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

[Alanar]

Undermine is smaller than a Nazjatar/Mechagon double patch, or Argus, but I don't really care. This is basically them adding a Suramar-sized capital city for an old playable race that didn't actually have one, and if you do the raid renown you unlock the amenities that make it an ACTUAL city (tmog, auctioneer, etc). Also the way it integrates into the world through the train stations is really cool and makes it feel expansion agnostic.

I would much prefer more patches like this versus larger zones. I understand the issue is that if you don't like goblins you're screwed, but i'm glad they went all in for this patch instead of diluting it with a secondary theme.

It isnt really tbh. Its go trough portal, boom you are in undermine. It could literally be placed anywhere in the world. No travel or freedom outside to explore. Its an instanced area pretty much.

[Sondrelk]

That seems very far fetched, claiming that already Blizz knows what HP pools bosses will have next expansion after squish.

Specific numbers, no. But it isn't that difficult to make the health pool only four times higher to imply a boss in the final raid, compared to twenty times higher like what you would get from the next expansion.

Personally I think we won't get an Ethereal raid in this expansion. More so because it feels incongruous with what the expansion is building towards compared to Midnight where an Ethereal raid would fit perfectly.

[Cheezits]

I hope it's them invading us, and not another planet hopper expansion. Maybe if the last few bosses in the raid have us doing the ol' draenor/argus reversal and we go to K'aresh that way, but a patch sized zone for all of K'aresh would be lame imo

They are definitely going to do an Argus patch for Karesh. If they couldn't do an Argus expansion there's no way they can do the void equivalent, but I can see 2-3 zones at the end of Midnight.

Especially if there's some small area for us to help friendly Ethereals reclaim.

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It isnt really tbh. Its go trough portal, boom you are in undermine. It could literally be placed anywhere in the world. No travel or freedom outside to explore. Its an instanced area pretty much.

What I meant by that is that there is a goblin train in Zuldazar as well, and there are also three currently unused train stations in Undermine so they could place three more trains in EK/Kalimdor.

Tech wise it would be basically impossible to make Undermine in the real world (as Kezan can't be flown to) so I like this way of making it bigger than just an expansion zone- it will likely get entrances near Gadgetzan, Bilgewater Harbor and Booty Bay to show how it can be accessed all over the world.

[Joshuaj]

The "Incontinental"... i think i'll look for a room elsewhere.

I really do think the name is just a coincidence

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Actually, we could expect ethreal raid in 11.2 based on these datamines:

inv_11_0_etherealraid_communicator_color4
inv_11_0_etherealraid_chime_color1

Goblin ones for 11.1 were validate, so... and then the ethereals model update

I was thinking 12.2, but idk...

[Nebron]

I hope it's them invading us, and not another planet hopper expansion. Maybe if the last few bosses in the raid have us doing the ol' draenor/argus reversal and we go to K'aresh that way, but a patch sized zone for all of K'aresh would be lame imo

As I mentioned in previous post, my logic is that 11.2 is an introduction to major ethereals plotline that will be massively extended in 12.0. This way, they can safely market Midnight with player housing and ethereals as playable race, possibly with Artificier/ Battlemage / Spellbreaker class.

And since Midnight seems to be themed around void, I guess, from the lore point of view:

12.0 - Sunwell defense raid / we summon Army of the Light led by Yrel through Sunwell;
12.1 - something out of the box here, so we don't get overwhelmed by the void theme;
12.2 - Renilash (WoW version of Ragnarok) happens there - defeating Dimensius with the help of Army of the Light (Light vs. Void wet-dream realized ) - Alleria and Locus-Walker being the key figures in uniting all the forces there and finding a way to reach K'aresh, which serves as Argus 2.0

This way, Void storyline is concluded with a massive finale, and 13.0 opens for Titan storyline to wrap up the entire saga, and Warcraft lore. Obviously, with Tinker introduced as a class

[Cheezits]

12.0- Zul Aman catacombs with void monsters
12.1- Attack on the Sun/Voidwell
12.1.5- Scourge or Scarlet themed megadungeon. Maybe redone Stratholme reclaiming it once and for all?
12.2 - Assault on Dimensius in Karesh (2-3 zones)

my personal predictions.

[Nebron]

12.0- Zul Aman catacombs with void monsters
12.1- Attack on the Sun/Voidwell
12.1.5- Scourge or Scarlet themed megadungeon. Maybe redone Stratholme reclaiming it once and for all?
12.2 - Assault on Dimensius in Karesh (2-3 zones)

my personal predictions.

To be fair, I can totally see Scarlet Crusade stuff happening - a sub-plotline with Turalyon trying to recruit them for K'aresh mission or something along the lines.
Especially if Blizzard would be willing to expand their visual zone update on Lordaeron / Plaguelands.

[milkmustache]

It's entirely possible that there could be some Ethereals within the Darkfuse as there are some within Nerub'ar Palace. Some Ethereal factions seem to be playing the role of Xal'atath's lieutenants, so it would make sense if they are involved with her interests.

I imagine that whatever these Ethereal models are will be a bridge from TWW to Midnight as a playable race.

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To be fair, I can totally see Scarlet Crusade stuff happening - an sub-plotline with Turalyon trying to recruit them for K'aresh mission or something along the lines.
Especially if Blizzard would be willing to expand their visual zone update on Lordaeron / Plaguelands.

I imagine less Turalyon recruiting them and more of some of the more zealous Arathi recruiting them. There's an interesting "Stay and Listen" diaglogues with one of the Sacredites and an Expedition Stalwart on Siren Isle where the Sacredite wishes for war to end and to return home to peace, where the Stalwart pushes on their differences saying that the purpose of the Empire is to safeguard their beliefs (something along those lines), which I think is more hints that the Arathi will not always be welcoming to us. I think the Scarlets line right up for them to work with.

[FossilFree]

You can't just have all this TBC throwback stuff like ethereals in Midnight and not give draenei their teased new city. I'm betting on an "Undermine(d)" style patch for the draenei lands with their new city. They are a beacon of light in a void expansion, so it makes sense too.

[Cheezits]

You can't just have all this TBC throwback stuff like ethereals in Midnight and not give draenei their teased new city. I'm betting on an "Undermine(d)" style patch for the draenei lands with their new city. They are a beacon of light in a void expansion, so it makes sense too.

I think the flying Draenei city has a huge chance to make an appearance, but it will be a bummer if it's not in Kalimdor, especially as the Kaldorei are still a presence there.

I would rather the focus races be Thalassians, Trolls, Forsaken and Humans. But I think there's definitely potential for the Drae to appear as a Light force, and if they don't lean on the Silver Covenant (for SOME reason... I think they will, and heavily) the Alliance will need some friends.

In other news it looks like the Robot T-Rex is actually from Paragon 20 on the raid renown! You unlock "Flarendo's Keys" and the robot Rex is named Flarendo.

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It's entirely possible that there could be some Ethereals within the Darkfuse as there are some within Nerub'ar Palace. Some Ethereal factions seem to be playing the role of Xal'atath's lieutenants, so it would make sense if they are involved with her interests.

I think this is the case and it has unfortunately been spoiled- in the original press shots for Undermine, the Gallywix boss room had a void-y themed wall around the encounter. I am guessing there's a phase where a shit ton of Ethereals pop out or they are the trash mobs leading up to his room.

They seem to be building up to a big reveal that Gallywix teamed up with the Xal-aligned Ethereals. Which would be a really interesting twist considering his broker connection, and i wonder if we're going to finally get lore explaining why they are so similar to brokers.

Wonder if Gallywix is a dreadlord, has some weird loyalty to the void, and/or is just greedy and shitty. Per the raid titles it is probably the latter as he just dies lol, the perfect end to the bilgewater story

[Enrif]

With the new ethereal models now, I think that the final raid will be ethereal based for TWW, as much as it was clear that we get a goblin raid. I guess the 11.1.5. will deal with the haranir near the world core, 11.1.7. Will be xal’atath near beledar, and 11.2.0. will be the final raid with ethereals. Not sure if the ethereals will be somewhere on Azeroth or k’aresh, but I think the finale will be about beledar for tww.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

Why are the new Ethereal models so Broker coded? Or is this just a more aligned version with the Broker design and the more modernized form of Ethereals in comparison to its TBC counterpart.

Going to be honest, if Ethereal is 11.2 I take that more over than the whole Rootlands, Orweyna and Eonar/Elune shtick. It just sounds so exhausting to try and enjoy that narrative because of how 4D Chess and tiresomely theorycrafting baiting it would be.

Then again, what deal did Gallywix make with the Brokers and is there any connection. Hm.

[Cheezits]

Why are the new Ethereal player models so Broker coded? Or is this just a more aligned version with the Broker design and the more modernized form of Ethereals in comparison to its TBC counterpart.

The latter, the TBC models had bandages that hovered over the "skin" in a way that would clip with armor if they were made into a player race. Now they are mostly just a texture.

Between that change, the customizations and especially the two body types, I really feel this will be a new race. They seem to have NPC armor but the fact they "nerfed" the design a little (like nightborne) smells like a concious choice. Their posture is also less exaggerated.

I also just realized the fact that they have a blue energy customization choice... did they ever look blue before? I feel like that may be a subtle confirmation that they and brokers are actually the same species, just with different ways they present themselves.

[Wyrt]

You can't just have all this TBC throwback stuff like ethereals in Midnight and not give draenei their teased new city. I'm betting on an "Undermine(d)" style patch for the draenei lands with their new city. They are a beacon of light in a void expansion, so it makes sense too.

Draenei absolutely should be involved. The coming fight is the one mentioned in the draenei starting zone. The Sunwell is infused with a naaru so they'd want to protect that. Draenei and blood elves kind of have a cross faction friendship thing going on as well, draenei helped them in BC, blood elves helped draenei in WoD and Legion. And if the new draenei city is floating, well, a spot opened up for a floating city at the start of TWW.

Plus, if they're going to do housing properly they need updated cities.

[Cheezits]

Where would you park Exodar 2 if it needed to be near Quel'thalas?

[Telogrus]

That seems very far fetched, claiming that already Blizz knows what HP pools bosses will have next expansion after squish.

Doesn’t need to be exact

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With the new ethereal models now, I think that the final raid will be ethereal based for TWW, as much as it was clear that we get a goblin raid. I guess the 11.1.5. will deal with the haranir near the world core, 11.1.7. Will be xal’atath near beledar, and 11.2.0. will be the final raid with ethereals. Not sure if the ethereals will be somewhere on Azeroth or k’aresh, but I think the finale will be about beledar for tww.

The only new zone we’re getting is in 11.2, which has to be Rootlands. Ethereals are for Midnight

[Kathranis]

Ethereals are for Midnight

If you ignore the datamined 11_0_etherealraid stuff, I guess.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

energy boobs

I hate hate hate that to my core. Completely unfitting for the race. Couldn’t they have just made the model curve at the chest to keep a feminine silhouette without defining actual breasts with the shading?

[Nymrohd]

I hate hate hate that to my core. Completely unfitting for the race. Couldn’t they have just made the model curve at the chest to keep a feminine silhouette without defining actual breasts with the shading?

Always makes me think of this
https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0676.html

Stop putting boobs on things that don't need boobs! And if you NEED to add boobs to an alien energy race, add three!

[Khaza-R]

Stop putting boobs on things that don't need boobs! And if you NEED to add boobs to an alien energy race, add three!

Eh, I don't see the big deal here?

Their physical forms were destroyed by a violent, cataclysmic event. Their ethereal form might just be them holding on to a semblance of what they previously looked like by memory or willpower alone.