Alex Afrasiabi



Alex Afrasiabi (alias Furor, or Valnoth on the forums) is the former Senior Creative Director for World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment. He was originally hired to the team as an Associate Quest Designer on March 14, 2004. After 14 years, he left Blizzard in June 2020.

History
Alex was once leader of a famous Everquest guild named Fires of Heaven (now a World of Warcraft guild). He was hired at Blizzard as a Quest Designer for World of Warcraft and rose through the ranks over the years and became Senior Creative Director. He is notable for having created many signature quests such as the Thunderfury questchain, Bingles' Missing Supplies, Mor'ladim, or the tribute mechanics in Dire Maul. He also oversaw the creation of the Death Knight starting area in Wrath of the Lich King.

After the release of Wrath of the Lich King, Afrasiabi was transferred to the Project Titan team. Titan was ultimately canceled and Afrasiabi rejoined the World of Warcraft team until he left Blizzard in June 2020.

Credits

 * World of Warcraft (2004) - Quest Designer
 * World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (2007) - Lead Quest Designer
 * World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (2008) - Lead World Designer
 * World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (2014) - Creative Director
 * World of Warcraft: Legion (2016) - Creative Director

Notes and trivia

 * Afrasiabi is Iranian-American.
 * There are many references to Afrasiabi, and his characters Furor Planedefiler and Kariel in Warcraft, usually referencing "Foror". "Tigule" is a reference to Jeffrey Kaplan, whose alias is Tigole. Afrasiabi and Kaplan were both members of high-end  guilds, explaining the many references to "Tigule and Foror".
 * , Skeletal Remains of Kariel Winthalus (Libram of Rapidity), Alex's Ring of Audacity, Peep's Whistle, Foror's Compendium of Dragon Slaying, Foror's Eyepatch, Foror's Crate of Endless Resist Gear Storage, Foror's Wipe Neutralizer, Tigule and Foror's Strawberry Ice Cream, Autographed Picture of Foror & Tigule, Fras Siabi's Advertisement,, (The Great Fras Siabi, Siabi's Premium Tobacco), , Fras Siabi's Postbox Key, Fras Siabi's Smoked Cologne, Fras Siabi's Cigar Cutter, Fras Siabi's Barely Bigger Beer, Brain Freeze
 * The first quest Afrasiabi designed in World of Warcraft was Bingles' Missing Supplies.
 * Afrasiabi remembers "freaking" about having to create some of the early quests in Elwynn Forest. He felt like he had to create something amazing and decided to name the quest giver "something awesome", resulting in Falkhaan Isenstrider.