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

[Krakerz]

Since we're on topic of the website/trailer dwarf images again....

Observational Report: Earthen from Uldaman, the only ingame canon mention of Khaz Algar, says this when talking about Earthen and the Curse of Flesh around the world:

It is apparent from your reports that the degree of transformation in titan-forged subjects is significantly diverse. There is no group in which this variance is more easily observable than the earthen.

And we can see that in game as well - Dwarves, Troggs, Grummles and Kobolds (and maybe even Drogbar) are all descended from Earthen affected by the Curse of Flesh in some way or another, and they all look distinct.

The report then talks about the differences and similarities of the Khaz Algar creatures and Khaz Mozdan dwarves.

Yet while their behaviors, language, and demeanor show many similarities (for example, assigning Sector AR-938 the colloquial name "Khaz Algar"), physiologically the two groups remain distinct.

So the report says that they only behave like the dwarves - physiologically they look entirely different - just like Kobolds, Grummles, Troggs, and Dwarves are all visually different despite being descended from Earthen.

One would assume that if these Algarians were in any way physically similar to dwarves, the report would make note of that rather then calling them distinct.



But, if you look at the website/trailer leak, the Algarians are basically just gray dwarves




If you saw these two dudes, a dwarf, a trogg, and a grummle standing next to one another you wouldn't say "all of these are physiologically distinct", you'd say "Huh, weird, unlike the Troggs and the Grummles, the Algarians kinda look like Dwarves!"

[Catastrophy349]

Thinking about "A Song of the Depths," I'm really curious to see how the prophecy continues to unfold with Amirdrassil/Fyrakk (Dark Heart stuff) and the rest of DF leading into 11.0.

[KyleEverett]

Introducing the long awaited ff14 cross over, Algarians are Lalafell wearing fake beards! /S

[ercarp]

So the report says that they only behave like the dwarves - physiologically they look entirely different - just like Kobolds, Grummles, Troggs, and Dwarves are all visually different despite being descended from Earthen.

But, if you look at the website/trailer leak, the Algarians are basically just gray dwarves

Excellent analysis. Another reason why the screenshots and the website should be considered BS.

I doubt they would consider this to be "physiologically distinct."

[Samin]

Introducing the long awaited ff14 cross over, Algarians are Lalafell wearing fake beards! /S

Considering the multiversal shenanigans surrounding the dwarves of the First - that could easily be canon.

[Catastrophy349]

Personally, I have no real issues with either the website or the images (however, if "real," I pray that there is WAY MORE to show off for those zones than what is shown). As for features, hoping for some goodies

[Merryck]

The current writers think that you create a sympathetic villain by making the original good guys turn out to be bad guys. From what I've seen on the PTR, Danuser's anti-Titan crusade continues.

Indeed. I'm certain that Danuser wants to remove the Titans from the lore, have them and their keepers killed off to make room for his First Ones. No respect for what was a glorious cosmos.

[kavikor]

here i will make a leak to keep the thread going

World of Warcraft: Shards of Avaloren
level cap 80
new class Runemaster - tank, dps, support dps, all races
5 new zones: 1 max level only zone
80+ Wailing Precipice
70-73 Blackstone Reef
74-75 Bael Morag
76-78 The Unspoken Expanse
78-80 Uldaz, Glade of Secrets
new races: Earthborn & Ogre
new feature: sigils of power, recover the lost titanic rune symbols to create unique, "Avaloren Sigils" which cane be used to amplify your unique class powers, equip new unique tertiary stats, and to increase your power as your journey across these new lands
dungeons: 6 at launch, 2 released every major patch to be included with m+ season mix
raid: Lair of the Unseen - exploring the lair of the last god, who has gone unconquered
story: Avaloren is a shattered land of conflict and death, where the heretics of the Titans fled to find refuge. In that storm-shrouded land they found great allies, and the flesh-born creations of their most ancient foes.

thats my leak, thank u

[Well Done Steak]

We went back to Azeroth and ventured to the Broken Isles after spending 2 years running around a pre-outland Draenor. Going from that to the long-awaited Burning Legion invasion is a pretty big differene from going from a lost continent with dragons and titan constructs to another lost continent with dragons and titan constructs.

Even worse if in both cases the pre-order mount is a dragon and dragon-riding is a major feature again.

Reshash anyone?

I agree with your concerns. But that's where all in-game things point to. So you gotta hope avaloren is different somehow.

[Everything Nice]

You can't see where you're going but I guess that didn't stop the brontosaurus mount.

Ok, hear me out for a second...

[Ebonn]

The Algarian part. The not-dwarves of Khaz Algar seem to show some surprising parallel evolution to the dwarves we know. That could mean an affinity for gryphons or something gryphon-like. This connection is further reinforced by a datamined trading post transmog "Stormrider's Stormhammer" - which have no reference to Algarian but reinforce the connection of "Stormrider" with hammer swinging dwarven gryphon riders.

Algarian could reference a place and not a species, though. Cause Khaz Algar is a place. ESPECIALLY if the locals of Khaz Algar developed a relationship with the dragons that migrated/were born there, as opposed to a different species of gryphon. As far as I can see, there’s nothing specifically saying it would be a gryphon other than our assumption that they might develop a similar relationship with gryphons as the Dwarves we know. Honestly, as much as I am loathe to agree with he who shall not be quoted, it’s equally likely to be an elemental as it is a gryphon.

[FossilFree]

Excellent analysis. Another reason why the screenshots and the website should be considered BS.

I doubt they would consider this to be "physiologically distinct."

You don't need to be 100% different to be considered distinct.

They are made of stone, are taller, and are imbued with electricity (look at the eyes) - Physiologically distinct
They have the same hair styles, beards, and stone carving aesthetic preferences as Khaz Modan dwarves - Culturally similar

(The legs actually look like he is wearing some kind of stone armor, and the "finger" looks more like a fist weapon attached to gauntlets to me, so I left those out. No reason for them to be nudists, right?)

[bruxx]

Since the info on Avaloren is super out of date, maybe we get there and it has no not-dwarves and no titan anythings. Just Marlakkoas and the new datamining spec for miners.

[elderu]

Since we're on topic of the website/trailer dwarf images again....

And we can see that in game as well - Dwarves, Troggs, Grummles and Kobolds (and maybe even Drogbar) are all descended from Earthen affected by the Curse of Flesh in some way or another, and they all look distinct.

The report then talks about the differences and similarities of the Khaz Algar creatures and Khaz Mozdan dwarves.

So the report says that they only behave like the dwarves - physiologically they look entirely different - just like Kobolds, Grummles, Troggs, and Dwarves are all visually different despite being descended from Earthen.

One would assume that if these Algarians were in any way physically similar to dwarves, the report would make note of that rather then calling them distinct.

If you saw these two dudes, a dwarf, a trogg, and a grummle standing next to one another you wouldn't say "all of these are physiologically distinct", you'd say "Huh, weird, unlike the Troggs and the Grummles, the Algarians kinda look like Dwarves!"

Troggs were mistakes and are, by Chronicles' definition, not earthen.

"Following the war with the Old Gods, the keepers used the Forge of Wills to create new titan-forged to help them reshape the world. Yet, their first designs proved too complex and overambitious. Rather than making the perfect servants, they had created stone-skinned savages known as troggs. The keepers quickly refined and perfected their designs. The next generation of titan-forged to emerge from the Forge of Wills would be known as the earthen."

"The earthen tunneled into the deep places of the world, where they fought for dominance against a race of brutish and mishapen creatures known as troggs."

They are distinct in these descriptions, and Grummels are described as being mutated by Mogu from Troggs.

Earthen have become diverse in the cases of the many dwarves we know, the Tol'vir, and the Mogu, but I'd speculate this implies, and may be our first hint towards an Earthen race of Vrykul-like beings made of stone, predating the Iron Vrykul.

[Ashapls]

What do we all think about Illidan returning in the next expac? Legion is three expacs old now, he's been left in the story but locked away for the right time to break glass. Have we reached that time?

[Catastrophy349]

I hope when we get to Avaloren, for once, please, let them speak another language that we can't understand. It makes no sense for us to understand everyone!

[Ebonn]

Ok, hear me out for a second...

Take all my gold, now.

[Harbour]

Reading that 22mage guy and Algarianstorm guy excange rn.
22mage guy acted really offended by the end, which imo would be very uncharacteristic for someone who actually knows the stuff. Like i would just shrug it off or wont even try to go into polemic with whoever try to discredit me. Like i would know im right. But this guy just went full into the 'oh you ruined the fun' card.
I already doubted him with demon hunter spec and lands of conflict name, but now im sure he just post fakes in a spare way to simulate the real deal leaker.

[Ferlion]

I hope when we get to Avaloren, for once, please, let them speak another language that we can't understand. It makes no sense for us to understand everyone!

That was really refreshing with the furbolg.

[Monkal]

Indeed. I'm certain that Danuser wants to remove the Titans from the lore, have them and their keepers killed off to make room for his First Ones. No respect for what was a glorious cosmos.

Just created an account to say this (which is smth that always occurs to me when I see this line of thinking):

No, Danuser is not trying to replace the Titans wih the First Ones.

If you stop and think for a couple secs you'll realise he created the First Ones so they could provide a framework on which he can play withe the Titans and the other Pantheons. The First Ones likely will never get any personality traits and possibly not even names. They just exist to serve as background. Whether you preferred the Titans to stay on that background instead of becoming actual characters is another question, but a lotta folks here don't seem to realise that the First Ones are less characters and more pieces of scenery.