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

[Aeluron Lightsong]

They'll probably build it up better. But they likely want to avoid another SL in terms of content and how it's handled. Lore wise tho...

First Ones stuff is staying.

I wasn't even saying the First Ones should go away. Just do far more build up and do better then what ZM was. Conceptually interesting but yeah I already said my piece on the zone.

[BaumanKing]

I wonder what human heritage armor will look like? If Turalyon is still on the throne, it could very well be Lothar's armor. Something similar to footman armor, but more fancy, like what Lothar wore in the movie.

[Sondrelk]

I wonder what human heritage armor will look like? If Turalyon is still on the throne, it could very well be Lothar's armor. Something similar to footman armor, but more fancy, like what Lothar wore in the movie.

Would be a shame if it was just blatantly plate armor again. We have enough of those reminding us that you cannot transmog outside limitations.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Sounds to me like they are trying to recapture the content pace they had in Legion, which seems like a good idea. I think pretty much everyone agrees that what made Legion so good, beyond being new, was having stellar pace.

Agreed. If maintaining a sensible, unimpeded pace is the goal, that's easily the best thing they could do.

[Nyel]

Seeing a road map for the first time is really weird. I mean most of the time we knew what to expect (x.1, x.2 big patches etc. and x.x.5 small patches), but this pretty much cements it.

I find the placing of 10.1.7 a bit weird, if Vault is indeed a 6 month tier (which would be quite long for an entry tier) the mega dungeon could have been a better fit right there - but at least we're getting one.

Personally I'd prefer 10.1 in March, 10.2 in September and 10.3 in February / March, when we can expect the next expansion in November 2024 - unless they're going back to their August release date and we'll get everything sped up, with 10.3 end of January and 11.0 in August.

[Gurahk]

Weird for them not to mention 10.3 beyond 2023, as it'd bring easy points for Blizzard on the PR. Guess it's not a big problem as 8.3 wasn't hinted at either.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

Weird for them not to mention 10.3 beyond 2023, as it'd bring easy points for Blizzard on the PR. Guess it's not a big problem as 8.3 wasn't hinted at either.

I have such a hard time justifying the PR suicide that would be to rugpull the community in 2024. Sure if the deal falls through things can get wonky. But, yeah I just have no reason to believe this unless they truly want to burn all bridges.

There's still going to be interview rounds and I am sure someone will ask for clarification during 10.1 Interviews or 10.2 Interviews. So I don't think they are trying to hide anything.

[Khaza-R]

Weird for them not to mention 10.3 beyond 2023, as it'd bring easy points for Blizzard on the PR. Guess it's not a big problem as 8.3 wasn't hinted at either.

Its a road map for year 2023 though, not for the rest of DF. This is pretty much the same format they've done for Hearthstone for a while now.

[Gurahk]

I dunno why they can't just give us something like Sylvanas old top or stuff like what Alexstraza or Tyrande are wearing, because this is just unappealing imo.
If you're gonna do skimpy gear then make it more ornamental, as someone who likes skimpy gear I have no clue what this is even supposed to be.
I mean I've been asking for it but not like this lol.

One of the 9.1 venthyr sets do have what I think you're looking for with a female character. It even comes with a 3D modelled breastplate (pic below), but yeah I wish there were more sets like these.

[BaumanKing]

Would be a shame if it was just blatantly plate armor again. We have enough of those reminding us that you cannot transmog outside limitations.

Tbf I can't imagine what could be more iconic for stormwindian human than a footman armor. Perhaps a SI:7 costume? Or Medivh's clothes? After all, he was a Stormwind mage.

[Dracullus]

I find the placing of 10.1.7 a bit weird, if Vault is indeed a 6 month tier (which would be quite long for an entry tier) the mega dungeon could have been a better fit right there - but at least we're getting one.

Why Vault/Season 1 should be shorter than any other tier? I say all should have same length more or less, especially since they can put bonus season in the end.

Don't understand what is so strange in megadungeon placement either, it's around 10.1 like Legion/SL. And it will be released in small patch to not be overshadowed by S2, maybe will have some better loot compared to usual M0 stuff that would be awarded at start of season. It still will have time breathe as megadungeon before it will be reused as M+ in S3.

Imo in general DF should have 5 seasons with 4 DF and 4 legacy dungeons in each, with 10 dungeons every one would be used twice during expac.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Well they managed something most other games (including Blizzard games) have done forever after nearly two decades.

Not wrong, but honestly if they start doing it it's a big step forward for them toward respectability again.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Tbf I can't imagine what could be more iconic for stormwindian human than a footman armor. Perhaps a SI:7 costume? Or Medivh's clothes? After all, he was a Stormwind mage.

I was thinking some kind of semi-armored noble outfit akin to Anduin's clothing.

It'd honestly even look better without the chainmail ( those rings are absurdly oversized lol ) but at that point just do invisible chest.
It's just disappointing when they're finally adding something different and skimpy at that too which A LOT of people have been asking for, and then it looks so unappealing.

I figure this is meant to be a gag item rather than a legitimate effort at making an appealing design.

First Ones stuff is staying.

Which is extraordinarily unfortunate. Their introduction at all was a mistake, and now that they've been introduced it's impossible to ignore their presence. They're going to have to pop up sooner or later again, and practically nobody will be happy with it.

I don't think it is fair to blame the character for the way the writers twist the narrative around him. It's not like we are given an explanation why, e.g. Jaina and Genn suddenly agree to take it easy after Rastakhan's death even though it's completely out of character for them that puts the blame on Anduin; characters just change motivations around him without him doing anything. It's like the Ta'veren plot fix from Wheel of Time but without the extensive narrative backing. Anduin himself as a character is consistent in the way he is depicted unlike many problematic characters. Violence and war has only ever taken from Anduin so it makes sense for him to be a peacenik. He is problematic in that he has unearned power but that itself is not unheard of in the setting and he doesn't use it nearly as overtly as e.g. Jaina. So I'd blame the writers (and it happens as much in game as it happens in the novels so I wouldn't just blame Golden).

I would say he's perfectly fine in existing as a character, what I think makes him parasitic on the identity of the Alliance is his unopposed authority preventing the Alliance from ever being in the wrong, or even from making hard decisions when in the right. If he returns, that's fine with me, but I'd rather keep the Alliance as a whole in the hands of someone who represents the faction, warts and all, more than Anduin does.

[Nyel]

Why Vault/Season 1 should be shorter than any other tier? I say all should have same length more or less, especially since they can put bonus season in the end.

Don't understand what is so strange in megadungeon placement either, it's around 10.1 like Legion/SL. And it will be released in small patch to not be overshadowed by S2, maybe will have some better loot compared to usual M0 stuff that would be awarded at start of season. It still will have time breathe as megadungeon before it will be reused as M+ in S3.

Imo in general DF should have 5 seasons with 4 DF and 4 legacy dungeons in each, with 10 dungeons every one would be used twice during expac.

Weren't entry tiers usually 4-4.5 months in general? At least that's what I remember, but Shadowlands could have f* up my mind in that regard. Raiding Vault for 6 months seems a bit long in my opinion, but that might be due to Vault not being an outstanding raid, it's very middle-of-the-road / meh in design and bosses. But I guess in the end those 1.5 months don't matter much when 10.1 has a massive raid / big zone and something worthwile to do.

I like that they give us the mega dungeon before the raid, it makes more sense imho and bridges the gap nicely. About 5 seasons - I have no idea, we'll have to see how 2023 plays out and what 11.0 will be (we'll know about that right around the release of 10.2).

[Revamp Man]

So this tier will last until at least mid spring

Let's fucking goooooo

[Dracullus]

Weren't entry tiers usually 4-4.5 months in general?

Well yeah, but making every season equal is correcting that mistake. Especially now when season is not just new raid and increasing item level, but also different 8 dungeons to play.

In general I hope 8 bosses/8 dungeons/5.5 month will become standard, seems like a perfect amount for PVE. And I hope rated PVP will get some season rotations to arena/battlegrounds too, which would encourage devs to make new ones.

So this tier will last until at least mid spring

Let's fucking goooooo

Probably first half of May, so race/serious progression would wrap up before D4 launch.

[Nymrohd]

I would say he's perfectly fine in existing as a character, what I think makes him parasitic on the identity of the Alliance is his unopposed authority preventing the Alliance from ever being in the wrong, or even from making hard decisions when in the right. If he returns, that's fine with me, but I'd rather keep the Alliance as a whole in the hands of someone who represents the faction, warts and all, more than Anduin does.

Or he could stay as he is and others could stay in character around him and challenge him when he is being insanely naive.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Or he could stay as he is and others could stay in character around him and challenge him when he is being insanely naive.

The issue with that is Anduin isn't just the leader of one nation, but has been elevated with the introduction of the (itself disastrous) High King title. Insofar as he is in that position, the agenda and, by extension, identity of the Alliance will inexorably be an extension of Anduin. Even with the presence of objectors, Anduin will serve as the primary representative of his faction, even moreso accounting for the highly leader-focused narrative in recent expansions. Anduin, insofar as he leads the Alliance, and insofar as he continues to steamroll every other leader in terms of autonomy, effectively represents and even defines it.

I would also say that, Anduin's narrative challenges notwithstanding, a faction's leader should ideally be someone who adequately embodies the best and worst of that faction—Anduin ultimately embodies only half of the former and none of the latter. His portrayal as a leader is deprived of nuance or challenge beyond "he cares too much", and he does very little to produce interesting plot direction for the Alliance. As I said before, I think he would be far better off in any position other than leading the Alliance, being a sensible peacenik with a good deal of authority but without serving as its effective wartime leader. Ideally, I'd have a character other than Anduin serve as leader of the Alliance overall, with Anduin himself returning as the leader of Stormwind itself.

[Nymrohd]

as he continues to steamroll every other leader in terms of autonomy

What you on about? Genn and Tyrande completely ignored him in the middle of a war.

[Cheezits]

I feel like the Orc armor is definitely going to have a wolf pelt. That's something that has been requested forever and is really only available through the Dark Shaman set (for shamans only) and vanilla model helmet.

Humans... I can only assume it will be a coat that is Stormwind themed. I doubt it will look like Plate. I'm praying that the questline gets into the House of Nobles and fleshes out Stormwind culture, as opposed to being Fordragon/Wrynn wank.