Expansion 7 details (spoilers)

[handoflight]

Yep, first ever post, and it's a summary of information I have had access to regarding the next expansion. I will not provide major spoilers (although Jaina is still not a dreadlord).

Name
The Black Empire

Basic Story
The Dark Titan Sargeras has been imprisoned, forever ending the threat of the Burning Legion. When the Pillars of Creation are used to seal the gateway to Argus, the malevolent Old God, N'Zoth, is inadvertently freed from his prison beneath the Tomb of Sargeras. Now unfettered, his maddening influence is fully loosed upon Azeroth in attempt to both corrupt the nascent Titan at its heart and bend the will of its inhabitants to his own.

Major Features

• Player is in contact with the World-Soul throughout the expansion (an extension of the “YOU are the big deal” approach to the player character)
• A new method of “improving” gear (basically, fancy reforging using a new form of AP)
• Level-scaling in all new, and certain Azerothian, zones (does not affect old dungeons or raids)
• Party with other characters on your account in a new offline queue system
• Improved World Quests (refresh more often, rewards tailored to player activity)
• World Quests available in Azeroth
• Customizable ships and submersibles (mounts, not floating garrisons)
• Profession specializations return, each with useful advantages (but not “OP” ones)
• Expanded character customization options (this is how we get “sub-races”; includes limited adjustments to body size)
• Expanded transmogrification options via quest and achievement unlocks (a la Artifact skins)
• Player decisions have some influence on certain storyline outcomes

Landmasses

• Part of the ancient kingdom of Nazjatar is forced to the surface, causing “Cataclysm 2.0” which affects certain areas/zones
• Vast undersea zones (majority land-based than strictly underwater, however)
• We will return to Vash’jir for certain content (don’t despair!)
• Several heretofore unseen islands will have content
• Azeroth becomes “alive” again as player activity is spread across the world

Miscellaneous

• Max level increased to 120
• Alliance Hub: Boralus (part of city is off-limits even to Alliance)
• Horde Hub: Undermine (Goblin tech has saved it and part of Kezan proper)
• Increased number of insta-travel portals due to WQs being scattered throughout Azeroth; unlocked as you quest (a la Suramar)
• Ability to save talent builds for quick swapping
• Ability to save a limited number of pet battle teams
• Conspiracy and paranoia are central themes of the expansion, with suspicion spreading even among the most ardent of allies; this ties into player decisions affecting outcomes, and, of course, helps justify the continuing faction (PvP) conflict

EDIT:

Clarifications

• "Reforging": think of how Squall's gunblade was upgraded in Final Fantasy VIII; it's not just changing stats around, it's an upgrade system that both increases power and changes visuals
• WQs occur in Azeroth (in major story/lore areas, not everywhere) as we are assaulted by, and find "backdoors" to reach, N'Zoth
• "Cataclysm 2.0" does not mean massive worldwide changes; they are visible in certain places only

And since some wanted story spoilers...

Story Spoilers

• Magni is destroyed by N'Zoth during the opening quests
• Anduin rebuffs attempts to appoint him as new "High King", prefers a council of equals, which builds throughout the expansion
• Anduin trains with the Silver Hand; paladin characters have more interaction with him than other classes
• Jaina has spent her time expanding the Kul Tiras fleet, and creating her own "Kirin Tor"
• Jaina is "brought back around" when her intransigence leads to the death of a major character
• Sylvanas finally makes Undercity the new Horde capital; she often speaks with a new character, an odious councilor/right hand lackey type
• Trolls are especially miffed by the the change in capital and begin to rethink their place in the Horde
• Sylvanas struggles with "whispers" as she becomes increasingly desperate to stay "alive"
• Booty Bay is expanded to accommodate refugees, but also becomes more dangerous to outsiders as the Bloodsail increases their influence
• Related: one of the new factions is a smuggling ring that partially serves as a source of items to help reforging
• Wrathion has been building his own army, although it's not exactly working out as well as he'd hoped
• Azshara is an antagonistic ally of N'Zoth; truly out for herself; she has crafted powerful wards for herself to prevent being driven insane, but does not share them
• Azshara's magical prowess is demonstrated multiple times, including a harrowing battle with Khadgar
• The paranoia caused by N'Zoth's influence causes many townsfolk across Azeroth to fortify their homes and towns
• Gamon finally dies

[Divinexve]

I just took a leak

[TheFirstOnes]

Some of this sounds possible.

Even the name sounds possible.

But idk. You're not of Blizz, so...meh.

[Shadochi]

(although Jaina is still not a dreadlord).

Confirmed fake leak.

OT: I could see something like this actually happening

[Hyral]

One of the better ones. Good job!

[A dot Ham]

There is a part of me that wants to commit a violent crime against every person that posts their version of a supposed leak...

Not to the point of permanent damage, but just enough so that they get the message not to ever do that again.

[Deventh]

This is the first leak that sounds plausible. I actually believe this is legit. Although no Naga??????

[Feel The Power]

[*] Party with other characters on your account in a new offline queue system

Party as in get drunk and listen to music with our other characters?

[TriHard]

Another 10 weeks of this T_T Why couldn't they just have announced it at Gamescom.

I just don't buy it after seeing the "basic story". It's far too similar to one of the leaks we already has (either the Veil of Shadows one or the Echoes of Nazja'tar one)

[Deventh]

Can OP confirm or deny about GamesCom reveal if they have any info on it.

[Deleted]

No reveal at gamescom trust me my dad works for blizzard

[Paula Deen]

Another good one, bookmarked as usual.

[Deventh]

Already can tell it's fake due to n'zoth not being under the tomb

??? /10char

the malevolent Old God, N'Zoth, is inadvertently freed from his prison beneath the Tomb of Sargeras

[Northelim]

People are getting desperate at this point, aren't they? Lol this is obviously another fake but at least this sounds more believable and more in line with the story than the Lich King "LEAK" on reddit. Either way, not real.

[Raetary]

That one doesnt sound too bad honestly.

This is the first leak that sounds plausible. I actually believe this is legit. Although no Naga??????

What about them?

They are obviously involved, nazjatar is their capital.

[huth]

Didn't we already have this one? I think it was the machine translated "chinese" one.

[Raetary]

N'zoth is not located under the tomb of sargeras

if he was, then it would be a retcon, or they somehow physically moved him.

Or the prison is bigger than everyone assumes it is, and the tomb is just an entrance.

[Deventh]

N'zoth is not located under the tomb of sargeras

if he was, then it would be a retcon, or they somehow physically moved him.

The wiki says his prison should be somewhere under Suramar, but the location is not exact.

[Flutterguy]

Well crafted, OP. But Blizz is never doing another Cata again. They didn't even like talking about that expansion in their anniversary documentary.

[Dnusha]

Party with other characters on your account in a new offline queue system

this is so crazy it must be true.