Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Marlamin]

Honestly, I mean if the Classic and Retail can both participate I just have to assume the festivities in 10.2.6 is a complete Pirate Themed concept that has content for both SoD and Retail respectably rather than some sort of reward for SoD? I don't know, I am very much up in the air.

The patch itself is just respective of a Content Drop for SoD and Retail happening at the same time with a Pirate theme.

Again, I don't think there's any new content for SoD/Classic implied in the post, just that Classic players can access it on Retail without a Dragonflight license.

[Cheezits]

A massive tavern opening up somewhere, where players can enjoy minigames such as Vampire Survivors Mode?

Would you call it a Hearthstone Tavern...?

[Marlamin]

Would you call it a Hearthstone Tavern...?

Don't play with my heart.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

Again, I don't think there's any new content for SoD/Classic implied in the post, just that Classic players can access it on Retail without a Dragonflight license.

So its Stranglethorn Vale content seemingly then.

[doledippers]

Again, I don't think there's any new content for SoD/Classic implied in the post, just that Classic players can access it on Retail without a Dragonflight license.

yeah after rereading it i agree. my initial read was that its available across both versions, but now i think she means that anyone with an active sub (ie classic players / non max level / non DF-owning players) can participate

[Ersula]

BFA tried that, it failed horribly, and every major patch after was fairly standard. It's not feasible to experiment for big patches that are supposed to hold players for months, because if most players dont like it, Blizz can't just repair it in a snap and have to waste minor/major patch time to fix their mistakes.

I don't have any problem with the new approach in theory: What I have a problem with is expansions becoming smaller & faster but also being more expensive, which by all accounts appears to be the plan for the next 6 years. Despite what people keep insisting, Dragonflight is still smaller than Shadowlands.

[milkmustache]

So its Stranglethorn Vale content seemingly then.

This is also speculation. It's possible, but it holds the same weight as this being Tanaris or Barrens content. I think you're correct that it's old world, but even adding a new island could be old world if they really want to. But that also is speculation. It really is up in the air!

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

This is also speculation. It's possible, but it holds the same weight as this being Tanaris or Barrens content. I think you're correct that it's old world, but even adding a new island could be old world if they really want to. But that also is speculation. It really is up in the air!

I mean if Darkmoon Island is accessable by Trial accounts then I guess it could be a completely new landmass.

Maybe it is Plunder Isle. I don't know it is either Old World Pirate location themed or its possibly some new South Sea Island location. I certainly would be happier with new art asset Island though!

[Cheezits]

I am fine with the secrecy if it's an old world revamp with a questline. If it's just new stuff plopped onto Cata like Gilneas, I will be annoyed.

[milkmustache]

I don't have any problem with the new approach in theory: What I have a problem with is expansions becoming smaller & faster but also being more expensive, which by all accounts appears to be the plan for the next 6 years. Despite what people keep insisting, Dragonflight is still smaller than Shadowlands.

The x.5 and x.7 patches hardly make up the size of a 3 patch cycle, but at least with Dragonflight it seems to be the start of attempting to fill that gap in additional content patches. Again, never gonna be a 3rd raid, but we're seeing far more content in between patches compared to Shadowlands which also had a 2 patch cycle. A lot of work to go, but it seems like they're at least trying.

The prices.... yeah. I would prefer they werre a bit clearly on an expansion's longevity to justidfy the prices.

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I mean if Darkmoon Island is accessable by Trial accounts then I guess it could be a completely new landmass.

Maybe it is Plunder Isle. I don't know it is either Old World Pirate location themed or its possibly some new South Sea Island location. I certainly would be happier with new art asset Island though!

I'll agree with you on STV if we can both hope for a revamped STV although this is by far the least possible.. one can hope!

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

To be fair, I am totally fine with this Executive Team decision if they just transparently told their consumers about it and outlined that Dragonflight is the cadence going forward with 2 Major/7 Minor. I am totally fine with that, I'm just worried this isn't the final spot the goalpost lands on this secrecy decision made by them.

As a Narrative / Lore enthusiast the current story format is just doomed to failure every time. It would need a major shakeup and I don't see it so I just do not care anymore about Narrative integrity when it is clear that is always going to be on the chopping block due to the reduction of production timeline from 24 months to 18 months that the Executive Team has made.

[Cheezits]

One thing against a revamp is that there isn't any place in TLT where new jungle assets could be reused down the line. Some troll stuff could pop up in a revised Zul'Aman area, but not so much jungle stuff. Or pirates.

[Sondrelk]

Hmm...

The Hearthstone 10th anniversary event is in March as well, although listed as a feature for 10.2.5.

Could it have got anything to do with that?

A massive tavern opening up somewhere, where players can enjoy minigames such as Vampire Survivors Mode?

Nah, sounds farfetched.

Maybe STV turns into a pirate-infested playground essentially, taking inspiration from that Vampire Survivors thingie? Fight whacky enemies ranging from angry chickens to feisty pirates, slithering naga and rampaging trolls, unlock crazy new abilities and unlock unique items , and survive the jungle for as long as possible.

I can't see why it would be related to the Hearthstone event given they mentioned it already.

By mentioning that it doesn't require Dragonflight we can surmise it is not endgame focused.
It not being endgame focused basically kills all reason to assume any kind of PvE event, at least in my eyes. It could be one of course, but in that case I would assume it's in relation to a seasonal holiday, which feels wrong given that would more likely fall under holiday revamp.

The pirate flag is definitely a big hint. I don't see why Blizzard would show that and then deliberately have something that isn't anything to do with it.

There is no reason to mention both Classic and Retail in the same sentence unless it applies equally to both. It could of course just be a weird way of saying it requires a regular subscription, but if it's solely a retail feature then I bet Classic players would feel duped by the post.

Which all to me boils down to some kind of pirate themed cosmetic something or other applicable in both Classic and Retail. And honestly, while it might be out there, my guess in that case would be a player ship of some kind as a very basic precursor to player housing.
It could be used in both Retail and Classic. It could have unlockable cosmetics. And it's evergreen and not tid to any expansion, so it can be added to whenever.

Some kind of PvE event that rewards cosmetics is of course a strong possibility, though that somehow feels off to me. Especially if we assume it's something for both Classic and Retail.

[doledippers]

Some kind of PvE event that rewards cosmetics is of course a strong possibility, though that somehow feels off to me. Especially if we assume it's something for both Classic and Retail.

i dont think it is for both, im pretty sure she meant that anyone with a SUB can partake, meaning if youre a classic only player, you can partake with a fresh retail character even if you arent max level and dont own DF

[Cheezits]

I think the biggest takeaway from "you don't need Dragonflight" is that it will be something intended for alts to use. So probably not JUST a questline/puzzle.

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There is no reason to mention both Classic and Retail in the same sentence unless it applies equally to both. It could of course just be a weird way of saying it requires a regular subscription, but if it's solely a retail feature then I bet Classic players would feel duped by the post.

It was very poorly worded but I think all Holly meant was that you don't need to buy Dragonflight to access the "event" in the patch. So it is not locked behind the Dragon Isles or NPCs in the dragon isles, and will instead be plopped somewhere in the old world. But on retail exclusively.

[SunspotAnims]

Despite what people keep insisting, Dragonflight is still smaller than Shadowlands.

Nah, pressing X on that one. I played both expansions quite a bit and, uh, I have eyes. To be clear, I'm not talking about launch content, I'm talking about the state of both expansions a little over a year after their launch. Dragonflight has way more than Shadowlands; more questlines, more little events and one-off thingies, more effort to just add to the game even in little ways. For example, there was a whole questline just so draenei could have red skin and green eyes. It wasn't a big questline, sure, but there are so many more examples like this. I was leveling an alt the other day and found out that there was a whole new warlock questline that I had no idea was added. It's been the norm this expansion to just add these sorts of things just because they can, and I feel like the Dragonflight taken as a whole is so much richer than Shadowlands because of it.

[Woggmer]

"Something that Classic and Retail can enjoy"
Pirate Flag
Chicken
Poultry Leg
Tree.

...I know I joked about the idea that it was a Sea of Thieves collaboration, but maybe it might actually be the case.

[Nize]

"Something that Classic and Retail can enjoy"
Pirate Flag
Chicken
Poultry Leg
Tree.

...I know I joked about the idea that it was a Sea of Thieves collaboration, but maybe it might actually be the case.

While I don't think it is the case, it would also be another reason why it's kept more under wraps as there would be more parties outside of just Blizzard that would need to align on revealing it.

[Woggmer]

While I don't think it is the case, it would also be another reason why it's kept more under wraps as there would be more parties outside of just Blizzard that would need to align on revealing it.

True, but this would be the first time that WoW does a collaboration with something outside of Blizzard's usual IPs.. the only time I can recall that felt like an actual collaboration was the Plants vs Zombies quest back in Cata that gave the singing sunflower pet (which looked like the actual sunflower from the game)... but even then one could argue that was just an unofficial thing and wasn't a real collaboration but a giant reference.

But if the whole thing is available for anyone with WoW Account, then it should be pretty easy for a new Sea of Thieves player to be able to jump right into WoW easily if they don't need the most recent expansion to get whatever the event is about.

I'm fine with being wrong, and I'm not trying to leak whatever it is, but that's what came to my mind about it with the emojis being the biggest hint.

[Ersula]

While I don't think it is the case, it would also be another reason why it's kept more under wraps as there would be more parties outside of just Blizzard that would need to align on revealing it.

Well, we do know there is some sort of Vampire Survivors thing coming. But personally I hope it's actually the premise for Tuskarr & Gnolls becoming allied races under the pretense of fighting pirates come to plunder the Dragon Isles.

Nah, pressing X on that one. I played both expansions quite a bit and, uh, I have eyes. To be clear, I'm not talking about launch content, I'm talking about the state of both expansions a little over a year after their launch. Dragonflight has way more than Shadowlands; more questlines, more little events and one-off thingies, more effort to just add to the game even in little ways. For example, there was a whole questline just so draenei could have red skin and green eyes. It wasn't a big questline, sure, but there are so many more examples like this. I was leveling an alt the other day and found out that there was a whole new warlock questline that I had no idea was added. It's been the norm this expansion to just add these sorts of things just because they can, and I feel like the Dragonflight taken as a whole is so much richer than Shadowlands because of it.

Manari Eredar questline in Dragonflight = Darkfallen elf questline in Shadowlands
Warlock Customization Questline = Blood elf & Dark Iron Dwarf Heritage continuation
Dragonflight World Sidequests = Tier 4 Covenant-specific mechanic Questlines (No one did them, but they were there)
Follower Dungeons = Exiles' reach
Trading Post = Torghast (Everyone complained about it being mandatory but it was fun initially, and it definitely wasn't a backdoor microtransaction store)

The zone storylines were still more elaborate and Shadowlands' raids were still bigger.

If anything they've just gotten better giving you less, chopped up into smaller increments.

Community effort, help build the amazing Hearthstone Tavern. Gather lumber and other materials. Maybe it's even called the Angry Chicken, or perhaps an activity involves us chasing after crazy chickens running around. Perhaps explosive, lol. It's a place where mini games are accessed from now on, and where friends can gather for meetups.

How do pirates play into it?

Good question. It makes sense to be the Hearthstone event, but if its supposed to be a big event, I doubt it's going to be limited time event. Also that's not 'something we've never done before' they did that with Diablo already. And still why pirates. Though I'm fully expecting the jolly roger to be totally meaningless.