Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Gaexion Ramza Beoulve]

Then we'll just have to agree to disagree then.

We know that the vast majority of High Elves were wiped out, the largest remaining portion being that of the BE's. And I also doubt that the process of becoming a VE is going to remain exclusive. As that goes in the face of the entire theme behind Elves in WoW. That they are magic addicts which can have transformative consequences. My usual examples being that of the Felbloods, Wretched, and Withered (which their process is backwards from the other two).

Strip away said magic fascination/addiction theme and your left with a less than interesting human with pointy ears, imo.

That's what these psychos want, the same boring crap since LOTR. They want to be Legolas or his secret sister-till the end of time.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

That's what these psychos want, the same boring crap since LOTR. They want to be Legolas or his secret sister-till the end of time.

No they want to play as a High Elf like the ones we learned about and grew to like in Warcraft III. So stop with your condescending attitude.

[Shibito]

No they want to play as a High Elf like the ones we learned about and grew to like in Warcraft III. So stop with your condescending attitude.

You mean the blood elves then high elf was hardly warcraft 3 but warcraft 2 so stop your condescending attitude

[Ithekro]

Why do you doubt it? It's a specific ritual only known by ethereals (Actually, only one ethereal has been shown to actually know it, and he is dead.) that was cut off/concluded midway through. It's like throwing a banana in a blender for 2 seconds, then stopping the blender and taking the banana out, you've got a messed up banana that you couldn't replicate if you tried, nor would it ever be worth it.

We do know most of the High Elves were wiped out, yet as I said they can still field NPCs who are nameless, man their own battleships, and field their own armies. That tells me there is enough of them to be playable.

I think they are incredibly interesting, think about it like this; They are a people driven by their own sense of morals, who made the choice of their friends over their species, who defied the call of the Sin'dorei because it was not what they believed in. They are survivors who live by a strict moral code that kept them from taking the easy way out, they worked hard to master meditation, and seek alternate sources of magic to keep themselves from turning wretched. They have no where to go but up.

If anything, they are more interesting than the Blood Elves who have their Sunwell, their kingdom and their city. They have their redemption, and their pride. The Quel'dorei can go in directions the Sin'dorei can't anymore, they can develop as a people and climb back from oblivion and remind the world that they are not going anywhere.

I personally would love to see the High Elves across Azeroth unite, and build a new home. A citystate, perhaps? There is a lot of developmental potential for them, and the prospects excite me. They have so much potential for roleplay, and characterisation, as well!

The island of Balor is free last I checked.

[Celista]

I still don't understand why people want high elves to be reskinned blood elves. I understand the lore defense but this is a video game, we can make cooler looking elves than that.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

You mean the blood elves then high elf was hardly warcraft 3 but warcraft 2 so stop your condescending attitude

What we saw in WCIII was enough. Same when people saw Chen Stormstout, they wanted something related to Pandaria/Pandaren. They got it and at first they were a joke or perceived to be a joke.

[Jokubas]

I couldn't believe when I saw that greyish purple elf in the trailer.

Thanks to the datamining thread, the idea didn't come completely out of nowhere for me, but that didn't help. A lot of us were pretty disappointed with the datamined Allied Race lineup, regardless of their feelings toward high elves. Having the trailer confirm that the list that was found was the extent to the Allied Races (at least initially), and that void elves really were some strange completely new type of elf, was one of the things that made the trailer a major hype-killer for me. And at the time, for all we knew, they had replaced high elves. It was a strange sort of relief to discover that they were actually exiled blood elves.

Most forums were very hostile to people asking for high elves. Every thread anywhere is often suffocated by the no-helf crowd, so many of us just stayed silent.

I used to bring high elves up back in the day when I felt it was relevant, but it usually didn't feel worth it. I was surprised when I saw Traycor's thread and just wanted to offset the negativity at first.

And, seeing your avatar and signature, I must add: let's get hopeful for ogres next!

There's a certain irony to it all.

I've always seen the two races connected because of when this all started for me.

World of Warcraft wasn't out yet, and we didn't know all of the races. There was one slot left for the Alliance, and I believe two for the Horde. Almost everyone assumed high elves would be the last slot for the Alliance, it was almost unquestioned. They were the only other race that could fit. At the time, gnomes were little more than a piece of trivia that explained some units in Warcraft II, and the origin of the depiction of gnomes as we know them now was actually in Lord of the Clans, so no one knew about it. When gnomes were announced as the last race for the Alliance, it was actually pretty controversial and shocked the community.

For the Horde, I can't recall who had been announced at that point. Of the two remaining slots, the presumed candidates included a race that was added (I think it was trolls?), goblins, and ogres. No one expected Forsaken, and they threw a huge wrench into the works.

The high elves, goblins, and ogres were the last races we needed to recreate the original factions. Goblins were added in Cataclysm, but the other two still haven't happened. It stands out to me especially as Blizzard keeps pushing the nostalgia button, but even as Alliance high elves and Horde ogres canonically exist in the current version of the factions, they haven't made that nostalgia playable (technically, in a post-Allied Race world, Wildhammer Dwarves and Forest Trolls could still be added to recreate the original factions, and they do both still have representatives on their respective factions, but they're not distinct races for their factions in the same way).

As I said, I accepted that high elves probably wouldn't happen for a long time in the old race system, but ogres worked fine (they were even considered for Cataclysm). So with this huge turnout for high elves, it's gonna be kinda funny if this gets high elves to happen before ogres.

Now I'm just hoping I won't have to deal with an ogre equivalent to void elves. ;P

(Personally, on the topic of what to pair high elves with for the Horde, I vote ogres. Ogres are more unique and that might look unfair on the surface, but I think it could go a long way if Blizzard marketed it as a Warcraft II nostalgia thing.)

[Deleted]

High Elves have always been on peoples lips, it's just that they were hard to justify as a new race alongside something more work intensive and 'new' like Ogres. (Which ideally they would have been partnered with, especially for an oldschool back to the roots faction war plot) The allied race system is exactly what people were waiting for. Bizarre that Blizzard chose to go with Void Elves, who aren't even High Elves but exiled Blood Elves. I now kind of dread we'll get Moknathal instead of true Ogres, crushing that dream too.

[Gentlepenguin]

Even a Blizzard admin joined the discrod channel. Not only they are constantly blue post both the US and EU High Elf thread, now Blizz joined the Discord as well. They are listening, it's happening.

and for any that does not believe me she is the EU admin, she has a blue post in the eu helf thread you can go and check

She's there to investigate and deter, not support.




It's been a joy watching toxicity levels drop as people put on their best behavior for her though.

[DeicideUH]

Now I'm just hoping I won't have to deal with an ogre equivalent to void elves. ;P

(Personally, on the topic of what to pair high elves with for the Horde, I vote ogres. Ogres are more unique and that might look unfair on the surface, but I think it could go a long way if Blizzard marketed it as a Warcraft II nostalgia thing.)

You know, high elves use a "Horde" model.
Ogres could very well use an "Alliance" model (Kul Tirans)...

Fair trade, I think.

(And there's that Rexxar model...)

[Obelisk Kai]

She's there to investigate and deter, not support.




It's been a joy watching toxicity levels drop as people put on their best behavior for her though.

Stranded in Stansted airport right now with only a phone but they've been using their discord to co-ordinate silencing the opposition?

That's the strong implication of those images.

That's horrendous and morally repugnant if true.

To use an in game parallel (rather than a real one although there are plenty of those)...remember the magisters who silenced the voices of dissent in silvermoon.

How very BLOOD ELVEN of those who aspire to play High Elves. As they are one and the same though I am unsure if it is ironic or not.

[Strippling]

Not the same and Humans and Orcs on opposing sides has been a core theme in Warcraft since forever.

Also the core identity of the Horde was already altered when Blood Elves entered the Picture. \

You contradict yourself...

In your own words, orcs and humans were the original core of warcraft. Since BE entered the picture they too have become a core part of the Horde... deal with it.

So yes, asking for Alterac humans would be similar to asking for High Elf. But you don't see us advocating or needlessly asking for them, why??? Because it kinda goes against the game design/direction.

[Doomchicken]

The main reason I don't want high elves is that Blizzard will make sure the horde and the alliance have the exact same number of allied races each by the time they're done with the feature, which means that should Alliance get high elves it's a wasted opportunity to get something better just to appease an extremely small vocal crowd. Personally I'd rather have something new and unique than two races on Alliance that use the same basic model as Blood elves and in this case look similar to blood elves as well.

[Strippling]

The other races aren't asked for a lot because most of them don't actually exist in the game for people to see or want to emulate. High Elves are in the game and people want to play as them. Similarly to ogres being in game and people wanting to play them, or Tuskar for that matter. If there is a species in the game that looks like it could be played, there will be people wanting to play it. With High Elves it is more so that they are an old race in Warcraft, and have been in game for a very, very log time now. And people have wanted to play them for a very, very long time now. Those that just wanted the model or race without the other strings attached went Blood Elf as soon at it appeared. But the rest that wanted specifically the High Elves that you can see that are in the Alliance, they have been holding out for a very, very long time.

I don't see a problem of with oversaturation. The if you are worried that all the elves would detract from the faction identity, well it is sort of too late for the Horde for that, given that the Horde identity is Orc, not elf, while for the Alliance it shouldn't be that much of a problem given the hoops one need to jump though to get an Allied Race, much less populate a server with them. So the Humans and Night Elves should still remain the most populous race in the Alliance, even after the High Elves are introduced. It would take time and effort of make enough High Elves to over-shadow those two, while Blood Elves are as simple as purchasing the game.

Ok I guess we can agree that we both disagree with each others on these points.. and that's totally okay. Not everyone sees eye to eye.

On to a different question... Say High Elf was added, how much do you think their story would be intermixed with BE story??? Whether it's them fighting the BE, whether it's HE finding a new home and fully abandoning the sunwell... I would class anything that has something to do with BE in any way, shape or form is as such related to BE story. And of the HE story, how much of it would detract from BE or VE story progression? It's likely that BE vs VE will be a light vs void theme. Where does this leave HE? I'm curious to know your thoughts

- - - Updated - - -

No they want to play as a High Elf like the ones we learned about and grew to like in Warcraft III. So stop with your condescending attitude.

The ones you grew to like in Warcraft III are now what we call Blood Elves.... Or are you talking about liking the high elf NPC priests in the RTS mode (if you play as human)?

[Tak]

A lot of us grew to love them from the slice of the undead campaign, the numerous novels, interactions with them in WoW, and more. It's a perfectly valid desire that you are free to disagree with. In the end, truthful, rational discussion will make this all the more pleasant.

Undead campaign? yea those are the blood elves now man.
You want a white elf? roll horde.

[Phaesimvrotos]

After the next exp if you want to play a high elf you can just create a blond blood elf with golden eyes. Guess what? It will start in the High Elven capital city too!

Seriously though if you think for a moment why on earth would blizzard create something that's already there? It doesn't make any sense. Even Alleria trained blood elves to become void ones, that in itself shows that high elves are already in the game but called blood elves.

[Ithekro]

On to a different question... Say High Elf was added, how much do you think their story would be intermixed with BE story??? Whether it's them fighting the BE, whether it's HE finding a new home and fully abandoning the sunwell... I would class anything that has something to do with BE in any way, shape or form is as such related to BE story. And of the HE story, how much of it would detract from BE or VE story progression? It's likely that BE vs VE will be a light vs void theme. Where does this leave HE? I'm curious to know your thoughts

Due to the nature of the existing game, any point that is already there will remain there (unless there is a massive revamp that changes/removed a bunch of content from the CATA/MoP and pre-CATA era expansions). Prior to the Third War, the High Elves and Blood Elves would more or less have the same story. There would minor variation depending on how the story is told. Several of the High Elves that remain were not in Silvermoon when the Scourge attacked. They were in other cities, outlying outposts, hunting lodges, and Outlands. Their story would be different from the Blood Elves of Silvermoon simply because they were someplace else, living different lives. Their stories cross when the Sunreavers ask to enter Dalaran with the Horde for the offensive against Malagos and the Lich King. They cross again when at other Kirin Tor events where a defined Alliance and Horde presence is needed. From the Argent Tournament to the Isle of Thunder, to Suramar....though oddly in that instance if was the High Elves and the Kirin Tor that was trying to keep the Night Elves from attacking the Blood Elves, though the High Elves themselves were not exactly pleased about seeing the Blood Elves either (there was a bit of pranking going on, instead of ganking.)

The High Elves would have homes already for the most part, seeing that many of them lived outside of Quel'thalas. It is likely that only those in Dalaran even found out about what Kael did for years. Not until the Blood Elves joined the Horde and Azeroth forces went to Outlands. At that point they found more High Elves that had been stranded there for 25 years or so. There story has even less to do with the Blood Elves, not even knowing they existed until Kael's forces arrived and caused problems. Following that, the next they'd see more Blood Elves were in the company of Orcs under a Horde banner. That would be a shock, considering they were in Outland to stop the Horde and the Horde's then leader shattered the planet. Plus they'd likely been fighting fel orcs for a bit anyway, more green ones with elves with them doesn't change too much.

As the story goes forwards, if there is a Light vs Void issue between the Blood Elves and the Void Elves, that is its own story. There is also the High Elves, who distrust the Blood Elves and the Horde. They seem to be accepting the Void Elves, possibly because of Allieria Windrunner, the famous hero, and the seeming acceptance by Turalyon, another hero of the alliance and of the Light. So while the High Elves might take issue with the study of the Void, they cannot take issue with the Void Elves themselves because their change was not voluntary. It was forced on them. Alieria is the exception at present, but she was studying for centuries to find a balance between the Light and Void...where the truth is suppose to be. High Elves stories would be either magic or hunter focuses for the most part. That is unless they are added to the Paladins of the Silver Hand and allow them to be paladins of the Alliance as well as the Humans and Dwarves. That in itself could be a story arc.

Other stories could be about the High Elves that were in Outland coming home, finding they really shouldn't go back to Silvermoon, and instead going elsewhere. be that Stormwind, Dalaran, or setting off to find their on way if a matter of how one wants to take there story. The traditional enemies of the Elves are trolls, thus having them retake an island of the coast of the Eastern Kingdoms from the Zandalari for the Alliance and then making it their new home (granted by Stormwind if it was Balor or by Kul'Tiras (or is it Gilnaes) if it was Zul'Dare). The High Elves could work with the Alliance again trolls groups all across the Eastern Kingdoms, and the islands between there and Zandalar. High Elve progression story with the Wildhammer Dwarves in the Hinterlands against the forest trolls would also make sense. Eventually the High Elf, Void Elf, and Blood Elf stories would merge again from time to time. Be it a Warfront over the Plaguelands/Ghostlands, or some group up battle against the Old Gods/Void Lords, there will be representatives from all three parties present. The High Elves and Void Elves in smaller numbers than the Blood Elves, but the two combined should make for an impressive looking force. Shadow, Frost, and possibly Arcane magics on the Alliance side, while Fire, Fel, and Light on the Horde.

[Gentlepenguin]

Stranded in Stansted airport right now with only a phone but they've been using their discord to co-ordinate silencing the opposition?

That's the strong implication of those images.

That's horrendous and morally repugnant if true.

To use an in game parallel (rather than a real one although there are plenty of those)...remember the magisters who silenced the voices of dissent in silvermoon.

How very BLOOD ELVEN of those who aspire to play High Elves. As they are one and the same though I am unsure if it is ironic or not.

Yes, I think most of them lack the self-awareness to put that together. They have a collective chip on their shoulder about Big Bad Anti-HE, a group that has no face, no organization, and even comes from their own faction, though they will also gripe about Horde favoritism all the time. Not just from Blizzard, they believe the mod team here has it out for them and are all biased toward the Horde and pro-Horde topics. They've outright accused Blizzard CM's of having Horde bias. Many of their moderators and the admin himself have served, or are currently serving, forum bans from here or the official forums.

They denied post hunting and brigading false reports outright until that came to light, but they hurriedly backpedaled on it once some of their members asked about it.

[Sigxy]

She's there to investigate and deter, not support.




It's been a joy watching toxicity levels drop as people put on their best behavior for her though.

Guess I'm happy I was wrong then. I just wouldn't really imagine a Blizzard person joining to 'support' something in such a manner, but investigation purposes I'm absolutely fine with.

It's strange. The pro-High Elf community, with things like Discord there, is starting to remind me of "Otherkin" communities. Talking about how great their stuff is and if someone dares to talk against them, they get a mob mentality to try silence their opinion. x_x

[Deleted]

Guess I'm happy I was wrong then. I just wouldn't really imagine a Blizzard person joining to 'support' something in such a manner, but investigation purposes I'm absolutely fine with.

It's strange. The pro-High Elf community, with things like Discord there, is starting to remind me of "Otherkin" communities. Talking about how great their stuff is and if someone dares to talk against them, they get a mob mentality to try silence their opinion. x_x

Yeah, it's the same as the next Q&A. If you look at it, you see very similar questions with a similar number of upvotes, coincidentally. I wouldn't be surprised if there was also a push to promote these things together. Which is a shame in a way, because when things such as this get discovered, just takes credibility out of the equation. I doesn't really reflect what people want, just disguises what they want.