Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Cheezits]

Agony is really really cool and has some potentially huge lore implications (Rift of Aln/Emerald Nightmare, Yshaarj and the Sha, Venthyr and Mogu Anima all deal with emotional pain and suffering and are spooky red magic) it just isn't going to be tied to a race in any major way. In a similar vein, based on the Dawnwell it seems they are also walking back Belves from being Lightbased, which for a variety of reasons is a good idea for the second most generic humanoid race. There should be a place for hyperspecific races (Lightforged, Velf) but they shouldn't be core races IMO. You even have seen this with the Life themed races getting more niches for them over time, with Tauren by and large still being the most generic.

I was going to include Haranir in the "specific race" but they aren't infused with Life or made of plants or anything. They seem to have noobs and basketweavers just like anyone else.

[Joshuaj]

Agony is really really cool and has some potentially huge lore implications (Rift of Aln/Emerald Nightmare, Yshaarj and the Sha, Venthyr and Mogu Anima all deal with emotional pain and suffering and are spooky red magic) it just isn't going to be tied to a race in any major way. In a similar vein, based on the Dawnwell it seems they are also walking back Belves from being Lightbased, which for a variety of reasons is a good idea for the second most generic humanoid race. There should be a place for hyperspecific races (Lightforged, Velf) but they shouldn't be core races IMO. You even have seen this with the Life themed races getting more niches for them over time, with Tauren by and large still being the most generic.

I was going to include Haranir in the "specific race" but they aren't infused with Life or made of plants or anything. They seem to have noobs and basketweavers just like anyone else.

Which is funny, since the Elements also function on emotional duality and whatnot. Makes me wonder if Azeroth is also a First One remnant or not. After all, I did theorize that maybe the 7th is "Element".

[Viridiel]

I mean, do the blood elves actually need a "solution" to their mana issues? Their problem is that without magical infusion they become mortal and live the same lives as a human. That's it. Rekindling the Sunwell and totally avoiding their problem as a society was a massive mistake and I'm glad it's being undone, even if in such a saccharine way.

It always should've been the case that they by and large accept their mortality, with subgroups finding ways to scrounge back what immortality they can. The night elves already had the storyline of finding an alternative as a society, and it was uninteresting then and it's uninteresting now. Anguish provides a neat subversion of expectations where it's the criminals and the downtrodden who have ready access to a form of magic that can extend their lives, whereas the nobles and the elites are forced to accept their mortality if they refuse to embrace it in some form. Certainly more Horde-like than haughty nobles in their floating mansions surrounded by Alliance Blue crystals.

[huth]

I mean, do the blood elves actually need a "solution" to their mana issues? Their problem is that without magical infusion they become mortal and live the same lives as a human. That's it. Rekindling the Sunwell and totally avoiding their problem as a society was a massive mistake and I'm glad it's being undone, even if in such a saccharine way.

It always should've been the case that they by and large accept their mortality, with subgroups finding ways to scrounge back what immortality they can. The night elves already had the storyline of finding an alternative as a society, and it was uninteresting then and it's uninteresting now. Anguish provides a neat subversion of expectations where it's the criminals and the downtrodden who have ready access to a form of magic that can extend their lives, whereas the nobles and the elites are forced to accept their mortality if they refuse to embrace it in some form. Certainly more Horde-like than haughty nobles in their floating mansions surrounded by Alliance Blue crystals.

Huh? They're already mortal. Just long-lived. Only the Night Elves were ever immortal, and that was removed at the end of WC3.

[Ersula]

Huh? They're already mortal. Just long-lived. Only the Night Elves were ever immortal, and that was removed at the end of WC3.

This conversation started because we were talking about how necessary the sunwell is, because the Nightborne were also enjoying immortality by sucking on the leyline well. Thalyssra & Tyrande are the same age. So are Nightborne not immortal anymore? I feel like wether or not the nightwell fruit replacement giving immortality or not would be a bigger deal....because Blizzard is not really forthcoming with important details.

[Viridiel]

Huh? They're already mortal. Just long-lived. Only the Night Elves were ever immortal, and that was removed at the end of WC3.

Yeah, my bad, I'm talking about immortality as though it's a scale which isn't really accurate. I just mean longevity, although there's clearly something slightly more to it that makes elves feel like they aren't mortal in the same way humans are. I don't really care for the revival of the night elf immortality storyline in Dragonflight considering they can live for over 10,000 years with little to no signs of ageing.

[Auxis]

Agony is really really cool and has some potentially huge lore implications (Rift of Aln/Emerald Nightmare, Yshaarj and the Sha, Venthyr and Mogu Anima all deal with emotional pain and suffering and are spooky red magic) it just isn't going to be tied to a race in any major way. In a similar vein, based on the Dawnwell it seems they are also walking back Belves from being Lightbased, which for a variety of reasons is a good idea for the second most generic humanoid race. There should be a place for hyperspecific races (Lightforged, Velf) but they shouldn't be core races IMO. You even have seen this with the Life themed races getting more niches for them over time, with Tauren by and large still being the most generic.

I was going to include Haranir in the "specific race" but they aren't infused with Life or made of plants or anything. They seem to have noobs and basketweavers just like anyone else.

On the topic of Mogu/Anima: Werent the blood elves using some Anima Golems post-Throne of Thunder, or am i just misremembering?

[Super Dickmann]

So you're saying they're going to come up with an entirely different premise for Prey in subsequent expansions? I don't think that's likely. Like how they initially wanted to have a different delve partner every season but they didn't have time to develop that. I expect Astarion will be around for a while...... I mean Astalor.... I'm sure that's purely a coincidence.

The premise for delves between TWW and Midnight are entirely different, one is spelunking with your buddy Brann the other is running ops for the only blood elf to get a custom model despite not even being part of the faction. It'd be very easy for Prey in the next one to be say, Rokhan or if we're being realistic an Alliance equivalent (that dude who helped Vol'jin?) sending you out to kill monsters for their azerite glands in Northrend.

- - - Updated - - -

On the topic of Mogu/Anima: Werent the blood elves using some Anima Golems post-Throne of Thunder, or am i just misremembering?

Yes, they use them in WoD and they drain the blood of Torga in BFA in the Aliance invasion to power their golems. This is never brought up and anguish in general seems to be an anima replacement to avoid confusion with the other kind of anima.

[whoisqnx]

been quite a few weeks since i have been here. I remember seeing spoilers about how the raids end in first season but i dont remember seeing anything about what happens to Xal'atath, etc. Do we know and if so, can someone tell me (ofc spoiler tag it)

[Inxotep]

Where 2026 roadmap

[Joshuaj]

Where 2026 roadmap

Idk, also Blizzard is on holiday break. They return tomorrow, I think.

[whoisqnx]

Where 2026 roadmap

i'd say same week as pre patch

[Raetary]

been quite a few weeks since i have been here. I remember seeing spoilers about how the raids end in first season but i dont remember seeing anything about what happens to Xal'atath, etc. Do we know and if so, can someone tell me (ofc spoiler tag it)

Xal more or less wins and corrupts the Well, which sends a bunch of Void energy into the planet.
The Vanguard is defeated, and seemingly got sucked down into the Well, alongside the Void energies.

Alleria and Turalyon are MIA, at least as far as we know.

The Elves come together and cleanse the Well via a bunch of different magic mcguffins related to them, the Well is now named the Dawnwell and while not corrupted anymore, it's significantly weaker.

[Joshuaj]

Xal more or less wins and corrupts the Well, which sends a bunch of Void energy into the planet.
The Vanguard is defeated, and seemingly got sucked down into the Well, alongside the Void energies.

Alleria and Turalyon are MIA, at least as far as we know.

The Elves come together and cleanse the Well via a bunch of different magic mcguffins related to them, the Well is now named the Dawnwell and while not corrupted anymore, it's significantly weaker.

It's only really "weaker" due to it balancing both the Light and Shadow energies of the well. Makes me wonder if the well is gonna attain either a Blue and Gold look to it, or a Silvery look to it.

[whoisqnx]

Xal more or less wins and corrupts the Well, which sends a bunch of Void energy into the planet.
The Vanguard is defeated, and seemingly got sucked down into the Well, alongside the Void energies.

Alleria and Turalyon are MIA, at least as far as we know.

The Elves come together and cleanse the Well via a bunch of different magic mcguffins related to them, the Well is now named the Dawnwell and while not corrupted anymore, it's significantly weaker.

thanks a lot! some interesting bits in that for sure, im excited how the later patches will play out and go into TLT.

[Nymrohd]

I have to say, I kind of wanted to see Lightforged people, because of the infusion of Light, be shown to have the same vulnerability with the Naaru, turning into a Void phase if seriously harmed.

[Joshuaj]

I have to say, I kind of wanted to see Lightforged people, because of the infusion of Light, be shown to have the same vulnerability with the Naaru, turning into a Void phase if seriously harmed.

I'd like to see that too ngl. Wanna know what I'd like to see more of, however? The Naaru in general, and just cosmic Light stuff as a whole!

Like, if L'ura is any indication, the Naaru have been SERIOUSLY holding back on us.

[Cheezits]

Xal more or less wins and corrupts the Well, which sends a bunch of Void energy into the planet.
The Vanguard is defeated, and seemingly got sucked down into the Well, alongside the Void energies.

Alleria and Turalyon are MIA, at least as far as we know.

I think the order on these is incorrect. The Vanguard is defeated in Voidspire, which is why the Elf Team is assembled for Queldanas. So they don't get sucked into the core. It's true that we don't know what happens to their remnants and what's up with Alletia/Turalyon, but as Arator seems pretty normal I assume they are resting and recovering.

[Xilurm]

Just get the Draenei heritage and Man'ari questlines writer to write more Draenei lore. No one else should be allowed to touch them.

[Cheezits]

Just get the Draenei heritage and Man'ari questlines writer to write more Draenei lore. No one else should be allowed to touch them.

I don't think most new devs know HOW to- you see this in RP because they are such a complex and old race with most of their history offscreen. Most people swap to the newest Eredar that is made playable (LFD, then Penitent Manari) because they are simpler and they get an ingame refresh on how they work.

Whenever Eredar pop up now the quests are very good which make me think it's just one group or a singular writer who writes for them now. See: Nethersent Eredar in Voidstorm.