Can Lor'themar replace his eye?

[Aucald]

I feel like this is going to deep into this.
Dont make it hard, we live in a fantasy world were raising lands is possible, I mean come on. The reason he has it, is because it gives him an edge and it looks cool.

Its the image that will likely stay for what it is.

From a Doylist standpoint, sure. But if you want a Watsonian lore justification as to why people still have visible scars, loss of function, aging, and other mortal frailties in a world where, as you said, magic can raise islands then that would be a reason for it. I mean magic could theoretically do everything and remove all stakes from the equation entirely - and that would make for a shit story with zero drama and thus zero interest. It's ultimately self-defeating.

[Combatbutler]

Sure Lor'themar could, Xavius for example replaced his eyes with magical ones back in the day, which were superior to his elven eyes. But blizz just doesn't want him to.

[Aucald]

Sure Lor'themar could, Xavius for example replaced his eyes with magical ones back in the day, which were superior to his elven eyes. But blizz just doesn't want him to.

Well, Xavius considered them superior to his old eyes, but Xavius was also insane and got turned into a demon goat, and then a tree. So he's probably not the best source for advice on optical prosthetics.

[Combatbutler]

Well, Xavius considered them superior to his old eyes, but Xavius was also insane and got turned into a demon goat, and then a tree. So he's probably not the best source for advice on optical prosthetics.

Xavius could see literal spirits with them and Lor'themar would still have his other eye, point is there is absolutely no reason for him to have a blind eye, except for blizz wanting him to be impractical and stick with it.

I'd guess they consider a blinded eye badass or some such nonsense.

[Aucald]

Xavius could see literal spirits with them and Lor'themar would still have his other eye, point is there is absolutely no reason for him to have a blind eye, except for blizz wanting him to be impractical and stick with it.

I'd guess they consider a blinded eye badass or some such nonsense.

I would assume Xavius' vision was probably akin to Demon Hunters' in that he could see magical energies and whatnot, as well as the general shape of the terrain, but was significantly lacking in things like detail or even actual color. Very useful in a specific applications like seeing spirits, or enchantments - not very useful in more general senses like admiring art or being able to differentiate between things based on appearance.

[Combatbutler]

I would assume Xavius' vision was probably akin to Demon Hunters' in that he could see magical energies and whatnot, as well as the general shape of the terrain, but was significantly lacking in things like detail or even actual color. Very useful in a specific applications like seeing spirits, or enchantments - not very useful in more general senses like admiring art or being able to differentiate between things based on appearance.

This is the canon description of his eyes

He even went so far as to have his eyes removed and replaced with magical spheres that allowed him to see beyond the range of normal vision.

https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/The...lopedia/Xavius

This implies he could see better, since his vison now went beyond normal elf standard and no limitation is mentioned there, so why should we assume one?

[Aucald]

This implies he could see better, since his vison now went beyond normal elf standard and no limitation is mentioned there, so why should we assume one?

You see the same descriptors about the vision of Demon Hunters, as well - as they can see "beyond" normal elven standards with the ability to perceive energy and so forth. We have seen how they actually view the world, though; and suffice it to say their vision in an aesthetic sense is pretty far from standard and has some pretty noteworthy limitations in terms of details like color and texture. You can see beyond the range of normal vision with a telescope, too; but you also lose the entirety of your peripheral vision as you're looking through an enclosed tube.

[Grazrug]

That's the thing with magic, though; you're thinking in terms of scale or quantity whereas magic is fundamentally discrete and usually exacting. The ritual to restore the soul to the body in a resurrection isn't applicable to fixing an eye or regrowing a limb. You could imbue a body with all manner of healing energies, but those energies may not fix specific things in the exact way you're hoping. Just because resurrection is possible doesn't imply magic can fix a severed optic nerve or restore a destroyed retina, it's not an energy that can effectively do whatever one wants, it has conceptual limits and specific applications. Perhaps someday a Priest will find the spell "Power Word: Microsurgery," but thus far it hasn't happened.

As for technology, it also has limitations. Lor'themar may well not trust the hyper-advanced technology of Mechagnomes, for good reason, given how often such technology has caused issues. Such prosthetics, however advanced, likely also won't return his true eyesight the way it once was, and since he's already adapted to the loss there's little point in resetting his progress back to zero.

The only reason why this wasn't solved yet is that Blizzard thinks it makes Lor'themar look cool. There is no other justification for it.

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I would assume Xavius' vision was probably akin to Demon Hunters' in that he could see magical energies and whatnot, as well as the general shape of the terrain, but was significantly lacking in things like detail or even actual color. Very useful in a specific applications like seeing spirits, or enchantments - not very useful in more general senses like admiring art or being able to differentiate between things based on appearance.

Demon hunters gained demonic sight. The bandage on their eyes is due to protect others from looking at their burned face. But factually they suffer no downsides. The eye of lor'themar however is just blind. Big difference.

[Aucald]

The only reason why this wasn't solved yet is that Blizzard thinks it makes Lor'themar look cool. There is no other justification for it.

Well then, problem solved - you now have your answer for the thread.

Demon hunters gained demonic sight. The bandage on their eyes is due to protect others from looking at their burned face. But factually they suffer no downsides. The eye of lor'themar however is just blind. Big difference.

In the Illidan novel, the Demon Hunter Vandel describes his sight like this: "a rough image of the Betrayer... like a child's illustration drawn in mud." Illidan explains that his new Demonic Sight is like magic, and that "[you] get a feel for the flows of power. You get a sense of the souls of the living and unliving." Needless to say, the vision of Demon Hunters is definitely not without its downsides, and requires a good deal of training to master. This isn't to say getting demonic vision in his dead eye wouldn't be an improvement for Lor'themar, but given the givens, he also probably doesn't want even more Fel in his body than he already has.

[Combatbutler]

You see the same descriptors about the vision of Demon Hunters, as well - as they can see "beyond" normal elven standards with the ability to perceive energy and so forth. We have seen how they actually view the world, though; and suffice it to say their vision in an aesthetic sense is pretty far from standard and has some pretty noteworthy limitations in terms of details like color and texture. You can see beyond the range of normal vision with a telescope, too; but you also lose the entirety of your peripheral vision as you're looking through an enclosed tube.

Not once during the entire novel is it mentioned that xavius's eyes are in any way shape or form worse in any regard than other elven eyes, not once. Sure you can make the argument his eyesight would suck, but it is a rather baseless argument to make, since there is zero proof for them to have been worse.

And unless you actually find a distinct canon source referring to Xaviuses eyes as worse as the eyes of those around him I won't humour your speculation.

[Aucald]

Not once during the entire novel is it mentioned that xavius's eyes are in any way shape or form worse in any regard than other elven eyes, not once. Sure you can make the argument his eyesight would suck, but it is a rather baseless argument to make, since there is zero proof for them to have been worse.

And unless you actually find a distinct canon source referring to Xaviuses eyes as worse as the eyes of those around him I won't humour your speculation.

There's no proof for or against, really - we have no idea what Xavius' vision was like, and the simple descriptor of "being able to see beyond normal standards" is very open to interpretation, as I've just demonstrated. Demon Hunters can do that too, and as shown, they've got serious limitations in other ways that they just personally don't care about.

Your own notion that his prosthetic eyes give him better-than-perfect sight is itself speculation. Maybe they did, who's to say, and maybe that particular level of sorcery or artifice isn't possible anymore due to not having free access to the Well of Eternity. We'll likely never know.

[Tanaria]

I suppose magic could heal / create a new eye for him; although much like Sylvanas, I prefer both of these character to keep their visible scars from the Third War (Sylvanas and her undeath and Lor'themar with his blinded eye.)
They show the scars from the Third War and what Arthas did and how the Elves suffered.

[Combatbutler]

There's no proof for or against, really - we have no idea what Xavius' vision was like, and the simple descriptor of "being able to see beyond normal standards" is very open to interpretation, as I've just demonstrated. Demon Hunters can do that too, and as shown, they've got serious limitations in other ways that they just personally don't care about.

Your own notion that his prosthetic eyes give him better-than-perfect sight is itself speculation. Maybe they did, who's to say, and maybe that particular level of sorcery or artifice isn't possible anymore due to not having free access to the Well of Eternity. We'll likely never know.

I just plain disagree.

I suppose magic could heal / create a new eye for him; although much like Sylvanas, I prefer both of these character to keep their visible scars from the Third War (Sylvanas and her undeath and Lor'themar with his blinded eye.)
They show the scars from the Third War and what Arthas did and how the Elves suffered.

His scar could stay, just having him half blind for the sake of it, is just weird. He is no run of the mill person, he is the most important person in Quel'thalas

[Chromeshellking]

That's the thing with magic, though; you're thinking in terms of scale or quantity whereas magic is fundamentally discrete and usually exacting. The ritual to restore the soul to the body in a resurrection isn't applicable to fixing an eye or regrowing a limb. You could imbue a body with all manner of healing energies, but those energies may not fix specific things in the exact way you're hoping. Just because resurrection is possible doesn't imply magic can fix a severed optic nerve or restore a destroyed retina, it's not an energy that can effectively do whatever one wants, it has conceptual limits and specific applications. Perhaps someday a Priest will find the spell "Power Word: Microsurgery," but thus far it hasn't happened.

As for technology, it also has limitations. Lor'themar may well not trust the hyper-advanced technology of Mechagnomes, for good reason, given how often such technology has caused issues. Such prosthetics, however advanced, likely also won't return his true eyesight the way it once was, and since he's already adapted to the loss there's little point in resetting his progress back to zero.

This I cannot explain how much to others why doesnt the XYZ work if its magic? Why does the fel twist everything if it can be purified? Because it depends on the potency of the Fel user and as such sometimes people are going to be marred by foul magic in return and that may not be reversible

[Grazrug]

Thank you.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Because they can doesn't mean it is the right development for the character?

I'd rather say that giving Lor'themar a replacement eye would be inappropriate for his aesthetic.

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It is about practicality.

Practicality has never been the main priority of WoW. If it was then the Alliance would have used their industrial and technological might to wipe the Horde off the face of the Earth. They'd be using their machineguns to mow down the Horde rather than sending humans up against 8 foot tall, 600 pounder Orcs and Trolls. They would be using their aerial superiority to conduct firebombings over every Horde settlement. And so on. Warcraft has always prioritized aesthetics over logic. That's how we get stuff like WoD, where the logic behind how we got there - however inane or unsatisfying - didn't matter to the creators, because it was the aesthetics - an expansion that looks like Alex Horley's 1980s powermetal album cover - is what mattered.

Giving Lor'themar a replacement eye might be practical, but it doesn't fit the aesthetic look of Warcraft. Jacked musclemen are supposed to be showing off their scars and ferocity. A hardened elven warrior getting a sparkly magic eye or some futuristic robot eye would be inappropriate.

[Jastall]

Blizzard thinks it makes him look cool but just having one eye means he can't see properly when in a fight.

I mean you can apply that to many, many stylistic choices in this game, from massive shoulderpads that would impale the wearer if they put their hands up in the air to dudes who have ample access to armor fighting shirtless to human sized mortals somehow taking on building size dragons, elementals or demonic war engines in melee and winning.

Warcraft is Rule of Cool incarnate. Lor'themar being good in a scrap with a missing eye is very far down the totem pole of issues RE realism.

[Lochton]

I'd rather say that giving Lor'themar a replacement eye would be inappropriate for his aesthetic.

Oh 10000000% this.

[Hobbidaggy]

Blizzard thinks it makes him look cool but just having one eye means he can't see properly when in a fight.

Elves are ridiculously overpowered with having great perception and awareness of what is happening around them. I think he can easily see and sense what he has happening around him during a fight

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There's no proof for or against, really - we have no idea what Xavius' vision was like, and the simple descriptor of "being able to see beyond normal standards" is very open to interpretation, as I've just demonstrated. Demon Hunters can do that too, and as shown, they've got serious limitations in other ways that they just personally don't care about.

Your own notion that his prosthetic eyes give him better-than-perfect sight is itself speculation. Maybe they did, who's to say, and maybe that particular level of sorcery or artifice isn't possible anymore due to not having free access to the Well of Eternity. We'll likely never know.

Exactly wow has proven you don’t even need eyes to see with the case of Demon Hunters. Most stabbed their eyes out or scratched them out…burnt them out…wrapped a cloth over their eye sockets and can see better than regular mortals and it starts off basic and sketchy according to the illidan novel and eventually they see normally and better than normal.

He probably wears it as a trophy or doesn’t need to have it replaced because he just doesn’t need it.

Also….people saying it is for “looks” probably. Wouldn’t it be stupid to have every single character looking the same. This gives him a unique look so yes it could just be for looks….like most visual stuff in the world is.

[Grazrug]

Oh 10000000% this.

It doesn't matter if it looks cool. When it hinders your daily activities it should be fixed. With magic augmentation anything should be possible even healing lost eyes or replacing it with implants.