The only two pieces of news this week revolve around the hot topic of merchandising. First up, The Guild has posted a series of YouTube videos where they “sellout” by selling various The Guild themed products. Each of them is fictional, obviously, and it’s all a marketing stunt to get their DVD sold. Which, you know what, I’m fine for. That’s right people; the great Xerin who complains endlessly about sellouts is perfectly fine with them making videos to sell DVDs. Why? Because the videos are entertaining and enjoyable and their product, a DVD, is actually pretty cool. Because you donate money to the show which keeps them motivated and you get something for your cash.
That isn’t to say The Guild isn’t a sellout of the highest accord. This last season has had a ton of product placement and you pretty much have to swear fealty to Microsoft just to watch the episodes. But, comic books and DVDs I am always fine about. Another web series, Unforgotten Realms, may actually save itself off of the sales of DVDs, but I might argue that $30 is a bit much for a DVD, especially considering that The Guild’s price is only $10 and comes with a ton of bonus content. Then again, it’s not such much of a donation with a gift as it is just buying their DVD outright.
Legend of Neil and the Angry Video Game Nerd are often selling signed merchandise/set parts. I always wonder about how you’d feel after buying something like that. Something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for and the signature of an Internet star isn’t nearly worth as much (heck celebrity signatures aren’t worth a lot most of the time as well).
The power of any given enemy determines what they’re capable of doing in WoW lore and where they stand. For instance, The Lich King is much stronger than Illidan. If Illidan had stayed in Azeroth then he would have been destroyed because the LK is much, much stronger than him now. Arthas, as a Death Knight, defeated him. Arthas as the Lich King would have sought vengeance against him without an issue. Ner’zhul, who has been consumed by Arthas, would probably power through Arthas’ spirit to take out an agent of The Burning Legion.
Everyone has a relative power level and that level determines who they fear and who they don’t. For instance, adventurers are non-factors power wise. Your power, as the “adventurer” in WoW lore, is weak. You’re considered to be one of the faceless minions pounding on something as the big bosses of the lore actually kill an enemy.
Thrall is one of the most powerful city leaders, yet he isn’t as powerful Grom Hellscream. Hellscream was capable of taking down Mannoroth. Mannoroth was weaker than Cenarius, who was always defeated by a blood raged Hellscream, so that puts Cenarius near equal ground. Of course, Cenarius can retreat into the Emerald Dream and regenerate his mortal body. We’ll get into that later one day.
So Thrall isn’t that powerful. Him combined with Sylvanas and a legion of adventurers were able to defeat Varimathras. So that puts Thrall a bit above a dreadlord. So playing with what we know now, we can assume that Thrall isn’t a guy to be messed with, but isn’t the most powerful guy out there.
Deathwing’s power is what I’m curious about. Old Gods are much more powerful than Titans, which puts their power at a level above everyone that we’ve currently dealt with. Deathwing is greater than Malygos in power, but doesn’t have the Dragon’s Soul anymore. So we know that he’s pretty powerful, but has been defeated many times already. Knowing this, we also know that he’s been corrupted by an Old God which makes him more powerful than the Lich King himself, as in the Lich King’s physical body.
Don’t forget, the Lich King isn’t powerful just for his character. It’s the army he controls and the nature in which his army is invincible. It grows constantly as it defeats you. It doesn’t stop and it’s grown to a point where he could easily take on demon homeworlds with no resistance. Assuming demons can be resurrected by the Lich King. Powerful beings such as Kel’thuzad take powerful magic to be able to bring back.
Speaking of The Lich King, and yes I digress once more, where does Mal’Ganis belong in the story now? Mal’Ganis is alive, he controls the forces in Onslaught Harbor, and he’s mad. He’s very, very, very mad. Arthas killed him awhile back and he’s probably being blamed for the entire failure of the Third War. Had he succeeded then Archimonde wouldn’t be dead now. I must ask just how powerful is Mal’Ganis? We know other dread lords are as powerful as city leaders, but Mal’Ganis was defeated by Arthas when Arthas’ power wasn’t nearly as mature as when he fought Illidan. So that puts him below Illidan on the power scale, which makes sense. If he was as powerful as Illidan then he’d pretty much wreck havoc himself, but he hasn’t.
Then again, he might have died to Arthas on purpose. Who knows with dreadlords and he does talk about going back to the homeworld. So I imagine he’s not in too bad with his breathren. Nevertheless, I ponder what his role will be. It’s obvious that he has to play some role because he was the key instrument in driving Arthas mad. He led Arthas to Frostmourne, he gave Arthas something to hate, and he was “ruined” by Arthas.
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