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

[Nightshade711]

Is this enough?



It's painted directly onto the development map. It's the only source we have for the term "Rootlands" outside of the texture names. It's the same size as the Ringing Deeps and definitely comparable to other patch zones. It's also absolutely a placeholder name considering all of the others are using placeholder names.

Oh nice. Definitely seems the size for a major patch zone imo.
The textures have me curious, it seems like a lush cave kind of setup which could definitely be interesting if done right.

[Teriz]

No, bud. You spent months insisting that Undermine wasn't going to just be a single zone or raid, because it was "too important" and "they planned it as a continent in Vanilla!" And that Undermine would have to be the central hub and focus of an underground expansion.

Yeah, typo. I meant to say that I still DON’T believe that Undermine will be a single zone or raid.

[Treegdar]

Something apparently being on the other side of a cave entrance high on a mountain is an allusion to something deep below the ground. That is the hill you're going to die on?

Hill to die on? Youre kidding me. Again its CONFIRMED THIS IS WHAT WAS BEING HINTED AT. Just because you were to stupid to connect the dots at the time lol.

[Hitei]

Yeah, typo. I meant to say that I still DON’T believe that Undermine will be a single zone or raid.

And your Zaralek comparison here is what, that Zaralek is actually 4 different zones because there's different sections of it?

[Teriz]

And your Zaralek comparison here is what, that Zaralek is actually 4 different zones because there's different sections of it?

Simply because Zalarek wasn’t divided into individual zones doesn’t mean that Undermine wouldn’t be. Especially if it’s as large as Zalarek (about the size of Azure Span).

[Nightshade711]

The 20.x patches & expansion speculation thread:
"Undermine is coming guys I swear it is the most likely option."

[Hitei]

Simply because Zalarek wasn’t divided into individual zones doesn’t mean that Undermine wouldn’t be. Especially if it’s as large as Zalarek (about the size of Azure Span).

Sorry... what version of the game are you playing where Zaralek is about the size of Azure Span?

Also, it's wild that you don't see the damage control involved in "Undermine is gonna be the continent, it's so important, they won't just have it be a zone or raid" to "No trust me, a patch zone divided into subzones is basically a continent so Undermine is still important"

[Teriz]

Sorry... what version of the game are you playing where Zaralek is about the size of Azure Span?

https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/s/ne5cxUnTaS

Also, it's wild that you don't see the damage control involved in "Undermine is gonna be the continent, it's so important, they won't just have it be a zone or raid" to "No trust me, a patch zone divided into subzones is basically a continent so Undermine is still important"

Where did I ever say that Undermine was definitely going to be a continent? I’ve always said that it had the potential to be one due to its development history.

[Joshuaj]

Y'all still not thinking that MAYBE Undermine is the Megadungeon?

[Teriz]

Y'all still not thinking that MAYBE Undermine is the Megadungeon?

No, because the file quite clearly says goblinraid.

[The-Shan]

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

Maybe we'll get a new class next expansion, that'll be cool to see. It'd probably be themed around Quel'thalas somehow, but i'm unsure what exactly would be on theme, it probably won't be blood mage since mages just got blood mage armor.

Could be shadow themed too, but i'm unsure what they'd do considering shadow priest already exists.

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Y'all still not thinking that MAYBE Undermine is the Megadungeon?

I think it'd be really tight if it were BOTH the mega dungeon and a zone, like mechagon! Maybe a raid too if they are feeling spicy!

[Hitei]

https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/s/ne5cxUnTaS

Yeah, that'd be a neat size comparison if it weren't very foolishly assuming that the instanced airlocks for Zaralek had anything at all to do with the actual size of the two maps and that the distance between the overworld entrances is identical to the distance between the exits in Zaralek. It takes twenty seconds to fly between the Teerakal Entrance and Three Falls entrance on the dragon isles. It takes less than ten to fly between them in Zaralek. Zaralek isn't even half the size of Azure Span.

Where did I ever say that Undermine was definitely going to be a continent? I’ve always said that it had the potential to be one due to its development history.

Where did I use the word "definitely"? I just find this:

Neither Motherlode or the Heritage quest actually took place in Undermine. Keep in mind, Undermine is a continent-sized metropolis beneath the island of Kezan.

Except we have multiple maps from early WoW that show Undermine. Here's one from alpha that clearly shows Undermine as a continent.

Undermine isn’t an island, it’s an underground/sea continent under an island.

It's probably going to be a continent-sized city, considering the plans for it in vanilla, and the lore-based wealth of the trade princes who control it. You can't fit all of those egos into a Gnomeregan or even Stormwind/Orgrimmar-sized city.

In all honesty, Undermine has the higher chance of inclusion as the underground continent. It was originally supposed to be in vanilla (like dragon isles) and Blizzard has expressed interest in Goblins returning there in the future.

The reason Undermine pops up is because Undermine is the most referred to underground zone in Warcraft, and was originally intended to be a continent in vanilla. So if an underground expansion is planned, Undermine would be the main candidate as being a part of such an expansion.

TBF, the Dragon Isles were originally a raid. Nothing stops Blizzard from upscaling the concept from its original concept. Heck, they made the Broken Isles, Kul'Tiras, and Zandalar continent-sized areas. Doing the same for an area that was originally conceived to be a continent (their own words btw) shouldn't be a problem.

Considering that there simply isn’t a lot of classic lore areas left in WoW, it is doubtful that Blizzard would toss away a potential continent for “reasons”. If they took Dragon Isles from a zone to a continent and turned the Broken Isles into a continent, then Undermine at the very least is going to maintain its vanilla status as a potential continent.

People are forgetting that Undermine was originally intended to be a continent in vanilla, so Blizzard already had multiple zones in mind for the landmass.

There’s still Undermine, which was a planned continent during vanilla, and Blizzard devs stated that they wanted to revisit at some point in the future.

Strange argument to make considering that Undermine was originally envisioned as a continent by Blizzard in vanilla WoW. Nothing has really changed since then.

Yeah, it's called Undermine. It was originally planned as a continent in Vanilla WoW.

There’s always a very high chance for an expansion based in Undermine, the capital of the Goblin world.

No, but Undermine, the underground Goblin continent ruled by the very powerful trade cartels (such as the Venture Company) would make an excellent expansion theme.

Amusing.

[Ersula]

Looks like 11.0.5 material, as I suspected.

If we were getting a new zone in 11.0.5 it would be on the roadmap. It's not.

[Teriz]

Yeah, that'd be a neat size comparison if it weren't very foolishly assuming that the instanced airlocks for Zaralek had anything at all to do with the actual size of the two maps and that the distance between the overworld entrances is identical to the distance between the exits in Zaralek. It takes twenty seconds to fly between the Teerakal Entrance and Three Falls entrance on the dragon isles. It takes less than ten to fly between them in Zaralek. Zaralek isn't even half the size of Azure Span.

That’s great. The point is that nothing stops Blizzard from dividing up a land mass of that size (or larger) into zones.

Where did I use the word "definitely"? I just find this:


Amusing.

What’s amusing is that those quotes back up exactly what I said; Undermine had the potential to be a continent due to its developmental history. Blizzard choosing to go in a different direction doesn’t change that.

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If we were getting a new zone in 11.0.5 it would be on the roadmap. It's not.

Doubtful since we’re still in beta.

[Ielenia]

Well thanks, but that wasn’t the point.

Except it is the point because you were the one demanding to know the size of the zone as if it meant anything. It doesn't.

They’re not in Rootlands to find anything there,

How do you know? Have you been there?

they’re not talking about going to Rootlands,

Considering "Rootlands" is not an official name, it's no wonder you don't see goblins talking about the "Rootlands".

and the Goblins in Azj Khenet are actually settled there.

Newsflash: a group can settle in more than one location.

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Again its CONFIRMED THIS IS WHAT WAS BEING HINTED AT.

Again, I don't care what the developers said. I'm talking about player perception. People looking at what looks like a caved-in cave entrance high on a mountain and say "this thing so far above the ground surely is alluding to something deep under the ground of the Dragon Isles."

[Teriz]

How do you know? Have you been there?

Considering "Rootlands" is not an official name, it's no wonder you don't see goblins talking about the "Rootlands".

Newsflash: a group can settle in more than one location.

If the entire point of Venture Co. Goblins in Khaz Algar is to plunder an ancient world tree, wouldn’t there be some indication of that plot long before it happens? Like in 11.0 when we begin encountering Venture Co. Goblins in Khaz Algar.

Or is this some major plot point that “magically” pops up in 11.1?

[Chickat]

Don't forget that, if the DF structure is followed, we will have a patch that is dedicated to a plot important megadungeon.

I think they are going to follow the DF structure VERY carefully, because if there really is a goblin raid (not a dungeon) it will likely be a plot detour and not the main plot. This is exactly what happened with Sarkareth and Aberrus vs DOTI. Even if people complained, more people do dungeons than raids, so I can see them continuing to do this "the middle story is tied to the dungeon while the middle raid is less important" plot structure. We also just got a lot of goblin/venture co necklaces and rings added in the icons so there will be something giving us a variety of geat.

I doubt we are getting three zones, but we did get three zones added through patches in DF even if one was reused starting zone/withheld from launch. Considering rootlands was on the dev map it could be the forbidden reach equivalent of "developed at launch, unlocked in a patch" while there are two new separate areas introduced as well (Undermine and wherever the Ethereal Raid is). But we will see! I think the map points to Rootlands and Undermine as the big empty areas are tied logically to where the Harronir and Venture Co are (VC are at the bottom of Ringing Deeps and west of Azj Kahet). If the Ethereal Raid is Underground Silithus it wouldn't be on the KA map at all which checks out. And why have all that space in the Undermine area if it's just a raid?

TLDR- Rootlands, Undermine and Ethereals will be divvied up into three major patches but the megadungeon needs to be taken into consideration unless it is scrapped (unlikely imo)

Also I personally don't believe the Ethereal Raid is actually on Karesh but is just the codename for a raid on the World Soul where the main theme is Ethereals, to hype up their greater presence in Midnight. Its simpler than calling it Coreraid or Azerothraid.

I think rootlands should be first if all of the above is true. Jungle cave mega dungeon like HD Wailing Caverns. Probably for 11.0.5. Mega dungeon earlier in xpac. in 11.0.7 after a few weeks of story from 11.0.5 leading into it. 11.1 Kezan zone and Undermine raid. I see them doing this sadly instead of having Undermine zone. 11.2 Karesh zone large similar to Argus with raid.

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There is room for Harronir vs Goblins because the Harronir represent life and (bad) Goblins represent pollution. However I don't think they are going to mix the themes regardless of how much a "pure" Rootlands would be similar to the Dream. If anything they will just go for a different "variety" of Life (jungle vs forest) and have it be smaller than 10.2.

Stop the Goblin incursion to the East (raid 2), then stop whatever is bothering the Rootlands to the west (megadungeon). Whatever happens there leads us to the world soul (maybe Elun'ahir going so deep means it is the "pathway" to Underground Silithus) where Ethereals are attacking (raid 3) for 11.2 and then it's Midnight time.

That makes more sense than what i said tbh, but I dont think they will have an Ethereal raid without going to Karesh. If we get a raid like that we will be going to Karesh imo. Else, Karesh makes sense for Midnight, but would they want to do an Ethereal raid in 11.0 along with another one and Karesh in 12.0?

[Ielenia]

If the entire point of Venture Co. Goblins in Khaz Algar is to plunder an ancient world tree,

Weird argument to make considering I never said this would be the "sole reason" for the goblins to be in Khaz'Algar (i.e. a strawman), and even mentioned an option that this could be a new objective that has been shifted to after the goblins find something unexpected while digging.

[Teriz]

Weird argument to make considering I never said this would be the "sole reason" for the goblins to be in Khaz'Algar (i.e. a strawman), and even mentioned an option that this could be a new objective that has been shifted to after the goblins find something unexpected while digging.

But if what you’re saying is true, that would be the main point of their involvement in Khaz Algar and the expansion as a whole, since it would culminate into a raid for that plot’s resolution.

So again, if that’s the case, why are we seeing zero signs of it?

Btw, such a plot would go a long way towards pissing off Horde players.

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I think rootlands should be first if all of the above is true. Jungle cave mega dungeon like HD Wailing Caverns. Probably for 11.0.5. Mega dungeon earlier in xpac. in 11.0.7 after a few weeks of story from 11.0.5 leading into it. 11.1 Kezan zone and Undermine raid. I see them doing this sadly instead of having Undermine zone. 11.2 Karesh zone large similar to Argus with raid.

Yeah, I don’t see a scenario where Blizzard turns Undermine into Gnomeregan 2.0. There will likely be a raid within Undermine, but I have a feeling Undermine itself is going to be more along the lines of Suramar.

[Ielenia]

But if what you’re saying is true, that would be the main point of their involvement in Khaz Algar and the expansion as a whole, since it would culminate into a raid for that plot’s resolution.

So again, if that’s the case, why are we seeing zero signs of it?

Probably because the goblins haven't found whatever it may be yet? I mean, story progression could easily have them find something in 11.0.5 which leads to 11.1 with the goblins having moved to the Rootlands.

[quote]Btw, such a plot would go a long way towards pissing off Horde players.[/qutoe]
Why would it "piss off" Horde players? I thought Horde players were tired of seeing Horde-related locations being used as villains and raid locations?