Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Vakir]

The 7.3 allied races were only "in the game files" in that it referenced Void Elves which was noteworthy because its a race we had never heard of before. In 7.3 we had a questline about Alleria becoming a void elf but at that point, she was the only one. There are a lot of potential allied races already in 9.2's race bin including all the shadowlands races. We're in a similar situation as the BFA preorder, in that there was encrypted pre-order bonuses ready to go in 7.3, but the races themselves, part of the pre-order, didn't come until the following minor patch: For all we know they're planning to do the exact same thing. (Or the Shadowlands pre-order as well, where a mount & pet came with the pro-order immediately, but the DK allied races came in the next minor patch)

No, they were in during 7.3 as more than that. There was datamining that showed there was upcoming customization options flagged for the initial pool that were not able to be accessed on the character customization sheet. Race descriptors in the files for when you overlay your cursor on a player. Same with some weapons and the like.

[Ersula]

No, they were in during 7.3 as more than that. There was datamining that showed there was upcoming customization options flagged for the initial pool that were not able to be accessed on the character customization sheet. Race descriptors in the files for when you overlay your cursor on a player. Same with some weapons and the like.

Yes, just like the Shadowlands races. They've had some customization options since 9.0. They used the same allied race descriptor interface to do the covenant change system but that's still true. That's what I said.

[Vakir]

Yes, just like the Shadowlands races. They've had some customization options since 9.0. They used the same allied race descriptor interface to do the covenant change system but that's still true. That's what I said.

The 7.3 allied races were only "in the game files" in that it referenced Void Elves which was noteworthy because its a race we had never heard of before.

This kinda implied otherwise.

[Ersula]

This kinda implied otherwise.

When I said the race bin, it's a literal bin directory: There's a lot of races that aren't playable by subscribers, but are functionally playable complete with customization options, a full range of animations & able to wear armor. Nightborne & Highmountain were in that bin since 7.0. So are Vrykul, but Vrykul being in the bin itself doesn't mean they're an allied race. That's the same reason Void Elves & Lightforged weren't playable in 7.3

I was trying to explain that repeatedly there has been multiple waves of pre-order features added to the game.

It's probably the most annoying part of social media that people zoom in on a specific detail to dissect it in every possible context that they miss the overall point of a post.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

The announcement will happen on March, 24th 2022.

I'm gonna say April 7th. Which should put it either right before or right in the middle of the run-up to 14's 6.1 patch.

[Vakir]

It's probably the most annoying part of social media that people zoom in on a specific detail to dissect it in every possible context that they miss the overall point of a post.

Fair point.

Honestly, not that it justifies it, but I think we're all so desperate for some crumbs of news that it's making people seem more edgy lately.

I'm not shitting on 9.2, I came back and I actually enjoy it on some level, but we're all desperate for 10.0 at this point.

[DiscipleofCazicThule]

When I said the race bin, it's a literal bin directory: There's a lot of races that aren't playable by subscribers, but are functionally playable complete with customization options, a full range of animations & able to wear armor. Nightborne & Highmountain were in that bin since 7.0. So are Vrykul, but Vrykul being in the bin itself doesn't mean they're an allied race. That's the same reason Void Elves & Lightforged weren't playable in 7.3

I was trying to explain that repeatedly there has been multiple waves of pre-order features added to the game.

It's probably the most annoying part of social media that people zoom in on a specific detail to dissect it in every possible context that they miss the overall point of a post.

You've mentioned pre-order Allied races for 10.0ish previously. What do you think they will be? I'm assuming faun, venthyr, kyrian, and...uh...skeleton/chosen?

[Vakir]

We've seen so little development and changes from when we first saw the potential for allied race data that I'm not sure it's even a possibility anymore.

I'm still not sure how they'd justify Shadowlands races in the living world, though I don't consider lore weirdness to be a hard no like others. Blizzard don't curr.

[Lady Atia]

We've seen so little development and changes from when we first saw the potential for allied race data that I'm not sure it's even a possibility anymore.

I'm still not sure how they'd justify Shadowlands races in the living world, though I don't consider lore weirdness to be a hard no like others. Blizzard don't curr.

The lore justification is actually quite easy - we not only saved the Shadowlands - we literally remade a broken system and fixed their isses for them (especially for the Kyrians). So it makes sense that they pledge themselves to defend Azeroth from any thread in the future. They could even make them neutral like Pandaren now that we get crossfaction content with 9.2.5.

[Vakir]

The lore justification is actually quite easy - we not only saved the Shadowlands - we literally remade a broken system and fixed their isses for them (especially for the Kyrians). So it makes sense that they pledge themselves to defend Azeroth from any thread in the future. They could even make them neutral like Pandaren now that we get crossfaction content with 9.2.5.

Oh, that part makes perfect sense. So the rift between life and death just...stays open, never addressed again?

They already treated it as a catastrophic and existential threat, but the logistical issues that come of that are myriad.

...Blizzard dun curr, though.

[Hardwing]

You've mentioned pre-order Allied races for 10.0ish previously. What do you think they will be? I'm assuming faun, venthyr, kyrian, and...uh...skeleton/chosen?

Very likely. They have to justify us giving them money somehow.

I hope Blizz makes a big one and we get:

Alliance: Sylvar, Stewards/ Faery(to balance out Vulpera), Ascended Kyrians(flying).
Horde: Skeleton, Venthyr, Stoneborn(flying)

I'm not sure if I do expect anything major from Blizz anymore.

[Ersula]

You've mentioned pre-order Allied races for 10.0ish previously. What do you think they will be? I'm assuming faun, venthyr, kyrian, and...uh...skeleton/chosen?

That seems to be what everyone wants. Plus I'd be interested to see how they do a skeletal undead race. But I'd prefer Azeroth races. The conclusion of Voss' storyline in BFA felt like an allied race quest for Forsaken Elves. They've been in the Horde longer than normal forsaken & maybe they were just waiting until the Sylvanas storyline to be over. Perhaps they are souls returned from the maw & that explains their grim nature. If we get any of the Shadowlands races the Venthyr make the most sense. The dreadlords got to come & go between the veil as they wished so why can't the Venthyr do the same?

Though we might not get any allied races again & I have to prepare myself mentally for that.

[Teriz]

Allied covenant races makes zero sense. We had allied races because BFA was about a faction war where we needed new allies. There’s no reason for that anymore with the closer ties between the Alliance and Horde. Also it’d be weird for a denizen of the Shadowlands to be in the world of the living.

Not to mention if we were getting allied races from the shadowlands, we’d get them during this expansion, not the next one.

[Teriz]

Yeah. Plus, if we assume they carry on in the same way as before with Allied Races, then they will introduce two that act as AR versions of Worgen and Undead.

Given how Sylvanas has sort of upended the path ahead for both Undead and Night Elves, it's not unthinkable that the Undead AR is some sort of departure from the mainstream. Like the rumoured Lightbound Undead. Or perhaps the other way around and the normal Undead lean more towards the middle from now on, and a more radical offshoot of extremist Undead splinter off from the main group, allowing players who prefer the old Sylvanas way of doing things (plagues and shit) to still have their niche.

Some Night Elves might be radicalised after Teldrassil and form a sort of Worgen AR.

Optionally, they use the old Draenor races which Blizzard made a point to highlight when they arrived on MU Azeroth: Saberon for Worgen and Botani for Undead.

A little off-topic, but I would LOVE to see a Druid of the Fang option for Guardian and Feral Druids. Like a big hulky wolf for tank, and a leaner looking wolf for Feral.

[Ersula]

Not to mention if we were getting allied races from the shadowlands, we’d get them during this expansion, not the next one.

The BFA pre-order allied races originated from Legion content. And I would have said Void Elves make zero sense, but here we are. And Allied races were extremely popular no reason to exclude them. Hell they could add neutral allied races.

[Teriz]

The BFA pre-order allied races originated from Legion content. And I would have said Void Elves make zero sense, but here we are. And Allied races were extremely popular no reason to exclude them. Hell they could add neutral allied races.

Yeah, but again allied races were part of the theme of BFA, not a feature we’d see moving forward as a way they would always introduce new races. If we get new races, they’ll be tied to the next expansion, not be left overs from this one.

[shoc]

Allied covenant races makes zero sense. We had allied races because BFA was about a faction war where we needed new allies. There’s no reason for that anymore with the closer ties between the Alliance and Horde. Also it’d be weird for a denizen of the Shadowlands to be in the world of the living.

Not to mention if we were getting allied races from the shadowlands, we’d get them during this expansion, not the next one.

Not if it's just an Azeroth hero being rezzed in a Shadowlands body. Same as Death Knights.

[Lady Atia]

Yeah, but again allied races were part of the theme of BFA, not a feature we’d see moving forward as a way they would always introduce new races. If we get new races, they’ll be tied to the next expansion, not be left overs from this one.

https://www.wowhead.com/news/liveblo...ikostas-284967

Is the Allied Race system going to be a BFA system?

It's a centerpiece of BFA, but it's also an awesome tool for the future where it makes sense in the story.

So no, Allied Races aren't a BfA only thing. The first four were actually post-Legion content and they could easily do the same again for the Covenants, maybe even as a reward for the campaign epilogue.

[Ersula]

Yeah, but again allied races were part of the theme of BFA

"BFA had a theme" this made me laugh out loud.

But seriously. I even agree with you, and want Azeroth-focused races. But considering Allied races made BFA the fastest selling expansion ever, and that they have to be "last expansion" centered, is kind of the point of a pre-order allied race: That the feature is you being able to play it before 10.0: They were definitely planning on Nightborne & Highmountain playable races before they even started work on BFA

[Teriz]

https://www.wowhead.com/news/liveblo...ikostas-284967

So no, Allied Races aren't a BfA only thing. The first four were actually post-Legion content and they could easily do the same again for the Covenants, maybe even as a reward for the campaign epilogue.

He’s more than likely talking about the rep grind to unlock the races, which is horrible, and a cheap way to introduce an expansion feature.