Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[PhillyCheese]

Its kinda weird as some other options such as mag har orcs and lightforged dreanei are in the same position.

For trolls they also made sandtrolls as a cosmetic option as well. Gil goblins and taunka just fit right in that street.

So hopefully the next batch of playable races would feel slightly more unique such as zandalari.

Even for the “tattoo ARs” you can’t mistake them for a regular version of the race with armor on. Even Helfs have different hair than Belfs now. I think that is one thing Blizz considers: if the race looks the exact same with armor on (helmets aside) its probably not a good idea for a new race. Hence why Wildhammer became a skin as did Helf.

We will see if they break this rule with Kul Tirans and allow them to have the regular human model, which is probably their biggest request and also makes lore sense as 99% of their lore heroes look normal. Though they may restrict their hair styles and add some unique cosmetics like pirate tattoos.

[ercarp]

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

Agreed. I check this thread a few times a day in case of something interesting but 99% of the time it's just pages and pages of back-and-forth arguing about some minor detail that doesn't even matter.

[Alanar]

Even for the “tattoo ARs” you can’t mistake them for a regular version of the race with armor on. Even Helfs have different hair than Belfs now. I think that is one thing Blizz considers: if the race looks the exact same with armor on (helmets aside) its probably not a good idea for a new race.

We will see if they break this rule with Kul Tirans and allow them to have the regular human model. Though they may restrict their hair styles and add some unique cosmetics like pirate tattoos.

Idk.. its mostly the sillouhette what makes it differnt. Hair, hair color etc are all great, but void elves can look pretty much like a blood elf so not sure what you mean.

The only thing that they could do imo with not much work is to alter the idle animations of mirror races. They dis it with nightborne and it worked to make them distinct enough vs night elves. They could have done the same with void elves, but didnt. Now when you see a void elf running around the only thing that you pay attention to is their name in red instead of green.

[Syegfryed]

We already have mechagnomes, gnomes, goblins and vulpera as these niche races. Gil goblins are fine when they would be part of excisting goblins race. Make it a short recruitement quest and be done with it. An actual slot when they are just greener with fins is a wasted slot.

We ahve two for each faction, who said we can't get a third?

gilgoblins and taunka can't be just a customization because they are too diferent.

I already explained why, lf and hm are lazy options and should not be repeated again. So no thank you, its boring.

it doesn't matter if they are lazy, they are an allied race anyway, and taunka are way more different than then, and they are much better than fat derp-looking walrus people.

Tuskar is perfectly fine and much better option and more diverse then another flavor of goblins.. which are not even popular.

"fine"


yeah, they are not going to happen

[Wangming]

Cata failed because the revamp was done in a single development cycle. Meanwhile Cata 2 would do much better because not only have they updated models/zones during WoD, Legion, BFA and SL, but they also planned/changed a shorter expansion before 10.0 so they have even MORE dev time for 10.0. Last time this happened was the biggest feature-laden expansion (Legion).

Also very likely that Cata 2 would not have the extensive, dev-time-wasting geography changes of Cata because there won't be a dragon fucking things up.

Stuff like the Tirisfal thing, HD human houses, Azeroth racial plot continuations in 9.2.5 is more than speculation because it doesn't look heavily connected to Dragon Isles.

Welll, we shall see eventually. We shall see.

[PhillyCheese]

You should look forward to the weekly (?) 9.2.5 builds in the meantime. We’re still waiting on a single mention of Kalimdor to see if we’ll even visit it at all next expansion.

Even though it’s silly to call it early, and the other thread is probably a troll, ignoring the Nelves would be a baaaaaad idea...

[Fahrad Wagner]

Agreed. I check this thread a few times a day in case of something interesting but 99% of the time it's just pages and pages of back-and-forth arguing about some minor detail that doesn't even matter.

It's become so tedious it's taking the joy out of this thread. I really wish the people involved would realise all they're doing is ruining the atmosphere.

That being said... I am still very excited for the 10.0 announcement. I won't be available that week so I won't be posting over here too much but I'll definitely follow it up closely.

[Ersula]

God I'd love that. They could really go crazy with the customisations and bring some fresh interesting lore! I wish they'd revisit previous expansions for new AR with some patches. Like, giving us Taunka and Ice Dwarves, Tuskarrs, Furbolgs, Tortollans, Hozen and Jinyu... so many cool races which deserve to be playable!

It would be cool if they give us Azeroth-bound races but use the Shadowlands races as a base. Like the new customization for the allied race evokes the shadowlands race.
Sylvan into Botani
Venthyr into San'lyn
Kyrian into Vrykul
And Maldraxxians into... I dunno, Necromancer Ogres? More Skeletal forsaken?

[Sondrelk]

Even for the “tattoo ARs” you can’t mistake them for a regular version of the race with armor on. Even Helfs have different hair than Belfs now. I think that is one thing Blizz considers: if the race looks the exact same with armor on (helmets aside) its probably not a good idea for a new race. Hence why Wildhammer became a skin as did Helf.

We will see if they break this rule with Kul Tirans and allow them to have the regular human model, which is probably their biggest request and also makes lore sense as 99% of their lore heroes look normal. Though they may restrict their hair styles and add some unique cosmetics like pirate tattoos.

I think the "Tattoo" ARs would make sense if we got large amounts of them honestly. Though mostly much of this falls down on wanting unique Heritage armor, racials, and most importantly class options. Wildhammer dwarves being a decent fit for Druid is a good example. It makes no sense why a classic WoW Dwarf would be a druid, but a Wildhammer one absolutely could be, in addition to having completely different racials and aesthetic.

[therumblings]

I think the "Tattoo" ARs would make sense if we got large amounts of them honestly. Though mostly much of this falls down on wanting unique Heritage armor, racials, and most importantly class options. Wildhammer dwarves being a decent fit for Druid is a good example. It makes no sense why a classic WoW Dwarf would be a druid, but a Wildhammer one absolutely could be, in addition to having completely different racials and aesthetic.

Wildhammer Dwarf Druids are the peak of my WoW desires, I'd do anything to get those!

[Wangming]

It's become so tedious it's taking the joy out of this thread. I really wish the people involved would realise all they're doing is ruining the atmosphere.

That being said... I am still very excited for the 10.0 announcement. I won't be available that week so I won't be posting over here too much but I'll definitely follow it up closely.

We need another leak. Even if it is a blatantly fake one. Those always spice up the conversation.

[Alanar]

We ahve two for each faction, who said we can't get a third?

gilgoblins and taunka can't be just a customization because they are too diferent.



it doesn't matter if they are lazy, they are an allied race anyway, and taunka are way more different than then, and they are much better than fat derp-looking walrus people.



"fine"


yeah, they are not going to happen

Not sure what your on about. You have no idea if they will happen or not, says who You? You find them derpy and I find the more suited then gil goblins or taunka as new race options as explained.

Lightforged and hm were a mistake, lets not repeat a wasted slot shall we?

The only difference is a more harrier face and the other one has fins, they could be cosmetic options for goblins and tauren respectively. Dont make it hard.

Lol, is the fine in the sense of your judment on a wotlk model?, which would be updated obviously silly. I would take walrus people over goblins any day tbh. They were fine in that time.

[therumblings]

We need another leak. Even if it is a blatantly fake one. Those always spice up the conversation.

I'd imagine all the people who make fake leaks are plotting to drop them around the weeks before the announcement to add credibility. Seems like they all went missing when it was announced we'd have to wait over a month for the expansion announcement.

[Fahrad Wagner]

We ahve two for each faction, who said we can't get a third?

gilgoblins and taunka can't be just a customization because they are too diferent.



it doesn't matter if they are lazy, they are an allied race anyway, and taunka are way more different than then, and they are much better than fat derp-looking walrus people.



"fine"


yeah, they are not going to happen

I wish that Blizzard instead of Allied Races as they exist now, had created some kind of sub-races (just called differently) system, as imagined at the time by many in the community.

For example, Humans being able to choose between Stormwind and Kul'Tiras at creation, same goes for Troll tribes, Dwarven clans, etc. This would have allowed a much smoother addition of races such as the Lightforged, which to me are so redundant of the draenei (yet I absolutely adore their customisations) or Highmountain Taurens, Mag'har Orcs, etc.

More "unique" races not falling under such categories such as Vulpera, Nightborne, etc. could have been introduced as either normal races or allied races as they are now. This would have added a lot to the immersion, for example choosing your clan as you create a Dwarf character (allowing for the Wildhammer to truly exist instead of just adding feather customisations to Ironforge dwarves) or an Orc one.

I think the allied races concept and split could have been done in a much smarter way, at least in the way the interface is created, allowing for even further customisation in the future and a less "heavy" interface.

[Wangming]

Wildhammer Dwarf Druids are the peak of my WoW desires, I'd do anything to get those!

Let's make a deal. You get Wildhammer druids. and Gilneans druids also get proper distinct druid forms. Before the whole worgen thing, they were harvest witches, after all.

[Teriz]

Also, seeing the Emerald Drake as a "lol Elune/Lifelands" thing is missing the point I think. Emerald Drakes are heavily tied to Vanilla/Classic and their themes are way more broad than "Elune". Could be a green drake included because they are the closest thing to Anti-Cataclysm (rebirth/healing) which is what the theme of 10.0 may be.

I believe that's a valid interpretation. I could definitely see the next expansion be sort of a reverse Cataclysm where things progress forward and we see some actual changes in the game world; Southshore, Eastern/Western Plaguelands restored, Westfall being lush again, the aftermath of Redridge getting sacked by the Scourge, Night Elves retaking Azshara from the Horde, Gadgetzan expansion, Goblins returning to Kezan/Undermine, Worgen returning to Gilneas, Gnomes finally back in Gnomeregan, Stratholme retaken/restored, Lordaeron's fate getting determined, etc.

That's a pretty good way to start a new chapter in WoW. Further, the hints we're seeing point in that direction, like the Emerald Drake mount.

[ercarp]

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.

Hilarious how most of the thread just ignored the one post that was trying to bring the discussion back to speculating and continued arguing instead, lol.

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

Sylvanas gone. Forsaken have no faction leader. Calia steps up and becomes the new faction leader. Might also have something to do with the Desolate Council plot they introduced in Before the Storm, but probably not.

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.

I thought this was debunked as Khadgar was proven to have been in Oribos before they sealed the veil. I never saw him when I was playing, but someone on the internet said he was there, so it must be true. As for giving SL creatures a tour of SW... Well, that just seems silly and I hope that's why they removed the quest.

Why is there another encrypted Anduin model?

Could point towards a potential time-skip if there's an Anduin model that has a beard or something, lol.

What's the encrypted item set for?

No idea what you mean by this (I'm a bit out of the loop), but it's probably Collector's Edition stuff for 10.0, no?

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

Also no clue.

[Wangming]

I'd imagine all the people who make fake leaks are plotting to drop them around the weeks before the announcement to add credibility. Seems like they all went missing when it was announced we'd have to wait over a month for the expansion announcement.

I have one, but I didn't even pretend it is legit.

[Sondrelk]

You should look forward to the weekly (?) 9.2.5 builds in the meantime. We’re still waiting on a single mention of Kalimdor to see if we’ll even visit it at all next expansion.

Even though it’s silly to call it early, and the other thread is probably a troll, ignoring the Nelves would be a baaaaaad idea...

I mean, it's an option, but really there is no reason to think this isnt Silithus 2.0, where it was important for a single minor patch in Legion, and otherwise was just a slightyl out of the way reputation hub for Magnis faction in BfA. Even counting the Heart Chamber as a part of Silithus that still doesnt leave us with much actual content there, even compared to just the 7.3.5 quests.

As much as I really want a world revamp there isnt actually a whole lot of reason to assume we will get one just because it's the interlude between SL and 10.0. Even the Scarlet Crusade could be moving shop to the Dragon Isles for whatever reason and we just fight them there.

[therumblings]

I wish that Blizzard instead of Allied Races as they exist now, had created some kind of sub-races (just called differently) system, as imagined at the time by many in the community.

For example, Humans being able to choose between Stormwind and Kul'Tiras at creation, same goes for Troll tribes, Dwarven clans, etc. This would have allowed a much smoother addition of races such as the Lightforged, which to me are so redundant of the draenei (yet I absolutely adore their customisations) or Highmountain Taurens, Mag'har Orcs, etc.

More "unique" races not falling under such categories such as Vulpera, Nightborne, etc. could have been introduced as either normal races or allied races as they are now. This would have added a lot to the immersion, for example choosing your clan as you create a Dwarf character (allowing for the Wildhammer to truly exist instead of just adding feather customisations to Ironforge dwarves) or an Orc one.

I think the allied races concept and split could have been done in a much smarter way, at least in the way the interface is created, allowing for even further customisation in the future and a less "heavy" interface.

I could see them revamping/merging some races eventually, right now the biggest issue is racials. If they ever addressed or changed racials I could see, for example, Lightforged being merged under the Draenei label. IIRC @Marlamin and some dataminers found evidence of changing the actual race tag on some races to show up as something else like High Elf for Void Elf for example. There are a lot of possibilities and ways to address this.