Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[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.

[FossilFree]

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.

Personally, I think we can expect things to be metered out to us throughout the expansion depending on how the story goes. So there may be some customization options that, if they were to give them to use now, would spoil something in the story.

An example of this would be San'layn customization options. We see Kael'thas returning in the Venthyr covenant with red eyes, would it make sense to give us his options before we played out his story? Or after? If they don't want to spoil it, after is kind of the only real option.

Similarly, we didn't receive all the ARs up front in BFA.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

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.

Maybe? IDK, I just don't think so VE's are gonna get that much more customization ahead of other AR, and cat's still on the bag about what kind of markings BE's get, if any. And markings might be the kind of customization they decide it might help differentiate VE from BE so markings themselves wuld be the one thing explicitly different.

So yeh, doubt we will see anything else big for VE's this expac, specially something that's developed exclusively for them, as well all other AR.

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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.

Bingo; pretty much every other legion AR had a whole zone to develop them. VE's didn't get that, and haven't gotten anything even close to that by now. A shame, given this expansion relied so much on Old God and Void lore. They could at least have used some of Stormsong Valley to develop the VE's during the leveling adventure -instead of the whole quilboar subplot- with a small band of Void Elves serving as our alliance experts on the void while we uncover the mysteries of the Tidesages.

So yeh, doubt SL will have the time for them, so we are like minumum of 5 years now until we get actual VE lore? sigh!

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Personally, I think we can expect things to be metered out to us throughout the expansion depending on how the story goes. So there may be some customization options that, if they were to give them to use now, would spoil something in the story.

An example of this would be San'layn customization options. We see Kael'thas returning in the Venthyr covenant with red eyes, would it make sense to give us his options before we played out his story? Or after? If they don't want to spoil it, after is kind of the only real option.

Similarly, we didn't receive all the ARs up front in BFA.

Yeah, but I just don't think we will be seeing much development exclusive to AR on SL, linked to the narratives of it or otherwise. Expanded customization is far more about boosting a limited customization system rather than a resulting of a need to represent the current narrative setting.

Like it would be super cool we got San'layn customization as part of the narrative, but honestly it doesn't ring true to why customization is getting expanded on the first place, which has little to do with the contemporary narrative of SL tbh.

[DeicideUH]

Maybe? IDK, I just don't think so VE's are gonna get that much more customization ahead of other AR, and cat's still on the bag about what kind of markings BE's get, if any. And markings might be the kind of customization they decide it might help differentiate VE from BE so markings themselves wuld be the one thing explicitly different.

So yeh, doubt we will see anything else big for VE's this expac, specially something that's developed exclusively for them, as well all other AR.

From the signs of it, Blizzard is currently working on improving the first four races: humans, dwarves, undead and blood elves.

Humans already got eyebrow customization and split facial hair options (sideburns, beard, moustache) for the second pass.

Dwarves got a different eyebrow now, which is sign that they'll get eyebrow customization as well. I also think it's likely for their facial hair to be split into beard and moustache.

There's datamined changed to some undead textures. I'm not sure what they may get, but it seems they will get it soon.

For blood elves, I'm guessing eyebrow customization as well. Possibly more beards. And I'm hoping for scars and markings.

I don't think void elves will "get more attention" than other ARs. Mag'har, for instance, inherited a lot of the new orc options. I think void elves will inherit both ear and eyebrow customization. If blood elves get scars/markings, I can see void elves getting it too. They can be differentiated by color, and, even if the patterns are different, it makes sense for the artists to work on the textures at the same time.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

From the signs of it, Blizzard is currently working on improving the first four races: humans, dwarves, undead and blood elves.

Humans already got eyebrow customization and split facial hair options (sideburns, beard, moustache) for the second pass.

Dwarves got a different eyebrow now, which is sign that they'll get eyebrow customization as well. I also think it's likely for their facial hair to be split into beard and moustache.

There's datamined changed to some undead textures. I'm not sure what they may get, but it seems they will get it soon.

For blood elves, I'm guessing eyebrow customization as well. Possibly more beards. And I'm hoping for scars and markings.

I don't think void elves will "get more attention" than other ARs. Mag'har, for instance, inherited a lot of the new orc options. I think void elves will inherit both ear and eyebrow customization. If blood elves get scars/markings, I can see void elves getting it too. They can be differentiated by color, and, even if the patterns are different, it makes sense for the artists to work on the textures at the same time.

Oh yeh I agree with that, as I said, VE's really haven't gotten anything that was developed exclusively for themselves, and that's what I think will remain mostly true for the rest of Shadowlands.

But I do think they can still get other options inherited from BE's -as all other races can from their Core Races- what I was pointing out specifically, was that in terms of markings, Blizz could decide to give BE and VE different options for differentiation's sake -likely given that playable HE options have been like pulling teeth because they just seem to refuse the easiest solution- and if so, I do think it's likier VE specific customization doesn't get addressed during 9.x

So my point is, that it's likely VE won't get the same markings than BE's, and as such, VE exclusive markings will come whenever the rest of AR get a deeper pass, which I don't think will be before 10.x

But I do agree that VE could inherit some other of the BE options yet -specially ears- and maybe get more recolors of jewelry and even hair color. Which I think is also true for all AR.

[Rhlor]

Personally, I think we can expect things to be metered out to us throughout the expansion depending on how the story goes. So there may be some customization options that, if they were to give them to use now, would spoil something in the story.

An example of this would be San'layn customization options. We see Kael'thas returning in the Venthyr covenant with red eyes, would it make sense to give us his options before we played out his story? Or after? If they don't want to spoil it, after is kind of the only real option.

Similarly, we didn't receive all the ARs up front in BFA.

kael has blue eyes

[matrix123mko]

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-

I was only talking about aesthetics. I think their lore is too undefined to even have a wishlist for improvements.

[Rhlor]

Maybe? IDK, I just don't think so VE's are gonna get that much more customization ahead of other AR, and cat's still on the bag about what kind of markings BE's get, if any. And markings might be the kind of customization they decide it might help differentiate VE from BE so markings themselves wuld be the one thing explicitly different.

So yeh, doubt we will see anything else big for VE's this expac, specially something that's developed exclusively for them, as well all other AR.

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Bingo; pretty much every other legion AR had a whole zone to develop them. VE's didn't get that, and haven't gotten anything even close to that by now. A shame, given this expansion relied so much on Old God and Void lore. They could at least have used some of Stormsong Valley to develop the VE's during the leveling adventure -instead of the whole quilboar subplot- with a small band of Void Elves serving as our alliance experts on the void while we uncover the mysteries of the Tidesages.

So yeh, doubt SL will have the time for them, so we are like minumum of 5 years now until we get actual VE lore? sigh!

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Yeah, but I just don't think we will be seeing much development exclusive to AR on SL, linked to the narratives of it or otherwise. Expanded customization is far more about boosting a limited customization system rather than a resulting of a need to represent the current narrative setting.

Like it would be super cool we got San'layn customization as part of the narrative, but honestly it doesn't ring true to why customization is getting expanded on the first place, which has little to do with the contemporary narrative of SL tbh.

san'layn customization for void elves and blood elves if you join covenant venthyr? that sounds good