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

[Jaggler]

You don't need artifact weapons for a system like the mage tower, unlocking appearances etc.
It was tied to them in Legion but can easily be done with other rewards.

[micwini]

really can't agree more than that. Also they just need to frking write the story for the sake of it, for the pleasure to do it, to tell a good story. It doesn't have to feel pushed down to our throat. I'm Lgb(t)q+ myself and really can't stand the way we are depicted as some kind of token. So far, only Chromie was somewhat done really well, I liked the fact it's been a thing since vanilla, got explained with common sense through visage day story and all.

You want to write a character and she's a strong badass woman, go for it ! One character ends up being trans, or gay ? Go for it ! But right now, it just feels WRONG and weird, there's so many games that handles it better.

And when I was refering to Azshara / nzoth, it was more akin to like Zovaal/Sylvanas, the big baddie is a guy, and get no screen times, no justifications, he's just an ugly bastard anyway.

the woman character get 10 cutscenes, explanations and may be even, redemption.

lmao.

I am glad to see slowly more and more people having a more nuanced view on this instead of the "you don't 100% agree! Now you're homophobe, sexist, racist, etc." I really don't mind if it is represented in a normal way. I do mind it and get really annoyed when there is 5 questlines in a row that have characters wildly exclaiming
"omg Im gay and im making a present for my BOYfriend" or "omg I love HIM, when the character is male". It doesn't need to be constantly explained what a characters sexuality is. That stuff only matters in porn games, which WoW is not. It's fucking annoying and I hope they tone it back quite a bunch. There has been representation since fucking 2004. The difference is that it wasn't explicitely stated and it doesn't need to be. That should really be the endpoint for anything regarding this discussion: Acceptance through non-chalance.

[Ersula]

You want to write a character and she's a strong badass woman, go for it ! One character ends up being trans, or gay ? Go for it ! But right now, it just feels WRONG and weird, there's so many games that handles it better.

What exactly is the difference here? Sure it's conspicuous, but that's only because characterization in early wow was never very good. I'm also "lgbt" and you encounter this very specific personality that has a problem with any attempt at visibility or inclusion. We have those crafters whos entire thing is that they're gay and in love, but then there's also Pelegos, where his trans-ness is only referred to once & never again. Those feel like the two extremes and its hard to see people complain about the game's two other examples, if the player even noticed them. It's like people who keep saying the video games game grumps have developed having gay characters is tokenism despite the owner being bi. Clearly no version of this topic is going to be acceptable to you.

[Sondrelk]

You don't need artifact weapons for a system like the mage tower, unlocking appearances etc.
It was tied to them in Legion but can easily be done with other rewards.

Yeah. Mage Tower could just as easily have come out now and given effectively the same rewards. You don't need the Artifact system to make it work.

[micwini]

Yeah. Mage Tower could just as easily have come out now and given effectively the same rewards. You don't need the Artifact system to make it work.

Man. F the Mage Tower. I want Brawlers Guild back.

[Dancaris]

you guys are derailing, let's get back to the speculation

Without new leaks or news we once again come to 2 branches - world rewamp or other side of Azeroth. And with that we know shit. If we gain news - it will be speculations and discussions.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

you guys are derailing, let's get back to the speculation

I don't know who you specifically mentioned, but I mean nothing more to speculate really, besides repeating what was already said - i think everyone at this point mentioned the same thing in speculation at least 10 times over but with a little different words, me included.

At this point until some more facts are revealed like maybe blizzcon ticket rewards/ptr patches, we can do nothing but to repeat ourselves over and over again on next expansion speculations.

[Nymrohd]

Btw if we get a revamp, what do you expect has to change? let's go for minimal, just visual update
I think Westfall should get a lake to cover the Raging Chasm. Echo Isles should look like an actual troll settlement with a proper port connection to Dazar'alor. The Loch Modan Dam and maybe the Thandol Span should be rebuilt. Forsaken should have a port! And I very much want the area that joins Quel'thalas and Lordaeron to be worked over. Stratholme Bay with a proper port and a proper Amani area. And I wish for some underground areas.

[Xilurm]

Btw if we get a revamp, what do you expect has to change? let's go for minimal, just visual update
I think Westfall should get a lake to cover the Raging Chasm. Echo Isles should look like an actual troll settlement with a proper port connection to Dazar'alor. The Loch Modan Dam and maybe the Thandol Span should be rebuilt. Forsaken should have a port! And I very much want the area that joins Quel'thalas and Lordaeron to be worked over. Stratholme Bay with a proper port and a proper Amani area. And I wish for some underground areas.

Fix all the issues Cataclysm brought, because as of now all that stuff looks weird, stuck in time. Like the chasm in Westfall or the split land filled with lava in the Barrens. It's been what, 10-15 years since the Cataclysm? All that stuff should be built over.

Oh and please, don't have any "half built structures" that will remain like that for the next 20 years.

Have the questlines focus on each zone's issues and not some overarching issue like Cata had, which made sense back then but it got tiring.

[Worldshaper]

If you stop and think for a minute, it seems kinda obvious that the Hour of Twilight is on the way in the next expansion.

Tyr created the Dragon Aspects to safeguard Azeroth after their defeat of Galakrond. One of the main reasons being that Aman'Thul had a vision, in which the Old Gods brought about the end of the world and death of all life on Azeroth. This was known as the Hour of Twilight.

Initially, we were led to believe that Deathwing was on the cusp of bringing about the Hour of Twilight in Cataclysm. But although we suceeded in stopping him, Nozdormu wasn't so certain that this was the real one.

Now, the Dragon Aspects have suddenly decided to return to the Dragon Isles, and are seeking to gain their old powers back. As Alexstrasza says in the opening cinematic: "The world is healing, but her fate is yet uncertain. Together, we shall be Azeroth's protectors once again. Here, the new age of dragons shall begin."

So we know that she knows they are needed once again. But what for, if everything seems all right for the time being? Well, the Aspects know about the Hour of Twilight. They know that the Shadow is returning to claim Azeroth, unless they stop it.

Lo and behold, the main story of Dragonflight has been about disgruntled non-Titanic proto-dragons who've aligned themselves with the Elements, and with the Void. The Primal Incarnates. Their leader has spent the entire expansion rummaging through Deathwing's old things, and obtaining the same power that he once controlled.

Why? Because not only are they picking up where Deathwing left off, in bringing about the Hour of Twilight (working alongside the Harbinger). But they also want to get to the source of the Dragon Aspects' power, and destroy the Titans themselves. Interestingly, Nozdormu found out that Deathwing would be the "Harbinger" of the Hour of Twilight in a vision, so this is a reccurring theme. It's worth raising the idea that Sintharia, leader of thw Twilight dragonflight, might be the Harbinger or working alongside of her. It wouldn't shock me if her Visage form looked similar to Xal'atath.

Now obviously, the Old Gods have officially been defeated. But that's where Xal'atah (aka the Harbinger) comes in. She may or may not be an Old God herself. But she definitely is an agent of the Void. The Hour of Twilight was never about the Old Gods themselves feasting on Azeroth, but rather the Void doing it. The Pale Orcs of Draenor also knew of the prophecy, and in their version it was about a Void Lord.

Rise, rise! Our Queen calls to us from beyond the Umbral Veil. She has transcended the Circle of Stars and basks in her eternal grandeur!

The time we have long awaited is nigh.

Even now, the Harbinger gathers the children of the first flesh to reclaim what was lost. They must remember their vows and serve those to whom they owe fealty.

While they toil in the deep places, we will journey to the shores of dragon lands, to the blessed isle where the Worldbreaker first embraced the whispers.

As one storm recedes, another rises. The torches have been lit. The secrets he buried will strike as a dagger into the hearts of his kin!

The Harbinger speaks of a primal power that seeks the end of Order. Such rage can be bent to serve our ends.

A hunger lost to the ages will be reclaimed.

A dark heart left broken awaits the taking.

When these things come to pass, the Harbinger will fulfill the final prophecy and complete the awakening.

Only then shall our Queen return to reign over sea and sky and earth. We must make ready.

Rise, rise! Soon all that was hidden will be revealed.

What the book 'A Song of the Depths' is talking about, is this:

• Queen Azshara has become more powerful within the Void. She's calling her people into action.
• The "storm" of Deathwing has receded, but the "storm" of the Primal Incarnates now rises (illustrated vividly in the form of Razegeth). Likely with the use of Shadowflame, given the context of "secrets buried" (in Zarelek Cavern).
• The "torches" are possibly the re-empowered Dragon Aspects. Il'gynoth spoke of these, and of how they'd "light their path". Presumably, this is needed for the rest of the events of Dragonflight to unfold, for example Iridikron claiming Galakrond's essence.
• The Harbinger, i.e. Xal'atath or Sintharia, has told the Naga of Iridikron and the rest of the Primal Incarnates, which they'll use to their benefit since they all hate the Titans and their creations.
• Galakrond's essence will be reclaimed, and then the dark and broken heart will either join them (if its a person) or have its essence aken similar to Galakrond. Could be Alexstrasza, Vyranoth, Azeroth, the World Tree Amirdrassil, or a number of other possibilities.
• Queen Azshara will return to rule.

So, I hope everyone's ready for a Void expansion probably called EMPIRE or HOUR OF TWILIGHT, or something along those lines.

[Nymrohd]

Oh and please, don't have any "half built structures" that will remain like that for the next 20 years.

This, so very much. No half built walls and houses.

[Sondrelk]

Btw if we get a revamp, what do you expect has to change? let's go for minimal, just visual update
I think Westfall should get a lake to cover the Raging Chasm. Echo Isles should look like an actual troll settlement with a proper port connection to Dazar'alor. The Loch Modan Dam and maybe the Thandol Span should be rebuilt. Forsaken should have a port! And I very much want the area that joins Quel'thalas and Lordaeron to be worked over. Stratholme Bay with a proper port and a proper Amani area. And I wish for some underground areas.

Well for one start by removing all ongoing issues from the Cataclysm that are distracting when the zone would be used again. Zones should be as neutral as possible, which does not mean removing all traces of the Cataclysm, but rather things like the Tornado in Westfall, or Menethil Harbor being flooded.

For specific changes though I would like Sentinel Hill to be finished, and for it to be the main hub of the Human zones. Stormwind will be the main hub of the Alliance that expansion, but more in the same vein Cataclysm Stormwind was.
Eastern Plaguelands should be almost completely free of the mushrooms. There should still be some pockets of it to not completely erase the old feel the zone had, but stories there should be about settlers wanting to move back.
Stratholme should be a fully fledged uninstanced city. Not necessarily a friendly one, but at least on the level of Boralus where you can go around large chunks of it unhindered for flavor.

I have said before, but I would very much like if Blizzard tried rethinking what a zone in EK and Kalimdor is. They worked well for what were back in Vanilla when +100% movement speed mounts was a rare endgame goal, not the expected mode of transportation for those just starting out. For that reason I would argue for the removal of the old zone barrier mountains, at least for the most part. Not necessarily flattening them out, but not having them be impassable walls.

Other stuff I would love is Bloodmyst and Azuremyst being given a full makeover into a proper Draenei town, or even city using the assets from WoD. The Exodar is cool and all, but I would argue that the Draenei should have been on Azeroth long enough that they should have set up some of their bigger structures by this point. And to me the image of the big Karabor style building with the Vindicaar hovering above it seems so cool.
Full Nelf settlement under Hyjal would be nice. Where exactly Amirdrassil will be placed is hard to say, but Hyjal should still have some actual Nelf settlements. It did afterall have some burnt ones back in Cataclysm, so we know that Nelves live there.


The most unlikely to see happen though is a revamp of Vashj'ir. Highly unlikely given it's not really connected to the mainland, nor did the playerbase love it. But I would love some more quests ad storylines with the Ankoan there. Even if it's entirely a sidequest, Don't even need any specific resources there either. I just want more Vashj'ir content.

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This, so very much. No half built walls and houses.

At least, if there are. Make them in such a way that you can easily "complete" them at some point. Zones in EK and Kalimdor should be used more often, and when we go back to wherever new outpost was, we shouldnt see that the settlers are still struggling with the basic building. We should go back and see that the buildings are up.

[Skildar]

Btw if we get a revamp, what do you expect has to change? let's go for minimal, just visual update
I think Westfall should get a lake to cover the Raging Chasm. Echo Isles should look like an actual troll settlement with a proper port connection to Dazar'alor. The Loch Modan Dam and maybe the Thandol Span should be rebuilt. Forsaken should have a port! And I very much want the area that joins Quel'thalas and Lordaeron to be worked over. Stratholme Bay with a proper port and a proper Amani area. And I wish for some underground areas.

I've always expected a rework of Loch Modan to be a valley of four winds kind of zone. It's the breadbasket of the bronzebeards, I would like to find the agricultural facilities and breweries to be dominant and maybe have alliance pandaren present to help them. Because of the proximity of the twilight highlands, I would love to see the dwarven technology explored to fend off against giants and dragons. I know that a big part of the zone is allocated to some ruins so if reworked there should be an underground dungeon tied to it.

For all of this to trully make sense a be immersive though the size of the zone should probably be quadrupled. But it is in my opinion one of the most important zone to rework and to give meaning in a new generation of the eastern kingdoms.

The other zone that I would love to see be iterated upon for the alliance would be westmarch. Having mechagnomes there would be a blast, it's an already technology friendly zone with the harvest automatons, with the help of the mechagnomes they could give a stronger steampunk feel to some of the farms and even expand the zone on the sea side with floating facilities and cities

[Sondrelk]

I've always expected a rework of Loch Modan to be a valley of four winds kind of zone. It's the breadbasket of the bronzebeards, I would like to find the agricultural facilities and breweries to be dominant and maybe have alliance pandaren present to help them. Because of the proximity of the twilight highlands, I would love to see the dwarven technology explored to fend off against giants and dragons. I know that a big part of the zone is allocated to some ruins so if reworked there should be an underground dungeon tied to it.

For all of this to trully make sense a be immersive though the size of the zone should probably be quadrupled. But it is in my opinion one of the most important zone to rework and to give meaning in a new generation of the eastern kingdoms.

The other zone that I would love to see be iterated upon for the alliance would be westmarch. Having mechagnomes there would be a blast, it's an already technology friendly zone with the harvest automatons, with the help of the mechagnomes they could give a stronger steampunk feel to some of the farms and even expand the zone on the sea side with floating facilities and cities

You also have the Twilight Highlands, which could be used for more farms.

Honestly though, I think that if you just wanted loads of farm you could have hillside farms all over where the mountains are currently. Give it more of a Swiss Alps feel with plateus where farming is happening.
Also, entrances to the Wetlands from Ironforge.

[Nymrohd]

At least, if there are. Make them in such a way that you can easily "complete" them at some point. Zones in EK and Kalimdor should be used more often, and when we go back to wherever new outpost was, we shouldnt see that the settlers are still struggling with the basic building. We should go back and see that the buildings are up.

One idea I keep repeating is to have construction events. Keep at least a few towns per faction incomplete and have events to gather materials and submit crafted items to help rebuild. E.g. imagine rebuilding Brill. They have all the relevant tech available from Garrison and Broken Shore. You could make them server or region wide events but make them take a while.

[Shadowferal]

I've always expected a rework of Loch Modan to be a valley of four winds kind of zone. It's the breadbasket of the bronzebeards, I would like to find the agricultural facilities and breweries to be dominant and maybe have alliance pandaren present to help them. Because of the proximity of the twilight highlands, I would love to see the dwarven technology explored to fend off against giants and dragons. I know that a big part of the zone is allocated to some ruins so if reworked there should be an underground dungeon tied to it.

For all of this to trully make sense a be immersive though the size of the zone should probably be quadrupled. But it is in my opinion one of the most important zone to rework and to give meaning in a new generation of the eastern kingdoms.

The other zone that I would love to see be iterated upon for the alliance would be westmarch. Having mechagnomes there would be a blast, it's an already technology friendly zone with the harvest automatons, with the help of the mechagnomes they could give a stronger steampunk feel to some of the farms and even expand the zone on the sea side with floating facilities and cities

Love the ideas, especially in the first paragraph. Perhaps add in a squad of Wildhammer gryphon riders for patrolling the perimeter and particularly the Twilight Highland border?

[Santandame]

Btw if we get a revamp, what do you expect has to change? let's go for minimal, just visual update
I think Westfall should get a lake to cover the Raging Chasm. Echo Isles should look like an actual troll settlement with a proper port connection to Dazar'alor. The Loch Modan Dam and maybe the Thandol Span should be rebuilt. Forsaken should have a port! And I very much want the area that joins Quel'thalas and Lordaeron to be worked over. Stratholme Bay with a proper port and a proper Amani area. And I wish for some underground areas.

- Sen’jin Village expanded to be a proper port town.
- Gadgetztan expanded to reflect its HS counterpart. It goes up to Steamwheedle Port which has connections to Booty Bay and Bilgewater Harbour.
- Theramore rebuilt. How remains to be seen. If we get Ogres playable then I could see Ogres building a city there. If not, have it be a pirate town with Nightsquall having a controlling stake.
- The great divide in The Barrens filled with water.
- Ashenvale completely cleared of the burnt down areas. Forest Song turned into a proper Draenei town. The Legion fortifying Felfire Hill as a more secure foothold.
- Everlook destroyed by the Primalists with an ice palace built in its place serving as their main headquarters. Everlook is rebuilt to the north in place of the Furlbolg village on the cliff face to actually resemble an overlook.
- Hyjal completely cleansed and serving as the Night Elves home zone with Nordassil expanded into a capital city.
- The Botani promoting life in Durotar, with Durotar going for a Gorgrond vibe.
- Felwood cleansed with the Timbermaw settling more of the zone. Possibly renamed to Timberwood? Lol
- If Arakkoa came over with the Mag’har and Botani then have them settle in Stonetalon Mountains building a new settlement at Stonetalon Peak.
- Desolace further expanding into a lush wild land in the north. The new Mongrel Horde fortifying the lower half of the zone as their main base of operation, taking over Maraudon too.
- Thousand Needles partially drained.
- Exodar operational and in the sky along with the Vindicaar. Below the Draenei build a city to rival Shattrath we see in Talador with its own harbour and port.
- The Draenei getting rid of the Vector Coil in Bloodmyst and constructing new Auchindoun in its place. The dragon riders of Loreth’aran return and resettle Wyrmscar Island.

Those are some of my hopes for Kalimdor off the top of my head.

[Dancaris]

For me main wish with rewamp is merging zones and create big and separate stories.

Eversong + Ghostlands + Quel Danas to be Quel'Thalas zone. Fix demons, fix Death Scar over 3 locations, make it heal. Make it short valley near Deathholme. Fix Silvermoon. Bridges to Quel'Danas.

Dun Morogh+Lock Modan+Wetlands+Twillight Highlands. Name it Khaz Modan. Whole story with dwarves, fixed Dam, troggs and titan heritage. Start for dwarves.

Searing Gorge+Badlands+Burning Steppes. Second dwarf zone. Name it Upper Khaz Modan or Blackrock Mountains. Dragons, DI Dwarves, Black rock orcs, demons. Endgame to dwarves.

Duskwood+Westfall+Redridge+Elwynn Forest+Deadwind Pass as Kingdom of Stormwind. Large zone for humans. Farmers, kobolds, bandits, skeletons. Repopulation of Redridge, rebuild westfall. Endgame with Duskwood + Deadwind Pass vs death servants.

Blasted Lands+Stranglethorn Vale+Swamp of Sorrows as new zone. Gurubashi takes Blasted Lands and try to summon Hakkar from Dark portal. But unstead comes Hakkar Houndmaster. We deal with demon infused jungle trolls at final. It may be some patch content.

And that is just half of 1 continent.

[Sondrelk]

This !
back to local stories

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I must admit that when we think about it we cannot rule out the hypothesis that the tree is placed elsewhere than in the dragon isles
even if it seems like the most logical choice, who knows? wait and sea



Vashj'ir could undergo the same treatment as Nazjatar
I don't know where the Tide Stone is, but it could be used to make Vashj'ir more accessible

Nazjatar not being underwater was the worst choice for that zone. It robbed it of all uniqueness and just made it the same kind of zone as everywhere else.
I would much rather Vasjh'ir get a tiny bit of content and stay underwater, than I would the water being removed and it becoming a fully fledged zone.

It's the only zone that is truly designed with verticality in mind, and I don't want to lose that.

[Houle]

Nazjatar not being underwater was the worst choice for that zone. It robbed it of all uniqueness and just made it the same kind of zone as everywhere else.
I would much rather Vasjh'ir get a tiny bit of content and stay underwater, than I would the water being removed and it becoming a fully fledged zone.

It's the only zone that is truly designed with verticality in mind, and I don't want to lose that.

This. Im still pretty sad that Vashj'ir was received so negatively that weve never gotten a full underwater zone ever since. I personally really enjoyed it, the theme, the story, the visuals, the atmosphere, it was pretty fckn cool and different.
Vashj'ir felt more like what Nazjatar was supposed to be than Nazjatar itself did when we finally saw it. The Nazjatar we got ingame felt less like the grand hidden empire of the Naga and more like a random sunken elven village. That thing was Azsharas legendary domain? This was the Nagas home they raved about for all these years?