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Gameplay

A game of Warcraft III takes place on a map of varying size, such as large plains and fields, with terrain features like rivers, mountains, seas, or cliffs. In Campaign mode, the map is initially covered with the Black Mask, a dark layer which obscures the landscape beneath until it is explored. The Black Mask, once gone, is permanently removed. Areas that have been explored but no longer are within sight range of an allied unit or building are covered with the fog of war. Though terrain remains visible, changes such as enemy troop movements and building construction are unseen. During a game, players must establish settlements to gain resources, defend against other players, and train units to explore the map and attack enemies (computer controlled foes). There are three main resources that are managed in Warcraft III: gold, lumber, and food. The first two are required to construct units and buildings, while food restricts the maximum number of units the player may control at one time.

The game also introduces creeps, computer controlled units that are hostile to all players. Creeps guard key areas such as gold mines or neutral buildings and, when killed, provide experience points, gold, and special items to a player’s hero. Warcraft III also introduced a day/night cycle to the series. Besides having advantages or disadvantages for certain races, at night most creeps fall asleep, making nighttime scouting safer; however, the line of sight for most units is also reduced. Other minor changes to the gameplay were due to the 3D terrain. For instance, units on a cliff have an attack bonus when attacking units at lower elevations.

In previous Warcraft games, there were only two playable races, Orcs and Humans, which had more similarities than differences. Barring cosmetic changes, most Orc units were identical to their Human counterparts. In Warcraft III, the Night Elves and the Undead are added as playable races. Additionally, as in StarCraft, each race has a unique set of units, structures, technologies, and base-building methodology.

In addition, Warcraft III adds powerful new units called heroes. For each enemy unit killed, a hero will gain experience points, which allow the hero to level-up to a maximum level of 10. Progressing up a level increases the heroes attributes and also allows the hero to gain new spell options (bringing RPG elements to the series). Certain hero abilities can apply beneficial auras to allied units. All heroes can equip items to increase skills, defense, and other abilities. At level six, the hero can obtain an “ultimate” skill that is more powerful than the three other spells that the hero possesses (as a ressurection spell for the Tauren Chief and Arthas). Heroes can also utilize the various natural resources found throughout the map, such as controllable non-player characters, and markets in which the hero can purchase usable items. Often, the playing style of ones hero units (it is bound up to three at one time) decides who wins or loses the match/battle.

Campaign

Warcraft III’s campaign mode is broken up into four campaigns, each featuring a different race which the player controls. Each campaign is itself divided into chapters, which are like missions. Unlike previous Blizzard titles, such as Warcraft II or StarCraft, players are not directed to mission briefings in which plot exposition occurs and objectives are announced; rather, Warcraft III uses a system of “seamless quests.” Some plot development happens in occasional cinematics, but most occurs in-game with cutscenes. Objectives, known as quests, are revealed to the player during the progress of the map. Main quests are those that the player must complete to proceed to the next chapter, but there are also optional quests which are not initially revealed, but can be discovered and completed alongside the main objectives.

Through each race’s campaign, the player retains control of one or more heroes, which slowly grow in experience as the levels progress. This experience is carried over to subsequent missions, allowing the hero to grow throughout the course of the campaign.

While different in terms of storyline and precise gameplay, all of the different races’ campaigns are structured similarly. Each begins with a level involving simple mechanics to introduce the player to the race and the basic elements of their hero and units. After one or two such levels the player’s first “building mission” occurs, requiring them to build and maintain a base while competing with one or more enemy forces. The only campaign that breaks this pattern is the Night Elf campaign, whose first mission involves building a limited base. The last level of each race’s campaign is an “epic battle” which means that the player has to strike down a large number of enemy foes and finally destroy their main base. For that, the player has to use the knowlegde he acquired during the latest quests and also has to invent some war-strategies.

Multiplayer

While campaign games can have many different objectives, the sole objective in melee games is to destroy all the opposition buildings and units. In default melee matches, players can pick their own heroes, and losing one will not end the game. To make the game proceed more quickly, by default the map is covered in fog of war instead of the Black Mask. Warcraft III, like Blizzard’s previous title StarCraft, allows for single and multiplayer replays to be recorded and viewed, allowing a game to be played at slower and faster speeds and viewed from the perspective of all players. Like all previous Blizzard titles since Diablo, Warcraft III uses the Battle.net multiplayer network. Players can create free accounts in regional “gateways,” which helps reduce lag; these are Azeroth (U.S. East), Lordaeron (U.S. West), Northrend (Europe), and Kalimdor (Asia). One should note that at this point in time the U.S. East Gateway has become the de facto standard for online play. Most competitive play is held on this gateway as well as most public play in general. As the game has aged the players have condensed for this reason. Unlike previous Battle.net-enabled games, Warcraft III introduced anonymous matchmaking, automatically pairing players for games based on their skill level and game type preferences, preventing players from cheating and inflating their records artificially. If players want to play with a friend in ranked matches, Warcraft III offers “Arranged Team Games”, where a team joins a lobby and Battle.net will search for another team; as with anonymous matchmaking, the enemy team is not known beforehand. Players can also host custom games, using maps created in the Warcraft III World Editor. The game also offers Friends Lists and Channels for chatting, where players can create custom channels or join Blizzard-approved ones. Warcraft III also allows players to band together to form “clans”, which can participate in tournaments or offer a recreational aspect to Warcraft III. Global scores and standings in matchmaking games are kept on a “ladder”. These rankings can be checked online without the need of the game.

Due to the latest patch, version 1.23, many third-party programs have been rendered unusable. Several third-party programs that reveal the entire map, commonly known as maphacks, have been released for the update. It also disabled collided maps, which would make modified custom maps appear to be the same as the original. Another effect of the patch, which is not included in the release notes, is that custom maps with large filenames will not appear in the game. The limit is believed to be 20 characters, but this has not yet been tested.

Setting

Warcraft III takes place in the fictional world of Azeroth. Several years before the events of the games, a demon army known as the Burning Legion intent on Azeroth’s destruction corrupted a race called the Orcs, and sent them through a portal to attack Azeroth. After many years of fighting, the Orcs were defeated by a coalition of humans, dwarves and elves known as the Alliance; the surviving combatants were herded into internment camps, where they seemed to lose their lust for battle. With no common enemy, a period of peace followed, but the Alliance began to fracture. The events of Warcraft III occur after a timeskip from Warcraft II. This period was originally intended to have been documented in Warcraft Adventures, but that game was canceled in mid-development.

Characters

The Prophet, aka, Magus Medivh, The Last Guardian: Medivh was the son of Magna Aegwynn and the last Guardian of Tirisfal, given enormous power at youth in order to keep the demons from Azeroth. He was, however, possessed from birth by Sargeras, of the Burning Legion, and used to bring the Orcs through the Dark Portal as a precursor to a full invasion. He returns in Warcraft III as The Prophet to ensure the Legion is defeated.

Thrall: The son of Durotan, an Orcish chieftain who had refused the demonic corruption, Thrall was brought up in slavery by the humans after his parents were betrayed and killed. Having escaped from his human masters, he freed his people, imprisoned in the internment camps after their loss of the Second war. He became overall ruler (“Warchief”) after the death of the previous leader in battle. He is an honorable and idealistic leader.

Grom Hellscream: The chieftain of the Warsong clan, Grom willingly acquiesced in the corruption, but as it left him he had to fight the lethargy that was usually an inevitable result. His clansmen were the first free orcs that Thrall found after his escape from slavery, and they became friends: they address each other as brother. Grom briefly fell again to demonic corruption after the legion’s invasion, but was rescued and freed by Thrall and Jaina. Grom was killed by the action of slaying Mannoroth.

Terenas Menethil II, King of Lordaeron: Terenas was a very old man by this time. He ruled Lordaeron, a kingdom involved in almost all the campaigns, but only appeared in the game cut scenes. He was murdered by his son, Arthas, who had been corrupted by the Lich King. He was pivotal in creating the Alliance that defeated the Horde in the Second War.

Uther the Lightbringer: Uther was the creator of the first order of the paladins, the Knights of the Silver Hand, that fight and heal by the power of the Light. Although he is the original mentor of Arthas, not even he can prevent the prince’s eventual corruption. In the end, he is slain by Arthas while protecting the ashes of King Terenas.

Arthas Menethil, Crown Prince of Lordaeron, Son of King Terenas: Arthas, as seen at the beginning of the story, is an honorable, although slightly arrogant, paladin, a pupil of Uther’s, who fights with enormous devotion to save his people. Driven to madness by the battle against the plague, he seeks to end the Scourge forever by journeying to Northrend, the “roof of the world”. However, once there, he comes across his old friend and mentor, Muradin Bronzebeard. Although Muradin is able to slow his descent into madness for some time, eventually Arthas supposedly killed him by freeing the runeblade, Frostmourne, which consumed Arthas’ soul turning him into a deathknight. He returns to his kingdom and turns on his father, slaying him and putting himself on the path to join the Lich King.

Antonidas: An archmage in Dalaran, seen only briefly. He sends Jaina to deal with the plague and is at the forefront of the defense of Dalaran from the Scourge. He lead the forces of Dalaran during its siege, however was murdered by the mad prince when the scourge stormed parts of the city. During the battle, a tome, known as the Book of Medivh, is stolen from Dalaran. Although the remnants of his forces succeed in breaking the siege, and almost kill both Arthas and his majordomo, Kel’thuzad, Archimonde (a demon lord and leader of the Burning Legion) arrives just in time in Azeroth, and destroys the city state.

Jaina Proudmoore: A young Archmage, the daughter of Admiral Proudmoore, taught by Antonidas. She is an old flame of Arthas’s and still his close friend when she first appears. She alone of the human leaders listens to the prophet, and journeys to Kalimdor. She then joins up with Thrall, Malfurion, Cairne and Tyrande Whisperwind and they defeat the Burning Legion, and the scourge.

Kel’thuzad: He is first seen living. He was thrown out of Dalaran for Necromancy, and submitted to the Lich King. Arthas kills him before his own fall to the Scourge, and later raises him as a Lich. In this form he summons Archimonde, field commander of the burning legion, to Azeroth.

Mal’ganis: One of the demonic Nathrezim, otherwise known as a dreadlord. He is responsible for much of the plan that leads Arthas to the Lich King, and to corruption. Appears to be killed by Arthas (seemingly on the direct orders of the Lich King, which surprises the Dreadlord), but is actually still alive and plotting for revenge.

Muradin Bronzebeard: A brother of one of the dwarvish kings. He was one of Arthas’s mentors. He was searching for the legendary runeblade in Northrend before Arthas arrived. Believed to be killed by the shattering of the ice when Arthas released Frostmourne.

The Lich King (aka Ner’zhul): Ner’zhul was once an orc shaman, who in their old homeland was deceived by the demons and served them, later trying to escape. He was caught, and his body preserved and tortured. His spirit has been frozen in a block of ice in Northrend, and his mind greatly enlarged. He controls all the vast armies of undead by his mental power. He is not an ally of the Legion when he can avoid it (this is why he kills Mal’Ganis). He (conjoined with Arthas) is the main villain in World Of Warcraft:Wrath Of The Lich King.

Tichondrius: The ranking dreadlord in the Legion. First seen overlooking Arthas’s work for the Scourge/Burning Legion, later direct commander of the undead. Killed by Illidan in Felwood.

Sylvanas Windrunner: Ranger general of the High Elves, before becoming leader of the Forsaken. She loses her life to the Lich King during the attack on the Sunwell (murdered by Arthas for the petty slight of irking him and delaying his army’s advance), but she then is raised as undead, and becomes a major focus in the expansion.

Archimonde: The field commander of the Burning Legion, at this time second in command only to Kil’jaeden, he serves as the main antagonist for the 2nd half of the game. His summoning is the final objective of the Undead Campaign, and his death the final objective of the game. Killed by the ancestral spirits of the night elves on the command of Malfurion Stormrage.

Cairne Bloodhoof: The chieftain of the majority of Tauren in Kalimdor. Almost defeated by the Centaurs, Thrall befriends him and aids his people to retreat. He then joins and aids Thrall.

Mannoroth: An Annihilan, otherwise known as a Pit Lord. Responsible for both the original corruption of the orcs and the attempted recorruption. Killed by Grom Hellscream in a canyon in Ashenvale, which was named Demon Fall Canyon after this event.

Cenarius: Believed to be the son of Elune, the moon goddess of the night elves, he is the son of the ancient woodland demigod, Malorne and the adopted son of Ysera the green dragonflight aspect. Cenarius has dwelt in Ashenvale for ten thousand years with his people. Killed by Grom in his brief demonic recorruption.

Tyrande Whisperwind: High Priestess of Elune and greatly favored by her, lover of Malfurion Stormrage. She fought in the original defeat of the Legion ten thousand years before. Until she awakens the druids, she is the sole leader of the night elves after Cenarius’s death.

Malfurion Stormrage: Leader of the Druids. Woken by Tyrande to fight the Legion. He is the first Night Elf druid, taught by Cenarius.

Illidan Stormrage, The Betrayer: Illidan is the brother of Malfurion and a Night Elf Demon Hunter in his own right. He too fought against the demons in their first invasion, though by unconventional means that others (possibly rightly) distrusted. He was imprisoned for recreating the Well of Eternity on the summit of Mount Hyjal, an action which the Night Elves believed would cause the demons to return. He was cursed by Sargeras which left him “blind” but still able to see all magical properties around living or non-living objects. After being released from his prison 10,000 years later by Tyrande Whisperwind, he consumed enormous power from the Skull of Gul’dan, and transformed into a demon (later in the game series he is half demon, half night elf, but can transform into a demon at will).

Plot

The game’s plot is told entirely through cinematics and cutscenes, with additional information found in the Warcraft III manual. The campaign itself is divided into five sections, with the first acting as a tutorial, and the others telling the story from the point of view of the humans of Lordaeron, the Undead Scourge, the Orcs, and the Night Elves.

The game opens with the Orc leader Thrall waking from a nightmare warning him of the return of the Burning Legion. After a brief encounter with a man called “the Prophet”, and fearing that his dream was more of a vision than a nightmare, he leads his forces in an exodus from Lordaeron to the forgotten lands of Kalimdor.

Meanwhile, Arthas defends the village of Strahnbrad from demon-controlled Orcs slaughtering them all.. He then joins Archmage Jaina Proudmoore, who aids him in investigating a rapidly-spreading plague which kills and turns human victims into the undead. Arthas kills the plague’s originator, Kel’Thuzad, and then purges the infected city of Stratholme. Jaina parts ways with him, unwilling to commit genocide, or even watch him do so. The Prophet, after previously trying to convince other human leaders to flee west, begs Jaina to go to Kalimdor as well. Arthas pursues the dreadlord Mal’Ganis, who was the leader behind Kel’Thuzad, to the icy continent of Northrend, where he helps his old friend Muradin Bronzebeard find a powerful sword called Frostmourne. Meanwhile, Arthas begins to lose his sanity, burning his ships to prevent retreat even when given an order to leave. Fortunately, Arthas and Muradin find Frostmourne and soon Muradin learns that the sword is cursed^; Arthas disregards the warning and offers his soul to gain the sword. By doing so, Muradin was struck down by a shard of ice when Frostmourne is released. Arthas kills Mal’Ganis and abandons his men in the frozen north as his soul is stolen by the blade. Some time later Arthas returns to Lordaeron and kills his father, the king.

Now a Death Knight, Arthas meets with the leader of the dreadlords, Tichondrius, who assigns him a series of “tests”. Arthas first exhumes the remains of Kel’Thuzad, contained it in a magic urn of the ash of his father and protected by Uther, then later attacks the Quel’thalas, kingdom of the high elves and destroys their capital of Silvermoon. He kills Sylvanas Windrunner, the Ranger General of Silvermoon (only to resurrect her as a banshee), corrupts their sacred Sunwell and revives Kel’Thuzad as a Lich. The Lich informs him of the Burning Legion; a vast demonic army who are coming to consume the world. Kel’Thuzad’s true master is the Lich King, who was created to aid the Legion with his Undead Scourge, but in truth he wishes for the Legion to be destroyed. Arthas and Kel’Thuzad open a dimensional portal and summon the demon Archimonde and the Burning Legion, who begins his purging of Lordaeron with the destruction of Dalaran.

Thrall arrives on Kalimdor, meeting Cairne Bloodhoof and the tauren, and clashes with a human expedition on the way to find an Oracle. Meanwhile, the Warsong clan are left behind in Ashenvale to build a permanent settlement, but anger the Night Elves and their demigod Cenarius by cutting down the forests for resources. To defeat them, the Warsong leader Grom Hellscream drinks from a corrupted fountain of health contaminated with the blood of the Legion’s pit lord commander Mannoroth, successfully killing Cenarius, but binding his clan to the Legion’s control. Thrall manages to reach the Oracle, in fact the Prophet, who tells him of Grom’s doings. Following the Prophet’s directions, Thrall and Jaina join forces to purge both Grom and the world of demonic influence. They succeed in capturing Grom and healing him of Mannoroth’s corruption. Thrall and Grom begin to hunt Mannoroth and Grom kills him, dying in the process, but in doing so freeing the orcs from the their demonic control for good.

Tyrande Whisperwind, leader of the Night Elves, is outraged to find the humans and orcs violating the forests, so she initially vows to destroy them. However, she soon finds out that the Burning Legion has arrived on Kalimdor. In order to oppose the Burning Legion, Tyrande reawakens the sleeping Elf Druids, starting with her lover, Malfurion Stormrage, and frees his brother Illidan Stormrage from prison. Illidan meets Arthas, who tells him about the powerful “Skull of Gul’dan”. Consuming the Skull and becoming a demon-elf hybrid, Illidan uses its power to kill Tichondrius. he is however banished from the forest by his brother as he is now demon. Meanwhile, the Prophet reveals that he used to be Medivh, the betrayer from Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. The humans, Orcs, and Night Elves form a reluctant alliance to spring a trap on the Burning Legion, and many ancestral spirits destroy Archimonde at Mount Hyjal. Peace once again comes to Kalimdor as the Burning Legion’s forces wither away in defeat.