What would you do if High Elf is a playable alliance race in the next xpac

[Azutael]

Iv'e got no problems with the alliance getting high elves, or whatever they want to call them.
Don't think I ever will abandon my forsaken warlock anyway.

[Northem]

Personally, I'd like to see Horde get Ogres and Elves to become split like Pandaren - blood elves to Horde, high elves to Alliance

Yeah, that would be the most sensible and the most advantageous for all, and in the Maelstrom's expansion, the Naga as new neutral race (the third).

If I remember right High elfs are just BE before they get slaughtered by Arthas right? That mean they look exactly the same?

When we talk about making the High Elves a playable race for the Alliance, there are always the same problems, but each of which is easily refutable, resulting in that there would be no real problems for the High Elves become a playable race (except for the jealousy that Horde players can feel when that happens).

*** The High Elves are identical to the Blood Elves ***

First, this statement is totally false. The absorption of fel magic altered the genetic structure of the Blood Elves irreversibly changing it forever and, though they consumed little vile energy, the demonic energy mutated each of its cells. This mutation is irreversible, permanent and hereditary: the Blood Elves and their descendants will never return to its previous state even if they no longer absorb fel magic and replace it by any other type of energy; the Blood Elves will be an accursed race forever. These differences between the High Elves and Blood Elves can be seen in three different aspects:

• 1. Physical aspects: In the current game the physical differences between the two races are barely distinguishable because the current models of the High Elves in the game are merely provisional models (they are Blood Elves with blue lenses and the voices of the Night Elves) as the provisional models for the Blood Elves before the first expansion (they were discolored Night Elves), ie we do not yet know how will be the High Elves in the game. What we do know is how they should be: the skin color of the High Elves is significantly paler than the skin tone of the Blood Elves who have a darker reddish skin tone, the eyes of the High Elves emit a slight blue glow while the eyes of the Blood Elves emit a vivid green glow, the ears of the High Elves are more pointed than those of the Blood Elves, the High Elves' hair is blond and silver while the hair of the Blood Elves is black or reddish, the Blood Elves are more robust than the High Elves, etc. As you can see the physical differences are remarkable even though they have not yet been implemented in the game.
  
  
• 2. Psychological aspects: It is a fact that demonic magic affects psychologically to the living creatures and the Blood Elves are no exception. Comparing the two races, the Blood Elves are more violent and irascible, more proud, arrogant and stubborn and have less patience and self control which the High Elves; those features are typical features of demons. It is even possible that the demonic magic can explain the sexual ambiguity that Blood Elves have. In practice these psychological differences may manifest themselves, for example: the High Elves' voices are quieter and calmer than those of the Blood Elves, the High Elves have a completely different animations showing more humility and respect and being less aggressive, less brusque and without showing any sexual ambiguity, etc.
  
  
• 3. Cultural aspects: The culture of the High Elves is the same as that of their ancestors of Quel'Thalas, but the culture of the Blood Elves changed completely at the end of the Third War and they became much more proud and arrogant (perhaps due to the psychological changes that demonic magic caused them or simply they changed their minds and decided to change their way of life after suffering many misfortunes). In practice these differences are evident: the Blood Elves have a more outrageous hairstyles than those of the High Elves whose hairstyles are much simpler, the Blood Elves have mystical tattoos all over his body something that the High Elves would never do, the colors that the Blood Elves use in both their dress and their buildings are black, golden and crimson, while the High Elves continue using green, blue and silver colors. (Curiosity: Silvermoon is so called because before the Third War its colors were turquoise, blue and silver and not the current red and golden colors)

In conclusion we can affirm without doubt that the differences between a High Elf and a Blood Elf are so many and so varied that there would be no problem for them to be playable, however, even if they were exactly alike, there would be no problem even in PVP. (Curiosity: if the name of a character is red and the mouse pointer turns into a sword passing over it, the character is an enemy, otherwise it is a friend)

*** Too few high elves to be a playable race ***

According to the Lore, the number of High Elves scattered around Azeroth currently amounts to 25,000 pure High Elves (not counting the half elves), which is substantially higher than the amount of the playable gnomes or trolls. So the excuse that there are very few High Elves is so childish that it deserves no more explanation, and needless to say the little credibility of the Blizzard statement of when there was virtually no WoW (2005) and more knowing that Blizzard opinion changes frequently. (Curiosity: the goblins that will be playable for the Horde will be the survivors of a shipwreck, how many goblins fit on a boat?)

*** There are already two elven races, with the High Elves we will have three ***

In other RPGs there are usually more than two different races of elves, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Having three different races of elves being very different each other in a game like World of Warcraft is acceptable. (Curiosity: how many human races are playable in the game? normal humans, decomposing humans (undeads) and damned humans (worgens), there are at least three different races of humans and there is no problem ...)

*** No racial leader or capital, or area for the race start ***

The real problem that prevents the High Elves being playable is this and not any of the above. Since the death of Anasterian there is not a leader who can reunite the High Elves scattered around Azeroth to fight alongside the Alliance. The only one who has done a group with some High Elves has been Vereesa Windrunner, but she does not have enough charisma and popularity to bring them together at all. However, there is a character that is respected by all the High Elves and the rest of the Alliance as Anasterian was, and has enough charisma and courage to be the leader of the High Elves and lead them to their former glory. That character is Alleria Windrunner. Surely the same day Alleria back to Azeroth, she will be proclaimed as the new leader of the High Elves of the Alliance.

The problem of having no capital or land of their own (as their ancestral lands are in the hands of the demonic elves allied with the Horde) is a problem that the High Elves are seeking solutions for a long time. In the time when Alleria takes the leadership of the High Elves is just a matter of time they find a new home. This new home has to be rich in magical presences (as is Quel'Thalas) and currently there is an area rich in magical presences, which is now practically abandoned. I refer to the remains of Suramar, ancient Highborne city, and located in the Broken Isles. The Broken Isles could be conquered by the High Elves and so Suramar will be rebuilt and they will become it their new capital and the Broken Isles will become their new home.

---

---

In short we can say that the blood elves and high elves differ much more than what you believe. There are substantial differences between the blood elves and the high elves due to the demonic magic that blood elves contain and also due to the ethical and moral consequences that flow from their past, present and future decisions.

Most people insist and will insist that the High Elves and Blood Elves are exactly identical, perhaps because in the game both races share the same model. Which people do not know is that the models of the High Elves in the game are mere placeholders and that, for the other hand, Blizzard does not give the due importance to this topic.

Some differences are physical (eyes, ears, skin tone, hair color), other psychological (temperament, patience, aggression) and other cultural (hairstyles, colors of its buildings and clothes, colloquialisms).

It must be said that, unlike their cultural differences, their physical and psychological differences are partly caused by their contact with the vile magic and that these differences are irreversible and hereditary. Of course the more they use these energies their changes will be more obvious.

In the first place, I'm going to briefly enumerate the physical differences that the demonic magic and the cultural changes have produced between a High Elf and a Blood Elf.
The vile power causes irreversible changes in the body of the creature that comes into contact with it: you only need to see the creatures that are near sources of this energy. As common factor have to say that vile energy causes a darkening / reddening of the skin and hair and an increase in bulk in the creature affected as a general rule.
As examples we can see also the fel orcs and blood elves, though these ones are special because the vile energy also has changed their eye color among other things, as detailed here:

• The Blood Elves are more stout and muscular, losing some agility but gaining strength with respect to the High Elves.
• The Blood Elves' eyes emit an intense bright green color that prevent seeing their actual eyes color, while the eyes of the High Elves do not emit brightness at all and their color are usually blue or green.
• The High Elf ears are slightly more elongated than those of the Blood Elves. Instead, the eyelashes of the High Elves are slightly shorter than those of the Blood Elves.
• Only the very old High Elves have facial hair, i.e. the High Elves are completely beardless until they are very old. However the blood elves have some facial hair and are proud of it.
• Blood Elves have very showy tattoos and magical inscriptions all over their body, something which the High Elves would never do.
• The High Elves have a skin tone much paler, but the skin of the Blood Elves is darker and reddish.
• The hair color of the High Elves is very clear (gold, silver, white, blond ...) but that of the Blood Elves is darker and striking (red, orange, black, brilliant blue...). In addition, the hairstyles of the Blood Elves are too extravagant and provocative while the hairstyles of the High Elves are much more simple and traditional.
• The postures (the animations in the game) of the High Elves are more formal and decorous, while those of the Blood Elves are more provocative and sexually ambiguous. Related to this we can see how the High Elves are more demure, while the Blood Elves are more provocative.

Regarding their psychological differences, the vile energy comes, as we all know, of the demons of the Burning Legion, and when a creature consume it, his character will become more aggressive, more conceited, more impatient, more uninhibited, more impulsive, sometimes more evil, etc. Examples have to mention the vile orcs and blood elves like Kael'thas.

With the return of Alleria Windrunner as the new leader of the High Elves of the Alliance, and the resurgence of Greenwood, the last bastion of the High Elves, the High Elves will become an undeniable force in the power of the Alliance, as they have always been and will be.

The Quel’dorei will prevail! For the Alliance! Glory to Alleria, the real Ranger-General of Silvermoon! Make the High Elves a playable race now!

---

NOTES:

1. Greenwood is the currently unnamed closed zone wedged between the northwestern border of the Eastern Plaguelands, the northeastern border of the Western Plaguelands, and the southwestern border of the Ghostlands. It is a virgin forest land without the presence of the scourge and last refuge of the High Elves that remain, which are regrouping, waiting for their leader Alleria back soon.
2. There are significant differences both physical and psychological between high elves and blood elves. Just to mention some:

• The blood elves have a darker skin and hair, as tanned-red, they are more irascible, proud and pretentious, his eyes reveal their insatiable thirst for magic, and their DNA is mutated with demonic magic irreversibly, by which they are more corpulent, more libidinous, and they struggle to get away from the traditional, with outlandish hairstyles, tattoos, sexual ambiguity and hatred to all that were before. Their favorite colors are crimson and golden, their symbol is the golden phoenix and they are noted for their magical power and strength, they are Sin’dorei.
• Moreover, the high elves remain faithful to their ancient customs and allies (the Alliance), fighting to preserve what remains of their lifestyle, they are very calm, patient and gentle, have a more pale skin, their hair is blond or silver, their body and their physical characteristics are more "elvish" indeed, unlike the blood elves, high elves are completely beardless. Their favorite colors are turquoise and silver, their symbol is the silver unicorn and they are noted for their wisdom and agility, they are Quel’dorei.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Yeah, that would be the most sensible and the most advantageous for all, and in the Maelstrom's expansion, the Naga as new neutral race (the third).



When we talk about making the High Elves a playable race for the Alliance, there are always the same problems, but each of which is easily refutable, resulting in that there would be no real problems for the High Elves become a playable race (except for the jealousy that Horde players can feel when that happens).

*** The High Elves are identical to the Blood Elves ***

First, this statement is totally false. The absorption of fel magic altered the genetic structure of the Blood Elves irreversibly changing it forever and, though they consumed little vile energy, the demonic energy mutated each of its cells. This mutation is irreversible, permanent and hereditary: the Blood Elves and their descendants will never return to its previous state even if they no longer absorb fel magic and replace it by any other type of energy; the Blood Elves will be an accursed race forever. These differences between the High Elves and Blood Elves can be seen in three different aspects:

• 1. Physical aspects: In the current game the physical differences between the two races are barely distinguishable because the current models of the High Elves in the game are merely provisional models (they are Blood Elves with blue lenses and the voices of the Night Elves) as the provisional models for the Blood Elves before the first expansion (they were discolored Night Elves), ie we do not yet know how will be the High Elves in the game. What we do know is how they should be: the skin color of the High Elves is significantly paler than the skin tone of the Blood Elves who have a darker reddish skin tone, the eyes of the High Elves emit a slight blue glow while the eyes of the Blood Elves emit a vivid green glow, the ears of the High Elves are more pointed than those of the Blood Elves, the High Elves' hair is blond and silver while the hair of the Blood Elves is black or reddish, the Blood Elves are more robust than the High Elves, etc. As you can see the physical differences are remarkable even though they have not yet been implemented in the game.
  
  
• 2. Psychological aspects: It is a fact that demonic magic affects psychologically to the living creatures and the Blood Elves are no exception. Comparing the two races, the Blood Elves are more violent and irascible, more proud, arrogant and stubborn and have less patience and self control which the High Elves; those features are typical features of demons. It is even possible that the demonic magic can explain the sexual ambiguity that Blood Elves have. In practice these psychological differences may manifest themselves, for example: the High Elves' voices are quieter and calmer than those of the Blood Elves, the High Elves have a completely different animations showing more humility and respect and being less aggressive, less brusque and without showing any sexual ambiguity, etc.
  
  
• 3. Cultural aspects: The culture of the High Elves is the same as that of their ancestors of Quel'Thalas, but the culture of the Blood Elves changed completely at the end of the Third War and they became much more proud and arrogant (perhaps due to the psychological changes that demonic magic caused them or simply they changed their minds and decided to change their way of life after suffering many misfortunes). In practice these differences are evident: the Blood Elves have a more outrageous hairstyles than those of the High Elves whose hairstyles are much simpler, the Blood Elves have mystical tattoos all over his body something that the High Elves would never do, the colors that the Blood Elves use in both their dress and their buildings are black, golden and crimson, while the High Elves continue using green, blue and silver colors. (Curiosity: Silvermoon is so called because before the Third War its colors were turquoise, blue and silver and not the current red and golden colors)

In conclusion we can affirm without doubt that the differences between a High Elf and a Blood Elf are so many and so varied that there would be no problem for them to be playable, however, even if they were exactly alike, there would be no problem even in PVP. (Curiosity: if the name of a character is red and the mouse pointer turns into a sword passing over it, the character is an enemy, otherwise it is a friend)

*** Too few high elves to be a playable race ***

According to the Lore, the number of High Elves scattered around Azeroth currently amounts to 25,000 pure High Elves (not counting the half elves), which is substantially higher than the amount of the playable gnomes or trolls. So the excuse that there are very few High Elves is so childish that it deserves no more explanation, and needless to say the little credibility of the Blizzard statement of when there was virtually no WoW (2005) and more knowing that Blizzard opinion changes frequently. (Curiosity: the goblins that will be playable for the Horde will be the survivors of a shipwreck, how many goblins fit on a boat?)

*** There are already two elven races, with the High Elves we will have three ***

In other RPGs there are usually more than two different races of elves, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Having three different races of elves being very different each other in a game like World of Warcraft is acceptable. (Curiosity: how many human races are playable in the game? normal humans, decomposing humans (undeads) and damned humans (worgens), there are at least three different races of humans and there is no problem ...)

*** No racial leader or capital, or area for the race start ***

The real problem that prevents the High Elves being playable is this and not any of the above. Since the death of Anasterian there is not a leader who can reunite the High Elves scattered around Azeroth to fight alongside the Alliance. The only one who has done a group with some High Elves has been Vereesa Windrunner, but she does not have enough charisma and popularity to bring them together at all. However, there is a character that is respected by all the High Elves and the rest of the Alliance as Anasterian was, and has enough charisma and courage to be the leader of the High Elves and lead them to their former glory. That character is Alleria Windrunner. Surely the same day Alleria back to Azeroth, she will be proclaimed as the new leader of the High Elves of the Alliance.

The problem of having no capital or land of their own (as their ancestral lands are in the hands of the demonic elves allied with the Horde) is a problem that the High Elves are seeking solutions for a long time. In the time when Alleria takes the leadership of the High Elves is just a matter of time they find a new home. This new home has to be rich in magical presences (as is Quel'Thalas) and currently there is an area rich in magical presences, which is now practically abandoned. I refer to the remains of Suramar, ancient Highborne city, and located in the Broken Isles. The Broken Isles could be conquered by the High Elves and so Suramar will be rebuilt and they will become it their new capital and the Broken Isles will become their new home.

---

---

In short we can say that the blood elves and high elves differ much more than what you believe. There are substantial differences between the blood elves and the high elves due to the demonic magic that blood elves contain and also due to the ethical and moral consequences that flow from their past, present and future decisions.

Most people insist and will insist that the High Elves and Blood Elves are exactly identical, perhaps because in the game both races share the same model. Which people do not know is that the models of the High Elves in the game are mere placeholders and that, for the other hand, Blizzard does not give the due importance to this topic.

Some differences are physical (eyes, ears, skin tone, hair color), other psychological (temperament, patience, aggression) and other cultural (hairstyles, colors of its buildings and clothes, colloquialisms).

It must be said that, unlike their cultural differences, their physical and psychological differences are partly caused by their contact with the vile magic and that these differences are irreversible and hereditary. Of course the more they use these energies their changes will be more obvious.

In the first place, I'm going to briefly enumerate the physical differences that the demonic magic and the cultural changes have produced between a High Elf and a Blood Elf.
The vile power causes irreversible changes in the body of the creature that comes into contact with it: you only need to see the creatures that are near sources of this energy. As common factor have to say that vile energy causes a darkening / reddening of the skin and hair and an increase in bulk in the creature affected as a general rule.
As examples we can see also the fel orcs and blood elves, though these ones are special because the vile energy also has changed their eye color among other things, as detailed here:

• The Blood Elves are more stout and muscular, losing some agility but gaining strength with respect to the High Elves.
• The Blood Elves' eyes emit an intense bright green color that prevent seeing their actual eyes color, while the eyes of the High Elves do not emit brightness at all and their color are usually blue or green.
• The High Elf ears are slightly more elongated than those of the Blood Elves. Instead, the eyelashes of the High Elves are slightly shorter than those of the Blood Elves.
• Only the very old High Elves have facial hair, i.e. the High Elves are completely beardless until they are very old. However the blood elves have some facial hair and are proud of it.
• Blood Elves have very showy tattoos and magical inscriptions all over their body, something which the High Elves would never do.
• The High Elves have a skin tone much paler, but the skin of the Blood Elves is darker and reddish.
• The hair color of the High Elves is very clear (gold, silver, white, blond ...) but that of the Blood Elves is darker and striking (red, orange, black, brilliant blue...). In addition, the hairstyles of the Blood Elves are too extravagant and provocative while the hairstyles of the High Elves are much more simple and traditional.
• The postures (the animations in the game) of the High Elves are more formal and decorous, while those of the Blood Elves are more provocative and sexually ambiguous. Related to this we can see how the High Elves are more demure, while the Blood Elves are more provocative.

Regarding their psychological differences, the vile energy comes, as we all know, of the demons of the Burning Legion, and when a creature consume it, his character will become more aggressive, more conceited, more impatient, more uninhibited, more impulsive, sometimes more evil, etc. Examples have to mention the vile orcs and blood elves like Kael'thas.

With the return of Alleria Windrunner as the new leader of the High Elves of the Alliance, and the resurgence of Greenwood, the last bastion of the High Elves, the High Elves will become an undeniable force in the power of the Alliance, as they have always been and will be.

The Quel’dorei will prevail! For the Alliance! Glory to Alleria, the real Ranger-General of Silvermoon! Make the High Elves a playable race now!

---

NOTES:

1. Greenwood is the currently unnamed closed zone wedged between the northwestern border of the Eastern Plaguelands, the northeastern border of the Western Plaguelands, and the southwestern border of the Ghostlands. It is a virgin forest land without the presence of the scourge and last refuge of the High Elves that remain, which are regrouping, waiting for their leader Alleria back soon.
2. There are significant differences both physical and psychological between high elves and blood elves. Just to mention some:

• The blood elves have a darker skin and hair, as tanned-red, they are more irascible, proud and pretentious, his eyes reveal their insatiable thirst for magic, and their DNA is mutated with demonic magic irreversibly, by which they are more corpulent, more libidinous, and they struggle to get away from the traditional, with outlandish hairstyles, tattoos, sexual ambiguity and hatred to all that were before. Their favorite colors are crimson and golden, their symbol is the golden phoenix and they are noted for their magical power and strength, they are Sin’dorei.
• Moreover, the high elves remain faithful to their ancient customs and allies (the Alliance), fighting to preserve what remains of their lifestyle, they are very calm, patient and gentle, have a more pale skin, their hair is blond or silver, their body and their physical characteristics are more "elvish" indeed, unlike the blood elves, high elves are completely beardless. Their favorite colors are turquoise and silver, their symbol is the silver unicorn and they are noted for their wisdom and agility, they are Quel’dorei.

Wonderful post, but you totally missed the point of them being identical. Yes they have different eyes, skin, and hair colors. But they look physically the exact same. It's not a new model, it's just new skin colors.

A new race must have a brand new physical model.

[Northem]

Wonderful post, but you totally missed the point of them being identical. Yes they have different eyes, skin, and hair colors. But they look physically the exact same. It's not a new model, it's just new skin colors.

A new race must have a brand new physical model.

Nor is complicated: changing a little the color options of the skins of the blood elves and mount them with the animations of the night elves or humans for example.

---------- Post added 2013-01-05 at 08:37 PM ----------

I was thinking along the lines of the 'neutral races' or 'double races' that they might serve to make playable some "problematic" races, such as the High Elves.

For example, in the case of the High Elves, should have a “neutral” race who was the Thalassian Elves.
By creating a thalassian elf, we will spend its first levels in the middle of the Third War, struggling to survive the hosts of the Scourge and trying to avoid as much as possible the destruction of Quel'Thalas.
In these first levels will be palpable the division of elven people: some who hope that the Alliance assist them and shelter them and others who despise the Alliance and hope to fend for themselves, staging the division that existed between elves themselves even before the death of King Anasterian Sunstrider (see note 1).

With the arrival of Prince Kael'thas this division is accentuated even more: some, the most, hail him as their new king and accept the title of 'Blood Elves' that he has imposed to them, while others see the young prince too differently than his father was, preferring to remain faithful to their customs and avoid the drastic changes proposed by the heir to the throne, which will force them into exile from their lands. And this is where our elven character must decide whether to follow Kael'thas, take the banner of the Golden Phoenix as his own and become a Blood elf or Sin'dorei and then later join the Horde, or keep being a High elf, remain under the banner of the Silver Unicorn as their own and stay tied to the Alliance as a Quel'dorei.

If you have chosen to be a Blood Elf, a cinematic will show you the fate that Prince Kael'thas holds for the Sin'dorei: the irreversible contamination with demonic magic, the reconstruction of Silvermoon, the betrayal of their King and finally their incorporation into the ranks of the Horde. Our Blood elf will continue its experience in the renovated Eversong Woods, where many things left to do now that the Sunwell has been restored, and later go to the Ghostlands where he must show his loyalty and worth for the Horde.

If instead, your elf chooses to remain being a Quel'dorei, a cinematic will show you the future of exile that awaits its people and thus, the foster the peoples of the Alliance serve them throughout Azeroth. Our High Elf will continue with his experience in the Greenwood forests, the last territory under control of the High Elves in the present (see note 2), where you must show your loyalty and value to the Alliance. Once finished there, his path will lead you to Stormwind, the Alliance capital, where, to show the importance of the Quel'dorei in the Alliance, the district formerly known as The Park and destroyed by Deathwing himself, now has been reconstructed as an image of Silvermoon itself, to feel at home.


NOTE 1: The government of the high elves was quite complex as in addition to having a King, they had a sort of senate known as the Council of Silvermoon where the King listened to the opinion of the people of Quel'Thalas. The High Elves have always been a very proud and boastful race, so it's no wonder that after the end of the Second War a large part of Council of Silvermoon urge King Anasterian to abandon formally the Alliance of Lordaeron. The King agreed to the claims of the most radical of the Council against his will, because a significant percentage of the High Elves, among whom was the King himself, positively valued its friendly relations with humans, dwarves and other races Alliance, in fact King Anasterian was a great friend of King Terenas and his father and grandfather. However, the King's son and heir to the throne was not of this opinion; Kael'thas shared the cryptic view of the most radical of the Council of Silvermoon, therefore not surprising that he renounced to the Alliance.

NOTE 2: Greenwood is the currently unnamed closed zone wedged between the northwestern border of the Eastern Plaguelands, the northeastern border of the Western Plaguelands, and the southwestern border of the Ghostlands. It is a virgin forest land without the presence of the scourge and last refuge of the High Elves that remain, which are regrouping, waiting for the right moment, a moment that may be close ... At a minimum, the high elves maintain an elven port in that zone, if not, how do you explain that there are some elven destroyers in the North Sea in Northrend (the blues ones).

[Deleted]

I'd like to see a playable high elf, but as a sort of legitimate model swap rather than a full new race. The best way of doing it I think is when they get these model updates done just have a high elf model option for humans (their class list best fits what a high elf could do) and maybe a ogre skin for orcs or a dark ranger skin for forsaken. Hell maybe you could go all out and have a second model option for every race.

[Wazooty]

Are there even enough high elves left to make them a full race? From what I can tell, basically all of them became blood elves.

And no, making slightly different colored blood elves with night elf or human animations is not enough to merit them being a whole new race.

[bionics]

I'd stay as Horde. At the moment High Elves are simply a more pale looking Blood Elf model so I doubt that it will ever become a playable race.

However I could see it happen some time in the future that they add more features on races so that we can be other races related to our playable races. Let me explain.

If you were to create a Tauren, one of the the customizable features would be making it look like a Taunka, or even a Yaungol. With Dwarves you could make them look like Earthern, iron Dwarves or black Dwarves (the Thassarian race thingy). When you create an Orc, you could make it look like a brown Orc from Nagrand or a black Orc from Twilight Highlands.

So what I'm going at here is because of the Highborne apparently being a part of the Night Elves now (you can create Night Elf Mages), maybe you could make your Night Elf look like a Highborne.

That would be pretty interesting, although I'd like to see them go beyond just the cosmetic facets; I've always wanted to learn more about the Taunka, Yaungol, and Iron Dwarves -- so with the option of being able to play as them, I'd naturally like to delve deeper into their lore.

[Deleted]

The poll options are pretty restrictive. I play Alliance but I wouldn't roll a blood elf with blue eyes instead of green and accept Blizzard palming them off as an entirely new race.

[Hyde]

Iv'e got no problems with the alliance getting high elves, or whatever they want to call them.
Don't think I ever will abandon my forsaken warlock anyway.

That's the spirit! I don't really fancy elves, but the High Elf is just so significant as part of the Alliance force that it should playable, preferably just so I can see a showdown between a Blood Elf Warlock and a High Elf Ranger or an Ogre Magi and a High Elf Ranger.

---------- Post added 2013-01-06 at 05:04 AM ----------

Wonderful post, but you totally missed the point of them being identical. Yes they have different eyes, skin, and hair colors. But they look physically the exact same. It's not a new model, it's just new skin colors.

A new race must have a brand new physical model.

It's an old race that would be made available to the Alliance. To make up for this, Blizz has to add a new Horde race and another neutral race; Naga.

[Slavemaker]

I would say that I would play one but my character list is full and has been for a very long time, race change? I'd probably still go with a Pandaren if I did so to another character but overall it would all depend on how the model looked, it would be a mixture of Blood Elf/Night Elf hybrid but with WAY more polygons (think Azshara but different) and it would look good but overall I would wait until the new races are changed to make an opinion.

P.S I hope Blood Elf/Draenei are updated with the new race models.

But would I play one? Sure, I don't care either way if it exists or not, they are cool and I love the elvish races in Warcraft.

[vindicatorx]

Same thing I do every time a new race is brought out not really care one way or another

[skrump]

If someday I play as Alliance It would be my choice for a race, no doubt, but it never gonna happen, based on the lore there are too few High Elves and the actual Blood Elves won't join the Alliance, in the third war they was betrayed by the lider of the Alliance in Lordaeron, Garitos and left behind to die, in an attempt to escape they was accused of treason and imprisoned in the Violet Hold, and now they was banished from Dalaran by Jaina Proudmoore...I believe the Alliance is no longer on the list of allies of the Blood Elfs.

Don't you think if they found out the truth that Garitos was being mind controlled by Sylvanas that they would be more likely to jump off the horde bandwagon seeing as it was essentially sylvanas who got them to join the horde.

well of course not anymore now that the purge of dalaran has happened as I really think it would be pretty dam hard for jaina to convince the bloodelf population that it was necessary and not out of pure misguided vengeance

[Xothic]

Don't you think if they found out the truth that Garitos was being mind controlled by Sylvanas that they would be more likely to jump off the horde bandwagon seeing as it was essentially sylvanas who got them to join the horde.

well of course not anymore now that the purge of dalaran has happened as I really think it would be pretty dam hard for jaina to convince the bloodelf population that it was necessary and not out of pure misguided vengeance

What? I'm fairly sure that isnt true. The Dreadlords enslavement of Garithos didn't happen until well after Garithos had imprisioned Kael and Vashj, and lasted for like a day till Sylvanas came and FREED him from the enslavement.

OT: If the High Elves were introduced into the Alliance, i'd respond with a resounding, passionate "Ok".

[Mukki]

Honestly I don't see WoW having another xpac. With the horse shit quality of MoP, and the complete neglect from the Devs, I really don't see another xpac as an option. Blizzard makes in 1 week, what other competitors make in 1 year. And yet they have the most rushed and horrible content yet. At this point I think most players are only sticking around because of the nostalgia. But the more the game "grows"/changes, and the more it declines in quality, I don't think many players will stick around.

You contradicted yourself. Also, next expansion's been in development for a while now. Even if you don't like WoW, it's a good idea to try being pragmatic.

[TheDangerZone]

maybe the OP is a tad more mature than that?

Anyhow. I'd roll and play one, definitely. Not only because I play every race at least once. But also, because I believe that it would be awesome to see the elves reunited one day. After all, they were once one nation, and it would not destroy the lore at all.
In fact, with the subtle changes already in the game, the High Elf race could very well work as that last missing link to bring them back together.

I want the exact opposite, I want elf on elf violence! The moral implications are quite interesting, as they are to Pandaren right now. High Elf mage v/s blood elf warlock; who will win!?!?!?

[Hyde]

I want the exact opposite, I want elf on elf violence! The moral implications are quite interesting, as they are to Pandaren right now. High Elf mage v/s blood elf warlock; who will win!?!?!?

Or High Elf Druid vs Blood Elf Warlock mayhap?

High Elf Ranger vs Blood Elf Rogue

[Deleted]

Why is there no "I don't give a damn" option?

I wouldn't roll a high elf, because I'm not that interested in them. Maybe just get one through their starting zone to know the story but that's about it. I don't want to kill them specifically either, as when I do PvP (BGs, rarely) I don't care about the race of my opponent. If it's fighting against my team, I'm gonna try to kill it.

[Gum]

Been wanting them since Classic - I would seriously be so thrilled. They could give no new features, and i would still buy the expac just for that.

[Deleted]

Since they would look pretty much like Blood Elves.. I'd instantly roll one since I always wanted to play one but all my friends/guild is alliance.

[Primaliron]

I am perfectly fine with this, though I would prefer if they made all the elves a little less fruity. Indeed most of the races could use a little less extreme sterotyping, but that's a discussion for another day.