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

[Chickat]

This is a stacked year for what is usually a content draught year especially if you play classic.

Jan-10.2.5
Jan- RS Wrath
Feb- Phase 2 SoD
March-10.2.6
March- TWW Alpha and Cata Beta
April-Self found HC
April- Season 4 WoW
April/May-Phase 3 SoD level 50.
May- Cata Prepatch
May- 10.2.7
June- Cata
June- TWW Beta
July/August- TWW Prepatch
July/August- Phase 4 SoD level 60
August/September- TWW launch
Septembr- Troll dungeons Cata
October- Firelands Cata
November- Patch 11.0.5
November- SoD Level 60 content updates

If you play any version of Classic plus retail you literally never have to wait for new content.

If you play classic, SoD, plus retail you may be overwhelmed with content.


Its a good time to be a WoW player.

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There are datamined changes to Siege of Orgrimmar, but I think they are aware of how popular ToT is, so we may be getting several Timewalking raids + some form of outdoor timewalking in the "Timerunning" bundle.

They could do something like the anniversary raid. A raid with 10 of the best bosses from each raid from the xpac.

So 2-3 from the first tier. 3-4 from the ToT, and 3-4 from Siege. Could be fun. Kinda like wings.

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From the books peeps been finding around Dragon Isles. 10.2.6 indicator? Miniraid perhaps?

A forbiddren reach sized pirate zone with a 2-3 boss raid would be super fun.

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What i'm the world is 10.2.6 if they won't even say?

Timerunning sounds like Mists but the whole continent.

I think 10.2.6 is going to be MoP world content relevant for level 70s. Rewarding like lfr/normal tier gear from season 4. I look forward to doing ToT/Timeless isle again if thatch the case. And it will only be for 2 or 3 months so that will be a nice fun thing to hold us over.

[Vakir]

If it's the Nightsquall, there will be an opportunity for twitter drama as the dev that wrote that lore book got fired. I already saw them making a small comment about the patch.

What were the circumstances?

[Chickat]

Bonkers sale going on right now, om Battle.net.

Sometimes I hate the fact that I buy half of this stuff when it comes out. Sales are never exciting anymore.

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Oh crap, I just realised.

10.2.7 is called "Dark Heart" and has Harbinger Quests as a feature.

"A dark heart left broken awaits the taking," remember?

Yeah. 10.2.6 is going to be something unique and fun imo.
10.2.5 is the epilogue to DF.
10.2.7 is the Bridge to 11.0 with the prepatch being the prologue to TWW.

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Isn't timerunning something like those quests in the temporal conflux? Running through golden bubbles in historic zones?

There was that vampire Surviors thing datamined. Could Timerunning be a wow minigame mode version of that?

[Merryck]

A vampire survivors mode would be absurdly fun as a boomkin.

[Scyth]

Do we know what the DF epilogue will be? Can't remember seeing any data mining but maybe I missed it.

[Worldshaper]

Okay, so 10.2.7 is called "Dark Heart".

Two of its features involve Pandaria (Timerunning Pandamonium) and Harbinger Quests.

Because the book A Song of the Depths lists "a dark heart left broken awaits the taking" as the final step before the Harbinger (Xal'atath) can carry out the "awakening", I think this is all very interesting.

Y'Shaarj's heart was last seen in the events of 5.4, Siege of Orgrimmar, when Garrosh Hellscream used it to empower himself. Before that, it had been kept in a vault underneath Pandaria for thousands of years.

Khaz Algar is located off the west coast of Pandaria, so presumably its depths would overlap with the corpse of Y'Shaarj, and we know the Nerubians are harvesting Old God blood down there.

So, yeah. It seems like we'll be chasing after the Harbinger in Pandaria in the final patch of Dragonflight.

But why is it Timerunning? Well, the two major (and by far the most popular) raids of MoP were the Throne of Thunder and the Siege of Orgrimmar. Each of these involve the story of Keeper Ra and the dark heart in a way.

What if Blizzard are repurposing these as revamped raids where we have to go back in time, seeking to prevent Xal'atath from claiming the remnants of Y'Shaarj's heart?

After all, that's pretty much what we did with the essence of Galakrond in 10.1.5.

Could of course also involve world content on Pandaria. Pandemonium essentially means chaos. So Pandamonium presumably involves chaos in Pandaria.

After all, Garrosh's new axe in SoO was empower by the heart, and called Xal'atoh. Seems oddly familiar, doesn't it.

[Darkarath]

Okay, so 10.2.7 is called "Dark Heart".

Two of its features involve Pandaria (Timerunning Pandamonium) and Harbinger Quests.

Because the book A Song of the Depths lists "a dark heart left broken awaits the taking" as the final step before the Harbinger (Xal'atath) can carry out the "awakening", I think this is all very interesting.

Y'Shaarj's heart was last seen in the events of 5.4, Siege of Orgrimmar, when Garrosh Hellscream used it to empower himself. Before that, it had been kept in a vault underneath Pandaria for thousands of years.

Khaz Algar is located off the west coast of Pandaria, so presumably its depths would overlap with the corpse of Y'Shaarj, and we know the Nerubians are harvesting Old God blood down there.

So, yeah. It seems like we'll be chasing after the Harbinger in Pandaria in the final patch of Dragonflight.

But why is it Timerunning? Well, the two major (and by far the most popular) raids of MoP were the Throne of Thunder and the Siege of Orgrimmar. Each of these involve the story of Keeper Ra and the dark heart in a way.

What if Blizzard are repurposing these as revamped raids where we have to go back in time, seeking to prevent Xal'atath from claiming the remnants of Y'Shaarj's heart?

After all, that's pretty much what we did with the essence of Galakrond in 10.1.5.

Could of course also involve world content on Pandaria. Pandemonium essentially means chaos. So Pandamonium presumably involves chaos in Pandaria.

After all, Garrosh's new axe in SoO was empower by the heart, and called Xal'atoh. Seems oddly familiar, doesn't it.

Hmmm do not know about the raids. Season 4 would be already underway and we know that the Fated raids will be DF raids. I can see Siege of Orgrimmar as the new TW raid, though, but not much else beyond that. I expect outdoor content in some way in Pandaria, but the datamined items related to the event seem to focus on speed, so there is that.

The location of Pandaria in relation to Khaz Algar is interesting. I do not think that we will chasing Xal'athat in any way. She is probably busy building her underground army of Nerubians. But Iridikron with his Void Dragon Soul thing... We might chase him in some form, although I do not see more time stuff happening after Dawn of the Infinite for a while. Definitively I expect to see something about Iridikron before 11.0. They cannot show him as the main villain and be done with him in 10.1.5. By the information that we have in game, we still do not have a clue about what Iridikron's plan is.

I can see Plunder Isle or Tel Abim in 10.2.6. Blizzard might move them to the south of their supposedly original location. In such a way they would be relatively close to Pandaria and Khaz Algar. An outpost for our future visit to the new continent.

[MCMLXXXII]

Still think Timerunning is something like this quest:

https://www.wowhead.com/quest=66038/race-through-time

[Worldshaper]

Still think Timerunning is something like this quest:

https://www.wowhead.com/quest=66038/race-through-time

Definitely possible.

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Hmmm do not know about the raids. Season 4 would be already underway and we know that the Fated raids will be DF raids. I can see Siege of Orgrimmar as the new TW raid, though, but not much else beyond that. I expect outdoor content in some way in Pandaria, but the datamined items related to the event seem to focus on speed, so there is that.

The location of Pandaria in relation to Khaz Algar is interesting. I do not think that we will chasing Xal'athat in any way. She is probably busy building her underground army of Nerubians. But Iridikron with his Void Dragon Soul thing... We might chase him in some form, although I do not see more time stuff happening after Dawn of the Infinite for a while. Definitively I expect to see something about Iridikron before 11.0. They cannot show him as the main villain and be done with him in 10.1.5. By the information that we have in game, we still do not have a clue about what Iridikron's plan is.

I can see Plunder Isle or Tel Abim in 10.2.6. Blizzard might move them to the south of their supposedly original location. In such a way they would be relatively close to Pandaria and Khaz Algar. An outpost for our future visit to the new continent.

I'm not convinced either way what the exact content and gameplay will be, just trying to establish the general theme. I think it'll be about Xal'atath gathering the heart of Y'Shaarj, is my point.

I could perhaps see 10.2.6 as a pirate patch that sets up these Nightsquall dudes as a force to be reckoned with in the South Seas, along with Queen Azshara's naga.

Then in 10.2.7 maybe this results in a showdown on Pandaria, where we do something time-related to prevent Xal'atath from claiming the heart. We fail, of course, but perhaps we get something nice as a consolation price.

For example, we manage to save an uncorrupted Keeper Ra from the timeline.

[Lady Atia]

Definitely possible.

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I'm not convinced either way what the exact content and gameplay will be, just trying to establish the general theme. I think it'll be about Xal'atath gathering the heart of Y'Shaarj, is my point.

I could perhaps see 10.2.6 as a pirate patch that sets up these Nightsquall dudes as a force to be reckoned with in the South Seas, along with Queen Azshara's naga.

Then in 10.2.7 maybe this results in a showdown on Pandaria, where we do something time-related to prevent Xal'atath from claiming the heart. We fail, of course, but perhaps we get something nice as a consolation price.

For example, we manage to save an uncorrupted Keeper Ra from the timeline.

Well, killing Ra-den was another of the many mistakes of shitty BfA, so I would actually like that haha.

[Varodoc]

I predict that Patch 10.2.7 the "Dark Heart" will feature a return to Pandaria and the whole Y'Shaarj/Corrupted heart plotline. This will serve as lead-up to the War Within, where Khaz Algar is close to Pandaria and the black blood of the Old Gods will be featured majorly (already confirmed at Blizzcon).

I expect the Pandaren to get their Heritage armour at a later date and also involve the Y'Shaarj/corrupted heart in some way, as well as the constant Mantid incursions against the Pandaria wall.

Also, I don't believe for a moment that the name "Timerunning Pandamonium" is a coincidence when there is a place near Panda land called "The Timeless Isle".

Expect more Pandaria/Pandaren/Y'Shaarj/Mantid focus in Patch 10.2.7 The Dark Heart.

It makes sense, it is logical. Khaz Algar is near Pandaria and the black blood of the Old Gods will feature in the next expansion. Where else would you have the tie-in storyline?

[Cheezits]

I think it's really cool that the next two patches potentially may feature on completely different continents/islands (Plunder Isle, Pandaria) that lead in well to the next expansion. Has anything like this happened before?

[Murlocos]

I think it's really cool that the next two patches potentially may feature on completely different continents/islands (Plunder Isle, Pandaria) that lead in well to the next expansion. Has anything like this happened before?

Depends on what you mean? Non-prepatch event content that ties into the next expansion has only really happened with Wrath -> Cata and Legion -> BfA. TBC and SL had the shortest content droughts leading to the next expansion, albeit SL's story tells far more in its first year than its second. There's no real precedent for a steady flow of content patches 6-8 months leading up to an expansion release.

A lot of devs have been conspicuously hyping up the mystery patch. Given its proximity to the start of S4, I'm not confident that it'll be a surprise mini raid or catchup zone; that'd just be a repeat of the issues with the Forbidden Reach getting obsoleted 6 weeks after release. A mini Island Expedition overhaul that makes them accessible outside of BfA cities with updated rewards would be a pleasant surprise. Hell, they still have some NPC-only BfA gear they use as rewards.

Holly said on Twitter that Pandamonium would be better than just bringing back MoP challenge modes. My current guess is that Timerunning will have some sort of remixed world content on top of CMs and Siege of Orgrimmar being the next TW raid. The easiest answer is them grafting invasion-style content onto Pandaria zones.

[Makorus]

Anyone who thinks Timerunning is anything lore-related or hints at anything Pandaria-related is deluding themselves.

It's the comeback of Challenge Modes.

Timerunning, because Challenge Modes are purely timer-based, so you have to move quickly (run) compared to a normal dungeon where you can take it at any pace (walk).

It's MoP because that was the first expansion with the first real FOMO rewards like that outside of Gladiator.

I don't know about bringing old raids back simply because it will clash with Fated.

[doledippers]

curious what y'all think but IMO this is the best time to be a wow player in the game's history

[Cheezits]

curious what y'all think but IMO this is the best time to be a wow player in the game's history

Actually knowing (most of) what is coming for a whole year is very very good, yes. Even if you don't like the content you can plan accordingly.

[Lady Atia]

Anyone who thinks Timerunning is anything lore-related or hints at anything Pandaria-related is deluding themselves.

It's the comeback of Challenge Modes.

Timerunning, because Challenge Modes are purely timer-based, so you have to move quickly (run) compared to a normal dungeon where you can take it at any pace (walk).

It's MoP because that was the first expansion with the first real FOMO rewards like that outside of Gladiator.

I don't know about bringing old raids back simply because it will clash with Fated.

If they bring back the old CM sets and mounts they surely have to bring back old elite sets and gladiator mounts too.

Tbf, I think they will prolly just use the unused recolours, like f.e. the red paladin set, instead of the original rewards.

[Ersula]

Anyone who thinks Timerunning is anything lore-deluded or hints at anything Pandaria-related is deluding themselves.

It's the comeback of Challenge Modes.

Timerunning, because Challenge Modes are purely timer-based, so you have to move quickly (run) compared to a normal dungeon where you can take it at any pace (walk).

It's MoP because that was the first expansion with the first real FOMO rewards like that outside of Gladiator.

I don't know about bringing old raids back simply because it will clash with Fated.

So it is Pandaria-related.

curious what y'all think but IMO this is the best time to be a wow player in the game's history

I still haven't seen any reason to play retail. Everyone's playing SoD. We don't even know what any of the upcoming content is; we still haven't seen what delves actually are, or "Azerothian archives" or "Timerunning". My personal appreciation for Dragonflight ended when we found out it was going to have less raid content than Shadowlands. Does a lot of patches with content that doesn't even appeal to you excite you as a player?

It's funny how the people excited for Cata are the same people who constantly shit on retail, when Cata is closer to the state of retail than it is to classic: An actual clown show of a live service game.

[Worldshaper]

I predict that Patch 10.2.7 the "Dark Heart" will feature a return to Pandaria and the whole Y'Shaarj/Corrupted heart plotline. This will serve as lead-up to the War Within, where Khaz Algar is close to Pandaria and the black blood of the Old Gods will be featured majorly (already confirmed at Blizzcon).

I expect the Pandaren to get their Heritage armour at a later date and also involve the Y'Shaarj/corrupted heart in some way, as well as the constant Mantid incursions against the Pandaria wall.

Also, I don't believe for a moment that the name "Timerunning Pandamonium" is a coincidence when there is a place near Panda land called "The Timeless Isle".

Expect more Pandaria/Pandaren/Y'Shaarj/Mantid focus in Patch 10.2.7 The Dark Heart.

It makes sense, it is logical. Khaz Algar is near Pandaria and the black blood of the Old Gods will feature in the next expansion. Where else would you have the tie-in storyline?

Lmao, literally what I said.

[Khaza-R]

Anyone who thinks Timerunning is anything lore-related or hints at anything Pandaria-related is deluding themselves.

It's the comeback of Challenge Modes.

Timerunning, because Challenge Modes are purely timer-based, so you have to move quickly (run) compared to a normal dungeon where you can take it at any pace (walk).

It's MoP because that was the first expansion with the first real FOMO rewards like that outside of Gladiator.

I don't know about bringing old raids back simply because it will clash with Fated.

I mean the actual event is called "Timerunning : Pandamonium"

And yes, they deliberately misspelled pandemonium. So its undoubtedly Pandaria/Panderan related.