Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[milkmustache]

I don't personally think we can extrapolate anything from future content based on the look on Thralls face, let alone his appearance. Thrall is Blizzard's go to face for WoW, especially with Sylvanas out of the picture.

I'm sure he's bound to play a large part in the conclusion of The World Soul Saga as he wasa major part at the beginning of it, but a part of me isn't truly convinced it's linked to the key art here.

[Cheezits]

They also spoiled (in concept art) that Iridikron is supposed to throw off his cloak eventually and look like a wrestler with a humpback. So, we can assume he is very likely going to throw down- Thrall would fit for a physical fight with him, especially with the theming.

Also I have a feeling Ebyssian will get merced so that Wrathion has to step up.

[micwini]

Has the poster ever turned out to have hinted at something in hindsight? I don't think so. Its always the same handful of characters from all games rotating I feel like.

[Merryck]

I'm surprised by how little Alleria is appearing in promotional material. Maybe she really does die in Voidspire.

[Hearthfinder]

Has the poster ever turned out to have hinted at something in hindsight? I don't think so. Its always the same handful of characters from all games rotating I feel like.

I literally just said it had.

For example Jaina and Sylvanas being featured heavily when BfA and Shadowlands were about to be announced, plus Thrall in the background when the Worldsoul Saga was announced in 2023.

[Darkarath]

I'm surprised by how little Alleria is appearing in promotional material. Maybe she really does die in Voidspire.

That would be fantastic.

We need more characters to die.

I have a list.

Hopefully some of them doesn't survive the WSS.

[milkmustache]

plus Thrall in the background when the Worldsoul Saga was announced in 2023.

I think this would have applied more had Alleria been the one in the art for 2023. Thrall had an incredibly minimal role in TWW, and seems to have none in Midnight. I really don't think this art correlates to involvement in anything other than being a face for Warcraft.

[johnnyd2]

That would be fantastic.

We need more characters to die.

I have a list.

Hopefully some of them doesn't survive the WSS.

As someone whose mostly moved past their “death=good writing” phase.

Would be nice to see more consequences or relevant deaths

Im still surprised Dadghar lived.

Doubly surprised when Locus Walker got killed off and Xaltath pretty much pulled a “villain victory” after dealing with Dimensius.

At least the closest were probably gonna get.

[DenPhoenix]

Doubly surprised when Locus Walker got killed off and Xaltath pretty much pulled a “villain victory” after dealing with Dimensius.

Technically, we’re not sure whether Locus-Walker is actually dead or just got sucked into the Dark Heart))

[Cheezits]

I've mentioned it before in the lore forums but it's really silly that Arator is the bright-eyed bushy-tailed newbie paladin MC in Midnight instead of Salandria, who would even fit the expansion more with Liadrin being her mother. I'm not sure if that was an oversight or she was kicked to the curb to have a more palatable white boy lead after Alleria. Salandria even appears, but to my knowledge does little to nothing except hang in the sunwell room.

She should've been the player's MC friend while Arator still has a huge presence. But, he gets both?

[Rosstafa]

Also I have a feeling Ebyssian will get merced so that Wrathion has to step up.

That would be dumb. It would throw away his - and Sabellian's - entire arc over Dragonflight.

But imagine if Nozdormu was killed by Iridikron and Eternus became the new Aspect of Time. He makes a point during Legion Remix of wanting to know how Sargeras, Xal'atath, and the Titans all fit together. He could be quite important in TLT.

[Cheezits]

That would be dumb. It would throw away his - and Sabellian's - entire arc over Dragonflight.

But imagine if Nozdormu was killed by Iridikron and Eternus became the new Aspect of Time. He makes a point during Legion Remix of wanting to know how Sargeras, Xal'atath, and the Titans all fit together. He could be quite important in TLT.

I noticed that Eternus (who is a she, I think- I remember a fem troll body) looks suspiciously similar to Murozond's appearance.

I do think that we are going to have Nozdormu turn into Murozond during the events of TLT- because from the start, it was hinted that the reason he went crazy was because of the "truth" he learned from Aman'thul (which is probably the conspiracy stuff).

[Rosstafa]

I noticed that Eternus (who is a she, I think- I remember a fem troll body) looks suspiciously similar to Murozond's appearance.

I do think that we are going to have Nozdormu turn into Murozond during the events of TLT- because from the start, it was hinted that the reason he went crazy was because of the "truth" he learned from Aman'thul (which is probably the conspiracy stuff).

If the titans are really trying to control Azeroth's worldsoul and are enemies, the Aspects - now empowered by her - will be put in an awkward position. I can imagine that being quite distressing for Nozdormu. Maybe he picks the titan's side and the shame of it triggers his transformation. I do hope we see Murozond again because him and the whole Infinite Dragonflight storyline in DF was pretty lacklustre.

[COBRAstriker]

I remember when I used to be extremely hyped for Blizzcons. Nowadays I'm just apathetic, wondering if anyone else here feels the same. I guess a WC4 or a Classic+ announcement that follows OSRS as a longterm, continuously updated version of classic WoW would be pretty hype

Regarding retail, I feel like a lot of people were soured by TWW, especially given Metzen's promises at the last Blizzcon. Midnight isn't looking better either and I just don't see the current writers or even the cinematics team now making something truly hype and exciting. The last cool moment we got was Garrosh disenchanting himself in SL. Recently even saw a dev on twitter, a senior quest designer, say that there is no objective lore, and anything can change or be retconned as they see fit. Why even care about the story when the ones making it don't and anything can change depending on their mood

I genuinely believe that from a creative pov, retail WoW is dead

[LarryWithTheWeatherReport]

That's one hell of a StarCraft tease!

Marine in the key art and "hell, it's about time" at the end of the trailer.

I think we'll see:

- The Last Titan OR at least 12.2

- Classic+ maybe somehow connected to retail as an alternate timeline because of Midnight or something (remember Xal'atath in SoD)

- StarCraft new game.

- Hearthstone expansion.

- Major OW2 roadmap with some kind if story overhaul.

- Hopefully a HotS update.

- Perhaps a D1 remake?

- D4 expansion with the Paladin class.

- Something beyond the ordinary, like a Netflix show.

Hoping for

Starcraft 3 - it's about damn time and it'll be awesome to bring back the RTS genre soon with Dawn of War 4 and Starcraft 3,

Starcraft Ghost for PC, PS5, XBOX, and Switch 2.

Warcraft 4

Massive update for Warcraft 3 Reforged to bring it up to it's preview status.

The Last Titan teaser trailer

Oh, is she still extremely powerful?



Well it's Azshara, that's just how she is.

I'll still put her above the power of Kil'jaeden, Deathwing, Zovaal, Fryakk, Archimonde, and even Dimensius. But weaker than current Xal'atath, Prime old god, and Sargeras, and the a prime Pantheon.

Agreed Azshara has that effect on everyone for sure.

- - - Updated - - -

I remember when I used to be extremely hyped for Blizzcons. Nowadays I'm just apathetic, wondering if anyone else here feels the same. I guess a WC4 or a Classic+ announcement that follows OSRS as a longterm, continuously updated version of classic WoW would be pretty hype

Regarding retail, I feel like a lot of people were soured by TWW, especially given Metzen's promises at the last Blizzcon. Midnight isn't looking better either and I just don't see the current writers or even the cinematics team now making something truly hype and exciting. The last cool moment we got was Garrosh disenchanting himself in SL. Recently even saw a dev on twitter, a senior quest designer, say that there is no objective lore, and anything can change or be retconned as they see fit. Why even care about the story when the ones making it don't and anything can change depending on their mood

I genuinely believe that from a creative pov, retail WoW is dead

I'm somehow that's cool with current WoW but I also wouldn't mind a Warcraft 4 taking place in a alternate timeline. I feel like they could easily do that with a few core timelines like the Hearthstone timeline for one, WoW timeline, and Warcraft 3/4/5 etc timeline. Plus the AU timeline.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm surprised by how little Alleria is appearing in promotional material. Maybe she really does die in Voidspire.

At least have all three Windrunner Sisters team up against Xal'atath in one big epic battle before Alleria dies. I want to see that cool teamup.

Alleria with Void, Sylvanas with Death, and Vereesa with Light.

- - - Updated - - -

They also spoiled (in concept art) that Iridikron is supposed to throw off his cloak eventually and look like a wrestler with a humpback. So, we can assume he is very likely going to throw down- Thrall would fit for a physical fight with him, especially with the theming.

Also I have a feeling Ebyssian will get merced so that Wrathion has to step up.

Shit is going to get serious once Iridikron throws off his cloak.

[Scyth]

This truly is my biggest gripe with Dragonflight and TWW. There's been a lot of opportunities to include certain lore groups and help reinforce worldbuilding, but they just... don't.

The Earthen Ring not being present during DF is such a crime. Genuinely no idea how or why that happened.

[milkmustache]

The Earthen Ring not being present during DF is such a crime. Genuinely no idea how or why that happened.

I just think that the narrative team gets excited about new ideas that they've come up with and don't properly carve out space for older factions, groups, cultures, etc. By the time the story is further in development, there's no place for them in large, and a small contingent would just feel weird, so they keep them shelved.

Now, the Earthen Ring in particular has a bit of an odd situation as it was the Shaman order hall faction in Legion, so they may have felt that it was too tied to a class to bring along. There's a few members scattered around Dragonscale Expedition camps, and I guess that's acceptable.

The larger point is, not roping in these old world groups slightly spoiled immersion because the foundation built before hand wasn't picked up on. It was a misuse of good worldbuilding. Midnight is a great course correction, narrative decisions aside, as the basis of being in Quel'thalas alone (and to that extent, Zul'Aman) is a great way at including old groups in new stories.

[rainhard]

Has the poster ever turned out to have hinted at something in hindsight? I don't think so. Its always the same handful of characters from all games rotating I feel like.

Not sure but overwatch people say doomfist will be integral to the new story they will release.

[COBRAstriker]

Dragonscale expedition instead of Explorer's league is another one. I still can't forget how insufferable that Toddy Whiskers NPC was. It's a pattern. They do like to make up their own versions of something which was already there, probably to subvert established groups and lore. The issue they're having is that almost all of their attempts end up being complete dogshit. DF centaur, niffen, dracthyr, all colossal failures

[Merryck]

No build this week or what?