Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Tanaria]

@Alanar - I agree again. We shouldn’t be fighting to have exactly the same thing.

while I’m certainly up for races having access to every class playstyle. I’m not up for them having access to every class.

which is why I am a fan of class skins and class identities. Where you can give a different class like a Botanist or Starmancer or Night Warrior but use the mechanics of an existing class.

not a permanent substitution for a brand new class with a new playstyle but it would allow many new fantasies and classes that are tailored to certain races.

No way should any elf race be shaman. But they can have something similar taught by the Moonguard and Duskguard from the lost Kaldorei arts that employ the arcane to use elemental magic like shaman do (ie shaman playstyle, but different class).

it could be something close to the original theme of the class whose playstyle it is using or be something very different.
@Vaedan as for entropic embrace. Definitely upgrade the visual, but if your skin isn’t purple ot should switch to Solar embrace or embrace of the sun.

I am also happy for high elves to take on a more light centred role while blood elves shift a bit more back to being arcane focused. Blizzard can then build a unique partner compliment between a void centred void elf and light centred high elf who together as a bonded pair can amplify their power feeeding off the energy from the clash between the light and void. But having implications beyond power, like the light high elf being an anchor for the void counterpart allowing him to delve deeper into the void without losing his sanity while the high elf finds the light welling up in great intensity to counteract void presence allowing him to do a lot more.

Something unique like that. Also showing how these guys employ light and void in every class so people don’t think they are basically draenei priest 2.0 - unless you are a void elf or high elf priest your light/void use is very magical science based. Not faith based.

it plays well into the alliance and in this way compliments the void elf side and offers an Avenue to show the elves develop something greater with these powers.

All of this can happen.
And maybe - the key here is that the Sunwell is destroyed by the Void. Yes, I'm a Blood Elf fan, but maybe - what we need is a big shake up in Sin'dorei society, where a focus is on their arcane magical hubris. That something is the Sunwell being destroyed, but the Blood Elves remain in Silvermoon.

Silvermoon becomes heavy in "Blood Crystal" vibes, with the current ruins being a place for many Blood Elf Warlocks and Fel Crystals. The current "Ruins of Silvermoon" is rebuilt, but has a very strong -Warlock- like feel...maybe even the Sin'dorei Demon Hunter show up, only as Ambassadors who are here to help Silvermoon and that's it - not the Horde. Could be like the Kaldorei ones, in the new night elf city. Helps the Night Elves only, not the Alliance.

I'm not saying Lady Liadrin should be Alliance, because she's devoted to the Sin'dorei - but she becomes more "Warrior" or "Blade of the Light" with emphasis on "Blade."

High Elves have a very "Holy Light" driven focus, with an emphasis on their Priests and Rangers. Could be done via Vereesa and the Stormwind Province.

Void Elves have a very Void and "Twisting Nether"-like Astromancy.

[Alanar]

All of this can happen.
And maybe - the key here is that the Sunwell is destroyed by the Void. Yes, I'm a Blood Elf fan, but maybe - what we need is a big shake up in Sin'dorei society, where a focus is on their arcane magical hubris. That something is the Sunwell being destroyed, but the Blood Elves remain in Silvermoon.

Silvermoon becomes heavy in "Blood Crystal" vibes, with the current ruins being a place for many Blood Elf Warlocks and Fel Crystals. The current "Ruins of Silvermoon" is rebuilt, but has a very strong -Warlock- like feel...maybe even the Sin'dorei Demon Hunter show up, only as Ambassadors who are here to help Silvermoon and that's it - not the Horde. Could be like the Kaldorei ones, in the new night elf city. Helps the Night Elves only, not the Alliance.

I'm not saying Lady Liadrin should be Alliance, because she's devoted to the Sin'dorei - but she becomes more "Warrior" or "Blade of the Light" with emphasis on "Blade."

High Elves have a very "Holy Light" driven focus, with an emphasis on their Priests and Rangers. Could be done via Vereesa and the Stormwind Province.

Void Elves have a very Void and "Twisting Nether"-like Astromancy.

I am going to be carefull here, but I think a lot of people who are here often can get behind this idea. It will shake things up a bit and bring forth the elves and interact with eachother, hostile or not.

With that said I realy agree on keeping Silvermoon to the blood Elves, I actually find the request to be rediculous and besides we are still waiting in bc times for it to finnaly be updated and ofc flyable etc etc.

I dig the blood crystal vibe! This is my own fanfiction here, but could these crystals maybe also function as some kind of lure for the San'Layn? This could provide a side story for some who are interested in what happened to the San'Layn.

Unknowingly it could attract dark lurker to Silvermoon City. San'Layn showing up arround the border because they feel the power of those blood crystals. Lets us think they are our enemies, but we find out they are actually running from Alliance attacks, but the San'Layn hold some valuable information that sparks some ones interest in the horde. Eventually leading it into cosmetics or even costumization for San'layn look.

@MyWholeLifeIsThunder
My god my finnaly agree on something, but yes since we have golden eyes on blood elves as a true light aspect it kinda clashes with the theme of High elves. The Light is more a blood elf thing. I truly dont know what theme high elves should have.. since everything is taken. Farstriders, sunwell.. blood knights, warlocks. So what is left realy? Couple of priests and ranger?
But to be honest, its not a big deal realy since the ones you play are void elves woth high elf rp elements. So to be fair its not a big prio.

@ravenmoon thanks, its nice we can actually meet eachother halfway, since we both want the same.
I just find it important that we need certain features to stay on a race to make them unique or better said a motivator for players. Thats why I think the high elf fans are taking it way to far. You can almost play a blood elf on the Alliance for like 80%. But that is another story.
@Tanaria
I guess hes right about the light is an aspect of blood elves which is pretty important already. Losing that part is kinda dismissing what they fought for. But with that said.. I am up for shaking up their story. If that means losing that theme I could addapt to that, but something good in return.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

That's a good point, the Void Elves have overall tried to display a good use of void magic. Since the cosmic powers can be used for good or evil ends, there is no reason we can't see "good void" or "evil light."

Which would be perfect on a expansion with the light as the enemy. Tyranny of Light!!

I didn't know the frostfencer was supposed to be a paladin. That's cool to know! If that is the case, then maybe light wielding paladin Void Elves aren't so far fetched with the new High Elf customization options. It would be interesting to see a paladin that mixes frost magic into their attacks too.

Would be neat, but yeah, there's literally one frostfencer in lore and IDK why he has light powers. It's just very thin in terms of lore hehe. Even thinking of Frostfencers as a class skin, there's just no lore besides Seraphi. I'd rather Frostfencers being a skin for Frost DK's, seems more fitting.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, I would like void elf paladins only if they came up with some creative lore attached to it, perhaps exploring the Naaru cycle of Light and Void. After all, Xal'atath whispers that Naaru are beloved siblings who lost their sight when you enter Netherlight Temple and there are more hints to the dynamics of Light and Void, which in fact seem to be kind of Yin and Yang of the universe. Other than that, I'm not really interested in standard paladin approach within the Alliance. Give us something new.

Shamanism on the other hand seem like something really unique on elves. It gives new inch for the elves and for the shamanism as well, so win win.

That's the thing for me; a void approach to "void knights" would be pretty cool in relation to the cycle of light and void, but just in terms of a more interesting class combo from both a lore and gameplay and archetype perspective, Shaman would just be overall more groundbreaking since no elves can be shaman -kinda like what happened with Kul Tiran shamans, they are a great combo-

So it's like that; personally I'd prefer Paladins, but Shamans would just be cooler/more interesting.

- - - Updated - - -

All of this can happen.
And maybe - the key here is that the Sunwell is destroyed by the Void. Yes, I'm a Blood Elf fan, but maybe - what we need is a big shake up in Sin'dorei society, where a focus is on their arcane magical hubris. That something is the Sunwell being destroyed, but the Blood Elves remain in Silvermoon.

Silvermoon becomes heavy in "Blood Crystal" vibes, with the current ruins being a place for many Blood Elf Warlocks and Fel Crystals. The current "Ruins of Silvermoon" is rebuilt, but has a very strong -Warlock- like feel...maybe even the Sin'dorei Demon Hunter show up, only as Ambassadors who are here to help Silvermoon and that's it - not the Horde. Could be like the Kaldorei ones, in the new night elf city. Helps the Night Elves only, not the Alliance.

I'm not saying Lady Liadrin should be Alliance, because she's devoted to the Sin'dorei - but she becomes more "Warrior" or "Blade of the Light" with emphasis on "Blade."

High Elves have a very "Holy Light" driven focus, with an emphasis on their Priests and Rangers. Could be done via Vereesa and the Stormwind Province.

Void Elves have a very Void and "Twisting Nether"-like Astromancy.

Kinda weird taking the Light aspect away from Blood Elves and put in on High Elves who have been shown as far less devout to the light in comparison.

Seems more like a weird game of musical chairs rather than any organic evolution of the elven cultures.

- - - Updated - - -

nightmare druids or void elf shamans, I prefer to keep the paladins exclusive to blood elves

perhaps the nightborne can have tinker if they would get a unique elf class

Really like the possibilities of nightmare druids for VE, but that would make them even more similar to Night Elves, so I'd have to still lean towards Shaman.

[Kyriani]

While I wait for the black hair to get added to the ptr, I've been playing with the wowhead ptr dressingroom. These came out quite nice I thought!

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

While I wait for the black hair to get added to the ptr, I've been playing with the wowhead ptr dressingroom. These came out quite nice I thought!

Well hello there sailor!

Now that I think about it, are there any pants that don't show for that dress?

Can't wait for the remaining hair colors, 5 of my characters would use them lol (surprisingly, only 2 of my helves are blonde, and I gave the pale blonde to the one that had silver white hair)

[Kyriani]

Well hello there sailor!

Now that I think about it, are there any pants that don't show for that dress?

Can't wait for the remaining hair colors, 5 of my characters would use them lol (surprisingly, only 2 of my helves are blonde, and I gave the pale blonde to the one that had silver white hair)

For those dresses there's nothing you can really pick that won't show something.

The orange version of that dress (robes of the battleguard) has a better choice though, the orange version of the cloudscorcher leggings (from MoP).



The undergarment part is orange and matches the robe perfectly, and the leggings are only barely visible in the slits. Sadly, there aren't color variants of those specific leggings that would go with the pink, blue, or green versions of that robe.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

For those dresses there's nothing you can really pick that won't show something.

The orange version of that dress (robes of the battleguard) has a better choice though, the orange version of the cloudscorcher leggings (from MoP).



The undergarment part is orange and matches the robe perfectly, and the leggings are only barely visible in the slits. Sadly, there aren't color variants of those specific leggings that would go with the pink, blue, or green versions of that robe.

Kinda wish you could hid pants as long as you're wearing a robe

[AOL Instant Messenger]

All of this can happen.
And maybe - the key here is that the Sunwell is destroyed by the Void. Yes, I'm a Blood Elf fan, but maybe - what we need is a big shake up in Sin'dorei society, where a focus is on their arcane magical hubris. That something is the Sunwell being destroyed, but the Blood Elves remain in Silvermoon.

Silvermoon becomes heavy in "Blood Crystal" vibes, with the current ruins being a place for many Blood Elf Warlocks and Fel Crystals. The current "Ruins of Silvermoon" is rebuilt, but has a very strong -Warlock- like feel...maybe even the Sin'dorei Demon Hunter show up, only as Ambassadors who are here to help Silvermoon and that's it - not the Horde. Could be like the Kaldorei ones, in the new night elf city. Helps the Night Elves only, not the Alliance.

I'm not saying Lady Liadrin should be Alliance, because she's devoted to the Sin'dorei - but she becomes more "Warrior" or "Blade of the Light" with emphasis on "Blade."

High Elves have a very "Holy Light" driven focus, with an emphasis on their Priests and Rangers. Could be done via Vereesa and the Stormwind Province.

Void Elves have a very Void and "Twisting Nether"-like Astromancy.

How to fix the Blood Elves: Undo their entire arc as a race and give their new primary theme to the High Elves, who have never had a particularly strong Light theme to begin with?

[Magnagarde]

They've pretty much arrived where players were asking them to be for more than a decade. To be more precise, it is where they originally intended to be for TBC, but switched things up.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

They've pretty much arrived where players were asking them to be for more than a decade. To be more precise, it is where they originally intended to be for TBC, but switched things up.

Source?

/10chars

[Magnagarde]

Source?

/10chars

Metzen originally wanted ogres for the Horde and high elves for the Alliance.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Metzen originally wanted ogres for the Horde and high elves for the Alliance.

That is not a source. A source would mean a link to something to confirm this.

[Magnagarde]

That is not a source. A source would mean a link to something to confirm this.

I know it isn't a source; I didn't say I'm going to scour the internet to provide it. I remember it along those lines, you're free to look it up if you wish to, though I assume it would be burried deep as it is pretty old. It is a package of not being able to come up with ogre females, draenei being intended as a neutral faction, player population on the Horde side being an issue and the Alliance already having elves(which were extremely popular alongside humans) and so on.

If I remember correctly - and I may well remember it incorrectly - it might've been said when commenting on Chinese players asking for a pretty race on the Horde or something and whether that influenced Blizzard when making the decision.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

I know it isn't a source; I didn't say I'm going to scour the internet to provide it. I remember it, though you're free to look it up, though I assume it would be burried deep as it is pretty old. It is a package of not being able to come up with ogre females, draenei being neutral, player population on the Horde side being an issue and the Alliance already having elves, which were extremely popular alongside humans.

If this were true, it would be recited quite often here. I have double-checked and searched for your claim and have not found it. It is true, however, that Ogres were going to be the Horde race in Cataclysm. Your claim is definitely false because no evidence exists to support it. Please do not spread misinformation.

[Magnagarde]

If this were true, it would be recited quite often here. I have double-checked and searched for your claim and have not found it. It is true, however, that Ogres were going to be the Horde race in Cataclysm. Your claim is definitely false because no evidence exists to support it. Please do not spread misinformation.

Misinformation? You're taking this awfully seriously. I can stand corrected if I'm wrong and that's pretty much it.

[Kyriani]

If this were true, it would be recited quite often here. I have double-checked and searched for your claim and have not found it. It is true, however, that Ogres were going to be the Horde race in Cataclysm. Your claim is definitely false because no evidence exists to support it. Please do not spread misinformation.

I don't have the DVD in question, and I am unsure if it contains the exact info being referenced by the person you're replying to, but I think the World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria Collectors Edition Behind the Scenes DVD might have interviews discussing how races were shuffled around with blood elves going horde and pandas being put on the back burner until they developed MoP itself.

Please understand that I don't know for certain if what the person you're speaking with is sharing correct info or not. I just thought it couldn't hurt to mention the dvd in case someone has it to reference and perhaps enlighten us all.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

How to fix the Blood Elves: Undo their entire arc as a race and give their new primary theme to the High Elves, who have never had a particularly strong Light theme to begin with?

I admit I laughed

[ravenmoon]

All of this can happen.
And maybe - the key here is that the Sunwell is destroyed by the Void. Yes, I'm a Blood Elf fan, but maybe - what we need is a big shake up in Sin'dorei society, where a focus is on their arcane magical hubris. That something is the Sunwell being destroyed, but the Blood Elves remain in Silvermoon.

Silvermoon becomes heavy in "Blood Crystal" vibes, with the current ruins being a place for many Blood Elf Warlocks and Fel Crystals. The current "Ruins of Silvermoon" is rebuilt, but has a very strong -Warlock- like feel...maybe even the Sin'dorei Demon Hunter show up, only as Ambassadors who are here to help Silvermoon and that's it - not the Horde. Could be like the Kaldorei ones, in the new night elf city. Helps the Night Elves only, not the Alliance.

I'm not saying Lady Liadrin should be Alliance, because she's devoted to the Sin'dorei - but she becomes more "Warrior" or "Blade of the Light" with emphasis on "Blade."

High Elves have a very "Holy Light" driven focus, with an emphasis on their Priests and Rangers. Could be done via Vereesa and the Stormwind Province.

Void Elves have a very Void and "Twisting Nether"-like Astromancy.

My vision is to have something like that.

The higher arcane emphasis of the horde elves makes them more powerful but also more vulnerable, less healthy and whole.

The alliance elves have their night elves incl highborne and high elves and void elves but their mark of distinction is a more wholesome approach. Elune and nature magic complimenting night elf arcane users , light magic complimenting high elf arcane uses and void magic enhancing void elf arcane users.

so while the horde elves would have a slight arcane edge there. Is a flip side in the other specialties the alliance consider seriously do make them no less formidable, and from a certain point of view (non gameplay), better. The idea is horde fans would think they are better while alliance fans would think they are.

The roots of both the blood elves and Nightborne don’t forget are principally based on the alliance int he high elves and night elves. That needs to have a reflection with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Obviously there are reasons blood elves and Nightborne moved away from their origin and became what they are, reasons that suits them, but weighing against that is the most successful eras of both elven groups were in the origin groups who exist still and have improved with changes of their own.

Horde fans will see a hope their elves are better for the changes they endured or had to make which time will prove, while alliance fans have the greatness of the past as their proof but also the gradual developments and evolutions they have experienced enhancing them and their original identity they haven’t altered (now do you see why though a Druid NElf fan I am passionate the arcane and presundering side of the Kaldorei continues clearly visible in them. Never said it had dominate like in the Nightborne or even be huge. It just had to be there, clearly visible and part of their package because they are the full picture of the Kaldorei in all their facets.

This should help also add to a different feel and perception while at the same time the similarities should be clear between alliance elves and horde elves.

You want to achieve essentially simultaneously being both very alike yet very different. Even in common areas like magic all elves share.

Emphasis on how they work together will play the largest role in bringing that out.

Highborne work different from Nightborne because of the much heavier Druidic and Elunic influences that promote balance, harmony and humility. This has clear advantages but also means a less prominent arcane focus if that’s what you like. While Druidism and Elunism can and should exist in the Nightborne, the degree is not only far less, but heavily skewed to the arcane elements in Druidism and Elunism which do have a lot. This is one of several areas that illustrates similarity and difference i. A way that is pronounced either way. Here is another.

The entirely urban centric life of the Nightborne is different from the more overall mixed life of the Kaldorei who would have urban centres like a capital for their urban life and rural life in the forests as well as temple life. And the effect is noticeable. Not to mention they are a far bigger group.

Same with blood elves who have a much higher population, broader infrastructure and land mass whereas high elves are refugees and void elves just settiting up. Even if they get a great city they would be more city state like Nightborne than nation state like blood elves and night elves.( or rather what night elves should be! It is biased and unfair to have all alliance elves fringe, marooned and homeless for many reasons incl lore wise given the fact the core of the elves is alliance and the species’ biggest fan and support base sit blue)

So basically, the position is reversed for void/high elves in the end than it is for night elves/Nightborne. Because Blood elves have the city +country and full life picture. High elves and void elves just have the city with a very specific strain or vein of focus.

Same for the night group but in reverse. Night elves have the city and country, while Nightborne just have the city

[Tanaria]

SNIP

Each playable elf race has all different similarities and differences.

Night Elves and Blood Elves are very nation based and nation-proud. Have both a city and a whole countryside (Hyjal, Darkshore and Ashenvale / Quel'Thalas and Quel'Danas)
Void Elves and Blood Elves are very driven
Night Elves and Void Elves both control immense powers through god-like beings (Elune and the Void.)
Night Elves and Nightborne come from the same era.
Nightborne and Blood Elves are magic based in arcane cities with arcane resources on their doorsteps.
Void Elves and Nightborne have both used "Void" magic before now, but in very different circumstances.

Now, could the Blood Elves forsake their "Light" story, in favor of Arcane (Arcane, Fire and Blood), Fel and Farstrider (Theron and Huldoran are still two high commanders, with the former as the Sin'dorei leader.) Yes they could, if the Blood Knights served more in the way of drawing upon the Holy Light and Blood Magic. Blends well with the idea of "Blood Heals" that the Sunfury Paladins were using.
Nightborne take up a sole, but extreme Arcane path, with Leyline knowledge, which helps their Blood Elven friends restore magical potency across Quel'Thalas.

Night Elves will obviously have a very "Nature"-like home, with strong Elune references. It'll have some "Highborne" buildings, but it's core - like the Night Elves, will center around Druidism and the Priesthood (since their leaders are a Night Elf Druid and Night Elf Priest.) Possibly, a more "softer" tone to the city, unlike Silvermoon, which would undergo radical changes so the Quel'Thalas populace have their hunger for magic, sated.
Void Elves take up the Void and Arcane paths, which have been used to compliment the Night Elven Sentinels, before now.

Now the High Elven refugees - where could they go? Well, BFA told us that those few high elves are part of Stormwind's Magi force. Now, Blizzard's obsession over W3 could see High Elven Priests and High Elven Mages work together with the Void Elves. Maybe, High Elves and Highborne Shen'dralar could muster something up together?

[elbleuet]

Ptr's down

My body is ready for white/black haired high elves.