Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Kiivar86]

so is 11.1 already established as the Undermine patch?

- - - Updated - - -

what about the rootlands?

No, we're just theorizing. I'm expecting some sort of goblin presence there, is all.

[Skytotem]

Also. I don't know if it was known already. But I do enjoy the backstory of the Kaheti Nerubians of specifically leaving Northrend to escape the Old Gods. And not just that Neferess went against the Black Empire emissary because.

Whoa that's very interesting, where'd you find that?

- - - Updated - - -

Edit: sidenote


I'm really hoping that the Warsong being the primary force in Northrend for the Horde against the undead Nerubians is touched on.

... And also that the Warsong got tactical plans from the live Nerubians to fight the undead ones.

It'll give Gorgonna a chance to show her diplomatic side and military chops at the same time if she works alongside the nerubians resistance

[Foolicious]

Whoa that's very interesting, where'd you find that?

One of the sidequests in the city of threads has you place some propaganda against ansurek in a museum. Basically putting her down by comparing her to the past great queens. One part mentions that the first queen saw in a woven tapestry that her people are doomed if they don't found a new empire somewhere else. It's not quite clear what event she saw exactly, if any we know of. But i personally got the impression that she was free to leave the black empire which is interesting.

There are also statues of past queens outside with some nerubian plaques you can read, but i was too stingy to buy the potion to read them before buying cosmetics. Maybe they say something interesting.

[Kiivar86]

A small thing but I found it amusing that the General referred to an ascended nerubian general throwing away lives like a rabid mantid. I like that they reference their kin that way.

Also I'm really digging the nerubians in general. And the more I quest there the more I realize there's likely little chance the ascended nerubians do become an allied race like I first thought. Everything seems pretty clear that the old guard look down on them (they can't even produce pheromones) and see them as something completely alien. Its interesting.

[Enrif]

The endgame questline in Dornogal starts by having us go to the Chamber of Memories. Every zone has a place to see Azeroth's memories. It's hinted very strongly that the Radiant song and Azeroth's memories popping up like it did in the Pre-patch are linked.

The chamber of memories is right under the archive the earthen use to store THEIR memories. Which makes me think the memories are tied to the machine, not azeroth. This could already be a nudge to the "what are all these titan instalations actualy doing" for TLT. Overall, the whole Azeroth is a titan myth could be caused by the machines of the titans. Pretending to be azeroth while in reality just caused by the titans.

[Lady Atia]

I see everyone speculating about 11.1 & 11.2.
Any 11.3 believers?

We have three colours for the M+ mount (diamond, gold, purple) and 4 banners for the break the meta event sitting in the data. Also the length of season 1 will pretty much tell us how long the "faster" expansions are supposed to be. My guess would be 4 months per season (to go alongside 8 week patches) with 2-3 months of fated season.

[Sondrelk]

A small thing but I found it amusing that the General referred to an ascended nerubian general throwing away lives like a rabid mantid. I like that they reference their kin that way.

Also I'm really digging the nerubians in general. And the more I quest there the more I realize there's likely little chance the ascended nerubians do become an allied race like I first thought. Everything seems pretty clear that the old guard look down on them (they can't even produce pheromones) and see them as something completely alien. Its interesting.

Yeah, I noticed that as well. It's great to get some actual focus on Nerubian society, and Aqir society as a whole. Even small stuff like them drinking liquified beetles like what a spider would, and it coming with the option of pulp or not. All of that small stuff adds up over time.

This is why I want us to go to Silithus underground in the final patch. I want to know if the Qiraji have something approaching a society as well. If they do it must be incredibly insular given the most we see of them are the Silithid, who only seem to be big insects and nothing more.

- - - Updated - - -

One of the sidequests in the city of threads has you place some propaganda against ansurek in a museum. Basically putting her down by comparing her to the past great queens. One part mentions that the first queen saw in a woven tapestry that her people are doomed if they don't found a new empire somewhere else. It's not quite clear what event she saw exactly, if any we know of. But i personally got the impression that she was free to leave the black empire which is interesting.

There are also statues of past queens outside with some nerubian plaques you can read, but i was too stingy to buy the potion to read them before buying cosmetics. Maybe they say something interesting.

I don't really think they were free to leave. All the relics seem to be of the first queen, and she did die fending off attackers from someone following them. Probably Faceless, but maybe other Nerubians.

[Khaza-R]

Assuming 11.1 is the goblin raid. Is there any other gobbo antagonist that's been set up other than Gallywix?

Last we saw him was Tazavesh. So if he does return to the story maybe he brought some Broker friends and potentially we might even see Ve'nari again.

[Cheezits]

A small thing but I found it amusing that the General referred to an ascended nerubian general throwing away lives like a rabid mantid. I like that they reference their kin that way.

Also I'm really digging the nerubians in general. And the more I quest there the more I realize there's likely little chance the ascended nerubians do become an allied race like I first thought. Everything seems pretty clear that the old guard look down on them (they can't even produce pheromones) and see them as something completely alien. Its interesting.

The fact that the Ascended are so different actually feels like they are building them to be playable. For one, the simple purpose that they are humanoid, though it also contrasts them with the more monstrous Nerubians.

However, there's also the angle of "once Ansurek and Xal are gone, what are these weird offshoot kin going to do?" It kind of reminds me of the Forsaken. Consider Neferess as well: if s she's not in the last campaign chapter, she's still alive in a changed form as well. There's room for a redemption arc and there's a built in reason that they would travel the world instead of staying in the city: they don't belong.

I think there's enough going on with them for an interesting playable faction. And they have a lot of animations.

- - - Updated - - -

Assuming 11.1 is the goblin raid. Is there any other gobbo antagonist that's been set up other than Gallywix?

Last we saw him was Tazavesh. So if he does return to the story maybe he brought some Broker friends and potentially we might even see Ve'nari again.

Venture Co. is shown often, and theres a group called Darkfuse in the max level campaign that I've never heard of (related to Blackfuse? unsure) with a guy who runs off. Otherwise no.

I assume Gallywix will be the focus as his tophat is on the venture co ring item, but I would like some new goblin characters.

[Sondrelk]

The fact that the Ascended are so different actually feels like they are building them to be playable. For one, the simple purpose that they are humanoid, though it also contrasts them with the more monstrous Nerubians.

However, there's also the angle of "once Ansurek and Xal are gone, what are these weird offshoot kin going to do?" It kind of reminds me of the Forsaken. Consider Neferess as well: if s she's not in the last campaign chapter, she's still alive in a changed form as well. There's room for a redemption arc and there's a built in reason that they would travel the world instead of staying in the city: they don't belong.

I think there's enough going on with them for an interesting playable faction. And they have a lot of animations.

It would be neat for sure. One imagines there logically has to be a subplot eventually of freeing the Ascended from Xal'ataths mind control, which should make it possible for them to be allied to us.
Would also make sense if we eventually save Neferess and she decides the future of the Nerubians means allying with us, which would organically allow the Ascended from joining us, fitting better into our society than regular Nerubians.

Not sure how the four arms thing will be fixed though. Given that is the issue the developers pointed to on why the Ascended are not an AR.
I am sure there will be a solution eventually. Given this saga is supposed to be all about listening to players and all that I doubt they would ignore this opportunity to give players something they want.

[Ersula]

I think the biggest argument against ascended nerubian allied race, is that the textures are designs with a stormwind human in mind, and the thinner & taller the race is the more f&cked up the textures become. You may notice some gems & details that look extremely elongated on Undead & Blood elves. With the existing playable races, its just barely noticeable but the Ascended are so tall & thin that I don't think it'll work.

I think it's more likely we get a Crypt Lord hero class mid expansion than ascended nerubian allied race. And that's already a long-shot.

[Sondrelk]

I think the biggest argument against ascended nerubian allied race, is that the textures are designs with a stormwind human in mind, and the thinner & taller the race is the more f&cked up the textures become. You may notice some gems & details that look extremely elongated on Undead & Blood elves. With the existing playable races, its just barely noticeable but the Ascended are so tall & thin that I don't think it'll work.

I think it's more likely we get a Crypt Lord hero class mid expansion than ascended nerubian allied race. And that's already a long-shot.

I wouldn't say Ascended are significantly thinner than a Belf female, and it works for them.
It would look weird, but that hasn't stopped Blizzard before.

[Cheezits]

Not sure how the four arms thing will be fixed though. Given that is the issue the developers pointed to on why the Ascended are not an AR.
I am sure there will be a solution eventually. Given this saga is supposed to be all about listening to players and all that I doubt they would ignore this opportunity to give players something they want.

The four arms thing isn't a problem, their animations have them hold onto weapons with two hands while the other two are off to the side. They also have some pretty interesting animations like holding guns and swimming, which I don't think you'll normally see them ever do. But that's just my guess.

Maybe the dev was confused/tricky and meant the NORMAL nerubians? I think only one person ever said this too. Because those would be an animation nightmare. But animation wise the Ascended can use every weapon and have a full suite of combat animations. Gear is the big problem as they are clearly another Dracthyr/Mecha race with helmets and shoulders only, but as Blizzard keeps doing the helmet/tabard/shoulder rewards, maybe they dont care?

[Skytotem]

A small thing but I found it amusing that the General referred to an ascended nerubian general throwing away lives like a rabid mantid. I like that they reference their kin that way.

Also I'm really digging the nerubians in general. And the more I quest there the more I realize there's likely little chance the ascended nerubians do become an allied race like I first thought. Everything seems pretty clear that the old guard look down on them (they can't even produce pheromones) and see them as something completely alien. Its interesting.

Wouldn't that make it more likely? Since once we beat Xal they can't stay in the city and would need somewhere else to go?

[Cheezits]

Wait... what if the reason Geyarah is here is because the Lightbound actually ARE in Beledar?

I feel like they would've picked Gorgonna as the one who talks more, but it seems they are focused on her a bit.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

I see everyone speculating about 11.1 & 11.2.
Any 11.3 believers?

X.3 is no longer anything to even discuss, it doesn't exist and will not exist in the future of World of Warcraft.

Ion has stated no Shrinkflation and has now in the latest interviews at Gamescom stated that the Expansion "The War Within" has Dragonflight Content Cadence.

Chris Metzen yapped a bit and stated they have already started on 13.1/13.2, I think we can lay this one to rest at this point.

[OCoyne]

Assuming 11.1 is the goblin raid. Is there any other gobbo antagonist that's been set up other than Gallywix?

Last we saw him was Tazavesh. So if he does return to the story maybe he brought some Broker friends and potentially we might even see Ve'nari again.

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

Because the tree is not part of a new zone the most likely outcome is The void corrupted tree being the raid aka the Rootlands, with the Goblins having their own zone and mega 5 man dungeon, basically another Mechagon.

[Skytotem]

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

Because the tree is not part of a new zone the most likely outcome is The void corrupted tree being the raid aka the Rootlands, with the Goblins having their own zone and mega 5 man dungeon, basically another Mechagon.

I'm actually wondering if it'll be Iridikron making a mess in Undermine?

We might end up having to work WITH the Venture co and such to stop him from doing something down there.

[Cheezits]

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

There is, canonically, a void monster underneath Undermine.

If they can fit void into the Kobolds, using Hearthstone lore (The Darkness) then they can fit it into Undermine. It just won't be a super dark voidy patch because Goblins.

[milkmustache]

I'm really hoping that the Warsong being the primary force in Northrend for the Horde against the undead Nerubians is touched on.

... And also that the Warsong got tactical plans from the live Nerubians to fight the undead ones.

It'll give Gorgonna a chance to show her diplomatic side and military chops at the same time if she works alongside the nerubians resistance

I really love the Warsong being the main Horde force here. Gorgonna has an awesome opportunity to grow as a character and help not just the Horde but the Warsong clan and orcs continue to atone for the sins of Garrosh.

Venture Co. is shown often, and theres a group called Darkfuse in the max level campaign that I've never heard of (related to Blackfuse? unsure) with a guy who runs off. Otherwise no.

I assume Gallywix will be the focus as his tophat is on the venture co ring item, but I would like some new goblin characters.

I've yet to get to the Darkfuse portion of the max level campaign yet, but I still emphasize my theory that if they go the route of mixing some goblin factions in with Xal'atath, the avenue for that will be Ethereals. Perhaps some deal made with the Brokers of Tazavesh as liasons. Darkfuse screams voidy version of Blackfuse (with the little knowledge I have at the moment)

Wait... what if the reason Geyarah is here is because the Lightbound actually ARE in Beledar?

I feel like they would've picked Gorgonna as the one who talks more, but it seems they are focused on her a bit.

I think this could work for both of them. Geyarah for obvious reasons, but if they bring Exarch Hellscream about there would be a lot to build. Mag'har and Lightbound Dranei, Mag'har and former Mag'har now Lightbound, Warsong and a Hellscream, Warsong and Draenei allied Orcs.

I'm starting to buy this idea a bit more.

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

Because the tree is not part of a new zone the most likely outcome is The void corrupted tree being the raid aka the Rootlands, with the Goblins having their own zone and mega 5 man dungeon, basically another Mechagon.

As Cheezits said, the void being underneath Undermine is a big one. Blizzard has been really good with integrating races amongst each other, especially some of these underground races, so I imagine an Undermine patch while largely focusing on goblins is able to divert enough towards their vast lineup to create a full patch.