Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Deleted]

You can throw as much Lore BS as you want to. What is the majority of the alliance player base going to think when patch 8.x comes out and the horde gets Ogres and they get a copy of belves after their already got Velves.

First of all, if Alliance gets High Elves, Horde wouldn't get a unique race as a counterpart. Allied race for the allied Race, unique race for the unique race. Secondly, Alliance did already get Lightforged Draenei who are almost literally just regular Draenei - a race that wasn't even in different faction and what Alliance player could have already played before, and the world didn't crumble. Thirdly, the 'Allied Race' feature is exactly for reskins like High Elves - that's the entire point of it. So if you see a problem about Alliance getting an extremely similar race, then you should complain about the entire "Allied Race" feature and not just when it concerns High Elves.

[Varx]

First of all, if Alliance gets High Elves, Horde wouldn't get a unique race as a counterpart. Allied race for the allied Race, unique race for the unique race. Secondly, Alliance did already get Lightforged Draenei who are almost literally just regular Draenei - a race that wasn't even in different faction and what Alliance player could have already played before, and the world didn't crumble. Thirdly, the 'Allied Race' feature is exactly for reskins like High Elves - that's the entire point of it. So if you see a problem about Alliance getting an extremely similar race, then you should complain about the entire "Allied Race" feature and not just when it concerns High Elves.

Are you kidding me??? High Elves are not a reskin, they're the same race as belves.

VOID ELVES are a reskin, which the alliance did already freaking get. High Elves would basically just be clicking and dragging Belves to alliance side while the horde either gets a unique race or a reskin of a parent race.

You're grasping at the straws here to push your agenda towards half the WoW player base.

[Deleted]

Are you kidding me??? High Elves are not a reskin, they're the same race as belves. VOID ELVES are a reskin, which the alliance did get. High Elves would basically just be clicking and dragging Belves to alliance side while the horde either gets a unique race or a reskin of a parent race.

You're grasping at the straws here to push your agenda towards half the WoW player base.

High Elves models can be changed. For example, they could be based on Nozdormu models. Also, an Allied Race being for the whole Alliance/Horde is a completely wrong thinking. An Allied Race is for those who'd like to play them - it's little more than a cosmetic change after all. Hence a single Allied Race is created for like 1%-10% of players only, depending on how popular the race is. It's not a feature for the majority of players. For the vast majority of player base an implementation of a specific Allied Race is completely irrelevant, be it a High Elf or a Dark Iron Dwarf.

[Varx]

High Elves models can be changed. For example, they could be based on Nozdormu models. Also, an Allied Race being for the whole Alliance/Horde is a completely wrong thinking. An Allied Race is for those who'd like to play them - it's little more than a cosmetic change after all. Hence a single Allied Race is created for like 1%-10% of players only, depending on how popular the race is. It's not a feature for the majority of players. For the vast majority of player base an implementation of a specific Allied Race is completely irrelevant, be it a High Elf or a Dark Iron Dwarf.

Allied races are a new SELLING POINT for a new expansion designed to give more play styles for the entire Fan base, not the 1% to 10%. Not once did Blizzard say that was their philosophy for Allied Races. That would be like McDonald's releasing deep fried cockroaches world wide when their target demographic is the far east. It's a waste of resources, time and money.

As for Nozdormu. Nozdormu is a fucking Dragon Aspect and a Major Lore figure which is why he has a unique model. All other generic Dragons use regular Elven models.

The only way this could work is if Vareesa and her Lot went through some kind of significant transformation. But then they wouldn't be high elves anymore and you guys would still be crying.

But even that wouldn't happen since it already DID happen, with Void Elves FFS. Blizzard is not going to keep recycling Parent races that already received an allied race, which is why Wild Hammers are also out of the question.

[Deleted]

Allied races are a new SELLING POINT for a new expansion designed to give more play styles for the entire Fan base, not the 1% to 10%. Not once did Blizzard say that was their philosophy for Allied Races. That would be like McDonald's releasing deep fried cockroaches world wide when their target demographic is the far east. It's a waste of resources, time and money.

So, you are saying that Blizzard expects 30% of people to play Lightforged Draenei? Or maybe 40% to play Nightborn? Seriously, don't be absurd. Also, Allied Race is not going to be an expansion-wide feature. They have confirmed that they are going to add them later during the expansions as well.

As for Nozdormu. Nozdormu is a fucking Dragon Aspect and a Major Lore figure which is why he has a unique model. All other generic Dragons use regular Elven models.

I am not saying that High Elves have to be copies of Nozdormu, just be based on his model.

The only way this could work is if Vareesa and her Lot went through some kind of significant transformation. But then they wouldn't be high elves anymore and you guys would still be crying.

Nope, Kul'Tirans is a different Allied Race even though they are the exact same humans as the Stormwind ones. And no, they don't look different from them because of evolution or something, Blizzard has confirmed that humans from Kul'Tiras and Strormwind are exactly the same race and just gave Kul'Tirans a different human body types.

But even that wouldn't happen since it already DID happen, with Void Elves FFS. Blizzard is not going to keep recycling Parent races that already received an allied race, which is why Wild Hammers are also out of the question.

Yes, they are. Wildhammer dwarves, different troll tribes, maybe humans from other kingdoms are all going to be in for sure. They already said that they have loads of Allied Races in mind and absolutely nothing is out of the picture because of how well the current reskins were received.

[Zorish]

I am not saying that High Elves have to be copies of Nozdormu, just be based on his model.

nope. they can't. too late for this after 20 years of lore the physical appearance of "High" and Blood elves are identical. Blood elves didn't undergo major transformation during their namechange. So they can't look different from "High elves". They. are. the. same. race.

oh and about wildhammer dwarves. i think they choose to add dark iron because they have MAJOR difference in physical appearance from normal dwarves. While Wildhammer is just... wild? Same skin color, same eyes. Add 1-3 new hair, few tattoo options, accesories to normal dwarves and you will get wildhammer.

[Deleted]

nope. they can't. too late for this after 20 years of lore the physical appearance of "High" and Blood elves are identical. Blood elves didn't undergo major transformation during their namechange. So they can't look different from "High elves". They. are. the. same. race.

Kul'Tirans are the exact same race as Stormwind humans, confirmed by Blizzard. Yet, Blizzard just gave them a different body type and here you go - an Allied Race.

[Deleted]

Guys after High Elves can we have Cow Elves. I just feel like we need to get some more elves in this game especially on the Horde side.

[Varx]

Ugh dude... Ok lets say you're right. WTF would the Horde get? ysera styled Night Elves?? Come on be realistic.

And btw Kul Tirans are different. Blizzard has stated that they are big and burly based on their environment.

[Zorish]

and so? you want to compare fast breeding race of humans whose population can be millions to elves? yeah yeah "void elves are squad so population doesn't matter" And still this squad looks the same. Man while we know that humans can be different shapes ?in WC3 Garithos face looks like current kultirasian, while Daelin - simple human. Every "High elf" we saw have the same features. Tall, slender, long hairs. no tummy at all. And yes - still Noz is major lore figure. He can have any model blizzard want to give him. you see? WE NEVER saw "High elf" different from Blood elf. Never. Altering every model of High elf in warcraft for you with no clear reason? nope. not now not in the near future.

oh and very same blizzard

Now, Kul’Tirans (by nature) are monster hunters. Specifically, big nasty sea monsters — which is lead by a much hardier breed of human, like these big fellas over here; and I also mentioned that the zones each have their own problems.

https://warcraft.blizzplanet.com/blo...l-transcript/2 so... sorry they are different. No - i think stormwind humans have chances to born this big, but probably lesser that KT.

edit: and last one. it took 10k years for elves to change the COLOR of their skin and MAYBE their height. And even after that they still posses almost identical features of Night elves and Nightborn. 10k years of evolution ended in just color change. and you want to change them completly after ~20 years sitting their a**es in dalaran on the same arcane magic diet (veressa probably had more protein in addition to mana from Rhonin )?

[raz98]

Gonna be honest. I'm no fan of elves, but this concept is fantastic! elves like this would actually convince me to roll one. Brilliant work man. I'd play it.

[corebit]

Kul'Tirans are the exact same race as Stormwind humans, confirmed by Blizzard. Yet, Blizzard just gave them a different body type and here you go - an Allied Race.

Jungle trolls and Ice trolls are also the same race but have entirely different physiology. The Kul’tirans have some connection with the ancient Drust people and did not originate from Stormwind. Try again.

High Elves/Blood Elves are literally the same people who come from Quel’thalas. Kul’tirans/Stormwind humans are not even in the same league.

[Deleted]

Jungle trolls and Ice trolls are also the same race but have entirely different physiology. The Kul’tirans have some connection with the ancient Drust people and did not originate from Stormwind. Try again.

High Elves/Blood Elves are literally the same people who come from Quel’thalas. Kul’tirans/Stormwind humans are not even in the same league.

Try again what? Kul'Tirans and Stromwing humans are exact same race, confirmed by Blizzard. Kul'Tirans even have normal Stormwind human models among them. That's about models.

About being literally the same people, Void Elves and Blood Elves are exactly the same people from Quel'thalas. Void Elves lived there like yesterday. Yet, here we go - an Allied Race.

- - - Updated - - -

Ugh dude... Ok lets say you're right. WTF would the Horde get? ysera styled Night Elves?? Come on be realistic.

And btw Kul Tirans are different. Blizzard has stated that they are big and burly based on their environment.

I don't care what Horde would get. For elf/elf exchange, they can get Dark Rangers.

No, Kul'Tirans are simply a different body type. They have also skinny humans and normal humans among them. The burly ones are not even the majority. It has nothing to do with environment. Blizzard just made a variety of human models instead of one and presented one of them as an Allied race.

[corebit]

Try again what? Kul'Tirans and Stromwing humans are exact same race, confirmed by Blizzard. Kul'Tirans even have normal Stormwind human models among them. That's about models.

You keep repeating "they are the same race" as if it matters. Are Dark Irons and Bronzebeards the same race? Yes. Are the different Troll tribes the same race? Yes. Are the different Orc clans the same race? Yes.

Yet you continually miss the point that they have enough differentiating features like different origins, cultures and physical adaptations to the environment to set them apart, unlike the high elves/blood elves.

About being literally the same people, Void Elves and Blood Elves are exactly the same people from Quel'thalas. Void Elves lived there like yesterday. Yet, here we go - an Allied Race.

Are you not aware that this defeats your own argument? You admit High Elves/Blood Elves are literally the same people with the same culture, that's why Blizzard already compromised by giving the Alliance Blood Elves but changed enough to set them apart. A compromise means you're not getting 100% of what you want, and Void Elves are exactly that compromise.

[Traycor]

And that's just the Covenant. There are the High Elves that appeared in Allerian Stronghold (who are now canonically back in Stormwind), the Stormwind High Elves that have been scattered about (some of which being refugees from Lordaeron and Theramore), the Quel'danil High Elves that live in a town in the Hinterlands, and the High Elves of Dalaran that are not part of the Silver Covenant.

All of these can technically join the Silver Covenant (possibly under a new name).

I like the idea of the scattered High Elf groups unifying under one banner. It would be fun to expand the Quel'danil lodge into a home base for them since the Hinterlands zone is barely used. That part of the world could become relevant again. Of course, they could easily base out of Dalaran or Stormwind with almost no dev time. Just drop some NPCs into the Park in the Mage District of Stormwind and you've got a base of operations. The area near the Slaughtered Lamb is fairly open and empty.

[Gurluas]

As I mentioned before, the best Elves for this concept are the Highvale High elves.
Not only did they form a close bond with the Wildhammers and their natural ways, they also stopped using Arcane magic entirely, and formed a more ranger focused culture.

The Silver Covenant High elves are basically Blood elves with blue eyes and a blue phoenix banner. The Highvale High elves actually have a proper cultural difference that developed following the fall of Silvermoon.

I could see the Highvale High elves serving as an alternative to becoming a Void elf for High elves unwilling to go down that path, and thus could attract quite the attention. I can't see the entire High elf population wanting to become Void monsters.
I mean even some Blood elves almost went down that path.

https://wow.gamepedia.com/Priest_Ennas

[Deleted]

I totally support this idea of a High Elven allied race. And all the art done so far looks good.

[RangerDaz]

Hey Kai,

Here are my thoughts about what you said:

but the Chronicles say nothing on the High Elf population. In fact the High Elves aren't mentioned once following the fall of Quel'thalas. As previous information regarding the High Elf population issue was not retconned, it has to be seen as standing.

Do remember that Chronicles wants to retcon all the past lore of WoW. It can't retcon what hasn't been released yet. Maybe in the future they will change their minds again, for gameplay reasons. We have a very good example: Argus Soul. It was never mentioned in chronicles, and Azeroth was always mentioned as the last world soul. and surprise, surprise, Argus had also a soul that was known to Sargeras. They retconned even the Chronicles ingame for Gameplay reasons. So Chronicles is exactly what it is: A compilation and retcon all all the existing warcraft lore. All the lore to be released in the future, everything can change again (but no major or drastic changes, of course).

So just because Chronicles doesn't emphasise High Elves (and Void Elves as well), doesn't mean they won't have an important role in the future.

Can Blizzard change that truth? Yes, but Blizzard can change anything. Once we get to that point there isn't anything worth debating anymore. As Blizzard hasn't changed their stance on the population issue, and has in fact reinforced it year after year, it must be a factor worth considering.
(...)
Once you say the devs can change it if they want, it stops being a debate because of course they can.

I think you just hit the main core of the discussion here, and that is exactly what i have been saying.
I is really not about what we players think it is possible, not possible, the lore permits or not permits.
They will change what they want, because they own the copywrites of the franchise.

However they do listen to player feedback, and that is what we can give them.
So each one of us can give the opinion of what we feel it is best for the franchise, but the last word is always theirs.

I don't think it's a good idea for two reasons. One, the Void Elves look too much like Blood Elves anyway and dragging them closer to that erases what little physical difference there is and two, I really can't see them giving Void Elves High Elf like skins without some sort of horrible sting in the tail.

Well here in my opinion is the best feedback you gave in this reply: the question of uniqueness between elven races, and if cosmetic alternatives to void elves to make them look more high elvish make sense or not.

I do agree if High Elves ever come out, they need to be different from Blood Elves, so they don't ruin each other, and that both alternatives sound cool for the player. And i also do agree that the hand and feet shades we see in void elves (just like we see it in demon hunters) would look strange in high elves.

- - - Updated - - -

The wheels of game design turn slowly, but I think sometimes people underestimate how quickly Blizzard makes alterations behind the scenes. Not that long ago, they had no plans to update customization in the game, but now we've seen several new customizations with a direct tease that a system for more might be on the way.

I believe this was a quick and direct response to the community reaction. Usually I never read any of the forums and only occasionally visit the websites. My early layman impression of Battle for Azeroth was that it was going to be the customization expansion. It just had that vibe. So when they said they had no customization plans, it was kinda off putting. Seems many other people had the same impression and Blizzard recognized this. So they have made a quick internal turnaround and done something about it.

I'm not saying we can expect High Elves soon™. However, the community reaction to Void Elves has been sharp. It felt like a slight to some of the High Elf fans, and it seems those fans have been expressing their opinions everywhere. Personally I had no idea if anyone was posting on it or not when I started this thread, and I imagine I'm not alone. A lot of fans want High Elves and have been patiently waiting. Blizzard has to have seen the reaction, and I'm sure it made them consider their course. Any smart company would.

Yes i do agree with you. I believe they do see the potential of high elves. And we can see they see it. The BfA easter eggs related to Charli... Jaina's angels, the High Elf Wayfarers, etc, and the past lore in Legion (blizzard called all important elven factions to join forces and free suramar, to make an elven all star mega event, which in my opinion was absolutely great), shows that they do not want High Elves to be forgotten.

I believe they are waiting for the right time, if they find a right time. However they do not want to destroy their newly released products. So they want to balance the release of Void Elves / Nightborne and the future (if it ever happens) release of High Elves and their counter part, which i would love to be undead high elves, Sylvanas kin.

Right now there are still 4 months to the release of BfA. There will be patches 8.1 and 8.2. Mag'har orcs & Dark Iron dwarves will be released in 8.0, Zandalari trolls and Kul Tiras Humans probably in 8.1, or sooner. Vulpera and their counter part (Sethrak?) also not far away, so all of this will take until april 2019, i believe. They will probably launch more 2 or 3 pairs of different allied races (Saberons vs. Ogres, for example?), until they might or will start to launch reskins of existing allied races. High Elves are probably on top of the list.

Launching High Elves between BfA and the next expansion could be a good marketing move from Blizzard to keep the subscriptions active.

- - - Updated - - -

Here's the Silver Covenant info from WoWpedia. If we were to add in the Vereesa specific story elements (the leader of the Silver Covenant) there would be even more. Maybe we can discuss this content and decide what would be good to include in the OP:

History of the Silver Covenant

Wrath of the Lich King
The Silver Covenant is a militant faction of high elves led by the high elf Vereesa Windrunner. They reject the admission of blood elves into the Kirin Tor and have taken it upon themselves to serve as a military deterrent for any potential Horde uprising. They have joined the Alliance Vanguard, along with the Explorers' League and the main host of the Valiance Expedition, in Northrend. They employ hippogryphs as well.

They represented the Alliance in the Argent Tournament. Later the champions of the Silver Covenant helped fight the forces of the scourge in the Frozen Halls and its Sunreaver counterpart in Dalaran, to restore the magical blade Quel'Delar from its defiled state by the Blood-Queen Lana'thel.

Cataclysm
In the wake of the Cataclysm, the Silver Covenant is invited by the Ranger-General of Silvermoon, Halduron Brightwing, to join forces with Vol'jin of the Darkspear tribe against the budding Amani empire within the city of Zul'Aman.

Mists of Pandaria
Jaina mobilized the Alliance forces and the Silver Covenant to purge the Horde from Dalaran. While Jaina rounded up the Sunreavers who surrendered peacefully, Vereesa sends Alliance agents to prevent the Sunreavers from escaping and neutralize any Horde insurrections or Sunreaver sympathizers who were aiding and abetting their resistance to incarceration. The Silver Covenant is dispatched into the sewers, where they round up several bewildered Sunreaver citizens. Soon after, the Covenant comes under attack by Grand Magister Rommath, whose assault on the city includes undoing much of the Silver Covenant's attacks underground, in Krasus' Landing, and in the (now Alliance-controlled) Sunreaver's Sanctuary.

The Silver Covenant is later seen supporting Jaina Proudmoore's Kirin Tor Offensive as they vie for control over the Isle of Thunder.

Legion
Vereesa leads the Silver Covenant to Trueshot Lodge, pledging their aid to the new leader of the Unseen Path following their inauguration.

Later, together with the Sentinels and the Quel'Thalassian force they participated the Nightfallen rebellion.

Yes i believe this is important for the Lore argument. I also think that the Legion Lore is covered very briefly. The Suramar event of the insurrection chain was really important because Blizzard showed us they cared for them, and didn't forget them. They placed them in equal relevance as Nightborne, Blood Elves and Night Elves (i actually did that quest days ago with my alt). All four Elven Races united to fight a common enemy: the Legion. That was an extremely cool idea and well executed ingame.

As I mentioned before, the best Elves for this concept are the Highvale High elves.
Not only did they form a close bond with the Wildhammers and their natural ways, they also stopped using Arcane magic entirely, and formed a more ranger focused culture.

The Silver Covenant High elves are basically Blood elves with blue eyes and a blue phoenix banner. The Highvale High elves actually have a proper cultural difference that developed following the fall of Silvermoon.

I could see the Highvale High elves serving as an alternative to becoming a Void elf, for High elves unwilling to go down that path, and thus could attract quite the attention.
I mean even some Blood elves almost went down that path.

https://wow.gamepedia.com/Priest_Ennas

Who told you Highvale and Silver Covenant High Elves aren't the same, or one part of the other? Maybe they are! (i at least think like that)

I see the Silver Covenant as a faction, just like the Ebon Blade. The Highvale High Elves could have been summoned by Vereesa to help her. Also the Dalaran High Elves heard her call. For me the Silver Covenant is the High Elf faction that calls all High Elves spread over Azeroth to unite them when Vereesa or Dalaran needs their aid.

[Azen]

Lots of other MMOs have similar races on opposing factions, and High Elves happen to be part of the historical Warcraft Alliance fantasy.

Look at any other MMO with factions. There are some races in Warcraft where they can afford to be more lenient with their model. Namely the Blood Elf one.

Then go play these other mmos ? Stop trying to force your own fantasies into Warcraft where they don't belong.

Ogres and other troll races were also a part of historical Warcraft Horde fantasy, yet they aren't playable. High elves are at least playable. Just not with the Alliance anymore.

[The Hero of Legend]

Man, I wish Alliance got this instead of Void Elves and got the Broken Draenei instead of the Lightforged. Not that I dislike Void Elves or Lightforged it's just that High Elves and Broken would've been way cooler and more flexible. Seriously, I can't not pick a Paladin or Priest for Lightforged Draenei or a Shadow Priest for Void Elves. I know that's my problem more than the races since there are characters of these races that are other classes. Broken would've opened up the Draenei skeleton to warlocks and rogues and would've been more their own thing and a bit separate to the Draenei. High Elves are also way more neutral in their design than Void Elves so it looks (to me) more reasonable for them to be a myriad of classes.

High Elf and Ogres were THE races that should've been a no brainer to add to the Horde and Alliance. I can not believe they weren't just base vanilla races.

Oh well, sadly they've spent the High Elf token on Void Elves so that's probably it for them now. Too many elves is already a meme amongst the community.