Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Hitei]

Yep but... if all the datamining was confirmation of Vulpera eventually becoming playable then the Haranir even more so because... They have a LOT more player-ready costumisation than Vulpera had!

I've been too damn excited about potentially playing as one ever since they were first shown. I need it now!

Vulpera wasn't really so heavily assumed because it had customization though. A lot of NPC races, especially nowadays, have a lot of customization. Vulpera was more of a known because they kept slipping up with other background preparations. It showed up in databases that only really get entries for player races, it had assets for brewfest that only playable races get, stuff like that.

[Cheezits]

Vulpera wasn't really so heavily assumed because it had customization though. A lot of NPC races, especially nowadays, have a lot of customization. Vulpera was more of a known because they kept slipping up with other background preparations. It showed up in databases that only really get entries for player races, it had assets for brewfest that only playable races get, stuff like that.

It should be noted that they got a huge glowup in development that was suspicious. At BFA reveal they were lowpoly Cata-tier models and by launch they looked at they do now.

Haranir are more or less ready to go minus some armor rigging (which I think they already have, to an extent) as they just use Nelf animations.

I think we're just looking at a BFA 8.3 tier "they wouldn't" situation where despite marketing Xal, the Ethereals and Karesh we are instead going... to Orweynaworld. Same thing with Sylvanas fleeing the expansion while we go clean up N'zoth.

11.1.5 is budget-tier compared to 10.1.5 so it's probably just resources devoted elsewhere. Remember that they couldn't even commit to a new zone being on the roadmap for 11.2 (I still don't think this was an accident, and something like that lines up with how barebones and experimental 11.1.5 is).

[Alanar]

I know Haranir models scream playable, but are we certain they're coming? I've gotten the feeling less and less that we will get them.

Despite a few people here, they arent that popular. It would be another failure if they go through with such a nobody of a race. That would be the third one in a row. I mean even Nerubians are more popular, which have way more to them.

They should really focus on the ones people are famillar with and frequently asked imo.

[Cheezits]

They should really focus on the ones people are famillar with and frequently asked imo.

Hence why they are fast tracking to Ethereals. However the work is likely already done with Orweynaworld and Haranir so they can't just throw it away, they will just drop them with little fanfare and put all money on highlighting Housing and the story of Midnight.

Dev team just realized a little too late that OC races were losing their luster. Hence why the next two expansions (and I'm going to guess the one after TLT will be Kalimdor) are revamps.

[huth]

Metzen does not give a shit if things are well written. Nothing about BC, Wrath, or Cata was well written. MoP is a blend of good writing and some of the worst writing in the game. He also doesn't care about "everything being totally cool and epic!!!!1!" he is the one who started the introspective character drama trend. Up until MoP, WoW continually ignored past shit to do new stuff that was often just blatant retconning with little care.

I really wish people would stop trying to use Metzen as some sort of sad parasocial "he's just like me!" validation for their personal take, frequently in direct opposition to things he's done or said.

Remember Draenei? I remember Draenei.

Metzen didn't.

[Hitei]

Despite a few people here, they arent that popular. It would be another failure if they go through with such a nobody of a race. That would be the third one in a row. I mean even Nerubians are more popular, which have way more to them.

They should really focus on the ones people are famillar with and frequently asked imo.

Elven races are always popular and druid races are always popular.

[Alanar]

Hence why they are fast tracking to Ethereals. However the work is likely already done with Orweynaworld and Haranir so they can't just throw it away, they will just drop them with little fanfare and put all money on highlighting Housing and the story of Midnight.

Dev team just realized a little too late that OC races were losing their luster. Hence why the next two expansions (and I'm going to guess the one after TLT will be Kalimdor) are revamps.

Ye it just seems more likely I agree.

I just dont know about the whole rootlands thing myself man, I will correct myself if it does happen and they do become playable, but if they do.. (yawn) they will go without much hype or interest. Its just not there. As something completely new introduced in the same expansion, showing up a couple of times, it just didnt do anything. Tbf I was actually confused, while in Undermine, why Orwena was suddenly next to me. It could be I just disnt pay attention, but ye I just didnt care at all. A revamp, including cultures we could revisit, think about Ogres or Vrykul there will just be more hype.

Lets see if the Ethereals are going to become playable. I have seen lots of hype for obvious reasons. Its a massive fan request for years, same as the ones I mentioned. Earthen or Harranir are just not part of that. They tried with Earthen, but as data showed as well as my own experience and my own opinion. They just didnt spark the hype or interrest. They are flat out boring.

[Hitei]

Ye it just seems more likely I agree.

I just dont know about the whole rootlands thing myself man, I will correct myself if it does happen and they do become playable, but if they do.. (yawn) they will go without much hype or interest. Its just not there. As something completely new introduced in the same expansion, showing up a couple of times, it just didnt do anything. Tbf I was actually confused, while in Undermine, why Orwena was suddenly next to me. It could be I just disnt pay attention, but ye I just didnt care at all. A revamp, including cultures we could revisit, think about Ogres or Vrykul there will just be more hype.

Lets see if the Ethereals are going to become playable. I have seen lots of hype for obvious reasons. Its a massive fan request for years, same as the ones I mentioned.

Vrykul are never not going to just be taller humans.

[huth]

Vrykul are never not going to just be taller humans.

Of course not. But humans are always going to be Vrykul with dwarfism.

[Cheezits]

Vrykul are definitely the focus race of TLT as everything beyond (original) Mechagnomes and Frost Giants have already been touched on again since Legion. Also their direct relation to Odyn, Tyr and the Titansworn makes them perfect for a civil war.

They will definitely introduce a variant bigger than Kul Tirans but still small.

[Joshuaj]

Metzen does not give a shit if things are well written. Nothing about BC, Wrath, or Cata was well written. MoP is a blend of good writing and some of the worst writing in the game. He also doesn't care about "everything being totally cool and epic!!!!1!" he is the one who started the introspective character drama trend. Up until MoP, WoW continually ignored past shit to do new stuff that was often just blatant retconning with little care.

I really wish people would stop trying to use Metzen as some sort of sad parasocial "he's just like me!" validation for their personal take, frequently in direct opposition to things he's done or said.

What about what I said expressed the whole "Metzen is just like me" stuff? Based off what he wrote and showcased in WoW so far, would it be wrong of me to say he likes power fantasies and whatnot?

Also, he made it well aware to Blizzcon that, and I quote "when it comes to WoW's story, we're not screwing around", meaning he does care about the story to some degree, and he wants to see it do well.

Yes, TBC was bad, but you can't deny Wrath and Cata had some cool story beats as well, even if it was also full of "rule of cool" moments. And those expacs were done when Blizzard was still trying to find it's footing in regards to MMO storytelling.

This isn't the TBC-Cata era tho. This is the Worldsoul Saga era. Story is a MAJOR part of WoW and it's been a center focus for a while now. Blizzard knows this very well, which includes Metzen.

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This is why I say Danuser and Metzen likely worked together on the Worldsoul Sagas foundations before Danuser left.

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Of course not. But humans are always going to be Vrykul with dwarfism.

There's a lot more to Humans than just that, and you know it lmaooo

[Nymrohd]

Vrykul are never not going to just be taller humans.

Does that mean anything though? Kul Tirans are thick humans. Lightforged and Highmountain are not even different than their main races, they are just customizations.

[Joshuaj]

619 is too low item level to be relevant in current content. It is just an insanity counter for the visions.

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I doesn't. We are doing Cosmic Void on Ka'resh instead.

Rootlands is a scrapped storyline.

You say that like it's an absolute. We have to wait. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it.

[Sondrelk]

11.2 - Phantoms of K'aresh

• The Dark Heart absorbs the power of a god, as the Ethereals seek to cleanse their world from the shadow. Xal'atath wins and reclaims the heart.
• Ethereals become playable. These are the final resistance fighters, sworn to take revenge on the shadow. They get a Visage form of sorts. In their intro quests we experience ancient K'aresh and the day Dimensius came. In those first few quests we see them as they used to be (and learn a lot about Xal'atath). Later, a kind of temporary racial ability can let them take on their old appearance for a bit.

So in short: The whole Ethereals stealing the Dark Heart plotline ends up being entirely pointless given it's only there to facilitate a brief trip to K'aresh?

[Sondrelk]

I'm thinking because they took it, she is given the chance to imbue it even further with more power, expediting her path to awakening our worldsoul.

Unlike say, the current patch, where the Dark Heart is imbued with Kaja'mite and presumably stronger somehow.

[Alanar]

Does that mean anything though? Kul Tirans are thick humans. Lightforged and Highmountain are not even different than their main races, they are just customizations.

Vrykul for that matter are more unique then anything you listed. I think they would be a killer addition for TlT tbh.

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Elven races are always popular and druid races are always popular.

Sure, but hopefully they start expanding classes like druids and paladins like they said they would. As for new races, meh, I think we seen enough elves, but ye you are right

[Joshuaj]

11.2 - Phantoms of K'aresh

• The Dark Heart absorbs the power of a god, as the Ethereals seek to cleanse their world from the shadow. Xal'atath wins and reclaims the heart.
• Ethereals become playable. These are the final resistance fighters, sworn to take revenge on the shadow. They get a Visage form of sorts. In their intro quests we experience ancient K'aresh and the day Dimensius came. In those first few quests we see them as they used to be (and learn a lot about Xal'atath). Later, a kind of temporary racial ability can let them take on their old appearance for a bit.

With the Black Blood being a continued focus this expac, I think 11.2 will primarily focus on that and it potentially being used to corrupt the Worldcore.

[Eldryth]

Not sure if it'll turn out to be important, but there's a bit of a random tease in one of the new Delve stories- at the end of the new Kriegval's Rest story (which I think should be up for everyone in NA right now?) there's a big holographic Pit Lord sitting in the boss room watching you fight.

No idea why it could be there, or if any other new Delve stories are important. But maybe it'll come into play if Sargeras returns in TLT?

[Cheezits]

Not sure if it'll turn out to be important, but there's a bit of a random tease in one of the new Delve stories- at the end of the new Kriegval's Rest story (which I think should be up for everyone in NA right now?) there's a big holographic Pit Lord sitting in the boss room watching you fight.

No idea why it could be there, or if any other new Delve stories are important. But maybe it'll come into play if Sargeras returns in TLT?

I would love to see Annihilans on Karesh for whatever reason. But is it a real pitlord or some goblin hologram?

Just saw it, look like the Darkfuse are trying to summon a pitlord and it has a purple ghost effect. So...

[Enrif]

With the Black Blood being a continued focus this expac, I think 11.2 will primarily focus on that and it potentially being used to corrupt the Worldcore.

How does it make sense for the black blood to corrupt the world soul, when the old gods during the time of the black empire were not able to do that?