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

[Mekkle]

I'll absolutely make one.

And now you've seen two.

make that 3, Earthen have been a top 3 in terms of races i wanted, behind Ogres and Tuskarr

[Santandame]

make that 3, Earthen have been a top 3 in terms of races i wanted, behind Ogres and Tuskarr

Interesting. As someone who wants to play an Earthen based off how they’re appearing in TWW, what had them as a top 3 requested race for you prior to that? I’m genuinely interested. Prior to TWW Earthen we’re pretty much just rock based Dwarves with one singular model. Why Earthen over say, Wildhammer and Dark Irons?

[Nightshade711]

Interesting. As someone who wants to play an Earthen based off how they’re appearing in TWW, what had them as a top 3 requested race for you prior to that? I’m genuinely interested. Prior to TWW Earthen we’re pretty much just rock based Dwarves with one singular model. Why Earthen over say, Wildhammer and Dark Irons?

Tbh Wildhammer & Dark Iron dwarves should just be customization options. There's nothing that set them apart appearance or even culturally. They're all from Khaz Modan essentially. After Cata (and maybe WoD) we did have Dark Iron customizations that matched with the NPCs we had at the time.

Wasn't until BfA that they made Dark Irons somewhat unique looking.

[Teriz]

So you left after Wotlk, but didn’t come back during Cata when they added two new races.
But did come back in the expansion they added a new class?

Curious.

Weren't you looking for an example of someone returning for a highly sought after race? The Pandaren becoming playable would be such an example, since they were requested for years.

Because it isn’t coming at launch. During any announcement, have they ever listed expansion features that came after launch? They didn’t for Augmentation Evokers.

I can sit here and say “oh the goblin raid/patch wasn’t listed as a feature because they know it’s scraping the bottom of the barrel”

Dracthyr getting more classes isn't even remotely on the same level as us getting a support spec. Further, no one knew we were getting a support spec until hints began to appear about it. You can consider Augmentation a feature of Dragonflight AFTER the fact, but in the launch window of the expansion (where we are no with TWW), it wasn't a feature.

We also don't know when Dracthyr are even getting new classes. They might not get them until the end of TWW.

Rich coming from someone who says “UNDERMINE TINKERS CONFIRMED” every expac.
Or who said TWW would be an elemental xpac & the stormrider mount was an elemental that we saw in storm peaks.

Speculation isn't the same as saying "It's all but confirmed". I thought you'd learn that by now.

Tuskaar didn’t have any real customization options, nor armor rigging, nor player animations.
This is just another Vulpera situation of an unannounced AR.

Or it could be another situation of people believing we're getting a race as a AR and yet we don't. The point is, you can't say that playable Harronir are a feature for TWW when they haven't been confirmed yet.

Which we are most likely getting 1-2 new ARs through the course of TWW, so problem solved?

Again, until we get CONFIRMATION from Blizzard that that's happening, the problem isn't solved. We're still on track to get a single AR for TWW when past expansions gave us actual new races or multiple allied races in the same time frame.

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Interesting. As someone who wants to play an Earthen based off how they’re appearing in TWW, what had them as a top 3 requested race for you prior to that? I’m genuinely interested. Prior to TWW Earthen we’re pretty much just rock based Dwarves with one singular model. Why Earthen over say, Wildhammer and Dark Irons?

People are literally making stuff up in this thread. I would love to see a single future race poll on this forum where anyone mentioned Earthen as a desired future race. I can't recall a single poll where they were listed, much less be in the top 3 choices.

It's all nonsense.

[Nightshade711]

Weren't you looking for an example of someone returning for a highly sought after race? The Pandaren becoming playable would be such an example, since they were requested for years.

Yeah, I am sure you returned for Pandaren but not your beloved goblin race & kezan/undermine starting zone.
I'm also sure the new class to go alongside them had nothing to do with your return either.

Dracthyr getting more classes isn't even remotely on the same level as us getting a support spec. Further, no one knew we were getting a support spec until hints began to appear about it. You can consider Augmentation a feature of Dragonflight AFTER the fact, but in the launch window of the expansion (where we are no with TWW), it wasn't a feature.

Your arguments make no sense.
"This example is a feature of DF after the fact. But the thing coming in TWW after launch is not a feature after the fact!"

We also don't know when Dracthyr are even getting new classes. They might not get them until the end of TWW.

They already said it'd be soonish after launch if I am not mistaken.

Speculation isn't the same as saying "It's all but confirmed". I thought you'd learn that by now.

Or it could be another situation of people believing we're getting a race as a AR and yet we don't. The point is, you can't say that playable Harronir are a feature for TWW when they haven't been confirmed yet.

Why else would Harronir have a long list of customization options, and all of the player-specific animations? (Not to mention being heavily featured in the announcement trailer alongside playable races like Earthen)
All of which Vulpera had, and look, they're a playable race despite them not being announced.

Again, until we get CONFIRMATION from Blizzard that that's happening, the problem isn't solved. We're still on track to get a single AR for TWW when past expansions gave us actual new races or multiple allied races in the same time frame.

Why're you acting like unannounced ARs are a new thing? BfA had a minimum of two unannounced ARs, which would track with what we could get in TWW.
One of which had all of the qualifying factors for a race - just like the harronir.

[huth]

So we shouldn't compare the number of ARs in TWW to the number of ARs in BFA for.....

reasons?

You need to explain why they should be comparable when so far no other expansion has followed BFA's example. Outliers are ignored when trying to determine trends. BFA is a very clear outlier. Yet you insist on treating it as relevant.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

All beta servers are down? Specifically Khadgar, Alleria, and These Go To Eleven.

[Teriz]

Yeah, I am sure you returned for Pandaren but not your beloved goblin race & kezan/undermine starting zone.
I'm also sure the new class to go alongside them had nothing to do with your return either.

There was no Undermine starting zone, it was Kezan. Additionally, as much as I like Goblins, I've never made a Goblin character because they only make sense as Tinkers to me.

Your arguments make no sense.
"This example is a feature of DF after the fact. But the thing coming in TWW after launch is not a feature after the fact!"

But if we're being really honest the third spec for Evoker was an extension of a DF launch feature. Dracthyr getting more classes is an extension of yet ANOTHER DF launch feature. So no, I wouldn't consider a new race introduced in DF getting new classes years later as something to purchase the new expansion for. You don't even need to purchase the new expansion to use that feature.

They already said it'd be soonish after launch if I am not mistaken.

That means nothing until we get a release date.

Why else would Harronir have a long list of customization options, and all of the player-specific animations? (Not to mention being heavily featured in the announcement trailer alongside playable races like Earthen)
All of which Vulpera had, and look, they're a playable race despite them not being announced.

The Evolved Nerubians have similar qualities, and blizzard said that they won't be playable in TWW.

Again, it's not confirmed until its confirmed.

[Reive]

soonish after launch=11.0.5

[Teriz]

You need to explain why they should be comparable when so far no other expansion has followed BFA's example. Outliers are ignored when trying to determine trends. BFA is a very clear outlier. Yet you insist on treating it as relevant.

Wouldn't the trend be at least 2 new races when we get expansions introducing new races but not new classes?

TBC: 2 New races
WotLK: New class
Cataclysm: 2 new races
MoP: 1 race/New class
WoD: Race graphic upgrades
Legion: New class
BFA: 2 new races/8 AR (or 10 ARs)
Shadowlands: -----------
Dragonflight: 1 race/New class
TWW: 1 AR

So given that track record, wouldn't TWW (and SL) be the outlier?

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soonish after launch=11.0.5

Frankly it could mean 12.0. There's no telling how long they mean by "soonish".

[Reive]

Frankly it could mean 12.0. There's no telling how long they mean by "soonish".

soonish means no later than 11.1, but 11.0.5 and 10.0.7 are my guess

[Nightshade711]

There was no Undermine starting zone, it was Kezan. Additionally, as much as I like Goblins, I've never made a Goblin character because they only make sense as Tinkers to me.

You're literally on the island that Undermine is on, you can visit the entrance,

But if we're being really honest the third spec for Evoker was an extension of a DF launch feature. Dracthyr getting more classes is an extension of yet ANOTHER DF launch feature. So no, I wouldn't consider a new race introduced in DF getting new classes years later as something to purchase the new expansion for. You don't even need to purchase the new expansion to use that feature.

By this logic, Draenei getting Warlocks & rogues is a Burning crusade feature.

The Evolved Nerubians have similar qualities

Factually incorrect.

Go ahead and try to show me any customization that the evolved nerubians have. Or any model that can have transmog armor rigged to it, instead of having the armor part of the model.
Also, the evolved nerubians don't have any of the typical 'player-specific' animations that the Harronir do.

[Khaza-R]

I'd be curious if ARs are a lucrative thing for Blizzard. Unlike other features there has to be some sort of non-insignificant residual profit from race changes. And if that is the case then I wouldn't be surprised if we continue to see them throughout TWW and the rest of the WSS.

[Hitei]

Go ahead and try to show me any customization that the evolved nerubians have. Or any model that can have transmog armor rigged to it, instead of having the armor part of the model.

This is actually an incorrect (indirect) assertion. The evolved nerubians do not have armor directly rigged to their ordinary model like a run of the mill NPC, they are toggleable customization geoset options similar to the dracthyr main form's armor.

They also do have a fair number of customization options:

•just ear holes, ears
•chin spikes, more chin spikes, or no spikes
•a little carapace rear, a long long stinger tail, or nothing
•five different Kerrigan-style dreadlock hairstyles
•five different hair colors
•five different skin colors

[Nightshade711]

I'd be curious if ARs are a lucrative thing for Blizzard. Unlike other features there has to be some sort of non-insignificant residual profit from race changes. And if that is the case then I wouldn't be surprised if we continue to see them throughout TWW and the rest of the WSS.

I personally don't think they're any more lucrative than any other new race. (Except Dracthyr for now, since you can't race change them)
Though... I for sure know they got a lot of money from the RP crowd by introducing Void Elves to the Alliance.

[Foolicious]

Official pre Patch notes are out and the patch soon on the ptr.
Its a dark day for shamans. Forgotten once again.

[Nightshade711]

This is actually an incorrect (indirect) assertion. The evolved nerubians do not have armor directly rigged to their ordinary model like a run of the mill NPC, they are toggleable customization geoset options similar to the dracthyr main form's armor.

They also do have a fair number of customization options:

•just ear holes, ears
•chin spikes, more chin spikes, or no spikes
•a little carapace rear, a long long stinger tail, or nothing
•five different Kerrigan-style dreadlock hairstyles
•five different hair colors
•five different skin colors

So, my assertion of transmog was still correct - they don't have transmogged armor and their armor is simply part of their models.

The customization is interesting, though. Personally do think it would be neat to have playable evolved nerubians, but in their current state I can't see it. With the backlash blizz faced with the Dracthyr I wouldn't think they'd make the same mistake again when it comes to transmog.

[Hitei]

Official pre Patch notes are out and the patch soon on the ptr.
Its a dark day for shamans. Forgotten once again.

I wouldn't read too into it immediately, those notes are actually from like a week ago when they jumped the gun and accidentally posted the 11.0 PTR notes when they opened the PTR for Warband conversion testing via character copy.

So they don't actually reflect any beta changes that might be happening for this week.

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So, my assertion of transmog was still correct - they don't have transmogged armor and their armor is simply part of their models.

The customization is interesting, though. Personally do think it would be neat to have playable evolved nerubians, but in their current state I can't see it. With the backlash blizz faced with the Dracthyr I wouldn't think they'd make the same mistake again when it comes to transmog.

The transmog thing is inconclusive either way. Dracthyr have transmog slots, these Nerubian NPCs just have innate customization-associated armor styles that the NPCs pull from. This doesn't mean they aren't capable of transmogging in addition to that, or that a playable version wouldn't just turn off those armor geosets and have regular transmog rules. Most player models have NPC options.

The Nerubians are closer to playable state than Nightborne, and really not any different than Harronir. The reason Harronir have more player animations is because they are visibly just modified Night Elves, so they probably just left in all those base animations from the Night Elf rig.

I will say that, notably, all the Nerubian weapon animations (besides unarmed attacks) only use their top two arms. Which is curios. I'm not saying this is firm evidence of intent to make them playable or anything, but it's odd that they would do this for a purely NPC race. For example, if you know there's only gonna be 5 Nerbuain "archer" NPCs, and all of them are going to use a big Nerubian bow, then you could make a bow animation that uses two arms to hold the bow and two to pull back the arrow--because you never have to worry about how that animation will look on some random small bow. There's no reason not to rig them to like, use four one-hand weapons at a time (like Shivarra, whose attack animation is all six arms)

But since all of the animation only use the top set of arms, and the other set mostly stay out of the way, they could hypothetically use any regular weapon available to players. They are standardized in a way that I would say is... interesting...? for a race that is supposedly only NPC.


Also, they have extremely, extremely nice animations in general. Their sprint, swim, jump, generic spell cast, stun, and their dialogue animations (roar, point etc.) are all really really pretty.

[Joshuaj]

So...where tf are the Chronicle 4 preview images?

[Hitei]

Lightning Bolt 2 sec cast Instant.

??????