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

[Sondrelk]

I like their design and general vibe, but what I think they should've done is upped the grummle connection. What Dragonflight massively lacks compared to Pandaria is the thought put into the setting as an internally consistent whole. Nowhere is it more obvious when comparing even bit-races like the grummles and saurok compared to how vague the status of things like the Primalists and djaradin are pre our arrival.

Giving DF a bit of leeway here, since the connection between all the MoP races were not immediately apparent until 5.2.
Still though, you are right. Most of the races we encounter on the Dragon Isles feel like they were chosen arbitrarily, rather than as a natural development of the world.

The Niffen, being a new thing rather than a preexisting cavern dwelling race is one thing. Another is how Centaur are torturously forced into the plot for no better reason than there just being their turn to get an HD upgrade. The Tuskarr are slightly better, but only because of the proximity to Northrend.

I have to wonder if this really is just down to the developers continuously upgrading old models and needing to find reasons to use them.

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I completely agree with you, there are two plots in BFA that barely has anything to do with each other.

I would say it's more like you have one really solid core concept of South Seas expansion with Pirates, Naga, and an Old God undercurrent. Being invaded by a poorly thought out Faction War one.

I wonder if I'll ever be as disappointed by an expansion as I was by BfA. On paper that expansion should have been an 11/10.

But anyways, we should probably get back to Dragonflight lore. Sadly there isn't much we can do to make BfA better st this point.

[Catastrophy349]

Did everyone forget that we are getting Tyr AND Blue Dragon storyline in 10.1 (likely next week)?

[Sondrelk]

Did everyone forget that we are getting Tyr AND Blue Dragon storyline in 10.1 (likely next week)?

I guess we are going back to the Azure Span for the Fyrakk assaults, so will be interesting to see what happens. Maybe we finally find out what the deal with Vakthros is.

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And we will be getting updates on Blizzcon in the next two weeks as well. Probably not anything juicy to get from that announcement, but maybe.

[Houle]

I mean...weve found out THIS VERY XPAC that Tyr was infusing protos with elemental magic. Decay is an elemental magic. And Tyr implied in Dawn of the Aspects that he and the keepers are kinda at fault in some way, saying "We never intended this path." (for Galakrond).

My guess so far, Galakrond was the result of 2 different forces corrupting him at once. Its the best explanation for his very unique and weird condition.

Tyr infused him with Decay magic, after which he was either released or escaped and drank from the waters corrupted by Yogg.
So he was infused with Decay, which explains his DECAYING skin, the green mist he breathed and the undead he spat out. And he was corrupted by Void, which is why he was growing additional limbs, eyes and other things all over his body.

Which would also explain his endless hunger: his body was constantly decaying (Decay) and then regenerating/mutating (Void), which means he needed more and more food to fuel that.

[huth]

I mean...weve found out THIS VERY XPAC that Tyr was infusing protos with elemental magic. Decay is an elemental magic. And Tyr implied in Dawn of the Aspects that he and the keepers are kinda at fault in some way, saying "We never intended this path." (for Galakrond).

Did we? My understanding was that he simply observed what happens when they get infused, not that he took any active steps on causing that. I.e. it's a natural phenomenon.

The rest is just supposition on your part.

[Scyth]

I see our Old God fanatic was finally banned lol, was about time.

On topic, doing the new campaign quest has made me realise I don't particularly like any of the Black Dragons..Is it just me?
I enjoy Wrathion and Sabellion fighting like children but that's about it tbh

[huth]

I see our Old God fanatic was finally banned lol, was about time.

On topic, doing the new campaign quest has made me realise I don't particularly like any of the Black Dragons..Is it just me?
I enjoy Wrathion and Sabellion fighting like children but that's about it tbh

I think that's partially on purpose. They are rather jerkish by nature. Ebyssian is about the only one with any kind of sense, probably because he spend millenia with the Highmountain.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

I think that's partially on purpose. They are rather jerkish by nature. Ebyssian is about the only one with any kind of sense, probably because he spend millenia with the Highmountain.

Ebonhorn just feels like the basic stock sensible tauren which is just totally unfitting compared to every other black dragon ever and super boring.

They are obviously building him up to be the new aspect which is just such a lame choice when he's more tauren then dragon and doesn't seem to be moving out of that any time soon.

[Palapop]

I guess we are going back to the Azure Span for the Fyrakk assaults, so will be interesting to see what happens. Maybe we finally find out what the deal with Vakthros is.

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And we will be getting updates on Blizzcon in the next two weeks as well. Probably not anything juicy to get from that announcement, but maybe.

I'd hope to hear something about 10.2.
If its in 2 weeks, that means we'll most probably see Aberrus end-cinematic by that moment (if there is 1) AND we'll have 10.1.5 on PTR.

At least announcement/name of 10.2.

[Nymrohd]

I think that's partially on purpose. They are rather jerkish by nature. Ebyssian is about the only one with any kind of sense, probably because he spend millenia with the Highmountain.

Voraxian seems like a decent fellow.

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I mean...weve found out THIS VERY XPAC that Tyr was infusing protos with elemental magic. Decay is an elemental magic. And Tyr implied in Dawn of the Aspects that he and the keepers are kinda at fault in some way, saying "We never intended this path." (for Galakrond).

No we did not? We found that Tyr observed how protodrakes were uniquely affected by external processes and documented them being imbued with elemental magic and built the process for infusing them with Order on that information. We also learn that Yogg'Saron hijacked that process early on and attempted a different form of infusion (most likely Void but it could be Decay as well), probably by corrupting the Wellspring of Eternity. The purpose of the Halls of Infusion was to cleanse and to infuse the Azerite enriched waters from the Wellspring beneath Tyrhold with Order magic that cascades down to the Ruby Life Pools were most dragons were originally hatched.

[Nathanyel]

Well if you cut out the faction war and replace it with some Old God themed content, BfA would be a serviceable South Seas and N'zoth expac.

Alas, Afrasiabi.

[Nymrohd]

Blizzcon date in two weeks. I wonder if they will move it. It would really mean a lot to the schedule; I think they would want 10.2 raid to have been cleared BEFORE Blizzcon.

[Super Dickmann]

I mean...weve found out THIS VERY XPAC that Tyr was infusing protos with elemental magic. Decay is an elemental magic. And Tyr implied in Dawn of the Aspects that he and the keepers are kinda at fault in some way, saying "We never intended this path." (for Galakrond).

I entirely forgot that last bit. The Keepers fucking up yet again and resulting in some horror someone else has to fix is pretty on brand. Though I'll admit I'm nebulous as to whether the Incarnates were engineered or natural. The latter would be more appropriate, but I wouldn't put the first out of the question and the Elemental Planes are artificial.

@Sondrelk

It's not written either as a part of the world or as an isolated landscape. A lot of what has gone on is vague. The centaur are actually more of a problem than they look because their arrival to the Dragon Isles, relation to the elves etc. are unclear painful business and only serves to torturously shoehorn them in. And once inserted as we've gone on there's not much to them, they just suck up a zone's worth of plot.

[Nymrohd]

I entirely forgot that last bit. The Keepers fucking up yet again and resulting in some horror someone else has to fix is pretty on brand. Though I'll admit I'm nebulous as to whether the Incarnates were engineered or natural. The latter would be more appropriate, but I wouldn't put the first out of the question and the Elemental Planes are artificial.

The elements themselves though are anything but artificial. They were there first and they seem to be on every planet so they are likely one of the constants of physical reality. As for Tyr's comment on Galakrond I assume it has to do with him trying to guide drakes to drink from the Wellspring of Eternity, not realizing it was already corrupted by Yogg. The current structure that infuses dragons with Order on an industrial level was likely constructed further down the line, probably after he found his Aspects.

[Super Dickmann]

The elements themselves though are anything but artificial. They were there first and they seem to be on every planet so they are likely one of the constants of physical reality. As for Tyr's comment on Galakrond I assume it has to do with him trying to guide drakes to drink from the Wellspring of Eternity, not realizing it was already corrupted by Yogg. The current structure that infuses dragons with Order on an industrial level was likely constructed further down the line, probably after he found his Aspects.

They are a natural component, but on Azeroth post-Titans they're in their realms and it makes sense that the Titans'd look into how to steer the energies they set aside into natural forms. Dragonflight hasn't really bothered much with the implication in Cataclysm that dragons were originally elemental beings and there isn't much said on why proto-drakes were that magically malleable, unless it's just proximity like elves and the well of eternity. Otherwise agreed that the current structure is a later bit as it seems tailor-made to work with the Flights themselves and wouldn't make much sense prior to them popping up.

That said, the spirit and decay duality looks like it'll get more focus as things go on whereas I don't really see any point where the Void would keep going following a very void-themed patch. If the Neltharion plot thread is wrapped upr at least on ice and Sarkareth is dead, the only room for it is Iridikron going full Deathwing 2.0. Decay on the other hand is very much the flavor of the month, we've a missing minor baddie associated with it, Galakrond is not just swelling but rotting with the extra eyes and similar growths being just as easily explicable by mutations from his cannibalism than with Old God elements.

[Nymrohd]

They are a natural component, but on Azeroth post-Titans they're in their realms and it makes sense that the Titans'd look into how to steer the energies they set aside into natural forms. Dragonflight hasn't really bothered much with the implication in Cataclysm that dragons were originally elemental beings and there isn't much said on why proto-drakes were that magically malleable, unless it's just proximity like elves and the well of eternity. Otherwise agreed that the current structure is a later bit as it seems tailor-made to work with the Flights themselves and wouldn't make much sense prior to them popping up.

That said, the spirit and decay duality looks like it'll get more focus as things go on whereas I don't really see any point where the Void would keep going following a very void-themed patch. If the Neltharion plot thread is wrapped upr at least on ice and Sarkareth is dead, the only room for it is Iridikron going full Deathwing 2.0. Decay on the other hand is very much the flavor of the month, we've a missing minor baddie associated with it, Galakrond is not just swelling but rotting with the extra eyes and similar growths being just as easily explicable by mutations from his cannibalism than with Old God elements.

I don't think we are going to be moving to Void in this expac. It is a main plot element so it makes sense that almost every expac will revisit both light and void but I think that's as far as it goes.
As I said, depending on how late Blizzcon is what is probably for the future alters a lot.
Timeline should be like this
August 23-27 is Gamescom. If Patch 10.2 is revealed HERE then it is unlikely to be out before November. I do not see Blizzcon happening until RWF is gone or at the very least for three weeks after a patch launch. So we may get 10.2 earlier and no Gamescom presence
Mid October to early November Blizzcon. A full 2024 Roadmap is likely to go out. They will want to have a new release near the 20/30 year anniversary to capitalize on the marketing opportunity so next xpac should be revealed here. While we get the roadmap, I don't think we are getting more than a glimpse at 10.3's theme. This means that if an expansion is being revealed it (and the anniversary very much makes it necessary for it to be revealed by this point) it cannot be building on the 10.3 end.

When it comes to expansions I think we can divide them in two categories on this aspect. Some are completely indiferent to knowledge of the previous xpac. Wrath, Cata, MoP, DF could have been previewed right alongside the expacs that preceded them and all that would tell us is that the respective bad guys do not blow up the world and that those storylines are finished in their xpac. Meanwhile WoD, Legion, BfA and SL depend on the previous expansion's story to function; you need Garrosh and Sylvanas to escape justice, you need Gul'dan to somehow come back, you need the Sword. 11.0 will have to be in the first category. Avaloren could be that. Revamp could also be that. Yrel showing up with a Shining Crusade absolutely could be that. Iridikron going full Void monster and leading to a Void Expac; nah cannot be that. Murozond completely distorting the timelines leading to a Timewalking xpac? Also can't be that.

[Darkarath]

I do not think that DF will go heavily into Void stuff. I guess that we will get a tease with Aberrus' cinematic, a plot for future expansions probably. Nonetheless, we have to take into account that Old Gods have been present in all WoW expansions (minus WoD, I think), especially if Dragons were involved.

It seems that they are using DF to open many fronts, many future plots, for example:

- The Incarnates (although I have to say that now I have my doubts regarding the Incarnates. They might not survive this expansion).
- The Elementals. They are nowhere to be found and their minions are running crazy everywhere. They were linked to the Incarnates.
- Avaloren, and whatever is there. A highly advanced civilization it seems.
- The Nightsquall and the Other Side of Azeroth.
- The return of Azshara.
- A fifth Old God, which I think that would be revealed during DF.

All these threats have been teased BEFORE 10.1. This is a lot. We have 10.2 and probably 10.3 to look up to. There is no doubt that more plots would appear. Here are some ideas:

- Decay. This his been seen in a dungeon, but we would see if it remains a side plot or if it becomes its own thing.

- Galakrond. He is coming, and he might be related to the previous point. There is the possibility that Galakrond escapes the Timeways and comes to our world. Maybe Iridikron uses him as a distraction, maybe the Infinites release him by accident. He could become the master of Decay and give WoW a new Plague-type threat.

- Whatever comes of the Nozdormu-Murozond plot. Maybe nothing comes out of it, but they certainly have infinite possibilities there.

- Whatever comes of Iridikron's plot. We have no idea of what he is trying to do, but I bet that before dying he would release a potential new threat for Azeroth.

- More Old Gods besides the fifth, probably N'zoth. If 10.2 is related to the Emerald Dream, and everything is pointing in that direction, Old Gods will be there in some way.

It is an amazing time to be playing WoW. So many potential threads to follow. I have no doubt that something big and unexpected will happen in DF. I am very intrigued about Fyrakk too. It seems that he is going to be deal with in 10.1 questing experience. I hope that this is not the case, and that the final step of this questline, ''A Flame Extinguished'', refers to a member of the Black Dragonflight.

[Sondrelk]

@Darkarath

Galakrond feels like he would be difficult to make a recurring villain. Iridikron maybe, given he is a schemer and all, but Galakrond is always shown as a mindless beast.

Maybe Iridikron takes the power Galakrond gained, whether that was Decay, Old God corruption, or whatever, and effectively becomes the new Scourge threat.

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I entirely forgot that last bit. The Keepers fucking up yet again and resulting in some horror someone else has to fix is pretty on brand. Though I'll admit I'm nebulous as to whether the Incarnates were engineered or natural. The latter would be more appropriate, but I wouldn't put the first out of the question and the Elemental Planes are artificial.

@Sondrelk

It's not written either as a part of the world or as an isolated landscape. A lot of what has gone on is vague. The centaur are actually more of a problem than they look because their arrival to the Dragon Isles, relation to the elves etc. are unclear painful business and only serves to torturously shoehorn them in. And once inserted as we've gone on there's not much to them, they just suck up a zone's worth of plot.

I guess you should mention the Gnolls though. While they are also shoehorned in, I do think that they got improved as a whole with this expansion. Actually fleshing them out as a threat, alongside giving them a vague link to a cosmic power that fits them.

[Darkarath]

@Darkarath

Galakrond feels like he would be difficult to make a recurring villain. Iridikron maybe, given he is a schemer and all, but Galakrond is always shown as a mindless beast.

Maybe Iridikron takes the power Galakrond gained, whether that was Decay, Old God corruption, or whatever, and effectively becomes the new Scourge threat.

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I guess you should mention the Gnolls though. While they are also shoehorned in, I do think that they got improved as a whole with this expansion. Actually fleshing them out as a threat, alongside giving them a vague link to a cosmic power that fits them.

Galakrond has been shown to us as a mindless beast, but we cannot trust anything that the Watchers or Titans told us. We cannot even trust the Aspects, as there are a lot of things that they are not telling us. I am very curious to see how Tyr's plot advances. Pretty sure that he is not better than Odyn.

[Nymrohd]

Btw one thing I have to say


WHERE IS MY TIAMAT BOSS??? I want Chromatus dammit.