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

[username993720]

Did they make it on the tree top though?

Was that ever the intention with Teldrassil?



This is what it looked like until the BFA Cinematic where they kinda made it look like it was supposed to. Don't argue with "Oh, but you didn't really see that before Cata!" because you would notice how it suddenly stopped and was just a stump when you looked up from Rut'theran Vilage.

Teldrassil is an amazing concept, but not more than that. It's an alright zone in of itself, but it doesn't really stand out from Ashenvale.

Did it?
It's what on the inside that matters, not on the outside.
Didn't they teach you that in school?

Upgraded graphics, lots of quests and the currently best capital city in the game. Easy.

14 years apart.
Not a starting zone.
Much bigger in scale than Teldrassil.

[Marlamin]

I wonder if they ever regretted using a simple height map for basic terrain.

The way they do it isn't neccesarily 'out of date' or whatever (it is not an image-based color-limited heightmap for the main terrain), they just have arbitrary limits that they could bump these days if needed (if they haven't already). Other stuff like long-distance level of detail stuff might be limited, but I haven't looked at this, they redid a lot of this in Legion so it might not be as limited as before.

I'd argue the reason why it was that way in vanilla wasn't neccesarily an engine limit but more of a "they're not going to notice it anyways" which at the time would have been correct. Hyjal which was also in vanilla (but not in the same form) was at a higher height level than Darnassus, for example.

[huth]

The way they do it isn't neccesarily 'out of date' or whatever (it is not an image-based color-limited heightmap for the main terrain), they just have arbitrary limits that they could bump these days if needed (if they haven't already). Other stuff like long-distance level of detail stuff might be limited, but I haven't looked at this, they redid a lot of this in Legion so it might not be as limited as before.

I'd argue the reason why it was that way in vanilla wasn't neccesarily an engine limit but more of a "they're not going to notice it anyways" which at the time would have been correct. Hyjal which was also in vanilla (but not in the same form) was at a higher height level than Darnassus, for example.

I didn't really mean it as "bad" or "outdated" but more of a "we should have used x instead because it fits our needs better".

And while they could have made Teldrassil higher, it'd still be just a stump. I wonder if the game could handle making the entire tree one giant doodad. Probably not the best way of handling it.

[Catastrophy349]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2641116-Eclipse We've got a winner here!

[Marlamin]

I didn't really mean it as "bad" or "outdated" but more of a "we should have used x instead because it fits our needs better".

And while they could have made Teldrassil higher, it'd still be just a stump. I wonder if the game could handle making the entire tree one giant doodad. Probably not the best way of handling it.

I think the height part of the terrain file format largely still serves their current needs fine, although other parts have started showing their age/limitations The current game could certainly handle it being a giant world model (and probably even a large part of it being actual terrain given how high they go in modern maps), it probably just ends up in a pros/cons of doing that for gameplay reasons, e.g. the taxi gryphon to the top was already quite long so if they'd have it be a huge model the only way to get up/down would be the teleporter or some super buffed up taxi. While that's fine, they might have various reasons for/against doing stuff like that that aren't neccesarily technical in nature.

[Samin]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2641116-Eclipse We've got a winner here!

Moon dwarves is definitely the kind of thing Blizzard would do that people will point out as "obviously fake" in an actual leak. Bonus points for not being AI generated.

[Dragon ANX]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2641116-Eclipse We've got a winner here!

I'm on board this Hype Train!!!

[Worldshaper]

On a serious note, MrGM is apparently going away for a couple of days next week to do something "very exciting".

My bet is on some type of EU content creator event being organised around London, focused on information about upcoming content.

Question is, would Blizzard risk revealing it to them so soon? I feel like they wouldn't want to risk it.

[huth]

I think the height part of the terrain file format largely still serves their current needs fine, although other parts have started showing their age/limitations The current game could certainly handle it being a giant world model (and probably even a large part of it being actual terrain given how high they go in modern maps), it probably just ends up in a pros/cons of doing that for gameplay reasons, e.g. the taxi gryphon to the top was already quite long so if they'd have it be a huge model the only way to get up/down would be the teleporter or some super buffed up taxi. While that's fine, they might have various reasons for/against doing stuff like that that aren't neccesarily technical in nature.

"First time down the tree? Toilet's over there."

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https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2641116-Eclipse We've got a winner here!

That doesn't sound very sensible. We already know Elune is a Life-aligned being that is considered a "Sister" by the Winter Queen, so that story makes no sense.

My vote is on total bogus.

[Shadochi]

On a serious note, MrGM is apparently going away for a couple of days next week to do something "very exciting".

My bet is on some type of EU content creator event being organised around London, focused on information about upcoming content.

Question is, would Blizzard risk revealing it to them so soon? I feel like they wouldn't want to risk it.

tbh I'd love for them to organize some kind of online ARG with hints, not perhaps for the main plot or setting for the expansion but dfferent elements, and have content creators be part of it

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"First time down the tree? Toilet's over there."

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That doesn't sound very sensible. We already know Elune is a Life-aligned being that is considered a "Sister" by the Winter Queen, so that story makes no sense.

My vote is on total bogus.

I have a feeling Elune will end up being whatever they need it for the expansion

[Nokster10]

People keep speculating what stuff like Elune is, but the sad reality is they are going to be whatever the fuck Daloser wants it to be at that point in time, regardless of lore, history, retcons etc.

[Krelivane]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2641116-Eclipse We've got a winner here!

Jfc it's so dumb that it could be real... sadge

[Yarathir]

Jfc it's so dumb that it could be real... sadge

Well, people did say they didn't believe Dracthyr were real. That they looked too much like a reskin and that the concept didn't fit WoW at all. So...

[Jastall]

I'd still attribute the start of the Legion's technological shift to TBC, with their addition of turrets and Fel Reavers, but the jump to spaceships in Legion definitely makes you scratch your head. It's a similar feeling you get with the constant question of "why didn't the Vindicaar stomp the Horde in BfA?" or why people are still using swords and bows when fully functional machine guns exist that reminds you that the high tech stuff typically isn't front and center for an extended period of time for a reason.

Presentation is probably a bigger deal over functionality for most people anyways. Gnomish and goblin tech can be leaps and bounds above modern technology, but the thrown together, barely functional nature of the presentation helps ground it. The more you can ease the dissonance between the disparate elements of your setting, the better.

I mean in WC3 the Humans had mortars, choppers and tanks, literal 20th century technology and yet Orcs had no problem fighting them with their most high-tech unit being a catapult and their highest-tier unit being a minotaur smacking people with a totem. Same for Night Elves for whom the war machine was a ballista which could be found during Roman times. And WC2 had naval combat front and center, including submarines and everyone built oil rigs, despite the rest of their forces otherwise using standard medieval armaments like bows, lances and axes.

Technology in Warcraft has always been a mess, such that nobody bats an eyelash to a shirtless Tauren beating the crap out of an exosuit armored with missiles and lasers, or a dude with a magic sword diving on a skyscraper-sized demonic robot and one-shotting it. As others also said, there's often magic involved in the whole thing, especially for the most advanced stuff like Draenei and Legion ships and war machines. The whole thing is a huge kitchen sink of random ideas and Blizzard has obviously no intention of changing that anytime soon.

[Kiivar86]

That doesn't sound very sensible. We already know Elune is a Life-aligned being that is considered a "Sister" by the Winter Queen, so that story makes no sense.

My vote is on total bogus.

Well there is the whole "the vassal of life disguises treachery" thing though I dunno if I'd consider Elune a vassal of life.

Anyway what makes me more amused is the idea of another branch of tauren who just so happen to have set up home there.

[Woggmer]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2641116-Eclipse We've got a winner here!

I better hope not... I like Dwarf lore because it is very interesting, but Moon Dwarves sounds like the most gimmicky thing possible.

I'd be upset if we'd get "Moon Dwarves" way before we get Frost Dwarves from Northrend.

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Well there is the whole "the vassal of life disguises treachery" thing though I dunno if I'd consider Elune a vassal of life.

It could also refer to Alexstraza, she is the Lifebinder and the old god that Tyr fought did say that "she would one day betray him like the other Aspects."

Anyway what makes me more amused is the idea of another branch of tauren who just so happen to have set up home there.

I'm gonna bet that if there's such a thing as "Moon Tauren" they will look more like stags (more close to resembling Malorne) rather than moose, bulls, bison, or yaks... Not as muscular as Tauren and more elegant looking beastmen.

And someone will name their Moon Tauren, "Post Malorne"

[huth]

Well there is the whole "the vassal of life disguises treachery" thing though I dunno if I'd consider Elune a vassal of life.

Anyway what makes me more amused is the idea of another branch of tauren who just so happen to have set up home there.

If anything, she's a lord of Life, not a vassal. Still wouldn't make much sense for her to be on or tied to Avaloren anyway.

[Reive]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2641116-Eclipse We've got a winner here!

super lame

[Yarathir]

super lame

Imagine not liking Moon Dwarves.

Shiggy Diggy.

[Reive]

Imagine not liking Moon Dwarves.

Shiggy Diggy.

Community: "how many more dwarves and taurens do we need?"
Blizzard: "yes"