Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Combatbutler]

A High/Blood Elf Shadow Priest is a Void Elf?

Void elves do not tap into void energy, it is a part of them, hence the constant whispers. Shadow priest tap briefly into it, Alleria and those following her path go much further.

[Yarathir]

Void elves do not tap into void energy, it is a part of them, hence the constant whispers. Shadow priest tap briefly into it, Alleria and those following her path go much further.

So what is it when they go into Shadowform?

As an aside, Alleria and the blueberry elves are not the same thing. Politically, maybe, but that's another case altogether.

[Varodoc]

She's a void elf. This is confirmed in Shadows Rising's description.

[Yarathir]

She's a void elf. This is confirmed in Shadows Rising's description.

Void Elf refers to two things, though.

The political group Void Elves, of which Alleria is the leader.

And the literal race Void Elves, Blood Elves permanently altered by the void (in a manner different from Alleria) that have purple skin and tentacle hair. You'd have to be disingenuous to claim the blueberries and Alleria were biologically identical.

(also, Christie Golden once wrote Genn with a tail.)

[FlubberPuddy]

Blizzard do share my viewpoint to some degree, else void elves would have never been a thing and high elves would have been the playable AR. Alas, high elves are not a separate playable race so clearly blizzard still place some importance to faction distinction.. they've obviously relaxed their rules a bit but are still standing by them to some degree.

I'm super glad that blood elves continue to remain the main high elven group in WoW, and that I can play a high elven paladin. Super super glad about it! (ps. I'm only reciprocating your smart ass tone)

Your viewpoint previously was that Void Elves shouldn't get the same skin tones as Blood Elves because Blood Elves are the High Elves and thus for the importance of faction distinction both VE and BE should keep their skin tone choices separate.

Blizzard did not (does not) agree. They gave the literal same copy/pasted skin tones available to Blood Elves to Void Elves. No ersatz version either like Obelisk Kai kept fighting for and thinking most assuredly would happen.

Nope. VE got straight up a copy/paste of skin tones from BE. Thus your viewpoint of faction distinction and blurred lines was lost the day that happened.

It was an iconic win for High Elf requesters, so much so that many of the antagonists to the request have left this thread entirely. If you wish to be one of the few that stay to continue on pedantically over minute details be my guest.

Like I've said to others, Wildhammer Dwarves are now in by Blizzard developer's words even though it's just some additional tattoos, and the High Elf fantasy was said to be possible with High Elf skins given to Void Elves by another Blizzard developer. That possibility is now here.

Also if you're admitting you're being a smart ass then you're further making your arguments look as weak as they already were.

I think what many detractors to this request should've learned is that it's much better to spend time asking for the things you want rather than trying to deny people's wishlists as we can clearly see in this request alone all the couple years spent arguing against this request was a ton of time wasted in the end.

[Combatbutler]

So what is it when they go into Shadowform?

As an aside, Alleria and the blueberry elves are not the same thing. Politically, maybe, but that's another case altogether.

If shadow priests would permanently tap into the void, then yes they would be void elves as well, and Alleria is different from the void elves in the sense, that she is far more corrupted by the void than they are, she can just hide it better.

Alleria absorbed a fallen Naaru and ate the heart of a void demigod

[Yarathir]

If shadow priests would permanently tap into the void, then yes they would be void elves as well, and Alleria is different from the void elves in the sense, that she is far more corrupted by the void than they are, she can just hide it better.

Just saying it's important to not conflate and to also keep an eye on the fact that Void Elves are both a racial designation and a political. One can be a part of the Void Elves politically but not be one biologically. I don't know what Blizzard considers the most biologically true Void Elf, but I would assume it's the blueberry elves.

And those were a result from a (presumably) one time mishap, lead by a leader who embraces the void but isn't biologically identical to them, and will in 9.0 be joined by other members who will not have undergone the same process (unless Blizzard states that it has become a ritual) and might not have the same qualities, such as the purple skin.

[Frenchvince]

Small detail, the earrings become golden when you choose the high elf skins.

[DeicideUH]

https://www.wowhead.com/news=316803/...view-with-art-

This is another place where there was a race, High Elves, in the game which hadn't really been represented on player characters.

High elves are a race.

Blood Elves were the closest, but had felt green eyes.

Blood elves are not high elves. They had fel green eyes.

It was an opportunity where we had a number of elven races, and we could tie it back to their roots, letting players choose where they want to align and what fantasy to play out.

High elf customization for all.

We did have a lot of discussion about it, ultimately we might do more in the future, but for now we're providing the option to have a few High Elf customizations available.

So, high elf customization. End of discussion for those who insist Blizzard never said they were allowing high elves for us.

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Small detail, the earrings become golden when you choose the high elf skins.

Sounds like a bug due to reusing blood elf skins. Let's see how it evolves from there.

[Frenchvince]

Sounds like a bug due to reusing blood elf skins. Let's see how it evolves from there.

I hope that in the end, there will be a choice of colors for jewelry like blood elves.

[DeicideUH]

I hope that in the end, there will be a choice of colors for jewelry like blood elves.

Maybe. After seeing the video, I noticed that the textures are not right. Like, the green gems from belf jewelry appear where there are no gems in the velf model. It's clearly a bug.

I think this version of void elf skins is a very early one. Blizzard just linked belf skins, instead of making a copy of them. That's why they reference the wrong jewelry or underwear textures. Next builds will probably have copied assets and adjusted details.

[FlubberPuddy]

https://www.wowhead.com/news=316803/...view-with-art-



High elves are a race.



Blood elves are not high elves. They had fel green eyes.



High elf customization for all.



So, high elf customization. End of discussion for those who insist Blizzard never said they were allowing high elves for us.

LMAO I was just about to share this as I saw it just now!!! Yes, there we fucken go, confirmation that those customizations are to allow players to play High Elves as they see fit!

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They also admit in the same interview that certain races will get more customizations than others and that's due to their pov of using their resources as best as possible.

So there we have it, popular races will get more customization options than non-popular races. But that doesn't mean more customizations can't come in the future!

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Another win for High Elves from the same interview (so much gold there).

"With all the diversity now possible in player customization options, we’re curious if the new customization options will also be reflected on Shadowlands NPC appearances? And will existing NPCs around Azeroth (like Stormwind NPCs from Cataclysm) receive new appearances reflecting the new diverse customization options?

As with any tool we have available with us, designers will make use of it for current or future content. That may include going back to the old world, when new vendors are added, and customizing and updating some of the old NPCs in the world. But it depends on the time involved and what our bandwidth is. Our focus is always on the next expansion and the content coming up to provide the best possible game, but certainly having those available gives our designers a lot more to work with, and I would expect to see more of that diversity and customization represented in the world going forward for sure."

So we will start seeing more High Elf NPCs going forward presumably as the designers now have a lot more customizations to work with!

[Mungho]

LMAO I was just about to share this as I saw it just now!!! Yes, there we fucken go, confirmation that those customizations are to allow players to play High Elves as they see fit!

Wait a minute, does this mean you could play a High Elf on the Horde through a Blood Elf?

[Rootsbum]

I really hope for blonde hair for void elves.
Really want void skin with blonde hair.

[Frenchvince]

Maybe. After seeing the video, I noticed that the textures are not right. Like, the green gems from belf jewelry appear where there are no gems in the velf model. It's clearly a bug.

I think this version of void elf skins is a very early one. Blizzard just linked belf skins, instead of making a copy of them. That's why they reference the wrong jewelry or underwear textures. Next builds will probably have copied assets and adjusted details.

The nail polish could also be adjusted to high elf skins.
High Elf NPCs had blue nail polish before their WOD update, I'd love this color to replace red. <3

[Yarathir]

Maybe. After seeing the video, I noticed that the textures are not right. Like, the green gems from belf jewelry appear where there are no gems in the velf model. It's clearly a bug.

I think this version of void elf skins is a very early one. Blizzard just linked belf skins, instead of making a copy of them. That's why they reference the wrong jewelry or underwear textures. Next builds will probably have copied assets and adjusted details.

They said the finalized Void Elf- High Elf skins should have the Void Elf underwear, not the Blood Elf underwear.

[FlubberPuddy]

Wait a minute, does this mean you could play a High Elf on the Horde through a Blood Elf?

Yup, if one wishes to. It appears that human skin tone AND blue eyes is what's considered a High Elf from that interview.

Good to know even Blizzard themselves realize that now.

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They said the finalized Void Elf- High Elf skins should have the Void Elf underwear, not the Blood Elf underwear.

Yupp, they've definitely just begun with the AR customizations and they did say in the release they'll be void elf underwear. Also they did say while some options are there to look like a High Elf, more can be done later on too.

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"According to a dev interview Ion gave several months ago, Blood Elves were originally unintended to have blue eyes in Shadowlands, but later on that decision was reversed following team discussions. If the art department was involved, what was the reasoning that led to blue eyes being added for Void Elves and Blood Elves?

This is another place where there was a race, High Elves, in the game which hadn't really been represented on player characters. Blood Elves were the closest, but had felt green eyes. It was an opportunity where we had a number of elven races, and we could tie it back to their roots, letting players choose where they want to align and what fantasy to play out. We did have a lot of discussion about it, ultimately we might do more in the future, but for now we're providing the option to have a few High Elf customizations available."

[Andromedes]

they can play high elves all they want as well, the horde is there for then

I am not certain what the future holds for Alliance High Elves beyond the confirmation they aren't going to be playable. That was pretty much what I wanted, to preserve the integrity of my faction. If all they continue to feature in other group's stories, which is all they ever can really, then I don't mind, now that I have confirmation the integrity of the Horde and the Blood Elves is not going to be threatened.

Hnngh this feels good..

[Rhlor]

https://www.wowhead.com/news=316803/...view-with-art-



High elves are a race.



Blood elves are not high elves. They had fel green eyes.



High elf customization for all.



So, high elf customization. End of discussion for those who insist Blizzard never said they were allowing high elves for us.

- - - Updated - - -



Sounds like a bug due to reusing blood elf skins. Let's see how it evolves from there.

race at the biological level or at the gameplay level?

we are all high elves

[elbleuet]

Back in TBC the Alliance High elves were on the brink of extinction, with no hope to be playable one day.

Now we have Alleria, Vereesa and Umbric and we will soon be able to run in Stormwind as one of them, proudly wearing the Alliance flag. That's great.

Oh and btw. Blond haired elves are boring. Blue haired and blue-eyed High elves look fantastic.