Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[therumblings]

Sorry, I phrased that poorly.

I meant that it wasn't hint, it was a leak.

It didn't leak though, it was an item they put in the game presumably to get datamined as a hint for what was to come, combined with the Azsuna NPCs.

[Makorus]

It didn't leak though, it was an item they put in the game presumably to get datamined as a hint for what was to come, combined with the Azsuna NPCs.

I mean, personally, I don't think they meant to reveal the next expansion through datamining by accidentally including an item name + textures in the 7.3 PTR, but sure.

And, once again, it was hardly a hint considering it outright told you what the expansion was about.

[Raetary]

The Zandalari and Kul Tiran sailors as much a hint as Tanaans Suramar cloak was.

[therumblings]

I mean, personally, I don't think they meant to reveal the next expansion through datamining by accidentally including an item name + textures in the 7.3 PTR, but sure.

They did it on purpose as a hint toward the next expansion setting. I don't know why this is even an argument in this thread lol, it's hard to tell what is a hint and what wasn't before the expansion reveal. If it's dragons, then we can obviously point to all the numerous dragon stuff, or if it's Light/Void cosmic war we can point to that. They are planting seeds for the future but the question is which one is next.

[Khaza-R]

I mean, personally, I don't think they meant to reveal the next expansion through datamining by accidentally including an item name + textures in the 7.3 PTR, but sure.

And, once again, it was hardly a hint considering it outright told you what the expansion was about.

True, but it wasn't as if people were able to guess the entire premise just based of the Kul Tiras items. Almost every fake leak that season was some iteration of a South Seas expansion. But none were really close to what we ended up getting.

Even if something from the Dragon Isles was datamined it doesn't mean that's the setting of the next expansion either. It could just be a single zone or an raid like was originally intended.

[therumblings]

The Zandalari and Kul Tiran sailors as much a hint as Tanaans Suramar cloak was.

Yeah, they do stuff like this all the time, plus Iron Horde texture and Kultiras_quest gear. For all we know stuff could already be in game like this for 10.0's continent.

[Marlamin]

You make a fair point and I agree. I'm guilty myself of this behaviour.

Ironically, a few pages back I outlined what I want and expect to happen next expansion, with very little reaction.

This thread is less speculation about the future and more insulting others, and discussing Shadowlands features like covenants and player power.

A post that doesn't get a lot of traction doesn't make it a bad/worthless post. If anything it actually adds something vs. the useless back and forth (which isn't speculation at all regardless of what some try to frame it as; it's arguing).

--

Meanwhile, Blizzard has put the last patch of the expansion on the PTR with a lot of new hints/unexplained things that are actually deserving of speculation/analysis.

What's happening in Tirisfal? Why is Calia involved? There's a LOT of VO and things encrypted there.

Is the way between SL <-> Azeroth canonically wide open now? Khadgar popped up as well as a (now removed) quest where we give a tour of Stormwind to creatures from the Shadowlands.

Why is there another encrypted Anduin model?

What's the encrypted item set for?

Why are there still two encrypted achievements from 9.2? Are those for next reset's content?

I can go on, but hopefully it's some food for thought that looks towards the future instead of the past.

[Santandame]

I am still absolutely convinced that next expansion will be Cataclysm 2.0, but based on rebuilding and change. Along with a full world revamp, new zones on top such as Dragon Isles, Undermine, Tel'Abim etc. A new class, that being one of the three: Tinker, Bard, Dragonknight and new races/allied races.

I'm happy to discuss other possibilities but based off everything in front of us, it'll be pretty hard to dissuade me from this line of thought unless the hints to another theme of expansion are just as plentiful.

I'd be more than happy with that as an expansion. Throw in player housing, class skins, a greater focus on Timewalking, a larger Mythic+ dungeon pool with other expansions dungeons being relevant, difficult solo content like the mage tower, and evergreen dynamic open world content - and I'll have my own personal dream expansion.

[therumblings]

as well as a (now removed) quest where we give a tour of Stormwind to creatures from the Shadowlands.

Now that is interesting. I doubt SL allied races are going to be a thing at this point but that makes me think something along those lines.

[Santandame]

A post that doesn't get a lot of traction doesn't make it a bad/worthless post. If anything it actually adds something vs. the useless back and forth (which isn't speculation at all regardless of what some try to frame it as; it's arguing).

--

Meanwhile, Blizzard has put the last patch of the expansion on the PTR with a lot of new hints/unexplained things that are actually deserving of speculation/analysis.

What's happening in Tirisfal? Why is Calia involved? There's a LOT of VO and things encrypted there.

Is the way between SL <-> Azeroth canonically wide open now? Khadgar popped up as well as a (now removed) quest where we give a tour of Stormwind to creatures from the Shadowlands.

Why is there another encrypted Anduin model?

What's the encrypted item set for?

Why are there still two encrypted achievements from 9.2? Are those for next reset's content?

I can go on, but hopefully it's some food for thought that looks towards the future instead of the past.

Oh wow, that removed quest giving a tour of our cities to denizens of the Shadowlands is quite telling.

Could we see the little Owl Kyrians out in Azeroth helping us build/rebuild cities/towns?

Even possibly as a playable race?

[therumblings]

9.2.5 being the last patch of the expansion makes me think we aren't getting SL allied races at all, because they would be in there, unless they are planning to keep them in a secret future build for pre-orders, or part of 10.0 for pre-orders, I just think the time for them to be playable passed.

[Teriz]

So how was the kul tiras quest item not a hint/leak? that combined with the kultiran and zandalari NPCs it was extremely obvious what 8.0 was.

I wonder if people believe that Blizzard runs WoW on AI, where they put in the building blocks of an expansion, and the game just builds itself, accidentally putting stuff in that doesn't mean anything.

It's pretty clear that Blizzard developers PURPOSELY placing Kul'tiran and Zandalaris in a cave on Azuna was them PURPOSELY dropping a hint of future content. They were working on BFA at the time. They knew what the expansion was going to be about. They clearly wanted to drop an easter egg for studious nerds (like us) to find.

It's not that hard people.

And they've been doing it in BFA and Shadowlands as well. More than likely, there are hints to the next expansion all over the place. I believe those clues lead us in a certain direction, others are free to believe it leads into another. However, it is laughable to believe that Blizzard doesn't purposely drop clues to their future content on a consistent basis.

[Santandame]

9.2.5 being the last patch of the expansion makes me think we aren't getting SL allied races at all, because they would be in there, unless they are planning to keep them in a secret future build for pre-orders, or part of 10.0 for pre-orders, I just think the time for them to be playable passed.

Honestly I've never seen any of the main covenant races as playable.

If we were to get a playable race from Shadowlands, I genuinely think it would be the little owl dudes who help the Kyrian out.

[Nibelheimy]

I'd love to see some new races/allied races added into the game locked behind old content. Finish pandaria time walking set of achievements? Get jinyu for alliance, hozen for horde (remodeled) and grummles neutral.

TBC: broken draenei and ogres
WoTLK: tuskar and vrykul
Cataclysm: furlbog and satyr
MoP: jinyu, hozen, grummle
WoD: botani and Saberon
Legion: could add krokuul draenei.
BFA: Ankoan and Rajani Mogu (think this was originally planned tbh)

Would be nice to give existing players some rewards and newer players a reason to try out and complete that content and experience those storyline instead of just doing quickest. Get the achievements, do the allied race intro recruit quest then play your new broken draenei shaman and quest in pandaria this time to unluck your jinyu warrior.

Just wishful thinking.

[therumblings]

Honestly I've never seen any of the main covenant races as playable.

If we were to get a playable race from Shadowlands, I genuinely think it would be the little owl dudes who help the Kyrian out.

I don't know if most players would want the secondary races from those zones like Dregers and Stewards, but I definitely would play the shit out of this little guy:


Though I'd imagine it would be a nightmare to put armor on those races lol

[Ersula]

Oh wow, that removed quest giving a tour of our cities to denizens of the Shadowlands is quite telling.

Could we see the little Owl Kyrians out in Azeroth helping us build/rebuild cities/towns?

Even possibly as a playable race?

Not really. For a second I thought the "showing Shadowlands races around Stormwind" quest was indicative of allied races, but they're not Sylvan, they're Wild Gods. Those are supposed to transcend the veil between life & death.

[Lady Atia]

A post that doesn't get a lot of traction doesn't make it a bad/worthless post. If anything it actually adds something vs. the useless back and forth (which isn't speculation at all regardless of what some try to frame it as; it's arguing).

--

Meanwhile, Blizzard has put the last patch of the expansion on the PTR with a lot of new hints/unexplained things that are actually deserving of speculation/analysis.

What's happening in Tirisfal? Why is Calia involved? There's a LOT of VO and things encrypted there.

Is the way between SL <-> Azeroth canonically wide open now? Khadgar popped up as well as a (now removed) quest where we give a tour of Stormwind to creatures from the Shadowlands.

Why is there another encrypted Anduin model?

What's the encrypted item set for?

Why are there still two encrypted achievements from 9.2? Are those for next reset's content?

I can go on, but hopefully it's some food for thought that looks towards the future instead of the past.

I would guess the encrypted achievements are for the 10.0 Collectors Edition? Do we have any information beyond "it's an encrypted achievement"? Like atleast a category?

[Teriz]

Even if something from the Dragon Isles was datamined it doesn't mean that's the setting of the next expansion either. It could just be a single zone or an raid like was originally intended.

Yes. Dragon Isles was intended to be a raid, and that's very interesting. In the end, it could end up being something like Tol'Barand, The Isle of Thunder, or Mechagon, where there's a surface area, and a dungeon/raid beneath it.

On the other hand, Undermine was a planned continent, with islands surrounding it and Kezan. I do think if we have a large landmass next expansion, that's going to be it. There's a lot of clues pointing in that direction as well.

I am still absolutely convinced that next expansion will be Cataclysm 2.0, but based on rebuilding and change. Along with a full world revamp, new zones on top such as Dragon Isles, Undermine, Tel'Abim etc.

Yep, that's pretty much what I believe as well.

[Lady Atia]

9.2.5 being the last patch of the expansion makes me think we aren't getting SL allied races at all, because they would be in there, unless they are planning to keep them in a secret future build for pre-orders, or part of 10.0 for pre-orders, I just think the time for them to be playable passed.

They could easily announce them as pre-order bonus for 10.0 and have them off the PTR 'till we get the expansion announcement.

[Catastrophy349]

I can't wait for the 10.0 announcement. Some of this bickering back and forth is ludicrous.