Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Xilurm]

What was wrong with the Kalimdor book? I kinda missed that period of WoW.

[therumblings]

Because Pre-Orders are tied to 9.2.5. All of the pre-order bonuses are in that patch. Once it launches, we will get the pre-orders up shortly after it goes live.

The pre-order stuff is already in the live game though. Unless there is a hidden allied race and or major hidden bonus.

[Cheezits]

Because Pre-Orders are tied to 9.2.5. All of the pre-order bonuses are in that patch. Once it launches, we will get the pre-orders up shortly after it goes live.

Actually the mount, pet and armor are in retail already. So they COULD open up pre-orders but haven't, likely due to not having a release window locked in as well as some additional reward that does come from 9.2.5.

[Ersula]

Because Pre-Orders are tied to 9.2.5. All of the pre-order bonuses are in that patch. Once it launches, we will get the pre-orders up shortly after it goes live.

But that wasn't a factor in the BFA or Shadowlands pre-order. Cosmetic rewards came immediately, while the allied race stuff came in the following minor patch. The Dragonflight pet, mount & transmog bonus are already in the live client.

Also none of that means they can't talk about it.

What was wrong with the Kalimdor book? I kinda missed that period of WoW.

There was a story about Lorethemar teaching Zekhen how to read. Which seemed extremely offputting because Trolls were the first to acclimate to the other languages of Azeroth. Also why would the Leader of the Elves teach a random Troll this?

[Cheezits]

What was wrong with the Kalimdor book? I kinda missed that period of WoW.

Zekhan is illiterate, and people took that as a racist jab at black people. Which I think is ridiculous.

[Hugnomo]

What was wrong with the Kalimdor book? I kinda missed that period of WoW.

That's a whole can of worms.
Some people on twitter felt that the way characters, and their races, were portrayed was insensitive and relied on tropes, in relation to their real life inspirations.

[Sondrelk]

The pre-order stuff is already in the live game though. Unless there is a hidden allied race and or major hidden bonus.

Honestly, at this point I cannot really see any other reason they have not opened pre-orders than them wanting to couple it with Alpha opening, or 9.2.5 being launched.

Unless one of the pre-order rewards are horribly bugged there doesnt seem to be a reason to delay when thye could just say that the accompanying AR becomes available at a later date.

[JDBlou]

What was wrong with the Kalimdor book? I kinda missed that period of WoW.

Many many racist caricatures, a letter that was written in Gallywix's voice that was changed last minute to Gazlowe. This is a good breakdown: https://www.wowhead.com/news/world-o...-racial-325248

[Ilir]

Because Pre-Orders are tied to 9.2.5. All of the pre-order bonuses are in that patch. Once it launches, we will get the pre-orders up shortly after it goes live.

Err aren't most of the pre-order bonus already in the live server but encrypted ?

[Sondrelk]

That's a whole can of worms.
Some people on twitter felt that the way characters, and their races, were portrayed was insensitive and relied on tropes, in relation to their real life inspirations.

One of the very specific things was that they severely downplayed the burning of Teldrassil, and in turn portrayed Nelves as unfair for not wanting Horde to come into their lands.
The most egregious one though was that Zekhan (and by proxy the Horde) was shown to be an illiterate idiot, who despite being a trained shaman didnt understand basic concepts like the tides.

It all just kinda coalesced into making the Horde seem like the biggest dunces on Azeroth.

[Cheezits]

Many many racist caricatures, a letter that was written in Gallywix's voice that was changed last minute to Gazlowe. This is a good breakdown: https://www.wowhead.com/news/world-o...-racial-325248

Honestly the jab that Zekhan SHOULD be literate because troll culture has literature is very funny: because clearly, all trolls are X right?

[Alexjimithing]

Yeah it did the Horde dirty.

Zekhan having to be taught how to read/write by Lor'themar makes zero sense within the lore too.

[wowrefugee]

I really hope the Dark Ranger customizations are extensive and not just "now you get red eyes! its just like how night elves got black eyes!"

[Sondrelk]

Honestly the jab that Zekhan SHOULD be literate because troll culture has literature is very funny: because clearly, all trolls are X right?

All trolls is one thing. Zekhan however is a member of a fairly small tribe that is clearly in the good graces, as well as close proximity to the rest of the Horde.
Are we to assume that Echo Isles has a rampant homeless shaman problem?

[Marlamin]

Err aren't most of the pre-order bonus already in the live server but encrypted ?

Yep, since 9.1.5. Arguably they've still been updating various parts in 9.2.0 and maybe even 9.2.5.

[Hugnomo]

One of the very specific things was that they severely downplayed the burning of Teldrassil, and in turn portrayed Nelves as unfair for not wanting Horde to come into their lands.
The most egregious one though was that Zekhan (and by proxy the Horde) was shown to be an illiterate idiot, who despite being a trained shaman didnt understand basic concepts like the tides.

It all just kinda coalesced into making the Horde seem like the biggest dunces on Azeroth.

I think these reasons, while valid and held by many, were not the motivation for the question being asked. I saw the original tweet from the person who asked the question. It was specific to how the book portrays cultures inspired by BIPOC communities.

EDIT: @JDBlou posted a wowhead article that goes into detail on these complaints.

[Xilurm]

Many many racist caricatures, a letter that was written in Gallywix's voice that was changed last minute to Gazlowe. This is a good breakdown: https://www.wowhead.com/news/world-o...-racial-325248

Damn, that sucks.

Looks like the EK book had way more care though. So might get that. And it looks like they wanna get things right for the Northrend book aswell. So maybe that's something to look forward to.

[Berkilak]

Yeah it did the Horde dirty.

Zekhan having to be taught how to read/write by Lor'themar makes zero sense within the lore too.

Yeesh. Pure "White Man's Burden" right there. Their moral duty to educate the savage...

[Hugnomo]

Damn, that sucks.

Looks like the EK book had way more care though. So might get that. And it looks like they wanna get things right for the Northrend book aswell. So maybe that's something to look forward to.

Personaly, I quite liked the EK one. It's a light, fun read. If you're into Shaw and Flynn as characters it's great.

[Sondrelk]

Damn, that sucks.

Looks like the EK book had way more care though. So might get that. And it looks like they wanna get things right for the Northrend book aswell. So maybe that's something to look forward to.

I think a problem with the Kalimdor book as well is that it is probably just an inherently less interesting place than EK in terms of lore. You really only have the Tauren and Nelves with any long-term storylines going on there, and the Tauren are nomadic, and the Nelves mostly stick to the zones surrounding Hyjal.

With EK you had the ongoing storylines of Gilneas, Lordaeron, Silvermoon, Stormwind, Ironforge, etc. In addition to places like the Plaguelands and such that are still mostly unresolved.
In Kalimdor you have a few sparse interesting places like Tanaris and the Barrens. Bust mostly it's just empty wilderness.