Lore vs. Pop Culture *Possible Spoiler*

[HBTD]

What is the Lore Community's stand on in-game pop culture references? Are they accepted as contributions to the overall storyline and character/locale depth, or written off as an homage to the developers' senses of humor?

The example that raises this question for me is the Luxon quest "More Cowbell", in which the hero is asked to retrieve a magical cowbell from a bed of blue oysters. Upon return of the magical artifact, the Luxon man explains that he intends to use the cowbell to teach others to "not fear the great reaver". For those not in the know, the reference is to a song entitled "Don't fear the Reaper" by the band Blue Oyster Cult. More specifically, it refers to a Saturday Night Live sketch, in which Christopher Walken constantly asks the band for "more cowbell".

Anyway, since the story the Luxon man tells has many lines taken almost directly from the song, how do we view it? Is it a valuable insight to the Luxon culture and their views on death and the afterlife, or should we laugh it off as a creative developer putting his/her signature on part of the game?

I realize screenshots would have been helpful, but honestly I was laughing so hard at this that I completely forgot.

[Arkhan The Black]

I would say it's an Easter Egg.

[Aladar]

...geez, man. I know this is the Lore forum, but really some things are just meant to be taken in fun and enjoyment! This does refer to the song "Don't Fear the Reaper," but I think it more caters to the players of Guild Wars whose generation actually saw the (quite hilarious) SNL sketch with Will Farrel. There are a lot more, too...

Kilroy Stoneskin is a VERY obvious and blatant reference to the infamous Leroy Jenkins of World of Warcraft. Even the way he aggros the mobs ahead of you shows that the devs put him in as a joke to anyone who gets it.

[halfthought]

"im attacking the darkenes.."
----------------or----------
Im wielding a ogre slaying knife, its +9 against ogres!"

what about those

[Quintus Antonius]

I'm afraid I have to disagree. Just because something is an Easter Egg or pop reference doesn't mean that it can't also be lore.

This is very evident in the Elder Scrolls series of games. Many things, including aspects of Daedra worship, are adapted from popular novels, especially those written by H.P. Lovecraft; there are even a few instances of song lyrics making it in, or references to modern pop phenomenon. While these are undoubtably Easter Eggs, to those who realize them, they are also, in many cases, keystones of lore in the series.

By that same right, things in GW that make iconic pop references can still be considered to have some aspect of lore. While Kilroy Stonekin is obviously a GW-port of Leeroy Jenkins, Kilroy has his place in the storyline of Sorrow's Furnance. Don't dismiss something as worthless just because it is a pop reference, especially if it appears to have some significance in the development of a culture or character.

[Scott the Green]

Besides, not fearing the reaper seems like a good motto for the Luxons, what with their focus on strength and all. A Luxon warrior who is afraid to die will be infinitely weaker than one who isn't.

[Quintus Antonius]

Good point, Scott. The best warriors do not fear death, but at the same time, do not seek it.