Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[FlubberPuddy]

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

Yeah I wanted to always say that Void Elves feel the closest to being 'vampire elves' look wise. If they don't come out with Venthyr as an Allied Race, Void Elves will remain being the closest to it.

[Doffen]

Yeah I wanted to always say that Void Elves feel the closest to being 'vampire elves' look wise. If they don't come out with Venthyr as an Allied Race, Void Elves will remain being the closest to it.

Yeah, likewise. I love vampires and the theme so Venthyr is awesome. I can't wait to dig into chasing the sets and make my characters look great!. Finally get to use something else than Void Elf Heritage(which also look silly good, chest is my favorite piece in game!)

[Strippling]

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.

Blood elves at the end of WCIII had left the Alliance. I'm not talking about the few high elves that remained. Was merely saying that in WoW, blood elves were never an Alliance race. They weren't "taken" from the Alliance and given to the Horde. They were an open book group who could have gone in any direction. The direction they went was the Horde.

[Ardenaso]

Does anyone know the name of that High Elf in Stonetalon Mountains who were alongside the Sentinels? Also that High Elf Priest living in Darnassus

[Vaedan]

Does anyone know the name of that High Elf in Stonetalon Mountains who were alongside the Sentinels? Also that High Elf Priest living in Darnassus

It's Huntress Davinia. She is in "Darnassus" faction, uses typical kaldorei title of huntress (high elves use ranger title instead typicaly) and also have nightsaber pet, which is also typical fór kaldorei.

I don't know what high elf priest in Darnassus you mean, I don't recall any high elf in Darnassus.

[Lahis]

I don't know what high elf priest in Darnassus you mean, I don't recall any high elf in Darnassus.

Only High Elf NPCs in Darnassus were Strand of the Ancients Emissaries which could also be Human, Dwarves, or Gnomes.

[FlubberPuddy]

Only High Elf NPCs in Darnassus were Strand of the Ancients Emissaries which could also be Human, Dwarves, or Gnomes.

Interesting, so when it was time for battling the Horde directly (PvP) there were High Elves there lol. Until Blizzard removed the CoA events d'oh! Same happened with the Silver Hand Shieldbearers here.



They were potentially summoned alongside other SH Shieldbearers of other races, whenever the Paladin would use their 'Complete 1 WQ for free' ability. Removed after Legion ended and Blizzard changed the ability to not function in that manner anymore.

[Ardenaso]

I don't know what high elf priest in Darnassus you mean, I don't recall any high elf in Darnassus.

that's weird I remember seeing one High Elf male around a Night Elf city that isn't Fiona Long Ears

[Lahis]

Interesting, so when it was time for battling the Horde directly (PvP) there were High Elves there lol. Until Blizzard removed the CoA events d'oh! Same happened with the Silver Hand Shieldbearers here.

The Call to Arms event NPCs were always races tied to the battleground. Strand of the Ancients is tied to Valiance Expedition, and it is formed from Stormwind military (humans), Explorers League (Dwarves and Gnomes) and the Silver Covenant (High Elves).

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

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

Indeed, so it's more of an analogous role. But regardless of how Void Elves would become shaman, they still have a powerful link to Tidesages through their Void knowledge. Overall -and I have been saying this for a while- Void Elves would have fit really well into Stormsong Valley as out experts on the Void as we confront the corrupted Tidesages -and maybe save them, as Alleria did with them- it would have offered a far stronger continuity of the VE and Void narrative.

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.

Sure, no problem by me. As I said, there are more ways than one than making VE's use shamanism -or an analogue of it like Tidesages or a Void Elementalist- for me the more relevant bit here is that overall it would have created a stronger connection for VE's during BFA -and could even be added now post hoc- by connecting them to the Void happenings on on Stormsong Valley.

IMO, if it had been added during BfA, like we get VE's during the Stormsong leveling exdperience helping out -which by itself is just a huge missed opportunity- it would have been easy to just add shamans by Shadowlands saying that VE's learned a lot by helping the Tidesages control the Void whispers and have learned their ways as well. Just great synergy.

But I also do like the idea of twilight dark shaman -and Twilight's Hammer overall- joining the Void Elves. Not all of them, but a splinter group of them breaking away and trying to find their own path. The only thing is we never really see shaman-like TH elven mobs, but one would assume there's mobility. That's why I like the idea of some former TH members -not just elves- seeking "rehabilitation" of some sort with the Void Elves, and in turn teaching them their shamanistic ways. Admittedly this is indeed the "darker" way, and a violation of shamanism to other races, so maybe it would be more controversial, and y'all know how they love to defang the alliance. I would like something this edgy, but IDK if they would go for it.

Maybe a more alliance friendly way would be to indeed use a form of Dark Shamanism similar to that of the Twilight's Hammer -and Garrosh's loyalists- but as how Void Elves tend to do, establish ethical rules for it, like for example, only subjugate elementals already corrupted by the Void, to control them, prevent them from causing further damage, and maybe rehabilitate them even if they can't be "healed". I do find interesting that Void Elves dance on the edge of ethically justifying their actions rather than being "I do what I wants." Results can still be horrifying and disastrous, but as an intention their tendency towards control and practicality do offer a more interesting flavor.

Like just pragmatically I could see them studying Dark Shamanism because it's a potentially strong skill set, and they are all about that scholastic life, but as well I could see them putting an ethics code around it, and not for the sole reason of being good, but to hold themselves accountable that their reasons are good, and thus aren't being controlled by the Void, but they are using it as a tool.

I just really like the fantasy of Dark Shamans, and it would be really cool if there was a way that wasn't outright evil. And since Void has nuance now, it could be pretty neat to see more of a flip side of it.

-Like yeah, Blood Elven paladins used to be almost downright evil, but that didn't last even an expansion so I don't think we will ever see a "evil" class. Utilitarian and pragmatic at best-

- - - Updated - - -

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.

Was just thinking about this, and... oh yeh.

If they had bit the bullet and added High Elves alongside Nightborne, and given them a unique standing posture/edited proportions -and maybe even far more limited options- there would truly be more distinction than there is now where the only difference is hair style and color.

We wouldn't even know what Void Elves are. I mean we would have still have Alleria and her void journey being pretty much the same, but she would have just been a High Elf leader, and "void elves" just an aspect of of playable high Elves -just like all races have different institutions-

Like I am not mad with the results, but like, if the purpose was to truly differentiate High Elves from Blood Elves, they should have done it back on Legion instead of going waaay out of bounds with Void Elves and then having to course correct.

On the other hand, I think that most sensible people -the one that don't care their options are COMPLETELY unique- are just happy that their Void Elves can look more like High Elves, and that Blood Elves can now have blue eyes.

[Vaedan]

Indeed, so it's more of an analogous role. But regardless of how Void Elves would become shaman, they still have a powerful link to Tidesages through their Void knowledge. Overall -and I have been saying this for a while- Void Elves would have fit really well into Stormsong Valley as out experts on the Void as we confront the corrupted Tidesages -and maybe save them, as Alleria did with them- it would have offered a far stronger continuity of the VE and Void narrative.



Sure, no problem by me. As I said, there are more ways than one than making VE's use shamanism -or an analogue of it like Tidesages or a Void Elementalist- for me the more relevant bit here is that overall it would have created a stronger connection for VE's during BFA -and could even be added now post hoc- by connecting them to the Void happenings on on Stormsong Valley.

IMO, if it had been added during BfA, like we get VE's during the Stormsong leveling exdperience helping out -which by itself is just a huge missed opportunity- it would have been easy to just add shamans by Shadowlands saying that VE's learned a lot by helping the Tidesages control the Void whispers and have learned their ways as well. Just great synergy.

But I also do like the idea of twilight dark shaman -and Twilight's Hammer overall- joining the Void Elves. Not all of them, but a splinter group of them breaking away and trying to find their own path. The only thing is we never really see shaman-like TH elven mobs, but one would assume there's mobility. That's why I like the idea of some former TH members -not just elves- seeking "rehabilitation" of some sort with the Void Elves, and in turn teaching them their shamanistic ways. Admittedly this is indeed the "darker" way, and a violation of shamanism to other races, so maybe it would be more controversial, and y'all know how they love to defang the alliance. I would like something this edgy, but IDK if they would go for it.

Maybe a more alliance friendly way would be to indeed use a form of Dark Shamanism similar to that of the Twilight's Hammer -and Garrosh's loyalists- but as how Void Elves tend to do, establish ethical rules for it, like for example, only subjugate elementals already corrupted by the Void, to control them, prevent them from causing further damage, and maybe rehabilitate them even if they can't be "healed". I do find interesting that Void Elves dance on the edge of ethically justifying their actions rather than being "I do what I wants." Results can still be horrifying and disastrous, but as an intention their tendency towards control and practicality do offer a more interesting flavor.

Like just pragmatically I could see them studying Dark Shamanism because it's a potentially strong skill set, and they are all about that scholastic life, but as well I could see them putting an ethics code around it, and not for the sole reason of being good, but to hold themselves accountable that their reasons are good, and thus aren't being controlled by the Void, but they are using it as a tool.

I just really like the fantasy of Dark Shamans, and it would be really cool if there was a way that wasn't outright evil. And since Void has nuance now, it could be pretty neat to see more of a flip side of it.

-Like yeah, Blood Elven paladins used to be almost downright evil, but that didn't last even an expansion so I don't think we will ever see a "evil" class. Utilitarian and pragmatic at best-

- - - Updated - - -



Was just thinking about this, and... oh yeh.

If they had bit the bullet and added High Elves alongside Nightborne, and given them a unique standing posture/edited proportions -and maybe even far more limited options- there would truly be more distinction than there is now where the only difference is hair style and color.

We wouldn't even know what Void Elves are. I mean we would have still have Alleria and her void journey being pretty much the same, but she would have just been a High Elf leader, and "void elves" just an aspect of of playable high Elves -just like all races have different institutions-

Like I am not mad with the results, but like, if the purpose was to truly differentiate High Elves from Blood Elves, they should have done it back on Legion instead of going waaay out of bounds with Void Elves and then having to course correct.

On the other hand, I think that most sensible people -the one that don't care their options are COMPLETELY unique- are just happy that their Void Elves can look more like High Elves, and that Blood Elves can now have blue eyes.

I must admit, I love Stormsong Tidesage Story and I always felt bad we did not have a chance to properly explore them in their dedicated zone. We arrive to Stormsong suspecting separationist propaganda, only to escalate into Old God corruption just in few steps. I would gladly see all quillboar and pirate stuff being not added to the zone (those are meaningless for larger story) and have a chance to actually explore Tidesage's descent to madness. In that part, void elves could really play a role. The only problem is that Tidesages using void were only Stormsong loyalists, Storm's Wake seemed to be formed by individuals who avoided using dark magics, so I'm afraid that void connection is not that strong actually.

As for TH, I remember I've seen several TH casters using elemental magic being Thalassians in Grim Batol. Well, a splinter group of TH (made up from Alliance races) can just rejoin the Alliance as whole and thanks to their relations with the Void, ren'dorei could be asked to help these cultists to resettle within the Alliance and watch over them in a case they are up to no good.
I believe that ren'dorei shaman would be really pragmatic, not really following wisdom of ancestors, but utilising powers over elements for greater good. So far, we lack this approach among shaman races so it would be new thing.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

I must admit, I love Stormsong Tidesage Story and I always felt bad we did not have a chance to properly explore them in their dedicated zone. We arrive to Stormsong suspecting separationist propaganda, only to escalate into Old God corruption just in few steps. I would gladly see all quillboar and pirate stuff being not added to the zone (those are meaningless for larger story) and have a chance to actually explore Tidesage's descent to madness. In that part, void elves could really play a role. The only problem is that Tidesages using void were only Stormsong loyalists, Storm's Wake seemed to be formed by individuals who avoided using dark magics, so I'm afraid that void connection is not that strong actually.

Oh yeh, this hypothetic scenario is very much the VE and Storms Wake working together to save the later's wayward brethren before it's to late. Indeed since there would be no quilboar stuff, the whole thing with the Storm's Wake would be more of an actual struggle to discover the Tidesages gone bad, but actually save some from Lord Stormsong's manipulations, rather than a sect of them going bad. So overall the whole narrative would have more depth.

As for TH, I remember I've seen several TH casters using elemental magic being Thalassians in Grim Batol. Well, a splinter group of TH (made up from Alliance races) can just rejoin the Alliance as whole and thanks to their relations with the Void, ren'dorei could be asked to help these cultists to resettle within the Alliance and watch over them in a case they are up to no good.
I believe that ren'dorei shaman would be really pragmatic, not really following wisdom of ancestors, but utilising powers over elements for greater good. So far, we lack this approach among shaman races so it would be new thing.

Into it a lot!

[Astranea]

For people who may have not seen this yet, here goes Moira’s latest 'High Elf' mockup from the thread Sub-race names & templates tied to the new customization options on WoW EU Forum.

The suggested feature name may be a little misleading, but in short it is used for ‘customization sub-sets'.

The idea is that that character customization screen would feel richer while not adding anything new: the selection of a template would simply filter out some options so that the randomizer button can be used accordingly, whereas all of the options would always remain available for the main default race.

So just a QOL feature in the end... which could however be used to further implement High Elves in the game.

[Traveler Voltin]

cant you people be happy for once and stop demanding everything?

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

For people who may have not seen this yet, here goes Moira’s latest 'High Elf' mockup from the thread Sub-race names & templates tied to the new customization options on WoW EU Forum.

The suggested feature name may be a little misleading, but in short it is used for ‘customization sub-sets'.

The idea is that character customization screen would feel richer while not adding anything new: the selection of a template would simply filter out some options so that the randomizer button can be used accordingly, whereas all of the options would always remain available for the main default race.

So just a QOL feature in the end... which could however be used to further implement High Elves in the game.

I am very partial of this one, as it works with so many races that have "subgroups". This is pretty much the system LotRO has and it's pretty neat.

Also I love how the whole mock up also includes AR, merging the two systems. It would really work so well to classify player customization and choice so neatly, beyond just the High Elf angle.

I think my only issue would be the template grouping. Maybe the templates would grant you an specific tooltip race tag (Like Wildhammer Dwarf) but lock certain customozation and class options. For Allied Race (such as Dark Iron Dwarves) you get that, and your Racials.

But if you choose default, you can choose from *every* possible option -or at least most, considering some lore locked classes, for example- and you simple get the default racial tag.

[Varodoc]

I don't see the point of adding such a system. Total Roleplay 3 is such a popular addon that the vast majority of people who pick fair-skin tones for void elves will most likely already specify in their TRP profile that they are quel'dorei and not ren'dorei.

The naming is also very off. Quel'dorei are still Thalassian. The term Thalassian refers to ANYONE coming from Quel'thalas, so the Quel'dorei are obviously included.

[Astranea]

I don't see the point of adding such a system. Total Roleplay 3 is such a popular addon that the vast majority of people who pick fair-skin tones for void elves will most likely already specify in their TRP profile that they are quel'dorei and not ren'dorei.

The naming is also very off. Quel'dorei are still Thalassian. The term Thalassian refers to ANYONE coming from Quel'thalas, so the Quel'dorei are obviously included.

The point: Simple QOL, and brief Lore-explanations to players who may otherwise not care or pay attention to why a certain feature is available to them.

You may have missed the part where I was trying to explain that the first (default) choice is meant to be a container for ALL options (not to limit player freedom), whereas the following template would be a sub-set available for quick character creation/customization through the randomizer.

So yeah, free to find it unnecessary... but 'Quel'dorei' template being a subset of 'Thalassian' is the proposed system working exactly as intended.

[Varodoc]

The point: Simple QOL, and brief Lore-explanations to players who may otherwise not care or pay attention to why a certain feature is available to them.

You may have missed the part where I was trying to explain that the first (default) choice is meant to be a container for ALL options (not to limit player freedom), whereas the following template would be a sub-set available for quick character creation/customization through the randomizer.

So yeah, free to find it unnecessary... but 'Quel'dorei' template being a subset of 'Thalassian' is the proposed system working exactly as intended.

So let me ask you again, why? It is already super easy to pick the options with the new customization ui (since all dark skin tones are grouped together, and same thing for pink skin tones), and the people you are talking about most likely wont even read those explanations in the first place.

Also, why are you starting from the assumption that fair-skin options refer to those high elf scholars? For all we know, the fair skin options represent some void elves who are able to retain their fair form like Alleria.

[Rhlor]

Does anyone really think that blizz will do more work? blizz is lazy and makes as little effort as possible

[Maxilian]

Does anyone really think that blizz will do more work? blizz is lazy and makes as little effort as possible

I do expect more, even if its not much, mainly cause i really want Blizzard to give me options for the VE/BE Eyebrows, they did it for almost all the races that got updated, so i have hopes.