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

[Therougetitan]

It's not unlike Blizzard to scratch ideas or leave open plot endings. They sped things up, so Rootlands missing might just be Farahlon 2.0

You're probably right imo. A life-heavy zone but also stony elements. Deepwalkers are using a similar model to Magnaron which are the opponents of the primals which was a subplot that would have likely continued in Farahlon.

[Villager720]

The Void Lords want to claim worldsouls, yeah? And Dimensius attacked K'aresh, which seemingly had a worldsoul (since the ethereals also had something like the Radiant Song warning which Azeroth has been sending to the races on Azeroth).

So what if Xal'atath is what remains of K'aresh's worldsoul? Saw a crackpot theory along this line a few weeks back and it has stuck with me.

The problem is that we know Xal was locked in the blade for almost certainly longer than 25K years (since the Black Empire). Meanwhile, while it’s not explicitly ever been stated, it’s implied it’s been around a thousand years since the fall of K’aresh. Meaning, if she does have any relationship to K’aresh, it’d have to have been her in knife form, meaning she can’t be that World Soul.

I am interested to see her ethereal connection fleshed out though, as her current design seems to invoke them.

[Hitei]

It's not unlike Blizzard to scratch ideas or leave open plot endings.

I agree. But this isn't an open ending. That is the point. It kept getting story content in 11.1, it is getting even more references in 11.1.5, a patch that isn't even out yet. It's not an open plot ending, because it has not ended yet, they are continuing to talk about that side of the story.

[Nymrohd]

OK reading the 11.1.5 news, something tells me they are trying to quietly cancel dinars.

[milkmustache]

11.1.5 launches on the 22nd.

A lot of strange timegating in events for this patch that I don't exactly understand. I'm enjoying the idea of getting a new dungeon in the major content patches, but the lack of a megadungeon is incredibly apparent.

[Makabreska]

OK reading the 11.1.5 news, something tells me they are trying to quietly cancel dinars.

How come?

[Cheezits]

11.1.5 launches on the 22nd.

A lot of strange timegating in events for this patch that I don't exactly understand. I'm enjoying the idea of getting a new dungeon in the major content patches, but the lack of a megadungeon is incredibly apparent.

The timegating is just to have something new each month, nothing more to it. Otherwise there's no new (permanent) content besides Nightfall until July.

Really feels like they dropped the expansion unless 11.2 is crazy. No wonder they are revealing housing so early.

[milkmustache]

The timegating is just to have something new each month, nothing more to it. Otherwise there's no new (permanent) content besides Nightfall until July.

Really feels like they dropped the expansion unless 11.2 is crazy. No wonder they are revealing housing so early.

Yeaaaa I understand that, but it's still a little strange overall.

I definitely agree that this is feeling more and more like an off ramp we're getting on. There's gotta be some hefty linking to Midnight at some point. I wouldn't be all too surprised if it was a reverse of what people are expecting where they pocket the Dark Heart and K'aresh approach for Midnight and close out TWW with the Rootlands/Black Blood. As long as something with the Black Blood threatens a crucial part of the Worldcore or something and we have to act now, we can't go chasing Azir.

On another note, I know we've had some troll settlements recently with Zandalar (and by extension De Other Side), but I'm really looking forward to seeing the team that's developed Khaz Algar reimagine Zul'Aman.

[Hitei]

I wouldn't be all too surprised if it was a reverse of what people are expecting where they pocket the Dark Heart and K'aresh approach for Midnight and close out TWW with the Rootlands/Black Blood. As long as something with the Black Blood threatens a crucial part of the Worldcore or something and we have to act now, we can't go chasing Azir.

This is only the "reverse of what people are expecting" because people jump to bizarre conclusions instead of paying attention to what is actually in front of them.

the lack of a megadungeon is incredibly apparent.

Is it? I feel like the larger segment of players experience megadungeons later when they get split into two for heroics. A megadungeon is just a double sized dungeon so instead doing two regular dungeons is the same content but distributed in a way that's more accessible/cost effective.

[milkmustache]

This is only the "reverse of what people are expecting" because people jump to bizarre conclusions instead of paying attention to what is actually in front of them.



Is it? I feel like the larger segment of players experience megadungeons later when they get split into two for heroics. A megadungeon is just a double sized dungeon so instead doing two regular dungeons is the same content but distributed in a way that's more accessible/cost effective.

Perhaps I should have specified, but I was referring to this forum when referring to expectations, so I agree with what you're saying.

Regarding the megadungeon, mostly yes, but there is at least significant plot momentum from the megadungeon (or there was from Dawn of the Infinites). 11.1.5 is notably empty of plot progression.

[Hitei]

Perhaps I should have specified, but I was referring to this forum when referring to expectations, so I agree with what you're saying.

Regarding the megadungeon, mostly yes, but there is at least significant plot momentum from the megadungeon (or there was from Dawn of the Infinites). 11.1.5 is notably empty of plot progression.

Yeah but Dawn was the exception there. Before that we had Tazavesh, Mechagon and Karazhan. Up until DF, the megadungeon was some weird fun side thing unrelated to main narrative. I think we can expect (one way or the other) 11.1.7 to be the patch that transitions into 11.2, and then 11.2.7 to do the TWW epilogue/lead into Midnight. Though I would not be surprised if, like 11.1, 11.2 also had a tease related to things being lined up for Midnight.

[Nymrohd]

How come?

They've gotten far enough in this patch to give a release date yet dinars have never been in any patch notes yet despite saying they were moved to 11.1.5

[Khaza-R]

Looking forward to Dastardly Duos but really don't know why they didn't just updated Brawler's Guild.

[Cheezits]

Looking forward to Dastardly Duos but really don't know why they didn't just updated Brawler's Guild.

I assume the inevitable Brawlers Guild evergreen rework is gated behind whenever they will update the capitals.

Also, Dastardly Duos isn't really like Brawlers Guild, it's more like the proscenium event more than anything.

[Semune]

Cartel coins when?

[milkmustache]

Sorry, still on my Zul'Aman train of thought; I'm not too sure if it's the appropriate place to continue whatever Vol'jin's story is post Shadowlands, but god I hope they find a way to include everyone's favorite Loa of death, Bwonsamdi. Especially considering there is some form of Scourge storyline in the adjacent Ghostlands that will need to be picked up. Could even be a partial branch into a potential story of the Drakkari in TLT.

[Cheezits]

Sorry, still on my Zul'Aman train of thought; I'm not too sure if it's the appropriate place to continue whatever Vol'jin's story is post Shadowlands, but god I hope they find a way to include everyone's favorite Loa of death, Bwonsamdi. Especially considering there is some form of Scourge storyline in the adjacent Ghostlands that will need to be picked up. Could even be a partial branch into a potential story of the Drakkari in TLT.

As Vol'jin's soul now has some holy juice thanks to Rezan (who was holy powered because... reasons... lol BFA Zandalari lore) he can technically be part of Renilash and likely have something to do with darkspear pallies.

They can basically do anything they want with him now that's being made into a Wild God. But the light angle is there.

[Khaza-R]

Sorry, still on my Zul'Aman train of thought; I'm not too sure if it's the appropriate place to continue whatever Vol'jin's story is post Shadowlands, but god I hope they find a way to include everyone's favorite Loa of death, Bwonsamdi. Especially considering there is some form of Scourge storyline in the adjacent Ghostlands that will need to be picked up. Could even be a partial branch into a potential story of the Drakkari in TLT.

Bwomsandi, Vol'jin, Zul'jin colab would be amazing for an Amani story.

[Tiradon]

It's not unlike Blizzard to scratch ideas or leave open plot endings. They sped things up, so Rootlands missing might just be Farahlon 2.0

Exactly my thoughts, Farahlon type of situation for sure

- - - Updated - - -

Cartel coins when?

It seems like it's gone tbh

[Dvalin]

Exactly my thoughts, Farahlon type of situation for sure

- - - Updated - - -



It seems like it's gone tbh

This is far too early to tell, and the Haronir and Orweyna have featured in recent content, quite a lot. Their mysterious homeland is still vaguely being referenced in quests, voice-acting, etc. Details which could've been easily changed if cuts had been made, but this hasn't been the case. As those vague and mysterious references haven't been cut from the game. She even featured in a short cinematic. Those were probably not even conceptualized when Metzen returned 10 months into the project.

Have they maybe experimented with a fifth leveling zone? Maybe. Maybe not. But that doesn't mean it has been totally cut from TWW's patch cycle. K'aresh is also far from thematic for this expansion, with it being much more fitting for a Midnight trip with something to do with Dimensius, and we the players don't even know about the trouble between Xal'atath and the Ethereals. As others said, the Black Blood plot is also still ongoing what with the Sureki and the Horrific Visions returning.

So, this isn't a Farahlon situation, as we know another zone is coming in 11.2.