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

[Joshuaj]

Like I said, the Forsaken and Scarlet Crusade stuff has been getting a ton of focus lately. Would be odd to see us not deal with them, as Midnight takes place in the Eastern Kingdoms.

[Xilurm]

Khaz'Modan and Southern Eastern Kingdoms wouldn't have any relevant connection to the Light and Shadow conflict. My argument is that Northern Lordaeron would be perfectly relevant to not just current events going on in the lore (I.E Gilneas being retaken, the Scarlet Crusade and Forsaken conflict having a bigger focus, etc), but also plotlines such as the Light stuff and the Arathi stuff (Not to mention it'd fit the Turalyon stuff to counteract Alleria's Elven focus).

Don't you think any storyline that brings the Alliance to Quel'thalas will also inevitably involve the Forsaken & Scarlet Crusade?

The way the paragraph I quoted was phrased made it sound like they would be forced to for technical reasons.

[Joshuaj]

Looking at the map from Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, yeah idk...

Would just make more sense if they utilized Northern EK, and not JUST Quel'Thalas. Though it also looks like there wouldn't be enough land to build a Zul'Aman ZONE from with the Amani? Idk tho.

[Ersula]

Like I said, the Forsaken and Scarlet Crusade stuff has been getting a ton of focus lately. Would be odd to see us not deal with them, as Midnight takes place in the Eastern Kingdoms.

On the other hand, ignoring very obvious story beats is Blizzard's bread-and-butter. (Malfurion doing nothing whatsoever after the war of thorns, wathion disappearing during legion, etc)

[Joshuaj]

The way the paragraph I quoted was phrased made it sound like they would be forced to for technical reasons.

Ah okay. Yeah, technical reasons are why we're wanting Northern EK to be revamped. We just think Quel'Thalas alone wouldn't be enough to serve as an expansion setting.

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On the other hand, ignoring very obvious story beats is Blizzard's bread-and-butter. (Malfurion doing nothing whatsoever after the war of thorns, wathion disappearing during legion, etc)

They actually planned stuff for Wrathion, but cut him out midway, and they focused on him again in BFA. As for Malfurion? That's them intentionally ignoring him, cause in the lore he's busted asf. Pretty sure that was their actual argument, no joke.

[Enrif]

People also pitching the rest of TWW thinking the Sword isn't going to be involved, location-wise & Silithus isn't going to be revamped....despite them choosing the sword as centerpiece of the cinematic, really?

Well, nothing that was seen or we know of puts us anywhere near Silithus for TWW. We go to a island in 11.0.7, in 11.1 we go to something root and/or goblins related. Not much time left for that sword.

[Joshuaj]

Besides, the sword is gonna be a plotpoint for TLT as well.

[Enrif]

I think they'll probably be around the same size of the Dragon Isles. They don't have to JUST expand the zones, they can also combine the zones and add stuff onto them. Zidormi is always there to bring people back to the old Eastern Kingdoms anyways lol.

To which zone? Lordaeron and Arathi Highlands already have a Zidormi. Should she now flick between three states? Or other zones with her. How many phases should there be? It would make much more sense to make a revamp of the zones, into their own map(like draenor to outland) and not put more phasing onto the zones.

[Joshuaj]

To which zone? Lordaeron and Arathi Highlands already have a Zidormi. Should she now flick between three states? Or other zones with her. How many phases should there be? It would make much more sense to make a revamp of the zones, into their own map(like draenor to outland) and not put more phasing onto the zones.

Just have Zidormi be there for the capital or capitals of Midnight (assuming we get faction capitals again, which idk about). That, or to avoid players being plopped in the middle of the Great Sea (Assuming revamped Silvermoon becomes a capital of course), she'll likely be located at the Plaguelands, by the gate to Quel'thalas.

Then you'll have your normal Zidormi for pre-Midnight Tirisfal, Arathi Highlands, etc.

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To which zone? Lordaeron and Arathi Highlands already have a Zidormi. Should she now flick between three states? Or other zones with her. How many phases should there be? It would make much more sense to make a revamp of the zones, into their own map(like draenor to outland) and not put more phasing onto the zones.

I mean, fair, but then I'd ask how you would incorporate Southern Eastern Kingdoms. Would that be its own separate map? Would they incorporate seamless transitioning to it?

[Enrif]

I mean, fair, but then I'd ask how you would incorporate Southern Eastern Kingdoms. Would that be its own separate map? Would they incorporate seamless transitioning to it?

That is the question. And would a question that would be worse for Kalimdor as it has no convenient part that can cleanly split the area. I think they will use a "void consumed azeroth" plotline, and shut off everything beyond Quel'thalas during midnight. Well, only in the narrative, you can still have your portals and stuff, but can't fly from Quel'thalas to the rest of the EK. Think Plunderstorm the void storm closing in.

If they want to make a seamless transition they would push back that voidstorm expansion by expansion. The question is, can they run such a big map? Or would it be too big? I mean tech gets better and better, and it could be possible.

[Joshuaj]

That is the question. And would a question that would be worse for Kalimdor as it has no convenient part that can cleanly split the area. I think they will use a "void consumed azeroth" plotline, and shut off everything beyond Quel'thalas during midnight. Well, only in the narrative, you can still have your portals and stuff, but can't fly from Quel'thalas to the rest of the EK. Think Plunderstorm the void storm closing in.

If they want to make a seamless transition they would push back that voidstorm expansion by expansion. The question is, can they run such a big map? Or would it be too big? I mean tech gets better and better, and it could be possible.

If they want to, they can just update the zones that do exist and apply the seamless transition to Quel'thalas. There are a couple of ways they can make it work for the Eastern Kingdoms.

Kalimdor can also work similar, but like you said, that doesn't have a distinct cut off.

[Sondrelk]

Anyways, on to something completely different.

Do anyone think we are getting genuine ring transmogs in the near future? Maybe from the last raid in TWW, or sometime during Midnight?
We do have the 20th Anniversary ring toy, and there is the new ring from 11.0.7 that also gives the player a unique model. So it's not unprecedented by any stretch.

[milkmustache]

Anyways, on to something completely different.

Do anyone think we are getting genuine ring transmogs in the near future? Maybe from the last raid in TWW, or sometime during Midnight?
We do have the 20th Anniversary ring toy, and there is the new ring from 11.0.7 that also gives the player a unique model. So it's not unprecedented by any stretch.

Totally! I imagine for the time being they'd continue being special items, but maybe going into late 12.0/13.0 we'd see them as a staple. They really seem to be prioritizing cosmetics. Take the back pieces for instance; we saw a lot of them enter in Shadowlands, and now they're a very diverse staple of transmogrification. Same can be said for the shoulder cloaks.

These things are obviously requiring some sort of code spaghetti untangling as they're still working on a 20 year old engine, but I expect them to continue to push through the boundaries and deliver some really cool pieces in the future.

Although, before we get more rings, let's fix the hair and helmet issue please lol

[Raetary]

Anyways, on to something completely different.

Do anyone think we are getting genuine ring transmogs in the near future? Maybe from the last raid in TWW, or sometime during Midnight?
We do have the 20th Anniversary ring toy, and there is the new ring from 11.0.7 that also gives the player a unique model. So it's not unprecedented by any stretch.

It does seem like it.
Hopefully they expand that to necklaces too.

They could even add item models to trinkets, whenever it makes sense.

Would be pretty neat to eventually be able to transmog all of our characters accessories.

[Joshuaj]

Anyways, on to something completely different.

Do anyone think we are getting genuine ring transmogs in the near future? Maybe from the last raid in TWW, or sometime during Midnight?
We do have the 20th Anniversary ring toy, and there is the new ring from 11.0.7 that also gives the player a unique model. So it's not unprecedented by any stretch.

I'd love for some ring xmogs

[Worldshaper]

Zone 1: Quel'thalas, including the Ghostlands. Slightly enlarged. Generic elfy woodlands.

Zone 2: Expanded east coast of Quel'thalas becomes Zul'Aman; hills and forests, with a couple of islands off the coast to create the sense of a larger open space with water in-between, without turning the world map all goofy.

Zone 3: South and southwest of Quel'thalas forms a sort of elf/human hybrid zone, featuring more regular towns and cities, churches, lumber mills, etc. Essentially the Plaguelands but as if half of it was inside the Quel'thalas gates all this time. Lots of secret necromancy cult stuff going on here, and new Forsaken lore. I think of this as our entry to the story, progressing south to north through Quel'thalas until we reach the enemy.

Zone 4: The Isle of Quel'Danas is expanded by quite a bit, but non-flyable. It's where the forces of the Void have focused their assault on the Sunwell. Dangerous endgame zone vibes.

Zone 5 (patch content): Naga zone exploring the kinship between Night Elves and High Elves. Re-familiarising us with Queen Azshara's past, and establishing "friendly naga". Think of it as an island where the High Elves first landed en route to their new home in the Eastern Kingdoms, with Elven ruins and some underwater areas.

Zone 6 (patch content): K'aresh, from whence Queen Azshara's forces assault Quel'thalas.

[Khaza-R]

I think people are getting a bit ahead of themselves in this thread. For all we know Quel'thalas gets yeeted into the void and is chilling with Dalaran in Midnight.

[Worldshaper]

Seems people still don't get how Blizzard design zones 20 years later.

Let's take DF for instance. It has themes for the blue dragon and Tuskar, but we don't get back to Northrend for it, it is there in its own zone. The Elves have a theme going on in a patch, and we don't put the tree in Ashenvale,Darkshore or Hyjal, but on the Dragon Isles.

Now TWW, we have a lot of important lore for dwarves, but we don't go to Khaz Modan, it has imprtant lore for humans in the Arathi, but we don't go for the Arathi Highlands.

And Midnight will be the same.

Important light story? Sunwell, the biggest source of light in the eastern kingdoms. There is no need for Lordaeron.

Important undead story? Deathholm and Ghostlands. No need to muddle that with plaguelands which have their own stories separate from that area.

Important troll story? Zul'aman, no need to expendt to Jin'tha Alor.

There is no reason to expand beyond Quel'thalas outside of scope creep.

All the stories important for the expansion are there in Quel'thalas.

I think Warlords of Draenor is useful to keep in mind. Same place, new coat of paint.

Metzen, I feel like, loves going back to the earliest core concepts of WoW and say: what if we did that this way?

Quel'thalas is a good setting to do essentially what they did with WoD. Take something old, explore it again but from a different angle and with a face-lift.

Same thing seems likely with TLT.

If anything, his absence during Shadowlands and Dragonflight was noticeable because of how far they strayed from traditional Azeroth content.

Both of them felt like a new team of writers just went: "OK so we've explored all of Azeroth and the dudes who came up with this stuff are all gone, so let's invent something fresh".

Then Metzen returns and we get 200% traditional Warcraft content again. I'm here for it.

[Joshuaj]

Zone 1: Quel'thalas, including the Ghostlands. Slightly enlarged. Generic elfy woodlands.

Zone 2: Expanded east coast of Quel'thalas becomes Zul'Aman; hills and forests, with a couple of islands off the coast to create the sense of a larger open space with water in-between, without turning the world map all goofy.

Zone 3: South and southwest of Quel'thalas forms a sort of elf/human hybrid zone, featuring more regular towns and cities, churches, lumber mills, etc. Essentially the Plaguelands but as if half of it was inside the Quel'thalas gates all this time. Lots of secret necromancy cult stuff going on here, and new Forsaken lore. I think of this as our entry to the story, progressing south to north through Quel'thalas until we reach the enemy.

Zone 4: The Isle of Quel'Danas is expanded by quite a bit, but non-flyable. It's where the forces of the Void have focused their assault on the Sunwell. Dangerous endgame zone vibes.

Zone 5 (patch content): Naga zone exploring the kinship between Night Elves and High Elves. Re-familiarising us with Queen Azshara's past, and establishing "friendly naga". Think of it as an island where the High Elves first landed en route to their new home in the Eastern Kingdoms, with Elven ruins and some underwater areas.

Zone 6 (patch content): K'aresh, from whence Queen Azshara's forces assault Quel'thalas.

I can sort of see this, but I'd prefer a big Northern EK update. With the Arathi likely being a thing brought forward to Midnight, it would make sense for them to have a plot in the "Arathi Highlands" and whatnot.

Also, I genuinely believe we'll get the Isle of Quel'danas as a patch zone. Just feels right.

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I think Warlords of Draenor is useful to keep in mind. Same place, new coat of paint.

Metzen, I feel like, loves going back to the earliest core concepts of WoW and say: what if we did that this way?

Quel'thalas is a good setting to do essentially what they did with WoD. Take something old, explore it again but from a different angle and with a face-lift.

Same thing seems likely with TLT.

If anything, his absence during Shadowlands and Dragonflight was noticeable because of how far they strayed from traditional Azeroth content.

Both of them felt like a new team of writers just went: "OK so we've explored all of Azeroth and the dudes who came up with this stuff are all gone, so let's invent something fresh".

Then Metzen returns and we get 200% traditional Warcraft content again. I'm here for it.

The Dragon Isles was a Classic WoW concept that was repurposed for something new. Metzen, while not in anything big at the time, was still working with Blizzard on the expansion. Heck, he's a big reason for why the Incarnates are a thing.

[OCoyne]

It'd be no different to TWW:

11.0: Earthern, Arathi, and Nerubians (Earthern Vs eachother with some focus on the Factions, Kobalds, and Goblins. Arathi Vs eachother plus the Void, and the Nerubians Vs eachother and the Void with some build up with the Harronir)

11.1: Potentially Harronir Vs Goblins

11.2: Potentially Void, Titan, and Worldsoul themed.

???

They've already pitched in the press release synopsis that the initial campaign is all about re-uniting the High Elf tribes preparing for imminent invasion of the Sunwell. There's an outpost to the north of EPL which makes further sense that northern EPL will just be a Chrome Time zone for the campaign and an outpost in The Hinterlands which will also see The Raventusk Trolls become involved - They're pretty much the Sweden of WoW who have never been politically arsed about War but with full blown war on their doorstep they'll have to do something for once.

The 2nd part of the campaign is obvious already. Zul'Aman is built on top of the most powerful C'Thraxxi currently in slumber which will be Xala'Tath's 2nd biggest prize, but there's huge historical differences with the Amani Trolls.

Any sort of complete continent map change will very more than likely wide of the mark but they'll no doubt expand or merge certain zones, Hinterlands conventially borders EPL to the South and then you have the Isle of Quel'Danas where the Sunwell is located, will have to be brought closer inland as it borders nothing, it's just there in the middle of nowhere.

Great news if you like Troll lore however, because there's going to be alot of that.