Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

I'm curious if we will get the chance to customize our racials visually as well in the end. There are few racials that could use that:

Void Elves
- Entropic Embrace: there are several ideas that could work.
1) blueberry blue void empowerment we have now
2) Dark black empowerment similar to Alleria's void form
3) Tentacle spawning void form
4) hidden invisible visual
5) arcane empowerment

I can also imagine blue skin options with frozen hair/beard customizations for Dark Iron Dwarves giving us chance to play as Frostborn of Stormpeaks, which would require visual alteration of their Fireblood racial as well. Draenei could change appearance of their Gift of Naaru racial, perhaps giving us option to have Naaru-like wings or something similar. Basicly, once you open this pandora box, anything can happen.

It would be actually pretty cool solution of the subrace system which is in discussion for years now and while allied races gave us some of the popular requests, it failed to adress many other requests that still stands. Not to mention that allied races proved to be inconsistent in their implementation. First of allied races are only retextured core races with different customizations, while the latter races are way more unique and feels like there was more effort put into them. In the light of new customization options we are given in Shadowlands, I don't really understand why races like Highmountain, Lightforged, Mag'har or Dark Iron are even its own allied races, while those races could easily function as character customization, given that everything that sets those races apart from their parent races are either tattoos, skin colors or different horn shapes. Same could be said about Void elves or Nightborne, but they are on the opposite faction to their parent race, so at least that makes the reason for them to not be mere customizations.

Honestly Yeah! Like, AR expanded customization exist like 2 different systems that could be streamlined into one and I really get crazy thinking about all the possibilities! Like I think only races with a different enough model would remain AR (Kul'Tiran, Zandalari, NB, VE and Vulpera) but the rest just merged with their core races, and then just limiting class/customization by grouping, or "subrace", much like it currently works in LOTRO.

The possibilities! And then we could get things such as Taunka and Amani Troll as actual AR -models that differ a bit more than just skin colors and hairstyles-

[Amaterasu65]

"LF draenei shouldn't be chill with void elves being around them..."

I don't understand why people even use this argument. The LF draenei had no problem working alongside demon hunters, death knights, and warlocks, as well as taking orders from Illidan after he destroyed their goddess.

People just need to realize that the LF draenei are not the Lightbound. They have no problem with setting aside their differences for the greater good.

One could even say Velen appreciated the more direct approach Illidan suggested regarding the Legion. To not hesitate and have faith in your own abilities and not just your faith of a higher entity.

[Varodoc]

One could even say Velen appreciated the more direct approach Illidan suggested regarding the Legion. To not hesitate and have faith in your own abilities and not just your faith of a higher entity.

That he did. That's why he was sad that Illidan remained behind the serve as Sargeras' jailer, and hoped the Light would be with Illidan.

[FlubberPuddy]

Honestly Yeah! Like, AR expanded customization exist like 2 different systems that could be streamlined into one and I really get crazy thinking about all the possibilities! Like I think only races with a different enough model would remain AR (Kul'Tiran, Zandalari, NB, VE and Vulpera) but the rest just merged with their core races, and then just limiting class/customization by grouping, or "subrace", much like it currently works in LOTRO.

The possibilities! And then we could get things such as Taunka and Amani Troll as actual AR -models that differ a bit more than just skin colors and hairstyles-

Agree both here and with @Vaedan.

By consolidating races and allowing a choosing not only of aesthetics but racials and the aesthetics of those racials too, we really could get back to a point where a 'new race' added is with meaningful distinction such as the proposed Taunka/Amani Trolls with their different models.

It's really interesting to see where they go, especially since we know that character customization is essentially never-ending, with further overhauls to the system as needed in the future!

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

No new customization at all this Build!

I do think in terms of VE customization what we have so far is pretty much what we are going to get for now, with more coming when AR get a legitimate customization revamp -which I do hope it merges some of them back with their core races!- most likely next expansion than anywhere on the 9.x cycle.

So hopefully we have one expansion of bad hair choices before a more accurate HE fantasy next expansion. Season of hats, helms and cowls it is lol!

I do hope we get black and white hair in SL thooo. As much as I love what VE have gotten in terms of HE fantasy, it has all been reused assets, and I'd really love a white hair that's just VE. Like this.

[Lahis]

There's always the possibility that Blizzard simply shares things like hair or jewelry between the races like they did several years ago. That alone would add more options to everyone, including allied races. It's also relatively easy and quick to do. I wouldn't expect Blizzard to make us wait years for allied race options, though I would imagine that they might be a trickle with each .5 patch since it's something they can promote to pad the significance of a .5 patch.

It took them 10 years to update the character models in the first place and then 6 additional years to receive this customization update.

So ARs might get updates in 9.3.5 or in 2030.

[Kyriani]

It took them 10 years to update the character models in the first place and then 6 additional years to receive this customization update.

So ARs might get updates in 9.3.5 or in 2030.

If Shadowlands wasn't so focused on giving us customization options I might agree with you. But since we're getting quite a bit of new options with Shadowlands launch, and the devs have indicated that even more will come throughout the expansion, I'm willing to be optimistic on this.

[matrix123mko]

No new customization at all this Build!

I do think in terms of VE customization what we have so far is pretty much what we are going to get for now, with more coming when AR get a legitimate customization revamp -which I do hope it merges some of them back with their core races!- most likely next expansion than anywhere on the 9.x cycle.

So hopefully we have one expansion of bad hair choices before a more accurate HE fantasy next expansion. Season of hats, helms and cowls it is lol!

I do hope we get black and white hair in SL thooo. As much as I love what VE have gotten in terms of HE fantasy, it has all been reused assets, and I'd really love a white hair that's just VE. Like this.

I really want white hair for a void elf. It would look perfect.

[DeicideUH]

Yesterday's blog post after the build did say there's more character customization coming.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

Yesterday's blog post after the build did say there's more character customization coming.

I mean sure Core Races need another pass, I just really doubt we will be seeing much more for AR.

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I really want white hair for a void elf. It would look perfect.

We need white hair, like the OG Void Elf on her VE form has slightly pinkish white hair!

[matrix123mko]

I mean sure Core Races need another pass, I just really doubt we will be seeing much more for AR.


We need white hair, like the OG Void Elf on her VE form has slightly pinkish white hair!

They said that they may update them post Shadowlands.

[FossilFree]

Most of these customization options are really easy to make. Maybe not leaves in the beard, but recolors take very little time. I'm not a graphics artist but could make several in a day that were passable. It would be even easier for a professional. Things like jewelry that have new 3D elements will take more time though.

For that reason, I fully expect to receive more customization options before the expansion is released and during the expansion as well, for both core and AR.

[delus]

I mean sure Core Races need another pass, I just really doubt we will be seeing much more for AR.

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We need white hair, like the OG Void Elf on her VE form has slightly pinkish white hair!

Problem with that is allied races are actual categories on the character select screen and when customization options are noticably lacking compared to other races, it makes the devs look lazy and bad. Race is the first click you make in the character customization process after all.

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Goth and punk jewelry and hairstyles would be nice additions to velves as well. Dog collars and chokers would be some easy additions.

[DeicideUH]

I mean sure Core Races need another pass, I just really doubt we will be seeing much more for AR.

I think this second pass will touch every race, but none in a major way. There's still two to three months before 9.0 release. It's not enough for major revamps, but we will see a ton of minor stuff added. Allied races aren't off-limits now.

[FlubberPuddy]

Problem with that is allied races are actual categories on the character select screen and when customization options are noticably lacking compared to other races, it makes the devs look lazy and bad. Race is the first click you make in the character customization process after all.

I could understand that viewpoint, but this wouldn't be the first time that certain aspects of character customization for certain races is delayed. WoD had the same thing happen with the Blood Elves iirc. They didn't get their new revamp until some time into WoD rather than right at release.

I can agree with what @Kyriani and @DeicideUH are saying, in that Blizzard seemed to have overhauled their character customization methods into a more streamlined approach that allows them to add things like tattoos to basically everyone relatively quickly than times past. Also with Allied Races being said to be receiving more customizations at some point within Shadowlands, I can see it being the case that once Core Races are finished up for Shadowlands launch, we might even see datamining for a bit more AR customization.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

They said that they may update them post Shadowlands.

Indeed, hence why I have been saying that I don't think we are getting much more *for now*, but I do expect an update to be made across all AR at some point, just not soon.

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Problem with that is allied races are actual categories on the character select screen and when customization options are noticably lacking compared to other races, it makes the devs look lazy and bad. Race is the first click you make in the character customization process after all.

Sure I agree, but when Goblins and Worgen got their updates like 2 expansions later than everyone else, I don't really thinks the optics of "will this make us look lazy?" are all that relevant to them.

Specially when they made sure to specify their focus for RN is core races. Wish it wouldn't be so, but rn AR are hardly a priority, and I'm pretty sure they will take any calls of being lazy on stride.

Goth and punk jewelry and hairstyles would be nice additions to velves as well. Dog collars and chokers would be some easy additions.

Maybe but personally IDK; I've always seen forsaken as closer to that look. It could work, but it goes to show you how undefined the VE aesthetic is beyond their colors.

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I think this second pass will touch every race, but none in a major way. There's still two to three months before 9.0 release. It's not enough for major revamps, but we will see a ton of minor stuff added. Allied races aren't off-limits now.

Yeh I agree, we will be seeing some minor stuff, so for VE's for example, maybe we get more human like colors, but things like tattoos, new hairstyles and other customization we definitely are looking more into next expansion at best.

[matrix123mko]

Indeed, hence why I have been saying that I don't think we are getting much more *for now*, but I do expect an update to be made across all AR at some point, just not soon.

Sure I agree, but when Goblins and Worgen got their updates like 2 expansions later than everyone else, I don't really thinks the optics of "will this make us look lazy?" are all that relevant to them.

Specially when they made sure to specify their focus for RN is core races. Wish it wouldn't be so, but rn AR are hardly a priority, and I'm pretty sure they will take any calls of being lazy on stride.

Let's hope for good future additions.

Maybe but personally IDK; I've always seen forsaken as closer to that look. It could work, but it goes to show you how undefined the VE aesthetic is beyond their colors.

I think they are closer to Warhammer dark elves. However, I believe they could look very interesting if Blizzard took some inspiration from LoL "dark star skins".

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

Most of these customization options are really easy to make. Maybe not leaves in the beard, but recolors take very little time. I'm not a graphics artist but could make several in a day that were passable. It would be even easier for a professional. Things like jewelry that have new 3D elements will take more time though.

For that reason, I fully expect to receive more customization options before the expansion is released and during the expansion as well, for both core and AR.

I think that's the thing; so far everything AR have gotten are recolors and reused assets, nothing really new made exclusively for an AR, so I really think that's the limit of what we can expect.

How much more we will get for AR is hard to know for sure, but I'm confident it won't be anything beyond recolors of already existing stuff -And for VE maybe uncoupling tentacles from hairstyles as it has been done for KT mustaches and MG paint jobs- So beyond hair, skin and eye colors, I really doubt we will be seeing much more.

Like at my most optimist I think they could give more options from the Core Races to the AR, but again, at my most optimist that is.

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Let's hope for good future additions.

Let's indeed

I think they are closer to Warhammer dark elves. However, I believe they could look very interesting if Blizzard took some inspiration from LoL "dark star skins".

Eh, the resemblance to WH dark elves is aesthetic at best. Their characterization is very different, Void Elves take a more utilitarian, noble, and politically motivated approach to their dark magics, not unlike Demon Hunters. Sadly that's like all there is so far.

Void Elves still remain like *just* potential and little actualization. They have been in game for over 2 years and they remain deeply undefined as a group beyond the magics they use.

Aesthetically they are great and I do agree more could be done with them, but their problems are just so deeply rooted on their lore that we really need more characterization on them before focusing on the aesthetics -which I kinda think it's the issue already with them; they had a cool look in mind but did little to develop a rich background lore for them-

[DeicideUH]

Yeh I agree, we will be seeing some minor stuff, so for VE's for example, maybe we get more human like colors, but things like tattoos, new hairstyles and other customization we definitely are looking more into next expansion at best.

I don't think so. Apparently there will be more passes in the patch cycle.
Also, things like tattoos, scars and other texture stuff will most likely come if blood elves also get them. The model is exactly the same, it would be a big waste of resources to not seize an opportunity to improve two races.

[Kyriani]

Void Elves still remain like *just* potential and little actualization. They have been in game for over 2 years and they remain deeply undefined as a group beyond the magics they use.

Aesthetically they are great and I do agree more could be done with them, but their problems are just so deeply rooted on their lore that we really need more characterization on them before focusing on the aesthetics -which I kinda think it's the issue already with them; they had a cool look in mind but did little to develop a rich background lore for them-

I agree with this wholeheartedly. It's a terrible shame that Void Elves have been left in such a state for so long. It would have been fine if they had a chunk of Legion to actually have a foundation developed for them like Nightborne, High Mountain and even the Lightforged had, but that's not what happened. Void Elves were simply dropped into the game with no real development and their only preamble being their unlock scenario. BfA could have made up for that shortfall... should have made up for that shortfall, but again that's not what happened. We went through the whole of BfA with generic Void Elves making cameos here and there, and only Magister Umbric having any sort of spotlight, but even that only served to develop Umbric's character. It didn't really provide any development for Void Elves as a race. One would think that 8.3, a patch heavily steeped in Old God and Void themes, would have been a prime opportunity to develop Void Elves further. Sadly, again, that's not what happened. Void Elves were MIA.

Now we're heading into a "death" themed expansion. One, heavily laden with lore for certain, but hardly fertile soil for Void Elf development. So that's likely going to be at least another two years of little to no development for them. Even if the following expansion has heavy void themes and finally provides some development, that's far too long a wait. Blizzard really should have either seeded Void Elves properly (at least as much as the Lightforged) with the Argus patch, or they should have simply given the Alliance High Elves instead. Like the Dark Iron, the Alliance High Elves wouldn't need the kind of extensive foundational development that the Void Elves do. While I'm not confident that we'll see any during Shadowlands, I keep hoping we'll see something in the way of actual development of the Void Elves as a people and not simply having us acting as Alleria or Umbric's escort again. That's not development of Void Elves as a race.