Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Viridiel]

OK so I've just done the Dreamrift questline up until the quest where we do the raid, and we're explicitly told that we're going to find out who pulled Aln'hara from the Cradle. So it does look like we're getting that reveal in this expansion after all.

I can't complete the final relic until I've done a certain quest that I haven't been able to find, so I'm wondering if that's also locked behind the raid.

EDIT: Nevermind, I found it and just finished the last relic. Not really sure what to take away from it. It's about the fact that the sky in Harandar used to be dark, but a haranir turned into a bird and flew up into the Cradle, causing a stone to fall from the sky and for the sky to become bright again. Maybe the post-raid quest will make sense of it.

[Super Dickmann]

You know, reading through these spoilers and my initial impression that the villain fizzles out before we’re even past the .0 patch, I have to amend my opinion because it looks even weirder. From what I follow at the end of the launch story Xal first taints the Sunwell and then used it to do whatever she set out to do. We don’t defeat her, the paladins and Alleria/Turalyon are down for the count until their inevitable group hug and the new rainbow well is less effective and doesn’t actually deal with the issue in any way. But everyone acts like they saved the day despite being worse on every front than at launch and they quip amongst each other about friendship.

[Jaggler]

OK so I've just done the Dreamrift questline up until the quest where we do the raid, and we're explicitly told that we're going to find out who pulled Aln'hara from the Cradle. So it does look like we're getting that reveal in this expansion after all.

I can't complete the final relic until I've done a certain quest that I haven't been able to find, so I'm wondering if that's also locked behind the raid.

EDIT: Nevermind, I found it and just finished the last relic. Not really sure what to take away from it. It's about the fact that the sky in Harandar used to be dark, but a haranir turned into a bird and flew up into the Cradle, causing a stone to fall from the sky and for the sky to become bright again. Maybe the post-raid quest will make sense of it.

Is the stone in the cradle? Could it be something similar to Beledar?

[Viridiel]

Is the stone in the cradle? Could it be something similar to Beledar?

No, it's a small orb that fell from the Cradle. We get a replica of it as a decor item. It just looks like a chunk of alndust.

[Jaggler]

No, it's a small orb that fell from the Cradle. We get a replica of it as a decor item. It just looks like a chunk of alndust.

Ah okay, Thank you!

[Joshuaj]

No, it's a small orb that fell from the Cradle. We get a replica of it as a decor item. It just looks like a chunk of alndust.

Huh, that is interesting.

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You know, reading through these spoilers and my initial impression that the villain fizzles out before we’re even past the .0 patch, I have to amend my opinion because it looks even weirder. From what I follow at the end of the launch story Xal first taints the Sunwell and then used it to do whatever she set out to do. We don’t defeat her, the paladins and Alleria/Turalyon are down for the count until their inevitable group hug and the new rainbow well is less effective and doesn’t actually deal with the issue in any way. But everyone acts like they saved the day despite being worse on every front than at launch and they quip amongst each other about friendship.

The Dawnwell does sorta deal with the issue in that it balances out the Light and Shadow within the well. It's not nearly as powerful as the current Sunwell, sure, but it's better than having a permanent Darkwell at least.

Also, we don't know if the well is a rainbow or not. Imo, it's most likely gonna either be a Yellow/Blue well, a Silver well, or even an Orange well.

[Ersula]

The chances that Blizzard is paying homage to Mark fucking Kern is approximately zero

Considering the First Ones were brainstormed during the Afrasiabi era, he absolutely would.

You know, reading through these spoilers and my initial impression that the villain fizzles out before we’re even past the .0 patch, I have to amend my opinion because it looks even weirder. From what I follow at the end of the launch story Xal first taints the Sunwell and then used it to do whatever she set out to do. We don’t defeat her, the paladins and Alleria/Turalyon are down for the count until their inevitable group hug and the new rainbow well is less effective and doesn’t actually deal with the issue in any way. But everyone acts like they saved the day despite being worse on every front than at launch and they quip amongst each other about friendship.

Doesn't it? I was actually shocked the whole voidstorm & well corruption is completely over by the end of this first raid tier; but that's what happens. It could have been an expansion-long crisis but no. But considering this is Xal's style, it speaks to being just a diversion for what she was actually working on.

[Lieutenant Commander]

My expectations for Midnight are:
12.0 - Blood Elf patch (well obviously)
12.1 - Amani (Ula'tek) Troll patch
12.2 - "The Manifold" Underground Titan patch (what the original War Within last patch was actually supposed to be)

[Joshuaj]

My expectations for Midnight are:
12.0 - Blood Elf patch (well obviously)
12.1 - Amani (Ula'tek) Troll patch
12.2 - "The Manifold" Underground Titan patch (what the original War Within last patch was actually supposed to be)

See, I'm thinking 12.2 is maybe going to be a Plaguelands update, but maybe a Worldcore patch would work. I always assumed that would be saved for TLT though.

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Also, there is no "original" TWW. There was at best an early draft of what WOULD be TWW, but it was changed not long in development.

[Zardas]

There is a non-zero chance that they waste Avaloren for the 12.2 zone, just saying.

[Bozzoltank]

See, I'm thinking 12.2 is maybe going to be a Plaguelands update, but maybe a Worldcore patch would work. I always assumed that would be saved for TLT though.

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Also, there is no "original" TWW. There was at best an early draft of what WOULD be TWW, but it was changed not long in development.

I'm expecting them to combine Atal'Utek and the Plaguelands (Eastweald?) into a singular patch, as the explored Atal'Utek doesn't seem as big as a content patch zone usually is.

Like Rise of Azshara with Nazjatar & Mechagon (or the Isle of Thunder & the Isle of Giants and Argus).

[Cheezits]

One of the only post Dawnwell conversations we have is the one with Umbric and Rommath, which is purposefully a bit light. I think the idea for some of the levity is that otherwise the entirety of the ending for the launch campaign is a complete and utter BUMMER LOSS which may not be palatable for some players. The reality is that the only win the players get is saving lives.

I think it's worth noting we're missing the opinion of anyone who isn't an elf. Though that does raise some questions on what happened to everyone who isn't an elf. Did they get messed up when the Voidspire hits the Sunwell? Did they run away? Did they get sucked into the well with Xal?

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I'm expecting them to combine Atal'Utek and the Plaguelands (Eastweald?) into a singular patch, as the explored Atal'Utek doesn't seem as big as a content patch zone usually is.

Like Rise of Azshara with Nazjatar & Mechagon (or the Isle of Thunder & the Isle of Giants and Argus).

Atal'Utek with a raid and Plaguelands with a megadungeon (Stratholme) would really be the best of both worlds.

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But considering this is Xal's style, it speaks to being just a diversion for what she was actually working on.

No, it was her main goal. Using the Darkwell to transport her, the Devouring Host, and void energy into somewhere or something inside Azeroth

[milkmustache]

In retrospect, it's kinda cool that the Voidstorm was just sort of a coalesced laser nuke to launch her entire power exactly where it needs to be, utilizing the one thing that could counteract them to do it.

Atal'Utek with a raid and Plaguelands with a megadungeon (Stratholme) would really be the best of both worlds.

Atal'Utek as tier and a smaller 3 boss dungeon in the Plaguelands/Lordaeron to carry the major plot beat would be interesting. Voidspire has a major story moment, but March on Quel'danas is the ending plot beat. I wonder if they'll continue that.

[Lady Atia]

One of the only post Dawnwell conversations we have is the one with Umbric and Rommath, which is purposefully a bit light. I think the idea for some of the levity is that otherwise the entirety of the ending for the launch campaign is a complete and utter BUMMER LOSS which may not be palatable for some players. The reality is that the only win the players get is saving lives.

I think it's worth noting we're missing the opinion of anyone who isn't an elf. Though that does raise some questions on what happened to everyone who isn't an elf. Did they get messed up when the Voidspire hits the Sunwell? Did they run away? Did they get sucked into the well with Xal?

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Atal'Utek with a raid and Plaguelands with a megadungeon (Stratholme) would really be the best of both worlds.

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No, it was her main goal. Using the Darkwell to transport her, the Devouring Host, and void energy into somewhere or something inside Azeroth

You know what's kinda weird though? That we go deal with Ula'tek first instead of using the Coreway to check on the Worldsoul. WotLK's Ulduar detour worked because Yogg was described as a world ending thread if he broke free, but they better build up the snake baddy before we go to that isle lol (which, I think as far as the beta goes, doesn't happen?).

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My expectations for Midnight are:
12.0 - Blood Elf patch (well obviously)
12.1 - Amani (Ula'tek) Troll patch
12.2 - "The Manifold" Underground Titan patch (what the original War Within last patch was actually supposed to be)

? Midnight will have four seasons again, we have the Glad mounts corresponding to each Season already (Voidspire recolour, Ulatek recolour, Flame Temple recolour, Xal recolour).

[Cheezits]

You know what's kinda weird though? That we go deal with Ula'tek first instead of using the Coreway to check on the Worldsoul. WotLK's Ulduar detour worked because Yogg was described as a world ending thread if he broke free, but they better build up the snake baddy before we go to that isle lol (which, I think as far as the beta goes, doesn't happen?).

I think the link between the ending of launch and Ula'tek is the idea that Xal going underground wakes up Ula'tek... who is also underground. Like whatever Xal does causes something to happen with Ula'tek, be it he's sleeping, imprisoned or both.

Plaguelands/Lordaeron stuff has a more solid link- the Vanguard got destroyed, so they need more Light. Maxwell Tyrosus is already teed up as an important character (purposefully not summoned by the Sunwell, something he notes and is confused about.)

The buildup of Ula'tek isn't there but they do note that Atal'Utek is where the Amani are originally from and Zul'jan has an interest in it. I think it will be the tier least tied to the overall story, but is an excuse for a troll storyline that not only deals with Amani but also Zandalari and Darkspear (Vol'jin finally). Lordaeron/Light stuff will lead directly to wherever Xal is once we get the necessary powerups.

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? Midnight will have four seasons again, we have the Glad mounts corresponding to each Season already (Voidspire recolour, Ulatek recolour, Flame Temple recolour, Xal recolour).

I wonder why four seasons, unless TLT is bigger than Midnight and requires more time. Or they decided these expansions need longer to cook.

Would be funny if the reason TWW didn't have four seasons is because they know people don't really care about Khaz Algar/Karesh and just want to get out of there ASAP.

[milkmustache]

You know what's kinda weird though? That we go deal with Ula'tek first instead of using the Coreway to check on the Worldsoul. WotLK's Ulduar detour worked because Yogg was described as a world ending thread if he broke free, but they better build up the snake baddy before we go to that isle lol (which, I think as far as the beta goes, doesn't happen?).

My fear is that they'll go the "we need the Amani people's help" route, and give little detail. I'm really interested where it goes, though.

Is the Coreway even accesible? I don't remember hearing much about it, but last we saw it's still in ruins.

[GeometryWizard]

The Jailer and First Ones posting is on topic because the haranir are the most SL ass thing they've done even more than some actual SL content right down to having a prophecy that predicts the entirety of WoW's timeline just like the Jailer predicted everything. Now of course the haranir didn't even exist until a few years ago so now you have this race that knows all this bad shit is going down but does nothing about it and it just makes them look incredibly stupid and worthless. Just more content that doesn't feel like it fits harmoniously into existing lore at all and instead feels like someone that doesn't like WoW writing their own OCs into the setting and trying to tell you how they're so much better than WoW

Also why are they referring to the orcs as tusked ones when they also have tusks? The writing itself is just bad and stretches so much for words that don't rhyme

[SaintBigfoot]

Ula’Tek is a Loa, Kith’ix is the old god servant that is buried there. The belief is she is constricting his form, and some people think she is demonic some how??

Also apparently the Kobyss are back, a people mentioned underwater assets being datamined??

[Cheezits]

The Jailer and First Ones posting is on topic because the haranir are the most SL ass thing they've done even more than some actual SL content right down to having a prophecy that predicts the entirety of WoW's timeline just like the Jailer predicted everything. Now of course the haranir didn't even exist until a few years ago so now you have this race that knows all this bad shit is going down but does nothing about it and it just makes them look incredibly stupid and worthless. Just more content that doesn't feel like it fits harmoniously into existing lore at all and instead feels like someone that doesn't like WoW writing their own OCs into the setting and trying to tell you how they're so much better than WoW

That is a crucial part of their story and a big reveal in questing. For all the "OC donut steel" aspects of them, it's an in-universe critique that they locked themselves away in Harandar and didn't help with anything on the surface, and its revealed the only reason they did so is because they went all that way for nothing (which caused a civil war massacre), so they couldn't stomach the journey back to the surface and forbid anyone from going there. sort of Fallout Vault esque

[SaintBigfoot]

The Jailer and First Ones posting is on topic because the haranir are the most SL ass thing they've done even more than some actual SL content right down to having a prophecy that predicts the entirety of WoW's timeline just like the Jailer predicted everything. Now of course the haranir didn't even exist until a few years ago so now you have this race that knows all this bad shit is going down but does nothing about it and it just makes them look incredibly stupid and worthless. Just more content that doesn't feel like it fits harmoniously into existing lore at all and instead feels like someone that doesn't like WoW writing their own OCs into the setting and trying to tell you how they're so much better than WoW

Also why are they referring to the orcs as tusked ones when they also have tusks? The writing itself is just bad and stretches so much for words that don't rhyme

The Tusked ones are Trolls, the people from a shattered world are Orcs. But yeah, what do you mean they are observing/prophecizing constant calamity but not *doing* anything for MILLENIA. They come off as feckless and lazy.