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

[Cherry123]

It needs a mix of both. I don't want an expac purely filled with 'greasy muscle guys' but Dragonflight was absolutely too soft.
A fantasy series should always have some bad-ass warriors we can all enjoy watching - whether they're heroes or villains. I wouldn't expect much change in the story yet but surely Metzen can bring something a bit more epic than every character having sad feelings and struggles

They don't know the balance, they wanted to promote diversity, but instead they just promoted their own interests and removed the image that seems hostile to them.

[Sondrelk]

I really just cannot take Alleria seriously with that Void themed eyeshadow. Does she start every day with ensuring it's applied properly? Did she try several variants before settling on the current one?

Still, fun stuff all around. Isle of Dorn was a bit slow, but it picks right back up with the Machine Speakers and their Adeptus Mechanicus-lite schtick.

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Didn't get early access, but I did tell you that the only meaningful difference that was likely to be seen was having more upfront action rather than how sedate DF ended up being and how much of SL was people talking. The idea that Metzen materially differed from what the current writing staff wanted to do, rather than them following in his footsteps is easily disabused by playing SC2 and Diablo III. The destruction of Dalaran as compared to pretty much any bit in DF or SL is a good summary of where a difference is likely to come up.

Xal'atath feels like she is very much carrying the story so far. She is just such a fun antagonist, even if her relationship with Alleria borders on the romantic.

I imagine Metzen's contribution is the idea of the World Soul Saga as a concept. The way he talks about it makes it seem like the writers already had the idea of Khaz Algar and teh whole thing with the Arathi and Xal'atath, and he just got them onboard with the idea of leaning into the nostalgia with lots of returning characters.
Midnight and TLT seems like they are more specifically his brainchild, in that his talks of wanting to "use all the toys at once" seems like they fit perfectly into those two expansions being revamps of beloved areas, with a heavy focus on returning big character.

[Super Dickmann]

Xal'atath feels like she is very much carrying the story so far. She is just such a fun antagonist, even if her relationship with Alleria borders on the romantic.

I imagine Metzen's contribution is the idea of the World Soul Saga as a concept. The way he talks about it makes it seem like the writers already had the idea of Khaz Algar and teh whole thing with the Arathi and Xal'atath, and he just got them onboard with the idea of leaning into the nostalgia with lots of returning characters.
Midnight and TLT seems like they are more specifically his brainchild, in that his talks of wanting to "use all the toys at once" seems like they fit perfectly into those two expansions being revamps of beloved areas, with a heavy focus on returning big character.

Agreed, re: the recent interview suggesting that the bones of TWW were already in place and it's more come Midnight that we'll see them go full out with it. I suspect even the Horde and Alliance arrival were a late addition to the story, much like Thrall. As for the expansion being carried by Xal, from the promotional materials and what I've got from the expansion by osmosis so far, it's their best bet and a good one to make, since she's at the very least entertaining and she also gels well with the story she's in. It helps that they remembered their DF lesson and seem to have actually made her an active participant in the plot.

[Joszef Kiprich]

Hallowfall is stunning, Ringing Deeps just feels like Zaralek all over again and that's not a good thing.

[Auxis]

Just posting this to remind myself which page I can read from once it fully launches.

Page 3882.

[Timester]

"alleria loses all the time" woman loses... to another woman, for the sake of narrative

khadgar dies like a bitch
anduin cries all the time
thrall fucks off after the first zone
all the major zones have have women as main characters

it's getting tiring

The TWW questing from top to bottom is Bronzebeard family trip, with some side travel guides. Dalgar is actually the one that shines throughout the entire new continent.

But hey, biased incel view is biased, I guess.

[Scyth]

Hallowfall is stunning, Ringing Deeps just feels like Zaralek all over again and that's not a good thing.

Yeah I thought the same when I first saw Ringing Deeps, was not a fan of it overall. Hallowfall, however, is incredible.

I love playing as a SPriest and randomly getting Xal whispers because of the dagger, feels very fitting lol

[Lady Atia]

So, our prediction of Atiesh getting Gandalf' staffed was true - and if Khadgar survived, so should the splinters of Atiesh, right?

Leeeeeeeegi queeeest?

[Alanar]

Yeah I thought the same when I first saw Ringing Deeps, was not a fan of it overall. Hallowfall, however, is incredible.

I love playing as a SPriest and randomly getting Xal whispers because of the dagger, feels very fitting lol

A damn shame shadow sucks at 80.

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So, our prediction of Atiesh getting Gandalf' staffed was true - and if Khadgar survived, so should the splinters of Atiesh, right?

Leeeeeeeegi queeeest?

Oo I thought you meant khadgar returning as Khadgar the white lol.

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Xal'atath feels like she is very much carrying the story so far. She is just such a fun antagonist, even if her relationship with Alleria borders on the romantic.
.

Really? I think she adds almost zero. Very generic so far and uninteresting. Funny how the opinions on her are so devided.

[BaumanKing]

I suspect even the Horde and Alliance arrival were a late addition to the story

Bringing back not only Turalyon, but the remaining Sons of Lothar as well, certainly feels like Metzen's idea.

[Lahis]

Oo I thought you meant khadgar returning as Khadgar the white lol.

Given how he was disenchanted, if he returns I think it will be more like Khadgar the Deep Dark Purple.

[Izalla]

Yeah I thought the same when I first saw Ringing Deeps, was not a fan of it overall. Hallowfall, however, is incredible.

I love playing as a SPriest and randomly getting Xal whispers because of the dagger, feels very fitting lol

Wait does she whisper to shadow priests in this expac as a throw back? Or are you using the dagger transmog and having the Legion whispers?

[Scyth]

Wait does she whisper to shadow priests in this expac as a throw back? Or are you using the dagger transmog and having the Legion whispers?

It's the legion ones yeah. I've only got 2 so far and I don't think they were new. Would be really nice if they added some new ones but I doubt it haha

A damn shame shadow sucks at 80.

Yeah, it's unfortunate. Playing as Voidweaver fits so well though so figured I'd try. Will do my Mage next.

[Alanar]

Yeah, it's unfortunate. Playing as Voidweaver fits so well though so figured I'd try. Will do my Mage next.

Shadow in the past usually starts really strong and gets nerfed steadily the next patches. Maybe its the other way around this time.. i fell for it every expansion, because I love shadow, but not this time.

Mage seems fun and solid, just needs some fire tuning but the visuals and having 2 other dps options makes for a solid class to pick.

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Given how he was disenchanted, if he returns I think it will be more like Khadgar the Deep Dark Purple.

It kinda was a balrog ending for Khadgar this one, so its still possible!

*purple flash*

"The whit.. purple wizard!!

[Skytotem]

I wad thoroughly amused by the Metzen interview. He completely put to bed MMOC's conspiracy theory that he came back and started calling the shots and undoing a bunch of shit. According to his own words, he's mostly a guide, and he's letting the same writers people complained about cook. Doesn't sound like he's going to retcon or assume control either. Honestly, I think it's a good thing. WoW narrative issue is that there's always one person commanding the rest of the team, regardless of how lore accurate/good their ideas are.

Really? I always got the too many cooks vibe and the impression I got from Metzen was that he was bringing just enough guidance to make them more cohesive without being overbearing

[username993720]

What an insecure thing to say. You people are so fragile.

Besides, you're definitely lying. In TWW there are two main characters - Alleria AND Anduin. There are also Magni and Dagran with Moira tagging along.

So how is this "the feminist expansion"? Throughout the story, Alleria constantly loses, and Moira doesn't even do anything significant.

Don't get me wrong, i'm glad Magni is finally not the annoying speaker of Azeroth. But, that last line:

Earthen: "who am i?"
Magni: "whoever you want to be"

Is just cringy external-game affairs thrusted into the story and atmosphere.

The cinematic was well made, i agree.
But, this is just more of Dragonflight with a different setting: The power of friendship, powerful females and fragile males.

[Joszef Kiprich]

Alleria isn't the best Archer, is she? I've just finished the Hallowfall storyline and she missed every single arrow she fired up to now.

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Don't get me wrong, i'm glad Magni is finally not the annoying speaker of Azeroth. But, that last line:

Earthen: "who am i?"
Magni: "whoever you want to be"

Is just cringy external-game affairs thrusted into the story and atmosphere.

The cinematic was well made, i agree.
But, this is just more of Dragonflight with a different setting: The power of friendship, powerful females and fragile males.

While I agree that that line is quite cringe, I fail to see the link to the external-game affairs.

[Timester]

Earthen: "who am i?"
Magni: "whoever you want to be"

What else would you say to a robot that just became free of its programing and edicts?

It feels like some people decided to turn off their cognitive thinking on purpose...

[Skytotem]

Is just cringy external-game affairs thrusted into the story and atmosphere.

What part of someone being able to choose what they want to be is offensive to you?

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Alleria isn't the best Archer, is she? I've just finished the Hallowfall storyline and she missed every single arrow she fired up to now.

They really need to stop worfing major lore characters to justify the player having something to do.

[Dragonborn]

Khadgar returning as an Ethereal sounds really dope, even for just a moment to help us one last time.

But man, the Dark Heart has quite a ridiculous amount of buildup for a MacGuffin that now I wish they've used the Xal'atath knife instead. Though, it does look like something that is begging to be placed in front of a light beam. I wonder if it'll be used in summoning the void through the Sunwell.