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

[Skytotem]

A small thing but I found it amusing that the General referred to an ascended nerubian general throwing away lives like a rabid mantid. I like that they reference their kin that way.

Also I'm really digging the nerubians in general. And the more I quest there the more I realize there's likely little chance the ascended nerubians do become an allied race like I first thought. Everything seems pretty clear that the old guard look down on them (they can't even produce pheromones) and see them as something completely alien. Its interesting.

Wouldn't that make it more likely? Since once we beat Xal they can't stay in the city and would need somewhere else to go?

[Cheezits]

Wait... what if the reason Geyarah is here is because the Lightbound actually ARE in Beledar?

I feel like they would've picked Gorgonna as the one who talks more, but it seems they are focused on her a bit.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

I see everyone speculating about 11.1 & 11.2.
Any 11.3 believers?

X.3 is no longer anything to even discuss, it doesn't exist and will not exist in the future of World of Warcraft.

Ion has stated no Shrinkflation and has now in the latest interviews at Gamescom stated that the Expansion "The War Within" has Dragonflight Content Cadence.

Chris Metzen yapped a bit and stated they have already started on 13.1/13.2, I think we can lay this one to rest at this point.

[OCoyne]

Assuming 11.1 is the goblin raid. Is there any other gobbo antagonist that's been set up other than Gallywix?

Last we saw him was Tazavesh. So if he does return to the story maybe he brought some Broker friends and potentially we might even see Ve'nari again.

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

Because the tree is not part of a new zone the most likely outcome is The void corrupted tree being the raid aka the Rootlands, with the Goblins having their own zone and mega 5 man dungeon, basically another Mechagon.

[Skytotem]

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

Because the tree is not part of a new zone the most likely outcome is The void corrupted tree being the raid aka the Rootlands, with the Goblins having their own zone and mega 5 man dungeon, basically another Mechagon.

I'm actually wondering if it'll be Iridikron making a mess in Undermine?

We might end up having to work WITH the Venture co and such to stop him from doing something down there.

[Cheezits]

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

There is, canonically, a void monster underneath Undermine.

If they can fit void into the Kobolds, using Hearthstone lore (The Darkness) then they can fit it into Undermine. It just won't be a super dark voidy patch because Goblins.

[milkmustache]

I'm really hoping that the Warsong being the primary force in Northrend for the Horde against the undead Nerubians is touched on.

... And also that the Warsong got tactical plans from the live Nerubians to fight the undead ones.

It'll give Gorgonna a chance to show her diplomatic side and military chops at the same time if she works alongside the nerubians resistance

I really love the Warsong being the main Horde force here. Gorgonna has an awesome opportunity to grow as a character and help not just the Horde but the Warsong clan and orcs continue to atone for the sins of Garrosh.

Venture Co. is shown often, and theres a group called Darkfuse in the max level campaign that I've never heard of (related to Blackfuse? unsure) with a guy who runs off. Otherwise no.

I assume Gallywix will be the focus as his tophat is on the venture co ring item, but I would like some new goblin characters.

I've yet to get to the Darkfuse portion of the max level campaign yet, but I still emphasize my theory that if they go the route of mixing some goblin factions in with Xal'atath, the avenue for that will be Ethereals. Perhaps some deal made with the Brokers of Tazavesh as liasons. Darkfuse screams voidy version of Blackfuse (with the little knowledge I have at the moment)

Wait... what if the reason Geyarah is here is because the Lightbound actually ARE in Beledar?

I feel like they would've picked Gorgonna as the one who talks more, but it seems they are focused on her a bit.

I think this could work for both of them. Geyarah for obvious reasons, but if they bring Exarch Hellscream about there would be a lot to build. Mag'har and Lightbound Dranei, Mag'har and former Mag'har now Lightbound, Warsong and a Hellscream, Warsong and Draenei allied Orcs.

I'm starting to buy this idea a bit more.

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

Because the tree is not part of a new zone the most likely outcome is The void corrupted tree being the raid aka the Rootlands, with the Goblins having their own zone and mega 5 man dungeon, basically another Mechagon.

As Cheezits said, the void being underneath Undermine is a big one. Blizzard has been really good with integrating races amongst each other, especially some of these underground races, so I imagine an Undermine patch while largely focusing on goblins is able to divert enough towards their vast lineup to create a full patch.

[Makabreska]

There's not enough Goblin antagonists to fit an entire patch around and you have to connect them with the Void otherwise it's just random as fuck which makes zero sense.
"The Harbinger of the Void is causing absolute hell on, the world tree is converting to the void, but fuck it that Gallywix is a fucking pain in the arse"

Would not be the first time we had to deal with an unrelated threat. Legion started with an invasion of BL on to Azeroth, but our first main issue was spread of Emerald Nightmare. In BfA we went to Mechagon, because their king wanted to fire up a global de-fleshification device.

If there is a threat, we will deal with it, however unrelated it is. It may even be a benefit to the overall pacing to do something more on the side, because as it is now, entire TWW is suuuper Xal/Void focused. Almost every meaningful threat is connected to them, beside kobolds and Hallowfall fanatics.

[Cheezits]

Would not be the first time we had to deal with an unrelated threat. Legion started with an invasion of BL on to Azeroth, but our first main issue was spread of Emerald Nightmare. In BfA we went to Mechagon, because their king wanted to fire up a global de-fleshification device.

If there is a threat, we will deal with it, however unrelated it is. It may even be a benefit to the overall pacing to do something more on the side, because as it is now, entire TWW is suuuper Xal/Void focused. Almost every meaningful threat is connected to them, beside kobolds and Hallowfall fanatics.

Yup, and the pacing is bam-bam-bam super fast, so it makes sense for a diversion this time as opposed to Dragonflight where it was horribly slow, and then pivoted to Sarkareth instead of the Incarnates.

Ansurek loses, Azj-Kahet is freed but Xal wins somehow and disappears. Break time while we go to Undermine (and maybe helping crown a new queen of Azj-Kahet/restoring Neferess). Then Xal resurfaces and is corrupting Elun'Ahir and/or Beledar, leading to their respective patches.

[OCoyne]

There is, canonically, a void monster underneath Undermine.

If they can fit void into the Kobolds, using Hearthstone lore (The Darkness) then they can fit it into Undermine. It just won't be a super dark voidy patch because Goblins.

That's still not enough for a full blown raid, as I suggested it'll come as a mega dungeon with it's own zone.

The new endgame chapter from last night literally introduced you to a new type of Ascended Nerbuian with Queen Nesferess converted into some sort of half nerubian half abomination. If she isn't killed off during the campaign they've already introduced you to the 1st boss of the next raid.

[Cheezits]

That's still not enough for a full blown raid, as I suggested it'll come as a mega dungeon with it's own zone.

The new endgame chapter from last night literally introduced you to a new type of Ascended Nerbuian with Queen Nesferess converted into some sort of half nerubian half abomination. If she isn't killed off during the campaign they've already introduced you to the 1st boss of the next raid.

Pretty sure Neferess being alive will be a plotpoint to restore her somehow or tie her into the Ascended, as opposed to her being a boss, as she would've just been in the current raid if that was the case. However she could just be a quest boss in the next campaign chapter. Hopefully not.

[OCoyne]

Pretty sure Neferess being alive will be a plotpoint to restore her somehow or tie her into the Ascended, as opposed to her being a boss, as she would've just been in the current raid if that was the case. However she could just be a quest boss in the next campaign chapter. Hopefully not.

Not at all because the chapter also showed the black blood works pretty much like the Fel does, Xala'tath has control over every Nerubian even the rebellions who opposed it.
All it's done is Ansurek has ensured the self-destruction of its own society.

There's pretty much a 99% chance being the plot of the next raid at this stage

[Cheezits]

There's pretty much a 99% chance being the plot of the next raid at this stage

And why would there be two raids back to back about black blood corrupted Nerubians?

[Foolicious]

That's still not enough for a full blown raid, as I suggested it'll come as a mega dungeon with it's own zone.

The new endgame chapter from last night literally introduced you to a new type of Ascended Nerbuian with Queen Nesferess converted into some sort of half nerubian half abomination. If she isn't killed off during the campaign they've already introduced you to the 1st boss of the next raid.

She won't be in the next raid. The first boss of nerubar palace is one of this bulky ascended already. And the delve boss is one as well. He is also said to be the only succesful one retaining his sanity and mind while all the other ones turned into ever hungry monsters.
I could see the delve storyline ending with us finding a cure for neferess, but theres no chance she will be involved in the upcoming raid.

[Ochinko]

Having done all the quests available so far and playing through the zones I (want to) believe that Azeroth is actually the crystal we see in Hallowfall (aka Beledar). She is fighting to keep her sanity which would be why she changes from light to void and back.

There's also a massive flying Octopus called "The Guardian" flying around the horizon behind the Church (Priory Dungeon) which happens to be unkillable.

Its probably wrong and proven to be so but I like the idea.

[Nightshade711]

Pretty sure Neferess being alive will be a plotpoint to restore her somehow or tie her into the Ascended, as opposed to her being a boss, as she would've just been in the current raid if that was the case. However she could just be a quest boss in the next campaign chapter. Hopefully not.

If blizzard wanted to do playable Nerubians they could 100% use Neferess to facilitate that. Shame they confirmed there aren’t any plans for playable Nerubians atm.

[OCoyne]

And why would there be two raids back to back about black blood corrupted Nerubians?

The same reason why there's a world tree down there which featured in the trailer and is huge significant part of the lore going into The Lost Titans.

It wouldn't be the first time you had friend turned foes over patches involving a void entity as you had the Klaxxi in MoP but the only difference was they voluntarily changed sides

And absolutely no one says the black blood is limited to just 1 place, there's a certain zone on the surface which is ripe for the taking.

[Auxis]

There is, canonically, a void monster underneath Undermine.

If they can fit void into the Kobolds, using Hearthstone lore (The Darkness) then they can fit it into Undermine. It just won't be a super dark voidy patch because Goblins.

What's this void monster under Undermine?

[Raetary]

The four arms thing isn't a problem

The animations might not be a problem, but Blizzard would have to retexture every chestpiece and chest covering to make them wear player armor.

Their torso isn't smooth, it's a blocky carapace and their second set of arms does not potrude directly beneath their first set, but rather from their chest:


They'd have to comit to a ton of texture work to make sure every chestpiece, shirt and tabard looks actually good on them.
Which is on its own a lot of work, but even more so when you take into account every modern chest pieces that have ornate sleeves.

And sure, while they can pull a Dracthyr and just have them not show the chest gear, that would severly limit customizability.
Dracthyr do have a second form to accessorize, these guys would not.

[Cheezits]

And sure, while they can pull a Dracthyr and just have them not show the chest gear, that would severly limit customizability.
Dracthyr do have a second form to accessoirise, these guys would not.

Or they would do barber shop armor. Yeah, they don't have a visage form, but they may figure that for certain monstrous races with radically different bodies they are kind of locked to this- do they let people play Sethrak/Naga/Arrakoa/Ascended or are they doomed forever because they can't wear gloves?

Even with Naga it's like how people are theorizing they will get a fishy Highborne form. Because there's no way they will actually do pants textures for them.

One of the reasons Ethereals are likely playable in Midnight is they are one of the very few NPC races (and requested at that) left that are actually humanoid in a way that fits armor. Vrykul too, with TLT, but you have to deal with their size. (Maybe a kind of Reverse Algari Earthen thing with a new clan that is smaller)