Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Cheezits]

Why is it part of the CE then? Makes no sense. Everyone who gets the CE edition is going to be spoiled if they didn't follow datamining and stuff.

It's just Blizz being stupid. Plus there may be an overt confirmation of Atalutek in the campaign finale that could come out around the time the CE ships normally.

If they asked the early CE people "please don't show this" they are definitely spoiler obsessed.

[Super Dickmann]

Them (early CE people) being weird about Atal'utek makes me think there's a mandate about the patch and they are trying to have it be a big reveal. I wouldn't take the road map at face value as they didn't spoil a single big thing besides the labyrinth maybe being Amani and there being a one boss story raid. Definitely possible there's more going on with Helf and Amani.

Given how they've been burnt with preview materials that end up wildly different or dropping off (Thaldraszus, the Gorian continent, Farahlon, the N'zoth zone in BFA, now Harandar), I'd want to keep a lid and not overcommit before there's a final version either.

[Ersula]

No, Harranir were planned for TWW before they did the WSS. They literally had all the customization options with the earliest TWW builds lol.

They didn't have "all" the customization options they have now in 11.0... they only had about one-third the customization options they have in 12.0 - Even then, my observation takes precedence: A lot of non-playable races are dressing-room compatible like that, and even then if they decided to make Ethereals playable it would still take a good while, which was my point. Plus, Ethereals also have a bunch of modular customization that didn't get used in 11.2

[KyleEverett]

They didn't have "all" the customization options they have now in 11.0... they only had about one-third the customization options they have in 12.0 - Even then, my observation takes precedence: A lot of non-playable races are dressing-room compatible like that, and even then if they decided to make Ethereals playable it would still take a good while, which was my point. Plus, Ethereals also have a bunch of modular customization that didn't get used in 11.2

The key is Ethereals weren't armor ready while Haranir have been from the start. The Amani aren't armor ready either.

[Cheezits]

The key is Ethereals weren't armor ready while Haranir have been from the start. The Amani aren't armor ready either.

I'm not sure how the armor rigging process works but I would assume it's infinitely easier with races that reuse animations. If I rember right the current snag with Amani is the arms because some of the models have spikes grafted on them.

- - - Updated - - -

Given how they've been burnt with preview materials that end up wildly different or dropping off (Thaldraszus, the Gorian continent, Farahlon, the N'zoth zone in BFA, now Harandar), I'd want to keep a lid and not overcommit before there's a final version either.

I heard someone say the island is called "Ula'tel" (much better name) on the map so that also may be a reason for the hush. Either that's the real name or a beta name and they fucked up yet again.

[Nymrohd]

I'm not sure how the armor rigging process works but I would assume it's infinitely easier with races that reuse animations. If I rember right the current snag with Amani is the arms because some of the models have spikes grafted on them.

It seems that all older armor apparently has to be rigged properly for each new model which sounds crazy to me but early Warcraft was such a coding mess and no amount of duct tape can fix a rotten foundation. I think the main issue is, if they intent for a race to eventually be given to players, they will rig it properly from the beginning. Nightborne are the only exception and we see that a) instead of fixing armor on the race they created, they created an entirely new model closer to the existing ones to make their work easier and b) they were probably well in development before the concept of Allied Races happened.

[Cheezits]

I think the main issue is, if they intent for a race to eventually be given to players, they will rig it properly from the beginning.

Which would mean races have to be ready at launch which also means their unlock story would have to be exceedingly short and rushed (Earthen, Midnight Haranir) or delayed into another expansion where they don't really fit (TWW Haranir).

I don't think it's a full deconfirm, particularly not for races that don't need new animations (Helf/Amani) but it shows this DF-on content cadence is a nightmare for developing anything related to player models. They haven't even been able to do anything new for Warband models, and Midnight launch doesn't even have any new Warband screens...

If we don't get anything for Helf or Amani I'm really going to stop expecting much for player models outside new expansion launches. The art team will always be too busy making the bare minimum for new major patches (four new armor sets, two new sets of weapon, all the tier sets) + box features for the next expansion(s).

[Khaza-R]

Which would mean races have to be ready at launch which also means their unlock story would have to be exceedingly short and rushed (Earthen, Midnight Haranir) or delayed into another expansion where they don't really fit (TWW Haranir).

I don't think it's a full deconfirm, particularly not for races that don't need new animations (Helf/Amani) but it shows this DF-on content cadence is a nightmare for developing anything related to player models. They haven't even been able to do anything new for Warband models, and Midnight launch doesn't even have any new Warband screens...

If we don't get anything for Helf or Amani I'm really going to stop expecting much for player models outside new expansion launches. The art team will always be too busy making the bare minimum for new major patches (four new armor sets, two new sets of weapon, all the tier sets) + box features for the next expansion(s).

Tbf to your take. Obviously Haranir were planned to be launched originally during TWW alongside Earthen. So it is possible they want to release more than 1 AR an expansion

[Cheezits]

Just saw a picture of the map. Three things stick out-

-Atal'Utek is straight up called "Ula'Tek". Unsure why this is, but maybe there's something weird going on and that's why the 11.1 items were called that, versus the raid actually being the snake itself. Then again there are venom rivers and a snake temple.

-Harandar is shown, Voidstorm isn't.

-The Ghostlands/Voidholme area are colored in RED. Suspicious imo considering Stratholme.

[KyleEverett]

Just saw a picture of the map. Three things stick out-

-Atal'Utek is straight up called "Ula'Tek". Unsure why this is, but maybe there's something weird going on and that's why the 11.1 items were called that, versus the raid actually being the snake itself. Then again there are venom rivers and a snake temple.

-Harandar is shown, Voidstorm isn't.

-The Ghostlands/Voidholme area are colored in RED. Suspicious imo considering Stratholme.

Voidstorm is on the opposite page.

[Cheezits]

Voidstorm is on the opposite page.

I was curious about why it's left off the map with the other zones.

[KyleEverett]

Probably cause it's not on Azeroth like the rest.

[Cheezits]

Probably cause it's not on Azeroth like the rest.

True. I just think it's interesting considering the discourse that Karesh and Voidstorm could be two halves of a single zone idea that was split to fill an emergency gap after the Worldcore was postponed from TWW to Midnight and/or TLT.

[Super Dickmann]

True. I just think it's interesting considering the discourse that Karesh and Voidstorm could be two halves of a single zone idea that was split to fill an emergency gap after the Worldcore was postponed from TWW to Midnight and/or TLT.

I maintain my thesis that the Voidstorm organic assets and Ersatz Zerg were originally meant for the original Rootlands before the Black Blood was removed as a plot point, hence why they're out of place.

[Ersula]

Tbf to your take. Obviously Haranir were planned to be launched originally during TWW alongside Earthen. So it is possible they want to release more than 1 AR an expansion

That was never the plan. The Danuser plan was that Haranir would be playable in 11.2 and Harandar & the Coreway would be season 3 of TWW.

The key is Ethereals weren't armor ready while Haranir have been from the start. The Amani aren't armor ready either.

That's still not the point of my original comment. The point was Blizzard has shown us they didn't "miss" the window for Ethereals in 11.2 - So if they do want them to be playable, its not going to happen for a while.

[Cheezits]

I maintain my thesis that the Voidstorm organic assets and Ersatz Zerg were originally meant for the original Rootlands before the Black Blood was removed as a plot point, hence why they're out of place.

If that's the case they accidentally made Warcraft Space/Void more interesting than purple sloppa so I'm all for it. It would certainly explain the red coloration which aligns with Black Blood.

For all my annoyance with Karesh I actually like Voidstorm and it subverts the "we need Void Argus as the finale" concept. Uber Voidwalkers being crazy fight-obsessed gladiators that eat each other makes more sense than it does for skeleton robots.

[Super Dickmann]

If that's the case they accidentally made Warcraft Space/Void more interesting than purple sloppa so I'm all for it. It would certainly explain the red coloration which aligns with Black Blood.

For all my annoyance with Karesh I actually like Voidstorm and it subverts the "we need Void Argus as the finale" concept. Uber Voidwalkers being crazy fight-obsessed gladiators that eat each other makes more sense than it does for skeleton robots.

My main grievance with the Domanaar has zero to do with their concept, which is cool and in line with the lore they've done for ages and everything to do with their visual design. I fucking hate the lantern-jawed handsome squidward faces and because of the aforementioned rejigging of assets meant for elsewhere they also clash with the organic element in the rest of the world. I wish they went with something closer to Izsha or Abathur if they were going to borrow so much from SC anyway.

[Nymrohd]

I maintain my thesis that the Voidstorm organic assets and Ersatz Zerg were originally meant for the original Rootlands before the Black Blood was removed as a plot point, hence why they're out of place.

They very much match the Excavation Site 9 assets. That said, the new mob models in K'aresh match the Voidstorm/Black Blood set instead of K'aresh

[huth]

It seems that all older armor apparently has to be rigged properly for each new model which sounds crazy to me but early Warcraft was such a coding mess and no amount of duct tape can fix a rotten foundation. I think the main issue is, if they intent for a race to eventually be given to players, they will rig it properly from the beginning. Nightborne are the only exception and we see that a) instead of fixing armor on the race they created, they created an entirely new model closer to the existing ones to make their work easier and b) they were probably well in development before the concept of Allied Races happened.

Old armour is just a texture outside of the helmet and shoulders. There's nothing to rig there in the first place. Maybe the early 3d pieces.

[Lady Atia]

Just saw a picture of the map. Three things stick out-

-Atal'Utek is straight up called "Ula'Tek". Unsure why this is, but maybe there's something weird going on and that's why the 11.1 items were called that, versus the raid actually being the snake itself. Then again there are venom rivers and a snake temple.

-Harandar is shown, Voidstorm isn't.

-The Ghostlands/Voidholme area are colored in RED. Suspicious imo considering Stratholme.

Can you give a link pls?^^