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

[Lady Atia]

While I doubt the goblin raid icon is a ruse/something that won't happen/scrapped, that's not exactly true. Has it become more true over the years that they tend to stick with what they're making? Yeah, but let's not go as far as saying "if something shows up in the files, we will get it".

I think more of the reason we don't see any of the things they stopped doing for whatever reason is because they've also gotten better at hiding things (no more filenames outside of interface files) and cleaning up as any test builds are much further in development art-wise than they were in previous expansions, and that's usually where the leaks come from/gain traction. There's plenty of minor references to things that never happened in SL/DF and maybe even TWW.

BfA was probably the last expansion where it was so clear/egregious, though. But again we only know that because of the stuff they left in after the fact, so similar things might have been the case for recent expansions too, but cleaned up.

Yeah but that's the thing - stuff like mounts, icons etc did end up being available in Dragonflight, even if we didn't see the stuff in the patch that datamined it (prolly because they are working on more than one patch at the same time). But people here are arguing that we shouldn't take the "goblin raid" stuff seriously, which is bullshit since it's literally the same thing that happened with Zaralek Caverns and the Emerald Dream.

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There was never any data evidence of an Ardenweald raid, just a "this feels like it should've happened" with the Drust.

This. The "ardenweald raid weapons" were just called that because it was for the ardenweald styled transmog from the first raid. And again, that stuff literally got used in Nathria.

The only thing that kinda screamed Ardenweald/Drust raid was the weird raid portal on that one flying rock in Ardenweald, though.

[Nymrohd]

There was never any data evidence of an Ardenweald raid, just a "this feels like it should've happened" with the Drust.

Wasn't there an item description that was ardenweald_raid or something similar?

[Cheezits]

Wasn't there an item description that was ardenweald_raid or something similar?

That would be the raid weapons that you get from Nathria tokens.

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The only thing that kinda screamed Ardenweald/Drust raid was the weird raid portal on that one flying rock in Ardenweald, though.

Is that a thing? Then yeah, that's a good hint.

[Raetary]

Wasn't there an item description that was ardenweald_raid or something similar?

Yes, but that was for the raid weapons from the raid weapon vendor at the sanctum in season 1.

[Cheezits]

The "Ardenweald Raid Portal" definitely isn't one, but could've been outfitted to be one or a portal to Thros.

https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comment..._dungeon_or_a/

[Raetary]

Man, i really hope they bring the Drust back at some point.

I love their theme and aesthetic.
And i want to see Thros.

[Eldryth]

Maybe the Goblin raid is the Rootlands raid? I could easily see them endangering Elun'ahir by trying to exploit it for resources, so maybe we'll have to fight them to protect the roots.

If we're expecting three tiers and zones again, then it's hard to see them both fitting in separately, given that the last tier pretty much has to be Xal'atath. I guess she could attack the Rootlands too but I'd prefer (and expect) her to deal with Azeroth's core. Plus this way they can mix in some local monsters as bosses instead of forcing a purely Goblin raid.

[Cheezits]

Maybe the Goblin raid is the Rootlands raid? I could easily see them endangering Elun'ahir by trying to exploit it for resources, so maybe we'll have to fight them to protect the roots.

If we're expecting three tiers and zones again, then it's hard to see them both fitting in separately, given that the last tier pretty much has to be Xal'atath. I guess she could attack the Rootlands too but I'd prefer (and expect) her to deal with Azeroth's core. Plus this way they can mix in some local monsters as bosses instead of forcing a purely Goblin raid.

Definitely possible with the warring life vs polluting tech vibes, but I think that they aren't going to pass up on the opportunity for Undermine no matter how far it is away. Barring a Kezan/Western Seas expansion this is the most opportune time for it, theming wise. It also ties in too well to the evergreen brawlers guild IMO.

I think the 3 tier split will have something to do with what gets delegated to be a megadungeon. Considering they have pivoted to the dungeon being more plot-related, I'm guessing Rootlands will be the dungeon. The last raid will IMO be the titan complex where the world soul is housed, and Xal going all-in on attacking it.

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Playing the Klaxxi questline just makes me mad again that they went with Nerubians for TWW instead of Qiraji, the Aqir race that hasn't been fleshed out and actually fits the setting near Kalimdor. Barring a crazy pivot we will probably never see Qiraji ever again.

Unless they are in the last raid under Silithus, in which case, cool, but I doubt they'll be fleshed out.

[Khaza-R]

Maybe the Goblin raid is the Rootlands raid? I could easily see them endangering Elun'ahir by trying to exploit it for resources, so maybe we'll have to fight them to protect the roots.

If we're expecting three tiers and zones again, then it's hard to see them both fitting in separately, given that the last tier pretty much has to be Xal'atath. I guess she could attack the Rootlands too but I'd prefer (and expect) her to deal with Azeroth's core. Plus this way they can mix in some local monsters as bosses instead of forcing a purely Goblin raid.

Very possible. Seems really unlikely we would have a life themed raid after just having Amirdrassil.

I believe they also said they wanted to add more choice to TWW in an interview somewhere. But not along the lines of the loyalist campaign in BfA. So who knows, maybe their will be a conflict added to Undermine that blurs faction lines. A sort of war against nature and technology.

[Nymrohd]

Maybe the Goblin raid is the Rootlands raid? I could easily see them endangering Elun'ahir by trying to exploit it for resources, so maybe we'll have to fight them to protect the roots.

If we're expecting three tiers and zones again, then it's hard to see them both fitting in separately, given that the last tier pretty much has to be Xal'atath. I guess she could attack the Rootlands too but I'd prefer (and expect) her to deal with Azeroth's core. Plus this way they can mix in some local monsters as bosses instead of forcing a purely Goblin raid.

I think Elun'ahir's roots extending into the Core makes a lot of sense tbh. Everyone is after Azeroth that way, Life included.

[huth]

People always twist their minds to invalidate all the filenames and development info, and it's always true. People thought that Kultiras file name didn't mean anything, people thought the mention of Zaralek Caverns didn't mean anything, people thought emeralddreamoutdoor didn't mean anything, people thought the datamined Aug quest didn't mean anything.

If it's far enough along to have icons or a presence in the game, yeah, it'll probably happen. There will be a goblin raid. There is no question about it. Undermine makes the most sense seeing how we literally have an underground expansion.

None of which you can actually clearly conclude from the presence of that item. It might be likely, but that's not the same thing. You're assuming a surety that simply isn't possible with the available information.

But it is also completely besides the point. The main thing is that we don't actually have anything pointing to Undermine in particular.

[Nymrohd]

Very possible. Seems really unlikely we would have a life themed raid after just having Amirdrassil.

I believe they also said they wanted to add more choice to TWW in an interview somewhere. But not along the lines of the loyalist campaign in BfA. So who knows, maybe their will be a conflict added to Undermine that blurs faction lines. A sort of war against nature and technology.

If only Amirdrassil had succeeded in being a Life themed raid instead of Firelands redux plus two nature themed encounters

[Cheezits]

If only Amirdrassil had succeeded in being a Life themed raid instead of Firelands redux plus two nature themed encounters

Considering dev quotes and Emerald Nightmare, I don't think they know how to do/are comfortable doing a full life-themed anything. It probably hits the same notes as their "we don't know how to do a fulfilling full Black Empire expansion" statement.

[Marlamin]

Yeah but that's the thing - stuff like mounts, icons etc did end up being available in Dragonflight, even if we didn't see the stuff in the patch that datamined it (prolly because they are working on more than one patch at the same time). But people here are arguing that we shouldn't take the "goblin raid" stuff seriously, which is bullshit since it's literally the same thing that happened with Zaralek Caverns and the Emerald Dream.

Sure, for icons specifically I think it's unlikely it won't end up happening, but a blanket "if it's in the files it's happening" is definitely not something you should live by.

[Khaza-R]

If only Amirdrassil had succeeded in being a Life themed raid instead of Firelands redux plus two nature themed encounters

That's a fair point but the setting was in the Emerald Dream. Sure it had a similarities to Firelands but even if it was served instead as Sylvanas attacking the ED in Shadowlands, we would have considered it a life themed raid.

[Hitei]

If only Amirdrassil had succeeded in being a Life themed raid instead of Firelands redux plus two nature themed encounters

It was never going to be a raid about fighting a bunch of Dream stuff, because the Dream is generally a benevolent thing that is to be protected. Like EN it's about fighting invaders threatening the Life, not Life itself. It's like expecting a hypothetical Silvermoon raid in 12.0's first tier to have a bunch of Blood Elf encounters rather than being mostly void stuff and maybe 1 or 2 fights in a section where Blood Elves have switched sides.

[Nymrohd]

It was never going to be a raid about fighting a bunch of Dream stuff, because the Dream is generally a benevolent thing that is to be protected. Like EN it's about fighting invaders threatening the Life, not Life itself. It's like expecting a hypothetical Silvermoon raid in 12.0's first tier to have a bunch of Blood Elf encounters rather than being mostly void stuff and maybe 1 or 2 fights in a section where Blood Elves have switched sides.

It doesn't help that they copied so many themes from the Fireland patch though.

[Cheezits]

So there's a hidden plotline in TWW about "Freysworn Earthen", which are confirmed to be related to some edict from Freya. They are Earthen who use natural powers (including shamans, as per the choices you get in the intro quest on a shaman), and the Oathsworn don't seem to like them very much.

https://twitter.com/haughtychicken/s...75017680085487
https://twitter.com/haughtychicken/s...72056333717895

I'm curious if between them and the Harronir we are getting a double druid reveal, maybe triple with the Dracthyr class options. I just pray it doesn't mean druids-for-all with crappy generic models for everyone, but the Harronir having a unique flight form (bat) points against that.

[Auxis]

So there's a hidden plotline in TWW about "Freysworn Earthen", which are confirmed to be related to some edict from Freya. They are Earthen who use natural powers (including shamans, as per the choices you get in the intro quest on a shaman), and the Oathsworn don't seem to like them very much.

https://twitter.com/haughtychicken/s...75017680085487
https://twitter.com/haughtychicken/s...72056333717895

I'm curious if between them and the Harronir we are getting a double druid reveal, maybe triple with the Dracthyr class options. I just pray it doesn't mean druids-for-all with crappy generic models for everyone, but the Harronir having a unique flight form (bat) points against that.

VERY interesting. A group of titanforged sworn specifically to a singular titan, and a Life one at that.
Reminds me a bit of that one dwarf in the RPG books who is an adherent of Elune.
(Cannot remember his name right now, but he does exist (within the RPG)).

[Hitei]

So there's a hidden plotline in TWW about "Freysworn Earthen", which are confirmed to be related to some edict from Freya. They are Earthen who use natural powers (including shamans, as per the choices you get in the intro quest on a shaman), and the Oathsworn don't seem to like them very much.

https://twitter.com/haughtychicken/s...75017680085487
https://twitter.com/haughtychicken/s...72056333717895

I'm curious if between them and the Harronir we are getting a double druid reveal, maybe triple with the Dracthyr class options. I just pray it doesn't mean druids-for-all with crappy generic models for everyone, but the Harronir having a unique flight form (bat) points against that.

If they were going to do this, they would have just done it for the Emerald Dream patch where they spent a bunch of time fancying up the druid models.