Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Limayria]

Hearthstone isn't canon obviously but it does give us insight at times into the larger design intentions in WoW due to its creative freedom.

A good example is with the Shadowlands actually. In WoW we see this horrifying gameplay limitation where people are forced into a new form based on a robot sorting them through a filter.

In Hearthstone its rather elaborated that individuals keep their form.

God this really hits home how much more well received shadowlands would have been if instead of being forced into a handful of predetermined forms they really explored people's existing in the shadowlands as their souls separate from their bodies and that shaping their appearance

We even still could have had the covenants as native denizens of the shadowlands

[The-Shan]

Which would be accomplished by the Midnight version of the zone being neutral but also making it clear its a horde city after the events of midnight. Every zone in the game is trapped in a very specific moment in time. They're never again going to do what they did in Cataclsym & outright removing any versions of a zone. Getting to teldrassil is a little wonky at max level, but its not impossible.

I think it should be an open and friendly zone for everyone, but lore-wise when push comes to shove it will have some VERY interesting questions to answer if a new war breaks out between the Alliance and Horde, especially if the population becomes more split on allegiance.

[KyleEverett]

There's still the chance that the Outland is gone stuff is real which would mean they have to come to Azeroth regardless.

[Porcos Voadores]

Maybe you already discussed this, but, isn't this a tuskarr aesthetic mount? or tuskarr related mount? could this mean anything? they don't have any realation with moose right? there racial mount was just the ottuks.

[JDBlou]

If Hearthstone is canon where are the draenei demon hunters and the draenei star fighters?

You're aware this question reeks of bad-faith, right? It's false equivalence. There's no basis for treating all Hearthstone content as existing on the same canonical level, when there's clearly selective integration based on narrative utility.
The evidence shows Blizzard already has precedent for adopting specific Hearthstone elements into canon:

Visual designs (N'Zoth, Y'Shaarj)
New concepts (Tortollan)
Character additions (League of Explorers - Reno, Elise, Finley didn't exist before Legion)

You're using the most "hearthstone wacky energy" examples (star fighters) to dismiss the entire premise while ignoring documented cases of successful integration.
The reality has nuance, Team 2 takes ideas from Hearthstone and adapts them to fit established canon when they serve the story or in expansion of worldbuilding. It's selective adoption, not wholesale importing of every card concept including the deliberately silly ones.
Your logic is like saying "If concept cars influence production vehicles, why don't we all drive flying cars?" - you're conflating experimental features with practical innovations that actually get implemented.
The question isn't whether everything from Hearthstone becomes canon, but whether specific elements can be meaningfully integrated when they enhance the broader narrative. The question is if AND when it's integrated.

[Khaza-R]

God this really hits home how much more well received shadowlands would have been if instead of being forced into a handful of predetermined forms they really explored people's existing in the shadowlands as their souls separate from their bodies and that shaping their appearance

We even still could have had the covenants as native denizens of the shadowlands

Indeed. I think the covenant system would of been beloved rather than hated if it offer more customizations for your character. Equally it would let them set up NPCs to make it feel less alien.

There's still the chance that the Outland is gone stuff is real which would mean they have to come to Azeroth regardless.

It could be. Part of renilash is all of the naaru dying? That's kind of impossible to demonstrate unless Outland is a part of the narrative.

[Limayria]

You're aware this question reeks of bad-faith, right? It's false equivalence. There's no basis for treating all Hearthstone content as existing on the same canonical level, when there's clearly selective integration based on narrative utility.
The evidence shows Blizzard already has precedent for adopting specific Hearthstone elements into canon:

Visual designs (N'Zoth, Y'Shaarj)
New concepts (Tortollan)
Character additions (League of Explorers - Reno, Elise, Finley didn't exist before Legion)

You're using the most "hearthstone wacky energy" examples (star fighters) to dismiss the entire premise while ignoring documented cases of successful integration.
The reality is nuanced - Team 2 take ideas from Hearthstone and adapt them to fit established canon when they serve the story or expansion of worldbuilding. It's selective adoption, not wholesale importing of every card concept including the deliberately silly ones.
Your logic is like saying "If concept cars influence production vehicles, why don't we all drive flying cars?" - you're conflating experimental features with practical innovations that actually get implemented.
The question isn't whether everything from Hearthstone becomes canon, but whether specific elements can be meaningfully integrated when they enhance the broader narrative. The question is if AND when it's integrated.

also star fighters would be sick in wow??? we already have planes and helicopters AND space ships so a small personal space fighter totally fits in; would have been awesome on karesh to show ethreals tech prowess too

[Cheezits]

I think A'dal will show up and that makes me think something is going to go down in Outland to bring him over. Otherwise it's just Saara on Azeroth, right?

[Khaza-R]

I think A'dal will show up and that makes me think something is going to go down in Outland to bring him over. Otherwise it's just Saara on Azeroth, right?

There's a naaru in Quel'danas too but I forget its name.

[Xeladriel]

also star fighters would be sick in wow??? we already have planes and helicopters AND space ships so a small personal space fighter totally fits in; would have been awesome on karesh to show ethreals tech prowess too

star figther as tinker spec would be awesome

[JDBlou]

also star fighters would be sick in wow??? we already have planes and helicopters AND space ships so a small personal space fighter totally fits in; would have been awesome on karesh to show ethreals tech prowess too

I agree, to claim like that's the most absurd thing Hearthstone's ever played with in the WoW space (while expansions like Perils in Paradise exist), kind of ignores the whole Legion thing, and TBC's naaru ships. Our climactic battle with Kil'Jaeden took place aboard a space ship for heaven's sake.

[Maxilian]

There's a naaru in Quel'danas too but I forget its name.

I believe they use that Naaru core to ignite the Sunwell at the end of the raid

[Eldryth]

At the very least, we already know that we're getting a book set in Outland (the upcoming Arator/Turalyon/Alleria book, the Outland side of the Dark Portal is on the cover).

While I doubt we'll spend a lot of time going there ourselves in Midnight, they could use that book to reveal big developments there that can carry over into Midnight.

[Raetary]

I believe they use that Naaru core to ignite the Sunwell at the end of the raid

Not M'uru but K'iru.
https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/K%27iru

That is, if K'iru didn't return to Shatt after the events of BC.

[Wyrt]

also star fighters would be sick in wow??? we already have planes and helicopters AND space ships so a small personal space fighter totally fits in; would have been awesome on karesh to show ethreals tech prowess too

We actually saw the Legion have some on Argus.

It's just Hearthstone had draenei star fighters and I want to see those.

[JDBlou]

We actually saw the Legion have some on Argus.

It's just Hearthstone had draenei star fighters and I want to see those.

My bad dude, I thought you were making an argument against their inclusion. Seriously, apologies

[milkmustache]

I think A'dal will show up and that makes me think something is going to go down in Outland to bring him over. Otherwise it's just Saara on Azeroth, right?

The more it's discussed, the more I start to wonder if you're right, that something is bound to happen with Outland during Midnight. It could just be the classic MMO-C echo chamber convincing us something is true the more we talk about it, but there's a few plots there that could be tied in.

[Cheezits]

The more it's discussed, the more I start to wonder if you're right, that something is bound to happen with Outland during Midnight. It could just be the classic MMO-C echo chamber convincing us something is true the more we talk about it, but there's a few plots there that could be tied in.

We're just missing a lot of Light forces on Azeroth so I'm expecting something to bring them over, even if it's just Velen summoning them.

[milkmustache]

We're just missing a lot of Light forces on Azeroth so I'm expecting something to bring them over, even if it's just Velen summoning them.

This really is the perfect opportunity to close out the Yrel thread, isn't it? God do I want Exarch Hellscream so badly.

[Nymrohd]

This really is the perfect opportunity to close out the Yrel thread, isn't it? God do I want Exarch Hellscream so badly.

I think the Yrel thread makes more sense in the Arathi arc instead.