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

[huth]

What you're imagining that my suggestion etails, you mean. I haven't given you a detailed description of what they could be, just a quick mention toying with the idea.

Which is complete and utter nonsense because you're talking about a race that is officially already playable. On both factions, too.

Perhaps these High Elves go through a cleansing ritual in the Sunwell, purging any trace of Fel, Death, or Void magic from their bodies. This might make them more radiant, and taller.

That'd just be Blood Elves again.

You're not making the idea more appealing. You're just creating more holes in it.

[Varodoc]

The story is about reuining the Elves. That doesnt necessarily mean they have to live in the same city, or that the game has to make it a fully fledged city for the Alliance on principle. It could still be friendly to both, but have portals for the Horde.


Also I don't see how my idea doesnt mean 4 levelling zones.
Start in Hinterlands (possibly Arathi Highlands). Go to the Forsaken zones for the second zone. Plaguelands for the third. And end up in Quel'Danas outside the gates of Silvermoon to start the endgame.

And yes, they could absolutely make four big zones out of Ghostlands, Eversong, and Isle of Quel'Danas. My question is just why would they necessariyl want to do that when they also have the ability to revamp Stratholme. Bring back the Scarlet Crusade. Retake Gilneas. And still have Hinterlands for Troll stuff?
That part of the continent is the perfect size for an expansion. And doing it this way allows for a strong A plot with Silvermoon, and a strong pick for B plot with the Scourge remnants/Scarlet Crusade.

Because that's how you get a messed-up abomination like BfA that stiched up together 3 different expansion settings (South Seas + Nazjatar + Ny'alotha) and ended up rushing all three of them.

You can easily set that "B plot" stuff with Scourge remnants and Scarlet Crusade in Quel'Thalas.

An expansion with only Quel'Thalas will 10000% have better lore than an expansion with both Quel'Thalas and Lordaeron.

[Pyrophax]

Isle of Quel’danas will likely be expanded in size and be the “Midnight” zone of the expansion, being controlled by the void and in a state of perpetual midnight. I can see some underwater sections dotted around it too with Naga as well as Azshara raising landmasses around it to give it even more size and depth.

And that new BE and NE boats that was datamined a while ago make sence. Quel'Danas have no bridges, its boat ride.

[RahEndymion]

It's weird how dead the thread is now. I don't recall it being like this after SL or DF and both of those looked much worse when announced imo. If we're optimistic, it's possible that there's less to moan about and therefor less to talk about? Who knows.

So far, I'm really enjoying 10.2 but I am questioning a bit how we're going to get from Amirdrasil to TWW in two minor patches or 1 and a prepatch? Dragonflight doesn't feel even 70% concluded at this point. Whether we deal with Iridikron or not, there seems to have been very little love for the red flight in the whole expansion and it's starting to feel a little like BFA, where the things we were given feel lesser than the things we could have been given.

It's like the major and minor patches are backwards. Why give blue dragon content in a small patch questline and have 10.1 focus on mole people and black dragon succession over Vakthros? Forbidden reach and bronze dragon stuff in minor patch only to ass pull a world tree and emerald dream in a major patch?

It's like they've gone to such lengths to give an explainer to why Fyrakk has decided to attack a tree nobody knew existed 5 mins ago while simultaneously ignoring all of the cool things they built up in 10.0.. Like the gnolls, decay, Vakthros and so on.

Really does feel like BFA 2.0 at this stage.

[Paula Deen]

Can confirm that one is definitely in-engine.

Now do one with the Jailer in the place of the Tuskarr and call it Wrath of the Bolvar. Drop it on an alt account with zero posts as well. Name the account Nimalram

[Pheraz]

<tinfoil>

Metzen returned little over a year ago. Everybody realised his ideas were better, and the narrative they had intended for the next few years blew.

They abandoned a lot of the stuff being set up early in Dragonflight, and instead honed in on the future Void and Titans story arcs. Dumped a few books in the Forbidden Reach and the Emerald Dream to build things up a little bit in terms of Khaz Algar, the Harbinger, etc.

Hastily duct taped together some of Fyrakk's storyline as the main antagonist of Dragonflight, before pivoting to War Within.

Rest of Dragonflight lets us dabble with Tyr's storyline, level new Paladins, Shamans and maybe Druids, and finally go nuts in the final season before pre-patch begins in late summer.

That's why we're getting seemingly two filler expansions in a row with Dragonflight and War Within. They needed to buy time and properly set up the big Void confrontation.

</tinfoil>

I don't think this is tinfoil mode. I think this is exactly what happened. No irony

[Sondrelk]

It's weird how dead the thread is now. I don't recall it being like this after SL or DF and both of those looked much worse when announced imo. If we're optimistic, it's possible that there's less to moan about and therefor less to talk about? Who knows.

So far, I'm really enjoying 10.2 but I am questioning a bit how we're going to get from Amirdrasil to TWW in two minor patches or 1 and a prepatch? Dragonflight doesn't feel even 70% concluded at this point. Whether we deal with Iridikron or not, there seems to have been very little love for the red flight in the whole expansion and it's starting to feel a little like BFA, where the things we were given feel lesser than the things we could have been given.

It's like the major and minor patches are backwards. Why give blue dragon content in a small patch questline and have 10.1 focus on mole people and black dragon succession over Vakthros? Forbidden reach and bronze dragon stuff in minor patch only to ass pull a world tree and emerald dream in a major patch?

It's like they've gone to such lengths to give an explainer to why Fyrakk has decided to attack a tree nobody knew existed 5 mins ago while simultaneously ignoring all of the cool things they built up in 10.0.. Like the gnolls, decay, Vakthros and so on.

Really does feel like BFA 2.0 at this stage.

Not really. This is basically how it always is a week or so after the announcement.
We already know basically everything, and the parts we don't need more context from the game. Like for instance what happens at the end of the raid.

[Ersula]

But to elaborate a bit, here are some basic differences that would set them apart enough from existing races:

- New racial abilities.
- Unique hairstyles.
- New starting area.
- New racial mount.
- New heritage armour set.

I would assume a new elf race would have to be entirely new. Darkfallen elves would have been more deserving of the allied race treatment than the retro High Elf remnant & they were reduced to customization options, just like the Wildhammer Dwarves. But what do I know? Blizzard's decisions never make sense to me.

I know a High Elf race would make High Elf fans happy, but it would make them just as happy to add tattoos (face paint? I always assumed those markings were just facepaint) to Blood Elf & Void Elf customization options. Because contextually, aesthetically & factually Blood Elves & Void Elves are already High Elves. "Well we are getting 3 versions of Dwarves" There are already 4 varieties of Elves. 6 if you count Trolls as proto-elves.

I don't think this is tinfoil mode. I think this is exactly what happened. No irony

This does seem like the most logical course of action: But a common trap you can fall into as a writer (& wow has done several times) is taking huge periods of time in order to "build up" a big antagonist or conflict & when you reach the end of that period you realize you have no ideas. It's like Game of Thrones levels of procrastination. It's bound to make every expansion feel anti-climactic.

Shadowlands had a lot of problems but at least the ending was an ending. It had a definitive conclusion. There's a decent chance we're going to go 4 expansions without a proper climax.

[Cheezits]

Something I realized, Amani women are just green darkspear model. Does that mean they can't be an AR or will they retcon it?

I think Naga are the most likely race for Midnight besides Ethereal, but Amani will definitely be there

- - - Updated - - -

I would assume a new elf race would have to be entirely new. Darkfallen elves would have been more deserving of the allied race treatment than the retro High Elf remnant & they were reduced to customization options, just like the Wildhammer Dwarves. But what do I know? Blizzard's decisions never make sense to me.

I know a High Elf race would make High Elf fans happy, but it would make them just as happy to add tattoos (face paint? I always assumed those markings were just facepaint) to Blood Elf & Void Elf customization options. Because contextually, aesthetically & factually Blood Elves & Void Elves are already High Elves. "Well we are getting 3 versions of Dwarves" There are already 4 varieties of Elves. 6 if you count Trolls as proto-elves.This does seem like the most logical course of action: But a common trap you can fall into as a writer (& wow has done several times) is taking huge periods of time in order to "build up" a big antagonist or conflict & when you reach the end of that period you realize you have no ideas. It's like Game of Thrones levels of procrastination.

I really pray they just give Velf tattoos and make the entropy racial an optional thing so people will shut up about Helf as an AR. Just give them all the belf customizations too. At that point it's just voicelines.

[Well Done Steak]

When can we expect 10.2.5 on ptr?

I'm hoping for dracthyr classes and paladins for everyone

[Paula Deen]

I love you all (except for the Reagan Era spy bird drone present in the thread), and I enjoy the speculation, but you guys gotta temper these expectations. 10.2.5 is gonna be a couple questlines I would bet. Nothing insane. We aren't gonna have another Secrets of Azeroth event or any crazy goose chase. They would save that for the next expansion...not that the idea is bad. It just isn't happening till 11.0

[Cheezits]

When can we expect 10.2.5 on ptr?

I'm hoping for dracthyr classes and paladins for everyone

Next week as the announcement disappeared from today. What's odd is that they said PTR was this week at Blizzcon, so why did they decide to change it? Did they forget it would spoil the raid?

[Paula Deen]

When can we expect 10.2.5 on ptr?

I'm hoping for dracthyr classes and paladins for everyone

Temper that expectation. But uh...probably next week if not the 1st week in December. its either now or then due to the holidays sandwhiched between.

Next week as the announcement disappeared from today. What's odd is that they said PTR was this week at Blizzcon, so why did they decide to change it? Did they forget it would spoil the raid?

This is absolutely why it was moved lmao.

[Cheezits]

I love you all (except for the Reagan Era spy bird drone present in the thread), and I enjoy the speculation, but you guys gotta temper these expectations. 10.2.5 is gonna be a couple questlines I would bet. Nothing insane. We aren't gonna have another Secrets of Azeroth event or any crazy goose chase. They would save that for the next expansion...not that the idea is bad. It just isn't happening till 11.0

Eh, I expect a Trading Post level thing snuck in. Considering it wasn't mentioned at all at Blizzcon, maybe Brawlers Guild?

Class unlocks, Fire Nelf skin, and maybe Tuskarr AR? I am feeling the Gnoll may be tied to that.

[blaatschaap]

The planned "In development" thing for today is now gone from the This week in WoW article schedule

[Ersula]

I really pray they just give Velf tattoos and make the entropy racial an optional thing so people will shut up about Helf as an AR. Just give them all the belf customizations too. At that point it's just voicelines.

That's the current conspiracy theory. Are we getting Druid Drakthyr & Belf hair for Void Elves? Or was the person who made the Warbands mockup just incompetent? Hell, they should probably just give us those things so the WoW team doesn't seem incompetent.

The planned "In development" thing for today is now gone from the This week in WoW article schedule

I have to assume it was postponed a week because they don't want to spoil something that happens in the Amirdrassil raid cinematic? But then again they did this for the Shadowlands fated raid development & there was nothing in it that would have spoiled the Sepulcher ending.

Temper that expectation. But uh...probably next week if not the 1st week in December. its either now or then due to the holidays sandwhiched between.

That would mean the next patch has been on the vendor for over a month before it going up on the PTR. That's a bit ridiculous. It's never been that long. Unless it's something huge.

[Well Done Steak]

Temper that expectation. But uh...probably next week if not the 1st week in December. its either now or then due to the holidays sandwhiched between.


This is absolutely why it was moved lmao.

I think Ion is full of shit and that dracthyr with leather gear in the warband screenshot was definitely not an evoker.

As for paladins, I feel like the Tyr's guard is a sure in for blanket paladins. I mean they have a kultiran paladin already.

[Cheezits]

- The ultimate thing would be new body poses, but that's a large change and something all races need... it's just that I think Blood/Void Elves have such an overly stylised pose. I'd like a more neutral option.

I really am shocked that they never, not even once, openly considered posture options for Belves/Velves when they are so popular.

I can understand not doing Forsaken posture because MUH FANTASY but Belves are like the 2nd or 3rd most played race.

[Paula Deen]

I think Ion is full of shit and that dracthyr with leather gear in the warband screenshot was definitely not an evoker.

As for paladins, I feel like the Tyr's guard is a sure in for blanket paladins. I mean they have a kultiran paladin already.

Part of the Identity of both Paladin's and Shamans, I feel, is intrinsically tied to the fact that at one point they were available only to one faction. I would love to be able to play a different race of shaman (kidding of course Rock & Stone 4 lyfe) but I think Pally and Shaman, Druid, Demon Hunter and Evoker are probably going to be the hold outs for everyone can be everything. Maybe eventually they will join the fold, Shaman and Pally, but I don't think now is the time.

- - - Updated - - -

That would mean the next patch has been on the vendor for over a month before it going up on the PTR. That's a bit ridiculous. It's never been that long. Unless it's something huge.

Im subscribing to the theory that whatever is in 10.2.5 is spoiling the raid. My guesses in order of most to least likely.

Amirdrissal in the Plains because accessing a zone in a Dragonflight expac via portal is dumb.
Epilogue Questline
Tyr and the Gang fight Alexstraza
Vyranoth still bad

[Cheezits]

Considering the newly revealed arc of the saga I don't think bringing Tyr back is 100% going to be a good thing. To that end I think Tyrs Guard may be bait, like that one Belf yammering on about Order feels like an obvious villain.