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

[Dracullus]

it could also be TBC remix, OR BOTH!!

Just watch last Ion interview people, it's clear as day that it's Legion Remix. And you kinda right, it's both, cause TBC Classic release at same time.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

The setting is not "way past mere medieval fantasy". The setting occupies typical fantasy spread from prehistoric to late age of exploration, with occasional self-contained high tech elements and cultures beyond.

There are firearms in D&D, but it would still be really dumb if BG3 were a game where everyone in random bandit camps, druid groves and ancient cursed woods just walked around waving revolvers in the air. There are volcanoes in LotR, but that doesn't make it a good idea to add volcanoes to the Shire, and Rohan, and Rivendell, and Lothlorien.

There do not need to be proper roads and houses with hotrod garages in Eversong Woods, Ashenvale or Elwynn forest, just like there doesn't need to be a gnomish airstrip launching planes in every Alliance zone or a dumb giant goblin canon sticking out of every Horde base, and just like there doesn't need to be Kul Tiran anchor decorations on every building in Orgrimmar. They are various settings for a reason, because they have their own distinct visual identities, developed roads, cars and garages are incongruent with the majority of the zones in the game.

Aye, this is a pretty good summary. I think an important thing to keep in mind is that in a setting like Azeroth — which is driven more by aesthetics than logistically-sensible worldbuilding — long-term preservation of the setting's identity is critical. This demands maximum insulation of the high-technology elements to the environments in which they belong, as well as the restriction of those high-technology elements to things which fit the spirit of the setting as opposed to modern amenities, even if the specific categories of advanced military technology (e.g. siege engines, gyrocopters) that fit the setting should reasonably coexist with civilian technology of a similar nature or with military technology that is more intuitively incompatible with the setting (i.e. the infragreen cloaking tech in WotLK, which did even worse and became a stand-in for infrared tech in SL because Blizzard — and I, when I was first writing this post, — forgot what it originally did).

Goblins are an interesting exception to the modern amenities rule because of how these things figure into their fantasy. At the same time, what boosts their own identity inherently diminishes everybody else's. Civilian (as opposed to most forms of military) goblin technology circa Cataclysm needs to be used sparingly and chiefly in association with goblins, else it goes out of control and begins a descent of the setting into an urban fantasy one. A hot rod is something that's tolerable — even if things more explicitly mired in the setting, like trikes or (better yet) spider tanks would be much better and more suitable outside their homelands — only insofar as it never leaves Kezan.

Another problem is occasional lack of restraint. Not only does lack of restraint cause a technology to diminish the fantasy, it also causes it to lose its own sense of impressiveness. A good example is with the gunships in WotLK. When there were only four of them — two in Isle of Conquest, two in Icecrown — they were impressive and didn't diminish the fantasy. When they began to proliferate out of control and become commonplace elements of the setting, they became a detriment to the fantasy and eventually unimpressive set pieces without any weight.

[huth]

Again, why peeps are seriously wanting him to be a Dreadlord for realz? Like, did we forget the reception of Dreadlords reveal in SL and it's general "Jailer was behind everything"? Like, wtf guys, are you actually enjoying this type of plot twists that were absolutely lambasted only 3y ago?

Gallywix had always encompassed all the worst traits of goblin race with zero redeeming qualities, no impersonation here was ever needed.

I think the other way around would be funnier. A Dreadlord tried, but Gallywix turned the tables on it and now it's stuck as his lackey.

[Makabreska]

I think the other way around would be funnier. A Dreadlord tried, but Gallywix turned the tables on it and now it's stuck as his lackey.

Or Dreadlord tried, but realised he could never pose as someone this repulsive and evil.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

I think the other way around would be funnier. A Dreadlord tried, but Gallywix turned the tables on it and now it's stuck as his lackey.

I can't say I'd mind that.

[Joshuaj]

I think the other way around would be funnier. A Dreadlord tried, but Gallywix turned the tables on it and now it's stuck as his lackey.

That would be the most Gallywix thing ever

[KOUNTERPARTS]

Gallywix is definitely not a dreadlord.

I've seen that video too. It was fun to watch, and was equally entertaining as it was pure deductive speculation. A lot of those WoW content creators who make plausible "lore bomb" videos do it for the entertainment value.

Looking at it from a narrative stand point, Gallywix being revealed to be a dreadlord as to explain his manipulative and dastardly actions going back to, let's say, Legion and Battle for Azeroth, cheapens his character. It also cheapens a lot of the lore from that point leading up to now.

For example, Gallywix introducing Sylvanas to Azerite. How bad would it be when it was another "oh, dreadlords behind everything" and another move of Zovaal's masterful 100D chess game?

Question: is there anybody here who legitimately hopes for Gallywix to be revealed as a dreadlord the entire time?

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That would be the most Gallywix thing ever

Gallywix thinking he is paying a dreadlord to be his enforcer, paying him with Void-infused kaja'mite, not knowing the dreadlord is just collecting massive amounts of it to be used to free Denathrius from Remornia.

/shrug

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it could also be TBC remix, OR BOTH!!

I'd prefer TBC SoD, personally.

[Swarzsinne]

I'm still thinking Gallywix isn't going to be an outright villain but more-so in conflict with us at that moment in time. Unless we've just decided it's out right time to dethrone him and we're going full CIA to South America on him.

[Auxis]

I'm still thinking Gallywix isn't going to be an outright villain but more-so in conflict with us at that moment in time. Unless we've just decided it's out right time to dethrone him and we're going full CIA to South America on him.

He may not outright be evil, but he's greedy and unscrupulous, and his actions kickstarted the Fourth War. He allied himself with Sylvanas and abandoned the Horde at the end of the Fourth War.

At the very least, I can see us defeating him - not outright killing him. But it remains to be seen what exactly he was up to in Tazavesh, and what he's been doing between the end of BFA and Undermine(d) - perhaps his actions will warrant his death. Or maybe the Cartel's want him alive to try him for whatever crimes he may have commited.

[huth]

Gallywix thinking he is paying a dreadlord to be his enforcer, paying him with Void-infused kaja'mite, not knowing the dreadlord is just collecting massive amounts of it to be used to free Denathrius from Remornia.

/shrug

...that's just regular payment. Why the Dreadlord accepts the payment doesn't change that.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

...that's just regular payment. Why the Dreadlord accepts the payment doesn't change that.

Yes. I'm just making up some random scenario that I think would be less-than-interesting.

[hattahat]

Gallywix being a dreadlord could be an interesting plot, as I personally was thinking that he could be a dreadlord or not, and that both storylines are possible.

If Gallywix is a dreadlord, it could also be an interesting tie-in with Orweyna, especially if we assume she's a green-eyed mole. We could have a contrast between Gallywix plotting nefariously for Death until the end, and Orweyna sincerely choosing to defend Life and Azeroth.

But I also like the idea of just having Gally be an evil, greedy man, in this case contrasted with Gazlowe, who is a model, conscientious entrepreneur. I think it's slightly more likely that the story will end up this way.

[Tetley]

My hope is that after Gallywix has been defeated by us, he jumps off the boss fight platform with a golden parachute

[Cheezits]

Gallywix being a dreadlord could be an interesting plot, as I personally was thinking that he could be a dreadlord or not, and that both storylines are possible.

If Gallywix is a dreadlord, it could also be an interesting tie-in with Orweyna, especially if we assume she's a green-eyed mole. We could have a contrast between Gallywix plotting nefariously for Death until the end, and Orweyna sincerely choosing to defend Life and Azeroth.

But I also like the idea of just having Gally be an evil, greedy man, in this case contrasted with Gazlowe, who is a model, conscientious entrepreneur. I think it's slightly more likely that the story will end up this way.

I never even considered the dueling Orwenya and Gallywix dreadlord themes. Orwenya Dreadlord has at least been hinted at twice pre-TWW, though I don't think she's evil.

I would love them to flesh out the Nathrezim in this way especially with how Lothraxion will probably be coming back soon.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

"Beware the eyes of green" and all that. Orwenya has green eyes; is Gallywix's eyes also green?

[Joshuaj]

"Beware the eyes of green" and all that. Orwenya has green eyes; is Gallywix's eyes also green?

They are not. In game, I think they're yellow?

Also, even if they were green, it wouldn't fit, cause the full saying is "The Vassel of Life disguises treachery. Beware the eyes of Green"

[Kiivar86]

They are not. In game, I think they're yellow?

Also, even if they were green, it wouldn't fit, cause the full saying is "The Vassel of Life disguises treachery. Beware the eyes of Green"

I've seen some put forward that the Vassal and the eyes are separate warnings, but I think that's more people grasping at straws.

[Eldryth]

"Beware the eyes of green" and all that. Orwenya has green eyes; is Gallywix's eyes also green?

The green eyes part can be associated with him easily enough even if it's not literal. Green eyes are a common old description for jealousy (still well-known because Shakespeare used it), so that would fit well with a character defined entirely by greed, like Gallywix.

Much harder to reconcile him with the other part of that comment. How could Gallywix ever be seen as a "Vassal of Life"? I guess we could learn that it meant he made a deal with the Haranir and always planned to betray them or something, but it still feels like a big reach.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

The green eyes part can be associated with him easily enough even if it's not literal. Green eyes are a common old description for jealousy (still well-known because Shakespeare used it), so that would fit well with a character defined entirely by greed, like Gallywix.

Yeah, it seems fairly obvious. I mean, aside from everything else, wouldn't literal "eyes of green" be exceedingly common among a power associated with the Emerald Dream to the point looking for literal green eyes would be pretty pointless?

Then again, I might be giving Blizzard Cdev too much credit.

[Makabreska]

I'm still thinking Gallywix isn't going to be an outright villain but more-so in conflict with us at that moment in time. Unless we've just decided it's out right time to dethrone him and we're going full CIA to South America on him.

Pretty sure it will be his final hour. Dude had it coming since Cata, when he tried to kill player character and Thrall in goblin starting zone. After that he was just a greed, selfishness and pettiness incarnate, always thinking only about himself and backstabbing peeps all the time. Not sure what kind of "conflict" Blizz could present us now that would not feel like being totally out of the blue.