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

[Ielenia]

Nightshade stated that I'm ignoring evidence from TWW's story indicating that this will be a patch location. I'm merely asking him to provide this evidence.

Except that is not what you asked. You asked, and I quote, "where is there any indication that the Rootlands is large enough to support an entire patch and raid dedicated to it?" That is not "asking for indication if it'll be a patch location." Because any area can be a patch location. We have no dimensions at all regarding the actual size of the Rootlands, which means Blizzard is free to make it as big as they want it to be.

Again: Blizzard made a set of broken isles into zones big enough to hold raids. Four raids, to be exact.

And again, where is there any indication that the Goblins have set up a base of operations in the Rootlands to the point that it would be large enough to justify a raid? Where is any indication that the Goblins are going after the Rootlands to start with?

We have confirmation of goblins coming to Khaz'Algaz. If they're coming it means there's a reason for them to do so. Considering it's goblins, it's likely something that would give them profits. So it's not a gigantic leap of logic to assume that the Rootlands would also have such resource, maybe even in higher amounts if it's a mostly unexplored zone. It's really not hard to figure out why goblins would go somewhere new.

Which only strengthens the argument that Undermine would be its own patch location and not connected to Rootlands.

Or just a mention. Much like we have a connection to the Firelands in Amir'drassil but we don't go to the Firelands.

Blizzard devs stated that Undermine was a planned city and even a continent in vanilla. So clearly it is large enough in terms of dev concept and lore.

Devs that likely don't work at Blizzard anymore. Also, plans change. Also, look at Azjol'Nerub: it's supposed to be a vast, giant city, and yet it's just a mid-sized dungeon.

Except we've already run across multiple Goblins in beta, some even from the Venture Co., and none of them are talking about the Rootlands.

So what? We didn't have anyone talking about the Zaralek Caverns until we got there in Dragonflight. It could mean one of two things: either the goblin invasion to the Rootlands would be relatively new, or it's being done in secret.

[Chickat]

I still believe Undermine is going to be a full zone for 11.1, with a raid being in the center of the city.

A Karesh raid in 11.2 leads me to further believe that we're getting playable Nerubians in Midnight.

I worry that the zone will be Kezan for some non underground content, with an Undermine raid. They could very well do that. It would be disappointing.

[Treegdar]

So what? We didn't have anyone talking about the Zaralek Caverns until we got there in Dragonflight. It could mean one of two things: either the goblin invasion to the Rootlands would be relatively new, or it's being done in secret.

Not to be too pedantic, but there were 100% a few hints about an underground zone. The quest line in the ruins along the lake in Ohn'aran plains directly hints that there's some sort of old god/void thing whispering from below. Then there's the less direct quest at what became the Azure Span entrance to Zaralek that hints there's something behind the wall theyre digging into.

[Nightshade711]

Again, we have dialogue from Venture Co. goblins in Khaz Algar. None of them are talking about the Rootlands.

Not a single one. If the Venture Co. came to Khaz Algar to exploit that resource, why is none of them talking about it?

You mean in the beta in which campaign content hasn't been implemented yet?

A Harronir dancing in the announcement trailer = We're going to have an entire patch dedicated to Harronir!

Sure, when you ignore everything else even in the datamining. (Like the several files with the internal name 'rootlands')
Even if that were the only thing, it is more than undermine has.

Uh we have Goblins in Khaz Algar who literally came from Undermine, and who stated that they came from Undermine via a tunnel that connects the two locations. I really don't know how much more evidence you need.

Sounds like it could be used for explanation on how we get to Undermine for that boss fight or two.

- - - Updated - - -

I worry that the zone will be Kezan for some non underground content, with an Undermine raid. They could very well do that. It would be disappointing.

I could very well see them reusing Kezan for some story content, like they did for Gilneas.

[Khaza-R]

Far as I know its just a nickname people are using, isn't it? I think I asked this before and didn't really get an answer. The only place I find mention of Rootlands is a subzone of the Emerald Dream zone we have right now.

Its just the internal name for it which is all we have to go on at this point.

In the same map Isle of Dorn is called "Earthen Isle" and Hallowfall is "Arathor Canyons" for comparison.

[Nightshade711]

Not to be too pedantic, but there were 100% a few hints about an underground zone. The quest line in the ruins along the lake in Ohn'aran plains directly hints that there's some sort of old god/void thing whispering from below. Then there's the less direct quest at what became the Azure Span entrance to Zaralek that hints there's something behind the wall theyre digging into.

And similar hints can be seen with the Harronir/Roots tbh.
There's a harronir camp on beta which is suspiciously empty at the moment, I think it could be populated/used more for the max level campaign.

[Treegdar]

And similar hints can be seen with the Harronir/Roots tbh.
There's a harronir camp on beta which is suspiciously empty at the moment, I think it could be populated/used more for the max level campaign.

I don't have a dog in this discussion, but at this point it feels pretty much confirmed we'll get some sort of zone about the roots and some kind of raid focusing on goblins.

Everybody acting like its impossible for some specific way for these 2 things to look in the end is absolutely ridiculous lol. Sure maybe its rootlands & goblinraid are directly related maybe they aren't. The pissing contest in here about what is more likely or not based on your own head cannon of beta dialogue is as stupid as it is fun to read tho keep it up lol.

[Ielenia]

Not to be too pedantic, but there were 100% a few hints about an underground zone. The quest line in the ruins along the lake in Ohn'aran plains directly hints that there's some sort of old god/void thing whispering from below. Then there's the less direct quest at what became the Azure Span entrance to Zaralek that hints there's something behind the wall theyre digging into.

That's being a little generous, I believe. The Zaralek entrance in Azure Span sits in the middle of a mountain. Considering it could easily have been just a cave in the mountain, and not something underground, saying it "alluded to something deep underground the Dragon Isles" is a bit... wrong, don't you think?

[Treegdar]

That's being a little generous, I believe. The Zaralek entrance in Azure Span sits in the middle of a mountain. Considering it could easily have been just a cave in the mountain, and not something underground, saying it "alluded to something deep underground the Dragon Isles" is a bit... wrong, don't you think?

No lol not really. You seriously don't think that quest was written with the absolute intention of being foreshadowing for Zaralek? Sure before hand it was fairly open ended, but with hindsight its very obvious what it was hinting at. Not to mention that we knew 10.1 was an underground zone long before they officially announced it so connecting the dots even before hand wasn't a big stretch of the imagination.

[Kiivar86]

It's mentioned on an internal developer map, which is where we got the name from.
Whether it will keep that name is another question entirely, but it's not like we conjured it from the ether.

Ahh that was it, then. I had forgotten.

I hope its a placeholder or just something internal, "Rootlands" just seems...I dunno, simple? Outland, Shadowlands...

Its just the internal name for it which is all we have to go on at this point.

In the same map Isle of Dorn is called "Earthen Isle" and Hallowfall is "Arathor Canyons" for comparison.

Ah excellent then.

[Nightshade711]

It's mentioned on an internal developer map, which is where we got the name from.
Whether it will keep that name is another question entirely, but it's not like we conjured it from the ether.

There are also a few textures (I am assuming) in the files with the same name.
https://wago.tools/files?search=rootlands

[Teriz]

Except that is not what you asked. You asked, and I quote, "where is there any indication that the Rootlands is large enough to support an entire patch and raid dedicated to it?" That is not "asking for indication if it'll be a patch location." Because any area can be a patch location. We have no dimensions at all regarding the actual size of the Rootlands, which means Blizzard is free to make it as big as they want it to be.

That's called asking for evidence dude.

We have confirmation of goblins coming to Khaz'Algaz. If they're coming it means there's a reason for them to do so. Considering it's goblins, it's likely something that would give them profits. So it's not a gigantic leap of logic to assume that the Rootlands would also have such resource, maybe even in higher amounts if it's a mostly unexplored zone. It's really not hard to figure out why goblins would go somewhere new.

Those Goblins in Khaz Algar gave the reason already, and its not to plunder an ancient world tree.

Or just a mention. Much like we have a connection to the Firelands in Amir'drassil but we don't go to the Firelands.

Probably because we've already been to the Firelands.

Devs that likely don't work at Blizzard anymore. Also, plans change. Also, look at Azjol'Nerub: it's supposed to be a vast, giant city, and yet it's just a mid-sized dungeon.

Thanks for your opinion, but you asked for evidence that Undermine would be large enough to hold a patch and a raid. There's your evidence. In terms of dev history and lore, Undermine is large enough.

So what? We didn't have anyone talking about the Zaralek Caverns until we got there in Dragonflight. It could mean one of two things: either the goblin invasion to the Rootlands would be relatively new, or it's being done in secret.

You forgot the third (most likely) option; It's entirely a figment of your imagination.

[Scyth]

Goblins are one of the least interesting races in WoW to me so a patch and a raid around them kills a lot of hype for me. Really hope they can make it interesting.

[Teriz]

You mean in the beta in which campaign content hasn't been implemented yet?

You can start with these goblins from the Venture Co. I think they started a bar and pool business in Azj Khenet.

https://www.wowhead.com/beta/quest=8...thing-ventured

[Nightshade711]

You can start with these goblins from the Venture Co. I think they started a bar and pool business in Azj Khenet.

https://www.wowhead.com/beta/quest=8...thing-ventured

You cracked the case.
Goblins starting a bar and pool business means Undermine, this is it everyone!

But as others have said, there are internal map files and textures for the rootlands, yet nothing for Undermine. Hince why most people think it is likely the 'goblinraid' item and the rootlands are connected.

[Teriz]

You cracked the case.
Goblins starting a bar and pool business means Undermine, this is it everyone!

But as others have said, there are internal map files and textures for the rootlands, yet nothing for Undermine. Hince why most people think it is likely the 'goblinraid' item and the rootlands are connected.

Just FYI, those Goblins came from Undermine.

Also if Undermine is patch 11.1, I wouldn't expect to see many map or texture files until we get closer to 11.1, which is about a year away.

[Nightshade711]

Just FYI, those Goblins came from Undermine.

Also if Undermine is patch 11.1, I wouldn't expect to see many map or texture files until we get closer to 11.1, which is about a year away.

Yes you are totally right Teriz, a bar and pool business TOTALLY means Undermine is coming 11.1

Internal names for the map files were datamined for Zaralek during Beta/Alpha if I am not mistaken. (Literally called "10.1 underground zone" or something) Just like what is happening with the rootlands.

[Teriz]

Yes you are totally right Teriz, a bar and pool business TOTALLY means Undermine is coming 11.1 Internal names for the map files were datamined for Zaralek during Beta/Alpha if I am not mistaken. (Literally called "10.1 underground zone" or something) Just like what is happening with the rootlands.

You mean this;



Hey if you have a datafile that literally says "11.1 Rootlands" like that file did, I'll go along with everything you're saying.

[Nightshade711]

Hey if you have a datafile that literally says "11.1 Rootlands" like that file did, I'll go along with everything you're saying.

Don't need you to go along with it, you'll continue saying 'undermine coming' every patch/expansion cycle no matter what.
Shocked you haven't found a way to rope Undermine into Midnight yet.

[Teriz]

Don't need you to go along with it, you'll continue saying 'undermine coming' every patch/expansion cycle no matter what.
Shocked you haven't found a way to rope Undermine into Midnight yet.

+Undermine hinted at in DR
+"Goblinraid" datamine
+Goblins from Undermine in Khaz Algar
+Undermine connected to Khaz Algar
+Gazlowe as a major character in TWW

You're free to ignore the evidence if you want, but those items are quite a bit more substantial than some map files and textures.