Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Tanaria]

What your talking about is conjuration, which is a substance of arcane magical practices and doesn't equate to any form of playable elven shamans.

[Ardenaso]

Oh yeah, I'm just pointing out the overall numbers. Also to be honest, I don't think whether HE's had paladins before or after the Third War is that relevant to "should they be paladins now?"

To me the issue is that neither before, nor after the Third War, High Elves have just not being defined by their ability to be paladins so IMO it could really go either way.

Like on a personal note, I'd like a HE paladin, but even then I'd rather VE/HE were given IDK shaman -and that does mean building a whole new cultural background for that, so it is harder, but that's who we get tidesages and prelates- because then it gives them a unique combo no other elf has.

But for real, having the Void Elves learn "shamanism" from the KulTiran Tidesages because of their Void connection -like an exchange where VE's teach the Tidesages how to control the Void whispers they might still suffer from as well- throw in a reference -or appareance- of Highvale Elves using shamanism and we'd get a solid base for Alliance Thalassians using shamanism.

why not Void Elf Druid in the form of Emerald Nightmare tamer? they could bend it to their will and greatly help control it to further better their relations with the Night Elves

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

I would hate it if blizzard off handly threw in new class options for races.. maybe I'm just a traditionalists, but I think they should do it properly.

I'd much rather have an adapted class for elf shaman than them "learning" shamanism from any other race. When you break shamanism down, it's just harnessing the elements to do a bunch of things, elves are great at the arcane and can generate their own elements using the arcane, they don't need to employ elementals to do so, however they do know how to bind elementals to do their bidding or make use of them, whether they are sensitive to the balance of the elements or not would be based on the elf, the art centred around elemental balance wouldn't be necessary for the elves. It is for shamanistic races who can only wield elemental magic via the elementals they enter pacts with, and so need to be sensitive to their state, an elven elemental wielder wouldn't necessarily need that. So his behaviour would be entirely based on his principles or his order's principles.

Shamanistic races do tend to have a respect for the elements and balance intrinsic, regardless of whether the source is elemental entreating or not.

I'm fine with elves getting shaman, just let it be something that ifts their lore and makes sense for them, not "hey we learnt it off x,y,z" which is the lazy way out.

But hey, it's like asking blizzard for depth on anything... wishful thinking.

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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why not Void Elf Druid in the form of Emerald Nightmare tamer? they could bend it to their will and greatly help control it to further better their relations with the Night Elves

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.

[Mace]

Tbh, I find High elven void elves the perfect monster elf. especially if you can get your traditional high elf look, all pristine looking, and then you can activate void anamolies, like a 3rd eye, , moving tentacles and features - the "looks innocent" but has a real monster side to them.

to me that's very intriguing.

But I'm happy for all who want traditional high elves, that is possible too now with the options. Maybe one day blizzard would allow certain racials to be swapped between elves.

Till hten you'll just have to be a high elven that dabbles in the void and has cast his lot in with the void elves.

[Tanaria]

Maybe one day blizzard would allow certain racials to be swapped between elves.

I have concerns about this as I believe that if racials could be swapped, such as Shadowmeld and the Void Rift Teleportation, then many people would flock to playing Void Elves and the night elf race would be redundant.

Predictions about this happened before BFA, where many blood elf fans were saying that the night elves won't be played. Now, luckily, this hasn't happened because Shadowmeld is so good for M+ (I believe of recent, night elves have just topped the most played Alliance race and this has never happened.)

I would rather racials are kept to their respective races.

[Kyriani]

While I don't foresee (or want) Blizzard allowing us to just swap racials around, I would not object to a "veneer" for racials. If they ever add some sort of option to change our displayed racial tag (so the race says High Elf instead of Void Elf), then the "veneer" could change the names, icons and visual effects of the racials while maintaining their functions. For example, if I select the "High Elf" option my race would display as High Elf and the "veneer" on my racials would make them change thus:

Entropic Embrace becomes Arcane Legacy: The visual effect, icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Spatial Rift becomes Arcane Jaunt: The visual effect, icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Preternatural Calm becomes Focused Mind: The icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Ethereal Connection becomes Friend of a Friend: The icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Chill of Night becomes Against the Darkness: The icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Basically the "veneer" and racial tag display change would allow subraces within a given race. The same concept could be applied to other races, such as Wildhammer Dwarves, Sand Trolls, Grimtotem Tauren, Dragonmaw Orcs, etc.

[FlubberPuddy]

Haven't gotten into the beta/alpha but I'm on PTR and the Void Elves and High Elves in the mage tower got their eyes updated to the new ones. The females High Elf trainer and female Silver Covenant High Elf portal keeper to Old Northrend but use the purple eye color available to only Alliance High/Void Elves

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

Haven't gotten into the beta/alpha but I'm on PTR and the Void Elves and High Elves in the mage tower got their eyes updated to the new ones. The females High Elf trainer and female Silver Covenant High Elf portal keeper to Old Northrend but use the purple eye color available to only Alliance High/Void Elves

Not quite; Female HE NPC now have their own purple eye color that's unlike the VE option. Why only females, with males using one of the regular blue eyes BE and HE can have now? Who knows! It sounds like a bug to me, but it is interesting that NPC purple got added at all for the BE NPC options -and has been linked to the HE aesthetics-

IMO, It was for some specific elves such as Vereesa -given her latest Hearthstone portrayal- but it's a bug all females have it.

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I have concerns about this as I believe that if racials could be swapped, such as Shadowmeld and the Void Rift Teleportation, then many people would flock to playing Void Elves and the night elf race would be redundant.

Predictions about this happened before BFA, where many blood elf fans were saying that the night elves won't be played. Now, luckily, this hasn't happened because Shadowmeld is so good for M+ (I believe of recent, night elves have just topped the most played Alliance race and this has never happened.)

I would rather racials are kept to their respective races.

If a racials update ever happens, don't think it will be just swapping some racials between similar groups.

beyond a complete overhaul related to player customization -like you choosing your "racials" to a wider scope- I don't think a change is likely.

Like at best I would see something cosmetic like how @Kyriani points out, but still find it rather unlikely. Maybe glyphs for racials would be pretty neat and feasibly -like say a glyph that changes Entropic Embrace for another visual.

[Mace]

I have concerns about this as I believe that if racials could be swapped, such as Shadowmeld and the Void Rift Teleportation, then many people would flock to playing Void Elves and the night elf race would be redundant.

Predictions about this happened before BFA, where many blood elf fans were saying that the night elves won't be played. Now, luckily, this hasn't happened because Shadowmeld is so good for M+ (I believe of recent, night elves have just topped the most played Alliance race and this has never happened.)

I would rather racials are kept to their respective races.

Only a very small percentage of players play a race for the advantage its racial gives them, and if the elves could swap their racials, at least some of them, whose to say nightbelves wont benefit too.


Anyway night elf numbers took a hit when void elves became playable, as expected. However presumably they may just allow void/blood to swap, and night/nightborne - to allow more realistic high/highborne characterisation.

What they could do is go over each race and the sub races they can be, and have a racial pool people can choose from with racials that fit sub groups really well, so night elves would be able to choose racials for magic wielding fitting the caster groups like Moon Priests, highborne, moonguard, demon hunter types very well, or for martial fighters one.

And do this for every race where it makes sense.

Alternatively they could just give void elves an option to swap their void versions for light versions in a glyph like version..

Ofc the predictions were off, they were based on faction rivalry, and hordies fearing void elf racials were too powerful, which they werent, but hey, it got some people worried, glad blizzard didnt buckle, self racials are mostly rubbish, night elves and blood elves have racials far more useful if you ask me

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While I don't foresee (or want) Blizzard allowing us to just swap racials around, I would not object to a "veneer" for racials. If they ever add some sort of option to change our displayed racial tag (so the race says High Elf instead of Void Elf), then the "veneer" could change the names, icons and visual effects of the racials while maintaining their functions. For example, if I select the "High Elf" option my race would display as High Elf and the "veneer" on my racials would make them change thus:

Entropic Embrace becomes Arcane Legacy: The visual effect, icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Spatial Rift becomes Arcane Jaunt: The visual effect, icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Preternatural Calm becomes Focused Mind: The icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Ethereal Connection becomes Friend of a Friend: The icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Chill of Night becomes Against the Darkness: The icon and name change but otherwise it mechanically works exactly the same.

Basically the "veneer" and racial tag display change would allow subraces within a given race. The same concept could be applied to other races, such as Wildhammer Dwarves, Sand Trolls, Grimtotem Tauren, Dragonmaw Orcs, etc.

Just read this. This is probably howd they do it knowing them

[FlubberPuddy]

Not quite; Female HE NPC now have their own purple eye color that's unlike the VE option. Why only females, with males using one of the regular blue eyes BE and HE can have now? Who knows! It sounds like a bug to me, but it is interesting that NPC purple got added at all for the BE NPC options -and has been linked to the HE aesthetics-

IMO, It was for some specific elves such as Vereesa -given her latest Hearthstone portrayal- but it's a bug all females have it.

Ah that makes sense. I haven't checked out Vereesa yet! That is interesting though because I haven't seen the purple color on any BE NPCs, unless I've missed em.

[Varodoc]

Speaking of population numbers, honestly the void elf numbers might skyrocket once pre-patch hits, since they will receive the long-awaited fair-skin customization options AND they will no longer be gated behind a reputation from Legion. They might even surpass night elves and humans as the most played Alliance race. They are already very played, despite being the hardest allied race to unlock.

[Varx]

Speaking of population numbers, honestly the void elf numbers might skyrocket once pre-patch hits, since they will receive the long-awaited fair-skin customization options AND they will no longer be gated behind a reputation from Legion. They might even surpass night elves and humans as the most played Alliance race. They are already very played, despite being the hardest allied race to unlock.

If high elves were playable too then the population wouldn't be as high

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

Ah that makes sense. I haven't checked out Vereesa yet! That is interesting though because I haven't seen the purple color on any BE NPCs, unless I've missed em.

IMO it feels like the old HE eye color in purpose, specially since only females had that shade, and it got replaced with this purple version.

So it feels intended for High Elves -specially since only High Elf NPC's have it- and as with Liadrin's eyes, it comes from something first represented for HS, so that makes me think it was made for Vereesa -and Dalarani Elves overall-

But yeah, feels like a bug, because male HE NPC's just use one of the new blue eyes, even when in the files they also have the purple eyes as an option -think you can see on the wowhead dressing room-

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If high elves were playable too then the population wouldn't be as high

Thank you, captain obvious

[Varx]

IMO it feels like the old HE eye color in purpose, specially since only females had that shade, and it got replaced with this purple version.

So it feels intended for High Elves -specially since only High Elf NPC's have it- and as with Liadrin's eyes, it comes from something first represented for HS, so that makes me think it was made for Vereesa -and Dalarani Elves overall-

But yeah, feels like a bug, because male HE NPC's just use one of the new blue eyes, even when in the files they also have the purple eyes as an option -think you can see on the wowhead dressing room-

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Thank you, captain obvious

Hey man, I'm just upset that there's no actual high helves and get sick each time my Velf turns purple. This thread seems to have forgotten that!

[Luck4]

Hey man, I'm just upset that there's no actual high helves and get sick each time my Velf turns purple. This thread seems to have forgotten that!

--- snip ---

[FlubberPuddy]

I concur with Luck4

[Strippling]

Speaking of population numbers, honestly the void elf numbers might skyrocket once pre-patch hits, since they will receive the long-awaited fair-skin customization options AND they will no longer be gated behind a reputation from Legion. They might even surpass night elves and humans as the most played Alliance race. They are already very played, despite being the hardest allied race to unlock.

Unlikely. Humans have paladins and night elves have druids and DH. Void elf population will grow that's for sure (the main contributor being the removal of reputation requirements), but I'd say night elves and humans will remain as the top played.

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Ah that makes sense. I haven't checked out Vereesa yet! That is interesting though because I haven't seen the purple color on any BE NPCs, unless I've missed em.

There are blood elf NPCs with purple eyes on the beta. I've seen a few screenshots floating around

[Graden]

I've been very busy lately so I didn't have time to check. They didn't add new hair colors to Void Elves, did they?

[Lahis]

I've been very busy lately so I didn't have time to check. They didn't add new hair colors to Void Elves, did they?

No. They only ported over Blood Elf skincolors, without even changing the underwear, so it was basically zero effort job. No new unique customizations for Velves.

[Varx]

--- snip ---

Not easy, I've been dreaming for this for however old this thread is. Also my therapist is an avid alliance and warcraft 2 player so he's just as rustled as me.