Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Garfurion]

The most idiotic thing is to use the warcraft 2 concept trying to validate this bullshit, when the marjory of the war2 elves are in the horde un the form of the farstriders

The Elves only sent a token force to aid the Alliance in the first part of the Second War (Tides of Darkness) and actually depended on Alleria and the Alliance Army to defend Silvermoon from the Horde. In Beyond the Dark Portal all the Elven Units were under the command of Alleria as part of the Alliance Expedition to Outland where they founded Allerian Stronghold. Lorewise the surviving ones, including Alleria, are still considered part of the Alliance.

The Farstriders as an organization only played a minor role in the Second war and I'm not sure they were even mentioned by name in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or Beyond the Dark Portal.

[Garfurion]

Given that Blizzard turned the Alliance thalassian elves into void infested mutants, and given the irrefutable logic that they would not have created Void Elves had they any intention of adding High Elves to the Alliance (and if they badly wanted an Alliance race to be void orientated for future story purposes without ensuring High Elves were a completely impossible option they could have created Void Humans or Void Dwarves or Void Night Elves or Void any alliance race, so don't try and argue that the Void Elves are merely about future story content. The choice of a thalassian elf for this race was deliberate and NOT uninformed by the threads asking for High Elves on the Alliance), it should be clear to anyone whose desire for High Elves has not warped their sense of perspective that Blizzard feels the High Elf experience is alive and well in World of Warcraft.

Blizzards choice for Void Elves was deliberate but so was their choice to base them on Blood Elves instead of High Elves. It would have been just as easy to base them on Silver Covenenant or another group of High Elves.

It could be that they thought this would make it more clear to the average player that the Alliance is getting a Horde model (since the Horde got the Night-Elf based Nightborne). However, it could also be that they didn't want to remove Alliance High Elves from the lore entirely and perhaps keep their options open for the distant future. It doesn't look at the moment like Blizzard plans to kill off the Silver Covenant High Elves at the moment.

They seem to be adding 4 allied races per faction in BFA (8 in total) so if they plan on doing that for the next expansions I can imagine they wanted to keep some easy allied race options available like frost trolls, High Elves, Wildhammer Dwarves, etc... Given the popularity of High Elves and Vrykul they might even decide to make these available through the shop. I can imagine people pay more for unlocking playable Vrykul or High Elves than playable Kul Tiran or Void Elves.

[rogueMatthias]

Part of me expects them to actually add High Elves eventually in some form or another.

With all the new allied races coming out though, they probably want to cash in on people paying to swap between lots of different other races first

[EbaumsTipster]

It doesn't look at the moment like Blizzard plans to kill off the Silver Covenant High Elves at the moment.

Between the high elves hanging in Telorgus Rift looking like they may be getting converted, and the speculation that Vereesa is getting killed by Sylvanas to further the Windrunner vs Windrunner story, things aren't looking good for them.

[The5thVegetable]

Not that I dislike the aesthetic,

but high elves aren't wood elves. They're high elves. And they're definitely not Asrai.


On a different note, here's another idea: The High Elves all die and are raised into undeath and we get that as an Allied Race for the Horde! Why do they decide to join the Horde? Don't know, but it certainly would kill two birds with one stone.

[Obelisk Kai]

Blizzards choice for Void Elves was deliberate but so was their choice to base them on Blood Elves instead of High Elves. It would have been just as easy to base them on Silver Covenenant or another group of High Elves.

It could be that they thought this would make it more clear to the average player that the Alliance is getting a Horde model (since the Horde got the Night-Elf based Nightborne). However, it could also be that they didn't want to remove Alliance High Elves from the lore entirely and perhaps keep their options open for the distant future. It doesn't look at the moment like Blizzard plans to kill off the Silver Covenant High Elves at the moment.

They seem to be adding 4 allied races per faction in BFA (8 in total) so if they plan on doing that for the next expansions I can imagine they wanted to keep some easy allied race options available like frost trolls, High Elves, Wildhammer Dwarves, etc... Given the popularity of High Elves and Vrykul they might even decide to make these available through the shop. I can imagine people pay more for unlocking playable Vrykul or High Elves than playable Kul Tiran or Void Elves.

If they don't kill off the High Elves, a far better fate would be that their assimilation into Human society (which far from the distinctive culture proposed by the OP is what is actually happening to the High Elves) resulting in a future Half Elf allied race.

If Blizzard were motivated purely by profit or demand, they would have added Alliance High Elves years ago.

As they haven't, Ion's statement that High Elves are already playable as Blood Elves must be taken at face value. Whilst Alliance players may try and cast back to Warcraft 2 as a justification for High Elves, in practical terms the Alliance could be asking for Undead or Trolls given how likely they are to get them.

There is also the backlash Blizzard would receive from another section of the Alliance who would believe they are getting another knock off race while the Horde would probably get something more interesting. As literally any other potential race in the game would be more interesting than a race that is already playable, the Horde would 'win' the contest. Those who seek High Elves are not the majority of the Alliance player base, and in fact only speak for a small group of active forum users. This echo chamber effect creates the illusion of mass demand, whereas Blizzard would have to consider all the ramifications of adding a clone Horde race.

Part of me expects them to actually add High Elves eventually in some form or another.

With all the new allied races coming out though, they probably want to cash in on people paying to swap between lots of different other races first

You are correct.

That form was blue to purple, with optional tentacles.

[Traycor]

I noticed after this post that you suggested various different themes that could be applied to the High Elves in your proposal but the Ranger Culture is far and away the strongest of those.

Agreed that the Ranger culture is the strongest idea so far. It fits the lore well, provides a theme to build on, and it's just cool. Plus it provides something we don't have in Warcraft currently, which is a big plus.

Rangers: These are more than just archers and woodsmen, which is covered by the Hunter class just fine. I'm thinking of Rangers as the Warcraft version of Navy Seals. They are elite operatives that go anywhere to do whatever it is that needs to be done. If you need results, you ask the High Elf Rangers.

This concept allows ANY class to fit into that idea of a Ranger. A mage, priest, paladin, or a hunter could all qualify as an elite unit that moves in quick and quiet to accomplish their goal. It also fits with how the Silver Covenant has been used in game already.

Your druid ideas are great. I'm going to think on that some more and see what I come up with. The Crystal Song Forest stuff is interesting too.

[Lebanese Dude]

Not that I dislike the aesthetic,

but high elves aren't wood elves. They're high elves. And they're definitely not Asrai.


On a different note, here's another idea: The High Elves all die and are raised into undeath and we get that as an Allied Race for the Horde! Why do they decide to join the Horde? Don't know, but it certainly would kill two birds with one stone.

Would be impossible to kill off all the High Elves they're pretty much scattered as a people with diaspora in Stormwind, Outland, Dalaran, and various lodges with Quel'Danil being pretty notable. Would be one contrived mess. Forsaken Elves already exist anyway, and are also justified as an AR. It might even be thematic to include them as a pair, maybe in some conflict relating to Quel'thalas (now that the Alliance is pushing into EK) or down the line with Aszhara.

Regardless, it really wouldn't take much to take High Elves towards a stronger nature affinity especially given all the context we have about their relatively mundane ranger lifestyle, the history of High Elves before the invasion of Arthas, as well as the two of the larger High Elf factions being militaristic (Silver Covenant/Lodges). They'd basically be Wood Elf/High Elf which basically doesn't exist in WoW atm. WoW doesn't even have Wood Elves. Night Elves are Dark Elf/Wood Elf if anything. So many Dark Elves...

Straighten up the BE posture, make them use somewhat modified human animations to account for smaller frame (No AR using them anyway), thicken them a teeny bit or change their body map to be a little more toned, spray some war paint and you've got yourself a unique AR.

Bonus points if you include some Half-Elf options like a face map with shorter ears/brows. That could be fun RP for some.

[KyrtF]

Just a thought, but...

Isn't it just as spiteful to blatantly disregard the game directors comment that there is no relevant HE population to justify them being a playable race?

If Void Elfs have a large enough population, if Lightforged Draenei have a large enough population, if the population is large enough to support an existing faction...then he is wrong and simply pushing that line to excuse a decision already made.

If Blizzard don't want to add High Elfs, they should just come out and say so and stop making these nonsensical excuses and tell the Alliance players to just go away.

Arguing that Blizzard can change Blood Elfs SLIGHTLY to create Void Elfs, but that even major changes aren't good enough to allow for the addition of High Elfs, as some people are doing, is simple spite. I can't think of any better word for it. A High Elf using a different model, with different racials and animations, with different class selection and a lore that continues the story of their separation rather than follows the Blood Elf storyline cannot possibly intrude upon the identity or faction of Blood Elfs....yet some people here insist that even such a change would be unacceptable to them, apparently because other people would be getting enjoyment something they've spent that past decade or more denying would be possible. Killing off the High Elfs isn't going to happen, nor would to solve the issue,. Giving the Alliance a High Elf substitute is simply a sign Blizzard is completely missing the point...and it isn't working. The only solution is to give the Alliance High Elfs, but that doesn't equate to giving them the Blood Elf model or making them copies of the Blood Elf.

- - - Updated - - -

Nothing else matters, and the Alliance should be facilitated to get a complete copy of a High Elf rather than the Void mutant they have now.

If it'll shut them up...why not?

If all that mattered was them getting the model, then the Void Elves should have sated the demand. It did not

PRECISELY

Instead what we have here is you projecting your own value on the unique status of the model being the sole point worth debating and ignoring the cultural and thematic elements that mean a Blood Elf is still the only way to experience a true High Elven fantasy in World of Warcraft.

I can see when you say you haven't read my posts on the issue, you were being serious.

Since it escaped your notice, I suggested making MAJOR changes to the High Elfs to allow them to create their own factional identity that is DIFFERENT from the Blood Elfs.

I suggested different racials.
I suggested different mounts - Stags and Eagles.
I suggested different classes - Warrior, Shaman, Druid, Hunter, Rogue
I suggested dropping the Blood Elfs iconic classes of Priest, Paladin and Mages.
I suggested embracing the architecture style of the old Night Elf Empire and embracing a Roman motif, very different from the style of Blood Elfs Middle Eat/Arabic style.
I suggested keeping the Silver Covenant as a separate faction so the players need not be associated with that group.
I suggested a very different one - isolationist, defensive, almost xenophobic
I suggested an Ice motif against the Blood Elfs Fire motif.

And so on.

I suggested creating a High Elf faction that was very different from the Blood Elfs in look, appearance, style and politics and which was very deliberately moving away from the Blood Elf culture which not only had rejected them, but which they viewed as sharing a degree of responsibility for the tragedy. Hence, looking back to the past and the embrace of the magic of nature, and a return to the Romanesque style of the Night Elf Empire.

Which part of the suggestion I offered copies that of the Blood Elfs? That they have pointy ears, an eye glow and speak Elf?

You see no value in the theme or culture. They are clearly disposable to you, as you are now keen to throw them to the Alliance for no reason other than the model, which was the most important thing to you, has gone cross faction.

Go read the suggestion I have made...which are essentially that the Alliance can get High Elfs if they change the model and culture in line with their existing story. I am not suggesting that High Elfs keep ANYTHING from the Blood Elfs except a similarity in look. Whether they do or not would depend on how important Blizzard see the issues, but I suggested major changes that would see the High Elfs start from the same place as the Blood Elfs but diverge from us since then. If Blood Elf culture can undergo massive change in that timeframe, so can High Elfs.

Would all Alliance players like such a change? No. But they'd still have High Elfs and would shut up about them.

As for being spiteful, no.

You are stating that it doesn't matter what changes are made to the High Elfs...that you will denounce them on principle. Void Elfs are OK because you can tell yourself them are "mutants" but even you acknowledge that they are not High Elfs. They are Blood Elfs. Mutations of a Mutation.

You wish to deny others the pleasure of playing a race who existence will not affect your gameplay one bit, will not affect your enjoyment one bit, simply based on the label attached to the model, rather than what the model looks like, or what their story is or how they are portrayed in game. You can't even be bothered to read or understand what arguments are being made before leaping to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what is being said, or what changes are being proposed - you're just going to say no.

As I said...spite.

[Deleted]

I love it, THATS WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED

[Northem]

I read this message a lot: "I can not understand why these people want Helfs so much"
Well, let me try to explain so we can understand each other without unnecessary fights, okay?

I will try to do this by setting some points and dictate about them, so that everything is as clear as possible.
Feel free to question these points or even improve them.



* "High Elves are Blood Elves."
It is true. Simply put, Blood Elfs are High elfs.
However not all High elf is blood elf.
It's easy to understand this as some examples: Alleria Windrunner, Verreesa Windrunner and Auric Sunchaser who obviously are not Blood Elves.
*

* "If you want to play with Helves, play in the Horde that has Belves."
Playing with Blood Elves is an option.
However, many players identify with the ideals of the Alliance. As well, like a group of High Elves who did not accept the idea of "Blood Elves" and stayed on Alliance


* "High Elves no longer exist." or "High Elves are very few, almost no more"
In fact, take a whole faction of them: Silver Covenant and "villages" Quel'Lithien, Quel'Danil and the Farstrider Lodge
And historically, together with Humans, High Elves are one of the most populous races in Dalaran, one of the most important cities in Azeroth.
In addition, Void Elves are a part of the High Elves. Therefore, if a small fraction of High Elves studying the emptiness can become an allied race, mathematically, we can say that the rest of the High Elves could as well.
The mere existence of the Void Elves ends up with the excuse of High Elves being few.

* "The two factions can not have two races with the 'skin' so similar"
This argument was valid. Arbitrary means, but valid.
However... well, this excuse ended the Void Elves' entry into the Alliance ...
Also, ideas like this one from Jokubas, are proof that good ideas can come up and be different from Belfs.
Alias, Congrats Jokubas. It was incredible!

* "That they did not want to give the Alliance a duplicate, so they gave the Alliance a variant they thought it would be cool in it's own way"
We understand. Thank you for your concern.
Our question here is "WHY NOT?". You see?
With so many arguments, it seems a bit of a berry or stubbornness on the part of Blizz not to implement this.


* "You have already won Velves, accept. You only want a copy / paste of Belves with blue eyes"
Just like Blood Elves, Void Elves are even High Elves! it is true.
But what players want (or at least most of them) is not just the cute "skin" of a blonde elf to play with.
People want to be able to play with a race that is EFFECTIVELY already part of the Alliance. We want "Historical Acuity".
High Elves are part of the Alliance before the Draenei, before the Night Elves!
Yes! High Elves actually has more identification with the Alliance than the Night Elves!
Human and High Elves fought together in previous wars, rised cities and have a fundamental historical relationship for the development of the Alliance, after all it was they who taught magic to the human!

* "I would hate another type of elf around"
If you do not like it, okay!
No problem! You will not be forced to play with it!
If they eventually include Vulneras in the game, I will not mind (even though I find it too oriental for WoW).
Soh I'll never make one for myself. Simple! Everybody happy!
The power of these Allied Races is this! They need to be unlocked so you'll have to play with a traditional faction race anyway!


* Identification with the Faction.
We all know that the Blood Elves went to alliance for a single reason: to give Paladins to the Horde.
However, let's look at the numbers:

realmpop.com/us.htm

Humans are the race with the most players in the Alliance. Right, because in fact humans are the "face" of the Alliance.
Blood Elves are the race with the most players in the Horde. For you, are they the "face" of the Horde?
Do you understand?
Still I see no problem in the existence of the Belves. On the contrary, I understand them and I also hate Garitos.

* Rivalry
Something crucial to the factions in Warcraft are the rivalries.
Humans and Orc have this rivalry.
Undead and Worgens have this rivalry.
Gnomeos and Goblins have this rivalry.
Including the High Elves to rival the Blood Elves (perhaps even justify Silvermoon's Warfront) would be quite pertinent.

I quote this so you can read it again... It's pretty simple and understandable.

[Zorish]

There is also the backlash Blizzard would receive from another section of the Alliance who would believe they are getting another knock off race while the Horde would probably get something more interesting. As literally any other potential race in the game would be more interesting than a race that is already playable, the Horde would 'win' the contest. Those who seek High Elves are not the majority of the Alliance player base, and in fact only speak for a small group of active forum users. This echo chamber effect creates the illusion of mass demand, whereas Blizzard would have to consider all the ramifications of adding a clone Horde race.

sad to say but there are also people who play BE and want "HE" for Aliance so they can leave this "ugly races of the Horde, to join Glorious Aliance". Yeah... there such kind of people too.

- - - Updated - - -

Regardless, it really wouldn't take much to take High Elves towards a stronger nature affinity especially given all the context we have about their relatively mundane ranger lifestyle, the history of High Elves before the invasion of Arthas, as well as the two of the larger High Elf factions being militaristic (Silver Covenant/Lodges). They'd basically be Wood Elf/High Elf which basically doesn't exist in WoW atm. WoW doesn't even have Wood Elves. Night Elves are Dark Elf/Wood Elf if anything. So many Dark Elves...

i want to remind you that "High elves" were exiled from Night elves society exactly because they don't want to turn "nature"

- - - Updated - - -

I suggested different racials.
I suggested different mounts - Stags and Eagles.
I suggested different classes - Warrior, Shaman, Druid, Hunter, Rogue
I suggested dropping the Blood Elfs iconic classes of Priest, Paladin and Mages.
I suggested embracing the architecture style of the old Night Elf Empire and embracing a Roman motif, very different from the style of Blood Elfs Middle Eat/Arabic style.
I suggested keeping the Silver Covenant as a separate faction so the players need not be associated with that group.
I suggested a very different one - isolationist, defensive, almost xenophobic
I suggested an Ice motif against the Blood Elfs Fire motif.

To the summary "i want to scrap every bit of existing lore about race, so they can fit my tastes and be abomination of lore, without any actual proof that they are so different, because in some mystic ways they changed in less that 1 generation (elves are not humans. they don't "breed" with such speed)"

[Mormolyce]

Those are some really cool skins for Blood Elves

[Deleted]

God, I am so tired of all this High Elf nonsense by now. Thousands of unnecessary words written to justify that basically all you guys want is pretty blond elves with tattoos for Alliance.
I'm beginning to hope that one day Blizzard will give blond hair and more facial marking options to Night Elves instead (because girls already have them) just to shut you up.

[Garfurion]

i want to remind you that "High elves" were exiled from Night elves society exactly because they don't want to turn "nature"

The Sunstrider Highborne were exiled because they wanted to keep using arcane magic and caused a dangerous Mana storm, not because they were against nature (magic).I think the Arcandor shows that Ancient Nigh Elves were interested in combining arcane and nature magic.

The Highvale Elves already stopped using arcane magic a long time ago. They didn't necessarily embrace nature magic but they could be inspired by Night Elves to try it. Turning High Elves into blond haired, fair skinned Night Elves would be a mistake though. Both races need their individual indentities.

[Obelisk Kai]

If Void Elfs have a large enough population, if Lightforged Draenei have a large enough population, if the population is large enough to support an existing faction...then he is wrong and simply pushing that line to excuse a decision already made.

I don't know how much clearer I can be on this point.

IF the devs say something, that completely overrules our opinions. There is no ifs ands or buts about it. A dev is word of god until contradicted by another dev because that is all we have to go on. Now you can argue with them about what constitutes too low a population, but you are unable to deny that the High Elves are an almost extinct grouping because every Blizzard source that has talked about them in the past fifteen years agrees on that point.

If Blizzard don't want to add High Elfs, they should just come out and say so and stop making these nonsensical excuses and tell the Alliance players to just go away.

Yes they should. It's probably something they don't want to say publicly for PR reasons, especially if they do change their minds later. They can change their minds on anything later. For all we know they could demolish the faction wall and merge the two groups in a couple of years. They almost certainly won't, but they aren't going to give a hostage to fortune by saying it will never happen.

Likely they probably believe a combination of the Void Elves being a glaringly obvious substitute for High Elves and their own statements regarding High Elves over the years (including Ion's dismissal of the idea only five months ago on the grounds they are already playable) means that the vast majority of players have twigged that Alliance High Elves aren't happening. Now remember, those who take the time to post are going to be the hardcore, those whose passion for this burns the brightest.

Void Elves represented Blizzard's 'High Elves for the Alliance isn't happening stance' in the most brutal way, through the provision of an 'you can't have that, but you can have this close enough' version. This is the source of the present discontent, the penny dropping that Alliance High Elves aren't happening followed by the most intense denial of that fact I can recall. Usually when High Elves failed to be announced for an expansion (excepting the burning crusade when they were announced), the din of forum posters who had demanded them in the lead up to each reveal would fade away; the cycle would begin again about eighteen months later in the run up to the next announcement. Now the drumbeat is endless, the demands shriller, the denial palpable.

Void Elves sit in the slot any Alliance High Elf would have occupied. And pro High Elfers don't want to deal with the reality that if Blizzard truly wanted to add Alliance High Elves they would have rather than create Void Elves. Void Elves are a confluence of three things.

1.) Blizzard's desire to have a race linked with the void for story purposes.
2.) Blizzard's intention to give the Alliance some form of thalassian elf, but clearly not the traditional thalassian elf embodied by the Blood elf.
3.) Blizzard's introduction of the Allied race system which promotes the re-use and modification of base models for a spin off race.

So they killed two birds with one stone when they created Void Elves. I guess the day they devised the concept the writers probably felt they were inspired.

Arguing that Blizzard can change Blood Elfs SLIGHTLY to create Void Elfs, but that even major changes aren't good enough to allow for the addition of High Elfs, as some people are doing, is simple spite.

Actually I find it more telling that Void Elves are unacceptable, yet the High Elves devised in this thread are more acceptable despite the vast modifications that are being suggested. And what is the big difference between these High Elves and the Void Elves?

What was the biggest complaint about Void Elves on the forums, even spawning multiple Void Elf threads on the US forums, just so you don't accuse me of inventing this?

Skin tone.

The Void Elves are blue and gray. These Elves are lily white.

There is a measure of hypocrisy here. And something even more unpleasant.

And Void Elves were not changed 'slightly'. There was a substantial removal of Blood/High Elven culture and theme. They no longer follow the Blood Elf/High Elf story.

They are not Blood Elves or High Elves. They can be their own thing.

I can't think of any better word for it. A High Elf using a different model, with different racials and animations, with different class selection and a lore that continues the story of their separation rather than follows the Blood Elf storyline cannot possibly intrude upon the identity or faction of Blood Elfs....yet some people here insist that even such a change would be unacceptable to them, apparently because other people would be getting enjoyment something they've spent that past decade or more denying would be possible. Killing off the High Elfs isn't going to happen, nor would to solve the issue,. Giving the Alliance a High Elf substitute is simply a sign Blizzard is completely missing the point...and it isn't working. The only solution is to give the Alliance High Elfs, but that doesn't equate to giving them the Blood Elf model or making them copies of the Blood Elf.


If it'll shut them up...why not?

Because it is still giving a Horde race to the Alliance. They look identical. I said theme and culture are half the point in another post. Looks are the other half.

After reading months of complaining about Void Elves, as I stated earlier, the number one complaint is skin tone. Not the model, not the theme, not the culture, skin tone.

Despite years of being told that High Elves could be modified to make them different from Blood Elves and that they would be satisfied with that, when Blizzard did so it was unacceptable. And why? Dark skin tones. Too many players talked about how Blizzard should add more 'normal' skin tones to a Void Elf as a 'compromise', failing to realise the differentiated tones are part of what separates the Void Elves from a High/Blood Elf.

So everything you are talking about, the animation, the skeletons, the culture, the mount, it's all meaningless. Because that isn't what they want. Oh sure, they'll tell you that's what they want. They'll tell you they'd be fine with changes. But all your suggesting is irrelevant because that is not what most of them are after.

They want the model to be identical to a Blood Elf. Completely identical.

They want to be able to play as the Horde's most popular race without being Horde. And why the hell should they? I can't play a Human on the Horde. I can't play a Draenei or a Dwarf on the Horde. I understand that if I wanted to play those races, I would have to make an Alliance character.

So I see no absolutely reason why pro High Elf fans should get special treatment, to get the Horde's most popular race for the shallowest of reasons, and then to declare that 'fair'. And the sheer neck of that demand to persist after Blizzard created a 95% match of the race they've been begging for is beyond belief. That was a considerable stretch to begin with and yet it still wasn't good enough, and we know why it wasn't good enough because most of them spammed the forums telling us why it wasn't good enough.

Oh a few will talk about lore and nostalgia for Warcraft 2, but most are driven by the appearance. Frankly if they find a Blood Elf model that attractive and have such a strong desire to play one, good. Job done. That's the point.

You want to play that model with the traditional theme? Join the goddamn Horde.

You can't stomach the Horde but want to play the model? Good news, there's a close enough match on the Alliance side.

You want more than that? Tough.

- - - Updated - - -

The Highvale Elves already stopped using arcane magic a long time ago. They didn't necessarily embrace nature magic but they could be inspired by Night Elves to try it. Turning High Elves into blond haired, fair skinned Night Elves would be a mistake though. Both races need their individual indentities.

And enough with this Highvale nonsense. It's a hut. It's a nice hut as huts go, but they aren't the seed of a nation, nor are they a huge, bustling operation.

They are not a culture. They are not a distinct people.

Is it so hard to grasp that the High Elves are virtually extinct. The game reflects it, Blizzard has said this is the case.

I'm convinced if some people saw the shadow of a High Elf in a cave they'd convince themselves there was a civilization of High Elves living underground.

They are the remnant of a remnant, and far from preserving their ways they are likely being assimilated into their host populations.

You want to know what a real High Elf is likely going to look like in ten years time? Forget everything in this thread. Stick that High Elf in a suit of Stormwind guard armor. That's where they are heading.

You should really be asking for Half Elves at this point. Human model, pointy ears, blue eyes.

And no possible objection from anyone.

[Chemical Ellis]

The way I see it, there are two things that are absolutely vital for playable High Elves~

First (and this is the one most Helf detractors have trouble understanding), they must be High Elves. Quel'dorei. Not followers of Kael'thas. Not Blood Elves. Not San'layn. They need to identify as Quel'dorei, be a part of Quel'dorei culture. High Elf leaders are their leaders, High Elf events are their landmarks. When I see High Elf stories in game, I should feel invested in them through my character. They can lay claim to the actions of High Elves (NOT Blood Elves) - good and bad - in Warcraft.

Second, they must have an iron-clad set of values, that they will not violate - they are highly dogmatic. Their identity and its sanctity is important to them. High Elves will not corrupt themselves with Fel, they will not drain a Naaru, and they will not fall in line just because their leaders tell them to or circumstance seems to demand as much. High Elves will not abandon an alliance. They are driven by duty, and will honor their promises to the bitter end. Similarly, they never forgive, they never forget, and if they feel they've been betrayed, they pursue their vengeance until it's been satisfied (see Purge of Dalaran).


If a race has these two traits - I will be satisfied that High Elves have been made playable. Everything else (including model) is secondary (though I would certainly prefer High Elves to be recognizable as Elves). I do favour basing their visual palette off of what we've seen in Warcraft games (I think there's more than enough there to firmly distinguish them from Belves without bringing outside concepts into the mix), but at this point, with two Nelf skeletons Horde side, and Alliance having literal Blood Elves, there's no single barrier that anyone can point to and say 'this is why they'll never be playable.'

The fact is, High Elves aren't playable for the same reason ogres, krokul, forest trolls, etc aren't playable. That is - because they haven't been made playable yet. I don't know what sort heuristics Blizz goes over to determine whether a race is technically, commercially, and thematically viable to be made playable. But, we've seen from Zandalari and Mag'har, they're willing to add longstanding player desires to the roster, even if they don't offer as much as a completely new race. Helf support is good. It shows that there's still a strong desire for an iconic faction that is still entirely unavailable for play. This thread compiles excellent ideas for what a playable Quel'dorei could mean. And if you don't feel like you'd want to roll one, if you don't want more elves - then figure out what you do want! What is your most interesting, desired race? Don't sit pouting in a High Elf thread. Come up with your ideas, find some talented artists (like Jokubas) to mock up some concept art, brainstorm racials, rally folks behind that, and show people that High Elves aren't the single most desired allied race for World of Warcraft.

[Syegfryed]

"silver covenant allied race concept"

>all concepts have NOTHING to do with the silver covenant

you guys are tying so hard live this lie that is not funny anymore, its tragic

and btw, the druid concept trying to be blue dragons is the most retarded thing i saw in the couple of years

[Deleted]

Th
The fact is, High Elves aren't playable for the same reason ogres, krokul, forest trolls, etc aren't playable. That is - because they haven't been made playable yet. I don't know what sort heuristics Blizz goes over to determine whether a race is technically, commercially, and thematically viable to be made playable. But, we've seen from Zandalari and Mag'har, they're willing to add longstanding player desires to the roster, even if they don't offer as much as a completely new race. Helf support is good. It shows that there's still a strong desire for an iconic faction that is still entirely unavailable for play. This thread compiles excellent ideas for what a playable Quel'dorei could mean. And if you don't feel like you'd want to roll one, if you don't want more elves - then figure out what you do want! What is your most interesting, desired race? Don't sit pouting in a High Elf thread. Come up with your ideas, find some talented artists (like Jokubas) to mock up some concept art, brainstorm racials, rally folks behind that, and show people that High Elves aren't the single most desired allied race for World of Warcraft.

Their standards are generally: Do they look distinct? Do they look cool? Do they make sense with the setting/story we are trying to tell, or can we slot them in without feeling out of place? How many resources do we need to set to make them and is it worth it?

To get high elves you need to: Make them have unique features, have them look cool, have a setting/theme for that change. This sugestion is the closest someone mounted to it. Though i still hate it for looking like "my little pony" material. The idea is in the right mind set though.

Blue eyes Blood elves won't happen, and if they do it will be a belf option.

[Obelisk Kai]

The way I see it, there are two things that are absolutely vital for playable High Elves~

First (and this is the one most Helf detractors have trouble understanding), they must be High Elves. Quel'dorei. Not followers of Kael'thas. Not Blood Elves. Not San'layn. They need to identify as Quel'dorei, be a part of Quel'dorei culture. High Elf leaders are their leaders, High Elf events are their landmarks. When I see High Elf stories in game, I should feel invested in them through my character. They can lay claim to the actions of High Elves (NOT Blood Elves) - good and bad - in Warcraft.

We have no trouble understanding this point. You have difficulty comprehending you are wrong, according to the Devs. High Elves are Blood Elves. Blood Elves are High Elves. There is no culutral, biological or aesthetic distinction between them. There is no such thing as a 'distinct' Quel'Dorei culture. What the OP is doing is trying to invent one. High Elves and Blood Elves have a political disagreement, that is the sole distinction between them.

If a race has these two traits - I will be satisfied that High Elves have been made playable. Everything else (including model) is secondary (though I would certainly prefer High Elves to be recognizable as Elves). I do favour basing their visual palette off of what we've seen in Warcraft games (I think there's more than enough there to firmly distinguish them from Belves without bringing outside concepts into the mix), but at this point, with two Nelf skeletons Horde side, and Alliance having literal Blood Elves, there's no single barrier that anyone can point to and say 'this is why they'll never be playable.'

No, the problem is they are already playable. Just not on your preferred faction. As for the two Nelf skeletons on the Horde, one of those is in no way Elven. Now if they took a Blood Elven model, ripped the head off of it and stuck a Sethrak head on it and called it a Sethrak, that wouldn't be an issue. Cloning a core Horde race is an issue.

The fact is, High Elves aren't playable for the same reason ogres, krokul, forest trolls, etc aren't playable. That is - because they haven't been made playable yet.

Once again, Blizzard has told you why they aren't playable. They aren't playable for the Alliance because they are playable for the Horde. Ignoring what Blizzard is telling you and then coming up with your own answer as to why they haven't been made playable yet is textbook denial.

I don't know what sort heuristics Blizz goes over to determine whether a race is technically, commercially, and thematically viable to be made playable. But, we've seen from Zandalari and Mag'har, they're willing to add longstanding player desires to the roster, even if they don't offer as much as a completely new race. Helf support is good. It shows that there's still a strong desire for an iconic faction that is still entirely unavailable for play.

THE. RACE. IS. PLAYABLE.

You draw comparisons to other groups that are not playable and invent some sort of equivalence. You seem to think if you pretend that Blizzard hasn't told you why they aren't playable, if you pretend they are distinct from Blood Elves, if you pretend that it is a matter of time, that they will eventually coming to you.

If you want to play a High Elf so badly, make a Blood Elf and join the Horde. It is that simple. And it is as fair to you as the player who prefers the Horde but just has to roll a Gnome because that is their favorite race. It's a faction based game. Pick a side.