The Tauren & The Goblin – Warcraft Story & Lore

Latest Episodes:

#7: On Winter's Veil Dec 20, 2016

Show notes

Happy Feast of Winter's Veil! Nick and Katie celebrate the holiday by talking about some of the lore behind the holiday. First though, they discuss Dave Kosak leaving the WoW team and moving to the Hearthstone team. With all the recent changes, how will this affect the story going forward? Nick is concerned that as people come and go, we may see an effect where characters stop staying dead as rotating creative teams turns WoW into a sort-of comic book. Katie points out that Illidan and Gul'dan already haven't stayed dead.
Then the duo discuss Winter Veil's origins as a holiday celebrated by the Tauren and Dwarves before it was corrupted by the Goblins with their greed and consumerism. They talk about how this mirrors the current state of Christmas, and how WoW and other online games live in a weird state of mirroring our world without having any direct knowledge of it. Nick hopes that the upcoming micro-holidays will make Azeroth feel more unique as the world starts to have its own events independent of ours. They also discuss the concept that the races all unify over these holidays although they would only be celebrated by certain groups.
This leads to a discussion of Azeroth's climate and how the geography that befits a game does not translate accurately to how the world should fit. Nick uses a bad example of the Blasted Lands, which Katie accurately points out has a magical source, and they list the changes they want the world to show going forward. They talk further about the plans for further expansions before finally giving their highlights from the game for 2016.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1pu
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#6: Blizzcon Reactions - Mounts, Patches, and Gadgetzan Nov 22, 2016

Show notes

Nick and Katie sit down for the first time since Blizzcon to talk about how the announcements will affect the story of Warcraft to come. First, they discuss the class mounts, in particular their love for the priest mount. Katie also loves the rogue mount, and they talk about the druid mount as well. They also argue that druids should be able to transmog their feral appearance, and discuss how the art team isn't big enough to support creating all these different appearances while maintaining racial identity within them too. Then they move into talking about patch 7.2, the Tomb of Sargeras. We'll finally be going down into the Tomb (except when we go up into the Temple to do the dungeon instead), and we'll be facing the Corrupted Avatar of Sargeras as well as Kil'jaeden. After claiming victory at the Tomb, the next step will apparently be to go through the portal to Argus. What will we find there?
Nick then tries to predict what the next expansion will involve when we return from Argus. (Hint: It involves the Old Gods!) Before leaving Argus though, it would seem that we should meet up with Turalyon and Alleria. Nick also discusses the quest to get Alleria's bow and how he feels odd carrying around a Windrunner family heirloom in his bag for no great reason. With Alleria returning, the direction of the plot for Sylvanas and Greymane seems like it may come to the forefront again. They speculate on how long Sylvanas will remain as Warchief and why she is better for the game in that role than Vol'jin or Baine. Finally, they talk about the updates to Gadgetzan introduced in Hearthstone expansion, Mean Streets of Gadgetzan. Katie loves the Grimy Goons and both she and Nick would love to see an updated Gadgetzan in Tanaris, even if it means an updated Tanaris. They talk about all the great things about how Gadgetzan is presented in Hearthstone and how it would (or would not) fit in to the current World of Warcraft.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1pd
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#5: Celebrating Highmountain Nov 08, 2016

Show notes

The long anticipated Highmountain episode has finally arrived. Nick and Katie start by briefly discussing Patch 7.1 and Katie's journey into the Druid Class Hall on her Tauren alt. Stijn sends in an email about Marcus and the Steamy Romance novel, and Nick and Katie talk about his various romances and how Blizzard keeps playing with that character, and wonder where it can go from here. Nick talks about his impressions of Thunder Totem, and how he went from not being impressed by the concept art to loving the structure, and how it feels like what Thunder Bluff should have been.
The story of Highmountain starts in the Highmountain - A Mountain Divided comic which introduced Mayla, the aspriring Chieftan, and Dargrul, the aggressive villain. Dargrul seizes the Hammer of Khazgoroth and kills Mayla's father, leaving her in charge, and she must work with the Outsider (they player) to unite the Rivermane, Skyhorn, and Bloodtotem tribes. Ultimately, she takes her rightful place as Chieftan, and the Hammer is reclaimed.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1p3
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

Blizzcon 2016 and the Leaked Nighthold Cinematic Nov 04, 2016

Show notes

Nick and Katie get hyped for Blizzcon by talking about what they are looking forward to at the show! Katie shares her expectations for more than just World of Warcraft as she talks about looking forward to Sombra, and whatever new content is coming for Diablo. Plus, she's expecting HD re-releases of all the old Warcraft games. Also, they talk about what they might hope to see in Patch 7.2, assuming Blizzard announces that at Blizzcon. Then she and Nick go over the Nighthold cinematic that was released with patch 7.1. SPOILERS abound so if you don't want to know how Nighthold's going to end when it gets here in a few months, you may want to check out of this episode early around the 18:00 minute mark. All this and more on a special edition of The Tauren & the Goblin!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1oz
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#4: The Headless Horseman Oct 25, 2016

Show notes

It’s Hallow's End! Nick and Katie decide to celebrate by discussing the origin of the Headless Horseman! But first Nick and Katie almost come to blows over the Sixtrigger Goblins in Stormheim. Katie talks about her experiences in the rogue class hall and her quest to get Garona's artifact daggers. Nick's been busy gathering Death Knight followers and learning about the status of Stromgarde. Katie also has her Ashbringer, but she doesn't have her Headless Horseman Mount yet. Along with discussing the Headless Horseman's tragic backstory, the sins of the Scarlet Crusade are brought to light. Ultimately, the horseman is a tragic figure along the lines of Anakin SkywalkerDarth Vader, as the Horseman becomes a villain before he physically transforms into his new appearance. The terror of the Scourge is worse than any horrors wracked in Val'sharrah.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1op
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#3: The Tragedy of Val'sharrah Oct 11, 2016

Show notes

Nick and Katie are back to talk about Val'sharrah. But first, they discuss Chris Metzen's departure from Blizzard and the role that will have on Warcraft lore going forward. Metzen was like the Emerald Dream of Azeroth lore, but Nick and Katie agree that the story is in capable and loving hands. Then they talk about hunters and their conflicted role towards nature, as they are consistently killing the very thing they are sworn to protect. As for Val'sharrah, they talk about working with Malfurion to save Cenarius, and ultimately summoning Ysera to get her help, only for the Shade of Xavius to attack and corrupt her. Tyrande shows up to lead the player to save Malfurion, at which point the Shade jumps into the Darkheart Thicket while Ysera attacks the Temple of E'lune, forcing Tyrande to make a difficult choice. Katie talks about her feelings about having to kill Ysera, and they discuss the zone ending cinematic.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1og
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Host:
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#2: On Stormheim Sep 12, 2016

Show notes

This week Nick and Katie discuss the plot of the Stormheim zone and the history behind it. But first, Katie shares her thoughts on the Legion expansion, and Nick talks about loving his trinket that turns him into a Vrykul. Nick is also disappointed that the Frostwolf gear from Frostfire is leather since his rogue can't tame Frostwolves but his mail-wearing hunter can. But onto Stormheim, the duo discusses the merits of starting the zone after taking a portal from the Broken Isles to Durotar just to travel back to the Broken Isles.
Then they go into the history of Sylvanas and her battle against Greymane throughout the zone. Her relationship to Eyir and the Val'kyr is brought up. Greymane's merits as a ruler are questioned. They recap the history of Sylvanas and the Forsaken, and then go into the history between Helya in Helheim and Odin in the Halls of Valor. Then they talk about Havi and his secret identity. There's also a brief discussion about class halls and followers, and then some complaints about how geographic scaling is not accurate in WoW. Katie loves Storm Dragons. Finally, they list their favorite fun references in Stormheim, including Sir Finley Mrrgglton. All this and more on the second episode of The Tauren & the Goblin!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1ny
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

SE: More Pre-Legion Lore Aug 29, 2016

Show notes

Welcome to part 2 of the premiere episode of The Tauren & The Goblin. Nick and Katie continue looking at the lore going into Legion, starting with a discussion of whether or not Blizzard made more content for this expansion than they have for prior releases. Then we talk about Khadgar and his role in the audio drama "The Tomb of Sargeras." We discuss Jaina Proudmoore and what has led her to her decisions to abandon the Alliance and run off to places unknown. We also discuss the Dragon Flights and the state they have been in since Cataclysm and what role they might play in events to come in Legion.
Gul'dan's actions, and more importantly, his realizations in "The Tomb of Sargeras," are examined, as we look at what Khadgar and Maiev's cooperation made him realize about the efforts of the players in the final battle of Hellfire Citadel. We then talk about Khadgar warning Varian in the Legion announcement trailer, and then discuss the slate of webcomics Blizzard released last month.
Gul'dan leads the Legion in an assault on the Nightborne in "Nightborne: Twilight of Suramar." Magni Bronzebeard returns in "Magni: Fault Lines" to set up his appearance in the pre-launch questlines. "Highmountain: A Mountain Divided" introduces us to the Highmountain Tauren who will be playing a large role in Legion, and "Anduin: Son of the Wolf," shows us how much Anduin has grown while also grieving for his father by pitting him against a surprise dreadlord. Finally, we discuss what may happen in the expansions coming after Legion. We hope you enjoy this lengthy dicuss of Warcraft lore and look forward to more of The Tauren & the Goblin!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1nq
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#1: Pre-Legion Lore Aug 28, 2016

Show notes

Welcome to The Tauren & The Goblin, a new podcast with Nick and Katie from WoW! Talk! that will focus on Warcraft lore. In this premiere episode, Nick and Katie talk about Illidan, both the book and the character, and how it sets up the story of Legion. We also discuss Harbingers - Illlidan and Demon Hunters (although not too much since we haven't played their starting experience yet). Then we talk about Gul'dan and his journey to becoming a warlock in both timelines and how they relate to each other, referencing Harbingers - Gul'dan. Akama and his role in Illidan's actions during Burning Crusade are also discussed. Finally, we give our thoughts on the fallout from the Broken Shore scenario, talk about Vol'jin's funeral, and what the new models could mean for Sylvanas and Nathanos Blightcaller's roles in Legion.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1nn
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

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