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

[Cheezits]

If Vash’jir were to be revamped, how would you see that going down?

It’s a bit of a tricky one for me because it could only ever really work as a Naga centric story unless it’s more of a deep sea adventure that’s fairly whimsical with the Explorer’s League being the reason we go there.

I could see them doing some kind of skirmish between the Ankoan and the Naga remnants of Nazjatar, maybe restarting the war against Neptulon? Per 10.2 we know not all is right with the Elemental Lords since Legion.

[Sondrelk]

If Vash’jir were to be revamped, how would you see that going down?

It’s a bit of a tricky one for me because it could only ever really work as a Naga centric story unless it’s more of a deep sea adventure that’s fairly whimsical with the Explorer’s League being the reason we go there.

The naga are still a threat, so you could just have them show up again.

That being said I imagine that Vashj'ir would more likely be an optional levelling area maybe. Done more as a passion project for the developers rather than as an endgame zone like what it was for Cataclysm.
I love the zone, but I can see the hate that it gets from the fanbase. Even if I think the hate is unjustified in the complaints it levies.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

Which isn't the point. The point is that the Mag'har have the most experience fighting them, and would be the first to acknowledge that they are a threat. Turalyon, LF Draenei, standard Draenei (and possibly the alliance as a whole) wouldn't at first, and would possibly welcome them with open arms.

The only experience they really have is dying on mass, and while they would be the first to see the light bound as a threat the light bound them selfs have no reason to think the same way about the Mag’har when the light forged would out class them in every threat level if they can’t get them to join up.

[Woggmer]

If you are saying random BS leaks, they will start to go crazy in the next weeks.
Now, if you are talking about true leaks, they will generally start to appear arround 1 week before BlizzCon, because thats arround when Blizz needs to get things like flyers and interviews with some press done and that means that information starts to spread to people that may not be that good at keeping secrets.

The latter option will happen obviously, but there's always going to be that one person leaking it who is telling the truth, but is trying to be vague about it.. or is trying to lead everyone on through a game of some kind-- Secrets of Azeroth style.

[Alanar]

Mainly that one should be careful about taking what he says at face value. Maybe he really was converted to the Light, or maybe he's just playing along. We can't tell with the limited information about him we have.

Hell, he could have been lying in our face the whole time. Saying hes with Turalyon etc, thats all great, but maybe hes just playing the big boys game for hes true master. Or he is truely good, but blizzard changed their minds. Anything is possible at this point with him.

There is indeed very little information, which also makes him interesting imo.

[Samin]

Anyone think that the artifact from the end of the Secrets event is a hint with any merit?

Keepers collected artifacts that they found throughout their tenures. Tyr became fascinated by a single artifact that he kept as his lone treasure - a mysterious, sealed but seamless container covered in the writings of titan, Legion, and Old God servants (presumably Shath'yar - the language). And Kathos notes: "The text on top of this chest is definitely titan. But here, this is a language used by the Burning Legion! And this text is used by servants of the Old Gods. I've never seen these three languages being intermingled like this. I'm not fluent, but the titan text speaks of a danger within the chest. And item? Or perhaps just... knowledge."

This could all just be a silly nod to something from Norse mythology (although it sounds more like something Odin would do), but after all of that secret hunting we get something so peculiar...

It makes me think "do not open" in the languages of the major (cosmic) players on Azeroth (from Tyr's perspective at least) because it contains something that is a threat to all of them. Which conveniently could become an object of interest for all of them should they figure out a way to use it to their ends.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Mainly that one should be careful about taking what he says at face value. Maybe he really was converted to the Light, or maybe he's just playing along. We can't tell with the limited information about him we have.

I'm doubtful that he's able to keep playing a con after being physically-suffused with a cosmic force that implicitly causes profound psychological alteration and tends to enforce a degree of obeisance from those infused with it. While we are in an era of Blizzard going back on their lore with cosmic forces and allowing for some pretty ridiculous stuff like Lightforged warlocks, I honestly think there's not much precedent to assume that—especially in Lothraxion's case—any given converted Nathrezim should still be infiltrators. I figure that the first wave getting figured out was what precipitated the destruction of the Ember Ward given that would (1) constitute a significant insult against the Light and (2) it would explain why it was the Nathrezim's former ward that was destroyed other than the Doylist need to obfuscate its original purpose; as for Lothraxion himself, he wasn't even part of that first wave, Thousand Years of War reveals he was part of the Legion initially and thus any infiltration would presumably have to be unplanned unless Denathrius was playing 4d chess to a pretty ludicrous degree. Granted, Locus-Walker foresaw a "unique destiny" for him, which could mean that his presence would undermine the Light,—something Locus-Walker could want,—but all the other evidence suggests he's been legitimately converted, whether it was his original intention or not.

- - - Updated - - -

Can I also just say; It really bothers me how wowhead showcases models in those "4 different angles comparison" images. They show front, back, and a 90* and 135* angle of the same side. Why not just show both the left and right side of the model? This is especially frustrating when they showcase a bow model, and so they are only showing the grip side of the bow, while the other side usually has more details due to the hand "shield" which we don't see in the showcase.

That's a fair point. I never caught that, but I could see how it's a problem.

[Super Dickmann]

Granted, Locus-Walker foresaw a "unique destiny" for him, which could mean that his presence would undermine the Light,—something Locus-Walker could want,—but all the other evidence suggests he's been legitimately converted, whether it was his original intention or not..

Given even the early naaru lore, I don't think we can really look too much into this, since the capital V void aligned commentators consider the Light's various elements to be wayward kin and part of the same force, whereas the Light very much doesn't. I.e, how the naaru in their holy phase spread the Light and spread growth and prosperity which, on converting to the void, it then harvests. The latter is something the Light considers a fail state, but where the Void is concerned, that's just planting and pay-off. So Lothraxion could be genuinely converted and still have that correlate to a positive outcome in the eyes of void followers.

[Cheezits]

Lothraxion probably didn't have any big character plan in Legion, but in Shadowlands the Nathrezim book says they are aware of him and brings up the question of whether or not he became light-infused on purpose (something the Fel Dreadlords are confirmed to have done with fel).

I don't think he really has any narrative purpose moving forward if he's not a double-agent besides being a cool looking friend of Turalyon's, unless they want him to be the sole Nathrezim going against the ones that will now be following Denathrius.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Given even the early naaru lore, I don't think we can really look too much into this, since the capital V void aligned commentators consider the Light's various elements to be wayward kin and part of the same force, whereas the Light very much doesn't. I.e, how the naaru in their holy phase spread the Light and spread growth and prosperity which, on converting to the void, it then harvests. The latter is something the Light considers a fail state, but where the Void is concerned, that's just planting and pay-off. So Lothraxion could be genuinely converted and still have that correlate to a positive outcome in the eyes of void followers.

That's a good catch. I forgot that comment from Xal'atath. Either way, definitely makes me more convinced that Lothraxion isn't an infiltrator. Also forgot to mention on my part that the Void seemed to consider the Bald Man a major threat and probably wouldn't want to risk moving his interests forward, though I suppose the degree to which Locus-Walker is actually an agent of a more benevolent side of the Void as opposed to someone who just has an interest in it is a little dubious, so that's another point against Lothraxion being a malicious agent.

[Murlocos]

Whatever his involvement with the expansion itself, I hope Metzen's been involved with the cinematic again. Shadowlands' was okay, a bit too drawn out, but I think Dragonflight's was a total dud that didn't generate much excitement. The cinematics have been trending in the direction of telling a singular story building up to one or two exciting climaxes, but DF's buildup was so tame and the climaxes so predictable that the whole thing never got off the ground for me. They really need something blood pumping that makes you want to rewatch it over and over.

[Cheezits]

Whatever his involvement with the expansion itself, I hope Metzen's been involved with the cinematic again. Shadowlands' was okay, a bit too drawn out, but I think Dragonflight's was a total dud that didn't generate much excitement. The cinematics have been trending in the direction of telling a singular story building up to one or two exciting climaxes, but DF's buildup was so tame and the climaxes so predictable that the whole thing never got off the ground for me. They really need something blood pumping that makes you want to rewatch it over and over.

I'm expecting it be Tyr doing something pivotal or a Vanilla-esque montage.

[Murlocos]

I'm expecting it be Tyr doing something pivotal or a Vanilla-esque montage.

If it's a revamp I'd love a vanilla/TBC montage, that'd be a perfect callback. Hell, I'd love it if it's a Void/Light expansion.

[micwini]

https://gamerant.com/world-of-warcra...eam-interview/

Q: With Patch 10.2 officially announced, can you tell us if there is a Patch 10.3 on the radar, or will the next major patch be the 11.0 expansion?

Augustine: I can give you an answer, but it probably won’t fully satisfy you, but it can at least give something! We aren’t talking about future plans yet. This is not the end of Dragonflight. This is an awesome turning point in the story, but there’s still lots of cool activities and stories ahead that we’re really excited about, but we’re not ready to talk about any sort of future patch plans in specific.

[Valysar]

https://gamerant.com/world-of-warcra...eam-interview/

Q: With Patch 10.2 officially announced, can you tell us if there is a Patch 10.3 on the radar, or will the next major patch be the 11.0 expansion?

Augustine: I can give you an answer, but it probably won’t fully satisfy you, but it can at least give something! We aren’t talking about future plans yet. This is not the end of Dragonflight. This is an awesome turning point in the story, but there’s still lots of cool activities and stories ahead that we’re really excited about, but we’re not ready to talk about any sort of future patch plans in specific.

Well, that can mean anything, 10.3, 10.2.1, 10.2.5, 10.2.7, 10.2.7a, 10.2.7b

[Cheezits]

https://gamerant.com/world-of-warcra...eam-interview/

Q: With Patch 10.2 officially announced, can you tell us if there is a Patch 10.3 on the radar, or will the next major patch be the 11.0 expansion?

Augustine: I can give you an answer, but it probably won’t fully satisfy you, but it can at least give something! We aren’t talking about future plans yet. This is not the end of Dragonflight. This is an awesome turning point in the story, but there’s still lots of cool activities and stories ahead that we’re really excited about, but we’re not ready to talk about any sort of future patch plans in specific.

Activities and stories sounds like 10.2.5 to me.

The second they say "there is no new raid or zone after this" is the second the fanbase starts raging, so they need to have a "and here's why" to reveal it with.

[Makabreska]

https://gamerant.com/world-of-warcra...eam-interview/

Q: With Patch 10.2 officially announced, can you tell us if there is a Patch 10.3 on the radar, or will the next major patch be the 11.0 expansion?

Augustine: I can give you an answer, but it probably won’t fully satisfy you, but it can at least give something! We aren’t talking about future plans yet. This is not the end of Dragonflight. This is an awesome turning point in the story, but there’s still lots of cool activities and stories ahead that we’re really excited about, but we’re not ready to talk about any sort of future patch plans in specific.

So basically, they still dodge a clear answer.

Let's face it. If we are having 10.3, they would be already working on it for some time, so little reason to not reveal it will arrive. If there is no 10.3 though, then saying 10.2 is the final tier patch would piss people off and take away from it's reveal. So my money is on 10.2 being the final (non Fated) tier. That is, of course, unless they plan on doing something new in the end. An improved Fated with better content and continuation of the story.

[Cheezits]

So basically, they still dodge a clear answer.

Let's face it. If we are having 10.3, they would be already working on it for some time, so little reason to not reveal it will arrive. If there is no 10.3 though, then saying 10.2 is the final tier patch would piss people off and take away from it's reveal. So my money is on 10.2 being the final (non Fated) tier. That is, of course, unless they plan on doing something new in the end. An improved Fated with better content and continuation of the story.

Fated raids, Tyr story patch, 11.0 prologue, Amirdrassil final form, whatever is up with Vakthros...

Plenty to have it meatier than 9.2.5.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Let's face it. If we are having 10.3, they would be already working on it for some time, so little reason to not reveal it will arrive. If there is no 10.3 though, then saying 10.2 is the final tier patch would piss people off and take away from it's reveal. So my money is on 10.2 being the final (non Fated) tier. That is, of course, unless they plan on doing something new in the end. An improved Fated with better content and continuation of the story.

I still find it odd that the expansion could conclude so early given it's not an abject failure like Shadowlands and WoD were. At the same time, I find it very suspicious that they'd say it "won't fully satisfy you". There's no reason for them to conclude early, but they're also giving signals they will. It's all pretty inexplicable. If it does end at 10.2.5., my best guess is that the final raid will be to go back in time and nab our MacGuffin from Elisande in a kind of Fated/Timewalking hybrid variant of Nighthold with some mild alterations and potentially a new boss of some kind to replace Gul'dan.

[micwini]

So basically, they still dodge a clear answer.

Let's face it. If we are having 10.3, they would be already working on it for some time, so little reason to not reveal it will arrive. If there is no 10.3 though, then saying 10.2 is the final tier patch would piss people off and take away from it's reveal. So my money is on 10.2 being the final (non Fated) tier. That is, of course, unless they plan on doing something new in the end. An improved Fated with better content and continuation of the story.

This makes the most sense to me. Especially with Fyrakk having a curve mount