Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[draugril]

Just for future reference, the name of expansions is never generic, it always features at least one specific. That keeps the product sounding memorable and on-brand and also helps with both avoiding and enforcing copyright.

Burning Crusade
Lich King
(the) Cataclysm
Pandaria
Draenor
(the Burning) Legion
Azeroth
Shadowlands

So something like "Return of the Maw Walkers" would be valid, but not "Return of the Hero". "Whispers of the Void" is possible, but not "Whispers of Darkness"; "Heart of the Dragon Isles" not "Heart of the Dragons".

Eh, Burning Crusade, Cataclysm and Legion are plenty generic.

[huth]

Best reason I can think of is the old theory that Arthas is buried in the tomb in Stormwind.
I had a theory that Sylvanas would attack Stormwind to ressurect Arthas back in BfA, and I guess that could still happen with Zovaal.

No idea why it would be relevant of course, but there is always some ad-hoc reason available if you want.


Otherwise the "evil thing" Anduin could do is always something like kill Bolvar or something.
Though really, why have Anduin do this and not just Zovaal himself. And for that matter, why didn't he just do it at the end of SoD.

At least attacking Bolvar would make some sort of sense, since he's actively trying (if unsuccessfull) to be a thorn in Zovaal's side. Arthas... still don't see why he would bother. He made no effort to look for Ner'zhul's body, either.

this so called "mortal city" reproduces new heroes who will kick his ass.

So far, it has failed to produce even a minor nuisance. Besides, most races don't hail from Stormwind. So again, why should he attack Stormwind in particular?

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I don't think he needs to do something terrible exactly, but we definitely need more reason to want to defeat Zovaal than just vaguely because we want to save Anduin.
Without Sylvanas as a villain there isn't much relatable reason tl actually want to win left.

I don't think making Anduin do something horrible is needed, but Blizzard definitely needs to focus 9.2 on Anduin more. Make the story about saving him, because making the story about defeating Zovaal has really already failed.

....He's going to make us all drones(Zovaal)......thats more then enough.

he's too boring for a long story

Subjective as all hell

So far, it has failed to produce even a minor nuisance. Besides, most races don't hail from Stormwind. So again, why should he attack Stormwind in particular?

Edgyness

[Makabreska]

So far, it has failed to produce even a minor nuisance. Besides, most races don't hail from Stormwind. So again, why should he attack Stormwind in particular?

Because some Hordies still demand Siege of SW in any shape or form, after SoO.

But making MC'd Anduin do something nasty on Azeroth could be an interesting turn. People wouldn't buy MC excuse and he would be probably forced to quit the throne.

[Hellspawn]

Because some Hordies still demand Siege of SW in any shape or form, after SoO.

But making MC'd Anduin do something nasty on Azeroth could be an interesting turn. People wouldn't buy MC excuse and he would be probably forced to quit the throne.

But which race does the Alliance get to genocide in turn (or which two)?

[Sondrelk]

Because some Hordies still demand Siege of SW in any shape or form, after SoO.

But making MC'd Anduin do something nasty on Azeroth could be an interesting turn. People wouldn't buy MC excuse and he would be probably forced to quit the throne.

I am a fervent Alliance player, a d I would absolutely adore a Siege of Alliance raid.
There was so much attention and focus given to the Horde in the leadup to the SoO raid, and I would love to get the same for Alliance.

Losing important NPCs is a bitch, but you do get kickass moments like seeing those same known NPCs go out in a blaze of glory, or otherwise be given attention they wouldn't normally. Like how the warlocks trainers in Orgrimmar got to summon a giant doomguard to kill invaders.

[Cherry123]

Anduin attacking stormwind creates drama, imagine he returns to the kingdom and

[Khaza-R]

Because some Hordies still demand Siege of SW in any shape or form, after SoO.

But making MC'd Anduin do something nasty on Azeroth could be an interesting turn. People wouldn't buy MC excuse and he would be probably forced to quit the throne.

Would make for a semi-interesting twist at least. Like they make you think offing the Jailer will free Anduin but it doesn't and just goes full chaotic evil without the Jailer keeping his mind at bay.

[Nyel]

Eh, Burning Crusade, Cataclysm and Legion are plenty generic.

I think Cataclysm is the best expansion title yet. Short and telling us exactly what’s the entire theme.

[Hitei]

Eh, Burning Crusade, Cataclysm and Legion are plenty generic.

They refer to a specific crusade, a specific Cataclysm and a very, very specific Legion.

To put it another way, you're never going to ask "What <noun>?" with regards to a WoW expansion title, they are specific. No one has to ask "Which Legion?" or "What Cataclysm?" they are THE Legion and THE Cataclysm. Cataclysm by definition also indicates a singular important event. Burning Crusade, much like Lich King, is specified by its adjectival, not just any crusade, the Burning Crusade.

Compare that to "Return of the Hero(es)". Your immediate questions are "What/which heroes?", "Returning from what/where?"

In the same vein, "Awakenings" is an extremely unlikely expansion title. It's super nonspecific, like on a basic syntax level, that plural "s" removes any sort of specificity. You might be able to get away with (The) Awakening--because then you immediately know that there is one specific event called the Awakening, but certainly not Awakenings plural.

[draugril]

They refer to a specific crusade, a specific Cataclysm and a very, very specific Legion.

To put it another way, you're never going to ask "What <noun>?" with regards to a WoW expansion title, they are specific. No one has to ask "Which Legion?" or "What Cataclysm?" they are THE Legion and THE Cataclysm. Cataclysm by definition also indicates a singular important event. Burning Crusade, much like Lich King, is specified by its adjectival, not just any crusade, the Burning Crusade.

Compare that to "Return of the Hero(es)". Your immediate questions are "What/which heroes?", "Returning from what/where?"

In the same vein, "Awakenings" is an extremely unlikely expansion title. It's super nonspecific, like on a basic syntax level, that plural "s" removes any sort of specificity. You might be able to get away with (The) Awakening--because then you immediately know that there is one specific event called the Awakening, but certainly not Awakenings plural.

It's contextually specific. Not generally. You can throw "Cataclysm" onto virtually any property and it could work.

Avengers: Cataclysm.
Batman vs. Superman: Cataclysm.
Men in Black: Cataclysm.
Matrix: Re-Cataclysm.
Little Cataclysm on the Prairie.

I'd watch them all.

Try the same thing with a proper noun like "Pandaria" or "Draenor." It doesn't work. Your argument only makes sense if all the titles were as specific as those. Just because it has a specific meaning in-universe doesn't mean it isn't a generalized term. "Awakenings" could just as as significant as "Cataclysm" is in-game, but they're still general terms that aren't specific to the WarCraft universe.

[Kereberus]

There are rumblings.

9.2 is close

[Nyel]

There are rumblings.

9.2 is close

Your guts? Or what is rumbling.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

There are rumblings.

9.2 is close

Don't play with this forum's hearts >.>

[TheFirstOnes]

There are rumblings.

9.2 is close

The Old Gods are dead. What rumblings are you hearing?

[micwini]

Maybe today there will be an announcement of the upcoming announcement of 9.2?

[Proudmong]

Anduin culling Stormwind would be perfect. Have him murder Genn for that final Arthas parallel -- Tess can despise him for that and provide us with tension later on. He'll despise himself, and lead him down a more interesting path of dealing with that trauma and overcoming it to return stronger than ever.

As for the reasons to why? Perhaps the Jailer requires time to get through the defenses of the Sepulcher, and sending Anduin to raze his home not only wholly breaks his spirit, but distracts us from pursuing him and weakens one of the strongest factions on Azeroth.

A raid featuring a burning Stormwind, a necropolis hovering above and us trying to catch up with Anduin's deathmarch towards the throne would be amazing.

[Hitei]

It's contextually specific. Not generally. You can throw "Cataclysm" onto virtually any property and it could work.

Avengers: Cataclysm.
Batman vs. Superman: Cataclysm.
Men in Black: Cataclysm.
Matrix: Re-Cataclysm.
Little Cataclysm on the Prairie.

I'd watch them all.

Try the same thing with a proper noun like "Pandaria" or "Draenor." It doesn't work. Your argument only makes sense if all the titles were as specific as those. Just because it has a specific meaning in-universe doesn't mean it isn't a generalized term. "Awakenings" could just as as significant as "Cataclysm" is in-game, but they're still general terms that aren't specific to the WarCraft universe.

That's what I'm saying though, "Awakenings" can't be as significant or specific in-game, because the fact that it is plural immediately means it's talking about a bunch of different events.

The point is not that the title is ultra unique only something that can only make sense in Warcraft; you could have a Wrath of a Lich King in any fantasy game that has Liches, or a Legion in any IP that has a notable army. The point is that the titles are always very specific and singular, never something vague and ill-defined or difficult to pin down. Which is what "Awakenings" is.

A player interested in a revamp expansion made up a title they figured sounded mysterious and grandiose, that was more metaphor than anything else and fit in with the revamp/rebirth concept. But Blizzard coming up with a title isn't looking for mysteriousness, they want clear definition that communicates as much about expansion as possible in a few words that sound nice together. You can see this with MoP. MoP is an expansion that leans heavy into mystery, and even then, when trying to capture that sense of mystery, they picked a title that communicates that mystery AND specifies what the expansion is: Mists of Pandaria. They don't do floaty abstract titles, which is exactly what "Awakenings" is.

Like I said in the last post, if it were grounded in specificity, maybe; "The Awakening" (no plural), "The Great Awakening", "Awakening of Azeroth", "The Last Awakening". But Awakenings just isn't the expansion title style.

Anduin culling Stormwind would be perfect. Have him murder Genn for that final Arthas parallel -- Tess can despise him for that and provide us with tension later on. He'll despise himself, and lead him down a more interesting path of dealing with that trauma and overcoming it to return stronger than ever.

As for the reasons to why? Perhaps the Jailer requires time to get through the defenses of the Sepulcher, and sending Anduin to raze his home not only wholly breaks his spirit, but distracts us from pursuing him and weakens one of the strongest factions on Azeroth.

A raid featuring a burning Stormwind, a necropolis hovering above and us trying to catch up with Anduin's deathmarch towards the throne would be amazing.

Why would he care about the factions on Azeroth? The primary threats to his agenda are all in the Shadowlands and also the Alliance is only one of the strongest factions on Azeroth when dealing with Azeroth tier threats they can mobilize a regular army against. There are clearly much, much bigger potential hazards to his agenda and defenders of the planet, like the Watchers of Ulduar, the Dragonflights, the Kirin Tor.

Also attacking Stormwind would literally only distract us. That is, the (Alliance) players and like half a dozen leader NPCs currently involved. The covenants would still be focused on hunting him down, not worrying over a single city being razed.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Why would he care about the factions on Azeroth? The primary threats to his agenda are all in the Shadowlands and also the Alliance is only one of the strongest factions on Azeroth when dealing with Azeroth tier threats they can mobilize a regular army against. There are clearly much, much bigger potential hazards to his agenda and defenders of the planet, like the Watchers of Ulduar, the Dragonflights, the Kirin Tor.

Also attacking Stormwind would literally only distract us. That is, the (Alliance) players and like half a dozen leader NPCs currently involved. The covenants would still be focused on hunting him down, not worrying over a single city being razed.

edgyness and "PARRELELL TO ARTHAS" They just want Anduin to be bad or the Alliance bad.

[draugril]

Like I said in the last post, if it were grounded in specificity, maybe; "The Awakening" (no plural), "The Great Awakening", "Awakening of Azeroth", "The Last Awakening". But Awakenings just isn't the expansion title style.

Eh, agree to disagree on this one. "Cataclysm" and "Legion" could have a plethora of meanings. We only need the in-game context before. A new expansion could be called "Awakenings" or "Return of Heroes" or even "Dragon Isles" or similarly generic fantasy stuff. Even "Shadowlands" itself is incredibly generic. The developers need only to give it context in the build-up or actual release.

In fact, given their current drive toward constant mysteries and cliffhangers, I wouldn't put it past them to name an expansion "Revelations." The context comes later.

The greater point is, these types of titles don't disqualify an expansion name. Or we would have had "Cataclysm of Deathwing" and "Legion of Sargeras." Those don't have the same ring, though, so we got the generic subtitles.