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

[Wyrt]

Ethereals were last updated in Legion. So their models were not that old.

[Cheezits]

I don't think updated ethereals means playable, but the tightened bandages and visibly female models (and the fact they can be naked at all) points towards playability down the line.

[Polybius]

I could see a movement racial of some kind that lets them hover. Maybe something as simple as "Hover and gain 10% movement speed for 10 seconds. 2 minute cool down". Or possibly a flavour racial to let them hover in the air rather than stay on the ground.

Oh deer, like balloons. That would be so funny and amazing.

[Sondrelk]

People are too quick to jump on playable Ethereals bandwagon.
Keep in mind, that blizz regularly update ald models if they:
1) are very outdated (BC era in case of Ethereals)
2) will be used a lot in future content

Ethereals will definitely be used a lot in Void-based expansion, which Midnight is. So blizz adds enough of customization for them to increase NPC diversity.
New model still does not support player armor, nor it uses all player animations.

They already updated the Ethereal models back in Legion though, so there was a pretty good updated model they could use for the generic ethereal mobs.

What makes the Ethereal models here special is that they are specifically designed with two variants, and no armour, which is more in line with how they design playable races.

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A summonable fence, maybe? I don't think any race has a mobile vendor. Given that Traveler's Tundra Mammoth isn't really a novelty anymore, I think on-demand repairs and vending accessible only to one person seems pretty fair.

Not a bad idea. Could make it a racial to summon a transmog vendor as well given that is probably just as unique.
Maybe void storage gets a revamp as well. That might be something that could be summoned by an Etheral racial given the Ethereals are the ones in charge of that service.

[Mecheon]

They already updated the Ethereal models back in Legion though, so there was a pretty good updated model they could use for the generic ethereal mobs.

What makes the Ethereal models here special is that they are specifically designed with two variants, and no armour, which is more in line with how they design playable races.

The Legion updates were the Void ethereals, they lacked the whole magic beneath their bandages thing that regular ethereals have, having void instead. So, the classics haven't had an update since TBC

The main go-to tell depends how they've UV wrapped everything, but I don't think its a sign they're playable. Tuskarr have unarmored options but they're not playable

[Limayria]

I like the idea of then being another kareshi race/nation that maybe was already into necromancy or w/e and ensured they'd stay a united front after death

When did we actually learn the brokers are dead? They clearly can travel the veil which isn't exactly surprising we know thats not kyrian specific, as odyn did it too

[bruxx]

When did we actually learn the brokers are dead? They clearly can travel the veil which isn't exactly surprising we know thats not kyrian specific, as odyn did it too

Fair, it's not hard to imagine them being alive and just leeching off the shadowlands

[Al Gorefiend]

Brokers always struck me as casual racism tbh, they have the whole Problem with Apu thing going on, coupled with being shrewd and apathetic negotiators. I think they were a mistake and wouldn't mind never seeing them appear in lore again

[Joshuaj]

Brokers always struck me as casual racism tbh, they have the whole Problem with Apu thing going on, coupled with being shrewd and apathetic negotiators. I think they were a mistake and wouldn't mind never seeing them appear in lore again

Dawg what are you talking about?

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"Broker stuff is casual racism"

And it's just one of the coolest parts of the Shadowlands expansion. Nothing racist or anything like that. Just another race of cosmic traders with cartels, markets, and whatnot.

Lmaooo tf?

[Cheezits]

Brokers always struck me as casual racism tbh, they have the whole Problem with Apu thing going on, coupled with being shrewd and apathetic negotiators. I think they were a mistake and wouldn't mind never seeing them appear in lore again

I've seen them called ripoff brokers a million times but this is the first I've heard they were racist

[Joshuaj]

I've seen them called ripoff brokers a million times but this is the first I've heard they were racist

Think you meant to say ripoff Ethereals lol

[Schwert]

How many times are we going to see an NPC race with NPC clothing not rigged to be a player race that people freak out and demand are going to be playable, despite there being no signs they are going to be?

We've been through this before way too many times.
Not everything needs to be a player race.

Looking at you, Walrus.

[Mecheon]

How many times are we going to see an NPC race with NPC clothing not rigged to be a player race that people freak out and demand are going to be playable, despite there being no signs they are going to be?

We've been through this before way too many times.
Not everything needs to be a player race.

Looking at you, Walrus.

To be fair though, Ethereals have been a "Let's have this be playable" race ever since TBC. They've pretty constantly been one of the most popular choices and, honestly? They're at least up there with ogres in terms of demand, if not more popular at times.

[Nebron]

How many times are we going to see an NPC race with NPC clothing not rigged to be a player race that people freak out and demand are going to be playable, despite there being no signs they are going to be?

We've been through this before way too many times.
Not everything needs to be a player race.

Looking at you, Walrus.

I don't know - we are on the theory / speculation thread. Some people's imagination goes wild on just the breadcrumbs level of information. Huge copium and confirmation bias takes the place behind the steering wheel - I know it from a personal experience
It's not surprising - in fact, this is exactly what I'd expect from forum threads like this. And you know what? I love to come here every single time there are some news released, some datamining happening, and see what mad theories people are able to cook over here upon a simple, bullshit piece of information. I love it

On contrary, literally there are people, who will deny any probability of things happening, no matter the evidence - so things are balanced out I guess

By the way, you are not wrong to be clear but ethereals and ogres are among "the most" desired playable races - it's not like gnoll or quillboar model update caused the same level of hype - and for a good reason

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Brokers always struck me as casual racism tbh, they have the whole Problem with Apu thing going on, coupled with being shrewd and apathetic negotiators. I think they were a mistake and wouldn't mind never seeing them appear in lore again

Is this whole thing a bit I've just not been made aware of?

[Ersula]

Brokers always struck me as casual racism tbh, they have the whole Problem with Apu thing going on, coupled with being shrewd and apathetic negotiators. I think they were a mistake and wouldn't mind never seeing them appear in lore again

So, they're goblins. I have some bad news for you regarding upcoming content.

[Cheezits]

So, they're goblins. I have some bad news for you regarding upcoming content.

I have to say, I don't know how Blizz does it, but WoW Goblins are very well liked in a world where people think greedy goblins are controversial. They even have nyc/jersey accents.

[Al Gorefiend]

So, they're goblins. I have some bad news for you regarding upcoming content.

I love goblins though. They are cleverly crafted and executed. Brokers are lame creations from a lame expansion.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

I love goblins though. They are cleverly crafted and executed. Brokers are lame creations from a lame expansion.

On the flip side of that coin, the brokers served their purpose flawlessly if looking at the Shadowlands as a realm were things live, no different than any other continent/zone/city of Azeroth, instead of their role as the afterlife of the WoW universe.

Seeing it through that lens instead sees the brokers function exactly as they needed.

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I have to say, I don't know how Blizz does it, but WoW Goblins are very well liked in a world where people think greedy goblins are controversial. They even have nyc/jersey accents.

Just waiting to see the cartels of Undermine function like the mafia families of NY/NJ.

Looking forward to crime family inspired world quests: contract killings, extortion, enforcing, collecting protection money... eating gabagool at the local sandwich shop.

"Yo T, whaddaya think dat fookin' crystal in da roof of Hallowfall is all about, eh?"

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"Yeah T, its called Dragonflight, fuckin' dragons everywhere, you can fly through hoops n' shit in races, lotta money to be made."

"I should shov this dragon up yer fuckin' ass Christophuh!"

[Joshuaj]

I love goblins though. They are cleverly crafted and executed. Brokers are lame creations from a lame expansion.

Lame creations? Dawg they're artifact seekers, deal makers, travelers, etc with some cool asf gimmicks, magics, hubs (Like Tazavesh), and knowledge.

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I have to say, I don't know how Blizz does it, but WoW Goblins are very well liked in a world where people think greedy goblins are controversial. They even have nyc/jersey accents.

Because Blizzard actually took the time to establish them as more than just Jewish stereotypes or a race that's similar to the Orcs but far more dirty, less cool, and less massive.

That's one of the many reasons for why WoW Goblins work compared to, let's say, Harry Potter Goblins.