Character agency in railroad WoW

[Juste]

In the case of Ashbringer the story kind of just is that Tirion fell and someone had to pick the sword up. Can't really see they could have done it otherwise because Tirion already was wielding it. I feel that they did ok job with the quest though. First you go commune with the spirit of Uther to seek guidance and then go to the Broken Shore to fight Dreadlord for the Ashbringer but there is a totally cool scene where you get bound by fel magic with Dreadlord attempting to possess you and you get Tirion's voice flasback from Icecrown Citadel "...Give me the strenght to shatter these bonds..." in game and then break free similar manner and proceed to kick Dreadlords ass.

Other Paladin artifact weapons however were recovering them from some old dungeons with bit more deeper backstory. It's not like Ashbringer has that old story in WC lore though. Only like few decades since dwarves made it during the Third War.


I think they attempted some of the earned feeling with later class role quests later on expansion where you go after these Legion champions culminating with the Mage tower challenge fights which rewarded you with unique artifact skins which definitely made you feel like you earned them.