Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Nymrohd]

If there's any sort of summit that involves withered & void elves with the rest of elven kind, Silvermoon is definitely getting taken over by evil forces & turned into a raid, not a hub. The Sunwell & certain kinds of elves are just incompatible.

Or we will end up with an Azerite Sunwell instead of a Light based one. So like the one they had for most of their existence.

[Ersula]

Or we will end up with an Azerite Sunwell instead of a Light based one. So like the one they had for most of their existence.

Isn't that exactly what the Nightwell was? Leylines are literally Azeroth's blood.

[Nightshade711]

Isn't that exactly what the Nightwell was? Leylines are literally Azeroth's blood.

I thought the nightwell was powered/fueled by the Eye of Aman’thul

[Raetary]

I thought the nightwell was powered/fueled by the Eye of Aman’thul

It's both.

The eye was used to create the Nightwell, and they did so by converging a bunch of ley lines.

[Nymrohd]

Isn't that exactly what the Nightwell was? Leylines are literally Azeroth's blood.

The original Sunwell was made from Leylines + the Well of Eternity so it was entirely Azeroth's power. The TBC Sunwell uses a Naaru core and the Nightwell uses a Titan Artifact so I'd say the first is pure World Soul, the second is Light-aligned and the third Order-aligned. Given that the influence of external forces on Azeroth is central to the story, purging the Sunwell of the Light influence (alongside the inevitable Void one) may be part of Midnight's narrative.

[Alanar]

Phasing would do absolutely nothing about the lag. It's most certainly going to be instanced.

It's not an illusion of choice, though. You do get an actual choice on the visuals in that scenario.

You would still be in the same spot and being instanced is like having a delve entrance. It the illusion your house is really there. Instead its a pocket instance. Being closed off is exactly the type of scenario I am refering to. Its just some place off the map, with some visual backround. Not actually in the world. I prefer more freedom and have multiple options out in the world. Reason to travel or be out there in the world. It could also create fun outdoor avtivities both pve/pvp.

You almost make it seem like you have to q for it tho. >.>

[Nymrohd]

Here's what I'm interested in: the original Well of Eternity caused life to virtually explode around it. Trolls becoming Night Elves, new species appearing, etc. Elune also used to sleep and bathe in its waters.

What gives Azeroth's blood such a seemingly strong connection to Life? Is it Elun'Ahir or something even more ancient?

I'm dying to know this.

Or maybe it's all the spirit she had for breakfast.

[Joshuaj]

Here's what I'm interested in: the original Well of Eternity caused life to virtually explode around it. Trolls becoming Night Elves, new species appearing, etc. Elune also used to sleep and bathe in its waters.

What gives Azeroth's blood such a seemingly strong connection to Life? Is it Elun'Ahir or something even more ancient?

I'm dying to know this.

A couple of things.

1. Likely the spirit she consumed.

And 2. Elun'ahir + other connections with Elune. Maybe her consuming all that spirit energy gave her a natural link to the life goddess. Maybe the Emerald Dream and it's nature gave Elune a unique link to Azeroth and the other worldsouls, and that link was expanded to Order as soon as Eonar and Freya gained access to the realm and started their experiments. The connection with Elune likely grew as well, due to the Tears of Elune and other physical realm influences.

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Not to mention Azeroth's Sun and Moons likely have some life connections as well. Both solar and lunar.

[huth]

You would still be in the same spot and being instanced is like having a delve entrance. It the illusion your house is really there. Instead its a pocket instance. Being closed off is exactly the type of scenario I am refering to. Its just some place off the map, with some visual backround. Not actually in the world. I prefer more freedom and have multiple options out in the world. Reason to travel or be out there in the world. It could also create fun outdoor avtivities both pve/pvp.

You almost make it seem like you have to q for it tho. >.>

The downsides would far outweigh the benefits from a developer PoV. And that sounds more like a headache than a "fun activity".

[Nymrohd]

Phasing would do absolutely nothing about the lag. It's most certainly going to be instanced.

It's not an illusion of choice, though. You do get an actual choice on the visuals in that scenario.

I'd say it would depend on how many plots are available for release. ESO housing released with like 20 different houses. You'd need 25 to cover current playable races. Say allied races come later, you'd still want 15 plots. If you have them spread over 15 zones, the phasing would be much less painful.

[huth]

I'd say it would depend on how many plots are available for release. ESO housing released with like 20 different houses. You'd need 25 to cover current playable races. Say allied races come later, you'd still want 15 plots. If you have them spread over 15 zones, the phasing would be much less painful.

Sure, but at that point having them out in the world also becomes rather pointless.

[Nymrohd]

Sure, but at that point having them out in the world also becomes rather pointless.

The point is immersion. By having your house be an area in the open world, even if the plot itself is instanced, you feel immersed. And you can actually walk in.

That ofc depends on how housing works. E.g. maybe you have a free teleport to your favourite house every few hours; this makes that house minimally useful for traveling. People could also walk into your house with some custom tech similar to how you could invite someone to your garrison. I assume a housing system would come with its own UI so being able to manage who are your friends who can come and look would be part of it. ESO even lets you list your house so people can come and visit it and there are plenty of housing competitions.

And this is if housing is JUST housing. You could have plots in capitals that are structured more as taverns, inns or shops. You could have massive (and expensive) plots that would work best as guild housing; they would not formally belong to the guild but a guild master or officer who could afford one could buy it and allow it open for all guild members.

[huth]

The point is immersion. By having your house be an area in the open world, even if the plot itself is instanced, you feel immersed. And you can actually walk in.

That ofc depends on how housing works. E.g. maybe you have a free teleport to your favourite house every few hours; this makes that house minimally useful for traveling. People could also walk into your house with some custom tech similar to how you could invite someone to your garrison. I assume a housing system would come with its own UI so being able to manage who are your friends who can come and look would be part of it. ESO even lets you list your house so people can come and visit it and there are plenty of housing competitions.

And this is if housing is JUST housing. You could have plots in capitals that are structured more as taverns, inns or shops. You could have massive (and expensive) plots that would work best as guild housing; they would not formally belong to the guild but a guild master or officer who could afford one could buy it and allow it open for all guild members.

What you have to consider is that this whole thing has to be integrated into an already existing world that wasn't designed for it. That will kill most of these plot-concepts on the drawing board.

[Nymrohd]

What you have to consider is that this whole thing has to be integrated into an already existing world that wasn't designed for it. That will kill most of these plot-concepts on the drawing board.

I mean I can find you those 15 plots if you give me an hour or two. Warcraft does not lack unused real estate.

[Ersula]

I mean I can find you those 15 plots if you give me an hour or two. Warcraft does not lack unused real estate.

I keep saying this, the FFXIV model of housing doesn't make sense with how WoW servers currently work. At that point what would be the difference between layer hopping to find empty plots and just instancing housing.

[Alanar]

What you have to consider is that this whole thing has to be integrated into an already existing world that wasn't designed for it. That will kill most of these plot-concepts on the drawing board.

You see problems where there is non.

The downsides would far outweigh the benefits from a developer PoV. And that sounds more like a headache than a "fun activity".

No, Wether you think its a dev pov headache or not shouldnt be something you should worry about. Its also simply not an issue. Outside pvp can happen with warmode for example.

Also, having activities outside either pve or pvp that could come with housing is also part of the immersion

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I mean I can find you those 15 plots if you give me an hour or two. Warcraft does not lack unused real estate.

If people see issues there then idk anymore.

[Joshuaj]

I just realized something...

Blizzard hasn't utilized the concept of the Emerald City or the Yellow Brick Road from the Wizard of Oz yet.

Assuming they do put such a concept in WoW, I think it'd be perfect if they made it either Elune's main area (To better sort-of counter her sister's "giant tree" aesthetic, especially since she is called an "upstart goddess" by the Void, which likely means she thinks herself very highly. Pure diva energy ngl), or Eonar's main area within the Order Realm. I personally think Elune would make the most sense in this case, as the Emerald Dream is the opposing realm of Ardenweald, and there is likely much much more to the Dream than meets the eye (to the point where, in the Amirdrassil raid, firelands based guys are saying that "Elune's power can't reach the heroes", likely due to the Firelands interrupting that link).

Like, imagine Elune's main area being called "The Emerald Palace", or the "Palace of Dreams", and the thing leading to there is called "The Celestial Road" or "Celestial's Path". Like, it won't entirely rip from the Wizard of Oz, but there would be some clear inspirations from it, as well as other fantastical things (Since, unlike the Wizard of Oz, Elune ain't a fraud and is actually a goddess with power and authority).

I think that would be cool, personally.

[Enrif]

Blizzard already did. Path of the Titans leading to the mage city of Dalaran/Wyrmrest Temple in Wrath.



Also, Blizzard already referenced the Wizard of Oz in one of the Karazhan Theater scenarios (which also drop the ruby slippers), and with some winged hozen in BfA.

I don't think there is any need for more Wizard of Oz references.

[Joshuaj]

Blizzard already did. Path of the Titans leading to the mage city of Dalaran/Wyrmrest Temple in Wrath.



Also, Blizzard already referenced the Wizard of Oz in one of the Karazhan Theater scenarios (which also drop the ruby slippers), and with some winged hozen in BfA.

I don't think there is any need for more Wizard of Oz references.

I get that, and I hope Blizzard rebuilds the Path of the Titans in TLT, but that's not really what I mean. I want a more literal approach to the yellow brick road and the Emerald City design-wise, but I also want some extra fantastical stuff added to it as well. And I think Elune's Realm could be perfect for that (especially since I believe her realm is the true Dream, and places that we're used to, such as Azeroth's Dream, are simply extensions of that realm).

To better elaborate, if we ever do enter or see Elune's Realm, this is what I'd want to see from it:

A rainbow road, lots of unique looking trees and vast, whimsical valleys that look unnatural, a celestial skybox with green, pink, purple, etc (So basically, take the Emerald Dreams skybox, give it Ardenweald skybox aesthetics, and amplify it by 1), an Emerald based city with architecture that's kinda like a mix between the Night Elves, the Green Flights, and Ardenwealds, and a palace so astral and whatnot, that it in of itself looks like a dream (With it maybe being atop of clouds. There would also be a rainbow bridge leading up to the palace).

Like, I want something whimsical and fantastical like that! It would genuinely be perfect!

[Dracullus]

Few weeks before Direct we were talking about potential for class halls 2.0 for Midnight or Last Titan. Remind me, it was usual speculation out of boredom or something devs were teasing in interview like housing before DF?