately Year 25 of the established timeline. The world is recovering from the events of The Frozen Throne, but new threats are emerging. The major races of Azeroth – Humans, Orcs, Night Elves, Dwarves, Tauren, Gnomes, and Undead – are establishing themselves in the aftermath of the war that has raged and are in a constant state of geopolitical tension. Dragonflight, the latest expansion, is approximately in year 40.
Understanding the Differences
Although both games are set in the same fantasy world, they offer vastly different gameplay experiences.
- Warcraft III is a real-time strategy game, focusing on building bases, managing resources, and commanding armies in battles. The story unfolds through four different campaigns that tell a cohesive, overarching narrative. The game focuses on the stories and motivations of various powerful heroes within the world.
- World of Warcraft is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG). Players create their own characters, explore a vast world, and participate in quests, dungeons, raids, and player versus player (PvP) combat with thousands of other players. The story unfolds gradually through quests, cinematics, and various in-game events, but the player is the protagonist, driving the story forward.
Why Play Both?
While WoW is a direct sequel, playing Warcraft III isn’t strictly necessary to understand the basic events in WoW. However, knowing the events of Warcraft III greatly enriches your experience in World of Warcraft, because:
- Character Background: You’ll understand the histories and motivations of major figures like Arthas, Illidan, and Thrall.
- Setting Context: You’ll understand the political and geographical landscape of Azeroth, including the effects of the Third War.
- Story Depth: You’ll appreciate the references and callbacks in WoW far more, allowing for a deeper engagement with the lore.
The Evolution of the Engine
It’s worth mentioning that while early WoW development was influenced by the Warcraft III engine, the MMORPG quickly outgrew it. The WoW engine has been entirely overhauled several times, allowing for complex mechanics and vast open-world exploration that was not possible in Warcraft III. The game evolved to allow far more content and player agency that simply was not part of Warcraft III’s more controlled and linear design.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Was Warcraft 3 a success?
Yes, Warcraft III was a commercial success. It shipped 4.4 million copies to retail stores, with over a million sold within a month of its release. It was widely praised for its storytelling, gameplay mechanics, and innovation within the real-time strategy genre.
2. Is Warcraft 3 and The Frozen Throne the same thing?
No, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is the expansion pack for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. While both are part of the same title, The Frozen Throne continues the plot and introduces new features and units.
3. Can I play Warcraft 3 without playing 1 and 2?
Yes, you can. While knowledge of Warcraft I and II would help, the stories are fairly separate, especially between Warcraft II and Warcraft III. The core events and character arcs are still understandable without that background knowledge.
4. What is the difference between Warcraft 3 and Reforged?
Warcraft III: Reforged is a remastered edition of Warcraft III. It features revamped graphics, new campaign gameplay settings, and modern online Battle.net features. It’s essentially the same game with updated visuals and infrastructure.
5. How many years are there between Warcraft 3 and World of Warcraft?
World of Warcraft is set approximately four years after the events of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
6. How many years are there between vanilla WoW and Dragonflight?
Vanilla WoW began in year 25, and Dragonflight is in year 40. This means there is a gap of approximately 15 years between the start of World of Warcraft and the current story.
7. How many years between Warcraft 3 and WotLK?
Since WoW starts 4 years after Warcraft 3, and Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) is its second expansion, the gap would be roughly around 8-9 years after the end of Warcraft III. This is because it takes place around Year 32 of the overall timeline.
8. What is the chronological order of the WoW expansions?
The chronological order of WoW expansions is:
* The Burning Crusade (2007)
* The Wrath of the Lich King (2008)
* Cataclysm (2010)
* Mists of Pandaria (2012)
* Warlords of Draenor (2014)
* Legion (2016)
* Battle for Azeroth (2018)
* Shadowlands (2020)
* Dragonflight (2022)
9. What order should I play WoW in?
The original order of expansions is Classic (often referred to as Vanilla), then The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, Mists of Pandaria, Warlords of Draenor, Legion, Battle for Azeroth, Shadowlands, and finally, Dragonflight. However, the original content of Vanilla Azeroth has since been changed and updated, making the chronological experience more fluid.
10. Do you have to buy all WoW expansions?
No, you do not need to buy each expansion separately. A World of Warcraft subscription or game time purchase grants you access to all previous expansions, up to the level cap of 60. The latest expansion, Dragonflight, is purchased separately.
11. Which WoW expansion should I play first?
If you want to experience the story in its original order, start with Vanilla (Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor), although much of the content has changed. The subsequent experiences should then go in the order as mentioned in question 8, starting with The Burning Crusade.
12. What year was WoW at its peak?
World of Warcraft reached its peak popularity in 2010, with approximately 12 million subscribers worldwide.
13. Is WoW still popular in 2023?
Yes, World of Warcraft is still popular in 2023. In January 2023, it had an estimated 9.48 million active players, which is still a strong number for a game that is nearly two decades old.
14. Is WoW still the most played game?
While many other games boast larger player bases in terms of player count, in the MMORPG space, World of Warcraft is still the most popular MMORPG by a landslide, with an estimated total of 130 million players all time.
15. Who is the main villain in Warcraft 3?
While there are multiple antagonists in Warcraft III, Kil’jaeden plays a key role as a major antagonist alongside Illidan Stormrage in The Frozen Throne, as well as later in World of Warcraft’s Burning Crusade and Legion expansions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, World of Warcraft is undeniably set after Warcraft III, providing a continuation of the narrative and offering a unique perspective on the aftermath of the events in the real-time strategy games. Exploring both titles will greatly enhance the player’s experience of the Warcraft universe and its rich, complex lore. If you have a love for deep fantasy worlds, compelling characters, and epic conflicts, diving into both Warcraft III and World of Warcraft is an incredibly rewarding journey.