Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Doffen]

People got Void Elves but are still complaining? I support Ion! If you want High Elves play Horde. Period.

Or Void Elves, because they are also High Elves amirite ^^

[baskev]

an A+ on effort man.

Sadly we will never see them. Because blizzard hates the alliance. ( or Ion does).

Its pretty much the most easy race to give to the alliance ( with broken very close behind it) to give to us alliance players. Yet we get 3 wtf races, 1 decent allied race.

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Ugh we are sitll going on with this? Alliance have void elves now due to them begging for High elves, so you wont be getting high elves anymore unless they are Drasticly Different like mutated or something but then people will ask for a non mutated high elf im sure, people will always be asking for high elves till the end of time

Yes we are. Because his reasons are weak. And alliance is truly missing something cool and epic in the allied race stuff. ( and most of BFA if you ask me). So this is easy for us to hate about. Freaking horde getting all the love ( again).

Void elves are not high elves. I know we got them as; here you have something like high elves. But they are so far away from high elves. So bad in the lore wise. They feel like a cheap shot. Hell being a emo is made fun off as void elf...

[tikcol]

High Elves

- Blood Elves are basically High Elves. Slightly different eye color and backstory, but if you want to be a light skinned elf, that is basically a Blood Elf. Giving that to the Alliance would blur the line between factions.
- There aren't a ton of High Elves out there in WoW.
- If you are Alliance any want to be an elf, the Horde is there for you.

Sorry bros, time to move and ask for foxes instead. Which is also a bad idea and will never happen.

[Niovi]

As i read Ion's arguments against Highelves i could totally imagine how the Anti Highelf faction is now cheering lol. Sad times for us Highelf supporters, but thats merely a setback.

[Ithekro]

With PvP servers being a relic soon, will it be possible to walk into the other faction's city without being attacked by the guards and population?

I know in Kul'Tiras I can walk into some of the small Horde player camps and not get attacked by anything, nor (as far as I am aware) able to attack anything in them. I didn't try to attack the Flight Master, who was the only Red tagged NPC, because the one thing I learned during World PvP in TBC was that "killing the flight master makes you a douchebag". Everyone else in the camp was tagged Orange. Even Nathanos and the Dark Rangers he had with him. I could walk up and take a SELFIE if I could. While the Horde ship in the water near Drustvar, some of the NPCs did come out to attack, others were tagged Orange. In one of the Horde bases in Stormsong Valley, Rexxar was tagged green and I could interact with him a little.

I ask because that is the other issue with Blood Elves. They can't RP in Alliance cities. If that changes, than the RP crowd can probably (for the most part) get over it. Sure they will still be Blood Elves, but they can actually RP however they like, wherever they like, which they can't do right now on Live.

[Obelisk Kai]

Could you please elaborate on its bias? it seemed pretty logical and fair to me.

Taliesin and Evitel did a good video visually, but they set their own criteria and found that the High Elves fit those criteria. Sort of like setting yourself an exam and being surprised you passed it.

Their criteria were a decent stab, but the video is fatally undermined by the exclusion of the factor Ion mentioned last night in regards to Allied races. Do they contribute to faction diversity? Do they blur the faction wall.? High Elves undermine faction diversity and they do blur the faction wall.

In other words, the biggest objection to playable High Elves, the core of the Anti High Elf position, was not mentioned in that video. And that core position is shared by Blizzard.

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With PvP servers being a relic soon, will it be possible to walk into the other faction's city without being attacked by the guards and population?

I know in Kul'Tiras I can walk into some of the small Horde player camps and not get attacked by anything, nor (as far as I am aware) able to attack anything in them. I didn't try to attack the Flight Master, who was the only Red tagged NPC, because the one thing I learned during World PvP in TBC was that "killing the flight master makes you a douchebag". Everyone else in the camp was tagged Orange. Even Nathanos and the Dark Rangers he had with him. I could walk up and take a SELFIE if I could. While the Horde ship in the water near Drustvar, some of the NPCs did come out to attack, others were tagged Orange. In one of the Horde bases in Stormsong Valley, Rexxar was tagged green and I could interact with him a little.

I ask because that is the other issue with Blood Elves. They can't RP in Alliance cities. If that changes, than the RP crowd can probably (for the most part) get over it. Sure they will still be Blood Elves, but they can actually RP however they like, wherever they like, which they can't do right now on Live.

I believe Ion said war mode is irrelevant inside cities. Anyone who enters Stormwind on a Blood Elf character will be flagged for pvp regardless of their war mode status and if not killed by the guards, killed by players who have little interest in a player talking in Orcish.

[Benomatic]

With Ion being so sanctimonious, sarcastic and obtuse to the issue, it's worrying that he fails to recognise and fully understand the issue and lore.

High Elves

Blood Elves are basically High Elves. Slightly different eye color and backstory, but if you want to be a light skinned elf, that is basically a Blood Elf. Giving that to the Alliance would blur the line between factions.

Pandaren, and Nightborne are fine though?

There aren't a ton of High Elves out there in WoW.

But there are enough void elves to make them significant? or enough goblins in a cartel to warrant playability ? Or even enough Pandaran to even split their numbers for both factions? But all the Alliance aligned High Elves in Outland, Northrend, Dalaran,, Eastern Kingdoms, Quel'Danil Lodge, Stormwind arn't a ton? Metric or imperial?

But they are part of the Alliance, and have been for 23 years.

If you are Alliance any want to be an elf, the Horde is there for you.

So I want to RP as an Alliance member Silver Covenant High Elf.

To do this, I have to roll a Horde Blood elf? How will this work? I won't be able to communicate with the Alliance, I will be hostile to the Alliance, I won't be able to group up with the Alliance, I will constantly be flagged for PVP in Alliance settlements. I can't join Alliance guilds, raid groups or even be able to enter Horde settlements?

I don't understand?

How can I as a member of the Alliance and Silver Covenant even do this?

[Laerrus]

I always found the argument that players can't differentiate between High Elves and Blood Elves to be quite silly. Considering that if it has red or orange text over it's head, it's definitely not friendly. And you know about green and blue. That looks pretty fucking easy to me.

[Obelisk Kai]

As i read Ion's arguments against Highelves i could totally imagine how the Anti Highelf faction is now cheering lol. Sad times for us Highelf supporters, but thats merely a setback.

It's more than a setback.

The rationale he gave for the rejection isn't going away any time soon.

They don't want to blur the faction boundaries and they want 'fair skinned, majestic elves' to remain a part of the Horde.

So to get a High Elf you have to figure out a way that they don't blur faction boundaries and that ensures they don't copy the Blood Elves 'fair skinned, majestic' theme.

Probably by colouring them purple, having them grow the odd tentacle and changing their theme entirely.

In other words, Ion laid out the problems with High Elves and why they aren't a thing and if you look at Void Elves you see each of those issues addressed.

In fact, I'll go further.

As maintaining the faction wall is the rationale for not granting High Elves, then the problem for the pro High Elf community is the Alliance and the Horde themselves.

To play an Alliance High Elf, you need to get rid of the Alliance and Horde altogether so you can pick a Blood Elf toon who can group with a Dwarf. Except there will be no Alliance and you'll still be a Blood Elf.

[Jeldoba]

It's almost like something happened in WCIII... hmm...

SHHH! getting into the lore bit people want to ignore completely! the "high elves" people want in the alliance are just those high elves that were elsewhere when Arthas decimated the species. But lets get hung up on semantics!! Kaelthas named the survivors of Quel'thalas Blood elves; as a species they didn't cease to be high elves, only in name. Also the shoe horning thing was something i laughed about all through TBC. The events of warcraft 3, and the elves who ended up joining the horde where in between a rock and a hard place. the reminants of the scourge where still at their door step, the only Alliance contingency that was close, told them Fuck you!, and the nearest Alliance stronghold was what? Ironforge? that's some distance. Nevermind the fact that those who didn't follow through the dark portal where cut off from the rest of their "race", facing exinction what choice did they have? Sylvannas was atleast once an elf, and be highly sympathetic to the cause. Joining the horde made the most sense. But again. "Elves in the horde?!!? WTF!?!?!"

[Big Mama]

-exiled by the blood elves, thus exiled by the horde in their view
-saved by alleria
-sworn follow alleria, their old hero and savior
-alleria happened to be alliance
-they obviously would follow her

so yes there are reasons



they numbers can be more than the elves from the silver covenant easily



is the exact same form, its jus poop ups random,and alleria have full control



thats actually a no issue



vid elf are being in the game since before argus, people opened a lot for topics claiming that "HE confirmed" they think about that prob when they are building alleria and Argus campaign.



there is no reason to HE not join their BE kin too tough.

and the blood elves didn't abandon then, they exiled then because they were threatening with dark powers, experiments with the void, who would danger the sunwell



they are high elves still, just not the specific group they want, in the specific way they desire, that is petty, just get over it. its not the end of the world, cause you can say your VE belong to those HE



that just being over melodramatic.

Well, I am not going to argue. Everything can be negated. Everything can be defended. And you might be right.

Also, hell yeah that I am being overdramatic. I mean what else is there to live for if not drama?

I still think the void elves were poorly managed and that lorewise and gamewise they are the worst race ever BECAUSE of bad writing and lack of backstory or any story whatsoever. If you don't mind and don't see it as a problem, that's fine. But I do. I love elves. I love new ideas. I just don't like void elves and think they could have been introduced differently, or at least later. Maybe during BfA or in another expansion, with a bit more depth added to their lore.

[Eazy]

1. High Elves are basically the same as Blood Elves.

Same as Void Elves and Blood Elves. I mean from the visual point of view, they just have different colors.

2. They wanted to give the Alliance something similar, but with it's own feel.

It's Blizzard, they could give Alliance High Elves and make them to have their own feel.

3. They want to keep the two factions distinct.

So they gave Nightborne for the Horde? That doesn't many any sense.

4. High Elves don't have a clear representation of culture, identity, or organization.

And Void Elves? Their numbers were 0 before Legion, they just came up with something. They can come up with something with High Elves. Plenty of options...

All his arguments are pointless and don't go hand in hand with the things that Blizzard is doing with Allied races right now.

With Ion being so sanctimonious, sarcastic and obtuse to the issue, it's worrying that he fails to recognise and fully understand the issue and lore.

I think that's because Ion isn't responsible for the WoW Lore.

I always found the argument that players can't differentiate between High Elves and Blood Elves to be quite silly. Considering that if it has red or orange text over it's head, it's definitely not friendly. And you know about green and blue. That looks pretty fucking easy to me.

Same for fully geared Pandaren or Blood Elf/Void Elf. They looks the same. That argument is pretty much stupid.

[Darththeo]

Just sounds like a problem with authority to me. They said you can't have them on the Alliance side because the Horde has them. Pretty cut and dry, to me.

I am not saying it isn't an explanation, I am saying that doesn't mean it isn't a bullshit one. Especially in a game where Pandas are cross fraction and the Belf and Nelf models are as well already. The argument is piss poor. It is nothing to do with authority at all really.

[Laerrus]

High Elves

- Blood Elves are basically High Elves. Slightly different eye color and backstory, but if you want to be a light skinned elf, that is basically a Blood Elf. Giving that to the Alliance would blur the line between factions.
- There aren't a ton of High Elves out there in WoW.
- If you are Alliance any want to be an elf, the Horde is there for you.

Sorry bros, time to move and ask for foxes instead. Which is also a bad idea and will never happen.

There are actually far more High Elves than Void elves, which as Ion put it, constitute a "elite crack squad" of former Blood Elves. A squad is tiny compared to the Batallions that Vereesa commands in her Silver Covenant.

Stormwind City has a population of 200,000 of which 10% of those or 20,000 are High Elves.

Then you have all the ones throughout the Kingdom of Stormwind as well as the settlements in Outland.

That old arguement that there are just not enough, doesn't fly anymore with the inclusion of the handful of Void Elves.

[Darththeo]

How was their answer bullshit? They want to preserve the identity of the Horde and the Alliance. At this point Blood Elves are an iconic Horde race. They don't want to add them to the Alliance because you're supposed to be able to easily identify which faction a race is apart of. The only difference between the two elves is their eye color. That's just not enough for them to feel different from each other.

Void elves was Blizzard's compromise to the people that wanted high elves. They're purple skin and void hair makes them easily identifiable so they don't have to worry about them looking too similar.

The only reason the answer was bullshit to you was because the answer wasn't a yes.

No, because faction "identity" is bullshit since MoP when Pandas were given to both factions. Void Elf and Nightborne allowed cross factions already, meaning the model is there. Hell, when goblins came out in Cata, in a Dungeon a guy who looked quickly asked why there was a Gnome in our party. The visual distinction between Belf and Velf is virtually zero on a quick glance.

The reason isn't bullshit because I wanted a yes ... it is bullshit because it is bullshit. "We want faction identity" ... literally gave both factions panda and both factions the other's elf skeleton.

[Deleted]

War3 explained why Helf become Belf.

Ion said no Helf incoming.



I mean why people can't let it go?

[Darththeo]

They have, and very few people have accepted it.

And despite this, the explanation is still "it's magic, so that's that."

You can accept that they don't want to give you high elves, or you can sit in denial for another 11 years. Either way, you're not getting high elves. The statement is made, and said directly - They don't want to blur the faction lines.

I accept they don't want to give High Elves, but their reasoning is still bullshit. They already HAVE blurred factions lines.

[Obelisk Kai]

There are actually far more High Elves than Void elves, which as Ion put it, constitute a "elite crack squad" of former Blood Elves. A squad is tiny compared to the Batallions that Vereesa commands in her Silver Covenant.

Stormwind City has a population of 200,000 of which 10% of those or 20,000 are High Elves.

Then you have all the ones throughout the Kingdom of Stormwind as well as the settlements in Outland.

That old arguement that there are just not enough, doesn't fly anymore with the inclusion of the handful of Void Elves.

AND someone quoted the old RPG.

There should be an equivalent of a swear jar for every time someone does this. It was the cardinal sin of the High Elf debate.

The 20,000 High Elf figure was from the old RPG books. Those books are expressly non canon. There is no High Elf population in Stormwind or in their kingdom.

High Elves REALLY are an almost dead people, with the largest concentration remaining living in Dalaran.

[Deleted]

Also in the Velf starting zone there are High Elves turning into Velf

So basically Helf population is decreasing while they become Velf.

[united]

I mean why people can't let it go?

Who knows but until then I’m loving all this drama