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

[Cheezits]

I can't imagine we'll be getting purple and blue cosmic shattered Eversong, so I wonder how they approach this.

From the sheer amount of Silvermoon-like props that were both in DF and the files (lamp post!) I can't see them destroying any of the iconic areas, but at the same time I don't know where the void would be based while they attack Quel'danas. Could just be a big Ethereal spaceship above the sea.

[Enrif]

Yeah, finding the exact quote was good for me because I realized how off base my ideas have gotten from the literal knowledge we have been given, even if minimal.

The Void has already invaded at this point and are set for the Sunwell. I can't imagine we'll be getting purple and blue cosmic shattered Eversong, so I wonder how they approach this.

We have from the harbinger quests in DF a report of one of the voidelf scouts that they have void activity in the amani area. So the void will likely get into Quel'thalas from there. And it mimics a bit TWW, in that an indigenous people (nerubians/aman) are used as the voids pawn.

Also, it is likely that the naga will play a role too, as they are one of the scattered elven tribes, and Azshara going for the higher powers of the void will likely align with dimensius too. So it could be a two pronged attack.

From the hills of the Amani and from the sea by the naga.

And this gives us four zones: Eversong Forest, Ghostlands, Amani Lands, Quel'danas with the Sea around it. At least that how i would frame it.

And naga at Quel'danas are not unprecedented, as they are there in BC too.

[milkmustache]

From the sheer amount of Silvermoon-like props that were both in DF and the files (lamp post!) I can't see them destroying any of the iconic areas, but at the same time I don't know where the void would be based while they attack Quel'danas. Could just be a big Ethereal spaceship above the sea.

Quel'danas could just be an active battlefield, which would be pretty fun. Insurgencies and pushes by the Void all around the rest of Quel'thalas as we attempt to help the armies of Silvermoon (and the Shattered Sun perhaps?) maintain a foothold on the Sunwell as Anduin marches a larger formed Army of the Light up the Dead Scar a la Arthas.

God, I know WoD's timeline is not very celebrated but I so, so badly want to see Yrel and the Lightbound with Exarch Hellscream.

[Cheezits]

We have from the harbinger quests in DF a report of one of the voidelf scouts that they have void activity in the amani area.

There will definitely be some kind of void incursion into Amani areas as in lore there is a void monster buried underground there. However I don't think it's the way for them to get there, more like a threat we have to deal with akin to G'huun who probably revives/responds to the Void showing up in the area. Some Amani will be our friends and some Amani will be butthurt (understandably) and side with the monster and/or Void.

From that report they said the void trace "vanishes" in Amani lands and it would be a fun twist if that meant the Amani killed whoever or whatever it was.

There is 100% going to be some questline where the Elves kowtow to an elder Amani and apologize for their history so that they can move on as allies.

[milkmustache]

We have from the harbinger quests in DF a report of one of the voidelf scouts that they have void activity in the amani area. So the void will likely get into Quel'thalas from there. And it mimics a bit TWW, in that an indigenous people (nerubians/aman) are used as the voids pawn.

Also, it is likely that the naga will play a role too, as they are one of the scattered elven tribes, and Azshara going for the higher powers of the void will likely align with dimensius too. So it could be a two pronged attack.

And this gives us four zones: Eversong Forest, Ghostlands, Amani Lands, Quel'danas with the Sea around it. At least that how i would frame it.

I still get the feeling that Quel'danas will serve as hybrid of Suramar and the Broken Shore. You're correct about the Amani void activity, I forgot about that detail. With the dead c'thrax underneath their lands, I imagine either some black blood esque activity will be going on, or some form of window in. Ghostlands is still a bit too small for an entire zone, and I can't help but agree with others that it may absorb part of the Plaguelands. I'm still torn on Naga involvement, but I think you're right. It just feels a bit... beneath Azshara.

[Cheezits]

Truthfully we may be slacking on the idea that Silvermoon is in and of itself a zone, as we just saw a literally Suramar City-sized city zone drop through Undermine. That would explain the missing 4th area though it would also be derivative of Eversong... but Ringing Deeps shares many qualities thematically with Dorn.

I think there will be some Quel'dorei themed Blue and Gold area but unsure where exactly. Hopefully not the restored half of Silvermoon but they may actually make the city half red and half blue.

Silvermoon City, Eversong Forest (Eversong merged with woodland part of Ghostlands, as it should have healed), Northeron/Plaguelands, Amani Area.

[Enrif]

I'm still torn on Naga involvement, but I think you're right. It just feels a bit... beneath Azshara.

Azshara fits on multiple fronts: For one, she sees herself as the queen of the elves. If the elven tribes want to unite, she would certainly be there to be their leader. Then, she wan't to go to higher powers of the void, and Midnight will be the finale of the void story for now, so she needs to be active here. The most intriguing part is, she could play all sides. She could try to band with the elves, she might play the agents of the void to get power. She might be a neutral party in the conflict that tries to get the best out of everything. Like, absorbing the power of Dimensius to strike back later. This later could lead into the Arathi Empire later, as they have had contact to the naga too.

[Cheezits]

Consider the following:

https://i.imgur.com/sAwbGiY.jpeg

One of the reasonings they could do for EPL/Northeron is that they want to at least have one zone outside of Quel'thalas look good for when you fly to it, so the graphic whiplash isn't too crazy. They would of course size everything from this map up but the concepts and ideas would be similar.

Alternatively they could extend the size of the SMC zone and stretch out the Troll area further west like so.

https://imgur.com/RoRXv4A

Looking at this map it feels like they will inevitably have to touch on Deatholmes proximity to Stratholme in some way. Merging the two ideas into one big "Lordaeron Ruins" themed area would work well IMO.

[Enrif]

Consider the following:

https://i.imgur.com/sAwbGiY.jpeg

One of the reasonings they could do for EPL/Northeron is that they want to at least have one zone outside of Quel'thalas look good for when you fly to it, so the graphic whiplash isn't too crazy. They would of course size everything from this map up but the concepts and ideas would be similar.

Alternatively they could extend the size of the SMC zone and stretch out the Troll area further west like so.

https://imgur.com/RoRXv4A

Looking at this map it feels like they will inevitably have to touch on Deatholmes proximity to Stratholme in some way.

i think this post is interesting
https://x.com/soulsobreezy/status/18...355221166?mx=2

eversong is nearly as big as a TWW zone

[Lady Atia]

On further thought, and seeing that Brann is now able to tank, heal and dps, any follower for Midnight should be able to convincingly be able to do the same. So i would throw out a few ideas like the dark rangers or kolitra.

If we go by known classes it should be someone that is either a paladin, druid or monk or a class that could have either tank or heal realistically added while having the other, like shaman or evoker. Or a tease of one of the survey classes like artificer, tinker, or bard.

And i think this throws out all of the forsaken characters we know of, and in that context, a character like Salandria or Arathor are more likely, though i don't think either of these.

Ehm, well, Brann is technically a hunter and now has two new specs, and fun fact, one with a pistol and a shield which kinda fits with that weird pistoleer class leak we had earlier?

[Cheezits]

i think this post is interesting
https://x.com/soulsobreezy/status/18...355221166?mx=2

eversong is nearly as big as a TWW zone

Consider that they are going to size up everything to accommodate faster travel. I can see Silvermoon and the starter zone both getting a heavy revamp that make them fit a whole zone.

Also would this be the first time in a while we could get a new proper racial starter zone? I guess there's potential to do it in Undermine as well. OR, Sunstrider isle is the part of Silvermoon that gets destroyed by the Void.

[Joshuaj]

i think this post is interesting
https://x.com/soulsobreezy/status/18...355221166?mx=2

eversong is nearly as big as a TWW zone

Oh yeah, Eversong is huge. The problem is that it's mostly 2D, so as soon as you start flying, the cracks expand FAST!

[Cheezits]

After watching videos on the way Quelthalas and Azuremyst work, it makes way too much sense to me that they will be updating Azuremyst as well in Midnight. Both for thematic purposes but also it doesn't really fit in with the rest of Kalimdor in the way a full Kalimdor expansion would.

In a Light and Void expansion? Absolutely.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Yes, as monsters. Not as the protagonists.

I'm talking about Legacy of the Void, the expansion to Starcraft II where a nearly-faceless species of humanoids were the protagonists.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

After watching videos on the way Quelthalas and Azuremyst work, it makes way too much sense to me that they will be updating Azuremyst as well in Midnight. Both for thematic purposes but also it doesn't really fit in with the rest of Kalimdor in the way a full Kalimdor expansion would.

Azuremyst Seems like a perfect patch zone really. Mabye with a story about contact with the new city going dark and us having to check on the Narru there who are expected to help out with the sun well or some such.

[Cheezits]

Azuremyst Seems like a perfect patch zone really. Mabye with a story about contact with the new city going dark and us having to check on the Narru there who are expected to help out with the sun well or some such.

It would be cool if the new city is fine but something bad happens in the ruins of the Exodar, which has been scavenged to make the new capital.

Both that and launch Midnight could include new starting zones for Thalassians and Eredar respectively, with different NPCs to represent the subfactions.

- - - Updated - - -

Was reading up on Troll Tribes and found the following on Dark Trolls interesting. From the old Troll Compendium from Blizzard:

Description: According to scattered reports, dark trolls have gray to black skin and lead a mostly subterranean existence. Alleged sightings of dark trolls usually involve hulking and brutish creatures who attack with little tactical planning or coordinated effort. Thus, it has been theorized that dark trolls are much less intelligent than other trolls.

It's been speculated quite a bit that Haronir are between Troll and Nelf, but based on this blurb above I think they may be revealed to be specifically Dark Trolls who evolved in a different way than Night Elves. Some of them are pink (because Nelf) but they can be gray as well.

[Eldryth]

It's been speculated quite a bit that Haronir are between Troll and Nelf, but based on this blurb above I think they may be revealed to be specifically Dark Trolls who evolved in a different way than Night Elves. Some of them are pink (because Nelf) but they can be gray as well.

Yeah, this is what I've been thinking.

The missing link theory doesn't really fit well when you consider all the animal parts Haranir have. For them to go from Trolls, to Haranir, to Elves, they'd have to grow fur, quills, bat ears, completely different fangs, claws, etc... and then lose them all again when they became Elves.

But divergent evolution seems very plausible. We've seen Dark Trolls evolve when exposed to magic, and the Haranir seem like a very plausible alternate outcome if they were exposed to pure Life instead. So, basically, one tribe of Dark Trolls settled at the Well of Eternity and became Night Elves, while another settled in the roots of Elun'ahir and became Haranir.

[Enteroctopus Magnificus]

Etherals, though... a blue, mysterious spellcaster, from a lost world, kinda has a Mass Effect Tali vibe to it.

Ethereals are clearly one of WoW's top races. I mean, in what other RPG universe do you have magical space mummies? It's original and very interesting, especially their history. Their “badass” side (which modern races eventually lose) and the way they move are certainly part of their charm.

I was rather indifferent before, but these new models have made me want to play one. Whatever the price, I'm willing to pay it. But we ABSOLUTELY need a new theme class!

[Cheezits]

Hmm, a new Draenei city would make a Horde-affiliated Silvermoon a bit more likely in Midnight. if there is such a city, that is.

Silvermoon is definitely going to be neutral, I can't see there being two capitals and it fits the Elf Unity thing. Lor and Thal may annex the rebuilt broken half to the Alliance.

If I'm wrong then yeah, it's going to have to be the Draenei as everything around Quel'thalas is pretty damn Horde. The Draenei are basically the only non-Elf and Alliance thing tied to the expansion beyond Turalyon and Anduin. They could essentially be the Goblins/Undermine of Midnight in terms of throwing the opposing faction a bone.

- - - Updated - - -

But divergent evolution seems very plausible. We've seen Dark Trolls evolve when exposed to magic, and the Haranir seem like a very plausible alternate outcome if they were exposed to pure Life instead. So, basically, one tribe of Dark Trolls settled at the Well of Eternity and became Night Elves, while another settled in the roots of Elun'ahir and became Haranir.

Well I think there will be a little Elune meddling through Elun'ahir, just it will be Life + Elune instead of Arcane + Elune which made Highborne. We know things involved with Elune turn pink and elfy (see: Cenarius) and they have glowy blue moon eyes and druidism. The bat thing may be tied to Hireek or it's just a fun gimmick.

[Eldryth]

Well I think there will be a little Elune meddling through Elun'ahir, just it will be Life + Elune instead of Arcane + Elune which made Highborne. We know things involved with Elune turn pink and elfy (see: Cenarius) and they have glowy blue moon eyes and druidism. The bat thing may be tied to Hireek or it's just a fun gimmick.

Yeah, I can definitely see Elune being a factor too. The known Dark Troll evolution was her chosen race, while the Haranir protect the tree she gave Eonar.

I don't think they're anywhere near as connected to bats as most people assume though. It's their flight form, sure, and they have some bat traits (like their ears and possibly their fur)... but it's mixed with a bunch of other animal features that bats don't have. I mean, I've never heard of a bat with quills, their fangs look very different from bat fangs, and the same goes for their claws... it looks more like they took parts from a wide variety of different animals, rather than just becoming part bat. And that's a big part of why I see them being influenced by Life itself rather than being tied to a specific animal or Loa.