Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[AOL Instant Messenger]

They never confirmed or denied that the log-on screen of Vanilla was in fact an elaborate hallucination constructed by the most cunning of Eredar, Kil'jaeden the Deceiver, to prevent us from connecting with a hero of Azeroth in a virtual space, as he has meta awareness and this is now a full science fiction plot.

The answer is yet to be revealed...

Frankly, I would say the most truly monumental, unsurpassed dangling thread of all goes all the way back to Warcraft I—did we ever, in fact, learn if Warcraft I even happened, or if it was simply concocted by some guys in California as a fantasy plot?

The answer is yet to be revealed...

[Shadochi]

Frankly, I would say the most truly monumental, unsurpassed dangling thread of all goes all the way back to Warcraft I—did we ever, in fact, learn if Warcraft I even happened, or if it was simply concocted by some guys in California as a fantasy plot?

The answer is yet to be revealed...

I've heard that it was just a rejected plot/idea for Warhammer

[Chickat]

I dont have time to read 40 pages. Anything interesting happen in the last 2 weeks?

[AOL Instant Messenger]

I can only imagine Azeroth waking up completely effed up; scarred body and infected blood pouring out of her woons; some blisters here and there; one eye sliding down from its socket.

Far in the reaches of infinite space,
Where stars vanish often and without trace
The cradle nurses a child of cosmic fire,
Who, from in her crib, nurses her ire.

Millennia ago, the appraisal revealed,
A yolkless egg and the nascent sealed—
Tumult and spirit, a fight they couldn't win
And a world of war even then.

And from the furthest stygian sea,
The Old Ones covet what they see—
And each and e'ry age of strife,
Another hatred nursed and brought to life.

The tendrils brought by envy,
A Crusade wrought by lust—
Evil hands, a future sought,
And a lesson taught to trust.

Cloak of skulls and hearts of iron
With hate, her swords are drawn—
She sleeps soundly in the cradle-earth,
And deep space will fear her birth.

- - - Updated - - -

After the immeasurable disappointment of the N'Zoth cinematic you would hope that Blizzard has learned a lesson and at least puts a bit more substance in The Jailer's last moments.

After the immeasurable disappointment of Blizzard, you would hope that Blizzard had learned a lesson and at least put a little more substance into developing the Jailer.

[Polybius]

Far in the reaches of infinite space,
Where stars vanish often and without trace
The cradle nurses a child of cosmic fire,
Who, from in her crib, nurses her ire.

Millennia ago, the appraisal revealed,
A yolkless egg and the nascent sealed—
Tumult and spirit, a fight they couldn't win
And a world of war even then.

And from the furthest stygian sea,
The Old Ones covet what they see—
And each and e'ry age of strife,
Another hatred nursed and brought to life.

The tendrils brought by envy,
A Crusade wrought by lust—
Evil hands, a future sought,
And a lesson taught to trust.

Cloak of skulls and hearts of iron
With hate, her swords are drawn—
She sleeps soundly in the cradle-earth,
And deep space will fear her birth.

I love this, reminds me of a quote I've seen in Secret World and another in the Scrolls of Lore forum. I need more Old Ones poetry.

[Villager720]

I dont have time to read 40 pages. Anything interesting happen in the last 2 weeks?

We got one cinematic closer the next expansion reveal.
Spoilers: Sylvanas made it about her again.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

I dont have time to read 40 pages. Anything interesting happen in the last 2 weeks?

Anduin cinematic which can be summed up as "Anduin's story went exactly how we all knew it would, Arthas was wasted as we all knew he would be, and Danuser still loves Sylvanas as we all knew he did."

[Ersula]

We got one cinematic closer the next expansion reveal.
Spoilers: Sylvanas made it about her again.

yeah it's almost like Sylvanas was concieved so Jaina wouldn't be too close a character to Kerrigan. And that Arthas is a one-dimensional villian. Don't they know Arthas is the heart of this franchise? /s

[Chickat]

Anduin cinematic which can be summed up as "Anduin's story went exactly how we all knew it would, Arthas was wasted as we all knew he would be, and Danuser still loves Sylvanas as we all knew he did."

Oh, I saw that, but I meant more on the speculation and leak front. Or any datamined bits?

[Gloriandus]

Anyone know what the Crypts of the Eternal in the North part of ZM are for? You go inside and get killed quickly by a slowing debuff. Seems like it'd be a place we'd quest in BEFORE the raid; in fact, a lot of ZM seems like we should explore it/flesh it out well before the raid was accessible.

[Villager720]

Anybody wanna take bets on this theory?

1. Sylvanas became the Jailer's puppet when she cast herself from the top of Icecrown Citadel, her body being crushed on the Saronite below. (I still maintain that Yogg-Saron is the real mastermind considering it's his blood, but that's a discussion for another day.)
2. Behind the Jailer in his boss room is a big, glowy Azerite-like beam which presumably goes directly to/from the heart of Azeroth?
3. Sylvanas got a new falling animation in 9.2, which looks exactly like she cast herself from someplace to whatever is down below.
4. What if she saves the day by sacrificing her soul to save Azeroth? I know it's cheesy and undeserved, but it seems like something they would do to symbolically close her arc about serving and betrayal.

Question is what she would throw herself onto. The Machine of Origination to destroy it? (Thinking of Randy Quaid and the way he destroyed an alien spaceship in Independence Day, by flying his fighter jet into its laser beam right as it was about to fire at the ground below.)

Doubtful. Spoilers below:
Datamined broadcast text makes it look more likely that Tyrande let’s her off the hook and she goes to the Maw to find Nathanos.
No, really.

[Villager720]

Oh, wow. As long as she stays the heck away from Azeroth I guess.

If she’s stuck there and can’t mount until the rotating shadehound drops, I’d actually find that reasonable punishment to be honest. Why Blizzard inflicted that actual hell on us, we may never know.

[Izalla]

This reminds me, I read an interesting idea somewhere on the forums a while ago that suggested that each race gets a racial questline that would start out by introducing the major players and history/themes, etc, and then would branch into characters exploring how current/recent events are impacting their race specifically. I think a world revamp expansion would be a great place to start something like this, would promote racial identity for characters (because faction identity feels dead), and would be something that could be added on each patch (like a new chapter or so, etc).

Please don't tease me with my dreeeeams! Ugh I want this so badly.

[taishar68]

This reminds me, I read an interesting idea somewhere on the forums a while ago that suggested that each race gets a racial questline that would start out by introducing the major players and history/themes, etc, and then would branch into characters exploring how current/recent events are impacting their race specifically. I think a world revamp expansion would be a great place to start something like this, would promote racial identity for characters (because faction identity feels dead), and would be something that could be added on each patch (like a new chapter or so, etc).

Well, if we are getting a world revamp, having this expansion end in what you could call a cradle of creation is rather convenient. Perhaps it is what happens when Zovaal "wins". I think back to a comic story that was a lot like Star Trek 3, with a new world starting over when it seemed like it was going to be destroyed. That is my bet on how it will unfold. We'll know in a week.

[Ersula]

Well, if we are getting a world revamp, having this expansion end in what you could call a cradle of creation is rather convenient. Perhaps it is what happens when Zovaal "wins". I think back to a comic story that was a lot like Star Trek 3, with a new world starting over when it seemed like it was going to be destroyed. That is my bet on how it will unfold. We'll know in a week.

If we need a world soul to power the Sepulcher to do that, we should probably use Zovaal's, but at that point, a.) why not just put it back the way it was, complete with restoring Teldrassil, hell even bring all the Night Elves back. We know it has that power and b.) judging by of the post-raid scenes we've actually seen, there's no urgency or tension. It's basically the end of Star Wars where everyone's getting their medals. Because of that, I can't imagine the consequences are all that big. It seems they've only waited to announce the new expansion to put as much distance between it and their bad press.

- - - Updated - - -

1. Sylvanas became the Jailer's puppet when she cast herself from the top of Icecrown Citadel, her body being crushed on the Saronite below. (I still maintain that Yogg-Saron is the real mastermind considering it's his blood, but that's a discussion for another day.)
2. Behind the Jailer in his boss room is a big, glowy Azerite-like beam which presumably goes directly to/from the heart of Azeroth?
3. Sylvanas got a new falling animation in 9.2, which looks exactly like she cast herself from someplace to whatever is down below.
4. What if she saves the day by sacrificing her soul to save Azeroth? I know it's cheesy and undeserved, but it seems like something they would do to symbolically close her arc about serving and betrayal.

1. Yeah, this is detailed both in edge of night & in already previewed exerpts from the Sylvanas novel.
2. And it's pretty clear by now the Sepulcher needs a world soul to power it, and the jailer intended Azeroth's for him to remake reality (despte some people in this thread insisting Azeroth's worldsoul is somehow not made of anima)
3. My guess is "Tyrande's punishment" is making Sylvanas clear out the maw of all its souls, so they can be placed correctly by Pelegos & the Maw will no longer be used for anything.
4. I'm sure people would prefer this but a single mortal's soul isn't powerful enough to save a world soul & it reaks of Star Wars morality: That a person has to die in order to be redeemed: It's pretty juvenile.

[FossilFree]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

[Raetary]

Anyone know what the Crypts of the Eternal in the North part of ZM are for? You go inside and get killed quickly by a slowing debuff. Seems like it'd be a place we'd quest in BEFORE the raid; in fact, a lot of ZM seems like we should explore it/flesh it out well before the raid was accessible.

We quest there next week.
It's the place we assign the new Arbiter in.

[Ersula]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

If they announce pre-order allied races hype won't matter $$$$$$$$$$$

[Zantera]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

This is how it's been even back since the TBC days though. Patch drops, people are super hyped for a week or two. Hype dies down. The real players who spend their weeks raiding, doing pvp or working towards their long term goals (whether that's clearing a raid, reaching their pvp rating or m+ rating) will keep being hyped and keep playing and enjoy the game in a more quiet way, but the 'hivemind' that swarms to the game every patch and then vanishes 3-4 weeks later gets quiet because they have seen the surface level content and they are happy with that.

It does make sense to hold off the 10.0 announcement a bit in my opinion as it would feel weird to put that out at the same time as our current raid. Kind of a "Hey, we know we just dropped a new patch and raid but here's the real content we are hyped about"

[Nyel]

Blizzard totally mistimed their 10.0 announcement. You're supposed to ride the wave of hype and release the announcement at peak hype. Now, everyone is bored of fake leaks and the hype is dying down. By time they get around to it, will anyone still care?

Was there every hype for Shadowlands past its launch? Like honestly? Neither 9.1 nor 9.2 had any major hype levels you could "feel". This was very different in e.g. 7.2, 7.3 and even in 8.2.

Due to every patch being so late and then dragging on forever Shadowlands was never able to build momentum like Legion did (I know this comparison is unfair because Legion was timed perfectly, but you can see and feel the difference).

So when would have been the best time to announce the next expansion in your eyes? Before they announced 9.2 I guess? Because 9.2 didn't generate any worthwile hype, people were just happy that this expansion ends with 9.2 and isn't getting another content patch that makes it even longer.

I really have no idea when would have been the best time to do it. Last autumn?