Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Kyriani]

What did you guys expect? There has to be some kind of difference between belves and velves. The helf community demanded belf skin tones and you got them. Giving velves the same hair color would kill any distinction between the two races. Other wise whats he point of having VOID elves. Leave the blond hair to Alleria as she's a special NPC. Kinda how like Thrall is the only orc with eye brows.

If you don't think blonde, brown and black hair colors are coming to Void Elves in the future, I think you're going to be very disappointed. They might not be the same exact shades that Blood Elves have, but I'm fairly confident they will happen at some point before Shadowlands is over.

[Zantos]

What did you guys expect? There has to be some kind of difference between belves and velves. The helf community demanded belf skin tones and you got them. Giving velves the same hair color would kill any distinction between the two races. Other wise whats he point of having VOID elves. Leave the blond hair to Alleria as she's a special NPC. Kinda how like Thrall is the only orc with eye brows.

There is already no point in having VOID elves since their void touch is supposed to be a physical manifestation. With regular skin tones, that is gone. Their basically ex shadow priests who decided to keep in touch with the void.

[Frenchvince]

What did you guys expect? There has to be some kind of difference between belves and velves. The helf community demanded belf skin tones and you got them. Giving velves the same hair color would kill any distinction between the two races. Other wise whats he point of having VOID elves. Leave the blond hair to Alleria as she's a special NPC. Kinda how like Thrall is the only orc with eye brows.

What you're saying doesn't make sense.
So the blood elf community should stop asking for the ranger / farstrider tattoos of Alleria, a special alliance NPC? And they should also stop asking for their "second theme", the dark ranger, which comes from another special NPC, Sylvanas?

The high elves are available for BE and VE with their customization options, you have to get used to it now, Blizzard has made its choice.

[FlubberPuddy]

What did you guys expect? There has to be some kind of difference between belves and velves. The helf community demanded belf skin tones and you got them. Giving velves the same hair color would kill any distinction between the two races. Other wise whats he point of having VOID elves. Leave the blond hair to Alleria as she's a special NPC. Kinda how like Thrall is the only orc with eye brows.

Yeah you're about to be disappointed then because 'natural hair colors' is the next most asked thing aside from the skin tones. Speaking of the skin tones, there were many in the helf community that wanted similar but different tones, it was actually only the Anti-helf community that kept using reductive logic to spread around 'you guys just want the exact same skins copy and pasted to Void Elves'.

I do find it hilarious that Blizzard did end up doing just that. Maybe if the anti-helf community wasn't so vocal about it, maybe Blizzard wouldn't have gotten that idea.

Now we're beginning to see the same with regards to hair colors, despite the fact that that even human/Kul'Tiran hairstyles/colors are being asked for. These anti-helfers should be aware they may end up with a proverbial foot in their mouth if they keep spouting that the Void Elf/High Elf community want copy paste hair colors!

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What you're saying doesn't make sense.
So the blood elf community should stop asking for the ranger / farstrider tattoos of Alleria, a special alliance NPC? And they should also stop asking for their "second theme", the dark ranger, which comes from another special NPC, Sylvanas?

The high elves are available for BE and VE with their customization options, you have to get used to it now, Blizzard has made its choice.

Yup exactly. Blizzard took all the discussion and went: You will both share the HE customizations. They almost hit the mark, but hair colors are needed for Alliance HE to look like Alliance HE.

It's no different than BE players asking for Alleria (an Alliance leader) warpaint/tattoos.

At this point I think Blizzard believe the unique BE Jewelry/hairstyles/eye colors (because remember they have unique green and gold colors y'all!) to be what sets apart BE from VE. Just like VE have unique skins/hair colors/tentacle hair.

I think the HE customization will go to both sides because that's what Ely Cannon alluded to in an interview.

[Kyriani]

Yeah you're about to be disappointed then because 'natural hair colors' is the next most asked thing aside from the skin tones. Speaking of the skin tones, there were many in the helf community that wanted similar but different tones, it was actually only the Anti-helf community that kept using reductive logic to spread around 'you guys just want the exact same skins copy and pasted to Void Elves'.

I do find it hilarious that Blizzard did end up doing just that. Maybe if the anti-helf community wasn't so vocal about it, maybe Blizzard wouldn't have gotten that idea.

Now we're beginning to see the same with regards to hair colors, despite the fact that that even human/Kul'Tiran hairstyles/colors are being asked for. These anti-helfers should be aware they may end up with a proverbial foot in their mouth if they keep spouting that the Void Elf/High Elf community want copy paste hair colors!

It really does seem like all the pushback from those against Alliance High Elves, ended up backfiring horribly. Had High Elves been an allied race, they might have had much more distinctiveness from Blood Elves than Void Elves will soon have. Instead, Void Elves are basically going to be able to look virtually indistinguishable from Blood Elves by the end of Shadowlands.

[Frenchvince]

Yup exactly. Blizzard took all the discussion and went: You will both share the HE customizations. They almost hit the mark, but hair colors are needed for Alliance HE to look like Alliance HE.

It's no different than BE players asking for Alleria (an Alliance leader) warpaint/tattoos.

At this point I think Blizzard believe the unique BE Jewelry/hairstyles/eye colors (because remember they have unique green and gold colors y'all!) to be what sets apart BE from VE. Just like VE have unique skins/hair colors/tentacle hair.

I think the HE customization will go to both sides because that's what Ely Cannon alluded to in an interview.

I also think that some "high elf" options will be shared between BE and VE, such as ranger / farstrider tattoos.
I think this is one of the requests that comes up often for both.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

If you don't think blonde, brown and black hair colors are coming to Void Elves in the future, I think you're going to be very disappointed. They might not be the same exact shades that Blood Elves have, but I'm fairly confident they will happen at some point before Shadowlands is over.

IMO -on the more pessimist side- I'm thinking 10.0 rather than SL, but I do believe we are likely going to get actual black, and lighter shades -probably kinda desaturated- that would fit the off-white hair color most HE NPC's have.

But as for blonde blonde, IDK. But if we get, won't be one of the BE shades.

But yeah, I think we are pretty much set as to what Beta is concerned, and only Core Races might yet get something big before launch.

[Mace]

I also think that some "high elf" options will be shared between BE and VE, such as ranger / farstrider tattoos.
I think this is one of the requests that comes up often for both.

yes, ofc hey should, they're not totally independent races, they partially exist to give one faction what the other has in many respects to fulfil an objective. blood elves were an alliance race given to the horde to boost it numbers, then made playable on the alliance much later on with void elves again, given how popular they are

It's the same with Nightborne and night elves, like Void/High elf and blood elf - they should share a number of key things based on what they represent.

For example, Nightborne and the Highborne night elves should share some features - I really hope the star symbology Ravenmoon had some great ideas about would make it into the Nightborne and night elf as one new feature they share in common, but some arcane features can be shared by night elves because of the Highborne/Moonguard which is the ilk the Nightborne are from. Furthermore there is also the Order of Elune, which is not just about sentinels and huntresses, it's Priestess leadership is very caster based, and has a strong arcane tradition - they never got addicted so obviously they were doing something right, they are also likely the oldest users of the arcane as it was studying the Well that first brings the discovery of Elune, and desire to uncover more of her that accelerated exploration of the well, it is likely that it was the priesthood that first start using the arcane and form which the magocracy deviate. That's 2 areas they have a lot of cross overs but locked into 2 orders. There is also the potential valewalkers/balance druids form Val'Sharah teaching the Nightborne druidism especially with the Arcan'dor about - that could also be interesting. The focus and emphasis on each group would be different, but they would share things. Druidism and Eluinsm is huge amongst the current kaldorei, while magocracy isn't, but it's the reverse amongst the Shal'dorei, magocracy is huge, while druidism and Elunism is much smaller - and in one we get to explore it in a more rural outdoor and world setting, in the other we get to explore it in a civilization based setting. There is synergy. And this is how you can reflect one group off the other.


Void elves and high/blood elves should certainly have things in common, while having their own unique facet. the void elf and the Nightborne are really the sub-races, tbh they are best served when their plots and story involves the core races of the blood elves and night elves, so when we only focus on them (i.e. void elf and nightbonre) we are getting an extension of the blood elves and night elves but on the other faction - they serve as a continuation of the Thalassian people and the Kaldorei people respectively - a variant that is very much involved with what's going on.

[Strippling]

That's interesting! Where were those screens floating around?

A few players on discord sent some through. I can try find them if you're interested

[Mace]

It really does seem like all the pushback from those against Alliance High Elves, ended up backfiring horribly. Had High Elves been an allied race, they might have had much more distinctiveness from Blood Elves than Void Elves will soon have. Instead, Void Elves are basically going to be able to look virtually indistinguishable from Blood Elves by the end of Shadowlands.

While the high elf allied race would have been a better route, at the end of the day , it's not so bad that void elves have this too. It really is their way of allowing high elves to be without doing a whole hoorah, but they did this for a lot of other races and their sub-groups too, like wildhammer dwarves and sand trolls.

The allied race treatment would have been better, but realistically they'd not have done allied races for all of these, so customisations have helped somewhat..

My issue is that while it's good we at least have them, they'd o feel like a lazier cop out of doing things properly. They use to have so much more TLC when it came to implementing things, it seems to be lost, still I'd rather it be lumped in like this than not have it all.

[Strippling]

Now we're beginning to see the same with regards to hair colors, despite the fact that that even human/Kul'Tiran hairstyles/colors are being asked for. These anti-helfers should be aware they may end up with a proverbial foot in their mouth if they keep spouting that the Void Elf/High Elf community want copy paste hair colors!

In all fairness, there are several from the HE community who I have seen asking for blood elf hair styles and colors. In saying that though, there are many who would accept KT hair styles and colors. To me personally, I hope void elf hair colors keep with the dark/cool pallet so as to offer at least some distinction between them and blood elves. However, I've done my share of "debating" and not really going to actively contest anymore. I did so initially out of an appreciation of maintaining racial uniqueness between factions, but Blizzard made their choice and so be it. I hope they allow at least some distinction (ie the hair color pallet between BE/VE) but will accept if they decide to cross that barrier in the end.

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It's no different than BE players asking for Alleria (an Alliance leader) warpaint/tattoos.

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The issue with this argument is that Alleria's tattoos are fashioned after a blood elf group (ie the farstriders). Alleria was once a farstrider, so it's safe to assume that there are farstriders who have the same (or similar) tattoos. Her tattoos are not "alliance" tattoos, they are "farstrider" tattoos. Not arguing with you, just pointing out a fact.

At this point I think Blizzard believe the unique BE Jewelry/hairstyles/eye colors (because remember they have unique green and gold colors y'all!) to be what sets apart BE from VE. Just like VE have unique skins/hair colors/tentacle hair.

I imagine void elves will also get jewellery options. Whether they are the same as blood elves (but different color) I'm not sure time will tell, but I'm confident they'll get their jewellery.

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yes, ofc hey should, they're not totally independent races, they partially exist to give one faction what the other has in many respects to fulfil an objective. blood elves were an alliance race given to the horde to boost it numbers, then made playable on the alliance much later on with void elves again, given how popular they are

Blood elves left the Alliance in WCIII. They were not an alliance race given to the Horde. They were a race with an open book, which ultimately resulted in them joining the Horde.

[Ardenaso]

Blood elves left the Alliance in WCIII. They were not an alliance race given to the Horde. They were a race with an open book, which ultimately resulted in them joining the Horde.

I too wish for an open book faction that helped the Horde and was kicked out of the Alliance in WCII to (re)join the Horde as well

[Strippling]

I too wish for an open book faction that helped the Horde and was kicked out of the Alliance in WCII to (re)join the Horde as well

Don't void elves somewhat fit that criteria?

[Ardenaso]

Don't void elves somewhat fit that criteria?

well, blame Rommath; he proved that the Blood Elves are no better than Night Elves

[Strippling]

well, blame Rommath; he proved that the Blood Elves are no better than Night Elves

What are we on about exactly?

Edit: nevermind, I'm following you now. I guess, if that makes you feel better?

[Ardenaso]

What are we on about exactly?

nvm I thought it's about Void Elves not on Horde

[Aldo Hawk]

Yeah you're about to be disappointed then because 'natural hair colors' is the next most asked thing aside from the skin tones. Speaking of the skin tones, there were many in the helf community that wanted similar but different tones, it was actually only the Anti-helf community that kept using reductive logic to spread around 'you guys just want the exact same skins copy and pasted to Void Elves'.

Ah yes, I remember that suggestion, I made it myself too.

Like, only the most pale tones, paler than the most pale the Blood elves have to have a more distinct difference, so yeah, reductive bullshit is not hot news.

Seems they went for another route and added dark skin so it's not like we even asked for it and we decided on that, seems like they already had another decision for that thing in specific.

I mean, at this point, if what's not understood is that what was wanted all along was plain, current, existing Alliance High elves to be playable then there's no hope on the horizon, and it seems like discussing against matching hair colors is some way of trying to cope with being proven irrelevant by the new additions. There's no need anymore, they have been proven utterly irrelevant and useless, the wow community doesn't need these gatekeepers that only go on based on their personal biases instead of plainly and in a neutral manner using the lore as a guide.

I do find it hilarious that Blizzard did end up doing just that. Maybe if the anti-helf community wasn't so vocal about it, maybe Blizzard wouldn't have gotten that idea.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Now we're beginning to see the same with regards to hair colors, despite the fact that that even human/Kul'Tiran hairstyles/colors are being asked for. These anti-helfers should be aware they may end up with a proverbial foot in their mouth if they keep spouting that the Void Elf/High Elf community want copy paste hair colors!

Bruh, that's savage.

[Vaedan]

I mean you're kinda asking for what *you personally" would like. It's not a bad thing, but I am going for it on a more neutral way, what makes more holistic sense based on what's already there.

Hence the Highvale-Wildhammer connection. The whole point is to build from what already exists. It's easier to implement, it's already set up, it's more efficient, it builds from the lore rather than from scratch, and sorry to say, it's the whole point of the issue when we are talking about High Elves, the redheaded stepchild of Alliance races.

I agree, you are asking way too much of Blizzard regarding High Elves, when they have shown how little they care to delve on then, so "So you can play a Void Elf that can look like a High Elf" So if Void Elves get "shamanism" through Tidesages -and since they are a race that WOULD get more expanded upon, lord know the VE need depth- they could easily throw in a reference/NPC of Highvale Elves learning shamanism from the Wildhammer since they have been such close allies, for such a long time.

It adds flavor, texture, and it doesn't require too much effort from the devs. That's my approach on this.

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My approach is simply "Let's give Void Elves something that makes them unique that separate them from other Elves" and "How can that double as High Elf fantasy" and of course "what takes less effort/time for the devs" Because we all know High Elves only get love Kernels.

Hence Shaman:

-No Other Elves can be shaman

-It adds a lot of depth to Void Elven lore as elementalists -specially since they are a band of scholars- plus the Tidesage connection to the Void. I have already say how they could it be simply a Shaman analogue -Elementalist- or even closer to the idea of Shamanism, but Void tainted -as seen through many NPC's- but more willing, like say, Void Elves making contracts with surviving elemental entities from Void collapsed world, the spiritual connection of shaman existing instead through void entitities, etc.

-It also doubles down as High Elf lore, like Highvale learning Shamanism from the Wildhammer.

As I have said, My personal choice for VE would be... paladin, yeh, I do really want a HE paladin. But my point here is I do think Shaman would offer the most to VE -and HE tangentially- as a whole, despite my personal wishes. It would be the most intriguing option both lorewise and class/race combo wise, and easily made to also fit High Elven fantasy.

While I'm not 100% sure, I believe Tidesages are not real shamans, they are sea priests with powers over water and storms.

Void elves could gain access to shamans through accepting former Twilight Hammer elves. TH often meddled with the elements and had their own grasp of void. After fall of their masters and their another defeat, there could be a group which would like to find new place in the world or they could just broke free from Old Gods madness after N'zoth's defeat. This could result in shamans with more dark practises which I find interesting. Elements used to be slaves to Old Gods and forces of Void, so perhaps ren'dorei could go that line too. I could definitely see that it could trigger Horde shamans greatly.

We've seen Sunfury elves rejoining Sin'dorei community, or Dragonmaw Clan teaming up with the Horde, so it's not unnatural for former hostile groups to rejoin major factions.

[Mace]

Blood elves left the Alliance in WCIII. They were not an alliance race given to the Horde. They were a race with an open book, which ultimately resulted in them joining the Horde.

Usually things like that are written/adjusted after the decision is made.

If you played wow before TBC, you assumed the high elves/blood elves were still alliance, when they decided to take blood elves to the horde in TBc, they re-adjusted/recast the history fleshing it out to make the high elves less alliance related.

It happens all the time.

Anyway, it doesn't stopt he blood elves being an alliance race first, then taken over ot the horde, and some back on the alliance.. it's just how it is.

And you can't relaly ignore the two races having a lot more in common, they're not even 2 different races, more like sub-races or variations of the same race, same with night elves and nightbonre.

Blizzard also does this, not every incarnation is 100% unique, they're aren't meant to when they fall under the same species group. This is why you have totally diefferent species like worgen, and humans, and trolls and elves and orcs, and you also have each race havine several sub-raecs, many of which are playable now.. and off course those are going to have far many more similarities than differences.

[Doffen]

On PTR you can see venthyr and necrolords Covenant sets in different tints. This is my rogue with two of venthyr's set. Looks awesome on a Void Elf with blue skin imo. It's my rogue who also got a vampire name, so its pretty good match

I think the pale blue skin works well with this, especially the grey one, get kind of a Warcraft vampire feel to it