Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Holdodlig]

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I was wondering : What if the ethereals are the equivalent of elfs/draenei on K'aresh ?

So far on Azeroth, we've got a lot of different origins for each races :

-Human, Kultiran dwarves, dark irons, earthen, mechagnomes and gnomes and all their variants are of titanic origins.
-Orcs and mag'har orcs also comes from titanic power (made out of Grond's power)
-Pandarens were also made with titanic powers (blood of Ra Den)


-Taurens, Highmountain Taurens and worgens seems to comes from the Realm of Life (I talk about the OG worgen, not the cursed one)

-Trolls, Zandalaris, High elves, blood elves, void elves, night elves and nightbornes comes from Azeroth itself
-Goblins also seems to come from Azeroth themselves. They share a lot of similarities with troggs and pygmies tho, just like drogbars shares similarities with trolls.
-Vulperas' lore hasn't been fleshed out yet, but I can easily guess that it used to be a race from Azeroth (maybe goblins ?) that was changed after an encounter with a loa.

-Eredars come from Argus. While their lore has been kind of evasive, we know that their were the dominant race on a world with titanic influence (unless Antorus was 100% built by Sargeras and not simply twisted or corrupted)

-Dracthyr were made by Neltharion. We aren't sure yet if he used titan technology to make them or if he just used it to control them. We know for sure that he meddled with dark energies tho.

Now, when you look at the elves / draeneis, they've been lorewise really potent in any form of magic and were the only ones who could harness most of them "easily" (or at least with enough self control not to blow up everything). Both of them have shown really significant paths of evolutions :

OG Draenei from WC 3 > Broken > Eredar
Troll >( Harranir )*> Elfs < Withered (which seems to be a different way of devolving)

*We don't have anything confirmed here

Now, while eredars doesn't really feed off energy (or aren't shown to starve on it because they always have a big source of energy around), it seems that the environment can impact theyr evolution and makes them go back into more primitive states. The same happens with elves withering back to something new when they don't feed on energy.

Why all this talk ? Because I can easily imagine that elves are simply walking energy source turned into flesh, and that Dimensius devouring K'aresh (or at least destroying it) kind of released the ethereals off their corporeal prison, making them just be walking energy source.

Also, they seems to adapt to any form of magic they are exposed to. The OG ethereal seems to be made of arcane magic, the shadowguard is clearly made out of void energy and the brokers are made out of death energy (or are at least impacted by the atmosphere of the Shadowlands).

Why is it important to talk about that ? Because with Midnight reveal approaching, I can easily see Blizzard point the similarities of the two cultures, and make revelations about the Titans in order to antagonize them (or at least make them be no better than the Void or the Fel). It would also make them a logical playable race in an expansion happening in an elf realm, with K'aresh being the climax of Midnight.

We could have some interesting revelations, such as the Titans probably came into a world where the worldsoul was meant to be given to Void / another cosmic energy and that in order to prevent this, the Titans evolved one of the native race so they could harness a high technology, big sources of magic and such but in the end Dimensius came and destroyed the planet anyway. The same could have happened on Argus, but this time the world was meant to be of Light influence which would explain the presence of naarus on this world.

[Catastrophy349]

MAJOR HYPE week! Last minute speculation, gogogogogo?

[leothar]

Druid: Child of Cenarius

We already have that; Keeper of the Grove.

[wheyt]

I agree with Hitei's write up. If Metzen said that we're going to the worldcore this xpac, I think it's rootlands all the way.

Also, if the PTR comes out the 26th or 27th, it'll be the shortest PTR -> Release date (assuming Aug 12th) ever. So I think this week is very likely.

[Ersula]

My reading of that was that she became the first paladin, so definitely would make sense as a spec or hero spec. Some kind of ancient version of each class for a new hero spec would be really cool!

Can you imagine the reaction if hunters got *another* elven themed hero spec?

[Catastrophy349]

My prediction (and I hate talking about dates, so this is the last time I will): 11.1.7 will launch on Tuesday (NA)/Wednesday (EU), then 11.2 will be revealed on Thursday. Then, "if" PTR begins right away-ish, we will have between 6-7 weeks of testing prior to the 11.2 release on August 5th/12th (to ensure that, at the very-least, the 11.2 raid/story is completed by the 19th at the latest since Gamescom begins on the 20th). Midnight reveal at Gamescom!

As for what we get? I have been "Team K'aresh is Midnight" for a long time. I am still feeling that way. Take me deeper in 11.2, baby!

[Cheezits]

My prediction (and I hate talking about dates, so this is the last time I will): 11.1.7 will launch on Tuesday (NA)/Wednesday (EU), then 11.2 will be revealed on Thursday. Then, "if" PTR begins right away-ish, we will have between 6-7 weeks of testing prior to the 11.2 release on August 5th/12th (to ensure that, at the very-least, the 11.2 raid/story is completed by the 19th at the latest since Gamescom begins on the 20th). Midnight reveal at Gamescom!

As for what we get? I have been "Team K'aresh is Midnight" for a long time. I am still feeling that way. Take me deeper in 11.2, baby!

Thursday is a holiday, Juneteenth, so unsure if they would reveal it then. Hopefully they don't push it to next week because of that.

[whoisqnx]

Thursday is a holiday, Juneteenth, so unsure if they would reveal it then. Hopefully they don't push it to next week because of that.

I really dont think they will push it back an entire week especially considering its a major patch coming and PTR has to be up very soon to test.

[milkmustache]

Thursday is a holiday, Juneteenth, so unsure if they would reveal it then. Hopefully they don't push it to next week because of that.

I'm guessing if anything they may push UP to Wednesday. Need to get to testing, can't miss a whole week of that.

[Catastrophy349]

Announcement: June 25th (a Wednesday). PTR same night.

Keywords: Xal'atath, the Dark Heart, Beledar, Ethereals, the Worldcore, Elun'ahir, Orweyna.

Plot Outline: Follow Xal'atath and the Ethereals into the Worldcore. Fight to prevent the awakening. Watch the worldsoul saga truly kick into gear as we learn the true stakes of the upcoming expansion: Midnight. The roots of Elun'ahir have likely breached the core long ago.

Uncertain: Either find a connection taking us to K'aresh, or find out that it all takes place inside Azeroth but with a possible raid or portal that still somehow connects K'aresh to the events of the patch.

Aftermath: Playable Ethereals or Haranir in 11.2.5. We failed in preventing the awakening.

Major Feature: Update to the old world, introducing a new difficulty. The regular difficulty becomes "Story Mode" essentially, while the new one offers a Heroic experience. More challenges, harder encounters, and cooler rewards.

Great prediction! Can’t wait to see who is right!

[milkmustache]

Announcement: June 25th (a Wednesday). PTR same night.

Keywords: Xal'atath, the Dark Heart, Beledar, Ethereals, the Worldcore, Elun'ahir, Orweyna.

Plot Outline: Follow Xal'atath and the Ethereals into the Worldcore. Fight to prevent the awakening. Watch the worldsoul saga truly kick into gear as we learn the true stakes of the upcoming expansion: Midnight. The roots of Elun'ahir have likely breached the core long ago.

Wildcard: K'aresh likely involved somehow but I don't think it'll be our zone. Instead it might be more fluid. Perhaps going to the Worldcore is just the starting experience for the patch, which then takes place all over. Maybe we visit K'aresh briefly during the raid.

Aftermath: Playable Ethereals or Haranir in 11.2.5. We failed in preventing the awakening. Each race would be motivated to make right what they failed at during 11.2 - protecting the worldsoul. Starting zones K'aresh or The Cradle.

Major Feature: Update to the old world, introducing a new difficulty. The regular difficulty becomes "Story Mode" essentially, while the new one offers a Heroic experience. More challenges, harder encounters, and cooler rewards.

Follow Xal'atath and the Ethereals, who we just saw overlooking the swirling remains of what is most likely K'aresh, into the core of Azeroth.

I like the idea of introducing whatever "Hard Mode" version they have prepared for Legion Remix to the standard leveling grind.

[Cheezits]

I mean it sounds just up the old writing team's alley to go see the Worldcore in TWW then immediately pivot to another made up wonderland (Avaloren) as opposed to any kind of old world remake focusing on old races.

[Catastrophy349]

The most obvious thing to take away from the 11.2 cinematic is definitely that it was K'aresh, and that we'll be going there. No argument there.

But I can also come up with several reasons for why it shouldn't be K'aresh, which bothers me.

- The ommission of "New Zone" on the roadmap for 11.2.

- The fact that so many plotlines based on Khaz Algar are seemingly just dropped in favour of K'aresh: Beledar, Black Blood, Undersea, Worldcore, Elun'ahir, etc. I know they can return at a later date, but it really feels like they'd be ditching Khaz Algar if we just packed out bags and left for another world for the final 1/3 of the expansion.

- Another Argus-like zone for a final patch sounds pretty trite, tbh. Yes, I know there could be Eco-domes and I'm sure the blue swirly thing in the sky will look amazing for the first few weeks. But it will undoubtedly involve a lot of running around on a barren, dark, wasteland of a rock for several months. Not exactly enticing.

- I doubt they would have chosen to end World of Warcraft on K'aresh, if this had turned out to be the final expansion (or at least the final one for the worldsoul). So if we go there, it must have been cooked up pretty recently, which seems strange. Surely the final patch would involve a major cinematic and a bunch of other things they would have started creating way, way back?

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Me too, it'll be very exciting to see!

Would be hilarious if Blizzard was like "Yep, that's K'aresh. However, you're not going there, yet! We're just showing what the Ethereals are plotting. Instead, they are coming to US!!!!" (Honestly, my favored predicition/prayer for how this all plays out) Give me, K'aresh, but not until Midnight!

[milkmustache]

But I can also come up with several reasons for why it shouldn't be K'aresh, which bothers me.

- The ommission of "New Zone" on the roadmap for 11.2.

It is incredible likely that the omission of "New Zone" was an overlooked graphic mistake far more than it was a hint at their developmental pace seeing as quickly as it was fixed. I work in media, I've made this sort of mistake plenty of times.

- The fact that so many plotlines based on Khaz Algar are seemingly just dropped in favour of K'aresh: Beledar, Black Blood, Undersea, Worldcore, Elun'ahir, etc. I know they can return at a later date, but it really feels like they'd be ditching Khaz Algar if we just packed out bags and left for another world for the final 1/3 of the expansion.

I understand this sentiment. That being said, in the case of Undersea, while it's a super interesting concept, it was a B plot in a single zone. It's a thread that can be picked up later on. The Worldcore we are almost certainly returning to, I believe that it was maybe the main thing that felt like it would be moving to fast for a single expansion; this is a KILLER closing arc plot for TLT. Elun'ahir (although never truly being mentioned in TWW) I think is a pretty massive plot piece for this, but it feels like the same situation as the Worldcore, suited for later down the line. Beledar and the Black Blood I will fully agree, these deserve an ending, and I'm sure they will in some form.

I understand it feels bad that we weren't committed 100% to the underground theme that they absolutely nailed in 11.0, but it was an evergreen feature with the seamless loading screens that I believe will be heavily utilized in TLT and the future of the game.

- Another Argus-like zone for a final patch sounds pretty trite, tbh. Yes, I know there could be Eco-domes and I'm sure the blue swirly thing in the sky will look amazing for the first few weeks. But it will undoubtedly involve a lot of running around on a barren, dark, wasteland of a rock for several months. Not exactly enticing.

Sure, but I can apply this logic to ending another expansion in a druidic, life-abundant zone again, this time twice in a row.

- I doubt they would have chosen to end World of Warcraft on K'aresh, if this had turned out to be the final expansion (or at least the final one for the worldsoul). So if we go there, it must have been cooked up pretty recently, which seems strange. Surely the final patch would involve a major cinematic and a bunch of other things they would have started creating way, way back?[/QUOTE]

If I'm being completely honest, I don't really understand this point at all. I don't get what you mean by final expansion or ending Warcraft on K'aresh.

I could be wrong in all of this, but we were told "You'll know where you're going at the end of 11.1" and the last thing we were shown was Azir with the Dark Heart overlooking K'aresh. I will gladly play the Rootlands, I will gladly commit to being wrong, but my gut keeps telling me there is no way it is the Rootlands, and if it is, they've done a poor job at leading us there in the story.

Who knows though, maybe all of this Arathi content in and out of game over the past two patches means the lack of "New Zone" was a semantic error because we're going back to a revamped Arathi Highlands.

I'm excited for whatever there is to come! I'm just feeling very strongly that it will be K'aresh. Apologies if any of this felt argumentative!

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- Introduce K'aresh as a hostile location/force in 11.2, reminding us what we're fighting to avoid. Perhaps we see it closer in another cinematic, visit briefly for a few quests, or encounter is inside a dungeon or raid. Maybe the final boss room of 11.2 shows it in the background or something. While the majority of the patch actually takes place below Khaz Algar or somewhere else on Azeroth.

One last addition, I guess my interpretation of K'aresh was never that it'd be a hostile location or force, nor a void stronghold. The logical usage of it is a mostly empty world with scattered remainders serving as a cautionary tale for the people of Azeroth to what happens when the Void reaches its' goal. Our time there isn't an Argus big grand battle, but a desperate chase against Azir and Xal'atath both to claim the Dark Heart and stop whatever it's meant to do. K'aresh just serves as an awesome backdrop for that.

[Cheezits]

There is a chance purple swirl world isn't K'aresh but... why would they do that?

[Limayria]

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I was wondering : What if the ethereals are the equivalent of elfs/draenei on K'aresh ?

So far on Azeroth, we've got a lot of different origins for each races :

-Human, Kultiran dwarves, dark irons, earthen, mechagnomes and gnomes and all their variants are of titanic origins.
-Orcs and mag'har orcs also comes from titanic power (made out of Grond's power)
-Pandarens were also made with titanic powers (blood of Ra Den)


-Taurens, Highmountain Taurens and worgens seems to comes from the Realm of Life (I talk about the OG worgen, not the cursed one)

-Trolls, Zandalaris, High elves, blood elves, void elves, night elves and nightbornes comes from Azeroth itself
-Goblins also seems to come from Azeroth themselves. They share a lot of similarities with troggs and pygmies tho, just like drogbars shares similarities with trolls.
-Vulperas' lore hasn't been fleshed out yet, but I can easily guess that it used to be a race from Azeroth (maybe goblins ?) that was changed after an encounter with a loa.

-Eredars come from Argus. While their lore has been kind of evasive, we know that their were the dominant race on a world with titanic influence (unless Antorus was 100% built by Sargeras and not simply twisted or corrupted)

-Dracthyr were made by Neltharion. We aren't sure yet if he used titan technology to make them or if he just used it to control them. We know for sure that he meddled with dark energies tho.

Now, when you look at the elves / draeneis, they've been lorewise really potent in any form of magic and were the only ones who could harness most of them "easily" (or at least with enough self control not to blow up everything). Both of them have shown really significant paths of evolutions :

OG Draenei from WC 3 > Broken > Eredar
Troll >( Harranir )*> Elfs < Withered (which seems to be a different way of devolving)

*We don't have anything confirmed here

Now, while eredars doesn't really feed off energy (or aren't shown to starve on it because they always have a big source of energy around), it seems that the environment can impact theyr evolution and makes them go back into more primitive states. The same happens with elves withering back to something new when they don't feed on energy.

Why all this talk ? Because I can easily imagine that elves are simply walking energy source turned into flesh, and that Dimensius devouring K'aresh (or at least destroying it) kind of released the ethereals off their corporeal prison, making them just be walking energy source.

Also, they seems to adapt to any form of magic they are exposed to. The OG ethereal seems to be made of arcane magic, the shadowguard is clearly made out of void energy and the brokers are made out of death energy (or are at least impacted by the atmosphere of the Shadowlands).

Why is it important to talk about that ? Because with Midnight reveal approaching, I can easily see Blizzard point the similarities of the two cultures, and make revelations about the Titans in order to antagonize them (or at least make them be no better than the Void or the Fel). It would also make them a logical playable race in an expansion happening in an elf realm, with K'aresh being the climax of Midnight.

We could have some interesting revelations, such as the Titans probably came into a world where the worldsoul was meant to be given to Void / another cosmic energy and that in order to prevent this, the Titans evolved one of the native race so they could harness a high technology, big sources of magic and such but in the end Dimensius came and destroyed the planet anyway. The same could have happened on Argus, but this time the world was meant to be of Light influence which would explain the presence of naarus on this world.

I've been saying the same thing!! The idea of them being sentient energy is cool!!

It also would help build up the ties between the etherals and the elves to ground potential playable etherals into azeorth more

[Joshuaj]

There is a chance purple swirl world isn't K'aresh but... why would they do that?

Uhmmm, yeah it's more than likely K'aresh lmao

[Limayria]

You know, I wouldn't be opposed to that outcome. A gradual build-up.

- Remind players of the Ethereals throughout TWW. Check.

- Remind them of K'aresh and Dimensius in 11.1.7. Check.

- Introduce K'aresh as a hostile location/force in 11.2, reminding us what we're fighting to avoid. Perhaps we see it closer in another cinematic, visit briefly for a few quests, or encounter is inside a dungeon or raid. Maybe the final boss room of 11.2 shows it in the background or something. While the majority of the patch actually takes place below Khaz Algar or somewhere else on Azeroth.

- Give us playable (friendly) Ethereals in 11.2.5 to deepen our connection to them, and to show us a glimpse of their culture in their starting zone.

- Midnight arrives, with K'aresh looming. Swarms of Dimensius' followers assault the Sunwell from it. Perhaps there's a dramatic effect, with K'aresh covering the Sun like a solar eclipse or something.

- In the end during Midnight, we push back the Shadow from Azeroth and remove the threat of K'aresh forever. Hell, maybe there's some kind of spark of hope for the ethereals kindled. Maybe they world is de-voidified and they can begin some type of terraforming using eco-domes and stuff. Over many years obviously. I think that would be the ultimate display of hope and salvation Blizzard could pull together in Midnight, honestly. Sure we could just see Azeroth freed from whatever new invasion they're cooking for us and that'll be nice as well. But to actually prevent doom on our world while also saving another world, doomed throughout the ages, and changing the course of their history, would be freaking epic. Can't achieve that effect unless we get to know K'aresh properly soon, though.

I would love to see k'aresh being saved in someway imagine if locus walker has the "heart of K'aresh" as we had the heart of azeorth or what if thats what the dark heart is and thats why they think it can save the planet

[Nokster10]

The most obvious thing to take away from the 11.2 cinematic is definitely that it was K'aresh, and that we'll be going there. No argument there.

But I can also come up with several reasons for why it shouldn't be K'aresh, which bothers me.

- The ommission of "New Zone" on the roadmap for 11.2.

It literally says New zone for 11.2 are you guys drunk

[Nokster10]

It didn't when they released it.

Now it is, so using it as a hint or an argument is pointless. And it wasn't because the further away the patch is, the less info they give about it. That's it