Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Alanar]

It should not ever be a thing. But until blood elf or void elf players are able to have a meaningless race tag that says "high elf" it will be an on-going topic.

This is basically the crux of the high elf debate.

It's been about the tag ever since, but tbh I don't think we will ever get to this point. We have these customization option available to us and like you said Darkfallen or Sand troll etc all fall in that same category. Unless blizzard will let us choose these specific subgroups such as Sand trolls, high elves, Darkfallen as (sub)race tags etc. But ye honestly, I don't see this ever happening. In that case I agree with you.

That being said, I would be up, for more rp specific options tho. In my dream scenario, you would pick a clan/tribe/group in the character selection screen, you will still be alliance/horde so nothing changes there. Show that in game you are a Dragonmaw orc or Wild hammer. Additionally you would get a banner or tabard in a short intro quest. People like these groups and it would be fun to let players really represent that in some form. We already have things like Dark Iron dwarf, maybe change/add that to this as well and not a separate race for example, so it will actually show in your race tag your are a Wildhammer dwarf, like it does with Dark Iron Dwarf or High mountain Tauren. Lots can be done here imo. It is an rpg, so why not delve deeper into that aspect.

[Alanar]

1. Choose a race (a species, really).

- Human
- Dwarf
- Gnome
- Night Elf
- Draenei
- Pandaren
- Dracthyr
- Orc
- Tauren
- Troll
- Goblin
- Vulpera

2. Choose your sub-group of [race].

- Stormwind Human
- Kul Tiras Human
- Gilneas Worgen
- Lordaeron Undead
- Etc.

3. Choose your faction (each faction is locked for some races and sub-groups, like today).

- Alliance
- Horde

4. Customise your character (some options will be exclusive depending on your earlier choices).

5. Choose a name.

I mean, right! That would be a fun in rp kind of way. I also don't think the extra addition to the tag would hinder much, since we already have things like dark Iron dwarf. It does seem like a huge undertaking or overhaul in general.

I wouldn't change which races are in which faction as it stands currently. Alliance have their races and Horde have their races. There would still be enough room to give it more oomph then it is currently. So don't change it here, but more so the individual groups we have now, known and allied with. This would also help to create space in the character selection screen. Having high mountain Tauren or Dark Iron dwarf as a separate select option could be solved by putting it under Tauren or Dwarf respectfully. Same as how we have sand or darkspear trolls, dragonmaw or Og ones being put under Orc and troll. etc.

Not every race needs or even has multiple clans/groups that really matter or aren't really that different visually.
Vulpera fall under this and don't need this imo, they are just their own thing, despite sharing it's animations with Goblins. The question there, would be: Do we need to specify them as (clan name) Vulpera, when there is really just one group.
Pandaren are, but the two that matter both have allied either with the horde or alliance, besides they aren't visually any different.

To make this work, with what we have now you gotta filter those a bit m8, they would however still benefit from their own Banner, updated tabards and what not.

Edit:
While thinking about it, I do remember some one made a mock up of this exact idea. Which showed The orc race Icon on top, below that were the 4 orc clan banners next to each other. I imagine some customization option would be restricted per clan, to make sense. This would also allow for future additions clans etc. I really think the current character selection screen gives you no vibes what so ever. It's stale and not very thematic. There also used to be additional lore in text, but got reduced. More flavor and updated banners and props, options what ever would really help for better immersion and explanation what it is. Things like Darkfallen, Eredar and Sandtrolls would really benefit from this. Fans of these races, want to hover over their character and tells them they are this or that. Idk, why any one would be against it.

In the end it's about the red text, that tells you it's an enemy what matters.

[Enrif]

So summaries are out for the 11.1 main questline, and it's gotten clearer as to what the final tier will involve.

Xal'atath hired Gallywix to repair the Dark Heart as expected, and we try to steal it from him. But Ethereal thieves- apparently sent by Xal'atath because Gallywix tried to keep the Dark Heart (though I'm not sure whether that part is confirmed or just Alleria's theory)- steal it first. Alleria leaves to chase the Heart, while Xal'atath abandons Gallywix to the revolution that starts over all of this.

So it looks like the Ethereal raid is, in fact, coming in 11.2. Most likely with them working for Xal'atath in her big plan (in which case I'd still guess that it's an attack on the Worldcore), but maybe there's room for a twist where we're they're working for someone else and we need to get the Heart from them before Xal'atath does?

Just matches what we knew since TWW launched with the goblinraid and ehterealraid icons. Ehtereals were part of the introduction quests in DF (Harbinger quest), and Ethereals just happen to show up in Ahz-Kahet, and now again in Undermine. That is a straight line to an ethereal raid. Question is only, how and where. I don't think K'aresh (i also don't think K'aresh for Mdinight). Worldcore is possible, but most likely still seems to be Beledar.

[Alanar]

Though I'd also settle for giving races more body types in general, at the very least a body type 2 with flat chest please

Maybe let us choose a different idle animation as well, how we stand.

I know idle animations have always been used traditionally to define the race, but some variation on that would be neat.

[Lady Atia]

Just matches what we knew since TWW launched with the goblinraid and ehterealraid icons. Ehtereals were part of the introduction quests in DF (Harbinger quest), and Ethereals just happen to show up in Ahz-Kahet, and now again in Undermine. That is a straight line to an ethereal raid. Question is only, how and where. I don't think K'aresh (i also don't think K'aresh for Mdinight). Worldcore is possible, but most likely still seems to be Beledar.

Well tbf, without Nerubians and Goblins Xal only has her Ethereals left (since we also killed off the Hallowfall dudes via delves), so it makes sense to have them attack the world core.

[Enrif]

Well tbf, without Nerubians and Goblins Xal only has her Ethereals left (since we also killed off the Hallowfall dudes via delves), so it makes sense to have them attack the world core.

The goblins were not really part of Xal's forces, she just used them to get the dark heart repaired and the rest was basic goblin behaviour. She had the nerubians though.

But it feels to me, that Xal's action on Khaz Algar are not a true end goal. She has made little progress over all. The nerubains failed and Xal was fine with it, the goblins fail and Xal is fine with it. The only time she was not fine with anything was when Alleria damaged the Dark Heart in Hallowfall.

Whatever Xal tries to achieve on Khaz Algar, i don't think it is the world core.

The scene with her in Hallowfall seems to be were we really stung in her side. So Hallowfall might be the true endgame for her. The question is what. Black Blood, a darkened Beledar and the Dark Heart that can absorb energies and turn it to void. I would guess she wants Beledars powers to turn it into void before she can go for the world soul.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

I kind of always figured Xal'atath's goal was to poison the worldsoul with black blood/Dark Heart energy.

[Cheezits]

I think 10.2 will be all about immediately foreshadowing Dimensius and Karesh attacking Azeroth in Midnight, so there will be a lot of Ethereals. But the zone and raid will be in Khaz Algar, likely Rootlands and the Worldcore respectively.

If he is sentient (and not just Locus Walker in disguise) I think we should be hearing from Dimensius sooner than later, ala Sargeras talking in Legion to Illidan and Kiljaeden in cutscenes.

[Enrif]

I think 10.2 will be all about immediately foreshadowing Dimensius and Karesh attacking Azeroth in Midnight, so there will be a lot of Ethereals. But the zone and raid will be in Khaz Algar, likely Rootlands and the Worldcore respectively.

If he is sentient (and not just Locus Walker in disguise) I think we should be hearing from Dimensius sooner than later, ala Sargeras talking in Legion to Illidan and Kiljaeden in cutscenes.

Ok, how about that:

10.2: Beledar raid, but Ethereal themed. Xal attacks with the shadowguard Hallowfall, the sea of hallowfall is drained for some reason and the horrors that lie beneath the waters are unleashed onto the zone(cue Nightfall and horrific visions). Xal and the Ethereals use that distraction to totally corrupt Beledar to the void, creating an entry point for Dimensius. But Dimensius is weak and needs to gather strength, Xal teleports away with him. The ethereals hold the players off.

Xal doesn't attack the world soul because the world core is too strong a defense to breach yet. Instead Xal focuses on empowering Dimensius more. And to empower dimernsius he needs more void energy, or light energy that can be turned to void. And here we go to the Sunwell, as the biggest beacon of light magic on azerooth that we know off (we don't know if the Arathi empire has something similar)

[Joshuaj]

Ok, how about that:

10.2: Beledar raid, but Ethereal themed. Xal attacks with the shadowguard Hallowfall, the sea of hallowfall is drained for some reason and the horrors that lie beneath the waters are unleashed onto the zone(cue Nightfall and horrific visions). Xal and the Ethereals use that distraction to totally corrupt Beledar to the void, creating an entry point for Dimensius. But Dimensius is weak and needs to gather strength, Xal teleports away with him. The ethereals hold the players off.

Xal doesn't attack the world soul because the world core is too strong a defense to breach yet. Instead Xal focuses on empowering Dimensius more. And to empower dimernsius he needs more void energy, or light energy that can be turned to void. And here we go to the Sunwell, as the biggest beacon of light magic on azerooth that we know off (we don't know if the Arathi empire has something similar)

Don't you both mean 11.2?

10.2 was the Emerald Dream.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

Don't you both mean 11.2?

10.2 was the Emerald Dream.

No, they mean 10.2. Going back in time to when we were defending Amirdrassil and preventing Xal'atath time-traveling machinations.

...

No shit they meant 11.2 lmao

[Marlamin]

People for some reason keep saying 10.2 or 10.1 when referring to 11.x, it's a worryingly common mistake. We might be stuck in the past after all.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

I think 10.2 will be all about immediately foreshadowing Dimensius and Karesh

K'aresh is destroyed.

[Enrif]

Don't you both mean 11.2?

10.2 was the Emerald Dream.

yeah, of course


but mentioning Emerald Dream, i think the Rootlands got cut from TWW because of 10.2.

I think blizzard was unsure where to put the new tree and developed DF and TWW in a way where it could fit both. As for why: the Haranir as a ancient darktroll/elf offshoot that worships worldtree roots and the earthen Freyasworn seem just to be fitting to be caretakers of a new worldtree that would aid the night elves, and the treet can mend the wound that was caused by Elun'ahirs removal.

Of course we got instead a world tree on the dragon isles with a focus on the dream and Fyrakk.

[Cheezits]

K'aresh is destroyed.

So was Argus. K'aresh has been mentioned so many times in the past few patches that it will certainly appear sooner than later.

- - - Updated - - -

yeah, of course


but mentioning Emerald Dream, i think the Rootlands got cut from TWW because of 10.2.

I think blizzard was unsure where to put the new tree and developed DF and TWW in a way where it could fit both. As for why: the Haranir as a ancient darktroll/elf offshoot that worships worldtree roots and the earthen Freyasworn seem just to be fitting to be caretakers of a new worldtree that would aid the night elves, and the treet can mend the wound that was caused by Elun'ahirs removal.

Of course we got instead a world tree on the dragon isles with a focus on the dream and Fyrakk.

If rootlands got scrapped why would Orwenya be one of the main characters of 11.1 when she could have been swapped with any other character? And they namedrop an area from there (The Cradle) in 11.0.7.

Yes, the Dream and then a World Tree (root) zone back to back expansions is repetitive but that doesn't mean it's not happening. I think the raid will be very different than Amirdrassil to deal with the similar themes in Rootworld and Dream. And anyone annoyed by the repetition has Midnight reveal to look forward to a month or so after (and then housing/Legion remix)

Currently the plots are:

-Alleria going after Xal
-Worldcore conspiracy
-Blackblood

These three all intersect at Rootlands IF the Roots have penetrated deeply enough to mess with the Worldcore/Mainframe. And we have confirmation the roots are sucking up black blood.

[Enrif]

So was Argus. K'aresh has been mentioned so many times in the past few patches that it will certainly appear sooner than later.

Argus was not destroyed. We always knew it as the main planet of the legion.

If rootlands got scrapped why would Orwenya be one of the main characters of 11.1 when she could have been swapped with any other character? And they namedrop an area from there (The Cradle) in 11.0.7.

Well, after they decided for Amridrassil to be in DF, they likely changed things for TWW. The TWW cinematics were likely already in prodcution, and so where the haranir models. They likely changed the story of the Haranir to be more about the black bloos, than about the roots.

Yes, the Dream and then a World Tree (root) zone back to back expansions is repetitive but that doesn't mean it's not happening. I think the raid will be very different than Amirdrassil to deal with the similar themes in Rootworld and Dream. And anyone annoyed by the repetition has Midnight reveal to look forward to a month or so after (and then housing/Legion remix)

Currently the plots are:

-Alleria going after Xal
-Worldcore conspiracy
-Blackblood

These three all intersect at Rootlands IF the Roots have penetrated deeply enough to mess with the Worldcore/Mainframe. And we have confirmation the roots are sucking up black blood.

I don't see a rootlands intersection with these three. The only one that scratches the rootlands is the blackblood. The wordlcore/coreway story currently seems its own thing. Alleria and Xal are the only thing that leads through the whole story and will likely continue into midnight.

[Nightshade711]

K'aresh is destroyed.

Nah not destroyed. There have been Ethereals “operating on K’aresh” since back in BC.

It was probably shattered like the Legion worlds. Though personally I think Telogrus is part of what remains of K’aresh.

[Cheezits]

Random thought: maybe Azeroth emancipates the Awakened Nerubians from Xal's control through Elun'ahir similar to how she empowered the Aspects? Currently their plot has abruptly stopped and their queen is still forcibly mutated.

[Raetary]

K'aresh is destroyed.

Which means nothing.

Outland blew up, but we had expansion on it.
Half of Argus is blown to bits.
Places like Mardum or Telogrus are also destroyed worlds, but still have perfectly walklable remnants.

On top of that, K'aresh' damage was never assessed anywhere.
Blizzard has full creative control over how shredded or intact they want the planet to be.

[milkmustache]

Random thought: maybe Azeroth emancipates the Awakened Nerubians from Xal's control through Elun'ahir similar to how she empowered the Aspects? Currently their plot has abruptly stopped and their queen is still forcibly mutated.

I still don't really see the Ascended Nerubians becoming playable. I'll relent that I think they were made to possibly become playable, made in the same vein as the Dracthyr with limited transmogrification options, but seeing as that was a massive complaint along with lack of a visage, they scrapped it earlier on.

I agree that we will see some more Azeroth empowerment happening at some point down the line, which I think is a pretty good decision. The more things that Azeroth empowers, the less cosmic pillar ties that characters have. As in, the Aspects don't have to be tied to Order by default because they were created with Order magic; now they are free of that relation, allowing them to use their powers as they see fit. (Which I think is the ultimate goal of the Saga btw. Free Azeroth from ties to any cosmic power, removing any of the current limitations)