So imagine yourself with a copy of World of Warcraft in your hot little hands. You've installed it, pored over the forums and websites, and have set up your account. Now it's time to dive in and create a character. But wait! You don't want to make an avoidable mistake. What you choose now can make a big difference in your experience of the game. Most of the races have different starting locations, and the two factions--Alliance (the "good" guys) and the Horde (the "bad" guys)--are on completely separate continents of the world, linked only by boats or zeppelins. Some races don't have certain character classes--for example, no Horde race has a Paladin, and no Alliance race has a shaman. So, what to do? Well, today we'll explain what each, race and faction is about, and let you choose for yourself. Tomorrow, we'll have an in-depth look at the different character classes. Yes, there's that much to talk about.