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

[AOL Instant Messenger]

K'aresh has been mentioned more than once, from NPCs to ethereal lore, it is a place of mystery and a whole broken planet. Similar to how Shadowlands was nothing but a vague plane of existence, it could very much support an expansion on its own, especially a Void-focused one considering what happened with Alleria on Argus.

I personally think a K'aresh expansion would be very nice to have—it would make for a markedly different aesthetic than anything we've seen while still having some grounding in preexisting lore. Contrast Shadowlands—it was a terrible effort at a cosmic expansion, when Legion previously demonstrated such a thing could work in theory. A K'aresh expansion pursuing previously foreshadowed plot points and concepts with a strong identity would be a very nice way to redeem the cosmic side of things. I'd also add that a middle eastern aesthetic has rarely been employed in WoW, so an expansion set on the homeworld of a race with inspirations from pre-Islamic Arabia could be a nice change of pace.

I can envision how it would look, and I think it would be very aesthetically-pleasing—I imagine starswept silvery deserts beneath clear night skies full of strikingly visible celestial phenomena, or massive ruins of a civilization which produced technology beyond Azeroth comprehension, yet which flew too close to the sun. Starry splotches dot the landscape, and the mutations of the Void, initially subtle, become all the more overt as you approach the locus of the Void's influence, where the stillborn World-Soul of K'aresh took the name Dimensius, and projected his long shadow across Karkora and Draenor.

I'm also of the mind Ethereals would make for an interesting race that would occupy an as-of-yet vacant aesthetic niche. I could certainly see the appeal of plasmic arcane mummies as something very novel and unique. It'd also be nice to have a greedy and opportunistic race that can be taken a tad more seriously than Goblins.

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“Omg third spec Evoker spec is melee with frostbolt??”

I believe they were being snide about the phrasing used when suggesting Dracthyr would get more classes.

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People also seem a bit burned out on the cosmic scene, but I think there's potential there. Whatever the objections about the First Ones lore, they have established that there is a common structure of the six powers having a ruling pantheon

I'd be inclined to share your anticipation if not for one, deeply unfortunate detail—I highly doubt Blizzard is competent enough to produce anything decent in that connection. I've written fairly extensively about how I think the cosmic direction could be explored in an interesting way, and I've seen it work out well in other franchises (e.g. Elder Scrolls), but I think that until the team figures out what they actually want to do with that side of things and makes some sense of the cosmic chart, we're going to not get anything decent out of it for some time.

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As for the underground zone, you've got a point, they could indeed be testing the waters.

That would be nice. I'd love to see Azjol-Nerub finally get its due.

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Wasting N'Zoth and Azshara was blasphemous. I hope my Queen will come back... and when she does, I hope the world will burn for her

It's a rather sad thing that they managed to squander both a faction war and an Azshara-centric South Seas expansion in one fell blow. I've seen some say the same of Ny'Alotha, though I could admittedly see how that would be difficult to rely on for an expansion before it loses its luster.

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Yeah, and it's kinda sad. =/

Especially, if we take into the account the "FRONTIER" string names that fits an "edge of the world" continent/island, and the datamined HD ships/warships that would be needed to reach and stom that place that's said to be very hostile:


I'm going to keep the sparks of hope of a World Revamp lit until Blizzcon happens later this year, but this Avaloren stuff resembles too much how Dragon Isles was seeded.

Copium: Maybe it'll be a patch zone in an expansion set in Lordaeron?

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Also, re: the topic of Azshara returning—here's a really silly idea. What if Azshara mantles Y'Shaarj in some capacity? She really is like an Old God in a few ways herself, as a malevolent, extraordinarily powerful being which enraptures its followers beyond the point of reason. Maybe she had been drawing close to the Old Gods long before her meeting with N'Zoth through the residue of Y'Shaarj in the Well of Eternity. It's at least suggested that things of a humanoid extraction can supplant the position of Old Gods in Thousand Years of War, where Alleria's tempted with the idea of replacing N'Zoth in some capacity. It may have been just that – a hollow effort at temptation on the Void's part – but if anyone could do it, Azshara is certainly a contender.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

a look at the new Ironforge set with the updated HD tabard
https://i.imgur.com/ErtWRsA.png

Guard set is glorious though I'm a bit disappointed with the tabard looking like its in desperate need of an ironing

[Nightshade711]

a look at the new Ironforge set with the updated HD tabard

Oh that’s nice.
I wonder if there’s a new undead set too, given the two updated undercity tabards in the files.

[Throren]

also worth noting there is a second colour to the dwarf set. The second variation has a very dark grey metal with gold trim (like Magni's pre-crystal artwork) and a shield with gold trim instead of red

[Cheezits]

https://twitter.com/LeystTv/status/1...110213/photo/3

The RAF mount is customizable?

[AOL Instant Messenger]

https://twitter.com/LeystTv/status/1...110213/photo/3

The RAF mount is customizable?

Feels feasible, at least. I could see why they might expand Dragonriding-style customization to a select few mounts.

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Also, a tad late on this topic, but I have to say I enjoy the collective portrayal of the Incarnates. They're still fairly cliche baddies, and the dialogue is frustrating as ever, but they're a breath of fresh air in a franchise that hasn't had some good villains in a while save for Denathrius. This somewhat cartoonish gang of villains isn't bad at all as a breath of fresh air. Iridikron's voice, although not particularly atypical for a WoW villain, is somewhat nice—the way he emotes is deeper than the Jailer, and his accent is something a tad refreshing we don't hear too much in WoW. His general demeanor is made a little more interesting by some very small distinctions from the likes of his predecessors. It's not bad at all.

[Lady Atia]

So .... it seems they really plan to swap the Gladiator mount for some reason but keep the armoredon the KSM reward. Now is the time to go to the forums and bring them to change it. Just recolour the s1 gladi mount AS IT SHOULD BE and use the new serpent mount for KSM or KSH.

Wasting gladiator models on 0,1% of players is bad enough already, giving each season an unique gladiator model just makes it so much worse, especially as the season 1 drake would have looked dope with green/purple/infinite effects down the line (basically a fel/shadowflame/infinite version ...).

At this point it just feels that some pvp dev has an hardon for giving pvp the best fomo rewards and being a special snowflake (because you know, now he can use both season 1 and 2 special transformations at the same time without having to go to the lastrum of transformation ...), meanwhile pve always gets the short end of the stick. We still have no elite sets there and the Lava Kodo is just a bad joke compared to both the Viscious mounts (which are also unique each season) and the Gladiator mounts. Atleast in Shadowlands, the Deathswirlies looked on par with the Gladi wyrms ...

[Melorandor]

Any idea what 10.2 might entail?

[Nathanyel]

Yeah an underground expansion following an underground major patch is unlikely haha

Imagine if after Vashj'ir in Cata, 5.0 had been South Seas, with some islands, but the majority of zones being underwater

There are plenty of islands we have not explored properly or even at all in the South Seas: Plunder Isles, Hiji, Tel'abim, Kezan & the Undermine, Darkspear Islands... throw in some naga action and you've got yourself a whole expansion!

And with Dragonflying as a fast, player-controlled method of transportation, and Zaralek being loaded dynamically, both gameplay and technical aspects required for a chain of smaller islands (=expansion zones) dotted across a vast map are there.

https://twitter.com/LeystTv/status/1...110213/photo/3

The RAF mount is customizable?

I am reminded of Necrolord Abomination customization. There's likely some NPC (or something to click on the mount, like on the Animawyrm) to alter the appearance using dialog options.

Wasting gladiator models on 0,1% of players is bad enough already, [...]

At this point it just feels that some pvp dev has an hardon for giving pvp the best fomo rewards [...]

There's a recent thread about PvP-only fomo, but to give my opinion in short, while idgaf about Glad drakes, Elite sets shouldn't be time-limited. Keep the rating requirement, but less us buy older sets.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Yeah an underground expansion following an underground major patch is unlikely haha

My personal theory is they could be testing the waters. Obviously, this would mean you are right and it won't come in 11.0, but I do think it's possible that the reason for the underground setting is test the waters and see if it doesn't get too claustrophobic.

[Alanar]

a look at the new Ironforge set with the updated HD tabard

Looks clean, a shame they still do this fake 3d paint, in this case the tabard shows to be a bit loser on top. Which sadly doesnt look great. The helmet is a nice classic update tho, also the fitting is great.

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Any idea what 10.2 might entail?

With what people have said here.. either something green dragon related and maybe confronting the stone primalist?

I sure dont hope they gonna drag this primalist stuff over the duration of the full expansion.

10.2 I hope something of a break, maybe reclaim gilneas here and some other story bits, maybe an allied race.

[Grimbold21]

Looks clean, a shame they still do this fake 3d paint, in this case the tabard shows to be a bit loser on top. Which sadly doesnt look great. The helmet is a nice classic update tho, also the fitting is great.

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With what people have said here.. either something green dragon related and maybe confronting the stone primalist?

I sure dont hope they gonna drag this primalist stuff over the duration of the full expansion.

10.2 I hope something of a break, maybe reclaim gilneas here and some other story bits, maybe an allied race.

What do you mean fake 3 paint?

[Fahrad Wagner]

a look at the new Ironforge set with the updated HD tabard

The textures are so CRISP! 10/10 set

I personally think a K'aresh expansion would be very nice to have—it would make for a markedly different aesthetic than anything we've seen while still having some grounding in preexisting lore. Contrast Shadowlands—it was a terrible effort at a cosmic expansion, when Legion previously demonstrated such a thing could work in theory. A K'aresh expansion pursuing previously foreshadowed plot points and concepts with a strong identity would be a very nice way to redeem the cosmic side of things. I'd also add that a middle eastern aesthetic has rarely been employed in WoW, so an expansion set on the homeworld of a race with inspirations from pre-Islamic Arabia could be a nice change of pace.

I can envision how it would look, and I think it would be very aesthetically-pleasing—I imagine starswept silvery deserts beneath clear night skies full of strikingly visible celestial phenomena, or massive ruins of a civilization which produced technology beyond Azeroth comprehension, yet which flew too close to the sun. Starry splotches dot the landscape, and the mutations of the Void, initially subtle, become all the more overt as you approach the locus of the Void's influence, where the stillborn World-Soul of K'aresh took the name Dimensius, and projected his long shadow across Karkora and Draenor.

I'm also of the mind Ethereals would make for an interesting race that would occupy an as-of-yet vacant aesthetic niche. I could certainly see the appeal of plasmic arcane mummies as something very novel and unique. It'd also be nice to have a greedy and opportunistic race that can be taken a tad more seriously than Goblins

Playable Ethereals would be fantastic, and I'm sure K'aresh aesthetic would be a one of a kind indeed (and heavily influenced by Middle Eastern cultures in general).

[Nymrohd]

My personal theory is they could be testing the waters. Obviously, this would mean you are right and it won't come in 11.0, but I do think it's possible that the reason for the underground setting is test the waters and see if it doesn't get too claustrophobic.

I don't think it is even about testing it thematically with the players. Underground zones/caves and verticality in general seems to be a problem for them as far as the engine is concerned. I think they want to test server performance.

[Fahrad Wagner]

Imagine if after Vashj'ir in Cata, 5.0 had been South Seas, with some islands, but the majority of zones being underwater

And with Dragonflying as a fast, player-controlled method of transportation, and Zaralek being loaded dynamically, both gameplay and technical aspects required for a chain of smaller islands (=expansion zones) dotted across a vast map are there.

I hadn't thought of the last part, it's true it could make islands exploration feel more alive!

My personal theory is they could be testing the waters. Obviously, this would mean you are right and it won't come in 11.0, but I do think it's possible that the reason for the underground setting is test the waters and see if it doesn't get too claustrophobic.

I mean there are lots of possibility when it comes to underground zone, and the Nerubians deserve some love, so I could see it happening in the future.

[Zulggun]

Do we know who was that Zaralek anyway?

[Teriz]

Zaralek Cavern seems to be a great precursor for something like Undermine in 12.0.

[Alanar]

What do you mean fake 3 paint?

There are many examples of bells, chains, holes and now with that tabard that is suppose give you that 3d effect to have these rumples on the side, but are in fact just painted on. The tabard model is still exactly the same. From the side you wouldn't even notice it's there. Look, Wow has increased 3d pieces on armor slowly over last few expansions, but it's still a thing. Trying to paint layers on a robe is another one of those examples, it's showing it's age imo.

Robes and capes is another big thing that comes to mind. We have seen many much better physics on npcs, that it's about time these pieces get a proper player model update. Cone/tube robes since 2004/2023-

[Grimbold21]

There are many examples of bells, chains, holes and now with that tabard that is suppose give you that 3d effect to have these rumples on the side, but are in fact just painted on. The tabard model is still exactly the same. From the side you wouldn't even notice it's there. Look, Wow has increased 3d pieces on armor slowly over last few expansions, but it's still a thing. Trying to paint layers on a robe is another one of those examples, it's showing it's age imo.

Robes and capes is another big thing that comes to mind. We have seen many much better physics on npcs, that it's about time these pieces get a proper player model update. Cone/tube robes since 2004/2023-

As someone with a beginner's knowledge of 3D, I can only say that that is probably related to poly count. You need/have to save polys where you can otherwise it'd get heavy.

If we look at HD Ironforge guard model again, there are other elements that you could say would look better being 3D. The tabard's belt, the thighguards of the legpiece. But at the end of the day, you probably have to go with what's more relevant.

You can also say the same about detail/damage work. You don't go in and 3D model stone cracks, or scratches in metal, or the veins in a tree. You either texture paint them or sculpt and bake them into a normal map.

Blizzard has done this since WoW's inception. Hell, the game industry does it, otherwise their games wouldn't be runnable.

[Throren]

To any who want to see it, this is the 2nd colour variation of the Ironforge guard set. It's a lot more fancy, probably a royal guard or something

Has a similar colour scheme to Magni's armour in official artwork pre-crystalization imho