Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Ardenaso]

Also I found this in youtube, thought i should share it here:

Blizzard: So you want uncorrupted High elves for the Alliance?
crowd cheers
B: So you want race who chose their morals and friends over addiction?
crowd cheers
B: So you want race who remain true to Light instead of stealing it?
crowd cheers
B: So you want race who rather live as outcasts among their own people then joining the Horde?
crowd cheers
B: Well, we got news for you...
crowd goes crazy
B: Fuck you! Here's even more corrupted elves who are the same assholes as before but got kicked out of Horde for being too extreme in their research of Void. They can't be paladins nor druids and they can only be holy priests because you can't make shadow without that. For the Horde, death to the Alliance drops microphone

- - - Updated - - -

I'm actually not sure about this, because we know trolls mate a lot and probably grow a lot faster than elves. Since the Echo Isles have been largely left alone in recent years, i think a lot of them can have been born and soon able to be teenagers/adults.

I see, welp disregard that now. The point still stands: if Blizzard can make an Allied Race of a small elite group of Void Elves, they have no excuse of refusing Alliance High Elves.

Or better yet: If you want a purple skinned elf, the Alliance is there waiting for you

But still, I'd rather wager on Lightbound Orcs than High Elves if there's only one slot remaining

[Aldo Hawk]

I've seen some source somewhere that there's even lesser Darkspears at this point than High Elves

I don't know about that, but what is certain is that High elves are not the only group with low quantity of members.

We have the gnomes, who got obliterated by an invasion of troggs that ended up with a mad person irradiating the whole city, killing like 85% (I don't remember well) of all the gnomes from there.

We also have the Tauren of Mulgore, who were almost decimated by the centaur, I think it's pretty clear.

Highmountain Tauren are also a union of tribes, and tribes are... Well, tribes aren't known to be very large.

We also have the Bilgewater Cartel, which are survivors of a wrecked ship. There's more than enough evidence to say that a lot of the goblins we see in the Horde aren't from Bilgewater origins, but Steamwheedle, the player character is obviously Bilgewater, but you see, this is how it works.

We also have Darkspear, that we already know they were almost decimated.

The orcs seem to not be very low on numbers, but damn, how many they survived Outland and how many ships they had from Eastern Kingdoms and how many orcs have survived to today?

And Mag'har are literally, but literally, a small portion of a tribe that escaped through a dimensional portal, closing it seemingly forever, damn.

Void elves, the crack squad.

Lightforged Draenei and Draenei, very similar, survivors from a ship.

I mean, we can go up and down about this, but it's pretty clear that numbers and populations are just lame excuses, very bad ones, low quality 0/10 not recommended.

[elbleuet]

If they are the same race, then a high elf option is present for players in warcraft and the desire for an exact duplicate of an existing Horde race on the Alliance is superfluous.

You've already stated that opinion. What's new ?

A fel corrupted elf is known as a Felblood Elf. You can find them in select areas of Outland as well as in Sunwell plateau. Elven eyes reflect the ambience of the dominant magic they are exposed to. This is why they have golden eyes now, green eyes when fel energy was stored in vast crystals to sustain Silvermoon's spellwork (NOT directly imbibed) and blue when the Sunwell was a font of arcane energy. Note that the difference between the three periods is that they are imbibing the arcane and light energies of the sunwell to sate their addiction during the blue and golden periods, but during the green periods they fed off arcane energies stored in vermin.

Felblood elf is just a variant form of what a corrupted blood elf can look like. Just like green orcs are corrupted Ma'ghar orcs.

During the same period when the Sunwell was down, the exiles were consuming arcane energies at the same rate as the Blood Elves, just using rare artefacts to accomplish the same statement. If the thalassian elves are anything, it is arcane corrupted. All of them.

High elves are arcane corrupted indeed. Blood elves are fel/light corrupted and will remain so untill WoW is dead.

Chris Metzen got mixed up on a minor point of lore involving two minor characters. Ion Hazzikostas is the current game director who also played a role in evaluating the exiles as an allied race candidate, rejected them and helped create Void Elves in their stead. If part of your argument relies upon your interpretation being right and the interpretation of the creator's being wrong, you aren't going to come out on top in the argument.

You've been repeating this sole "argument" maybe since many years from now and still don't convince anyone here. Time to find other ones really - - - Updated - - -

Like it or not, the High Elves left the Alliance. Clinging to a few individuals who decided not to follow orders to argue that a High Elf presence was maintained in the Alliance is akin to arguing the British are an important part of the EU post Brexit. That isn't how it works. The Elves were, pre-socurge, an isolationist and faintly xenophobic people with a superiority complex who wanted as little to do with the rest of Azeroth as they could manage. A few rejected this approach, and this same few are probably the band who ended up in exile, but they do not constitute a unique, strong part of the Alliance. They are what they appear to be, a rebel faction of an existing Horde race.

The thing you don't seem to understand is : the golden age of the high elves involments in the Alliance affairs began when Silvermoon left it actually wether it was during WII with Alleria, in WIII with the High elves mages and priests or after the fall of QT with Vereesa.
We don't care about Silvermoon nor QT. We just care about the High elves.

[Ardenaso]

Highmountain Tauren are also a union of tribes, and tribes are... Well, tribes aren't known to be very large..

Fuck it, Blizzard better approve my union of anti-Alliance human anarchists:

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ace-suggestion

[Aucald]

The new starting experience slated for Shadowlands actually offers up a lot of new narrative leeway for the various races in WoW, as they'll no longer be locked in to the pre-set starting experiences in Classic through to BfA, instead sharing a specific scenario-like quest-chain on a heretofore unknown island. This is basically how they're working in the alternative PC models (e.g. Wildhammer Dwarves, non-Darkspear Trolls, etc. etc.) - as the original experiences kind of locked you into a specific extraction of a given race, but now the starting experience will be much more open and non-specific. With this new platform you could easily introduce new races without having to give them specific starting experiences (or no starting experience, such as with the Allied Races currently).

I can easily see how this might foster the addition of even more race variants, perhaps up to and including the High Elven exiles in some capacity.

[Geisl]

The new starting experience slated for Shadowlands actually offers up a lot of new narrative leeway for the various races in WoW, as they'll no longer be locked in to the pre-set starting experiences in Classic through to BfA, instead sharing a specific scenario-like quest-chain on a heretofore unknown island. This is basically how they're working in the alternative PC models (e.g. Wildhammer Dwarves, non-Darkspear Trolls, etc. etc.) - as the original experiences kind of locked you into a specific extraction of a given race, but now the starting experience will be much more open and non-specific. With this new platform you could easily introduce new races without having to give them specific starting experiences (or no starting experience, such as with the Allied Races currently).

I can easily see how this might foster the addition of even more race variants, perhaps up to and including the High Elven exiles in some capacity.

Definitely, but it also introduces some ridiculous bits too like Dark Trolls being playable. It is kinda like you can essentially throw out what's been established as current as even BFA once Shadowlands releases because the increased customizations with it are not overly concerned (or even care seemingly) about any established lore.

And by this I mean the Dark Trolls skin example, where in BFA there's an NPC saying she is the last of her kind.

Now, I don't really care as I'm for far more options for every player to be able to customize their character's identity - especially in a feasible manner (Wildhammer for ex), but some options definitely appear to be "because it'd just be cool, established lore be damned".

But bottom-line, I do agree. The generic/neutral starting zone allows for more variants without having to be tied down to each race's opening scene meaning players aren't as restricted in their origins as before. Players would get more freedom with how they choose to RP their character and those origins, especially with newer customization options opening those avenues up as well.

It would mean putting High Elf options on Void Elves would be as feasible as Wildhammer Dwarves onto Bronzebeards.

[Obelisk Kai]

The new starting experience slated for Shadowlands actually offers up a lot of new narrative leeway for the various races in WoW, as they'll no longer be locked in to the pre-set starting experiences in Classic through to BfA, instead sharing a specific scenario-like quest-chain on a heretofore unknown island. This is basically how they're working in the alternative PC models (e.g. Wildhammer Dwarves, non-Darkspear Trolls, etc. etc.) - as the original experiences kind of locked you into a specific extraction of a given race, but now the starting experience will be much more open and non-specific. With this new platform you could easily introduce new races without having to give them specific starting experiences (or no starting experience, such as with the Allied Races currently).

I can easily see how this might foster the addition of even more race variants, perhaps up to and including the High Elven exiles in some capacity.

Yet there are flaws with this analysis.

It presumes that there is going to be some kind of lore explanation behind the expansion of Troll and Dwarf customisation options. It is just as likely they will expand the customisations on offer and let the players go at it or come up with their own explanations as to why they can now be a Wildhammer Dwarf or a have the tones of a sand troll. As a comparison, I sincerely doubt Blizzard is going to create a lore event explaining why Humans now have African and Asian facial options in WoW. Instead they will grant the options and call it a low key retcon, you are going to have to presume they were always there.

The same will probably hold true for the Dwarven and Troll options, although players are likely welcome to head canon their own explanations as to why their avatar looks the way they do. With the core races there are plentiful options actually consistent with the lore, from a parent being from the selected group to a member of that group deciding to throw in with the Horde and joining up with the main representative of their race within the Horde i.e. the Darkspear Trolls and the Bronzebeard Dwarves.

And of course, the allied races are actually limited due to the circumstances of their creation. A Lightforged Draenei must always be Lightforged after all, that is the entire point of a Lightforged Draenei. To imagine there are no limitations anymore, that lore does not matter, means that something like a Broken Draenei should plausibly be realised via a Lightforged Draenei simply due to their common ancestry. The core races have a great deal of leeway in that their origins aren't so neatly defined as some of the allied races. None of the options Blizzard is bestowing on the existing races that we know of can be considered impossible in canon.

But a Mag'har Orc can never be green and must always have come from alternate Draenor.
A lightforged Draenei must always be lightforged.
And a Void Elf can only ever be a Void Elf, never an uncorrupted exile. They maybe an exile that has chosen to BE a Void Elf, but the entire premise of the race rests on them actually going through the transformation process.

[Aldo Hawk]

Today I have found a Blood elf corpse in Orgrimmar, and I was playing my paladin.

I decided to resurrect the poor guy, because I can

But oops, it was a Void elf

So noticeable, such differentiation, very distinct, much aesthetics

[Aucald]

It presumes that there is going to be some kind of lore explanation behind the expansion of Troll and Dwarf customisation options. It is just as likely they will expand the customisations on offer and let the players go at it or come up with their own explanations as to why they can now be a Wildhammer Dwarf or a have the tones of a sand troll. As a comparison, I sincerely doubt Blizzard is going to create a lore event explaining why Humans now have African and Asian facial options in WoW. Instead they will grant the options and call it a low key retcon, you are going to have to presume they were always there.

The same will probably hold true for the Dwarven and Troll options, although players are likely welcome to head canon their own explanations as to why their avatar looks the way they do. With the core races there are plentiful options actually consistent with the lore, from a parent being from the selected group to a member of that group deciding to throw in with the Horde and joining up with the main representative of their race within the Horde i.e. the Darkspear Trolls and the Bronzebeard Dwarves.

Actually it kind of presumes the opposite, at least given what we know thus far. There's no way for the system to react to personal affectations you choose for a Dwarf, Troll, or what have you - which is probably part and parcel of what the unified experience is for. Insofar as new characters go, you can be a Dwarf Shaman with Wildhammer tattoos because you want to play as one, but your starting experience is still going to be the same as a Bronzebeard Dwarf or a Dark Iron one. Ditto for choosing to have a Mossflayer skintone as a Troll. Similar with Human skintones - it'll either be a post facto type of change, or a soft retcon. Either way, the lore is divorced from the current starting experiences and rolled into the shared experience planned for the next expansion.

And of course, the allied races are actually limited due to the circumstances of their creation. A Lightforged Draenei must always be Lightforged after all, that is the entire point of a Lightforged Draenei. To imagine there are no limitations anymore, that lore does not matter, means that something like a Broken Draenei should plausibly be realised via a Lightforged Draenei simply due to their common ancestry. The core races have a great deal of leeway in that their origins aren't so neatly defined as some of the allied races. None of the options Blizzard is bestowing on the existing races that we know of can be considered impossible in canon.

ut a Mag'har Orc can never be green and must always have come from alternate Draenor.
A lightforged Draenei must always be lightforged. And a Void Elf can only ever be a Void Elf, never an uncorrupted exile. They maybe an exile that has chosen to BE a Void Elf, but the entire premise of the race rests on them actually going through the transformation process.

The Allied Races don't really have starting experiences, per se; except breadcrumb quests that take them from their native starting position to their faction capitols. The recruitment quests will likely be unchanged, as you do those on a character with the requisite levels and/or reputation unlocks - but the Allied Races themselves will likely join their brethren core races (with new customization options) in this new unified experience.

Would be simple enough to have a High Elven customization unlock somewhere in the options and roll them into the unified starting experience, or make a new Allied Race without huge amounts of justification.

[Varx]

The way I see the expansion to troll customization is that the "troll race" can be all of those complexions. Tan skins aren't exclusive to sand trolls, dark purple to dark elves, etc.

Think of it like the grimtotem tribe. They're nearly exclusively all black tauren. Yet bloodhoof (player faction) tauren are able to appear just like a grimtotem. So in the end the new troll options aren't really stepping on the toes of possible ARs.

Zandalari are different since they have clear biological differences than all other troll. Glowing eyes, shorter tusks, scaly skin.

As for wildhammer. If it wasnt for the tattoos the bronzebeard and wildhammer clan are identicle. Unlike the dark irons who have been infused with fire magic.

Apply that logic to high elves and you can understand why they cant be their own race. They do not have extreme biological/magical difference to belves which is what and every AR has to their parent race.

Maghar: free from fel corruption

Nightbrone: infused with the nightwell

Highmountain: antlers

Zanda: the original troll

Vulpera: different race entirely

Kultirans: fat and burley due living conditions in kultiras.

Dark irons: fire infusion

Lightforge: light infusion

Void elves: void infusion

Mechagnomes: mechanized limbs.

***********************

High elves: blue eyes

Now blue eyes themselves arent enough especially since belfs will most likely get them in SL. The sunwell is holy AND arcane.

High elves: free from fel taint.

I dont understand why you guys insist belves are defined by their former fel taint. It was a very minor change from their blue eyed brethren. Elves just naturally change eye glow depending on the type of magic they practice with or live near it.

It's no where near the same as velves.


The fact that they're alliance as an excuse is silly.

I doubt we will ever see playable horde kt humans given the horde aligned pirates in kul tiras.

[Ardenaso]

Another way for High Elves to be distinct is probably some asspulls like lighter skin, lighter hair color, or even a teenage/young adult build like Kul Tirans being fat for distinction

I doubt we will ever see playable horde kt humans given the horde aligned pirates in kul tiras.

How about, them aligning with the Alteraci remnants?

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ace-suggestion

[Varx]

Another way for High Elves to be distinct is probably some asspulls like lighter skin, lighter hair color, or even a teenage/young adult build like Kul Tirans being fat for distinction



How about, them aligning with the Alteraci remnants?

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ace-suggestion

Kt humans aren't just fat for the sake of making them different from sw humans, a belief a lot of helfers cling to for hope.

They're fat because culture and environmental conditions in Kultiras nourished that body type. Something all other human nations were not exposed to.

High elves have 0 reason to have any sort of ass pull physical change from belves to justify a new AR.

[Ardenaso]

Kt humans aren't just fat for the sake of making them different from sw humans, a belief a lot of helfers cling to for hope.

They're fat because culture and environmental conditions in Kultiras nourished that body type. Something all other human nations were not exposed to..

I mean that's something that had to be conceived at the time of their Allied Race being implemented. During Vanilla/Cataclysm, the Kul Tirans weren't fat.

[Varx]

I mean that's something that had to be conceived at the time of their Allied Race being implemented. During Vanilla/Cataclysm, the Kul Tirans weren't fat.

You're right, but not even all main islander kultirans are fat and not a single non kt human is fat. So there still is consistancy there.

How could helves possibly be different. Nothing has happened to them to make such a change.

Plus if they wanted to do some ass pull like why didnt they do that instead of giving velves?

[Frenchvince]

https://www.wowhead.com/news=311808/...88-patch-notes

NEW ALLIED RACES

HIGH DWARVES

The long wait is finally over, and the much-requested High Dwarves are finally coming to Azeroth. There’s not really more to say about the glory of the High Dwarves that hasn’t already been said in the General Discussion forum.

LOL...

[HateTrain]

I got a good chuckle out of that XD

[Geisl]

https://www.wowhead.com/news=311808/...88-patch-notes

NEW ALLIED RACES

HIGH DWARVES

The long wait is finally over, and the much-requested High Dwarves are finally coming to Azeroth. There’s not really more to say about the glory of the High Dwarves that hasn’t already been said in the General Discussion forum.

LOL...

Gave me a good chuckle too! Lol

Shows they're still well aware of the request too

[Varx]

Gave me a good chuckle too! Lol

Shows they're still well aware of the request too

And that they think it's a big joke too.

[Geisl]

And that they think it's a big joke too.

Like Pandas!

[HateTrain]

Like Pandas!

This the the only thing that makes me think that they might actually be developing them as an AR.