Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Hitei]

3.a creating new animations and fitting them on every mount type in retrospect

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.

There is no "fitting them on every mount type". There is a standardization to mount sizes, which is why the base riding position has a base, "medium", "wide", and "very wide" versions. Then they just stick the model onto the mount and allow for an acceptable amount of clipping. It works like this for every race. It's why the Meat Wagon has your human character's hands up like they're on a saddle.

There is no "creating new rigging so the serpent tails coil". The armature has to be made regardless, it is the same bones required for the regular naga animations, so even if they worked like Worgen with an elf form, they would still need that rigging so that in naga form your tail moves and is animated instead of just being a static thing that sticks out straight behind you.

The thing that would need to be made specifically is the individual animation, which only requires they pose that rigging and animate the upper body idle movements (exactly like they have to do with every other race's mount animation, because they aren't universal).

[Nightshade711]

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

Yea & we have both playable rn through Void Elves & Draenei.
If they do what they did with Eredar & let the High Elf customization change visuals of Void Elf racials then there's no need for High Elf.

But maybe Blizzard would want extra money from race changes.

[Khaza-R]

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

Yes and no, I think. Its was definitely one of the more exciting features they've rolled out.

I think the lack of consistency or scope because the devs wanted "creative freedom" was really the only mistake.

[JohnnyCasual]

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.

This. The main thing I hear from Helfers about Velves is "I dont can't to be covered in purple shit" of course changing it to "blue shit" instead would be a funny monkeys paw.

[Cheezits]

Yes and no, I think. Its was definitely one of the more exciting features they've rolled out.

I think the lack of consistency or scope because the devs wanted "creative freedom" was really the only mistake.

Well, someone wanted creative freedom at least. I don't think it would've taken this long to possibly get Ethereals, Amani, Broken and High Elves without a few people calling for differently.

I actually understand what Ion was going for when he said the High Elf archetype is on Horde- he wanted to preserve the franchise's uniqueness of that archetype being on the "monsters faction" that came from TBC. He just went about it in the shittiest, rudest way possible. And now we come to the sensible conclusion of that.

[Nightshade711]

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.

It is a weird obsession I feel. If they just want a different nameplate there are addons for that.

[Sondrelk]

Regardless of the whole Helf/Belf/Velf debacle. I do hope for some standardization between various Allied Races and such. It's especially noticeable for humans I would say, where you are stuck as Stormwind human if you play regular human, Kul Tiran if you play Kul Tiran body type, and Worgen if you play Gilnean. Whereas there is no good reason you shouldn't be able to have Gilnean voice lines with the Kul Tiran body type, as an example. Or Kul Tiran racials with the Stormwind body type.

[Cheezits]

It is a weird obsession I feel. If they just want a different nameplate there are addons for that.

Think about it. It's a "High Elf" if you-
-never get into combat
-turn off voice lines
-are okay with emo hair
-can stand having no racials, no HD mounts, etc

I really do understand the want. You shouldn't have to play pretend for a core WC2 race. This isn't like Wildhammer and Farraki where it is a skin color or tats that are needed to fulfill a fantasy.

Anyways, their drive for it from BFA on is probably a huge inspiration for Midnight as a whole, let us be honest. Otherwise Metzen wouldn't have followed up "return to Quel'thalas" with "reunify the elf tribes"- the expansion was basically born from that crew.

Sethrak fans, take notes! Step it up!

[Nightshade711]

Regardless of the whole Helf/Belf/Velf debacle. I do hope for some standardization between various Allied Races and such. It's especially noticeable for humans I would say, where you are stuck as Stormwind human if you play regular human, Kul Tiran if you play Kul Tiran body type, and Worgen if you play Gilnean. Whereas there is no good reason you shouldn't be able to have Gilnean voice lines with the Kul Tiran body type, as an example. Or Kul Tiran racials with the Stormwind body type.

It is weird to me that Kul Tirans can be Shamans & Druids but normal humans can't. Also weird that Kul Tirans can't be Paladins even though we've seen Kul Tiran paladins in-game.
Kul Tirans are literally just bulkier humans.

[Cheezits]

It is weird to me that Kul Tirans can be Shamans & Druids but normal humans can't. Also weird that Kul Tirans can't be Paladins even though we've seen Kul Tiran paladins in-game.
Kul Tirans are literally just bulkier humans.

Kul Tiran Shamans and Druids reflect cultures of Kul Tiras that are not present in the Eastern Kingdoms, Tidesages and Thornspeakers respectively. And there are a few things hinting that the playable Kul Tirans are all half-Vrykul (the Drust), explaining their size, making them more unique than just being fat humans.

As for the paladins, they actually deleted a Kul Tiran paladin boss during Alpha, so they clearly wanted to emphasize that the nation worships other things beyond the light with a focus on nature and the elements. Is there a reason they can't be paladins in lore? Absolutely not.

[milkmustache]

Regardless of the whole Helf/Belf/Velf debacle. I do hope for some standardization between various Allied Races and such. It's especially noticeable for humans I would say, where you are stuck as Stormwind human if you play regular human, Kul Tiran if you play Kul Tiran body type, and Worgen if you play Gilnean. Whereas there is no good reason you shouldn't be able to have Gilnean voice lines with the Kul Tiran body type, as an example. Or Kul Tiran racials with the Stormwind body type.

Totally agree here! I think these things end up being relegated to ideas that only please roleplayers, but it adds such a great amount of flavor to the game.

[Cheezits]

Totally agree here! I think these things end up being relegated to ideas that only please roleplayers, but it adds such a great amount of flavor to the game.

Only thing is they'll need to record "small guy Kul Tiran" voicelines and "big guy Stormwind/Gilnean" voicelines if they add the voiceline options but honestly I don't think most people will care if they just reuse the lines.

[Nightshade711]

Think about it. It's a "High Elf" if you-
-never get into combat
-turn off voice lines
-are okay with emo hair
-can stand having no racials, no HD mounts, etc

I really do understand the want. You shouldn't have to play pretend for a core WC2 race. This isn't like Wildhammer and Farraki where it is a skin color or tats that are needed to fulfill a fantasy.

I mean.
Voice lines don't even sound that bad and there are decent non-'emo' style.
Racials are an easy fix if Blizzard wanted to tie more arcane visuals to their racials instead of void. It's possible since Draenei have fel visuals for their racials when using Eredar skins.


This seems a lot like asking for an Eredar Allied Race after Draenei got the Eredar customization.

[Cheezits]

Racials are an easy fix if Blizzard wanted to tie more arcane visuals to their racials instead of void. It's possible since Draenei have fel visuals for their racials when using Eredar skins.


This seems a lot like asking for an Eredar Allied Race after Draenei got the Eredar customization.

They have a green rune when using their healing racial. I wouldn't mind if Man'ari got more. (Eredar is the species, Man'ari are the demons)

On that note I'd love if Draenei, Lightforged, Man'ari and Broken all got together under the Eredar banner in the race menu- the heritage questline basically had Velen say as much ingame.

[Nightshade711]

Kul Tiran Shamans and Druids reflect cultures of Kul Tiras that are not present in the Eastern Kingdoms, Tidesages and Thornspeakers respectively. And there are a few things hinting that the playable Kul Tirans are all half-Vrykul (the Drust), explaining their size, making them more unique than just being fat humans.

As for the paladins, they actually deleted a Kul Tiran paladin boss during Alpha, so they clearly wanted to emphasize that the nation worships other things beyond the light with a focus on nature and the elements. Is there a reason they can't be paladins in lore? Absolutely not.

The culture doesn't really matter for classes anymore tbh.
If it did, we wouldn't have Lightforged warlocks.

Plus, there are Kul Tirans using the normal human model so it isn't like every single Kul Tiran is gigantic.

Personally, I just think the reason it is taking so long for certain combos (like Night Elf Paladin) is because Blizzard is going to just release classes to all races like they did priest/warlock/mage. But obviously they need assets for the remaining races.

Would be cool if the Gnome Moonkin form was them inside a mech. Feel it could use the Mechagon robot models like this:

[Cheezits]

The culture doesn't really matter for classes anymore tbh.
If it did, we wouldn't have Lightforged warlocks.

That was after BFA, where they tried to keep to lore reasoning (despite ignoring Zandalari Demonaics... LMAO) but even Lightforged warlocks could make sense with the right RP- they enslave demons and make them fight for them, use their powers for good, etc. They even had that one LF warlock introduced for the sole reason that it was the class combo most people would question. But yeah, unlocking lore for race/class combos was definitely a post-BFA thing.

Plus, there are Kul Tirans using the normal human model so it isn't like every single Kul Tiran is gigantic.

Yes, and many Tidesages are smaller, so they really should open up Kul Tirans to be smaller. Totally agreed.

Personally, I just think the reason it is taking so long for certain combos (like Night Elf Paladin) is because Blizzard is going to just release classes to all races like they did priest/warlock/mage. But obviously they need assets for the remaining races.

I think they gate it behind hype to sell certain expansions. Nelf and Forsaken are the big Paladin asks for right now, and it makes perfect sense for them in Midnight- and they'll need unique mounts.

- - - Updated - - -

Would be cool if the Gnome Moonkin form was them inside a mech. Feel it could use the Mechagon robot models like this:
-snip-

I admire the creativity but I think Blizz wants the class combos to still reflect on the origins of the class in lore- so if Gnome druids happened, they would truly be Gnomes turning into natural animals.

What you posted would likely be allowed through a certain class rhyming with Finker.

[Mecheon]

Except that Ogres and Kul Tirans are nothing alike. One is a unique, historical race that players have literally been asking to play since the game launched. The other is a larger version of an already-existing race that should have just been customisation options.

And Kul Tirans made it into the game, whereas ogres got considered and then rejected at least twice in this game's history, during Vanilla and Cata, and got rejected in favour of other races both times

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've seen a fair few people go for them, their visage form is pretty customisable and a lot of folks roll with it

It is a weird obsession I feel. If they just want a different nameplate there are addons for that.

Blizzard created the HElf fanatics with how they treated the Alliance during BfA, let's be honest. There's a reason that faction crashed and burnt to the point they had to allow cross faction raiding. No, adding diaper gnomes with op racials did not encourage more people to roll the Alliance, I wonder why

[Nightshade711]

That was after BFA, where they tried to keep to lore reasoning (despite ignoring Zandalari Demonaics... LMAO) but even Lightforged warlocks could make sense with the right RP- they enslave demons and make them fight for them, use their powers for good, etc. They even had that one LF warlock introduced for the sole reason that it was the class combo most people would question. But yeah, unlocking lore for race/class combos was definitely a post-BFA thing.

Yes, and many Tidesages are smaller, so they really should open up Kul Tirans to be smaller. Totally agreed.

It woulda been too much work, but it would've been cool if Lightforged Draenei could summon lightforged versions of demons.

I think they gate it behind hype to sell certain expansions. Nelf and Forsaken are the big Paladin asks for right now, and it makes perfect sense for them in Midnight- and they'll need unique mounts.

If we don't get a new race or class in Midnight I think it's possible they could be saving expanding the classes out to other races for sure.

I admire the creativity but I think Blizz wants the class combos to still reflect on the origins of the class in lore- so if Gnome druids happened, they would truly be Gnomes turning into natural animals.

What you posted would likely be allowed through a certain class rhyming with Finker.

Fair point - I think the inspiration for it is moreso because you have Goblins whose totems are technological. The idea is that Gnome/Mechagnome/Goblin druids could do the same by using tech to harness (or just channel) their druidic magic.

Though on that topic I'd love to see a Nightborne druid's forms. Was disappointed when they weren't added after masquerade in suramar turned your cat form into a manasaber.

[Khaza-R]

And Kul Tirans made it into the game, whereas ogres got considered and then rejected at least twice in this game's history, during Vanilla and Cata, and got rejected in favour of other races both times

Kul Tirans are a weird case where they wanted to add another human kingdom but felt obligated to give them an AR to match the Zandalari. They were obviously just based off the alpha human models where they had different body types. It was less of an active choice and more, lets cobble this shit together and call it an AR.

[Cheezits]

Kul Tirans are a weird case where they wanted to add another human kingdom but felt obligated to give them an AR to match the Zandalari. They were obviously just based off the alpha human models where they had different body types. It was less of an active choice and more, lets cobble this shit together and call it an AR.

Don't forget that originally they said "sometimes a faction won't get an AR" and the original Zandalari counterpart was Dark Iron.

KTs were never meant to be an AR originally. I'm glad we got another unique rig out of it, but it obviously wasn't worth it based on reception.