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

[Cheezits]

Didn't the naga book say the torches have JUST been lit? I thought it was pretty clearly inferred to be the Oathstones, especially because they actually light up.

I think we have still yet to actually operate all of them, so we don't know what happens that would let the Void come in.

Considering how unimportant it has been yet, I have a feeling the warp mechanism on Tyrhold will be used somehow.

[Raetary]

They are not gonna name an expansion after a RL age.
"Renaissance" comes with all its cultural and artful baggage.

It'd be like calling an expansion "Early Middle Ages" or "industrial Revolution".

"Awakening", "Rebirth", "Renewal", "(New) Beginnings", "Resurgence" or any variation thereof would be better suited.

[Aeula]

They should call it reforged.

[Worldshaper]

You got those backwards. The silhouette very visibly has the backswept ears characteristic of Night Elves, not High/Blood/Void Elves. And again, Xal'atath just has a generic elf model. "Without a question" is impossible from that alone, as even the right silhouette couldn't be attributed to anybody in particular. Xal'atath does not have a unique model.

You're starting from "It must be Xal'atath" and then work backwards from there ignoring all contradictory evidence. That's not a valid path of reasoning.

Xal'atath didn't have a custom model in the past. There's nothing to suggest she won't have one in upcoming content. Either way, the silhouette doesn't 1:1 match a Night Elf figure either, so that entire line of arguments is pointless. What's more likely is a custom Xal'atath model, or simply details being slightly distorted in the cutscene.

[Foolicious]

Dear lord if I have to wait til September 5th for a 10.2 announcement...

I still think we will have a 10.2 announcement soon(ish). I just don't think it will be at gamescom, but done in a similar way to the last announcements.

[loras]

Why would Death-related entities be the ones who "light the way" for the void?

Few enough serve the void willingly and knowingly.

That said if any "torches" were in SL they would either have to be the sigils or the realms.

[Murlocos]

The PTR isn't guaranteed to go up along with the announcement, but a 10.2 build getting pushed would probably be the earliest sign we have of an announcement (unless we get a developer update confirmed today or something). 10.1 had its first build publicly visible a day before it was formally announced.

[huth]

Xal'atath didn't have a custom model in the past. There's nothing to suggest she won't have one in upcoming content. Either way, the silhouette doesn't 1:1 match a Night Elf figure either, so that entire line of arguments is pointless. What's more likely is a custom Xal'atath model, or simply details being slightly distorted in the cutscene.

With that argumentation you could still claim it's Xal'atath if what we saw was a bunny. That's completely worthless.

There's not enough details visible to pin it to any specific character. The most we know is that it's an elf body. Any claims that it must be Xal'atath specificially are purely based on wishful thinking with zero actual evidence.

[micwini]

They are not gonna name an expansion after a RL age.
"Renaissance" comes with all its cultural and artful baggage.

It'd be like calling an expansion "Early Middle Ages" or "industrial Revolution".

"Awakening", "Rebirth", "Renewal", "(New) Beginnings", "Resurgence" or any variation thereof would be better suited.

This argument does not make sense ever since The Burning Crusade

[Worldshaper]

With that argumentation you could still claim it's Xal'atath if what we saw was a bunny. That's completely worthless.

There's not enough details visible to pin it to any specific character. The most we know is that it's an elf body. Any claims that it must be Xal'atath specificially are purely based on wishful thinking with zero actual evidence.

You're being dishonest, to be frank.

You know as well as I do that Xal'atath is a rumoured Old God, alternatively simply an important figure of the Void with lots of future potential. She has ties with Azshara and the Naga, as well as N'Zoth, and as such is a very relevant character as we begin to explore the Void again in future stories.

We also know that she's a schemer, and somebody who influences others (she did this for thousands of years from within the blade).

Furthermore, the fact that she did have such a simple Void Elf model kind of (ironically) made her looks iconic in their simplicity. There are no other influential characters in the lore with that slight Void Elf-like shape and plain hairstyle AFAIK. At least none that can match her CV within the Void.

Add to this the fact that we know the Void had some kind of prophecy going on, and a power vacuum to be filled after N'Zoth's demise (which she was instrumental in achieving, by the way) and it becomes even more plausible that the known players of that faction are going to be making a reentry into the plot soon.

To assume that's just some random elf we've yet to meet is silly. What would be the purpose for Blizzard to tease the silhouette if it belongs to yet another random Void Elf about to be introduced in the future, and not somebody we know of making a return?

[Santandame]

Then I don't see why beings of Death "lighting the way" would be a problem here regardless.

Because he wasn’t talking about Death related entities literally lighting up a load of torches and leading whoever down a path.

He’s talking about why would Death related entities would be working towards goals that further that of the Void.

It wasn’t something that he needed correcting on.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Your opinion on the title? IMO "Renaissance" would make a lot more sense. It means the same and everyone knows what it means. This is the first time I ever see the word "Renascence". I thought it was an obvious spelling mistake, but it seems to be an actual word.

I actually don't mind it. I think "renaissance" actually doesn't work as well since it's not as snappy and may be more likely to evoke the time period than the general idea of something being renascent in people's minds. I honestly think "Renascence" works fine as a title.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

They should call it reforged.

Now that'd really make people twice before pre-ordering.

[huth]

To assume that's just some random elf we've yet to meet is silly. What would be the purpose for Blizzard to tease the silhouette if it belongs to yet another random Void Elf about to be introduced in the future, and not somebody we know of making a return?

That you think i do shows how little you actually bother to understand what i'm saying. And you call me dishonest.

I'm not saying it is some random nobody. I'm saying it could be some random nobody and we do not have enough clues to rule it out, so authoritatively claiming it has to be specific character x is at best foolish and at worst just a bold-faced lie.

[Makabreska]

This argument does not make sense ever since The Burning Crusade

Aw geeez. Peeps still try to push those naming patterns, like Blizz adheres to some arbitrary expac naming convention??

[Alanar]

Now that'd really make people twice before pre-ordering.

Ouch ye, defo somw red flags right there.

- - - Updated - - -

People think it's Azshara using magic to appear like an elf again.

Nvm that there is absolutely any indication that she even desires that appearance anymore.
Quite the opposite, when the only instance of her appearing as such is as an illusion to manipulate Farondis.

Hell, the 8.2 cinematic has her alone, in front of a mirror, in her own palace, yet she sticks to being a tentacle lady despite the privacy.

Unless Idikron goes throught the portal goes back in time to pre sundering, maybe we would have a reason to believe that is a possibillity, but we have no indication or reason to believe that is the case ..

I dont think she has a choice to begin with, she was transformed by an outside force permanently. I think she indeed embraced her form, but its hard to tell if she has any desire to turn back, maybe she misses her old beauty who knows..

I hope they flesh Azshara out more if we see her next time, she is this vainglorious queen of old, but outside that we dont know much of her personally.

[Hitei]

Aw geeez. Peeps still try to push those naming patterns, like Blizz adheres to some arbitrary expac naming convention??

I mean, yeah. They adhere to fundamental marketability and function conventions.

I dont think she has a choice to begin with, she was transformed by an outside force permanently. I think she indeed embraced her form, but its hard to tell if she has any desire to turn back, maybe she misses her old beauty who knows..

Dunno why you'd assume it was permanent. Things in wow very frequently change form multiple times.

[Raetary]

This argument does not make sense ever since The Burning Crusade

?????

You completely misunderstood what i was getting at.
It's not the mere use of the word that's the issue, it's the lone use of the word that is.

You'd have a point of the expansion was just called "Crusade", which it isn't.
It's "The Burning Crusade", which is specific to the context of the warcraft franchise.

Aw geeez. Peeps still try to push those naming patterns, like Blizz adheres to some arbitrary expac naming convention??

Nobody mentioned anything about naming patterns.
I was talking about marketability.

[micwini]

?????

You completely misunderstood what i was getting at.
It's not the mere use of the word that's the issue, it's the lone use of the word that is.

You'd have a point of the expansion was just called "Crusade", which it isn't.
It's "The Burning Crusade", which is specific to the context of the warcraft franchise.



Nobody mentioned anything about naming patterns.
I was talking about marketability.

Ok but how about "Legion"? Makes me instantly think about Romans.

[Santandame]

You do realize the Void could seek something without requiring the direct aid of another force, no?

I don’t really care. I was just pointing out that you didn’t need to correct the guy who you were originally quoting as you completely misinterpreted what he said.

- - - Updated - - -

Ok but how about "Legion"? Makes me instantly think about Romans.

I think of the Geth from Mass Effect and his heartbreaking final mission.