Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Romanz]

Do you guys think TWW patch content got shuffled, K'aresh coming earlier? Also what do you think Midnight's content patches will be, 12.1 being that "Ula'Tek/Troll Raid on the Isle of Fangs? 12.2 could be a big "Lightblinded" patch in the Plaguelands and Stratholme including the undead maybe

[Joshuaj]

Y'all, where are those Dawn of a New Well voice files?

[milkmustache]

Y'all, where are those Dawn of a New Well voice files?

The poster was a brand new account... feels like it was most likely bait.

[Sondrelk]

Do you guys think TWW patch content got shuffled, K'aresh coming earlier? Also what do you think Midnight's content patches will be, 12.1 being that "Ula'Tek/Troll Raid on the Isle of Fangs? 12.2 could be a big "Lightblinded" patch in the Plaguelands and Stratholme including the undead maybe

I am 100% confident, and willing to bet hard money, that K'aresh was meant to be a Midnight zone. And that it and Rootlands swapped places at some point during TWW development. Would explain why the Black Blood plotline is completely and unceremoniously dropped after Undermine. And why K'aresh feels like a lesser version of the Voidstorm zone in Midnight.


At the moment, I am thinking that 12.1 will be Isle of Fangs + something else. Whether that is a new zone entirely, or just a heavier focus on an old one is hard to say. But just the Isle of Fangs seems like it wouldnt be able to sustain an entire major patch by itself. Though it being a minor patch location would be possible. Though also a bit strange.
Storyline, I am thinking Lightblinded. Probably at some point something to do with the Plaguelands, given we have Light's Hope Chapel, Stratholme, and it being retroactively made into an even bigger Scarlet Crusade location in SoD.

For 12.2 I am not sure. Though if 12.1 is primarily a Troll patch, then I could see the finale of Midnight being the proper antagonist Light patch.

- - - Updated - - -

K'aresh worked towards the story of the Worldsoul Saga, it being a victim of the Void, but K'aresh didn't work at all towards the underground theme. Undermine worked great.

When you look at it divorced from the expansion, and just as a patch in the trilogy, it does make sense. Though you can really tell it needed a good while longer in the oven to be made into a proper iconic location, and not just a name players recognize.

- - - Updated - - -

I mean, the WoW Shop can always get more jam packed with stuff so we haven't hit limitations on that yet. I do not see any "Buy Patch" models or "Buy Patch + Patch Collector Editions w/ Patch Themed Armor Sets".

Obviously, I think they are fine with current status quo though and expanding the WoW Shop more over time.

At this point, with how many sets they make that have no obvious link to anything currently ongoing, I think the shop has its place. I really could not see where they could fit in so many new sets without just throwing them into the already cramped Trading Post. (At least without a massive price decrease)
Whether they make the sets for the shop or not is another question.

- - - Updated - - -

The worst thing about launch Midnight and what will damage its reception more than anything and leave the developers scrambling to apply bandaids will have nothing to do with its plot and will have everything to do with addons and class design. Despite their (lack of) plot, DF and TWW were perfectly functional due to content release cadence and class design, which Midnight threatens for no good reason. In turn, housing will be its saving grace from the retention standpoint after some bitching significantly cuts down on furniture prices either by launch or by the first patch.

I do wonder whether the developers were waiting fr Housing to be ready to start rooting around in the fundamentals of the game to the extent required by the addon-apocalypse.
It's definitely a series of changes that would be divisive at best, and completely ruin a launch at worst. And housing will definitely keep players for long enough for the developers to really figure out all the stuff needed.

[Nymrohd]

I am still waiting for whatever happens in 12.2 to be the cause of the Titans returning. For me it has to be the Worldcore. I could see Isle of Fangs being one half of 12.1 with the other half being revamped EPL. The raid will be in Isle of Fangs and we'd get a Megadungeon in EPL (Strat) with the Light story culminating there. But I assume we will have to face Xal in 12.2

I also think people are really overestimating Housing. For many people, it will be the main focus of their gaming experience come Midnight. But I am certain they will not be a majority. There will be a significant number of people who barely bother beyond the initial quests and another chunk who will just do endeavors and collect decor but not really spend that much time in housing proper. Between these three groups, the plurality will probably be the ones who barely use the feature.

[Sondrelk]

I also think people are really overestimating Housing. For many people, it will be the main focus of their gaming experience come Midnight. But I am certain they will not be a majority. There will be a significant number of people who barely bother beyond the initial quests and another chunk who will just do endeavors and collect decor but not really spend that much time in housing proper. Between these three groups, the plurality will probably be the ones who barely use the feature.

Definitely will be a large chunk of people who don't care. But I think the amount of cosmetics to farm will keep players invested somewhat.
A large dose of stuff to get in older areas and raids will keep players busy for at least a patch before they stop bothering I would think. Similar to how few people actually do any pet battling. But the addition of it kept players busy for a while before they decided it wasnt for them.

[Dracullus]

I am still waiting for whatever happens in 12.2 to be the cause of the Titans returning. For me it has to be the Worldcore. I could see Isle of Fangs being one half of 12.1 with the other half being revamped EPL. The raid will be in Isle of Fangs and we'd get a Megadungeon in EPL (Strat) with the Light story culminating there. But I assume we will have to face Xal in 12.2

I also think people are really overestimating Housing. For many people, it will be the main focus of their gaming experience come Midnight. But I am certain they will not be a majority. There will be a significant number of people who barely bother beyond the initial quests and another chunk who will just do endeavors and collect decor but not really spend that much time in housing proper. Between these three groups, the plurality will probably be the ones who barely use the feature.

Feel the same about Worldcore, what else would be catalyst for Titan return. Northrend - especially with potential underground Azjol-Nerub is big enough to fit all TLT patches.

About Troll island, I hope its 12.0.7 thing and 12.1 is human (North Lordaeron/Stratholme) or draenei (Exodar revamp) themed. We will have full troll zone already in S1, I like change of theme between seasons (of course as long they are connected better, so more Nighthold -> ToS then Nerubar -> Undermine).

Housing is just another Transmog or Mount collecting. It's not for everyone, it's still huge part of game.

[LoreSeeker]

SPOILERS - this is my paraphrasing of several fragmented audio files, also could easily be old storylines or mistakes on my part.


Post Voidspire questline leading to Darkwell
Arathor suggests recruiting the scattered elven tribes after the Darkwell defeats the Vanguard of the Light, - the High Elves of the Silver Covenant are convinced to finally be allowed back into Silvermoon and bring Sunstrider artifacts, crown and law book, as a peace offering and reminder of their late King who they all still respect - Silver Covenant and Sunreavers combine begrudgingly, and but still hate each other but do it out of loyalty to King Anasterian's legacy.
Next is Nightborne are recruited after saving them from void forces stealing their mana, finally the Night Elves - Shandris agrees without conditions to aid the Blood Elves, surprising Lor'themar, but expresses a disappointment in the Blood Elves still needing a well of power and request it be not re- empowered if they help cleanse it. Maiev is angry about now 3 times the Sunwell has been a target that has threatened the world and those mana addicts need to sort themselves out.

Darkwell's Future -
The leaked igc models are the different elves infusing the Darkwell with the fruit, void crystal (to refocus the void energies, rommath is mad about it) and Anasterian crown and Vial of Moonwell water, no audio but assuming Liadrin does holy. This balances the well and Liadrin calls it a new beginning not a Sunwell but a Dawnwell that will be a symbol as it now shifts between the Sun and Moon and Holy and Shadow . Also its mentioned by Rommath that the Sunwell is depowered greatly and will take them a while to get used to being without its power.

Xal's Goal
Xal after the corruption of the Sunwell into the Darkwell, not much seems to happen regarding the devouring host attacking or taking over. Umbric and Rommath dicuss that attacking the surface doesnt seem to be her goal and discover the Darkwell burrowing into the world and sending Xal's army and power deep into the planet.

[Cheezits]

Dornogal/Ringing Deeps - Harandar - TLT in general feels pretty congruent.

K'aresh - Eversong - Voidstorm feels like it makes sense as well.

However, only the first connection really has anything to do with the Worldsoul, so they should've changed the saga name to something else (Harbinger Saga?) even if the finale is about the Worldsoul and there happens to be a single Worldsoul storyline. And then there are random zones like Hallowfall, Azj-Kahet, Undermine and Zul'aman (I understand they had to touch on it) that don't really fit the story but do fit the aesthetics of the expansion. I feel like 11.1 being Ula'tek is partially to justify Zul'aman even getting any serious focus at all but also to have an excuse for a Troll patch, which if they really do go ham with the different tribes, has a lot of potential so I understand the idea.

[Scyth]

There's nothing wrong with the in-game story being bad or corrosive but you cannot just deny any form of spend on Animated Shorts, Cinematics and IGCs in these expansion concepts when the premises are so grand and epic. You have to at least showcase some level of mental faculties that you have to give your paypigs some spectacle payoffs with concepts such as fucking Midnight and The Last Titan. Like I just cannot fathom a strict debudgeting where your Intellectual Properties value is risked can occur to this degree but we'll see.

It will be extremely disappointing if we don't get any animated shorts. So much potential for them to do some cool ones with all these Elf characters around.

Tbh given all this budget cutting in the industry I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get a second cinematic too. But given the quality of the first one, that would probably be for the best..

[Joshuaj]

Low-key, what if we're all wrong, and the new well provides us with a beautiful twilight sky over Quel'thalas?

- - - Updated - - -

Imagine a yellow and blue beam with a twilight sky and maybe a rainbow shining over it? Oooo

Idk if I'd like that more than the normal Quel'thalas skies or not tbh.

[Merryck]

Low-key, what if we're all wrong, and the new well provides us with a beautiful twilight sky over Quel'thalas?

- - - Updated - - -

Imagine a yellow and blue beam with a twilight sky and maybe a rainbow shining over it? Oooo

Idk if I'd like that more than the normal Quel'thalas skies or not tbh.

It'll be a rainbow so they can make a pride reference. Let's be real.

[Joshuaj]

It'll be a rainbow so they can make a pride reference. Let's be real.

I only want the rainbow cause it's magical. We already have unicorns, let's go all in!

[Limayria]

It'll be a rainbow so they can make a pride reference. Let's be real.

Yeah the company who's "pride event" is lowering the cool down on a toy that cost 300k gold is doing anything for "pride" reasons lol lmao even

The prismatic rainbow energy is a good vibe for quel'thalas and makes sense not everything is some culture war bullshit like you peoples hate addled minds think

[Luck4]

It will be extremely disappointing if we don't get any animated shorts. So much potential for them to do some cool ones with all these Elf characters around.

I agree, the last expansion without any animated shorts was Cataclysm... let that sink in...

The shorts also provide a good opportunity to give more context to characters' sudden changes, such as the ones we're seeing with Turalyon.

I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get a second cinematic too. But given the quality of the first one, that would probably be for the best..

If we get the animated shorts instead of another CGI cinematic, I wouldn't complain. The launch CGI cinematics have also been quite lame lately.

[Usagi Senshi]

Sorry but this has been bothering me.....why wasn't a new thread started instead of continuing one from the previous expansion?

[Viridiel]

Sorry but this has been bothering me.....why wasn't a new thread started instead of continuing one from the previous expansion?

Seems the decision was made for this to remain the World Soul Saga thread, since the three expansions are inextricably tied.

[Vakir]

Seems the decision was made for this to remain the World Soul Saga thread, since the three expansions are inextricably tied.

I think the idea that they're inextricably tied is called into question now. ...moreso. Not that it wasn't already.

[Santandame]

Not by Blizzard. It was the fanbase here that kept saying Midnight would be a second Legion.

What is real here is that there was a plan for one proper, 4 season expansion and now they split that into three expansions and just added a ton of filler to make it work.

Think that’s something we forget. The community on this forum after hearing Midnight would be a return to Quel’thalas and an expansion focused on the Void, just randomly and almost unanimously decided that this expansion was going to be Legion 2.0.

There’s literally one guy in this thread who’s said numerous times that he believes Midnight will have the most and best patch content out of any expansion. Based off of what?

[Jaggler]

Think that’s something we forget. The community on this forum after hearing Midnight would be a return to Quel’thalas and an expansion focused on the Void, just randomly and almost unanimously decided that this expansion was going to be Legion 2.0.

There’s literally one guy in this thread who’s said numerous times that he believes Midnight will have the most and best patch content out of any expansion. Based off of what?

People love to set themselves up for disappointment and then be angry.

People also love being angry based on incomplete information and then filling in the gaps with whatever sounds most ridiculous (see rainbow well for example).

In short, people just love being angry on the internet for some reason.

It's part of why I moved away from forums etc. more and more, especially this alpha cycle. It's just the same handful of people hyping their respective frustrations up and writing themselves into rage and tbh why should i waste my time reading that.