Samwise Didier

The Samwise icon in WoW.

Samwise on Azeroth Choppers in 2014

Samwise has a habit of drawing himself as a pandaren^[1]

"Basically, he's a WoW icon in every sense of the word." - Mike Schramm

Samwise Didier is a senior art director at Blizzard Entertainment, currently working on Heroes of the Storm.^[2] Didier was one of Blizzard's first artists, joining the company in 1991.^[3]

Didier's greatly exaggerated physiques and vibrant, bright color palette dictated the artistic style of Warcraft III, World of Warcraft and Heroes of the Storm, and he has provided art direction or additional art on almost every Blizzard game released to date.^[4] Didier also designed and drew many of the graphical icons found in Warcraft III and World of Warcraft, as well as providing voicework for games including Warcraft III, World of Warcraft and Heroes of the Storm.^[5]^[6]

Away from Blizzard, Samwise is responsible for much of the album art of Swedish power metal band HammerFall. He has also written and illustrated a series of "bawdy and boisterous short stories", centered around the elf-hating Grimbeard, "the last dwarf". Samwise frequently shares sketches and unrevealed art on his Twitter account.

Personal touches

Samwise Didier at WWI 2008.

Didier has a heavy fixation on pandas, which he explains in the launch episode of BlizzCast, among other things;

"...for some reason, I decided to do like a panda guy because, actually, also like 'Samwise', 'Panda' is my nickname because I’m kind of a big hairy bear dude, but I’m not very fearsome. <Laughs> So I got the nickname “Panda.”"

An interview regarding the Chen Stormstout-Action Figure also explained that he got the nickname when his brother accidentally referred to Samwise as a panda bear while he meant polar bear;

"Dude, you're like one of those panda bears -- you're never cold."

This random mistake is considered the beginning of the pandaren-concept.^[1] Through this personal link, Didier became responsible for the creation of the pandaren, a race originally regarded by fans — and used by Blizzard — as a "joke race", but still with legitimacy within the lore. Among other things, panda icons also appeared accompanying much of Samwise's art, and could be seen in Warcraft III as the emblem adorning night elf demon hunters' warblades. Much of the pandaren culture, dress, society, and weapons were inspired by samurai and Hong Kong martial arts films, both of which Didier greatly appreciates.

Singing with Elite Tauren Chieftain at BlizzCon 2011

Samwise is likely the namesake of Samuro, the Blademaster. Samuro appears in Warcraft III as well as more recently in Heroes of the Storm, where he was also voiced by Samwise.^[6] "Samuro" is also the name of Samwise's namesake in the Elite Tauren Chieftain.

This section concerns content exclusive to Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or its expansion Beyond the Dark Portal.

A random doodad is the name "Sam" scrawled in the dirt.

This section concerns content exclusive to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

When certain paladins cast spells, they open their books to do so. Upon inspection, the interior of these books read "Sam" on a page.
An in-game cube skin unused by any unit in game has Samwise's face on all sides, named "Sammy!".
Samwise's face is used as an icon and unit model that can be accessed from World Editor. The model is a cube with his face on the faces.
Samwise's face was also used on a kobold model in the WorldEditor.
The ashes that form after the usage of the Blood Mage's Flame Strike ability has a pattern of a panda's face.
Several classy items in both Warcraft III and World of Warcraft have an icon depicting a scepter with a decorative "SD", likely standing for Samwise Didier.

This section concerns content exclusive to World of Warcraft.

His face is also seen in as an icon for spells and abilities that do not have an image associated with them (see top left). For instance, several spells cast by quest givers use this icon. Since they are not "real" spells, they use this as the icon. They can be visible if you turn on "Show Enemy Spellcast Bar" and target the NPC during casting. Various GM exclusive spells also share this Icon.
Guard Didier is named for him and makes a reference to Avenger Metz, based on Blizzard VP Chris Metzen.
Samwise made a cameo appearance in News From Outland: Crisis at Da Portal!

Sam the Wise

Sam the Wise <Metal Brewmaster> is found at the Shrine of Fellowship in the Jade Forest, as well as on the Timeless Isle.

Notes

According to Blizzard cofounder Allen Adham, the name "Warcraft" was originated by Samwise when he shouted it out in his distinctive style during a lunchtime brainstorming session, prior to the development of the original game.^[7]
Samwise is the frontman of the Blizzard employee band Elite Tauren Chieftain.
Didier's first job was as an usher at a local movie theater.^[3]
Didier provided the art style for the now defunct StarCraft: Ghost.
Didier's self-description note on his Twitter page at one point listed him, after "Artist", as "Panda King, Ale-Father and the 1st Son of the Storm."
Didier was part of Team Horde (as "Warchief Samwise") on Azeroth Choppers, along with Gary Platner and Jason Hutchins.^[3]
Didier designed the first statue for Blizzard.^[8]

Gallery

"On December 1st, 1991, a baby-faced, baby-bearded, Bob's Big Boy looking dude joined a small video game company called Silicon & Synapse."^[9]
"A Lion Among Wolves" print by Samwise.
Blizzard Headhunter logo by Samwise.