Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Nagawithlegs]

Nature and Death really boutta team up next patch, huh? I'm ready!

Northrend and Fully Powered Jailer linked up. Need it or keep it?

[TheFirstOnes]

Northrend and Fully Powered Jailer linked up. Need it or keep it?

You can do that, WHILE also giving us Nature and Death Vs Zovaal LMAOOO. Elune and the Winter Queen, the newly forged Sigils, potential mawsworn Galakrond if Blizzard feels ballsy enough to do it, etc. Works perfectly.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

That Talesin "spitball" as he calls it.


I don't think the community would swallow it(Well the MMO-Champion community hardly takes anything).

[Nyel]

FYI: this is the video we're talking about:



Basically everything what he said in the video was already discussed in this topic by various people. A curious find is the change of color of the rift atop Torghast, which indeed could mean the Jailer isn't ascending to Icecrown (which I was suggesting), but he's ascending towards the platform of the Arbiter. This is further supported by the dungeon journal entry and the fact that the finale of the 9.1 Sylvanas' fight is taking place in a chamber and the Arbiter resides in a chamber. So this seems like a case closed: the 9.1 raid ends on the platform of the Arbiter. What happens next is the question: is the Jailer leaving Sylvanas and the Shadowlands behind?

Taliesin suggested we could go to Zovaal's own "Covenant" zone (isn't it simply the Maw?) in 9.2, but very quickly dismissed this idea in favor of what almost everyone of us here said: the Jailer is leaving the Shadowlands behind and breaching into reality. One place to go he says could be Nathreza, due to all the Nathrezim stuff in 9.1, but this seems to be very unlikely in my opinion. Why would we go to the broken and destroyed planet of the Nathrezim? Seems very out of nowhere. Azeroth still seems the best bet and yes, Icecrown Citadel, the Scourge and Arthas has to have a place in the narrative as well. I also agree on what he said about the Maw and Torghast: I think we're done with it after 9.1 and we're done with the Shadowlands entirely (maybe 9.1.5 for minor Covenant related stories, but 9.2 will not have to do with the Covenants or Shadowlands overall).

I cannot believe what I say now, but I really like his closure for Sylvanas storyline. What he said there makes a lot of sense and could be the backdoor Blizzard is using to keep Sylvanas alive in the universe, even in an essential position, but she's been removed from the gameplay or taking place in any further direct storytelling in WoW. All of the bad stuff she did happened in her undead stage and while she was alive, she was a hero: check, I agree here. What if Sylvanas simply becomes the new Arbiter? The Arbiter dies shortly after Zovaal takes her orb, but before makes Sylvanas his/her successor to "fix" Death and the Shadowlands (something Sylvanas wanted to achieve with the help of the Jailer, but the Jailer betrayed her from the start). Or Sylvanas just becomes a new Eternal One and rules over Zovaal's remnants in accordance with the other Eternal Ones / Covenants.

TL;DR, the video summarized:

- The color of the veil atop Torghast changed, which could mean the rift changed it's direction from Icecrown to... Oribos
- The final part of the Sylvanas fight takes place on the Arbiter's platform, aka the Arbiter's chamber
- The Jailer betrays Sylvanas, her body is torn apart and her soul is left behind
- Zovaal is leaving the Shadowlands behind after 9.1 (heading towards reality, most likely Azeroth)

Some minor things from the video:

- The Stonewright is wielding Elune's power / has a connection to Elune
- Oribos is so simple in design because Blizzard never intended it to be our main hub for the entire expansion
- The Maw and Torghast won't matter anymore after 9.1
- The rift between Shadowlands and Oribos / Icecrown closes after 9.1 and the skybox will change yet again

Fun guess: the chamber referenced in the dungeon journal is the Heart Chamber and that's where the rift atop Torghast leads to now.

[TheFirstOnes]

My assumption is still based on the idea that 9.2 will be about the forces of Life and Death teaming up against the Jailer while he tries to invade Reality and claim Life itself, as he had already claimed Death.

There, we’ll meet Elune (either in the Life realm or the damn Moon for a bit), and she and the WQ will finally reunite, we could meet An’she, Odyn and the Keepers will help out, the Wild Gods and other beings of Life will help out (maybe we’ll go to the Gardens of Life for a little bit?), etc. oh, and Sylvanas’ choice will be that she betrays the Jailer last second in some way. And there will be a questline that’ll be based on trying to reclaim the last portions of her stolen soul.

And the final fight will be about the Jailer trying to extract Azeroth’s power for himself, essentially giving him the powers of the First Ones and gaining total control of all existence and the Cosmic Influences that control it. However, the Pantheon of Death and the Forces of Life will aid us in the final fight, the Pantheon of Death will use their sigils to try and stop him, or even empower us, and us heroes basically end up killing the Jailer, hence fulfilling that Korthia prophecy and expanding upon what Ion wanted to start doing since BFA (AKA giving us the main kills mostly, since we’re the main characters of WoW and have been doing this for a very long time now).

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This can also directly lead into the Dragon Isles and Chromatus, the Light’s BS with Turalyon + the Scarlet Crusade and co, the start of the main Light and Shadow plotline, the potential return of Sargeras, the Undermine + Plunder Isle + Tel’abim, and more.

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Btw, I think a world revamp, the Undermine and shit, the Light, etc will be 1 expac. Maybe the Dragon Isles can fit there too? Idk. If they try to push in Light and Shadow in 1 expac, then oof. But I can see the main WoW Cosmic plotline (Light and Shadow) being a 2 parter. Meaning, 1 expac is mainly Azeroth and Light focused (With us finishing the AU Draenor stuff with Yrel), and the other being more cosmic focused (With Sargeras’ return, Azshara, K’aresh, the Void Lords, etc).

Idk if we’ll ever fight the First Ones? Would be best if we didn’t imo.

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“BUT ELUNE IS ALL HOLY”

Like I haven’t seen a damn Nature being wield the light before ������

[Dracullus]

The major Kyrian conflict ends in 9.1. Maldraxxus's last antagonists are dealt with in 9.1. Revendreth is basically complete as well aside from the Remornia being stolen, which can be finished in any area in any realm. Ardenweald is complete aside from the Drust being finished once and for all.

We get a ground mount, flying mount, two titles, two-three sets of armor, etc for each covenant. I really don't think there's any more to give here, the covenant system may very well be finished by 9.2.

Imo it should be this way every expac, cause resources for patches are always limited. Just look how big was 7.2 and how it turned out.

Give people split paths for X.0 to encourage playing alts -> for patches make lot of stuff obtainable by everyone.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Imo it should be this way every expac, cause resources for patches are always limited. Just look how big was 7.2 and how it turned out.

Give people split paths for X.0 to encourage playing alts -> for patches make lot of stuff obtainable by everyone.

Making each major content patch robust is pretty good to me IMO. 7.2 was contentious though if I remember right.

[Nagawithlegs]

Making each major content patch robust is pretty good to me IMO. 7.2 was contentious though if I remember right.

I think Legion was the only that had every patch be robust and that was because the previous expansion was cannibalized. I think it may have spoiled our expectations for each patch being essentially a mini expansion.

I do think both Legion and SL had very good starts though. Plenty to do and the catchup system means alts don’t get timegated

[AOL Instant Messenger]

I think Legion was the only that had every patch be robust and that was because the previous expansion was cannibalized. I think it may have spoiled our expectations for each patch being essentially a mini expansion.

Well, that could be good news for WoW if Shadowlands gets eaten.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I think Legion was the only that had every patch be robust and that was because the previous expansion was cannibalized. I think it may have spoiled our expectations for each patch being essentially a mini expansion.

I do think both Legion and SL had very good starts though. Plenty to do and the catchup system means alts don’t get timegated

I still think having robust content patches is the way to go even if the next expansion is slowed down or delayed, people can wait. I dunno if 7.2 was a mini expansion though, really I think the Mage tower took up a lot(For various reasons and people seemed to love that...while I don't care as much but thats specifically cause the encounter felt overtuned but I digress).


7.2 Broken Shore while still suffers the same World quest issues as today, but the questline that updated every week really did not do the zone justice or be to relevant to Kil'Jaeden(As a soft review up to his encounter in the raid and such).

[Nagawithlegs]

Well, that could be good news for WoW if Shadowlands gets eaten.

It also started the thing where people demand every expansion get canceled to try again, yeah. Luckily they haven’t.

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I still think having robust content patches is the way to go even if the next expansion is slowed down or delayed, people can wait.

9.1 is showing modern audiences can’t really wait.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

It also started the thing where people demand every expansion get canceled to try again, yeah. Luckily they haven’t.

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9.1 is showing modern audiences can’t really wait.

Well, 9.1 isn't really robust at all. From what we've seen with the PTR, it has some interesting new story bits but it has no real interesting mechanics. It introduces a new raid and a subzone to an existing zone, but it's not really on par with many of the recent patch updates. Even Nazjatar added a new zone with some interesting mechanics, and 8.3, as maligned as it was overall, added new mechanics that added flavor to the game.

9.1 doesn't seem to have anything like, say, invasions like Legion and later BFA did, it doesn't add any new zones, it generally just doesn't add anything of that much value compared to recent patches. Even BFA did add new things in the patches, while Shadowlands seems to skim that. I concede that it is true that .1 patches aren't usually that beefy, but 8.1 added two raids rather than one and had something to it other than the raid. It does add to Torghast and adds a new subzone, but even those don't seem to be enough to carry it. The reception, overall, looks chilly.

Furthermore, this isn't a "can't wait" thing. Admittedly, I wouldn't place the blame on Blizzard because of how horribly the United States has bungled the COVID response thus far, but it does seem like it's a long wait for so much as a release date. We're nearly six months in to Shadowlands while the first patch for BFA was released only four months in. It's not Blizzard's fault, but this is 100% not because people are just impatient.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

Well, 9.1 isn't really robust at all. From what we've seen with the PTR, it has some interesting new story bits but it has no real interesting mechanics. It introduces a new raid and a subzone to an existing zone, but it's not really on par with many of the recent patch updates. Even Nazjatar added a new zone with some interesting mechanics, and 8.3, as maligned as it was overall, added new mechanics that added flavor to the game.

9.1 doesn't seem to have anything like, say, invasions like Legion and later BFA did, it doesn't add any new zones, it generally just doesn't add anything of that much value compared to recent patches. Even BFA did add new things in the patches, while Shadowlands seems to skim that. I concede that it is true that .1 patches aren't usually that beefy, but 8.1 added two raids rather than one and had something to it other than the raid. It does add to Torghast and adds a new subzone, but even those don't seem to be enough to carry it. The reception, overall, looks chilly.

There are "invasions" in 9.1 but it's the four Covenants invading the Maw instead of us being invaded. You're also forgetting the 8 boss megadungeon, and the fact the 2nd raid in 8.1 didn't even come out till 8.1.5, months later.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

There are "invasions" in 9.1 but it's the four Covenants invading the Maw instead of us being invaded. You're also forgetting the 8 boss megadungeon, and the fact the 2nd raid in 8.1 didn't even come out till 8.1.5, months later.

Ah, that is a good point. I suppose I have spoken from a place of bias. So, I suppose there is a tad more wiggle room there. I concede error.

[Dartz1979]

My speculation:

9.1: Raid that takes place in the realm where the machine of Death is located. Kel'Thuzad will be defeated in that raid, and the machine of Death will be fixed.
9.2: Raid that takes place in the revamped Maw (akin to revamped Tanaan Jungle and Broken Shore), as all the covenants take the fight to the weakened forces of the Jailer (who no longer has a constant influx of souls). Sylvanas is the final boss, she gives her sob monologue, then the Jailer backstabs the crazy psycho and she's gone.
9.3: Raid that takes place in the mysterious Sepulcher mentioned by the Primus, somehow the Jailer finds a way into that realm. The Arbiter will re-awaken and take us there, the final boss is obviously the Jailer. At the end the Jailer is destroyed/sealed again and the rift between Azeroth and the Shadowlands is fixed.
A small raid, either in patch 9.1.5 or 9.2.5, will involve the Light/Void messing with the Shadowlands and build-up 10.0.

10.0: It will be an expansion about Light and Void, as Blizzard already said at last Blizzcon that they find this concept very interesting. Alleria, Turalyon, Calia, and Yrel will obviously be main characters of this expansion. I am also 99.9% sure that Alleria will be the poster girl of this expansion, simply because Windrunner girls sell videogames (the 0.1% has Calia or Yrel as poster girls instead). That's as far as my main theorycrafting for 10.0 goes.

well seeing as alleria sports her sister sylvanas midriffy old look yes she definitely will be a poster girl fantasy i just hope they dont have her die she's the only good looking elf there is at least for the alliance that is.

[Varodoc]

well seeing as alleria sports her sister sylvanas midriffy old look yes she definitely will be a poster girl fantasy i just hope they dont have her die she's the only good looking elf there is at least for the alliance that is.

Alleria won't die, she's too iconic/popular and legendary for the Alliance to die!!

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Alleria won't die, she's too iconic/popular and legendary for the Alliance to die!!

To be fair, I think that it's pretty likely that her Void association may lead her to becoming a loot piñata eventually. I do have a soft spot for the Void Elves, too, but it does seem wholly plausible they could go either way.

Besides, Blizzard's killed far more iconic characters than her. Given they've killed Arthas, Varian, and Kil'Jaeden, I think being iconic isn't enough to spare someone the executioner's ax in WoW.

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well seeing as alleria sports her sister sylvanas midriffy old look yes she definitely will be a poster girl fantasy i just hope they dont have her die she's the only good looking elf there is at least for the alliance that is.

Why are you so obsessed with attractive characters? Do you literally have no other taste for storytelling (even accounting for Blizzard's storytelling being a little sub-par at times) than attractive women? I mean, dude, there's more to life than that, and this seems to be all you talk about. You could carry an Amish boy's Rumspringa all on your own and send him back to his village vowing never to sin again.

[therumblings]

Why are you so obsessed with attractive characters? Do you literally have no other taste for storytelling (even accounting for Blizzard's storytelling being a little sub-par at times) than attractive women? I mean, dude, there's more to life than that, and this seems to be all you talk about. You could carry an Amish boy's Rumspringa all on your own and send him back to his village vowing never to sin again.

He's an MMO-C old timer, his whole shtick is being a coomer.

[Cosmic Janitor]

Alleria won't die, she's too iconic/popular and legendary for the Alliance to die!!

Are you serious? Maybe Jaina has that untouchable status on alliance, but certainly not a character that was pretty much lost for over 10 years. Current Blizzard will burn through all of their characters in one form or another, none of them are truly dead anyway.

[Varodoc]

Are you serious? Maybe Jaina has that untouchable status on alliance, but certainly not a character that was pretty much lost for over 10 years. Current Blizzard will burn through all of their characters in one form or another, none of them are truly dead anyway.

False.

Every single player in the game has seen Alleria at least once, as every single player in the game has gone to Stormwind at least once.

Both Alleria and Turalyon are the most iconic and popular heroes of the Old Alliance, Alleria even more so because she's more unique than Turalyon.