We heard, that they were talking about like 20 races as considered as possible for BfA. Ion said, that his personal limit is 40 per faction. When I have been counting on existing races, that I would like to see implemented in time - I ended with number 61.
As the Warcraft universe grows, significance of single exception becomes less important with time, and so - more likely. Moreover I'm not sure, if ailed race system is at this point even designed to maintain current race diversity, or it is already compromise, and lowering the bar - as we saw Dark Irons and Void Elves, and see much demands for Wildhammer also.
You probably know, that I already addressed this one - I absolutely do not agree with such statement. Factions actually benefits on close parallel storytelling, or so called "mirroring". It's easier to make tension on such conflicts grow. I personally perfectly understand, why they didin't remove Silver Covenant. However I'm afraid, they won't be able to keep the cake, and eat the cake, at the same time anymore with allied race system.
That's very far-going statement... Especially after Pandaren, and Void Elves.
I understand Your points, and consider them important too. Lowering the bar for new races should nor become a rule. I even hope there still will be still some fully implemented races, outside allied race system. However - we just get system designed perfectly to introduce some of well established in WoW more classic races. And that is why I assume, that compromise is under consideration.
I see those differences to. However where You see only danger, I could see also opportunities.
First of all - there is still common ground between that ideas, even in contradictory in particular - they all fall under the umbrella of more classic elf representations, than we usually met in WoW. When introduced, they were just balancing between high-elf-niche and forest-elf-niche, now - they have multiple connexions with many elements of the world.
They also show that the possible flexibility of High Elf concept, and field of compromises is in fact huge. Lest's think - golden eyes, and green eyes seem to prove, that Blizzard is able to portray one race, as based on more than one pillar, right? Tirasian story, is prof, that ideas of trace mixing can be implemented not just under open banner of "half elves" but also as secondary feature. Idea of stormforged elves can be integrated to story about searching new ways of balancing arcane and/or nature, and give some more customization options. "Celtic elves ideas" is in fact highly compatible with ranger themes. Presence of tendency to reject magic seem to be in fact compatible with... even having mages as playable class, as it is seen with Night Elves, right? Silver Covenant and Blue Dragon cooperating elves could be in fact beginnings of the new racial factions, and institutions, even if not main source of playable race population - like Highborne are way of preservation of Arcane practices in Night Elf society, or like Farstriders and Magisters are pillars of Blood Elven one. And least but not last, as I said few times Silver Covenant can act like a conductor in scenario bringing other High Elves to Alliance.
Maybe there would be scraps, as there always are some. But it is highly untrue, that nothing interesting and unique can be sculpted from this puzzles. Such variety of motifs offers possibility of creating many new stories, introduce new tensions and conflicts. And yet, they are all much likely to be recognized as High Elves, than Void Elves, or Blood Elves.
Because ideas of having classic elves, and close parallel stories, with so called "mirroring", are both very appealing and strong. And so is nostalgia. Those are three reasons, that could easily sustain requests for another decade.
When it comes for Half Elves - this is not a Blizzard favorable solution, to introduce half-breeds under open banner, as it limits diversity, rather than stimulates it. So if ever - they gonna be anyway fused with High Elven concepts, in way similar to Mok'Nathal and Tirasians. This is not solution totally unacceptable as compromise - if only grounded in High Elf story and classical elven aesthetics.
Better than You might think. Creativity, despite what people might think, is not the art of creating from nothing, but rather art of rearranging existing and known images in appealing way.
Lesser, than ten decade of High Elf conflicts? These are bad ideas I agree. Houever Blizzard is not master of subtlety, so maybe compromise would be better? Fair share of Thalasian motifs instead of fighting upon them all, no matter, if they are useful for current choice of development?
I stated in my first post, that I don't care about lore anymore. I once cared a little bit, and liked lore based discussions, but in recent 12 years I have grown up to understand, that It is not worth any effort, when someone constantly changes and rewrites story, being interested only in how to sell it at the current moment.
Yes, and so?
If I was the one, who was writing the Warcraft story, it would be probably more darker, much more dystopian, tragic. Significantly limited when it comes to happy endings, and redemption motifs, with all actions and decisions resulting in some inevitable consequences, lack of easy answers and lack of ones who You can trust. But If people would want to identify oneself with the moral high ground - I would let them with proper cost. Ethical disagreement is still potent in Thalasian elf story, and game itself should not decide who was right, but instead - show different outcomes. High Elves do not have their homeland, and should never have it again - isn't that goos point to start a story, about those who came to terms with it, and those, who will never do?
Possible, but rather unlikely, as well as reunion, or giving Blood Elves blue eyes. Cause - why would Blizzard chose to resign from the trope, that sells well, and catches attention?