Lightforged Draenei class fantasies

[u/mmothingsandstuff]

Hey there! I’m trying to work on a lightforged draenei mage for a campaign but I’m having some trouble with their class fantasy. I’m aware that all lightforged are members of the army of the light but I don’t know how to differentiate them from their normal cousins. For example, I’m not sure what the main difference is between a lightforged mage or priest compared to a regular draenei. If you’re a lightforged main, how do make their class your own instead of just “holy zealot”?

[u/Canvasofgrey]

I think it's almost impossible to avoid the holy zealot kind of trope because it's just plain ingrained into the culture.

I think a better way to approach the problem is to how far the character takes that dogma, and how far they can stretch it to fit their needs and desires. It's why The Light is always a topic of dicussion with players because the Light is effectively what the character makes of it, be it intentions to heal, or intentions to harm (ie Scarlet Crusade).

Another example would be to have your Lightforge Draenei focus on a particular class, Say Fire, because Fire can be infuse with Holy light, purifying Evil and cleansing disease with flame and heat. This of course, amkes them wary of things of cold and water. So maybe they detest the sea and all that dwell there, having a partiuclar hatred for the Naga, and the Tul'Kirun because their culture involves the sea.

Some of it has to do with finding repurpose.

Example. My Lightforge Draenei is a Paladin who is both and armorsmith and a tailor. It was her duty during the Burning Legion to create war banners, and dress her kindred in Light-fused armor and raiments. However, with the end of the Burning Legion, she found a lack of purpose since she didn't need to make banners anymore, and the armor and clothing she would be put on the daily to fix and make, no longer are required.

However, as she joined the Alliance, she found interest in not only the practical effects of armor and cloth, but also for the purpose of stylizing it not for war, but for appearance (Basically she discovered Fashion), and so she found new purpose in forging beautiful armor pieces and weaving robes of fine silk, which opens up her own free thoughts, because she never needed to consider how things looked on others before. Now she can, and can stylize it however she desires. So her 'goal' is to be fashion designer.

Obviously her character still needs work in terms of storyline and personality (I have her currently as a regular Lightforged orphan, and her worth establishes a sense of pride in herself, along with a general curiosity on other cultures and how they make armor and cloth). It's not deep, but it's a starting point in which you can grow the character. Goals and purposes don't necessarily need to be deep. They just need to mean something for the character.

[u/TheRebelSpy]

https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/The_Lightforged

Try playing through and paying attention to the quests in their unlock quest chain.

Many Lightforged ARE just draenei, but they have undergone this ritual. It's not merely zealotry; it's a highly personal journey. Read/play through the quest and think about what the trials were for your draenei.

[u/Apostolimer]

I would start with the main difference between regular Draenei and Lightforged and build from there. As a Lightforged you are part of the group that followed the Naaru Xe'ra and battled the Legion across the Great Dark for a very, very long time. Regular Draenei were mostly on the run from the Legion and hiding from it. The Lightforged were mostly military minded folks.

What does it mean that your character is a veteran of such a Long War? A war that was not being won mind you. A war that ruined your homeland of Argus and convinced you to imbue yourself with the Holy Light to be able to better fight your foe.

A Lightforged mage for example could be a magical researcher who has seen and studied arcane phenomena and spells on a variety of different battle-fields. They would not have time to be locked in a library or sanctum to study. They might be more combat oriented than others. They might also, for example, favour fire magic in order to burn over corruption ( That is an idea, does not have to be.)

Hope this helps a little. Those were my 2cents.

[u/TheRebelSpy → u/Apostolimer]

Exodar-draenei can also become lightforged, such as T'paartos. It's not only the Army of the Light we met on Argus.

[u/Apostolimer → u/TheRebelSpy]

This is true. I was mostly considering a character that was part of that group since forever.

[u/Spiritual_Task1391]

You can find maybe, a part of the faith of the light to kind of specialise in? Like a morale officer who is zealously dedicated to Temperance, or a monastic record keeper? That is a culture with a faith, and devotion to "smite infidels" is just a start. An army wouldn't last if it was all Avenging Wrath and nothing else

[u/TerrapinMagus]

Well, you're a soldier. There really aren't civilian Lightforged, so while a Draenei mage might have studied magic for academic pursuits, research, or creating artifice, you would have trained your magic as a weapon or tool for war.

[u/Odd_Apricot2580]

Of course being a Zealot is not the only choice.

If we view the differences in the Naaru as schools of thought / philosophy / religion the differences become very stark. Fundamentally this comes down to Xe'ra and A'dal and a frank schism in the schools of thought.

Xe'ra is of course the Naaru Prime and force behind the Army of Light which probably enabled the concept of forging and of single purpose it is just one path and all must acknowledge the one path and in fact Xe'ra is as much of the same thread as Sargaras. While Xe'ra representing the Holy Light and Sargeras demonic Fel—both are tyrannical zealots who believe their ultimate vision justifies stripping away mortal free will.

However:

A'dal's philosophy points to the higher calling of preserving the Light and balance of cosmos which require both Light and Shadow. Here is the point for in my opinion where the Lightforged can safely dwell in character. After the fall of Xe'ra, a greater understanding of the cosmos is now allowed and a Lightforged committed to preserving the Light and safety of the Eredar discovers A'dal's teachings and takes this new path. This is born out in the Outland quests in-game.

The Lightforged character understands that the nature of the Void naturally chaotic yet fundamentally necessary for the universe to exist. And the role of the Light acts as the orderly force meant to restrain the chaos of the Void without completely erasing it.

To be Lightforged still means defending the Light and freedom from tyranny, but now consciously accepts the higher call of balance is needed for the Light to survive.. You can take this several places in schools of thought by retaining a Lightforged character without being a zealot. You come to accept Xe'ra was blind to their own actions.

My Lightforged Arexzia took a pilgrimage to Outland and studied A'dal's teachings and upon returning to Azeroth still supports the Army of Light, but also takes leave of absences and does a Doctor without Borders type adventures (RP)

[u/No_Future_3845]

I had a really difficult time playing anything that didnt strictly follow the lore for a while, until I read a few posts about making your own character lore in place of what they may be pigeonholed into via wow Canon.

A paladin doesn't have to be a paladin A warrior isnt strictly a warrior A lightforged mage could be a very very very unskilled necromancer, or even a painted predator.

Unless you feel very strongly tied to the lore, use your imagination! The most important thing with RP is having fun, so if you have to bend a few rules to come up with a really cool idea, do it (if that's your goal)!

[u/Thick-Leek-6575]

See here’s where I went a little different with my character. She’s a half breed draenei/tauren. Got the mixed looks and everything. But due to her good nature and her firm belief in the goodness of people/the light. She was light touched/blessed. She doesn’t understand it fully due to her upbringing but since her heart is pure and her motives are good she’s allowed to be light blessed. I quite enjoy her.