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

[Teriz]

Let us examine what we know.

Dwarves (Transmog - Khaz Algor)
Elementals (Pets - Thrall face of cover art)
Robots/Gnomes ( S.A.F.E & Robots)

S.A.F.E. Operatives are gnome members of the Survivor Assistance Facilitation Expedition found throughout the Old Dormitory in Dun Morogh where they are fighting off the Crazed Leper Gnomes and tending to the irradiated survivors)

If I was to guess.

Zones
Undermine
Gnomeregan
Khaz’Algar
Random Underground Zone
Heart of Azeroth

Class: Tinker

Don't forget Lil' Maggz which could be a pet version of Magni. Also there's a Survey Bot which adds to the curious tech thematic floating around in the back burner.

I'm not sure about a new class, but we'll see.

/snip

I'd love for you to explain how me speculating that the Algarian Stormrider being an elemental instead of a gryphon in any way derails a conversation that revolves around speculation regarding 11.0.

[Marlamin]

Oh wow, I had no idea. Where did you find this information?

The game files, as far as I know that's "new" information, but not really spoilery so felt okay enough to post it.

Actually, now I see the details in the texture.

That information is not tied to that texture but just from the game's database files.

[Ersula]

Possible, yeah. I'm still not entirely convinced based on the relatively low resolution of the texture (512x256) compared to the other dragonriding mounts (which are all character models just like the 11.0 pre-order mount) which all use 1024x1024 textures or higher. This could also be for the other encrypted mount that has dynamic flying/dragonriding support, which could very well be a gryphon but without character customization options.

The plot thickens. Could that be the texture for a WoW Classic version of the mount? And it was included/unencrypted in retail as an oversight? This might be a galaxy-brain theory but what if they do the ol' low-res/high-res mount not just for Cataclysm classic adventure bundle, but for a Cata-classic-plus-new-retail-expansion-bundle? A low resolution version of the heroic-edition-pre-order mount.

[Sondrelk]

Another discussion adjacent to the Algarian Stormrider discovery:

Do we think 11.0 will continue a customizable mount similar to the 5 dragons and the Rostrum in Dragonflight, or will we return to individual mounts but with dragonriding abilities?

EDIT: Let me clarify: as the main mounts gained throughout the achievement. I.E., will we gain access to customizable mounts as story points like Dragonflight, or will we just be given individual mounts with dragonriding features?

I could see us being given a single customizable mount.
The various customizable dragonriding mounts in DF were clearly to smooth over the fact that you didn't actually get many useable mounts from what was then probably designed to just be a one-off expansion specific system.
Without it everyone would be using the same mount essentially.

Now that dragonriding will be the norm the focus is likely to be on making all flying mounts able to use that system so we can have the massive variety of mounts, rather than fifty different shades of Dragon.

[Joszef Kiprich]

It just won't stop...

[Marlamin]

The plot thickens. Could that be the texture for a WoW Classic version of the mount? And it was included/unencrypted in retail as an oversight? This might be a galaxy-brain theory but what if they do the ol' low-res/high-res mount not just for Cataclysm classic adventure bundle, but for a Cata-classic-plus-new-retail-expansion-bundle? A low resolution version of the heroic-edition-pre-order mount.

It likely wouldn't show up in mainline WoW if it were for classic, classic -> retail messups don't really happen, but I don't have anything to disprove that theory either.

[Sondrelk]

Don't forget Lil' Maggz which could be a pet version of Magni. Also there's a Survey Bot which adds to the curious tech thematic floating around in the back burner.

I'm not sure about a new class, but we'll see.



I'd love for you to explain how me speculating that the Algarian Stormrider being an elemental instead of a gryphon in any way derails a conversation that revolves around speculation regarding 11.0.

Or conversely, it could be a pet you get from cross-promotion with a different Blizzard game.

[Makabreska]

It just won't stop...

Nope. Twice he said he is peacing out, but he just cannot stop himself from arguing. Is it some kind of a condition?

[Grimbold21]

At this point I'm shocked there are still people here who haven't blocked Teriz.

Certain posters aren't blocked due to a mixture of ego and entertainment. Most people that engage in this get a kick from pages long back and forth, it's their short-lived dopamine hit, much in the same way that it's a kick to try and ridicule someone over what they're saying on the internet.

Ultimately, a futile exercise.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

In BFA the mount was giving access to transmog set through quest, right?

So maybe mount will be giving access to full transmog through some storm themed racing quests.

The stormrider maces i think will be a monthly reward for trading post, like blades of elune(2x swords) were in one package.

[Cheezits]

Are there any files pointing to new races that are encrypted? Because I'm wondering where these Storm Rider races would be located.

Are there already Storm Peaks races?

Also, if the gryphon doesn't have options, what's up with the multiple beaks?

[milkmustache]

Are there any files pointing to new races that are encrypted? Because I'm wondering where these Storm Rider races would be located.

Are there already Storm Peaks races?

Also, if the gryphon doesn't have options, what's up with the multiple beaks?

Someone earlier said they believed Khaz Algar had to be on EK somewhere due to the name "Khaz", referring to "Khaz Modan", or the "Mountains of Khaz'goroth". If we float the idea that they're related to or the same thing as the Skardyn that were mentioned, maybe there's a chance it's somewhere in the Twilight Highlands.

[Marlamin]

Are there any files pointing to new races that are encrypted? Because I'm wondering where these Storm Rider races would be located.

Are there already Storm Peaks races?

Dragonriding races don't have a whole lot going on client-side outside of some quests and scripts, both databases having several encrypted entries that could very well be entirely different quests/scripts. There is an encrypted title tied to the pre-order rewards though, so there could be a "Storm Racer" or some other title you get by doing the pre-order quests, hard to tell. Anyone know if Shadowlands/Dragonflight pre-orders had titles tied to them?

Also, if the gryphon doesn't have options, what's up with the multiple beaks?

Great question, no clue. Either it has options, or the 'beaks' aren't all beaks and also re-used for texturing e.g. the claws or even just unused/variations parts of the texture. Note that there is 1 actual beak attached to a face and then 5 partial beaks.

[Wyer]

Let's all just take a step back and consider the fact that we're a bunch of nerds quarrelling about the theme of a World of Warcraft expansion.

I love it!

This wins the internet today.

[Santandame]

Uh “Squally” relates to the word “Squall” which is a gust of wind or a localized storm.

Lil Maggz is almost certainly Magni, given that we’re dealing with Dwarven themes with the encrypted mount.

We also have multiple references to stormriding which is elemental in nature.

Then we have Survey Bot and SAFE which is Gnome stuff that originated in Cataclysm.

Fyrn is really the only wild card there.

Wait hold on Teriz. I’m sure for multiple pages you were arguing that the Algarian Stormrider WASN’T Dwarven themed. So which is it?

[Lady Atia]

Maybe some new PTR stuff will have something.

I want to know how to get my hands on lo'gosh and sylvanas armor sets.

I'm quite sure they will be monthly trading post rewards, or from the store.

[Catastrophy349]

There are NO Dwarves in 11.0

- - - Updated - - -

5 minutes until Trading Post!

[Teriz]

Or conversely, it could be a pet you get from cross-promotion with a different Blizzard game.

Possibly, but there's also S.A.F.E. on the list which could be a reference to the Gnomeregan team who helped people against leper Gnomes during Cataclysm.

Ignoring the clear racing achievements and the Morloc based on Ysera, we have the following;

S.A.F.E 15344 >>>> Gnome
Survey Bot 15558. >>>> Robot
Lil' Maggz 19029 >>>> Possibly Magni, but could be someone/something else, Maybe even a magma creature
Squally 19030 >>>> Elemental
Fyrn 19031 >>>> Possibly Elemental
Heroic Edition: Algarian Stormrider >>> Elemental

Quite a bit of elemental stuff and possibly a few underground stuff as well.

I'm leaning in this direction because I don't believe that Blizzard would make a dwarf expansion. Especially with Thrall on that key art. Your mileage may vary.

- - - Updated - - -

Wait hold on Teriz. I’m sure for multiple pages you were arguing that the Algarian Stormrider WASN’T Dwarven themed. So which is it?

Khaz Algar is dwarven culturally, and "Stormrider" is clearly a part of Dwarven culture. My theory is that the Algarian Stormrider is an elemental based on the Stormrider elementals from Storm Peaks from which the Dwarven Storm Riders got their namesake.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

I'm quite sure they will be monthly trading post rewards, or from the store.

I hope it won't take a year for them to appear because there's need for some new barbarian wear like lo'gosh set.

I thought they would be a part of blizzcon goodies at first but now it's very doubtful, they also don't fit so far datamined stuff about next expansion preorder edition.

[Raetary]

Someone earlier said they believed Khaz Algar had to be on EK somewhere due to the name "Khaz", referring to "Khaz Modan", or the "Mountains of Khaz'goroth". If we float the idea that they're related to or the same thing as the Skardyn that were mentioned, maybe there's a chance it's somewhere in the Twilight Highlands.

That isn't in line with what the report said.

Algarians were perculiar to the watcher because despite being seperated from our dwarves by vast distances and time, they ended up developing almost the same culture and language.
To the point of both naming their lands in honor of Khaz'goroth.

Twillight Highlands is part of Khaz Modan, if Khaz Algar was there or anywhere on the EK, it defeats the point of why watcher Melenia found them so notable.
Or why nobody found them yet.