9.0 General Discussion

[Marlamin]

I know they are not character models, but rather creature models. But personally I don't think that's definite evidence towards them not being playable in the future. They clearly use the same animations as draenei, with some unique additions like the running animations. If we look back to vulpera or Nightborne, we see similar situations (vulpera with the unique animations, nightborne with the creature models first then chr). With the added circumstance that vulpera were Blizz's worst kept secret and I'd imagine they'd try to do a better job at hiding it now.

PS: Just to clarify, I didn't write that reddit post. But I thought it was interesting to share for those who want to speculate and are excited for it. For those who don't, that's fine too.

Sure, but the only reason we can see that those records exist is because some of the allied race UI stuff is being reused for covenants. That's like all the reason for them being in there. I definitely wouldn't confirm anything either as coming or not coming based on those records alone nor would I start speculating based on that. Pretty ridiculous.

[Hitei]

They've also got this going on.

We are fighting dreamers...

[Hugnomo]

Sure, but the only reason we can see that those records exist is because some of the allied race UI stuff is being reused for covenants. That's like all the reason for them being in there. I definitely wouldn't confirm anything either as coming or not coming based on those records alone. Pretty ridiculous.

I don't quite understand what you mean by "some of the allied race UI being reused for covenants", if you could clarify I'd really appreciate it. Though I will 100% agree that there's no basis for any kind of "confirmation" one way or the other, which I don't think neither I nor the reddit poster claimed in the first place.

[LemonDemonGirl]

Well, if Horde gets Venthyr, I wouldn't complain.

I think I'd race-change my NElf if they did that

They've also got this going on.

Lmao that's pretty close to the Naruto Run



Also, Wrrrryy

[FlubberPuddy]

"Four new IDs were added to the AlliedRaces.db2 file since BFA live and this Alpha."

[Georg Von Vitzthum]

Hey just saw the Trolls customziation and they did get the Amani skin color, im so Happy, Vengeance for Zul'jin indeed

Forest trolls before TBC used a green troll model. It's still being used for the trolls that invade in island expeditions.

It would be good if they made a forest troll model that's muscular like the Zandalari but not as ridiculous as the current beefy model used by forest and ice trolls like HotS Zul'Jin

to be fair all trolls can be beef like that, even the jungle trolls(dark spear)

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They've also got this going on.

ok, those vampires are starting to grow on me, this si pretty cool and unique, at least they aren't elves 4 is enough for a while.

[Chickat]

They've also got this going on.

Fuck that's scary.

[Raetary]

Torghast looks sick.
It's horrifically majestic.

Oribos is pretty, but i hope they make it somewhat brighter.
That grey-rainy looking skybox makes the entire thing looks somewhat depressive.

[Chickat]

Torghast screenshots:
https://imgur.com/a/CZ2xXoJ

Oribos screenshots:
https://imgur.com/a/fJ1Pepg

Oribos is small.

[FlubberPuddy]

We are fighting dreamers...

Dammit, it was said..

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Fuck that's scary.

They just wanna give you hug!

[Lahis]

I know they are not character models, but rather creature models. But personally I don't think that's definite evidence towards them not being playable in the future. They clearly use the same animations as draenei, with some unique additions like the running animations. If we look back to vulpera or Nightborne, we see similar situations (vulpera with the unique animations, nightborne with the creature models first then chr). With the added circumstance that vulpera were Blizz's worst kept secret and I'd imagine they'd try to do a better job at hiding it now.

PS: Just to clarify, I didn't write that reddit post. But I thought it was interesting to share for those who want to speculate and are excited for it. For those who don't, that's fine too.

Right now I'll just put them into the same bucket with Tuskar, Taunka, Vrukyl etc. Those are all NPC races with customization options and thus share many things with player races on data level.

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Torghast screenshots:
https://imgur.com/a/CZ2xXoJ

Oribos screenshots:
https://imgur.com/a/fJ1Pepg

Meh, Oribos is just a citadel, not a city.

[TickTickTick]

Is Oribos going to be SL's capital? And is it then going to be aka Dalaran (both factions here)? I hope so, shared capitals make the game feel more alive and occupied.

[Queen of Hamsters]

What I'd like to know, is whether Blizzard intended Vulpera to be playable eventually from the start, or did they respond to the fanbase reaction to the race at Blizzcon and after?

I recall the first Vulpera looking quite a bit different from what we got eventually.

[Raetary]

Is Oribos going to be SL's capital? And is it then going to be aka Dalaran (both factions here)? I hope so, shared capitals make the game feel more alive and occupied.

Yes, it's a neutral player hub.

[TickTickTick]

I'm still terrified that they're going to pull some bullshit and make it the WoD Draka

Omg... wait. Are the Shadowlands outside of "realities"? Is there only one SL, or many in different realities? What happens when MU Draka meets AU Draka? Do they merge? Do they understand what's going on?

[Hugnomo]

Right now I'll just put them into the same bucket with Tuskar, Taunka, Vrukyl etc. Those are all NPC races with customization options and thus share many things with player races on data level.

I agree for the most part, but I gotta say that neither Tuskar or Vrykul use animation sets from playable races. Taunka do, but their unique heads just lack the diversity and more complex animations seen in playable races (and a female counterpart).

And obviously, I am a fan of the idea of covenant playable races. So while I'm completely prepared for them to not become anything remotely close to playable, I will still be excitedly on the lookout for anything in that direction.

[Hitei]

Oribos is small.

I think it's size is deceptive.

See the size of the benches here? And the tables/chairs in the picture below?

[Raetary]

Kinda disappointed that Oribos is just a tower tho.

From the concept art and the city's description i imagined something akin to Shattrath.
City divided in a couple city rings and in the middle having the Arbiter doing her thing, A'dal style.

[Marlamin]

I don't quite understand what you mean by "some of the allied race UI being reused for covenants", if you could clarify I'd really appreciate it. Though I will 100% agree that there's no basis for any kind of "confirmation" one way or the other, which I don't think neither I nor the reddit poster claimed in the first place.

Blizzard tends to reuse systems wherever they can (which is why we've seen the Garrison system reused for many things since WoD, including stuff like MOTHER's talent tree for visions, now again for soulbinds, etc), similar to that, there are indications that they're using a part of the Allied Race system for Covenants. But seeing there only seem to be test entries referring to those "Allied Race" rows for now, we can't dig deeper than that. I would give a much higher chance to them reusing tech similarly to garrisons, than these being actual signs to these becoming allied races.

[TickTickTick]

Yes, it's a neutral player hub.

But the article about coventants was also talking about cities for each covenant, that you can reach only if you pick that covenant. I was honestly afraid there would be 4 capitals separating the playerbase even further...