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

[Fahrad Wagner]

It could be, but Stormsong is very Central Europe-like. Reminds me of the Netherlands a bit.

For me Stormsong is much closer to the Netherlands indeed, it's too coastal and doesn't give that cottagecore/Cotswolds vibe I'm describing. I love Stormsong though, looks fantastic, it's just not quite the vibe I had in mind (nor the colour palette)

[Hitei]

Well, the "Algarian Stormrider" info has certainly had a response, hasn't it?

Leaks are the best when they suggest a lot of potentials but confirm very little.

[Catastrophy349]

Personally, anyone losing their mind over the name "Algarian Stormrider," with less than 5 weeks to go until Blizzcon, may want to consider playing other games/seek help.

[Sondrelk]

Well, the "Algarian Stormrider" info has certainly had a response, hasn't it?

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To me, personally, context/philosophy beats everything else. For example, if a name/image "leaked" early (and it wasn't appealing or interesting to me), that wouldn't outright "disqualify" the entire expansion (to me). For all I know, once there is more context and a philosophical explanation for said "name/image," my mind could be completely changed (potentially in the direction of "YES" versus "this sucks").

Algarian Stormrider is unique in that it both offers very little in terms of actual substance, but simultaneously has massive implications for the possibility of a world revamp.

We both have no idea what it is, where it is, or what the theme could be. And simultaneously know a whole lot just from what it likely isn't.

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please stop.

these areas are the worst in the game, it's impossible to stay there without wanting to vomit
a zone must be welcoming, because in the long term it's unsustainable

Drustvar was just a single zone. BfA had more than enough variety you didn't feel trapped in it like you did with Shadowlands and the dark zones.

[Kiria]

That's super silly. Why would you need to decide whether you want to play it or not before it's even announced? Especially when there's usually 6-12 months after it's announced before it actually releases, and you have the entire beta cycle to see what is in it? Announcement spoilers don't help there at all.

Call it the impatience in me, tbh I've already lost alot of my friends in the game and there's barely any reason to keep on playing anymore, next expansion has to be abanger or I move on, it's as simple as that, call it silly if you wish I would just like to know wtf is going on.

[Myrrh]

I like this discussion. So, what types of "biomes" would everyone like to see in 11.0 (can be related to a theme/fanfiction "hope").

Winterspring and Dun Morogh are two of my all time favourite zones, I'd kill to see them nail a snow biome as the recent ones haven't done it for me. Recreate those Kharanos Inn vibes please <3

A proper forest would be nice, in the vein of Ashenvale but maybe without the elven tints. A very red autumnal forest zone would send me over the moon.

I'd really like them to properly try another fully fleshed out 'city' environment because Suramar city was a 10/10 experience for me. Preferably with more roof hookshotting.

[Raetary]

please stop.

these areas are the worst in the game, it's impossible to stay there without wanting to vomit
a zone must be welcoming, because in the long term it's unsustainable

Speak for yourself, Drustvars witchy forest is one of my favorite locations in the game.

A continent should definitely contain variety, have welcoming zones alongside unsettling zones and so on.
But to insinuate that all zones must be bright and welcoming is definitely false.

[Catastrophy349]

Only thing I care about for 11.0 is seeing either Azshara, Xal'atath, or Iridikron (preferably a variation of all of them). Love these characters!

[FossilFree]

I like this discussion. So, what types of "biomes" would everyone like to see in 11.0 (can be related to a theme/fanfiction "hope").

Something like the Deep Roads in Dragon Age: Origins would be pretty cool for a dwarf expansion. Underground highways with giant columns that link all the dwarf settlements, heated and lit by lava moving through channels along the sides of the road. Some sections are in disrepair and full of nightmarish creatures.

[Sondrelk]

Personally, anyone losing their mind over the name "Algarian Stormrider," with less than 5 weeks to go until Blizzcon, may want to consider playing other games/seek help.

Honestly this should have been expected.
We have on one side a massively anticipated world revamp. And on the other all the disparate themes of varying likelihood.

All the people that don't want a world revamp don't have a single unifying likely theme like we used to. And all the ones that do want a world revamp would likely feel betrayed by how likely it seemed compared to the fifty other themes that have a minimal amount of foreshadowing.

The Dragon Isles was the last major location that everyone could agree was a strong location for an expansion. At least discounting the backside of Azeroth and it's hypothetical status.
All the other ideas are either very niche (underground), rely on expanding a single presumed small location (plunder isle, Tel'abim), or relied on taking as many small ideas as possible and cramming them into a single expansion (post BfA South Seas).

[Santandame]

please stop.

these areas are the worst in the game, it's impossible to stay there without wanting to vomit
a zone must be welcoming, because in the long term it's unsustainable

Yeah this is a wild take in regards to Drustvar. It was the best zone of an expansion that had phenomenal zones from top to bottom.

[Ebonn]

i don't agree
there may be parts that are (like the swamps in ohnaran plains), but whole areas are absolute failures

“Absolute failure” is a strong way to describe areas that are loved by many and in many cases favorite zones lol

[Raetary]

did you stay there longer than in other areas?

Yeah, even now i go back sometimes and just fly around the place for a bit when i got nothing to do.

The visual aesthetic and atmosphere of that zone is absolutely fantastic.
Especially the ambient sounds, which fit so damn well and add some much flavor.

[Yus atath]

Idc what 11.0 will be about as long as there’s void stuff

[Xilurm]

WC3 Re-Reforged is definitely a free PR win that Microsoft will take for further Game Pass good boy points.

Wouldn't be surprised if there is already a plan to do so and right a wrong internally.

That would be amazing, but I kinda doubt it.

[Sondrelk]

Only thing I care about for 11.0 is seeing either Azshara, Xal'atath, or Iridikron (preferably a variation of all of them). Love these characters!

Azshara would-be nice, though mostly because I want underwater stuff. I just love that aesthetic.
Probably not going to happen though. Everyone seemed to hate Vashj'ir, and I doubt every single Naga zone ever will make sense pulling the Nazjatar trick of removing the water.

Naga are one of those antagonistic factions that I struggle to see in a grander setting. Which is a shame, seeing as Azshara is so tied to the Void theme.

[CasualFilth]

please stop.

these areas are the worst in the game, it's impossible to stay there without wanting to vomit
a zone must be welcoming, because in the long term it's unsustainable

I get where you're coming from - was not a fan of say the 'Maw' (on a meta thinking level you're not supposed to like it but this is a video game after all). I brought Drustvar up as a recent example.

I'm just a fun of the old school 'dark' vibes that vanilla had (think SM, BRD, even early levels like DM had 'it'). I think a 'dark but cozy' zone would be great. Most of DF has been so bright and joyful, I've started to log out in Zaralekk :P (but do love the cozy Tuskarr vibes that Azure Span has though).

Overall, I wish for a more 'grounded' continent/zone (think Kul Tiras/Northrend) the feels lived in. The high-fantasy stuff are starting to become too stale. To each their own I guess, they can't satisfy everyone.

[Raetary]

oh yeah, that area which gave you a headache because it was so dark and oppressive...

I'm sorry, but this is purely a you problem.

[Nymrohd]

I think a patch zone should be welcoming since you often have to stay there for a longer time, especially the final zone added in an expansion. But the zones at release should have variety.
Imo TI is still the best final patch zone exactly because of how it looked and how it sounded (and for many other reasons)

[Yus atath]

Also the N’zoth DF whispers could also be referring to 11.0 stuff.

“You will follow him to the deep places. The dark waters will flow in his wake.”

“Deeper, deeper its roots will reach. “

“Her dreams sing beneath the surface. Our dreams. Our song.“

With hints of 11.0 being an “underground” xpac. These whispers are even more interesting now..