Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Evilfish]

I think the reasoning went like
Dev 1 "I want nightbourne to be on the Horde."
dev 2 "Well if you want them to be horde how about we give the alliance those high elves they have been asking for for around a decade."
Dev 1 "No, can't have blood elves feeling less special or anger the horde fans. I don't want to put too much work into the alliance race though."
Dev 2 "How about purple blood elves that use the void like Alleria but purple?"
dev 1 "Brilliant!"

Yeah right. Who do you think you are fooling?

"We want Horde Nelfs" said no one ever.

But the forums are filled with Helf fanlub tears who just humbly desired to rip of the belfs 100%.

So please, let's not pretend that the roles were reversed. The Horde got Nightborne cause the Alliance got bum elves. So restrain your fantasies to ripping off belfs, huh?

[Ignaz]

My motherboard died. No alpha for me for a while.

Dude I hope you can replace it soon.

Anyway, blood elf jewelry can now be selected between gold and silver.

https://www.wowhead.com/news=316687/...ustomization-i

This is the kind of things that no one asked for but everyone would use

[Kyriani]

Yeah right. Who do you think you are fooling?

"We want Horde Nelfs" said no one ever.

But the forums are filled with Helf fanlub tears who just humbly desired to rip of the belfs 100%.

So please, let's not pretend that the roles were reversed. The Horde got Nightborne cause the Alliance got bum elves. So restrain your fantasies to ripping off belfs, huh?

I really don't believe this is true. Both Alliance and Horde players were asking for Nightborne and the devs decided on giving them to the Horde. Void Elves were a late addition, and I have a suspicion that High Elves were planned until they completed and watched the Alleria cinematic and the rule of cool took over making them Void Elves instead. In any case, what's done is done. Void Elves exist and they are getting flesh colored skin tones in Shadowlands.

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Dude I hope you can replace it soon.


This is the kind of things that no one asked for but everyone would use

I'm actually a bit disappointed with so much jewelry to be honest. The necklaces and earrings are nice and will be seen, but the bracers are going to be hidden under armor in many cases. I'd much rather see more hairstyles, face options, and most especially the Dark Ranger/San'layn skins and red eye options added to Blood Elves.

[Ignaz]

I'm actually a bit disappointed with so much jewelry to be honest. The necklaces and earrings are nice and will be seen, but the bracers are going to be hidden under armor in many cases. I'd much rather see more hairstyles, face options, and most especially the Dark Ranger/San'layn skins and red eye options added to Blood Elves.

The pre patch has not arrived yet. We may have all that and more.

To be honest, I don't like that jewelry either (it seems useless to me) but when creating a new Belf, I am sure that 99% of people will put those things on them

[Kyriani]

The pre patch has not arrived yet. We may have all that and more.

To be honest, I don't like that jewelry either (it seems useless to me) but when creating a new Belf, I am sure that 99% of people will put those things on them

I do hope Blood Elves get more non-jewelry options before the pre-patch, especially those Dark Ranger/San'layn options. They are a highly popular request and the skin/eyes already exist so it's a easy win for Blizzard to allow players to use them.

[DeicideUH]

Dude I hope you can replace it soon.

I'm hoping to replace it soon. With luck, tomorrow. Without it, next week.

This is the kind of things that no one asked for but everyone would use

A lot of things I said would happen are happening: mechagnomes got eye colors, more skins and paint job split from skin color. Gnomes got beards and mustaches split. Draenei and blood elves got jewelry color. Goblins got chins, ears and noses split.

The previous build had signs of eye colors coming soon for mechagnomes, nightborne, vulpera, mag'har and zandalari. Mechagnomes got them in this one, so the others are sure to come soon.

With the goblin and gnome updates, we are now just waiting for the orc ones, then it's the second pass, in which everyone including allied races will get minor stuff. Things to look for: scars/scarring (like night elves' and orcs') for more races, new skins and hair colors for allied races, maybe some hair style swapping between races/genders, lightforged/nightborne tattoos getting new settings (opaque, reflexive, glowing), maybe tatoos for void elves (with blood elves inheriting them or getting similar ones), improvements to the first four allied races (especially nightborne).

Let's see how it goes.

[Aldo Hawk]

I do hope Blood Elves get more non-jewelry options before the pre-patch, especially those Dark Ranger/San'layn options. They are a highly popular request and the skin/eyes already exist so it's a easy win for Blizzard to allow players to use them.

Undead options for a playable race that isn't undead.

I mean dawg, I mean, w0t?

You all are buying too much into Blizzard being now into adding customizations, it's cheap, Allied races are superior.

What happened with San'layn? That's certainly better than literal scuffed costumes for Blood elves.

[Ardenaso]

anyone else wonder why there's only Dark Ranger but no "Dark Mage", "Dark Priest" or "Dark Swordsman"?

[Kyriani]

Undead options for a playable race that isn't undead.

I mean dawg, I mean, w0t?

You all are buying too much into Blizzard being now into adding customizations, it's cheap, Allied races are superior.

What happened with San'layn? That's certainly better than literal scuffed costumes for Blood elves.

I can agree that allied races are superior in some respects, but I also think some allied races could have been simple customization options (Highmountain and Lightforged immediately come to mind). I think Blizzard realized this and that's why Wildhammer and the various Troll tribes are being made available as customziation options. I can also understand the design decision not to clutter the character creation UI with a race for every little variant when existing races could be given more customization options to fulfill the fantasy of said variants.

Would I have preferred a San'layn (or an Alliance High Elf) allied race to just adding them as options for Blood Elves (or Void Elves in the case of High Elves)? Yes I would have preferred this. But Blizzard opted to not add yet more Thalassian derivative races and instead went with adding options for Alliance players to make High Elves under Void Elves. If Void Elves can have that option, then why can't Blood Elves have a San'layn option as customization?

The thing to realize, is that if Blizzard is trending towards customization over allied races now, then requests for customization are more likely to be answered than requests for an allied race. It's perfectly understandable that the path of least resistance is the path most will choose to take.

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anyone else wonder why there's only Dark Ranger but no "Dark Mage", "Dark Priest" or "Dark Swordsman"?

Technically I think they would all fall under the Darkfallen classification. Dark Ranger tends to only be referring to the Hunters.

[DeicideUH]

Technically I think they would all fall under the Darkfallen classification. Dark Ranger tends to only be referring to the Hunters.

I think Darkfallen and Dark Rangers are not the same type of undead. Darkfallen are vampiric, they drink blood and need to feast on other creatures. Dark Rangers are more like Death Knights in the sense that they are greater undead fighters with some death-related powers.

[Kyriani]

I think Darkfallen and Dark Rangers are not the same type of undead. Darkfallen are vampiric, they drink blood and need to feast on other creatures. Dark Rangers are more like Death Knights in the sense that they are greater undead fighters with some death-related powers.

In either case, the options can work for a wide variety of character concepts. I'd like to see Blood Elves have them so players can have the option to explore those concepts.

[Strippling]

Undead options for a playable race that isn't undead.

I mean dawg, I mean, w0t?

You all are buying too much into Blizzard being now into adding customizations, it's cheap, Allied races are superior.

What happened with San'layn? That's certainly better than literal scuffed costumes for Blood elves.

They gave natural skin options to void elves... a group so tainted by the void it transformed their appearance. So, some undead skins to blood elves is fully achievable. Throw in red eyes, and tear drop tattoo (optional) and there you go. Alternatively, give undead an undead elf option. Worgen have two forms, why can't undead?

[Doffen]

improvements to the first four allied races (especially nightborne).

Let's see how it goes.

About the Nightborne I just want to say this:

Blizzard, if you read this. If you are going to add more to Nightborne customizations, then add face options that looks like the real Nightborne as we see them in Suramar FOR FUCK SAKE!

Love, Doffen.

[DeicideUH]

About the Nightborne I just want to say this:

Blizzard, if you read this. If you are going to add more to Nightborne customizations, then add face options that looks like the real Nightborne as we see them in Suramar FOR FUCK SAKE!

Love, Doffen.

I think this is possible.

[Doffen]

I think this is possible.

It is my greatest wish for WoW atm, and have been since they Night Elfyfied them for players in 7.3.5. That and hair showing in helms when using hood. But the latter is not very likely I gathered. Too complicated

[Aldo Hawk]

I can agree that allied races are superior in some respects, but I also think some allied races could have been simple customization options (Highmountain and Lightforged immediately come to mind). I think Blizzard realized this and that's why Wildhammer and the various Troll tribes are being made available as customziation options. I can also understand the design decision not to clutter the character creation UI with a race for every little variant when existing races could be given more customization options to fulfill the fantasy of said variants.

But even in those stances, the nuances of it are lost in favor of providing an external appearance. I'm not saying it's bad, I'm saying it's cheap and that it lacks substance.

Would I have preferred a San'layn (or an Alliance High Elf) allied race to just adding them as options for Blood Elves (or Void Elves in the case of High Elves)? Yes I would have preferred this. But Blizzard opted to not add yet more Thalassian derivative races and instead went with adding options for Alliance players to make High Elves under Void Elves.

I'm just saying it would be neat to not make appear as if everybody just forgot about the Allied race and the reasons behind that request, since what most wanted was to have that group playable because it was part of the Alliance for so long, with all it's nuances, not shallow costumes, which were a very minoritary part of the request.

If Void Elves can have that option, then why can't Blood Elves have a San'layn option as customization?

Because (and I don't understand why people don't see it this way) these 'High elves' are effectively Void elves with a different look to them. They have everything that amkes Void elves, Void elves, but without the appearance of one, allowing for people to roleplay as High elves in the Alliance, but with all the lackings of it not being it's own option in the character creation screen.

That's not the same with San'layn, who are radically different from Blood elves. These are undead and could not even work as an alternative look for them, as Void elves with a more normal appearance can.

The thing to realize, is that if Blizzard is trending towards customization over allied races now, then requests for customization are more likely to be answered than requests for an allied race. It's perfectly understandable that the path of least resistance is the path most will choose to take.

I just think it's important to still make public remarks that an Allied race would be several magnitudes more complete than a costume for Void elves, and, hell, it's not even a costume, it's a retcon of their appearance, since now Void elves aren't just elves infused with the magic, but elves who dedicate their lives to it and don't necessarily have to look strange.

What the option to play High elves in the Alliance through Void elves will potentially lack is the same as before, minus looks, these are: The lack of the regalia that is associated with playable races, mount, tabard, heritage armor... These all can be obtained from other sources that were added before (argent tournament) but this also means to use very old assets that people have to grind for it instead of getting it by just picking the thing, and the 'heritage armor' is nonexistant except for what people can craft using various pieces with transmog.

It will also lack proper voicelines, interactions with NPCs, quests, items, etc... That could potentially be special for those playing a rhetorical High elf.

Lack of racials, proper classes, adding of new NPCs and quests to make reference to them in the factions as they did with every other allied race they added, etc...

I'm probably letting some things out, but I think it's enough since all of us know that it would just be a nice costume to roleplay instead of a full fledged thing.

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They gave natural skin options to void elves... a group so tainted by the void it transformed their appearance.

Nah you don't understood a single thing, as usual.

These are still Void elves just without the appearance they were presented with in the first place, simple as that, maybe new ones, maybe not, who knows, but it's not what you say it is, that's a bad take seeing you just equate it to a radically different thing just because it's an appearance, that's reductive and lacks any substance.

So, some undead skins to blood elves is fully achievable. Throw in red eyes, and tear drop tattoo (optional) and there you go.

So, you are saying it's the exact same thing to add undead appearances to an alive race, while thinking it is the same as the concept of Void elves being Void elves but without the appearance of what Void elves were presented with in the first place... The voicelines, the regalia, the classes, the racials and everything is Void elf, they just gave them the possibility to not have to necessarily have to be covered in purple crap. If you don't like that, well, too bad.

Blood elves aren't undead, Void elves will be Void elves even if they don't look purple, very big difference. These options just gives the players the option to play something much more similar to High elves than Void elves ever did before, it's not the same as adding literal undead looking options to something that is not undead, come on, I can't grasp at this being so hard to understand.

And for 'achievable things', they can put pig noses to every race, or give Draenei red skin with fel wounds, ignoring everything Draenei are, that doesn't make it a good idea just because it's achievable.

Alternatively, give undead an undead elf option. Worgen have two forms, why can't undead?

Why is this question directed at me? It's certain you make efforts into being misunderstanding. Save it for yourself, thanks.

Hah, coming in and out from undeath like worgens, goddamn what a bad take.

About the Nightborne I just want to say this:

Blizzard, if you read this. If you are going to add more to Nightborne customizations, then add face options that looks like the real Nightborne as we see them in Suramar FOR FUCK SAKE!

Love, Doffen.

100%

[Ardenaso]

Technically I think they would all fall under the Darkfallen classification. Dark Ranger tends to only be referring to the Hunters.

I mean those raised by Sylvanas as Forsaken

[matrix123mko]

anyone else wonder why there's only Dark Ranger but no "Dark Mage", "Dark Priest" or "Dark Swordsman"?

"Dark Mage" would be an banshee/undead elf necromancer.

"Dark Priest" would be a banshee/undead elf priest, like Aelthalyste.

"Dark Swordsman" would be an elf death knight.

[MyWholeLifeIsThunder]

I like both equally for different reasons. In all honesty, I'm not unhappy with the idea of merging the two groups under one banner. And if players who wanted High Elves can be happy, and players who like Void Elves as they are can also be happy, then I'd say it's not the worst resolution.

Also it makes sense in universe the two largest exiled Thalassian groups on the alliance -led each by sisters- would like to unify. Strength in numbers and familial bonds.

Like, it would retroactively make me buy that High Elves were stagnant without knowing where to go and just assimilating into humanity until Void Elves show up with Alleria, so then they truly know they are not the only ones that would oppose the Horde, and that there can be enough of them to be their own people and lead to a sort of a thalassian revitalization on the alliance.

[Ardenaso]

Also it makes sense in universe the two largest exiled Thalassian groups on the alliance -led each by sisters- would like to unify. Strength in numbers and familial bonds.

Like, it would retroactively make me buy that High Elves were stagnant without knowing where to go and just assimilating into humanity until Void Elves show up with Alleria, so then they truly know they are not the only ones that would oppose the Horde, and that there can be enough of them to be their own people and lead to a sort of a thalassian revitalization on the alliance.

eh I just wanted a "Grand Highborne" banner led by Alleria because she's the strongest now, with Mordent leading the Highborne, Vereesa/Arator/Auric the High Elves and Umbric the Void Elves

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also it's really amusing now to think that all four immediate Windrunners who survived the Scourging are all undesirables now

Zendarin - just unlikeable as a person, got the villain bat because he dared insult the Human PotentialTM
Vereesa - Purge of Dalaran
Alleria - almost corrupted the Sunwell
Sylvanas - betrayed the Horde in general

Arator and the twins would also be undesirable by proxy