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

[Sondrelk]

Pretty sure thats a symbol or similar symbol that you can choose for your tabards

It's also used for Mjolnir in the Marvel movies, so it might have been carried over from there.

[ercarp]

I have a question for you Ercarp! Why does this leak only score a 1 by your ratings? I would like to know your logic.

I rated it a bit higher initially (2.75, I think) but the thread swayed me in the other direction after everyone called it out for being AI generated. And after looking at it a bit more closely on my better monitor, I also started seeing some of that AI weirdness that people were going on about (on the rocks in the bottom left, in the trees, on the buildings, and especially on the mountains in the background). But what sealed the deal for me the most is the skybox, which looks like something from WotLK at best. They haven't had skyboxes that low quality in years.





I now think the screenshot was generated using a custom-trained Stable Diffusion checkpoint or LoRA.

[Murlocos]

If you want a fun comparison to the 9.x/10.0 speculation thread, that hit page 2474 at the time that the announcement stream started. Obviously this thread is going to clear that number, and then you realize that the previous thread ran for five months longer than this one to boot.

[justwatching]

I now think the screenshot was generated using a custom-trained Stable Diffusion checkpoint or LoRA.

Its also very obviously not in engine(unlike the 4 screenshots).

[Draedarr]

If you want a fun comparison to the 9.x/10.0 speculation thread, that hit page 2474 at the time that the announcement stream started. Obviously this thread is going to clear that number, and then you realize that the previous thread ran for five months longer than this one to boot.

Yes, and i remember that the leak only showed up in the day before the announcement, if not on the morning
When we were discussing if Rock boy was Garrosh lol

[Dracullus]

If you want a fun comparison to the 9.x/10.0 speculation thread, that hit page 2474 at the time that the announcement stream started. Obviously this thread is going to clear that number, and then you realize that the previous thread ran for five months longer than this one to boot.

Dude that thread was dead half of that time for obvious reasons.

[Well Done Steak]

Xal'atath is Old God shit to take care of, and the purpose of the Harbinger is to corrupt the world soul. The world soul isn't out in space, it's under the surface of Azeroth.

We don't know for sure what Xal is, only that she's void alligned. And she currently is out in space.

What I meant was that were not going to be dealing with typical old God minions like faceless ones but more like void walker type enemies. Probably via some sort of incursion.

[matijwow]

Quick Harbinger update to the Hype train:


Freya holds the new Azeroth sword, Voidsong over the red star in the upper right corner.

Just thinking. The staff is called "Voidsong, Stave of the Harbinger." The Forbidden Reach book was "Song of the Depths."

The AOTC mounts since WoD came from items dropped by the final boss, which hinted at the following expansion.

-Archimonde dropped something from the Emerald Nightmare, showing how the Legion was contacting it. (Moose mount from Cenarius)
-Argus dropped the crystalized blood of a Titan, foreshadowing Azerite in 7.3.5 and BfA.
-N'Zoth dropped a baby void dragon that Wrathion cleanses. (I don't see a connection with Shadowlands)
-The Jailer dropped an item called "Almanac's Echo." You turn it in to Firim (the broker who researches the First Ones and language and forces), and he gives you the machine mount in exchange. Quest text (https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Leading_Motives):

<A small object catches your eye. It glitters with Progenitor magic--ancient, yet... strangely more refined.>

<Soft vibrations and tones are woven into the device in a repeating refrain that almost seems to be trying to... speak?>

<Firim would be very interested in this.>

On Completion:
By the First Ones... once again, you bring me the extraordinary. You say you found this when you defeated the Jailer? How curious.

It almost seems as if it's trying to... to communicate somehow. The implications alone are--ah! Forgive me for getting carried away. This will require more than simple research, I'm afraid.

Please, take this in return. It was one of my first discoveries--I suspect you have more to gain from its mobility than I do.

[Wangming]

If you want a fun comparison to the 9.x/10.0 speculation thread, that hit page 2474 at the time that the announcement stream started. Obviously this thread is going to clear that number, and then you realize that the previous thread ran for five months longer than this one to boot.

What is the data on the BfA hype thread?

[allifeur]

I now think the screenshot was generated using a custom-trained Stable Diffusion checkpoint or LoRA.

1st screenshot : looks like what happen when you mix texture rocks with M2 models to give a better 3D feeling. I could see them doing that if the coasts are important to the expansion.
2nd screenshot : I don't find it shocking, the top of pine trees tend to be pointed upward and irregular
3rd screenshot : This roof is indeed a bit weird, but it could simply be a pagoda.
4rd screenshot : They generally try to make unique mountain shapes at each expansion so I don't find this unusual
5rd screenshot : Looks like a screen dirt, nothing related to the picture. I thought it was on my own screen at first.

[Stonecloak]

5rd screenshot : Looks like a screen dirt, nothing related to the picture. I thought it was on my own screen at first.

It's more about the mountain being cut off. Looks like it diffused into the sky.

[Varodoc]

Just thinking. The staff is called "Voidsong, Stave of the Harbinger." The Forbidden Reach book was "Song of the Depths."

N'Zoth in DF time-travel quest said:

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

N'Zoth and Xal'atath the Harbinger have a pact; N'Zoth freed Xal'atath from the Blade (maybe he was the one who put her inside there in the first place?), and Xal'atath conceded the emptied Blade to the Old God, to be kept for future uses (like an incursion on Ny'alotha, N'Zoth's domain).

These are not coincidences.

[ercarp]

1st screenshot : looks like what happen when you mix texture rocks with M2 models to give a better 3D feeling. I could see them doing that if the coasts are important to the expansion.
2nd screenshot : I don't find it shocking, the top of pine trees tend to be pointed upward and irregular
3rd screenshot : This roof is indeed a bit weird, but it could simply be a pagoda.
4rd screenshot : They generally try to make unique mountain shapes at each expansion so I don't find this unusual
5rd screenshot : Looks like a screen dirt, nothing related to the picture. I thought it was on my own screen at first.

Fair points, but you also have to look at the big picture (literally, in this case) and think, "Where exactly is the 'wow' factor here?"

The zone in the screenshot looks so incredibly bland it makes me seriously doubt that they would purposefully design something like that. It looks worse than Howling Fjord; a zone that is almost 15 years old.

[Murlocos]

What is the data on the BfA hype thread?

Looks like page 2238 is when opening ceremony began, but that thread didn't even start until July 2017.

[NikolaiShade]

Just thinking. The staff is called "Voidsong, Stave of the Harbinger." The Forbidden Reach book was "Song of the Depths."

Straight from the quest where we travel through time and end up in black empire era, n'zoth recognizes us and whispers

Knowing Presence whispers: Her dreams sing beneath the surface. Our dreams. Our song.

[shade3891]

Maybe....

Elun'Ahir was ripped out the planet by Aman'Thul. (because life=chaos=bad)
Elun'Ahir roots did remain in the planet providing a connection to the Emerald dream// the realm of life?

After the Pantheon leaves Odyn and Tyr find out that the roots are still in the planet, and surround that side of the planet with an dome of endless storms preventing anything from entering or leaving. Inside the the dome life goes on unchecked! Before the storms guardians (from the dream) arrive to protect the roots. Any attempts from Odyn to check inside the dome fails.

Iridikron with xal'atath open a path inside the dome to reclaim a lost power. Revealing a war between life and with beings of the Void. We go there to help? But the Pantheon returns and they want to destroy it all, we go fight them instead.

2ct

[Lorgar Aurelian]

Other than the fact they’re very clearly designed to match the Eternal Traveler’s set, which itself is First Ones themed?

The only similarity is the gold colour, it doesn’t have any of the same symbols or blue glows. Bits from that set.

Said gold colour is also used on ulduar weapons though of there less detailed.

[Moth Preacher]

Fair points, but you also have to look at the big picture (literally, in this case) and think, "Where exactly is the 'wow' factor here?"

The zone in the screenshot looks so incredibly bland it makes me seriously doubt that they would purposefully design something like that. It looks worse than Howling Fjord; a zone that is almost 15 years old.

It looks almost identical to Tiragarde Sound. Palette, trees, landscape, even architecture

[Wangming]

N'Zoth in DF time-travel quest said:

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

N'Zoth and Xal'atath the Harbinger have a pact; N'Zoth freed Xal'atath from the Blade (maybe he was the one who put her inside there in the first place?), and Xal'atath conceded the emptied Blade to the Old God, to be kept for future uses (like an incursion on Ny'alotha, N'Zoth's domain).

These are not coincidences.

All this stuff about songs and singing. Are we absolutely sure we are not getting a bard class?

[Edlarel]

All this stuff about songs and singing. Are we absolutely sure we are not getting a bard class?

What better way to celebrate the new support option than a new every race base class with dps, support, and healing specs. It would make up for evokers only being dracthyr