Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Vaedan]

like the forsaken!

Forsaken as a group are more or less loyal to the Horde, even after Sylvanas betrayal.

[Rhlor]

Forsaken as a group are more or less loyal to the Horde, even after Sylvanas betrayal.

putress rememberr

forsaken intro

[Kyriani]

you are right I want alterac humans in the horde for years!! and alliance players hate this

the horde is never complete without alterac humans

I honestly don't have a problem with it. I'd personally rather see the pirates the horde allied with in BfA join the horde, but that doesn't mean there can't be others like the alteraci humans too. If players want it... why not?

[Vaedan]

putress rememberr

forsaken intro

Yes, I remember. He was part of splinter group which rebelled against Sylvanas and the Horde, while majority of the Forsaken remained loyal, do you remember?

Forsaken were for sure never the most trustworthy faction, but majority of their people remained loyal to the Horde over the course of numerous events. Most of them even chose Horde over Sylvanas at the end of BfA.

[Beloren]

Neither are the high elves and have their own unique feel lore, but they essentially do the same thing.

Essentially , do you need Silvermoon and a playable high elves as a faction like the Silver Covenant if you have Highborne kaldorei doing the civilization side of the night elves (effectively covers high elf civilization) and you have void elves carrying the model customisation option.


Background
1. Highborne: The original versions before crazy addiction especially amongst Azshara's lot, were actually quite noble, the way Farondis Highborne is described is very reminiscent of what I imagine the high elves would be like if we had ever got to see them properly in game as high elves. Nobility, morality, responsibility, and lawful goodness - it is the picture of you would expected the benevolent kaldorei's most accomplished individuals would be- before they got all haughty.

Thing is the Shen'dralar and Darnasisan Highborne, and now the Farondis Highborne are basically all Highborne in that vein, being part of Darnassian society and having recovered form addiction, Shen'dralar would be far more the noble type than the haughty Azshara' court Highborne type - and Farondis, well they are the example in game

Although Highborne is under a kaldorei setting, with Elune religious over tones, kaldorei love of the stars and nature influencing their arcane fascination - unlike the high elves where it's the sun, and the sunwell, is their a place for high elves as a separate race any longer? shouldn't the Highborne be used now?


2. Void Elves: With the void elves you can play a high elf now, the lore has many high elves joining the Ren'dorei, the ren'dorei is no longer just purely a race, but is also a faction that blood elves and high elves have joined to be a part of. however the ren'dorei have a very distinct identity centred upon the void, just like the Highborne do about the stars, but essentially they carry the spirit of the high elf nation, and you can role play a high elf through them.

What Players Get
Basically:
1. In Highborne you get a high elf character and essence as well as a kaldorei based version of the culture
2. In Void elves you will get the high elf model

3. In the blood elves, you get the high elf model and the Thalassian cultural assets, but not quite the high elf character and essence. You get the historical land, places and what is in sense an evolution of the high elf.


Alliance fans essentially have a high elven culture through the Highborne night elves, and the model through the void elves -- is that enough? and does it not make having a high elf actual race playable a bit pointless? Seeing you can now play as a high elf individual on the alliance even though it's not "the High elf" faction.

What this essentially means is that blizzard only needs develop and focus kaldorei Highborne properly, whiles void elves can continue in their own line - to essentially satisfy all.

3 Key Questions for Alliance Fans
1. Is it better to develop kaldorei Highborne anyway, as this original high elf i.e. Quel'dorei in a part of the kaldorei that a lot of their fans like?
2. Is it okay for you guys to have the void elf race play high elf models and have high elf lore connecting high elves to void elves showing that yes, high elves and blood elves do join the ren'dorei even though they are not racially void elves?
3. High elves still continue in the lore and game as high elves, like the Silver covenant faction and other groups, those are just not playable as a faction. Or do alliance fans still only want high elves of Silvermoon and Quel'thalas and aren't satisfied with the above?

The reason I bring this up is that basically the kaldorei and ren'dorei have all the the things that the high elves essentially would bring to the table and would be unique as.

Conclusion
So:
1. There is no need for alliance high elves to be a separate playable faction
2. No need to give them Silvermoon or Quel'thalas - instead let the night elf Highborne build the night elf city and let it be a de-facto home for night elves, their Highborne, high elves, void elves etc, in addition to druids and priests (oops, druids will live in forest and parks), but the rest of the elves
3. No need for separate model designs either, the ren'dorei can have some colour schemes and tattoo schemes to reflect high elf particulars


All the alliance needs for high elves is already there via the night elf Highborne and the void elves, it's time to fully accept that the blood elves as they are have a right to be there as they are, choosing the horde and that being on the alliance isn't anything less better - you get a high elf civilization via the Highborne and you get high elf models on the void elves.


TLDR With Highborne and void elves having high elf character and high elf models, the need for a separate high elf playable race is effectively over. Blizzard should work with the kaldorei Highborne and void elves to consolidate the elves

p.s. mods, I'm not sure this actually belongs in the high elf mega thread, because it is primarily about Highborne and void elves taking the high elf mantle for the alliance, and about blood elves being fine. But if you feel it belongs there, please just move this there.

i think Highborne and void elves model update make a high elf playable faction redundant, and its fine they just remain in the lore as material for Highborne, void elves and blood elven story

[Ardenaso]

Also, humans are the face of the Alliance, in the same way orcs are face of the Horde. These two races should remain exclusive for their perspective factions. Elves swaping faction made enough mess.

most popular race for the most popular race; I believe it can be made so if it's not "lawful good" Alliance themed

[Rhlor]

I honestly don't have a problem with it. I'd personally rather see the pirates the horde allied with in BfA join the horde, but that doesn't mean there can't be others like the alteraci humans too. If players want it... why not?

I think it's great

[Starla]

I just seems like petty gate keeping to me. The desire to deny others something that you yourself get to enjoy just never made sense to me. I've seen them come up with reasons such "lore" and "faction distinction" and "racial uniqueness" but it all really just boils down to "I don't want you to have anything similar to what I have" and "You shouldn't have even gotten what you got in the first place!" (referring to both the model when void elves were first added, and later the skin tones).

And the sad thing is, if blizzard does give void elves a few natural hair color options, they'll make a few snarky posts, and then move on because the subject will be closed (finally). So all this hullabaloo will have ultimately been for nothing. All they'll really have left is to use "you're not really a high elf!", "your name plate says void elf still ha!", and "you still can't be a paladin so nyah!" as taunts. I can't even imagine how apoplectic they'd get if blizzard decided to just copy and paste all the blood elf hair colors and hairstyles over to void elves (and give blood elves all the void elf hairstyles minus the tentacles thus making both races even more similar).

As far as the nightborne go, I would love for them to just get a ton more options. They certainly need it. I'd be happy even if blizz just copy and pasted most of the night elf options over to them (maybe with some minor variations).

No players are 'gatekeeping' anything, we don't' have the power you imply.
Disagreeing with people isn't gatekeeping.

It's pretty disappointing that people like you can't just discuss the topic without insulting people.

[Kyriani]

No players are 'gatekeeping' anything, we don't' have the power you imply.
Disagreeing with people isn't gatekeeping.

It's pretty disappointing that people like you can't just discuss the topic without insulting people.

Saying someone is "gate keeping" isn't insulting them, it's simply a statement on their perceived behavior. Of course none of us have the power to strong arm the devs into doing things we want, but when you actively oppose a request by someone else, you are acting as a "gate keeper" to that request from my point of view. And if you're referring to the taunts I mentioned, I have personally seen such taunts used on the wow forums already so I'm just parroting that here, not insulting someone.

I'd say it's more disappointing that there is a debate at all. More customization options (of all kinds) for everyone shouldn't be something we quibble over as far as I'm concerned. Yet hair colors is the hill upon which some would die just to prevent others from having the options they want.

If you took my post as an insult then I'd say that's your prerogative, but I'd also suggest examining what you found insulting in my post and why you find it personally insulting.

[Starla]

Saying someone is "gate keeping" isn't insulting them, it's simply a statement on their perceived behavior. Of course none of us have the power to strong arm the devs into doing things we want, but when you actively oppose a request by someone else, you are acting as a "gate keeper" to that request from my point of view. And if you're referring to the taunts I mentioned, I have personally seen such taunts used on the wow forums already so I'm just parroting that here, not insulting someone.

I'd say it's more disappointing that there is a debate at all. More customization options (of all kinds) for everyone shouldn't be something we quibble over as far as I'm concerned. Yet hair colors is the hill upon which some would die just to prevent others from having the options they want.

If you took my post as an insult then I'd say that's your prerogative, but I'd also suggest examining what you found insulting in my post and why you find it personally insulting.

Calling other people 'petty' and then making a pretend scenario where you actually act out how people will behave in an insulting manner is clearly meant to try to shame people from disagreeing with void elf options.

[Kyriani]

Calling other people 'petty' and then making a pretend scenario where you actually act out how people will behave in an insulting manner is clearly meant to try to shame people from disagreeing with void elf options.

I see the behavior of those who would gate keep hair colors as petty, and it is entirely my prerogative to have that view. If my post made you feel shame then perhaps that's something you should do some self reflecting on?

[Nerovar]

putress rememberr

forsaken intro

Can we just get those Forsaken back please?

[Rhlor]

Can we just get those Forsaken back please?

play classic

[Starla]

I see the behavior of those who would gate keep hair colors as petty, and it is entirely my prerogative to have that view. If my post made you feel shame then perhaps that's something you should do some self reflecting on?

LOL I feel no shame despite your pathetic attempts to color everyone who disagrees with your desires as petty and gatekeepers.

Seriously your post just says more about someone who can't deal with disagreement.

[Varodoc]

most popular race for the most popular race; I believe it can be made so if it's not "lawful good" Alliance themed

Void elves didn't become playable to give the Alliance the most popular Horde race, they became playable because there was a story to be told. Alleria Windrunner had just been reintroduced as a Void-wielding Thalassian elf, thus there was potential to tell a story where other Void Thalassian students flocked to Alleria's side.

And the idea of the Void-wielding Blood elves is an old one dating back to TBC, where High Astromancer Solarian was a Blood elf infused with the Void who even turned into a Voidwalker.

There is no story to be told with Alterac, it's a dead wasteland filled with nothing but mistakes. Its people also hate the Horde, reminder that the Syndicate was enslaving orcs, and the Syndicate pretty much comprises 99% of the remaining Alteraci humans (that are relevant).

[Kyriani]

LOL I feel no shame despite your pathetic attempts to color everyone who disagrees with your desires as petty and gatekeepers.

Seriously your post just says more about someone who can't deal with disagreement.

Now who's being insulting? If you feel no shame from reading the post you originally responded to... then why would anyone else?

My intent was not, and has never been, to "color everyone who disagrees with my desires." My intent in the post you originally responded to, was to point out behavior I see as petty gate keeping. This apparently triggered you and you decided to jump down my throat about it.

I can handle disagreement just fine. That doesn't make your desire to gate keep hair colors any less petty in my eyes however, and I am perfectly entitled to my opinion on that matter. In the same way, you are entitled to your opinion that my original post was "insulting". /shrug

[ravenmoon]

Neither are the high elves and have their own unique feel lore, but they essentially do the same thing.

Essentially , do you need Silvermoon and a playable high elves as a faction like the Silver Covenant if you have Highborne kaldorei doing the civilization side of the night elves (effectively covers high elf civilization) and you have void elves carrying the model customisation option.


Background
1. Highborne: The original versions before crazy addiction especially amongst Azshara's lot, were actually quite noble, the way Farondis Highborne is described is very reminiscent of what I imagine the high elves would be like if we had ever got to see them properly in game as high elves. Nobility, morality, responsibility, and lawful goodness - it is the picture of you would expected the benevolent kaldorei's most accomplished individuals would be- before they got all haughty.

Thing is the Shen'dralar and Darnasisan Highborne, and now the Farondis Highborne are basically all Highborne in that vein, being part of Darnassian society and having recovered form addiction, Shen'dralar would be far more the noble type than the haughty Azshara' court Highborne type - and Farondis, well they are the example in game

Although Highborne is under a kaldorei setting, with Elune religious over tones, kaldorei love of the stars and nature influencing their arcane fascination - unlike the high elves where it's the sun, and the sunwell, is their a place for high elves as a separate race any longer? shouldn't the Highborne be used now?


2. Void Elves: With the void elves you can play a high elf now, the lore has many high elves joining the Ren'dorei, the ren'dorei is no longer just purely a race, but is also a faction that blood elves and high elves have joined to be a part of. however the ren'dorei have a very distinct identity centred upon the void, just like the Highborne do about the stars, but essentially they carry the spirit of the high elf nation, and you can role play a high elf through them.

What Players Get
Basically:
1. In Highborne you get a high elf character and essence as well as a kaldorei based version of the culture
2. In Void elves you will get the high elf model

3. In the blood elves, you get the high elf model and the Thalassian cultural assets, but not quite the high elf character and essence. You get the historical land, places and what is in sense an evolution of the high elf.


Alliance fans essentially have a high elven culture through the Highborne night elves, and the model through the void elves -- is that enough? and does it not make having a high elf actual race playable a bit pointless? Seeing you can now play as a high elf individual on the alliance even though it's not "the High elf" faction.

What this essentially means is that blizzard only needs develop and focus kaldorei Highborne properly, whiles void elves can continue in their own line - to essentially satisfy all.

3 Key Questions for Alliance Fans
1. Is it better to develop kaldorei Highborne anyway, as this original high elf i.e. Quel'dorei in a part of the kaldorei that a lot of their fans like?
2. Is it okay for you guys to have the void elf race play high elf models and have high elf lore connecting high elves to void elves showing that yes, high elves and blood elves do join the ren'dorei even though they are not racially void elves?
3. High elves still continue in the lore and game as high elves, like the Silver covenant faction and other groups, those are just not playable as a faction. Or do alliance fans still only want high elves of Silvermoon and Quel'thalas and aren't satisfied with the above?

The reason I bring this up is that basically the kaldorei and ren'dorei have all the the things that the high elves essentially would bring to the table and would be unique as.

Conclusion
So:
1. There is no need for alliance high elves to be a separate playable faction
2. No need to give them Silvermoon or Quel'thalas - instead let the night elf Highborne build the night elf city and let it be a de-facto home for night elves, their Highborne, high elves, void elves etc, in addition to druids and priests (oops, druids will live in forest and parks), but the rest of the elves
3. No need for separate model designs either, the ren'dorei can have some colour schemes and tattoo schemes to reflect high elf particulars


All the alliance needs for high elves is already there via the night elf Highborne and the void elves, it's time to fully accept that the blood elves as they are have a right to be there as they are, choosing the horde and that being on the alliance isn't anything less better - you get a high elf civilization via the Highborne and you get high elf models on the void elves.


TLDR With Highborne and void elves having high elf character and high elf models, the need for a separate high elf playable race is effectively over. Blizzard should work with the kaldorei Highborne and void elves to consolidate the elves

p.s. mods, I'm not sure this actually belongs in the high elf mega thread, because it is primarily about Highborne and void elves taking the high elf mantle for the alliance, and about blood elves being fine. But if you feel it belongs there, please just move this there.

i think Highborne and void elves model update make a high elf playable faction redundant, and its fine they just remain in the lore as material for Highborne, void elves and blood elven story

I think most people have accepted this is how it's going to be. High elves as a playable faction may be finished, but I feel it should happen in a massive elf focus shift from the horde to the alliance - but that is for faction purpose.

Ofc, that shift of focus can happen without a playable high elf faction, and I would welcome a night elf Highborne development, the Farondis Highborne community ben showed more in the vein we saw and that characterising the Highborne and them along with the ancient druids building an awesome new kaldorei city.. with the kaldorei city being home to high elves too and sharing with city priests types, is fine. while forest home can still remain as a druidic thing can work.

Void elves will have the model for players, and i hope they eventually get a city of their own as it would be a unique opportunity for a new version of Thalassian architecture.

high elf fans will like kaldorei Highborne and would like good elven developments

[FlubberPuddy]

LOL I feel no shame despite your pathetic attempts to color everyone who disagrees with your desires as petty and gatekeepers.

Seriously your post just says more about someone who can't deal with disagreement.

You may not feel shame but your posts definitely come off as being defensive. It seems like Kyriani's post struck a chord with you, but why would it do so?

Also it's not a pretend scenario - there are literally posters here and on the official forums trying to gatekeep specific hair colors from Void Elves even shades from Kul'Tirans and not Blood Elves.

That's frankly ridiculous as earlier I researched that every single race sans Void Elves has either Blonde, Brown, or Black hair colors or a combination of the 3 available to them. Thus it simply stands out as a stark exception that Void Elves don't have it - but seeing as the precedent is there based on the other races (for instance Night Elves were given Black and Orange hair colors - not being beholden to purple/green/blue/pink as an example) then it's only a matter of time for Void Elves to get one of or a combination of the aforementioned hair colors as well.

- - - Updated - - -

This apparently triggered you and you decided to jump down my throat about it.

Her posts tend to be the textbook definition of pearl clutching. It's also one-sided since the people requesting these customizations have been called idiots to needing mental help to nazis in many contexts but she never comes to defend in those moments. But oh yeah being a 'gate-keeper' is the most egregious insult apparently over the others.

[Kyriani]

Her posts tend to be the textbook definition of pearl clutching. It's also one-sided since the people requesting these customizations have been called idiots to needing mental help to nazis in many contexts but she never comes to defend in those moments. But oh yeah being a 'gate-keeper' is the most egregious insult apparently over the others.

Wow, "pearl-clutching" is an apt description! It really does seem overly dramatic to attack me because I called opposition to specific hair colors "petty gate keeping". It's an opinion, and I'm entitled to it. Just like she can have the opinion that I'm "pathetic" because I called people who oppose specific hair colors "petty gate keepers". But calling me "pathetic" apparently doesn't qualify as being "insulting" in her eyes. I guess it's a do as I say, not as I do situation.

[Leinadh]

With Void Elves playable, I very much doubt High Elves are even on the table as a possible playable race. I'm in favor of asking for more High Elf customization options for Void Elves, along with other Void customizations naturally, but as a High Elf fan myself, I just don't see them possible anymore.

By the way, if anyone wants to join the Void Elf Discord server, this is the link:

https://discord.gg/fAXN96Jm