The goal in Warhammer Online is to obliterate your enemy. It is not enough to just repeatedly kill him. A player must work through levels where every resource in the land is contested. It is not just mindless killing – it is killing with the purpose of survival and gain of your faction.
There are two opposing factions in the game – Order and Destruction. The Order is considered the “good guys” but they are not without blood on their hands. They consist of the Empire (humans), Dwarfs, and High Elves. The Empire has suffered a plague that would cause the walking dead. These chaotic creatures would join the forces of Destruction. The Emperor of the Order tried to stifle the spread of the disease through unsuccessful quarantines. Panic spread to every village, causing the occupants to fend for themselves rather than unify as a group against the Destruction.
While the plague ravished the city, the Destruction forces used this time to gear their armies and prepare for war. The Witch King sees this as an opportune time to attack and planned with the other Destruction races: the Greenskins (orcs and goblins), the Chaos (evil humans), and the Dark Elves. The Witch King devises a plan that will occupy the allies of the Empire. This sends the Order into disarray and it seems that the Destruction forces will overwhelm them. The Order, after many deaths and riots, calmed its people and settled on a plan to kill all of the Destruction.
Each race in Warhammer Online has its own narrative, which helps those that wish to role play the game to have a stronger sense of their character. The Empire is considered the greatest nation of men. Man is subject to treachery, so there is never a clear sense of who to trust. They are continually being assaulted by the Chaos. Dwarfs are the ancient, proud race with great stamina and strength. They love two things in life: beer and gold. High Elves try to stay removed from the lesser races. They are older than Dwarfs and much more proud of who they are. They try to live in harmony but they repress any emotion.
Destruction forces are the darker faction. The people of Chaos are considered warrior champions and very powerful in battle. They are so different from their human counterparts that they seem almost alien. The Greenskins love a great battle. They are savage and take a great deal of fun in their destruction. They do not have a homeland. Greenskins would rather take over another settlement than take the time to build their own. The Dark Elves finish this lot. They are the destabilizing influence on what the High Elves try to create in harmony. They are a hedonistic group and embrace their selfishness with pride.
On top of the faction and character narratives, there is also a looser narrative regarding religion. All of the races have Gods that they worship. In some instances, the Gods will intervene and kill those of the opposing faction. Some of the Chaos Gods will just kill everyone. This is not an area that is well-developed. In the two weeks I have been playing Warhammer Online, I have only found out how to run away quickly when I hear the wrath of the Gods. I do not always understand what I have done – I just know that if I am caught up by the flames they send down on me, I will die and have to run all the way back.
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