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

[Xilurm]

So, a friend of mine at Blizzard shared a feature that I’m super excited about, and I figure it’s close enough to Blizzcon to share, especially since this thread is over 1000 pages long! LoL

-snip-

Currently my main is a Nelf priest so this is something I've really wanted for a while, so if you're lying I shall pray to the gods to smite you down for this sacrilege.

[Jodmos]

So Thrall on the key art of BlizzCon isn’t evidence that the next expansion may have an elemental theme?

2007 Keyart (Draenei, Blood Elf and Murloc) - Not related to expansion- WOTLK announced
2008 - Thrall - must be an elemental expansion - oh,wait, it was WOTLK
2009 - Sindragosa - WOTLK related and not related to announced Cataclysm
2010 - Deathwing - related to current expansion
2011 - Thrall again
2013 - Garrosh - WoD announced technically related as he started it off
2014 - Chen - not related to anything
2015 - illidan - but we knew about Legion by this point anyway
2016 - Sylvanas- Still on Legion at this point
2017 - Jaina - related to BFA announced
2018 - Suarfang
2019 - Sylvanas - related - Shadowland announced
Blizzconline- Bolvar - related to current expansion
2023 - thrall (again)

Sometime they're related, sometimes they're not. Thrall has been in 2 previous and neither were Elemental expansions announced or the current one at the time.

[Teriz]

Because they can put him literally anywhere that involves the horde and/or a threat to Azeroth.

But that wasn’t your original statement; You said that Thrall doesn’t instantly mean elements. The simple fact of the matter is that the elements are a rather huge part of his character.

Kinda like the void, which clearly has plans for him since he featured center stage in N’zoth’s vision.

If that was the thematic they were going for, they would have chosen Alleria, not Thrall.

[Myrrh]

So Thrall on the key art of BlizzCon isn’t evidence that the next expansion may have an elemental theme?

Evidence is a strong word, Thrall could mean a lot of things. I'd call it fuel for speculation. Thrall is absolutely the emblematic shaman, but he's a lot of things, including a very well known face of WoW.

Could mean we're in for WoD 2.0: now with extra orcs. Maybe the council idea dies a quick death and he takes on the warchief mantle again, or we're in for a Horde-focused xpac. Maybe the marketing team was like, 'hellz yeah, Thrall! #PutAnOrcOnIt'. Maybe Thrall's son is the Khadgar of 11.0 (pls no) and, yes, it could well point to an Earthen Ring involvement. We can come up with any number of theories, but we're working with very incomplete information that really can't constitute evidence.

Maybe all this thread needs is a slight tonal shift. "I think x/y will happen because ..." rather than "X/y is happening because ..." would probably rustle a lot fewer jimmies. Anything about the next expansion is entirely conjecture right up until the announcement, no ifs or buts.

He is WoW’s premiere shaman character. The very character the Shaman class is based on. How is he not related to the elements?

I think we all see where you're coming from here, but to use a like example to yours - was BFA mage-themed because Blizzcon showcased Jaina?

Basically, shamanism is one aspect of Thrall's character. It absolutely could be an elemental link, but there's a difference between could to definitely is because there are other possibilities, is all we're trying to say.

[DelusionalBear]

He is WoW’s premiere shaman character. The very character the Shaman class is based on. How is he not related to the elements?

while he is certainly related to the elements, are they the only things he is related to? I mean he is also a former leader. A family man as well. Maybe next expansion will be about building cozy home together with some friends?

[Teriz]

Keep in mind it was added back in 9.2.

The ice mount? Yes. However that advertisement showing an elemental as a preview for things to come was added this year for BlizzCon.

[Nightshade711]

But that wasn’t your original statement; You said that Thrall doesn’t instantly mean elements. The simple fact of the matter is that the elements are a rather huge part of his character.

Yes, because he doesn’t instantly mean elements.
BfA had nothing to do with elements when he was there, neither did SL.

If that was the thematic they were going for, they would have chosen Alleria, not Thrall.

Maybe they’re featuring thrall because Metzen is coming back on top of the void stuff.

And they’ve rarely ever used someone on the key art that was 1-1 the expansion theme.

[Marlamin]

The ice mount? Yes. However that advertisement showing an elemental as a preview for things to come was added this year for BlizzCon.

I'm talking about the encrypted snow elemental being used for that preview, unless there happen to be two encrypted elementals based on the snow elemental model (there aren't).

[Nightshade711]

The ice mount? Yes. However that advertisement showing an elemental as a preview for things to come was added this year for BlizzCon.

The ice mount in the preview is the mount he's talking about, that’s been in the files since 9.2.

Because like everyone said, it’s likely Blizzard themed for Blizzcon. Not an elemental for a elemental expansion that isn’t happening.

[MCMLXXXII]

Thrall is on the Blizzcon poster, that's evidence that Durnholde keep is the Horde's new capital in the EK.

[Nightshade711]

Thrall is on the Blizzcon poster, that's evidence that Durnholde keep is the Horde's new capital in the EK.

Don’t forget since he’s on the poster it’s a horde/orc themed expansion too.
WoD 2 electric boogaloo.

[Marlamin]

Honestly, I'm willing to believe Thrall being relevant again next expansion is in the cards regardless of him being on the key art or not. Metzen came back early on enough in the expansion's development (Dec 2022) that they could still work him in relatively seemlessly regardless of what the plan was and now with him back in his current capacity he could very well also do a lot of the VO (which might come in handy with a voice actor strike looming, assuming he is not a SAG member ).

[MCMLXXXII]

Don’t forget since he’s on the poster it’s a horde/orc themed expansion too.
WoD 2 electric boogaloo.

That must be it; that's what's up with all those bronze dragon shenanigans in Dragonflight, we're going back to Draenor and do it right this time. Up until the garrison ofcourse, then we get stuck at instance can't be loaded.

[Cheezits]

That must be it; that's what's up with all those bronze dragon shenanigans in Dragonflight, we're going back to Draenor and do it right this time. Up until the garrison ofcourse, then we get stuck at instance can't be loaded.

Wrath of the Highmaul

[Ersula]

I'll try to compile a list of what we know so far about the next WoW Expansion.

Confirmed information

• Heroic Edition Includes an Algarian Stormrider Mount.
• Khaz Algar is an old Titan Settlement
• Algarian Stormrider is also referenced in a pair of 1-handed maces transmog

Strongly Inferred Information

• The Secrets of Azeroth Artifact that includes Titanic, Demonic & Aqir Writing
• While Dragonflight was a Traditional, Analog Expansion, the next will be a more Cosmic, Spiritual Expansion
• Thrall will be be a central figure in the storyline based on the Key Art
• Stormriders are Gryphon Riders

Pure Speculation

• The Overall Theme (Elemental restructuring of the planet, Harbinger comes to Azeroth, Hidden Underground Civilization)
• Avaloren, civilization of heretic titan-forged
• Yrel does something for some reason

[Myrrh]

Wrath of the Highmaul

Khaz'Algar is Farahlon confirmed

Honestly, I'm willing to believe Thrall being relevant again next expansion is in the cards regardless of him being on the key art or not. Metzen came back early on enough in the expansion's development (Dec 2022) that they could still work him in relatively seemlessly regardless of what the plan was and now with him back in his current capacity he could very well also do a lot of the VO (which might come in handy with a voice actor strike looming, assuming he is not a SAG member ).

Realistically yeah, he'll be there. Personally I'm feeling an earth-centric involvement rather than full on elements (Iridikron + fissure dwarves), but time will tell.

[MCMLXXXII]

Khaz'Algar is Farahlon confirmed

Big retcon incoming: earthen originated from Farahlon.

- - - Updated - - -

So the evidence so far:

Lil Maggz is obviously Magatha Grimtotem.
Since Garrosh is dead someone needs to do some timey wimey BS and it all points to Magatha because some Ugandan poster leaked this years ago (in retrospect).
Algerian stormrider. Khaz Algar is located in Farahlon because if you take away a few letters in the former and add an F and O, you'll get the latter.
Squall is the parrot pet of the Nightsquall, the famous pirate captain. Since we already used the Dark Portal twice, it's kinda low on fuel. Now we take a pirateship to travel to Draenor.
Fyrn obviously is a Botani pet.
Survey bot is because of revamped archeology.

[Ebonn]

This thread is honestly unreadable when Teriz is on one :/ Can we stop feeding into it? I love speculation, but speculation by leaping from one assumption to the next and imagining you’re right every time is not speculation. People who are “always right” really derail the joy of speculation. If people don’t quote-respond to him he wouldn’t keep going just saying lol.

[Throwaway10123]

This will be my only post.

World Soul:
-Avaloren is the "Bermuda Triangle" of Azeroth.
-Each zone has a surface half and an underground half. Underground is not like Zaralek, there are many different biomes like Journey to the Center of the Earth.
-Player housing ONLY in Avaloren. Different professions make different furniture and decorations via work order system.
-Some classes get new support specs like Bard Rogue and Gladiator Warrior, which uses shouts and banners to "hype up the crowd (raid)."
-Pre-order bonus unlocks all classes for dracthyr in future patch (10.2.7) except DK and DH. They start in Exile's Reach.
-Undermine Dungeon with Gallywix is in the pre-expansion event.
-Besides Algar dwarves there's a human kingdom with similar origins.
-There's also a race of ant people called myrmid/myrmin (not sure of the spelling). There are good black ants we ally with and evil fire ants who are the first raid.

That's all I know. Can't say how for obvious reasons.

[Teriz]

2007 Keyart (Draenei, Blood Elf and Murloc) - Not related to expansion- WOTLK announced
2008 - Thrall - must be an elemental expansion - oh,wait, it was WOTLK
2009 - Sindragosa - WOTLK related and not related to announced Cataclysm
2010 - Deathwing - related to current expansion
2011 - Thrall again
2013 - Garrosh - WoD announced technically related as he started it off
2014 - Chen - not related to anything
2015 - illidan - but we knew about Legion by this point anyway
2016 - Sylvanas- Still on Legion at this point
2017 - Jaina - related to BFA announced
2018 - Suarfang
2019 - Sylvanas - related - Shadowland announced
Blizzconline- Bolvar - related to current expansion
2023 - thrall (again)

Sometime they're related, sometimes they're not. Thrall has been in 2 previous and neither were Elemental expansions announced or the current one at the time.

You're missing a few.

2015 Gamescon announcement for Legion, this was the pre-announcement key art;



Gul'dan is featured.

BlizzConline 2022 key art;



Deathwing is in the background. Dragonflight would have been announced at that event.

So we have a rather straight line of this occurring since WoD.