Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Santandame]

*Puts tinfoil hat on, and starts scribbling crazy stuff on a whiteboard*

Thrall is arguably the most iconic hero character from the Warcraft III and Vanilla WoW era. Who better to symbolise WoW's 20th anniversary and return to the basics?

If we go by the trilogy of trilogies theory then the next expansion is meant to be the conclusion to the Void trilogy (Cataclysm -> Dragonflight -> 11.0). Hour of Twilight stuff.

What are we likely to see more of if the Primal Incarnates "win"? Elemental stuff.

Who's rather absent from Dragonflight, but was a major character in Cataclysm? Thrall.

What does Thrall tend to do? Heal Azeroth.

What does Alex do in the launch cinematic? Heal Azeroth (using her dragonflame).

What will the Dragon Aspects become after Dragonflight is over? Probably empowered again, like they used to.

What is the primary function and task given to the Aspects by the Titans? Protect Azeroth, and most of all protect it from the Hour of Twilight.

What have we seen hints of lately, for example Queen Azshara, N'Zoth and Xal'atath, and Sarkareth? Void and Old Gods.

Who collaborated to defeat the Old Gods' minions (mainly Deathwing) and stave off the Hour of Twilight in Cata? Thrall and the Dragon Aspects.

Who just returned to Blizzard? Metzen.

BOOM. Confirmed.

At BlizzCon, Metzen gets up on stage to introduce:

World of Warcraft: AZEROTH

I’m leaning toward a revamp/healing/back to basics/vanilla 2.0 styled expansion too; with the Lightbound trailing behind in second.

For now I feel like South Seas and Avaloren can be ruled out.

Of course I’m almost certainly putting too much stock in this Thrall art, but speculation is fun and so far this is the most tangible bit of evidence to go off.

[Luck4]

Omg a gnome tinkers confirmed?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?

LMAO, but I'm 100% that character is from Warcraft mobile game.

[Kiivar86]

He was there because of Heroes of Storm, not WoW. For WoW, we had Bolvar representing Shadowlands launch and Illidan representing Hearthstone.

That's the magic behind Blizzcon's key art, understanding who is who and why.

I have to be honest, I completely forgot about Heroes of the Storm.

Anyways, little cinematic trailer up for the next patch. Nothing earth shattering, just Nozdormu vaguetalking pretty much.

[Luck4]

BOOM. Confirmed.

Please, don't hype me this much so early. I may not survive the disappointment, lol.

- - - Updated - - -

I have to be honest, I completely forgot about Heroes of the Storm.

Anyways, little cinematic trailer up for the next patch. Nothing earth shattering, just Nozdormu vaguetalking pretty much.

I wonder if Blizzard will make Nozdormu the next Deathwing, with a whole expansion focused on him.

[micwini]

I wonder what location the part is with the dead trees right before you see Murozond?

[Kiivar86]

I wonder if Blizzard will make Nozdormu the next Deathwing, with a whole expansion focused on him.

I don't think yet, at least, it sounds like things are handled for the most part after the dungeon and patch's events. Leaving it available as a plot hook sorta thing.

I wonder what location the part is with the dead trees right before you see Murozond?

I can't verify that well as I'm not at home and can't play but they kinda look like the dead trees you can see in some areas of the End Time dungeon.

[Santandame]

Yeah I believe it’s the Ruby Shrine?

[Reive]

the devs said that in patch 10.1.5 we will be done with the infinite dragonflight. I guess murozond is not going to happen and we actually save nozdormu. This makes me sad tbh. Murozond in one of the few things in wow that NEEDS to happen

[Valysar]

It is in the End of time yes
https://imgur.com/a/DDkhdNz


Taken from the Azure Dragonshrine

[Aeluron Lightsong]

the devs said that in patch 10.1.5 we will be done with the infinite dragonflight. I guess murozond is not going to happen and we actually save nozdormu. This makes me sad tbh. Murozond in one of the few things in wow that NEEDS to happen

It'll be done for Dragonflight. No idea what it means for the future.

[Revamp Man]

No, considerably worse. BfA and SL were done poorly, but they didn't come out of nowhere. Your ideas are poor and out of nowhere.

Nope
Sargeras was "the champion of light" before he ended up twisted
From what we know it's due to a constant cosmic forces influence that he changed similar to what he planned on doing to the other Titans
We also know that the environment matters and that reorigination is a thing

That can explain the cleansing part

Illidan is a demon hunter who btw has the ability to consume magic
Magic also influences beings who use it
He gonna be in the essential seat of order draining and whacking a God and you see nothing coming from that??

The future that was seen was him fighting demons with the power of the light and considering the Legion still exists and demons are still a threat especially now the dreadlords don't really have the master to keep them on a leash

But no you're right I'm just pulling everything out of my ass and it's not like blizz is so obvious in their writing that me and others could predict what they are gonna...oh wait I forgot I got the entire last patch of BfA and some of 8.2's later story

[Teriz]

I think you guys are looking a bit too hard at the image, really. Deathwing was on the image for Blizzconline 2020, for example.

2020 was the year Shadowlands was released, so you wouldn't get expansion hints from that one. However, if you look at the key art in the last few years, it does hint at what the next expansion is going to be thematically. For example, before Shadowlands announced, this was the key art for BlizzCon '19;




And obviously Sylvanas played a big role in that expansion.

Here's the key art from '17;



And obviously Jaina was a big part of that expansion via Kul'tiras.

Here's the key art from BlizzCon '15;



That did come out after Legion was already announced though, because the new expansion was announced at Gamescon instead of BlizzCon that year.

That said, yeah Thrall being in the key art for this one could definitely be indicative of what's to come in 11.0.

[Fahrad Wagner]

Returning to the roots with a world revamp and Thrall as a Horde main character!

My thoughts exactly, THE WR DREAM LIVES ON!

[Nebron]

My thoughts exactly, THE WR DREAM LIVES ON!

If Blizzcon key art might be any indication of what's to come next to WoW, then yeah, Thrall aligns perfectly with everything that potentially points to World Revamp.
I repeat it constantly, but I really have a strong feeling that Blizzard is testing the ground of "back to the roots" vibes - especially with the new-old talent trees, down-to-earth zones aesthetics and story being of a lesser scope (in contrary to cosmic threats).

I'd love the World Revamp, but above that, I just dream a beatiful dream in which Chris Mentzen, after all these years, is the guy to announce a new expansion. My brain would explode, my heart would melt, no matter what's announced

[Fahrad Wagner]

If Blizzcon key art might be any indication of what's to come next to WoW, then yeah, Thrall aligns perfectly with everything that potentially points to World Revamp.
I repeat it constantly, but I really have a strong feeling that Blizzard is testing the ground of "back to the roots" vibes - especially with the new-old talent trees, down-to-earth zones aesthetics and story being of a lesser scope (in contrary to cosmic threats).

I'd love the World Revamp, but above that, I just dream a beatiful dream in which Chris Mentzen, after all these years, is the guy to announce a new expansion. My brain would explode, my heart would melt, no matter what's announced

No way they're going to miss the opportunity of having Metzen announcing the next expansion if he's around T-T that would be brilliant

[Luck4]

As an Alliance main, I never thought I would be so hyped after seeing Thrall in the keyart.

[Xilurm]

Metzen hyping up the crowd at Blizzcon is literally the best thing they can do. Not even announcing a new expansion can surpass that.

[micwini]

Metzen hyping up the crowd at Blizzcon is literally the best thing they can do. Not even announcing a new expansion can surpass that.

Metzen announcing the new expac would be omega hype. BTW: Is he back at Blizzard? Must have missed that or forgotten about it.

[Raetary]

Metzen announcing the new expac would be omega hype. BTW: Is he back at Blizzard? Must have missed that or forgotten about it.

Yes, he works as a creative advisor for the wow team.

[micwini]

Yes, he works as a creative advisor for the wow team.

Thats nice. I hope it will benefit the story direction and tone of the game going forward. I feel like DF is heading too much into hello kitty territory with all the over the top stageplay voice acting. It doesnt need to be grim dark like Diablo, but some classic-wrath/wod-Legion tone would be nice.