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

[Skildar]

I'd actually love to have found Elemental structures (in my headcanon, Molten Core would be Ragnaros original seat of power which is why he could be summoned there and there'd be remnants of Firelands' style architecture there) that have somehow survived from before the Black Empire. Honestly despite the fairly large time span of Azeroth's history, there are very few significant ancient civilizations that could have left buildings and facilities.

There is abondant lack of old gods, wild gods and elemental architecture in the world of Azeroth. That's part of why I would have been delighted to have the incarnates force a return to a primordial Azeroth

[huth]

Aren’t there some Black Empire esque obelisks in southern Tanaris? I know those were created back when the Black Empire was little more than a twinkle in the story devs eye but it’s what I retroactively associate them with. I’m pretty sure they’re the exact same ones seen in the Black Empire assaults in Uldum and the Vale just low res.

Quiraji. They were active in the region far more recently than the Black Empire.

[Santandame]

There is abondant lack of old gods, wild gods and elemental architecture in the world of Azeroth. That's part of why I would have been delighted to have the incarnates force a return to a primordial Azeroth

I would be all for a primordial or ancient Kalimdor expansion but you run the risk of angering those who get upset with time travel.

I remember a “leak” prior to Legion that was clearly a mock of WoD. It was called the Dragon Kings of Azeroth. It had Jaina going back to pre first war Eastern Kingdoms and helping the rulers from back then to enslave the Aspects and funnel their powers in order to wipe out the Horde when they invade. I think it was:

- The Menethils of Lordaeron with the red flight.
- The Sunstriders of Silvermoon with the bronze
- Archmage Antonidas and Dalaran with the blue
- The Bronzebeards with the black flight with Ironforge being the first raid.
- I can’t remember who had the green flight. I want to say Gilneas but it may have also been the Arathi.

I imagine most would have hated that, but I’d have loved it and still would if we got anything like it.

[Holdodlig]

https://twitter.com/wowexdev/status/1696868579587576092

Is this the sword?

Edit: I believe wxd/wowexdev leaked Legion, so even if not Scaleface he's got sources.

I don't know. The "sword" pic looks like some Unreal Engine stuff. Not the recent WoW's detail quality. I really hope it's fake because I was really enjoying my life on Azeroth.

[Nymrohd]

We don't even have Black Empire ruins, why would we have any from before that?

Here is the thing, is all "Titan" architecture actually theirs or is much of it simply repurposed Old God architecture. The ruins in Ahn'Qiraj and Uldum look far more akin to Nyalotha than they do to Ulduar. It is possible that per Neltharion's annotations, much of what we know associate with the Keepers was actually the work of the Black Empire, taken over by them. Are the elemental planes and the works there of their Titans or did they just steal away the thrones of the Elemental lords from Azeroth and banish them to a subplane? And we have seen Aqir structures, both with the Nerubian and the Mantid.

[huth]

I don't know. The "sword" pic looks like some Unreal Engine stuff. Not the recent WoW's detail quality. I really hope it's fake because I was really enjoying my life on Azeroth.

The area around it doesn't look much like a play area. More like something for a cinematic.

Style feels a bit off too, particularly the skybox which seems a bit too photorealistic when WoW tends to go for a more painted look.

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Here is the thing, is all "Titan" architecture actually theirs or is much of it simply repurposed Old God architecture. The ruins in Ahn'Qiraj and Uldum look far more akin to Nyalotha than they do to Ulduar. It is possible that per Neltharion's annotations, much of what we know associate with the Keepers was actually the work of the Black Empire, taken over by them. Are the elemental planes and the works there of their Titans or did they just steal away the thrones of the Elemental lords from Azeroth and banish them to a subplane? And we have seen Aqir structures, both with the Nerubian and the Mantid.

...have you forgotten the Qiraji?

[Nymrohd]

...have you forgotten the Qiraji?

Nope. I am mostly wondering if Uldum was just part of Ahn'qiraj repurposed by the Titans.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

one of the pictures, this seems AI generated

https://x.com/wowexdev/status/1704396587613442160?s=20

???

On one hand, it looks AI-generated on first glance, on the other, I'm inclined to wonder why he'd mislead us that way. Have we tried checking the metadata of the original images to see if he left anything hidden for us? If these are to mislead us, maybe he's hidden something real beneath them.

[KurtMash]

I can see these pictures being generated by ai based on a description of a zone, as seen by someone. This way they can "show" us what they've seen without taking a picture, and with a plausible deniability of actually leaking something.

[huth]

Nope. I am mostly wondering if Uldum was just part of Ahn'qiraj repurposed by the Titans.

The ruins in Uldum look vastly different from the ones in Ahn'qiraj. And we know who built them, since they still live there.

[Reive]

stupid question, but what would the theme of the expansion be if those leaked images were not fakes? void?

[Santandame]

On one hand, it looks AI-generated on first glance, on the other, I'm inclined to wonder why he'd mislead us that way. Have we tried checking the metadata of the original images to see if he left anything hidden for us? If these are to mislead us, maybe he's hidden something real beneath them.

It’s a tricky one. It doesn’t look like anywhere on Azeroth. It looks like it could be Nathreza with K’aresh as an outside possibility. We know Azshara is knocking around beyond the Umbral Veil so it could be there.

I’m just dubious that Blizzard would have us go off world so soon after Shadowlands. I figured if we were to get a Void expansion, it would be a Void incursion on Azeroth.

I’m more inclined to trust Scaleface over Towellie.

There’s the possibility the zones are on Avaloren with the heretics. But I think that would be a huge waste just to have the heretics be Void practitioners instead of another cosmic force, or even a combination.

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stupid question, but what would the theme of the expansion be if those leaked images were not fakes? void?

Void I’d guess. However, the Void aesthetic seems to have changed with DF from purple tentacles, eyes and corruption to more of a midnight blue, space aesthetic. Though it could also be Dreadlord themed and set on Nathreza. Nathreza has a purple theme going on if the Portalkeeper Hasabel fight from Antorus is any indication.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

I don't know. The "sword" pic looks like some Unreal Engine stuff. Not the recent WoW's detail quality. I really hope it's fake because I was really enjoying my life on Azeroth.

I think it might be a hint. Maybe @Houle had it right and this is supposed to tell us the sword gets corrupted?

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I can see these pictures being generated by ai based on a description of a zone, as seen by someone. This way they can "show" us what they've seen without taking a picture, and with a plausible deniability of actually leaking something.

That could make sense, I suppose. I'd expect he'd give us something more concrete to grasp on to, though, as he did with the Drek'thar image and the metadata puzzle.

[Al Gorefiend]

It’s a tricky one. It doesn’t look like anywhere on Azeroth. It looks like it could be Nathreza with K’aresh as an outside possibility. We know Azshara is knocking around beyond the Umbral Veil so it could be there.

I’m just dubious that Blizzard would have us go off world so soon after Shadowlands. I figured if we were to get a Void expansion, it would be a Void incursion on Azeroth.

I’m more inclined to trust Scaleface over Towellie.

There’s the possibility the zones are on Avaloren with the heretics. But I think that would be a huge waste just to have the heretics be Void practitioners instead of another cosmic force, or even a combination.

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Void I’d guess. However, the Void aesthetic seems to have changed with DF from purple tentacles, eyes and corruption to more of a midnight blue, space aesthetic. Though it could also be Dreadlord themed and set on Nathreza. Nathreza has a purple theme going on if the Portalkeeper Hasabel fight from Antorus is any indication.

Void has always been blue, black and purple.

[edeledc]

The "Winter is coming" from the wow twitter account makes me believe that Iridikron will unleash the "Galakron Hunger" on the world.

This could lead to some Cataclysm-like event that would justified a (partial?) world revamp, with some kind of zombi apocalypse theme (Opposing argument would be we just had Shadowlands so...), but also new threats and new grounded adventures for each zone. We could imagine some zones being merged into one.

The cataclysm timeline could still be accessible through some Bronze temple of sort and if there is a Classic HD, the classic timeline could also be accessible once more.

That's just ideas from the "winter is coming" though, I'm probably wrong.

[lostsoup]

What about his twitter header? Not sure how long he's had it.

[Nightshade711]

What about his twitter header? Not sure how long he's had it.

There’s also Scaleface’s new PFP.


Which looks to be the Twitter header. Though the header is a little cut off.

[Santandame]

Void has always been blue, black and purple.

It has but the Void aesthetic has changed significantly from what it was previously to what we have now in Aberrus.

[Reive]

Void I’d guess. However, the Void aesthetic seems to have changed with DF from purple tentacles, eyes and corruption to more of a midnight blue, space aesthetic. Though it could also be Dreadlord themed and set on Nathreza. Nathreza has a purple theme going on if the Portalkeeper Hasabel fight from Antorus is any indication.

Thanks. yeah, deosn't seem like void. it's too "dirty" to be it. the void is a deeper purple/blue

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have to say it, right now the prospect of another cosmic expansion is more interesting than a revamped azeroth. the og world is not/won't be the same without the faction conflict. It would probably be another "slop" like dragonflight

[Magistrate]

I'd actually love to have found Elemental structures (in my headcanon, Molten Core would be Ragnaros original seat of power which is why he could be summoned there and there'd be remnants of Firelands' style architecture there) that have somehow survived from before the Black Empire. Honestly despite the fairly large time span of Azeroth's history, there are very few significant ancient civilizations that could have left buildings and facilities.

Honestly I actually love this. Mix in some black empire and elemental ruins into some areas.