The War Within 11.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Ansi]

I don't think so but i could be wrong.

2019 blizzcon schedule looked like this

Right. Diablo is red and Hearthstone is gold—the rest of the color coding seems neutral. We need to look further back …

[Raetary]

[ImTheMizAwesome]

Right. Diablo is red and Hearthstone is gold—the rest of the color coding seems neutral. We need to look further back …

this is 2018 and wow stuff is in gold.

[Dracullus]

Hey if a new x pack gets announced this year at blizzcon - doesn’t that mean no xpack announcement next year?

Yep. In normal schedule Dragonflight would be announced on November 2021 - but without Blizzcon they could just wait for last big SL patch so they revealed it 6 months later.

Next year most likely will be detailed 11.1 info and 2025 patches timeline. Probably that new adventure game will be big thing. Also both Blizzcons shoulds have Diablo expac, since they want release them yearly.

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WoD launch, despite many cuts, was VERY hyped period in WoW's history. Paradoxically WoD was "back to the roots" expansion, that's why I expect something similar in 11.0 (not time travel stuff obviously).

[Mecheon]

Elementals are boring =/= Elemental zones would look the same

Just by being elemental, you're looking at zones that encompass Earth, fire, water, and/or wind. That's not a "samey" problem.

With that said, the notion appears to be that we're going underground and dealing with the elements and the elemental lords in a different way than going through different elemental planes like we did in Cataclysm. I do believe that that makes sense if the design goal is to complete the general storyline started in Cataclysm. Dragonflight backs this up somewhat given that the aspects are getting their powers back in this expansion, which was part of the Cataclysm storyline. The other major part of the Cataclysm storyline was the destruction of the world, the elements in chaos, and Worgens and Goblins getting pushed out their homes. We could see Worgens getting Gilneas back and Goblins going to a restored Kezan at the start of 11.0. If that's the case, the latter opens up Undermine as a potential launching point for an underground expansion where the end result is potentially the restoration of Azeroth.

WoD and Legion ended the storyline started in TBC. BFA and SL ended the storyline started in WotLk. Dragonflight and 11.0 could end the storyline started in Cataclysm. Dragonflight resolving the dragon side of Cataclysm. 11.0 resolving the elemental side of Cataclysm.

It makes sense. Especially given that Thrall is on the key art. Thrall was rather integral to Cataclysm's storyline. It make sense for him to be integral in its resolution.

But, that's kind of the problem. Because 'elemental expansion' is.... We already know what that is. Its 'fire, earth, water, air'. If there are elemental themed zones, that's what its going to be. Slap one of those elements in an area it is not otherwise in. We've seen it with the numerous volcanos Cata added around Kalimdor, we've seen it with the elemental parts of this expansion

Sure they could go more like Rifts and change some stuff up (I'm always a fan of Hanging Waters from Ecco Defender of the Future), but.... An elemental expansion is sort of that sort of just plain old same-y. There's only so much you can do with them. Dragonflight has an elemental theme to it but it had to mix in dragons because, frankly, the dragon theme is stronger and the elements just add some flavouring.

We've already dealt with the Elemental Lords in Cata and Legion, there isn't much of a storyline to continue there. They're all generally passive at this point and the various Issues they had are dealt with. What storyline is there left to deal with? Worgen and goblins don't have anything to do with an elemental expansion, they were forced out by techtonic behavior and dealing with that (Which, frankly, would only happen in the event of Kezan ending up a city, Gilneas is probably doomed because there's no reason to add an Alliance only city up near Lordaren). Frankly "Its a world revamp and the elements are causing issues AGAIN" is going to feel like such a retread of Cata that its going to be dunked on. Plus, well, Cata wasn't a popular expansion. Sure there's less popular, but its still generally regarded as the 'this is where things went bad'

[Teriz]

Just saw this and havent seen it posted. Updated blizzcon map.
Hall D: World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, and Warcraft Rumble® including: the WoW Corridor of Time, the Warcraft Tavern, Rumble: In the Machine, the WoW Guild Clash, the Hearthstone Artist’s Nook, Hearthstone Duel-a-Dev, and the Darkmoon Faire

seem like they are going deep into the theming.

The theming looks like a lot of fun. Wish I could attend in person.

[Sondrelk]

WoD launch, despite many cuts, was VERY hyped period in WoW's history. Paradoxically WoD was "back to the roots" expansion, that's why I expect something similar in 11.0 (not time travel stuff obviously).

20th Anniversary expansion hype isnt really because the expansion has to be good, but rather the belief that Blizzard wouldnt willingly go for a middling theme.
World Revamp is the gold contender in this regard. It's easy to build up hype around WoWs roots, and you can have so many unrelated storylines going that it's likely at least one will work.

Whether the expansion is good is another matter. BfA I still stand by had the most effective opening pitch since Wrath.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

I dunno why but i feel like with broken being teased in ma'nari questline, we might get early access to 2 allied races with next expansion preorder.

They would be available in 10.2.7 or if 10.3 happens then somewhere around that or after.

[micwini]

So it looks like the big three are returning, at least:

• Opening Ceremony (I'll miss Mike Morhaime, but at least Metzen is back)
• Panel Discussions (I'd prefer if they weren't discussions and instead just presentations, but at least they're panels)
• Closing Ceremony (should feature cosplay, music and stuff like always based on what we've seen)

I'm not sure but it seems like there's only one stage this year? In the BlizzCon Arena? Could be cool, but hopefully that doesn't worsen the streaming experience. I kinda enjoyed having different things to choose between, taking place at the same time on different stages. If there's only one stage where it's one event after another, I'm sure they feel like they can reduce the amount of content too.

Nothing about musical act or hosts for the stream or community event yet, AFAIK. I always liked Darin De Paul, hopefully he'll get to do something again. Jay More was pretty funny as well, but obviously awkward as hell at times too.

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Regarding announcements this year, I suppose realistically we can expect:

• WoW expansion and Classic Cataclysm
• Hearthstone expansion and new "year"
• Some small type of announcement regarding Rumble, perhaps that they'll do regular content drops or whatever, to expand the map... I would love it if they released a bunch of mini figurines you could buy
• Overwatch 2 should probably have some type of announcement regarding its future, maybe some major DLCs, maps or heroes coming in 2024. If they're smart, they'll announce a ton of fan service because the community isn't very happy right now
• Diablo IV could potentially announce its first expansion (I think they said they'd be annual?) with a release window in the summer of 2024. Hopefully a new class, such as the Crusader.

Then there are the big "maybes", that could spice up the event a bunch:

• Major news with Xbox, like new console ports or Game Pass integrations
• New animated show or movie
• News on the new IP, the survival game
• Classic+ for WoW, and/or a World Revamp
• HotS or Starcraft being brought back in the future
• Something unexpected for Hearthstone, like HS2 or something to that degree
• Overwatch 1 brought back as a classic title
• Completely new game in existing franchises, such as an RPG set in Azeroth, the Koprulu Sector, or Sanctuary

Yeah the 'discussion' thing for DF was cringe. Hopefully blizzcon they will go back to a more presentation style. The situation also lends itself better for a presentation. Hopefully 'discussion' just refers to the fact that they always have room for a few questions at the end of a panel.

[Ansi]

Potentially some massive clues within this "collection".

[PaladinBash]

I dunno why but i feel like with broken being teased in ma'nari questline, we might get early access to 2 allied races with next expansion preorder.

They would be available in 10.2.7 or if 10.3 happens then somewhere around that or after.

Yeah I also thought it was an obvious signal they're going to be an AR or customisation option soon. Pre-order bonus seems like a good call on that. I'm sure the Horde will have something else similar in the works as well.

[Ansi]

this is 2018 and wow stuff is in gold.

You're absolutely right. So we get zero clues from the colors.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

Yeah I also thought it was an obvious signal they're going to be an AR or customisation option soon. Pre-order bonus seems like a good call on that. I'm sure the Horde will have something else similar in the works as well.

Yeah, Velen made an offer there and it really sounded like "join us on azeroth" kind of thing.

On horde side i would like mok'nathal, now that they are finally on azeroth and being seen as equals - both races have models that could be easily be turned to playable characters, since they reuse all the animations of draenei and kul'tiran - which is mostly how allied races system operated, besides kul'tirans new rig.

But it's just wishful thinking and i think it would cool to have to lvl 2 new races in the draught season.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

They have done a lot of "discussion style" panels in the past. For example the voice actor's thing. I loved those. But when it comes to actual game news, just break it down to me with a good old PDF and some video clips. No need for faux excitement amongst colleagues.

I hate these fake devs roundtables talking like they don't know each other or are first time hearing about something that they've been actually working for a long time..

[Ansi]

Sneaky Blizzard ... Big clue right here?



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What makes you say so?

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The BlizzCon collections often had stuff thematically related to the next expansion

[Raetary]

Sneaky Blizzard ... Big clue right here?

It's not any more a clue than the pyjamas or bear.

Especially as its literally just a DF mob, but with a sadle on it.

[Ansi]

Oh, I agree. I just wondered if there was something about the text you linked that gave something away, because I couldn't see it.

Specifically "set of in-game goodies".

[ImTheMizAwesome]

When they show murlock pet based on one of the big lore figures then it will be some sort of clue for at least major character that will be a lead in next expansion.

[Dracullus]

Whether the expansion is good is another matter. BfA I still stand by had the most effective opening pitch since Wrath.

Every single expansion beside MoP (DF is unknown) had more effective opening pitch than Wrath. We literally know initial sale numbers. But yeah, BfA managed to sell better than Legion and WoD despite middle of summer release and no work from home situations.

I hate these fake devs roundtables talking like they don't know each other or are first time hearing about something that they've been actually working for a long time..

Diablo panels, although far more chaotic, at least feel like human conversation between people that are working together.

[Samin]

Sneaky Blizzard ... Big clue right here?



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Yes, this 100% proves that they're announcing new stuff from the company with the ice themed name at Blizzcon.

The BlizzCon collections often had stuff thematically related to the next expansion

Has actually happened more than that once in 2017?