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

[Kiivar86]

Amusingly, the whole mini portal thing hearkens back to one of the fake leaks for Shadowlands (that there were small mini portals at edges of zones leading to other lands).

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Does anyone else remember before 10.0 Teriz was THE adamant Bard denier, and has done a complete 180 now that Augementation Evokers were revealed?

To play Teriz's advocate, I do believe there's some degree of sense behind his willingness to start entertaining it. The introduction of a support specialization opens up a number of possibilities that would be conducive to the introduction of a Bard class. Then again, I'm of the mind the most realistic approach would be to make it a fourth specialization for Rogues.

[Nymrohd]

To play Teriz's advocate, I do believe there's some degree of sense behind his willingness to start entertaining it. The introduction of a support specialization opens up a number of possibilities that would be conducive to the introduction of a Bard class. Then again, I'm of the mind the most realistic approach would be to make it a fourth specialization for Rogues.

Really, when there is material for a playstyle but the theme is theme or the possible themes are too disparate (a common issue with bardic subclasses in every fantasy genre; a Skald, a Song Mage and a Jester have nothing in common thematically), and given that the bard has no thematic racial distinctions, better to just add him to a core class that already fits the overarching theme.

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Flying islands
Get to it via certain sky tunnels through tornadoes
Do the same with an underwater world, and a path to the fireman's.
BOOM 11.0 and the elemental expansion where our incarnates are the gulfan of the expansion

We could have Iridikron BREAK the Elemental Planes. That would mean that the Elemental Lords would return to Azeroth and any elementals that died would also be reborn in Azeroth. I don't know if they'd just spawn randomly or in their original domains (Uldum for Air, Blackrock for Fire, probably somewhere close to Darkshore for Water and close to Tirisfal for Earth judging by the original map?)
Only issue is we'd have another set of zones that were very separate. Making them flying islands does not at all fit Water and Earth and barely fits fire btw. And traveling via tunnels from zone to zone means no good transitions and back to the Shadowlands mess of completely disconnected zones so yikes.

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You could have something like a cloud tunnel to a mountain peak area or a sky island as well. Probably would be a bit to obvious if there was no containing structure (i tend to get a short jolt when the area switches), but not fundamentally impossible.

I'd assume you could make another zone part of the local skybox; fly high enough and you change zones, the previous continent is part of the skybox (well the bottom part) and the zone starts becoming more distinct.

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However, more likely than other Dracthyr classes to me are other Evoker 'races' - or actually, Evokers with different Visage races. The regular race customization, plus some draconic features like the scales and horns.

First, I'll say this is offtopic. There is an entire thread about it. Second, other Dracthyr classes are confirmed by Ion (and he specifically mentions warrior and mage abilities) so I don't see how anything could be "more likely" than that.

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Ah yes, that gives me one good way to detect fake leaks: since the theme and location of 11.0 is most likely already set in stone by now, do not trust any claims that 11.0 is underground "because Zaralek worked", this cave arrived way too late to affect 11.0 in such a major way as not being underground if it hadn't worked.

Yeah I would assume that Zaralek's reception might influence 12.0 but definitely not 11.0

That said, underground zones add some much needed variety to the patch zone theme of yet another island so there is that. So Zaralek reception could influence 11.0 patch content imo.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Really, when there is material for a playstyle but the theme is theme or the possible themes are too disparate (a common issue with bardic subclasses in every fantasy genre; a Skald, a Song Mage and a Jester have nothing in common thematically), and given that the bard has no thematic racial distinctions, better to just add him to a core class that already fits the overarching theme.

That's a fair point. I would argue against you on the grounds of the absence of a strong lore basis for a Bard, but I think Evokers have sort of removed that requisite. I do have to wonder what kind of expansion would enable that, however; a world revamp seems most plausible for the addition of a Bard class. A Necromancer or—and I can't believe I'm about to be on record as saying this—Tinker would something more interesting to me, but I can see there's some demand for a Bard class, and it would be a nice addition to see.

[Teriz]

That's a fair point. I would argue against you on the grounds of the absence of a strong lore basis for a Bard, but I think Evokers have sort of removed that requisite. I do have to wonder what kind of expansion would enable that, however; a world revamp seems most plausible for the addition of a Bard class. A Necromancer or—and I can't believe I'm about to be on record as saying this—Tinker would something more interesting to me, but I can see there's some demand for a Bard class, and it would be a nice addition to see.

Evokers have a very strong basis in lore; The history of Black Dragons in WoW creating chromatic/artificial (and even human-like) dragons. Evokers also have the lore basis of dragons being empowered by the five aspects, and the ability to take the form of a mortal. In terms of heroes to base them on, you have hero characters like Alexstraza, Chromie, and Deathwing from HotS to provide a mechanical basis for abilities. Finally, you have a potential expansion location that fits their theme; The Dragon Isles.

You put that together and you have a strong basis for a WoW class.

It’s important to note that Bards have nothing like that in WoW. The closest they have is the ETC, which is fundamentally a joke character with zero actual lore.

[huth]

Evokers have a very strong basis in lore; The history of Black Dragons in WoW creating chromatic/artificial (and even human-like) dragons. Evokers also have the lore basis of dragons being empowered by the five aspects, and the ability to take the form of a mortal. In terms of heroes to base them on, you have hero characters like Alexstraza, Chromie, and Deathwing from HotS to provide a mechanical basis for abilities. Finally, you have a potential expansion location that fits their theme; The Dragon Isles.

You put that together and you have a strong basis for a WoW class.

It’s important to note that Bards have nothing like that in WoW. The closest they have is the ETC, which is fundamentally a joke character with zero actual lore.

You mean like Chen? I guess that guarantees that we'll eventually see bards then.

[Nymrohd]

That's a fair point. I would argue against you on the grounds of the absence of a strong lore basis for a Bard, but I think Evokers have sort of removed that requisite. I do have to wonder what kind of expansion would enable that, however; a world revamp seems most plausible for the addition of a Bard class. A Necromancer or—and I can't believe I'm about to be on record as saying this—Tinker would something more interesting to me, but I can see there's some demand for a Bard class, and it would be a nice addition to see.

See if it is just an additional spec, it doesn't need nearly the same set up that a new class does. It even has many mog options (Antorus rogue tier is pretty much Bard mog). As for the reasoning, I'd assume it would be added specs to multiple classes. Not necessarily ALL of them but easily 2-4 new specs added to classes other than druid.

[Teriz]

You mean like Chen? I guess that guarantees that we'll eventually see bards then.

You mean the WC3 hero that Blizzard built into a franchise character, and made it clear by Vanilla that Pandaren and Pandaria were a legitimate race and location on Azeroth?

In short, Chen left joke status rather quickly. ETC has been around for two decades and he’s still a joke character.

[huth]

You mean the WC3 hero that Blizzard built into a franchise character, and made it clear by Vanilla that Pandaren and Pandaria were a legitimate race and location on Azeroth?

In short, Chen left joke status rather quickly. ETC has been around for two decades and he’s still a joke character.

Last i looked, Tauren and Mulgore are a legitimate race and location. In fact, they were so even before Pandaria. It's also one of the icons of the franchise. By your own logic, that makes him a non-joke character.

[MCMLXXXII]

And it's derailed, again.

[Nymrohd]

Last i looked, Tauren and Mulgore are a legitimate race and location. In fact, they were so even before Pandaria. It's also one of the icons of the franchise. By your own logic, that makes him a non-joke character.

He is also in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm, further things Teriz has used in the past as "proof" that something will be added to WoW.

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And it's derailed, again.

I think talking about adding new specs or classes in the next expac is not a derailment though? It's part of speculation. Imo if Support DPS proves viable with Augmentation then next xpac should add at least a few more options to it.

[Teriz]

Last i looked, Tauren and Mulgore are a legitimate race and location. In fact, they were so even before Pandaria. It's also one of the icons of the franchise. By your own logic, that makes him a non-joke character.

Except there is no contingent of head banging Tauren in Thunderbluff who kill animals with guitars, and hold rock concerts while smiting quillboars.

Meanwhile, the Pandaren and Pandaria were home to brewmasters and Pandaren martial arts, and we knew that before WoW was even released.

That’s the difference.

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He is also in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm, further things Teriz has used in the past as "proof" that something will be added to WoW.

Only in conjunction with WoW lore. For example, I can use Gazlowe in HotS as a basis for Tinkers because Gazlowe is a major WoW character, and his HotS abilities have appeared in WoW. Also blizzard has made it quite clear that Tinkers are a major part of Goblin and Gnome lore.

While the Hearthstone expansion certainly expanded the concept of the ETC, you can’t translate the Festival of Legends expansion into a viable WoW expansion. It’s far too over the top and silly.

[MCMLXXXII]

He is also in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm, further things Teriz has used in the past as "proof" that something will be added to WoW.

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I think talking about adding new specs or classes in the next expac is not a derailment though? It's part of speculation. Imo if Support DPS proves viable with Augmentation then next xpac should add at least a few more options to it.

I agree that talking about future specs does fit in this thread but we've done the Bard discussion way to many times and it derails a thread. Every. Single. Time.

[Teriz]

I agree that talking about future specs does fit in this thread but we've done the Bard discussion way to many times and it derails a thread. Every. Single. Time.

Because there are Bard die-heads who simply won’t let that concept go despite Blizzard indicating for years that such a class doesn’t fit the game.

At this point, I would argue that the Explorer Class
has a better shot at becoming a class than a traditional Bard.

[Nymrohd]

I agree that talking about future specs does fit in this thread but we've done the Bard discussion way to many times and it derails a thread. Every. Single. Time.

I'd say what derails the thread is more specific than that but what can we do. Anyway, a small number of support specs added to the game to different classes seems like a good idea if Augmentation works and it does not constrain the theme of the next xpac.

Hoping next week we will be able to test the dungeon or at least the time rifts; if we can test the dungeon then we should get some solid clues for future content.

[huth]

I'd say what derails the thread is more specific than that but what can we do. Anyway, a small number of support specs added to the game to different classes seems like a good idea if Augmentation works and it does not constrain the theme of the next xpac.

Hoping next week we will be able to test the dungeon or at least the time rifts; if we can test the dungeon then we should get some solid clues for future content.

I doubt we're going to see a new class for a few expansions at least. Rejigging specs seems more likely. Development in recent years has made it obvious that Blizzard doesn't really like classes having multiple specs with the same basic role.

[MCMLXXXII]

Because there are Bard die-heads who simply won’t let that concept go despite Blizzard indicating for years that such a class doesn’t fit the game.

At this point, I would argue that the *redacted*
has a better shot at becoming a class than a traditional Bard.

And there's you, replying to every single one of them, only to promote your own fanfic class concepts.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I'm extremely afraid of triggering Varodoc, but there are many references to N'zoth in Aberrus:

https://twitter.com/MorisDreadvale/s...93175974641666

The ignore feature helps but as I said awhile back.


NOPE NO OLD GODS IN DRAGONFLIGHT lalalalalalalla /tinfoilhat

[Nightshade711]

Because there are Bard die-heads who simply won’t let that concept go despite Blizzard indicating for years that such a class doesn’t fit the game.

At this point, I would argue that the [fanfic explorer] Class
has a better shot at becoming a class than a traditional Bard.

Ah yes, the [insert fanfic class] with no basis in lore has a better shot at becoming a class than something common in most RPGs that exists in WoW via ETC and Blight Boar.
(And Hearthstone and Hots)

Don’t get me wrong, I personally doubt Bard will happen as a fully fledged class anytime soon. I don’t see blizzard making an expansion that would match the Bard’s themes.

[loras]

Ah yes, the [insert fanfic class] with no basis in lore has a better shot at becoming a class than something common in most RPGs that exists in WoW via ETC and Blight Boar.
(And Hearthstone and Hots)

Don’t get me wrong, I personally doubt Bard will happen as a fully fledged class anytime soon. I don’t see blizzard making an expansion that would match the Bard’s themes.

While i'm loathe to take his side in this: You do realise that tinker has miles more lore basis than bard at present, right?

ETC isn't involved in meaningful combat and blight boar is purely a joke character in lorewise dubious area of the game in the form of the darkmoon faire. I mean after N'zoth's surfacing that place would have been burnt go the ground given its obvious (and in hearthstone acknowledged) connection to the old gods.

Tinkers on the other hand have had implicit and explicit presence in the games since WC3, from the alchemist hero unit to goblin shredders and the plentiful machinery on the alliance side.
Other major factions have featured its themes strongly too, from the Legion in TBC and Legion to Ulduar's Mimiron, and arguably the iron horde too. Then of course there is the entire city of gnomeregan, and perhaps even the forsaken apothecaries too.
And that's all before BfA came along, showcasing Mechagon and Gallywix vs. the gnome king and his robot army, complete with mech suit shenanigans.