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

[Catastrophy349]

I don’t understand the “doom and gloom” in this channel. Opinions on the story aside (which I love by the way), this obsession over dates/release time frames is wild.

11.2 has not been revealed, yet. So, what? Additionally, do you really expect 11.2 to be revealed at this point when 11.1.7 is NEXT WEEK! As many have said, consistently, 11.2 will “likely” be revealed next week after 11.1.7 launches. Otherwise, the following week 100% due to Midnight reveal at Gamescom (time frame issue otherwise).

If you’re bored, take a break! 2025 internet culture is just complain on the internet in your personal “echo chamber” to no one who cares!

[whoisqnx]

11.2 has not been revealed, yet. So, what? Additionally, do you really expect 11.2 to be revealed at this point when 11.1.7 is NEXT WEEK

Yes, they can absolutely reveal 11.2 this week because 11.1.7 has nothing to do with 11.2 when it comes to story.
The whole Arathi campaign we are getting with 1.7 is a "side" thing for now, it has no meaning for ethereals or haranir, no matter which one we are getting.
If we get a 11.2 reveal this week with WoWcast and its about ethereals they can even mention how lorewalking next week will help people learn a bit more about Xal'atath and the Ethereals.

[Catastrophy349]

Yes, they can absolutely reveal 11.2 this week because 11.1.7 has nothing to do with 11.2 when it comes to story.
The whole Arathi campaign we are getting with 1.7 is a "side" thing for now, it has no meaning for ethereals or haranir, no matter which one we are getting.
If we get a 11.2 reveal this week with WoWcast and its about ethereals they can even mention how lorewalking next week will help people learn a bit more about Xal'atath and the Ethereals.

I’m 100% PRO 11.2 reveal this week, don’t get me wrong. I want to know as much as everyone else! I just think it’s copium.

[Cheezits]

Yeah it would be nice to get news this week but it would be out of the ordinary.

[Makorus]

What are you suggesting? That someone is under NDA and currently prepares bazillion gazillion articles about this stuff no one can talk about?

Now, to be fair, I do think that someone from WoWhead and MMOChampion has a bit of an inside link, MMOChamp especially.

I thought it was incredibly strange how out of all the good, realistic leaks before SL, the only one they featured or highlighted was the one that turned out to be real, even when it wasn't 100% obvious that it's true.

[Vexilius]

2025 internet culture is just complain on the internet in your personal “echo chamber” to no one who cares!

The irony.

[milkmustache]

I think it's certainly next week following the release of 11.1.7, most likely on Wednesday.

I really, really enjoyed 11.1. I got KSM and AoTC with my guild, had a blast with the story and setting, but the back half has been dreadfully uneventful. I've hardly engaged with anything in 11.1.5 and have maybe a single cartel at exalted? I'm not sure what it is, but the later weeks of this patch have felt really long.

[Darkarath]

In my case, I still have a lot of fun with WoW.

11.1 has been an amazing patch. My desire to know about 11.2 is born from a curiosity to see how the game evolves and the story develops. It has nothing to do with me not enjoying WoW.

I don't think that 11.1.5 has been weak at all. The problems are a lack of polish and the staging of content. But Horrific Visions are awesome and Dastardly Duos an interesting experiment. For a minor patch, it's fine.

[Cheezits]

I have a little anxiety about 11.2 because in some ways it feels like Blizz has given up on TWW vs Midnight. Whatever it is I hope it's meaty like 11.1 and not just a "pls wait for housing lol" patch.

[milkmustache]

I have a little anxiety about 11.2 because in some ways it feels like Blizz has given up on TWW vs Midnight. Whatever it is I hope it's meaty like 11.1 and not just a "pls wait for housing lol" patch.

It really feels like an either or situation for me. 11.2 could be an abandonment of TWW to beef up Midnight, but that truly feels a bit old Blizz. Their team has shown the ability to work on multipe projects well in the past few years. The other case being that 11.2 is an unofficial prologue to Midnight and is a massive patch both content and lore wise to hype the base up for Midnight.

Basically Rootlands vs. K'aresh lol

[Darkarath]

Basically Rootlands vs. K'aresh lol

Given the amount of time that 11.2 has been on the PTR, I doubt very much that it would be a lackluster patch. If we get K'aresh, which seems that's going to be the case, is going to be a huge patch.

But you make a good point. Part of my is still suspicious that initially we didn't get "New Zone" as part of 11.2 in the original roadmap for 2025. If we end up getting the Rootlands, it would most likely be the remnants of a zone rehashed lazily.

I doubt VERY much that that would be the case, though.

There is also the dreamed possibility of the Undersea zone, but it would be quite a surprise, although a welcomed one.

[Cheezits]

K'aresh has the potential to have a lot of varied areas ranging from the original planet in a dome to the void ruins.

I am not looking forward to any patch that is Expedition Site 9 plus green.

[Dracullus]

I have a little anxiety about 11.2 because in some ways it feels like Blizz has given up on TWW vs Midnight. Whatever it is I hope it's meaty like 11.1 and not just a "pls wait for housing lol" patch.

What exactly feels like that? 11.1 is one of best major patches in years and minor patches are no different than DF minor patches (with exception of megadungeon that is split between 11.1 and 11.2). Remains to be seen if 11.2 will continue this trend.

If feels like many of you keep forgeting that minor patch is still minor patch and big ones still come every 5.5 month.

It really feels like an either or situation for me. 11.2 could be an abandonment of TWW to beef up Midnight, but that truly feels a bit old Blizz. Their team has shown the ability to work on multipe projects well in the past few years. The other case being that 11.2 is an unofficial prologue to Midnight and is a massive patch both content and lore wise to hype the base up for Midnight.

Basically Rootlands vs. K'aresh lol

K'aresh could be some shitty ruins, Rootlands could be Worldcore which supposed to be most important Titan facility. Theme really doesn't matter, quality does.

[Cheezits]

What exactly feels like that? 11.1 is one of best major patches in years and minor patches are no different than DF minor patches (with exception of megadungeon that is split between 11.1 and 11.2). Remains to be seen if 11.2 will continue this trend.

If feels like many of you keep forgeting that minor patch is still minor patch and big ones still come every 5.5 month.

11.1 is great, however everything after has pointed towards Midnight-esque stuff (finale cinematic) or Midnight's housing. Nothing in 11.1.7 builds to a future TWW patch- it may as well be the finale of the expansion.

If it's K'aresh then you could argue the Ve'nari quest is a prologue, but that is optional and many players will miss it.

Even the Arator book SEEMINGLY skips to the end of TWW, unless it's a massive red herring. So what, is the expansion over?

[Dracullus]

11.1 is great, however everything after has pointed towards Midnight-esque stuff (finale cinematic) or Midnight's housing. Nothing in 11.1.7 builds to a future TWW patch- it may as well be the finale of the expansion.

If it's K'aresh then you could argue the Ve'nari quest is a prologue, but that is optional and many players will miss it.

Yeah, lack of 11.2 prologue is problem - if patch is K'aresh, cause Worldcore/Black Blood/Rootlands are builded. Still let's wait for patch, in the past prologue stuff weren't tested, maybe this time they aren't even announced.

[Cheezits]

K'aresh could be some shitty ruins, Rootlands could be Worldcore which supposed to be most important Titan facility. Theme really doesn't matter, quality does.

I would argue Worldcore/Rootlands is impossible to not be derivative of Dragonflight's Titan Ruins and Life aesthetics. I would much prefer it in a few years (TLT) than directly following Dragonflight.

Possibly could be twisted with Constellar and Aqir (Qiraji??) stuff but we'll see.

- - - Updated - - -

I also wonder if Rootlands was postponed/scrapped, and it isn't K'aresh, it may be a very random funzone like Plunder Isle or Tel'abim. Something cool and old lore, but overall unrelated.

[Dracullus]

I would argue Worldcore/Rootlands is impossible to not be derivative of Dragonflight's Titan Ruins and Life aesthetics. I would much prefer it in a few years (TLT) than directly following Dragonflight.

If that's a thing, would be cool to give two entrances from Coreway and Ulduar and connect KA/Northrend this way.

[milkmustache]

11.1 is great, however everything after has pointed towards Midnight-esque stuff (finale cinematic) or Midnight's housing. Nothing in 11.1.7 builds to a future TWW patch- it may as well be the finale of the expansion.

If it's K'aresh then you could argue the Ve'nari quest is a prologue, but that is optional and many players will miss it.

Even the Arator book SEEMINGLY skips to the end of TWW, unless it's a massive red herring. So what, is the expansion over?

I keep saying that Blizzard has an opportunity to deliver a massive 11.2 as an effective beginning to Midnight and reap a full 6-8 months of endless marketing for Midnight. This radio silence and mystery about 11.2 could be a big part of that.

If 11.2 hits the ground running with K'aresh and eventually unfolds into this scramble to prevent whatever begins Midnight, which we will of course fail, then from either August or even next week's announcement there will be an endless runway of pre-Midnight build up.

11.2 announcement, release, story, raid conclusion, Midnight announcement trailer and features, 11.2.5, 11.2.7, Legion Remix, Housing, Pre-Patch, and Midnight release all effectively spread out over the next few months is a pretty massive run of excitement leading up to an expansion that is not only a return to what some believe is the player favorite zone, but also our first look at a revamped Azeroth and the biggest expansion since Legion.

[Catastrophy349]

HUGE! https://youtu.be/nJtigy8U-_8

[Cheezits]

HUGE! https://youtu.be/nJtigy8U-_8

Nope, just more 11.1.7 marketing. I thought for sure we'd get the Locus Walker story but I guess no K'aresh for another week.

Maybe they just want this to be FNAF week, in which case, I get it.

Edit: Oh, there's some interesting Arathi lore in this at least.

“Craishae was the oldest of her father’s children, born to a noblewoman from
Quel’Thalas. She adored nature and spent much of her time coming to know the forests
and rivers that marked the land, making friends with creatures and all manner of folk.
Despite her station, Craishae cherished her time among the people. She was afforded
much respect but spurned any and all special treatment. She had a knack for fighting,
and wielding the arcane was among her natural talents.

“As Craishae came of age, a terrible curse struck the land, tainting anything and
anyone it touched, mutating them into vicious beasts. People turned on their loved ones,
ripping their homes and villages apart. The kingdom was besieged both from without
and within.

“At the height of the conflict, an army of contorted creatures breached
Thoradin’s wall, which had stood a stalwart sentinel over the land for generations.
Witnessing the devastation firsthand, Craishae pledged her skills and power to the
protection of her kingdom. She would hunt down and eradicate the source of this
magical malediction.

“In the following months she fought battle after battle, winning great victories and
helping others survive grave losses. It was during one such encounter—as monsters closed
in around the princess and her wounded allies—that she unleashed a torrent of flame and
Light the likes of which had never been seen. The smoke and dust cleared, revealing the
princess now wielded her fire as a sword and shield. With her gleaming armor and blazing
weapons, it was as if Craishae commanded the power of the sun itself.”

“Though the princess emerged triumphant, time remained against her. The curse
spread, and the war took a terrible turn. Some unseen force strengthened the dreadful
enchantment, hastening its spread. Defenses began to crumble. All hope seemed lost

But one night, while asleep in her tent near the front, Princess Craishae was
visited by an entity of light. It gave her a vision, spoke of a place hidden deep in the
wilds. A temple where the heart of the world and the eye of the heavens met. But only
she was strong enough to find it, possessing a soul true enough to wield its power.

“So Craishae set off on her own and combed the continent, facing foe and fiend
alike, all the while praying her people would survive another day. When she eventually
found the hidden temple, she climbed the stairs while battered and exhausted, prepared
to fight whatever guardian stood in her way. Instead, in the central chamber, she
discovered the being of light from her dream, whom she could now see was a woman
dressed in stardust robes, standing vigil over a pool of swirling light and fire. The woman
looked up, and her face changed. From elf to human to troll and back again, every time
she moved her appearance shifted.

“The woman called herself the Scion and explained that she had sensed something
in Craishae. Something willing to fight in defense of others. The world would need such
strength in the coming age, just as Craishae’s kingdom depended on it now. ‘It is why
I summoned you to this sacred place,’ the Scion declared. ‘To offer you the means to
defeat this nightmare.’

“Relief nearly overcame the princess. She confessed that she had journeyed far to
find the power to save her people, and at last her quest was at an end.

“Upon hearing these words, however, the Scion appeared disappointed. If
power was truly all Craishae sought, then she and her people would be lost to the evil
overtaking the world.

“Yet the princess corrected the woman. ‘I did not come here for power,’ Princess
Craishae declared. ‘But for purpose. Help me deliver my kingdom from this malevolence,
and I will live in defense of all lands.’

“Pleased with this answer, the woman bid Craishae to bathe in the fiery waters
of the temple. When she did, her old life and essence were burned away and made new.
With eyes blazing and hair of flame, the princess emerged wielding an ember that could
never go out: the First Flame.

“For you see, there were no paladins then,” Sygfraed explained. “There were
many mages, yes, but when Craishae returned with the ember, she wielded both the
Light and fire to drive back the evil that had tried to take the land. The queen even
cleansed those who’d fallen to the curse, returning them to their previous form."