Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Darkarath]

It never ceases to amaze me the hostility against Dracthyr.

Blizzard took an original approach to give us something new, and while I understand that some players wanted Drakonid, that doesn't mean that Dracthyr are wrong.

We should always support risky moves like Dracthyr from Blizzard. Moreover, they were a huge success !! Well, I can only speak about my personal experience, but I'm still surprised about the amount of Dracthyr that I see since their arrival. Seriously, I see lots of them !

Regarding Naga, they are, with Ethereals, the only race that I would support becoming playable. I have said before that IMO there are too many playable races, but Naga? They are one of the core races of WoW.

They have so much lore and potential. If they ever become playable, I support the view of them being as they are now, not a two-legged abomination.

[Nightshade711]

One thing people seem to forget about the 'Playable high elf thing' is that they've already shown they can make racial visuals change based on character customization.

Like if you're using the Eredar customization on a Draenei it changes the Gift of the Naaru to a fel version.
In Midnight I could see them making it so High Elf customization on a Void Elf would change their void visuals to arcane.

[Enrif]

Is what you're advocating even less work or more realistic though?

A few unique animations compared to some whole ass extra elf form they transform in and out of at will. I don't think that's actually any less work.

the work would be
1. modeling the naga models, including textures and customizations options (would be needed either way)
2. rigging the models so they can use all the other animations we already have that are shared (would be needed either way)
3.a creating new animations and fitting them on every mount type in retrospect

or

3b. adding shapshifted form, based on the night elf model that can use most of the night elf kit, with a few added things to represent the serpent aspects


It is hard to tell what is more work and more prone to error. but i think re-using the night elf kit is less time intensive and prone to error than creating new rigging so the serpent tails coil. Also, customization is a big marketing plus, and they can market it easier to the elf expansion as another type of elf.

[Raetary]

We should always support risky moves like Dracthyr from Blizzard. Moreover, they were a huge success !! Well, I can only speak about my personal experience, but I'm still surprised about the amount of Dracthyr that I see since their arrival. Seriously, I see lots of them !

Are Dracthyr a success or just Evokers?

Because Evokers are fun and interesting to play, and as they are restricted to a single race, the number of Dracthyr running around will be inflated.
From all the Evokers i encountered in-game, i have seen like 3 that are playing any other class.

[Nightshade711]

the work would be
1. modeling the naga models, including textures and customizations options (would be needed either way)
2. rigging the models so they can use all the other animations we already have that are shared (would be needed either way)
3.a creating new animations and fitting them on every mount type in retrospect

or

3b. adding shapshifted form, based on the night elf model that can use most of the night elf kit, with a few added things to represent the serpent aspects


It is hard to tell what is more work and more prone to error. but i think re-using the night elf kit is less time intensive and prone to error than creating new rigging so the serpent tails coil. Also, customization is a big marketing plus, and they can market it easier to the elf expansion as another type of elf.

I think regardless IF the naga have a significant presence next xpac Blizzard would revamp their models. The updated Naga models will be close to 10 years old by the time Midnight releases.

[Wyrt]

It never ceases to amaze me the hostility against Dracthyr.

Blizzard took an original approach to give us something new, and while I understand that some players wanted Drakonid, that doesn't mean that Dracthyr are wrong.

We should always support risky moves like Dracthyr from Blizzard. Moreover, they were a huge success !! Well, I can only speak about my personal experience, but I'm still surprised about the amount of Dracthyr that I see since their arrival. Seriously, I see lots of them !

Regarding Naga, they are, with Ethereals, the only race that I would support becoming playable. I have said before that IMO there are too many playable races, but Naga? They are one of the core races of WoW.

They have so much lore and potential. If they ever become playable, I support the view of them being as they are now, not a two-legged abomination.

They're only "popular" because they have an exclusive class. And even then Evoker is by far the least popular class even with having the only support spec in the game. Dracthyr outside of evoker are virtually non-existent.

I don't know how you could call it a huge success.

[Bwgmon]

One thing people seem to forget about the 'Playable high elf thing' is that they've already shown they can make racial visuals change based on character customization.

Like if you're using the Eredar customization on a Draenei it changes the Gift of the Naaru to a fel version.
In Midnight I could see them making it so High Elf customization on a Void Elf would change their void visuals to arcane.

At which point, I'm sure the High elf crowd will lament that they're not truly High Elves because of the nameplate, and continue to demand a separate race.

[Darkarath]

Are Dracthyr a success or just Evokers?

Because Evokers are fun and interesting to play, and as they are restricted to a single race, the number of Dracthyr running around will be inflated.
From all the Evokers i encountered in-game, i have seen like 3 that are playing any other class.

I think that both have been successful.

I have seen a fair amount of Dracthyrs Hunters and Warriors. But the majority are Evokers, of course.

Nevertheless, you raise a fair point. I guess that only when Evokers become available for other races we will have our answer.

I don't know how you could call it a huge success

Again, I just see tons of them. Not a valid metric by any means, I know.

I think that it is also fair to bear in mind that no matter the race or class that they introduce, while most players would try it in one way or another, not many would be willing to change mains after so many years.

That's why Dracthyrs/Evokers, IMO, have been incredibly successful. That they are not far behind other races or classes that have been introduced so many years ago is the definition of success.

[Enrif]

I think regardless IF the naga have a significant presence next xpac Blizzard would revamp their models. The updated Naga models will be close to 10 years old by the time Midnight releases.

absolutely. Even the Legion/BfA Naga are dated looking compared to actual player models.

[Wyrt]

At which point, I'm sure the High elf crowd will lament that they're not truly High Elves because of the nameplate, and continue to demand a separate race.

The high elf crowd will keep complaining until Silvermoon is back in the Alliance and they get to toss blood elves to sharks again.

[Bwgmon]

I think that both have been successful.

I have seen a fair amount of Dracthyrs Hunters and Warriors. But the majority are Evokers, of course.

Nevertheless, you raise a fair point. I suess that only when Evokers become available for other races we will have our answer.

Tbh I feel like the transmog issue is a bigger factor in their numbers than anything. I'd love to play my Drac more, but it's so goddammit annoying having to change form to preview 80% of items in the game.

[Cheezits]

I think it depends on Azshara's role. If she the main antagonist of Midnight then the naga being central to the story makes sense. If Azshara is being saved for later then I agree with you, they probably will have a no significant role in the story.

Everything in 11.2, including the datamined post-raid dialog, implies the main antagonist of Midnight is (Spoilers) Xal'atath, empowered and now seeking to become the All-Devouring.

[Nightshade711]

Are Dracthyr a success or just Evokers?

Because Evokers are fun and interesting to play, and as they are restricted to a single race, the number of Dracthyr running around will be inflated.
From all the Evokers i encountered in-game, i have seen like 3 that are playing any other class.

Agreed. Evokers are really fun to play imo. I just think it is an incredible travesty that Dracthyr can't show 90% of their transmog. No idea why Blizz ever thought it was a good idea. Especially since they can't be bothered to make the few pieces that do show actually match the barber shop armor.

Wish they'd give us the cut shoulderpad options (that they showed us in previews) at a minimum.

(The red & green shoulders were cut)

[Darkarath]

Tbh I feel like the transmog issue is a bigger factor in their numbers than anything. I'd love to play my Drac more, but it's so goddammit annoying having to change form to preview 80% of items in the game.

Oh man. You raise an excellent point that I completely forgot about ! Transmog !!

Dracthyr cannot transmog !! And nevertheless, there are a ton of them around.

Again, another clear sign of their success.

[Alanar]

I think it depends on Azshara's role. If she the main antagonist of Midnight then the naga being central to the story makes sense. If Azshara is being saved for later then I agree with you, they probably will have a no significant role in the story.

Absolutely, it highly depends if the Naga are relevant in Midnight for any real focus.

In terms of work on those models. I was also thinking about the fact, that working on 4 new models for naga vs 2 new models sounds like the same if not more work. Espeically if animation work is the only argument here, which has to happen anyway.. Regardless of what they go for, both scenarios require all the work, new art, new animations etc anyway.
I feel, that full focus on the 2 completely new naga models m/f including new animations that support everything that needs to be supported would eventually even it out somewhat and better yet, in the end would just deliver a better product.

Again, another clear sign of their success.

I also blame double jump and maybe racials or flying as well.

[Thomir]

Allied races, or at least the implementation of them, were a mistake.

[FossilFree]

All dracthyr need is the ability to transmog most armor slots and have a wider skull option. I can see capes being restricted, as they would be clip-city, but more minor clipping should be left up to the player to decide. Would a naked human paladin look badass? Or would they look silly? The same logic applies to dracthyr, they are humanoids after all.

As for their builds, I think the body size 4 or whatever is actually bulky enough. The problem isn't their bodies, it's their skulls. Their heads look pretty cool from the side, but as soon as you see them facing you straight on, they look so skinny. Dragons typically have quite wide skulls in media, but these "dragons" have ones that look more like a bird or something, maybe a crane. Not exactly scary or cool looking.

[Sondrelk]

As much as I love Dracthyr as a race is cool, I really think part of the reason they have as many players as they do outside Evokers is more so because their customization options in humanoid form is amazing. I have seen several permanent visage players who chose it because they get cool eyes and dragon horns. And really only one permanent dracthyr non-evoker.

I hesitate to call it Dracthyr a success when loads of people play it because the visage looks so cool and the racials are great. Rather than because the actual Dracthyr form is a fan favorite.

Really it just needs to at least have full access to transmog so it can be properly appreciated and grow a fanbase from that.

[Wyrt]

Allied races, or at least the implementation of them, were a mistake.

"Here's new character customization but you need to pay for a race change to access it. Also you lose access to the older customization so if you decide you want that you can pay for another race change."

[Nibelheimy]

People can want high elves and Eredar at the same time.