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

[Catastrophy349]

So, what "should" Avaloren look like?

[Chickat]

Do we have a confirmation from blizz to expect an expac announcement on blizzcon (alternative being a later stream for that like DF)?

Tho I assume even if we dont have confirmation they would come out and say it wouldn't be announced already to manage expectations.

Also exciting that the first non roadmap patch is on vendor builds, gives me a bit hope that we will get 10.3 if they plan on sticking to the 2 month release schedule

What if the story continues in a new mini raid and questing zone alongside fated raids for S4.

S4 is new zone on the scale of forbidden reach with 6 or 7 story chapters. Story heavy patch.

Culminating in a 3 boss raid.

Each raid rotates alongside the 3 boss raid being up every week. 3 boss raid is 6 ilev above the rest so its worthwhile. Also goos trinkets.

[Well Done Steak]

So, what "should" Avaloren look like?

Mix of dragon isles with broken isles.

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What if the story continues in a new mini raid and questing zone alongside fated raids for S4.

S4 is new zone on the scale of forbidden reach with 6 or 7 story chapters. Story heavy patch.

Culminating in a 3 boss raid.

Each raid rotates alongside the 3 boss raid being up every week. 3 boss raid is 6 ilev above the rest so its worthwhile. Also goos trinkets.

This would be best case scenario

[Nymrohd]

So, what "should" Avaloren look like?

Like a thematically consistent landmass that does not jump from frozen valley to desert badlands to jungles to temperate forest in 5 minutes of dragonriding. This isn't Super Mario Bros 3

[Vakir]

I mean, the dreadlord changes were generally fine, but that isn't the only change that existed...and those changes were rough. Hell, the dreadlord changes work because they still don't really serve Zovaal as much as Denny. It makes sense for them to be agents for their own devices as that's in line with their existing characterization.

[Hitei]

So, what "should" Avaloren look like?

Circular island chain with a floating island in the middle and underwater zone below that.

[seainma]

So, what "should" Avaloren look like?

Well the only thing we known about Avaloren is that a group of heretics went there (I'm assuming Titanforged because of the other book which said some of the titanforge didn't agree with Odyn not telling the truth about the Black Empire) and it had a lot of defenses. So we don't know if that is natural defenses like the storming sea or were they built?

So I expect when we arrive to Avaloren there might be a massive fortress city, probably heavily protected by a rocky shore or something like that. Perethales suspects that they would eventual fight amongst themselves so maybe a ruined fortress city. I'm expecting it to be an island maybe off the coast of a massive continent

[Nymrohd]

What if the story continues in a new mini raid and questing zone alongside fated raids for S4.

S4 is new zone on the scale of forbidden reach with 6 or 7 story chapters. Story heavy patch.

Culminating in a 3 boss raid.

Each raid rotates alongside the 3 boss raid being up every week. 3 boss raid is 6 ilev above the rest so its worthwhile. Also goos trinkets.

So, Uldaz? And maybe a Vyranoth raid?

[Ferlion]

So, what "should" Avaloren look like?

I've said Celtic, but honestly.

Were I to get my "This will never happen" thing, it's gonna be more... freaky deaky.

That is to say, I want neon colors and weird physics, void maws feeding into light wells, buildings overgrown with mushrooms with skeletons growing out of the flesh.

If Azeroth is this great prize that all the cosmic forces want, and Avaloren is supposed to be this place that has minimal keeper influence, then let it be that this place is the other cosmic forces all warring with each other, but unable to get a grasp due to whatever reason Blizzard gives.

[Nymrohd]

I know. I was going with one of the easier thing to disprove. Ok, and maybe using it as a platform to address that general concept, because I have seen it suggested before. It's a "feature" that a player would think up, not one Blizzard would.

Meh, you could change the racial UI to group subraces under a race and then lock customizations per subrace. Customizations already lock based on different options already; e.g. check Void Elves or Dracthyr

[Albertillo]

Ah yes, """irreparable damage""", like explaining why the dread lords all seem completely disloyal to the Legion or any other group they join.

Well, that point yes, it's true. What people dislike about Shadowlands I think is how they destroyed Arthas story. Now everything he did was a plan of a guy nobody knew, who is one of the lords of the Shadowlands, doesn't have any charisma and we mortals kill him without any problem.

For the rest it was ok, although I still don't understand why all souls go to the Shadowlands but somehow in azeroth there are ghosts and you can call souls here. Maybe I forgot to read something, though.

[Chickat]

Do we have a confirmation from blizz to expect an expac announcement on blizzcon (alternative being a later stream for that like DF)?

Tho I assume even if we dont have confirmation they would come out and say it wouldn't be announced already to manage expectations.

Also exciting that the first non roadmap patch is on vendor builds, gives me a bit hope that we will get 10.3 if they plan on sticking to the 2 month release schedule

What if the story continues in a new mini raid and questing zone alongside fated raids for S4.

S4 is new zone on the scale of forbidden reach with 6 or 7 story chapters. Story heavy patch.

Culminating in a 3 boss raid.

Each raid rotates alongside the 3 boss raid being up every week. 3 boss raid is 6 ilev above the rest so its worthwhile. Also goos trinkets.

[Bwgmon]

So, what "should" Avaloren look like?

Consider if it were shaped like a bird.

[Catastrophy349]

Let's say that Avaloren is the new continent for 11.0, how should it be "handled" in the new expansion cinematic? Like, what should happen in the cinematic that uncovers Avaloren?

[Vakir]

Let's say that Avaloren is the new continent for 11.0, how should it be "handled" in the new expansion cinematic? Like, what should happen in the cinematic that uncovers Avaloren?

It's possible it won't be depicted at all. It could just be the inciting incident that makes us go there. So, whatever ends up likely happening with budget-Neltharion.

For example, Cataclysm doesn't show any of the 4 new zones, Shadowlands doesn't show anything beyond the initial rift. They can depict that stuff in a launch cinematic.

[Leowyld]

Meh, you could change the racial UI to group subraces under a race and then lock customizations per subrace. Customizations already lock based on different options already; e.g. check Void Elves or Dracthyr

Ok. Well, I just don't see how that would be a meaningful improvement over what it is now. It's not like we are going to run out of room on the race select screen.

[Nymrohd]

Let's say that Avaloren is the new continent for 11.0, how should it be "handled" in the new expansion cinematic? Like, what should happen in the cinematic that uncovers Avaloren?

The cinematic should focus on WHY we got there. The feature trailer can show off the place.

[matijwow]

SL did irreparable damage to the story and at this point I view expansions as just different fantasy themes to frame the gameplay experience, nothing is cohesive or thought out and it all disrespects what came before.

Replaying the BfA quests, they actually had some really cool zones and lore in Kul Tiras. I am more and more convinced that Nyalotha was going to be in the Shadowlands expansion and then they changed development completely at some point in BfA before 8.3 to make the version of Shadowlands we got.

It didn't help that probably the systems and combat in BfA were so bad. Some of the negative feedback about the faction story probably made them want to rush to tie up the Old Gods narrative prematurely and try to wipe the slate clean.
I

[Catastrophy349]

The cinematic should focus on WHY we got there. The feature trailer can show off the place.

Yes, this is what I meant. So, what should be shown for "why" we got there?

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I would really like to see Avaloren be built up more, and more, during the rest of DF's cycle so that when we go there in 11.0, it feels HYPE.

[Nymrohd]

Yes, this is what I meant. So, what should be shown for "why" we got there?

Who knows. We have no idea what the plot will be. The immediate threats right now are Iridikron and the Harbinger (who is most likely Xal). Why would they want to go to Avaloren? The plot suggests they want a way to capture the World Soul. Given that the world soul is LITERALLY inside the planet (we see it in Argus) that would point to an underground expansion, NOT Avaloren. Maybe as per my suggestions on what could possibly happen there, Avaloren has some abandoned Titan Facility (a Forge) that could be used to achieve that (my idea was that the Titans built the Forge of Awakening there, a facility meant to midwife the World Soul).

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, this is what I meant. So, what should be shown for "why" we got there?

- - - Updated - - -

I would really like to see Avaloren be built up more, and more, during the rest of DF's cycle so that when we go there in 11.0, it feels HYPE.

I mean 10.2 does add the Elun'ahir and Erinethria's brood story. The latter absolutely is tied to Avaloren (conservation of detail and all). The former possibly could also be there (it could also tie to an underground expansion with Elun'ahir being the source of an underground forest zone).