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

[Nymrohd]

The extra time after the X.2 patch has to end up somewhere though. There are four options here. 1. Shorter expansions. 2. 9 month drought. 3. Content cadence suffers immensely. 4. Meaty X. 3 patch.

If option 1 is correct, then the expansion would release later winter, early spring to fit the usual content cadence.
If option 2 is correct, then we have a massive drought after each X.2 patch before we get to the next expansion.
If option 3 is correct, then all the promises of a sensible content cadence like what we had in DF evaporates.
If option 4 is correct, then we do have a X.3 pathc with a new zone and a new raid and all of that. But that also kinda goes against the whole smaller expansions thing the developers talked about leading up to TWW.

One of these has to be true.

Or we keep having a 3-4 month fated season? Heck it could be just 2-3 months and run concurrently with something like Timerunning to keep people subscribed.

[Dracullus]

The extra time after the X.2 patch has to end up somewhere though. There are four options here. 1. Shorter expansions. 2. 9 month drought. 3. Content cadence suffers immensely. 4. Meaty X. 3 patch.

If option 1 is true, then the expansion would release later winter, early spring to fit the usual content cadence.
If option 2 is correct, then we have a massive drought after each X.2 patch before we get to the next expansion.
If Option 3 is correct, then all the promises of a sensible content cadence like what we had in DF evaporates.
If Option 4 is correct, then we do have a X.3 pathc with a new zone and a new raid and all of that. But that also kinda goes against the whole smaller expansions thing the developers talked about leading up to TWW.

One of these has to be true.

...or fill it with experimental stuff and casual patches like DF. You show 4 options but somehow forgot about scenario we just experienced xD.

[Sondrelk]

Or we keep having a 3-4 month fated season? Heck it could be just 2-3 months and run concurrently with something like Timerunning to keep people subscribed.

I dunno. DF worked because it launched so late in the year. TWW launched a good 4-5 months earlier. Even assuming Midnight releases a month or two before than even int the early summer, that still leaves a good two months of extra headroom that needs to be filled with something. And as much as I thought Plunderstorm and Remix were great ideas that should return in a similar seasonal format. There is a limit to how much juice can be squeezed out, barring new innovations that make it last longer.

That being said, there is plenty of time for Blizzard to create new formats or gamemodes that lengthen the time needed between major patches. SO I guess we can only wait and see.

- - - Updated - - -

...or fill it with experimental stuff and casual patches like DF. You show 4 options but somehow forgot about scenario we just experienced xD.

DF to TWW was also only 19-20 months long though, which is the part I think many people forget.

[Dracullus]

DF to TWW was also only 19-20 months long though, which is the part I think many people forget.

Well yeah, that's why I think Saga will have DF length. No one here really discuss potential 24+ month expansion, some people just think we will have expansions even shorter than DF.

[Sondrelk]

Well yeah, that's why I think Saga will have DF length. No one here really discuss potential 24+ month expansion, some people just think we will have expansions even shorter than DF.

Even just DF length would still put is significantly ahead of the 2030 schedule set by Metzen, which si why I am always a bit confused when people take it as gospel that we will end in 2029 or whatever.

[Dracullus]

Even just DF length would still put is significantly ahead of the 2030 schedule set by Metzen, which si why I am always a bit confused when people take it as gospel that we will end in 2029 or whatever.

First, DF lasted 21 months, kinda significant if we discuss 3+ expacs in future. So if Saga will repeat it:

TWW release - August 2024
Midnight release - May 2026
Last Titan release - March 2028
final Saga raid - March 2029
end of Saga - end of 2029

Fits perfectly to "Saga is set to conclude before 2030" comment. Kinda on borderline with "deadline" actually.

https://www.wowhead.com/news/the-wor...re-2030-335918

Now, when I look at dates, I think they could aim for 19 month expansions, so The Last Titan would launch in Christmas season. Personally I think DF had perfect length.

But again, I doubt they will resign from fated season, 19 month expansion could be: 2 weeks pre-season + 3x5=15 month seasons + 2.5 month fated + 1 month prepatch.

[Auxis]

Just dawned on me that some attunements like the Legion raid skips are quests, and quests nowadays have little notes saying that Warband's have received the rewards from them.

So are the attunements account/warband wide now? Or do we still have to do them on all characters?

[huth]

Just dawned on me that some attunements like the Legion raid skips are quests, and quests nowadays have little notes saying that Warband's have received the rewards from them.

So are the attunements account/warband wide now? Or do we still have to do them on all characters?

Those notes seem to be flat applied to all quests except repeatables. I don't think it has anything to do with whether the effects are account wide. It's just a marker telling you that you've done that quest before.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

Do you guys think we'll get another new playable race in MN and/or TLT?

[micwini]

They said 18 months expacs instead of the usual 2 years. 18/3 = 6 months per tier with no droughts. No fated season as well.
Anything else is breaking their promise.

- - - Updated - - -

Do you guys think we'll get another new playable race in MN and/or TLT?

Ethereals im almost certain. They've been here and there in and around alliance/horde settlements almost since they were introduced

[huth]

They said 18 months expacs instead of the usual 2 years. 18/3 = 6 months per tier with no droughts. No fated season as well.

"Usual 2 years" is overselling it a bit. Most expansions didn't last 2 years and many were below that. 18 months isn't that far off. Though i'd expect something closer to 19-20 months.

[micwini]

"Usual 2 years" is overselling it a bit. Most expansions didn't last 2 years and many were below that. 18 months isn't that far off. Though i'd expect something closer to 19-20 months.

WoW Icon update – Bc icon: 26 months (2004-11-23 — 2007-01-16)
Bc icon – Wrath-Logo-Small: 22 months (2007-01-16 — 2008-11-13)
Wrath-Logo-Small – Cataclysm: 25 months (2008-11-13 — 2010-12-07)
Cataclysm – Mists of Pandaria: 22 months (2010-12-07 — 2012-09-25)
Mists of Pandaria – Warlords of Draenor: 25 months (2012-09-25 — 2014-11-13)
Warlords of Draenor – Legion: 21 months (2014-11-13 — 2016-08-30)
Legion – Battle for Azeroth: 23 months (2016-08-30 — 2018-08-14)
Battle for Azeroth - Shadowlands: 27 months (2018-08-14 — 2020-11-23)
Shadowlands - Dragonflight: 24 months (2020-11-23 — 2022-11-28)

DF-TWW around 21 months.

21 months is the lowest number here. Half is 2 years or longer and the ones that are less than 2 years cut it pretty close.
18 months is a significant amount of time reduction between expansions, which is also why im skeptical. Just see how rediculous it is what I said: 3 tiers with 0 droughts and a smooth transition of 6 months between X.2 and the expansion thereafter.

[Darkarath]

Do you guys think we'll get another new playable race in MN and/or TLT?

Midnight is the perfect chance for some form of Naga and Ethereals. TLT is perfect for the long requested Vrykul. I just do not see Tuskkar as a playable race, in the same way that I do not see playable Nerubians (Evolved Nerubians included).

But who knows? Everyone was expecting a Drakonid allied race in DF and we got nothing. No one was expecting (or asking) for playable Earthen, and here we are.

Anything could happen.

[allegrian]

Do you guys think we'll get another new playable race in MN and/or TLT?

whatever it is, they are not making new model skeletons ever unless they do something like Dracthyr that can only wear shoulders.

[huth]

21 months is the lowest number here. Half is 2 years or longer and the ones that are less than 2 years cut it pretty close.
18 months is a significant amount of time reduction between expansions, which is also why im skeptical. Just see how rediculous it is what I said: 3 tiers with 0 droughts and a smooth transition of 6 months between X.2 and the expansion thereafter.

It's only half the variation we had in the past. And only 4 out of 9 expansions were 2 years or longer. The majority was shorter by up to 3 months. Even including BfA's excessive length due to Covid complications, the average duration is less than 2 years.

[bruxx]

Do you guys think we'll get another new playable race in MN and/or TLT?

Feels like it's now or never for either Naga or Ethereal. As someone that's wanted Naga since TFT, before wow even launched I certainly hope we do.

[Raetary]

Do you guys think we'll get another new playable race in MN and/or TLT?

Yes.

Midnight is perfect for Amani, Naga or Etherals.
TLT could add Vrykul and Furbolg.

And that's just the ones we know, Blizz could come up with brand new races as well.

[Ersula]

They said they wanted expansions to come faster. Alpha at Blizzcon but not releasing until summer doesnt make much sense.

Historically, Alpha to release timelines have been between 8 and 5 months. I don't think giving people the winter break to play the alpha isn't that unusual. Either that or the Alpha releases shortly after winter break.

[Divada]

Feels like it's now or never for either Naga or Ethereal. As someone that's wanted Naga since TFT, before wow even launched I certainly hope we do.

I feel the same way. Arrakoa was my other dream race, but that time has passed, sadly. And with the tmog limitations on Mechagnomes and Dracthyr they can't use that as an excuse for unplayable Naga.

[Dracullus]

They said 18 months expacs instead of the usual 2 years. 18/3 = 6 months per tier with no droughts. No fated season as well.
Anything else is breaking their promise.

I never heard or suspect them to say something specific like that. Source definitely needed.