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

[Sondrelk]

I am going to assume the obvious for the Epic Edition and say a Dragonhawk. Yes, it would make sense as a reputation mount for the inevitable Belf reputations in Midnight. But so would the Stormrook we got for TWW.

[Khaza-R]

I am going to assume the obvious for the Epic Edition and say a Dragonhawk. Yes, it would make sense as a reputation mount for the inevitable Belf reputations in Midnight. But so would the Stormrook we got for TWW.

Yeah, I think this is the case as well. Especially since the TBC model feels very dated. And dragonhawks naturally seem like they should get mount customizations.

[Joshuaj]

I am going to assume the obvious for the Epic Edition and say a Dragonhawk. Yes, it would make sense as a reputation mount for the inevitable Belf reputations in Midnight. But so would the Stormrook we got for TWW.

Imma do you one better:

Sunhawk (Sunwell infused Dragonhawk) or Shadowhawk (Void infused Dragonhawk).

[Enrif]

But see, Ethereals aren't an allied race, they're an entirely new race. While Harronirs are night elf allied race. I think the best case scenario we can hope for is because they're in the data now, that they're the pre-order bonus for midnight.

i could see Ethereals as a "undead" allied race. I mean mummies are one of the most distinct types of undead in media. But it would be a stretch only similar to humans and kul'tirans as they also have very distinct animations

[Khaza-R]

i could see Ethereals as a "undead" allied race. I mean mummies are one of the most distinct types of undead in media. But it would be a stretch only similar to humans and kul'tirans as they also have very distinct animations

There's really no criteria to begin with. The only real distinction is that an AR needs to be unlocked. That's it.

[Joshuaj]

Yum yum, I can see it now...

Midnight Pre-order Bundle includes:

• Flaring Solarhawk mount
• Belore'dorei Vestments transmog set
• The Sunstone cosmetic hearthstone effect
• 7 Days early access to High Elf allied race

They have High Elf customizations for Void Elves and Blood Elves. Why would they do a High Elf allied race?

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Agreed with everything else tho.

[Sondrelk]

Yum yum, I can see it now...

Midnight Pre-order Bundle includes:

• Flaring Solarhawk mount
• Belore'dorei Vestments transmog set
• The Sunstone cosmetic hearthstone effect
• 7 Days early access to High Elf allied race

Change High Elf AR to Ethereal AR, and add some kind of extra early beenfit to Player Housing and I would absolutely agree.

[Jaggler]

High Elf AR would be SO weird in a world, that already has High Elves on both sides

[Sondrelk]

One simple reason: one hundred billion pre-orders on day 1. People salivate over that stuff. Imagine announcing this pre-purchase stuff along with an epic cinematic at Gamescom. Players old a current would throw heaps at money at Blizzard if they could get "true" High Elves with some additional upgrades to racials, cosmetics etc. Perhaps a new class, as well?

They could just as easily make some changes to Void Elves. Possibly even a Racial overhaul to allow Void Elves to be more traditional High Elves with some different racials and you would already have everything needed for a High Elf race. Just assume we get some Elf themed transmog in Midnight, and you have what is effectively a Heritage Armour.

[Joshuaj]

One simple reason: one hundred billion pre-orders on day 1. People salivate over that stuff. Imagine announcing this pre-purchase stuff along with an epic cinematic at Gamescom. Players old a current would throw heaps at money at Blizzard if they could get "true" High Elves with some additional upgrades to racials, cosmetics etc. Perhaps a new class, as well?

Wouldn't it make more sense to add a bunch of customization options for Blood Elves and Void Elves instead? Like applying lipstick, adding tattoos, etc?

[Nymrohd]

I am not sure if I want High Elves. Either way, I'll enjoy the salt cause whether they are added or not in Midnight, there WILL be salt.

That said, I do wonder how much cash Blizzard will make from people race switching to High Elves and especially Void to High Elf. If it does have Paladin that might be interesting. My top pick for Midnight is a spellblade class so I would be tempted to roll that together with High Elf far more than with Void Elf.

[Jaggler]

Not the same as being able to market a new feature imo. Same reason they added Earthen instead of slapping some Earthen customisation on Dwarves. Same reason we got LF Draenei on top of Deaenei, and so on.

New is shiny. Plus, with a new race they can add more substantial improvements.

- More fun racials that don't feel like they're stuck in TBC Fel era.

- Cooler mounts and heritage armour sets.

- Unique customisation that doesn't fit Void Elves or Blood Elves. More radiant and sun-inspired.

- Perhaps even a new model or a new idle posture?

- Different classes. For example they might not have access to DK, DH, Warlock, and other "evil" classes. But instead they gain a new class, or Druid or something. Maybe a new sun-inspired class is added.

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I'd love it, but it's not as marketable.

More "Sun inspired" High Elves, when it was the Blood Elves who have been living in close proximity to the Sunwell would be weird, especially since it's the Blood Elves who have been starting to take on the new, golden eyes (at least in some cases).

Earthen at least made sense in the case that they were something new for the Horde and at least semi new for the Alliance. High Elves are nothing new for both sides.

[Jaggler]

"More 'earthy' dwarves don't make sense when we already have dwarves that live in mountains, two playable races even!"

As I said, Earthen at least are new to the Horde and semi-new to the Alliance. I don't see what would be unique about High Elves, that wouldn't be pulled out of thin air. High Elves are already here. They aren't majorly "sun"-aligned, they aren't different to Blood Elves in any way other then political affiliation.

[Khaza-R]

"More 'earthy' dwarves don't make sense when we already have dwarves that live in mountains, two playable races even!"

That's pretty disingenuine.

Earthen are essentially robots. And arguably one of the most unique races from a flavor perspective. The distinction between a High Elf and Blood Elf at this point is virtually non-existant post restoration of the Sunwell.

[FossilFree]

If they can add a third dwarf, then they can definitely add a third version of High elves. Elves are much more popular than dwarves, so it makes sense.

[Khaza-R]

If they can add a third dwarf, then they can definitely add a third version of High elves. Elves are much more popular than dwarves, so it makes sense.

It really doesn't though. At least when they added Dark Iron they added a jusitfication for them being a separate thing by added their blood is literally fire. And Earthen are constucts. Technically an entirely different thing.

There's no justification for High Elves other than people wanting it refected on their race tag in game. Which honestly the better solution would be to allow people to cutomize that as an RP feature. Since it would also make sense for dark trolls, sand trolls, Arathi humans, darkfallen, etc.

[Jaggler]

If they can add a third dwarf, then they can definitely add a third version of High elves. Elves are much more popular than dwarves, so it makes sense.

High Elves aren't really a third group of "Elves" but more of the third group of a subgroup of Elves.

It would be more comparable to a new subgroup of Dark Iron Dwarves.

[allegrian]

High elves are highly marketable. It makes total sense. Another option would be to join void and blood elves into one neutral race + new high elf customization, but that would require adding a new alliance only AR, which could be solved by making Nightborne neutral as well, and a new Horde core race, which could be solved by adding Amani Trolls or Ogres.

[Eldryth]

7 Days early access to High Elf allied race

I'd expect a longer time frame if they do early access to a race. Even new classes have consistently gotten at least 2 weeks since they started doing early access bonuses. And less impactful additions have had much longer early access periods- Nightborne, Lightforged Draenei, Void Elves, and Highmountain Tauren were available for around 9 months before BFA, and Allied Race Death Knights were available for all of 8.3 if you preordered Shadowlands.

So for a new race, I'd guess either several months Early Access, or (like Earthen, and Mag'har and Dark Irons before them) they'll be gated behind the launch story with no Early Access at all.


As for whether it's worth adding them at all... It'd be great to get the war paint/tattoos that the current Thalassian Elves are lacking, but personally, getting that as customization options would be enough. Them being a full race would definitely create a lot of hype though, they've always been highly requested.

I'd also agree with preferring Ethereals like I saw someone else mention, but the way the story is going now, I expect that'll be far more likely as a late-TWW addition or not at all.

There's really no criteria to begin with. The only real distinction is that an AR needs to be unlocked. That's it.

And they get their heritage armor from leveling up without a boost or race change, not a quest chain, but yeah- all other presumed rules for them were already broken back in BFA. Are they a variant of an existing race? Then Vulpera shouldn't be an Allied Race. Are they just simple modifications of an existing model? Then Kul'Tirans and Zandalari are beyond that scope.

Blizzard can make any new race either Allied or normal at this point, it'll probably just depend on how they approach the story for it.

[allegrian]

Like 5 people play dwarves, across all three versions of them. To suggest Blizzard wouldn't add a third Quel'dorei option when 90% of the playerbase love Elves is just plain silly.

No one cares about your objections, like "it's not technically a new race!" or "Dark Iron had fire Blood!".

People just want to play sexy Elves. That's it. That's all there's to it.

Void Elves were always a compromise, because when you play as one you are intrinsically linked to bad stuff like the Void turning you blue, and half your customisation being tentacles.

Blood Elves are almost "pure" High Elves, but come with the baggage of having to play as Horde (which goes completely counter to what Elf players want, e.g. sexy elf stuff) and all their shady history with Fel magic, Death magic, etc.

A new, hot race that literally represents the Sun, and all things good and heroic, with some cool "Marvel: Avengers" heroism angle to them (larger than life type of characters) would be incredibly popular.

Pretty much this.