User:Xavius/Warcraft IV: Army of the Light

Story
All was peace. The Scourge had been defeated, and the Legion was seemingly on the retreat. In Theramore, Thrall and Jaina Proudmoore were to marry, to finalize the union between the Alliance and the Horde. But just after the ceremony had begun, evil orcs belonging to a reformed Stormreaver Clan stormed the city, brutally slaughtering everyone in sight. Thrall and Jaina succeeded in escaping to Kul Tiras, only to find out the dark truth: an orc claiming to be the reincarnation of Gul'dan had united the anti-Thrall movements into a reformed Stormreaver clan, and took over the leadership of the Horde in one fell sweep. With these news came even more dire ones: all over Azeroth, portals were opening: the Third Invasion had begun, and with it, the Fourth War.

Game Mechanics
Basically, this will work much like Warcraft III, with better graphics, of course. Following are some changes made in the mechanics of the game compared to the previous game:

Like a Star, Like a Hero
The abilities of a hero have been expanded. Now, they work much like their counterparts in World of Warcraft. Once you create a hero, it will be assigned not only a random name, but race, gender, and some equipment details will also be random, depending on the hero in question. Second, heroes have ten levels, like in Warcraft III, but instead of a new ability to choose, the hero recieves three "talent points" to spend almost like in WoW, but here, the choice of talents decides your entire repertoire of abilities. Third, you can enter a "combat-view" of your hero, directing it very much like in WoW. Note that the hero isn't any stronger in this mode. Oh, and you can also still produce units in this mode, as well as making them follow you.

Moves - I Like to Make Them
No more campaign railroading, choose your own paths! Four campaigns are availible, the same story as seen from the different perspectives of the four factions. What you do in the scenarios alters the future of the campaign.

Invincible
Expect a lot of entertaining cheats, ranging from the mundane (extra resources) to the extraordinary (spawn campaign heroes) to the simply ridiculous (turning a unit into a llama).

You Can Spend Your Money in a Million Ways
It's true! Well, not a million, but still... Many different choices in buildings, units, technologies, you name it!

I Wish I Could be Stronger
Gain special points as you advance in the ranks of online warfare, which you can use to "purchase" special upgrades!

There by Your Side
There are several of minor factions just waiting for you to ally with them. Some of them are directly hostile to certain factions, and éven some who aren't might become if you fail critically in diplomacy. If you do succeed, expect units, technologies, resources, and much more!

The Eastern Alliance
The Eastern Alliance consists mainly of Stormwind humans, Ironforge dwarves, gnomes, and high elves. It is led by Jaina Proudmoore and Thrall. This faction most resembles the Alliance/humans from the earlier games.

Heroes
Paladins are holy warriors, combining martial skill with powerful healing and protective magics. As in Warcraft III.
 * [[Image:IconLarge Paladin.gif|25px]]Paladin

Talent Trees: Holy, Protection, Retribution

Races: Human, Dwarf

Weapon: Two-Handed Hammer (Blunt)

Mountain Kings are the most powerful and noble warriors of the dwarves, combining lightning magic with hammer/axe attacks. As in Warcraft III.
 * [[Image:Ability Racial Avatar.png|25px]]Mountain King

Talent Trees: Striking, Defense, Thunder

Races: Dwarf

Weapons: Hammer and Axe (Blunt and Slashing)

Archmagi represent the pinnacle of arcane magic. They possess a vast repertoire of spells. As in Warcraft III.
 * [[Image:IconLarge Mage.gif|25px]]Archmage

Talent Trees: Arcane, Fire, Frost

Races: Human, Gnome, High Elf

Weapon: Magic Missile (Arcane)

Units
Peasant (Human, Dwarf, Gnome, High Elf), Footman (Human, Dwarf, Gnome, High Elf), Rifleman (Dwarf), Knight (Human, Dwarf, High Elf), Cleric (Human, Dwarf, High Elf), Flying Machine, Mortar Team (Dwarf), Siege Engine, Gryphon Rider (Dwarf), Conjurer (Human, Gnome, High Elf), Mechanic (Dwarf, Gnome), Wizard (Human, Gnome, High Elf), Crossbowman (Human, Dwarf)

The Western Alliance
Cut off from their compatriots in the Eastern Kingdoms, the Western Alliance have to fend for themselves. It consists mainly of night elves, draenei, and a few furbolgs and Mulgore tauren. It is led by Archdruid Fandral Staghelm and Shandris Feathermoon. This faction most resembles the night elves of Warcraft III.

Heroes
The most powerful druids are archdruids, nature's greatest allies. Similar to the Warcraft III Keeper of the Grove.
 * [[Image:IconLarge Druid.gif|25px]]Archdruid

Talent Trees: Balance, Feral, Restoration

Races: Night Elf, Furbolg, Tauren

Weapon: Wrath (Nature)

Amongst the night elven priesthood of Elune, the Priestesses of the Moon are the greatest of their kind, using both bow and magic. As in Warcraft III.
 * [[Image:Ability TrueShot.png|25px]]Priestess of the Moon

Talent Trees: Archery, Moon, Beastmastery

Races: Night Elf, Female only

Weapon: Bow (Piercing)

Akin to the human and dwarven paladins, the Vindicator is a warrior serving the Naaru and the Light.
 * [[Image:Spell Holy HolyProtection.png|25px]]Vindicator

Talent Trees: Divine, Guardianship, Fighting

Races: Draenei

Weapon: Two-Handed Hammer (Blunt)

Units
Wisp, Sentinel (Night Elf, Draenei), Huntress (Night Elf, Draenei), Glaive Thrower, Dryad, Druid of the Claw (Night Elf, Furbolg, Tauren), Druid of the Talon (Night Elf, Tauren), Mountain Giant, Hippogryph, Celestial Priest (Night Elf, Draenei), Scrapper (Furbolg, Tauren)

The Horde
The Horde is now experiencing brutal tyranny under the rule of the reincarnated Gul'dan. It consists mainly of orcs (both enslaved and loyal), ogres, Grimtotem tauren, and various demons. This faction most resembles the Horde from the previous games (especially the first two), with elements of the undead from Warcraft III.

Heroes
The Grand Warlocks are the most powerful members of Gul'dan's Stormreaver clan, capable of unfathomable evil.
 * [[Image:IconLarge Warlock.gif|25px]]Grand Warlock

Talent Trees: Affliction, Demonology, Destruction

Races: Orc, Fel Orc, Eredar

Weapon: Shadow Bolt (Shadow)

Once again, the blademasters serve Gul'dan. Their skill with the blade is unsurpassed. As in Warcraft III.
 * [[Image:Ability Whirlwind.png|25px]]Blademaster

Talent Trees: Deception, Bladestrike, Bladeskill

Races: Orc, Fel Orc, Tauren, Felguard

Weapon: Two-Handed Sword (Slashing)

Those who were dead rise again. The bodies of slain enemies are the vessels of the souls of dead warlocks, capable of great feats of necromancy. Combining aspects of the Warcraft II and III death knights.
 * [[Image:INV Staff 14.png|25px]]Death Knight

Talent Trees: Undeath, Evocation, Unholy

Races: Warlock-Possessed Undead

Weapon: Necroblast (Shadow)

Units
Peon (Orc, Tauren), Grunt (Orc), Demolisher, Dark Shaman (Orc, Tauren), Warlock (Orc, Fel Orc), Raider (Orc), Marauder (Tauren, Fel Orc, Ogre, Felguard), Chaos Kodo (Orc, Tauren), Dragon (Orc, Fel Orc), Necrolyte (Orc)

The Vanguard
When the Horde was compromised, the former Horde races of the northern Eastern Kingdoms, mainly blood elves and forsaken, bonded together to form their own faction: the Vanguard. They are governed by Sylvanas Windrunner. This faction most resembles the elf portion of the Warcraft III humans and the undead of the same game.

Heroes
The blood elves of Quel'Thalas have their own grand spellcasting tradition, which manifests itself in the blood mages. As in Warcraft III.
 * [[Image:INV Misc SummerFest BrazierOrange.png|25px]]Blood Mage

Talent Trees: Pyromancy, Darkness, Summoning

Races: Blood Elf

Weapon: Firebolt (Fire)

The rangers of the Vanguard are a combination of the ordinary, high/blood elf ranger, and the forsaken dark rangers. They are the masters of the bow.
 * [[Image:IconLarge Hunter.gif|25px]]Ranger

Talent Trees: Marksmanship, Nature, Death

Races: Blood Elf, Forsaken

Weapon: Bow (Piercing)

The forsaken gain their power from the shadows, and so the most powerful forsaken wield the shadows as their mighty weapons. These are the mightiest amongst the shadow priests and the apotecharies.
 * [[Image:INV Potion 28.png|25px]]Shadowlord

Talent Trees: Mind, Terror, Chemistry

Races: Forsaken

Weapon: Shadow Bolt (Shadow)

Units
Worker (Blood Elf, Forsaken), Deathguard (Forsaken), Deathstalker (Forsaken), Marksman (Blood Elf, Forsaken), Shadow Priest (Forsaken), Mage (Blood Elf, Forsaken), Spell Breaker (Blood Elf), Dragonhawk Rider (Blood Elf), Apotechary (Forsaken)


Neutral heroes and units can be hired from a Tavern. Each hero has a corresponding unit.

Assassins are killers working for money, masters of the cloak and dagger.
 * [[Image:IconLarge Rogue.gif|25px]]Assassin

Talent Trees: Stealth, Combat, Venom

Races: Various

Unit: Rogue

Weapon: Dagger and Sword (Piercing and Slashing)

Masters of the machine, tinkers are the ones you need when it comes to technological expertise.
 * [[Image:Trade Engineering.png|25px]]Tinker

Talent Trees: Machine, Utility, Conflict

Races: Dwarf, Gnome, Goblin

Unit: Techie

Weapon: Mech-Arm (Blunt)

Travelling the wilds of the worlds, the beastmasters are friend, allies, and masters of nature and it's beasts. Wielding twin axes, the beastmaster fights alongside fierce animal companions.
 * [[Image:Ability_Physical_Taunt.png|25px]]Beastmaster

Talent Trees: Land, Air, Water

Races: Mok'nathal, Dwarf, Night Elf, Orc, Troll, Tauren

Unit: Tamer

Weapon: Twin Axes (Slashing)

Geomancers are spellcasters using the eldritch forces of the primal earth, not unlike shaman. Their command over the elements of earth and fire is fearsome to all who oppose them.
 * [[Image:Spell_Totem_WardOfDraining.png|25px]]High Geomancer

Talent Trees: Glyph, Ground, Flame

Races: Tauren, Pandaren, Kobold, Quilboar, Trogg

Unit: Geomancer

Weapon: Firebolt (Fire)

Yeah, these guys are back, too. Combining the powers of alcohol, martial arts, and the elements, the brewmasters are both confusing and fearsome.
 * [[Image:INV_Cask_02.png|25px]]Brewmaster

Talent Trees: Alcohol, Brawling, Elements

Races: Pandaren, Dwarf, Ogre

Unit: Brawler

Weapon: Staff (Blunt)

Minor Factions
Still constantly at war with the peoples of the Vanguard, the forest trolls are vicious fighters.
 * Amani Tribe

Factions: Horde

Units: Berserker (Troll), Voodoo Priest (Troll), Warbear

When they're not robbing, killing, looting, and/or plundering, they might be interested in joining you!
 * Bandits

Factions: All

Units: Thug (Various), Thief (Various),

When Gul'dan became the new orcish leader, the troubled trolls of the Darkspear tribe had to yet again find themselves a new home.
 * Darkspear Tribe

Factions: Eastern Alliance, Vanguard

Units: Headhunter (Troll), Witch Doctor (Troll), Batrider (Troll)

These guys are completely neutral. Well, if you consider selling yourselves to any faction with money neutral.
 * Goblins

Factions: All

Units: Sappers (Goblin), Engineer (Goblin), Zeppelin

Orcs who opposes the rule of Gul'dan and his demonic summons.
 * Orcish Rebels

Factions: Eastern Alliance, Vanguard

Units: Shaman (Orc), Wind Rider (Orc), Ko'kron Elite (Orc)

The Scourge may be defeated, but it's creations still live... or something.
 * Ravenous Dead

Factions: Horde

Units: Ghoul, Skeletal Mage, Skeletal Warrior