[Expansion concept] The Emerald Dream

[DatToffer]

We were discussing with friends about the possibilities and the obstacles of an Emerald Dream expansion ("What could have been" kind of discussion) and it gave me the idea to use the unique properties of the Emerald Dream and propose an expansion where the four new zones are actually four layers of that plane of existence.

The pitch would be that, obviously, the Nigtmare has returned. Its corruption has reached the very roots of G'hanir in the primordial depth of the Emerald Dream and spread through its many layers, stretching the ranks of Nature defenders.

These guardians : the Green Dragonflight, the denizens of Nature and the Wild Gods, have called the Horde and Alliance for help in containing the influence of the Nightmare and diving into the deep layers of the Dream to cut the root of that evil.

Gathered around the body of G'Hanir, the tree that spread life as we know it on Azeroth, the defenders will be able to travel from a layer of the Emerald Dream to another via special dreamways and fight the corruption wherever it has spread or help the denizens of the Dream with their own problems.

To make things a little more clear, and if you don't mind the approximate quality of the drawing, I made a map of how I envision it, which I will elaborate below :

1. The Crowned Layer, the Land of Guardians
This layer is the most superficial and easy to reach for mortal minds, even those inexperienced with Dream exploration. This is where the guardians of the Emerald Dream and their allies are gathering and coordinating their efforts in the war to come.

The zone will look a lot like the Emerald Dream raid, but a less vivid green, easier on the eye, with a grand opening to the lightly green skies.

G'Hanir
Inside the trunk and on top of gigantic mushroom hats who serve as platforms, the defenders of Azeroth are swarming like ants to organize the fight against the Nightmare. This will be the capital hub, where adventurers meet and exchange components and intel, but also where they learn about the secrets of Dream exploration and crafting.

Aviana's Domain
On top of G'hanir reside Aviana, the mistress of the skies. Her birds will provide transportation into the various areas of one layer, but will also act as scouts and messengers. That is, if the harpies stop causing problems among the high branches of the tree.

Fae Circles
This is where the inhabitants of the Dream are soldiering for the fight to come. Dryads and faerie dragons, keepers of the grove but also moonkins and treants are practicing their arts and training. This is also where their brethren afflicted by the corruption are brought for healing.

This area will be inspired from crop circles and cromlechs.

Ophidian Sanctuary
Whereas this draconic Sanctuary used to be a place for lucid dream and exploration, the dragons have returned both in mind and bodies to defend the Emerald Dream. But the scars of the previous Nightmare invasion have not yet healed and the memories of dragons fallen to the Nightmare are still haunting them.

This area will essentially be built with Dragonflight assets and regularly attacked by the ghosts of Ysondre and the other Nightmare dragons.

Wild Dens
Big and small, the Wild Gods were always drawn to G'Hanir's shadow. Around the place can be found plenty of nests, caves and burrows where the companions of Freya can rest in peace, sometimes for millennia.

The Wild Gods are eager to join the fight. At least the ones who are awake and revived. The others might need some extra push.

Rotten Front
This high in the Emerald Dream, the Nightmare only spoiled a small part of the land but that's enough to get Nature guardians worried. To undermine the defenders morale, most of the assailants are corrupted guardians and every dreamer they bring down bolsters their ranks.

This place will be more similar to the barren parts of Ardenweald than to the rotting spots of Legion's Nightmare.

2. The Layer of Fey, the Land of Wonder
The Dream is everchanging, and part of that is due to the fey who reside in it, shaping the landscapes to suit their needs and fantasies. This is one of the layers left unfinished by the Titans, where many creatures of the Dream gathered and filled the voids with creations of their own design.

In this zone, I would like to hint at the Faerie Courts of Seasons, but not in a too on the nose way. The environment will have vivid colors and the skies will sometimes show distant green layers, an impossibly close moon, a certain number of suns, massive tree branches and leaves or clouds seemingly coming alive.

Groves of Fae
The mischievous faerie dragons enjoy a good prank, and they enjoy not getting caught for it. This is why it is nearly impossible to find your way in these groves, unless you're guided by one of its inhabitants. The place remains dangerous for inexperienced dreamers, because a mere obstacle to a dragon-faerie can be a mortal trap to a wingless mortal.

In this place, you will look for Mordraggan the Fey, Queen of the dragon faerie (and probably the mother of Brightwing). Although her world is in danger, she will need convincing to put aside her petty grudge against the green dragons. Indeed, more than Ysera she thinks she deserves to be the Aspect of the Dream.

Their court could be considered the Court of Spring.

Galloping Plains
Even if they are at ease in the dense forests, dryads and keepers of the grove dream of wide spaces to gallop on and feeling the wind in their mane. This place was born from this primal desire for freedom and the four-legged creatures will defend it fiercely.

Here, you will help Cenarius rally his sons and daughters despite their differences. The war leaves no place unscathed and the plains themselves might need to change and transform to face the threat of the satyrs.

Their families form what could be seen as the Summer Court.

Winter Marsh
Sorry to all the Shadowlands deniers, but this place will be the missing link to Ardenweald.

In this cold wood where the Green turns blue and the birds silent, it is said that strange things happen to those who wander in the shadow of the eerie trees. When a dryad stares down long enough in the many ponds scattered around the place, she can see a four legged hunter or a bipedal caretaker, while if a faerie dragon does as much, a big-eyed creature with butterfly wings might smile back at them. Sometimes though, the reflection is an impostor and will strike to drown them in the realm of Death, taking their place and spreading chaos in the Emerald Dream.

I was pretty disappointed to see that the Shadowlands Night Fae, despite being inspired from the Wild Hunt, had drusts for boogeymen instead of being boogeymen for the living. So I made the boggarts and spriggans boogeymen for the Emerald Dream.

This is the place where Ysera and Malfurion can be present both at the same time and will be where they discuss their actions in this war.

Although the Winter Queen never actually comes here, this place is her de facto domain in the Emerald Dream.

Daral'nir
The tree where the first worgen were put to sleep, before Arugal awakes them and unleashes their curse on the people of Gilneas. The fey guarding this grove did their best to counter the efforts of the human Archmage and keep most of the pack asleep on their side. But now that the satyrs are coming for their plane of existence, Goldrinn has come to them, asking that they wake the ferocious beasts. Worried about the consequences of such a reckless act, they are looking for the Scythe of Elune and its wielder to help them keep the worgen pack in check.

The questline of this place could be slightly different when you play as a druid, as you'd get to once again carry the Scythe of Elune and restore its power.

Corrupted Field
Satyrs made their mission to corrupt the lands of the faeries and turn their potent magic against Life itself. While fighting alongside corrupt treants and other nefarious creatures such as the grells or the long forgotten bugbears, the satyrs are plotting to infiltrate the faeries domains, overthrow their leaders and corrupt the heart of every Season.

The satyrs and their corruption stand where an equivalent of the Autumn Court used to be. The corruption in this area will have the typical blood-red and black-rotten colors as Legion's Nightmare.

3. The Layer of Abstraction, the Land of the Dreamers
Life hates empty spaces. Every niche must be filled and every role fulfilled. The layers of the Emerald Dream left unfinished attract creative fey, but are also naturally filled with the ephemeral dreams of Azeroth's denizens. That is another reason why the Dream is everchanging.

Gathering many members of the Horde and the Alliance in the same place has solidified this layer, who is now full of adventurers dreams.

The World Trees
Just like leylines are pools of arcane where mages gather, the world trees are pools of life where druids gather and dream together. Shaladrassil and Vordrassil already fell prey to the corruption of the Nightmare, but Teldrassil and Nordrassil reflections remain strong in the Emerald Dream, providing a safe haven against the Nightmare's Advance.

I don't know how the plot of the new kaldorei tree will end up in Dragonflight, but for now Teldrassil will still carry the kaldorei fighting spirit. Most of the night elves defenders and their wisps relatives will rally here under Tyrande's command, leading attacks on the south front.

Thunder Bluff
Despite its recent foundation in the history of Azeroth, Thunder Bluff has become a focal point for tauren culture and spirit. After almost falling to the corruption during the events of Legion, it now stands to the north front line against the Nightmare.

This place will be reminiscent of the Thunder Bluff part in the Emerald Nightmare raid. Restored, but still close to the corrupted area, you will escort Hamuul in a journey to channel the spirits of his people into a dream totem, one as strong as the taurens indomitable will.

Grizzly Hills
Apparently the furbolgs are too easy to corrupt. It is certainly true now that the heart of their people has been half taken by the Nightmare !

Here you'll help Ursol purge the furbolg's spirit of the corruption, but also find a fragment of Ursoc's soul that was taken by Xavius servants. With that, the Wild God hopes to bring his brother back.

Stormwind and Orgrimmar
The heart of the Alliance and the Horde fighting spirits. These places are full of the hopes and the will of their inhabitants... But their fears and doubts are also manifesting, guided by the ones who bring the Nightmare. Specially trained Wardens will patrol these zones, to prevent nightmares from taking over all the while sharing their strong opinions and snarky comments on how the other races live.

Despite their names, these area will present a mix of several Alliance and Horde assets. Like a blood elf mage tower next to an orc barracks, where a vulpera caravan is walking upside down on the ceilin

Nightmare's Advance
Spreading fear and restless nights among mortals, the Nightmare has come almost unchallenged in this layer. The Advance is led by a herd of nightmarish steeds, crushing everything under their thundering hooves, engulfing everyone in their dark breath.

In their wake, aberrations of the Old Gods emerge, feeding off the terror they strike in mortals hearts. This zone will be inspired from the Nightmare areas in Legion's raid and the Visions of N'zoth. It will mix various assets of the existing world often in ruins and misplaced.

4. The Primal Layer, the Land Before Aman'thul
Before the Titans came to Azeroth, life was already emerging, in some form or another. The world was harsh and brutal, but it was a base to build on and so it was safeguarded in the Emerald Dream before it was covered with the many iterations of the world's ordering. Here you will also discover the true origins of the Dream.

The skies here are a darker shade of green, representing the multiple layers of creation supported by the four giant statues dispatched in the zone.

Progenitors Grove
Before Ysera became Aspect and her kin became dragons, the green protodrakes had latent dream abilities and were sometimes worshiped by ancient trolls. Some green dragons remember this time, but the spirits of their primordial kin are living it eternally in the Progenitors Grove. Despite the brutality of these primitive dragons, the Green dragonflight never challenged their claim on this territory, out of respect for their ancestors.

In this zone, you will help Ysera's children prevent Nightmare acolytes from corrupting the protodrakes. You will also explore Ysera's lineage a lot more.
The area will be similar to Sholazar and the Waking Shores, with protodrakes nesting in high peaks.

Savage Lands
While most of the Wild Gods were content with Freya's companionship, the Loa were striving for more. Rezan, Gonk, Pa'ku and others were the fearsome predators who came to be worshipped by ancient trolls. Finding their way to these reflections of their old hunting grounds, the remaining loa are now looking for the perpetrators of the corruption.

In this zone, you will help the loa investigate the trolls involvement in the Rot. Suspecting Mueh'zala could make an appearance after escaping his guard, Bwonsamdi has brought the newly reborn Vol'jin as a loa trainee.
The area's atmosphere will ranged from the Waking Shores rocky canyons and Zuldazar lush forest to Un'goro's oppressive jungles and marsh.

Fields of Gold
The dreamt paradise of the taurens. Though the souls of their hunters have long gone to their afterlife, the memories of their spirits persist through the legends told about them and remain in this ancestral land preserved and shaped by the beliefs of their descendants.

Since the taurens have a long history of hunting dark beasts, they shall prove good allies against the abominations of the Rot. Baine and Mayla may have an interesting time trying to convince their ancestors, emboldened by all the legends exaggerating their achievements.

The Rot
This strain of the Nightmare actually predates the corruption of Yogg'saron and has spread the furthest. Confined in this long forgotten depth of the Dream, this shouldn't have been a problem. But ever since G'Hanir roots have reached the Primal Layer, it came into contact with the Rot. The tree's natural defenses against the Nightmare have weakened greatly, allowing for the return of the corruption.

This area will mix Un'goro oppressive gigantism and Nazmir eerie atmosphere. In the middle of the murderous jungle exist a twisted reflection of Zul'Gurub, dwarfed only by the temple of Atal'Hakkar which neighbors in size even the giant statue holding the dark skies.

5. Base Mechanics of the Dream

Dreamways
Dreamways are the passages between Layers. Taking a Dreamway will simply bring you to the same coordinates in the Layer of your choice. Discovering a Dreamway in one Layer will unlock it in the others. Sometimes, you'll need to pass through a specific Layer to avoid obstacles to a Dreamway in the other Layers.



Death in the Dream
The Dreamways also work as cemeteries. When you die in the Emerald Dream, your character wakes up in Moonglade and will have to find a dreamgate to come back to his place of choice. Dreamways found during exploration will be added to the list.

During your journey in the Emerald Dream, you will sometimes meet characters who are canonically dead and present in the Shadowlands. That is because here we will make a distinction between the passing soul of the deceased and the "spirit" that left a mark in the world and persists through the Dream.

Lucid Dreaming
Like Dragonriding glyphs, this mechanic will take the form of an upgrade tree and allow you more freedom in how you navigate the dream.

You'll be able to jump from Dreamways to Dreamways, come back to exactly where you died, ignore fall damage or even fly without a mount.

6. Main inspirations

Xavius
Xavius rebirth will be inspired from Odin's legend where he sacrifices his eye and hangs himself to Yggdrasil during nine days and nine nights, earning the knowledge of other worlds and the language of the runes.

Here, Xavius spirit will be hanged to G'Hanir corrupted roots giving him the ability to appear in all layers of the Dream. He will also gain Titan's knowledge, allowing him to shape the Emerald Dream to some extent.

The Bearers
Inspired from the four dwarves holding the heavens at the cardinal points, these giants were placed by the Titans to hold the very structure of the Emerald Dream and safeguard its stability. One of them has already been engulfed by the Nightmare and if the others fall too, it's all the dimension that might collapse.

And they look like this :


Hakkar
In the Aboriginal Australian mythology, there's a creator god that is known as the Rainbow Serpent and is said to be at the origin of the Dreamtime. I would really like the Emerald Dream to get back to these roots and so I'll do it using Hakkar whose origins remain a mystery I think ?

Before becoming the Soulflayer, Hakkar was a colorful windserpent known as the Lifegiver. The color of his scales and feathers displayed his mastery of the different elements, but water was the most prominent. In the early history of Azeroth, Hakkar's ability to shape the lands came into conflict with the Titans plans. Advocating for a peaceful resolution, Freya put the mighty beast to sleep so that its influence doesn't interfere with the ordering of the world.

But Hakkar's mind was so powerful he could change the land in his sleep. And so it was decided, much like with the elementals, that the creature would be moved to its own plane of existence. The serpent's potent mind was then used to fuel that plane of immaterial creation and the Keepers used it to build the Titans vision, layer after layer on top of Hakkar's original dream.

But the many intrusions and alterations in the serpent's mind were not without consequences. And despite the flow of soothing life energies and the efforts to keep his spirit in peace, Hakkar was gradually driven mad. He was not dreaming of lush forests and clean waters anymore, but of sinister jungles and rivers of blood. Even his colorful scales eventually turned red and he soon hungered for revenge and destruction.

Hakkar will also act as a counterpart to Nidhogg, the snake of Norse mythology who gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil. Here he will bite at G'Hanir's roots, feeding off its potent sap.

Heidurn
In Norse mythology, Heidrun is a goat that feeds off a tree and produces mead. Here she will be a Wild God and a stubborn opponent to the satyrs progression in the Layer of Fey.

Rattatast
Another figure of Norse Mythology, Ratatoskr is a squirrel delivering insults between the great Eagle on top of Yggdrasil and Nidhogg at the foot of the tree. Rattatast is also one of several Wild Gods I headcanoned a long time ago, when the name "Wild God" didn't exist and it was all about Loa, Ancient Guardians and the ambiguous differences between them. His name is a mix of Ratatoskr and Radagast.

Here he will also be a Wild God, traveling along G'Hanir's trunk and delivering messages to the champions of the Dream.

Malorne
Malorne is taking the role of Eikthyrnir, a stag from whose antlers come rivers. In the Layer of Abstraction, Elune crowns his head and Her power falls from his antlers in silvery streams.

7. First Dungeons and Raid

Crowned Layer
-Sky Heights : Seeing Aviana's forces stretched out in the war, Queen Bloodfeather plans to challenge the goddess of the sky and claim her throne. Jumping from branches to branches, the group will pursue the harpy queen to put her ambitions to an end.

-Hollow Bough : The rotten corruption has taken one of the lower branch of G'Hanir. Adventurers will have to fight their way on top of the tree and progress inside the spoiled branch to purge the corruption from inside.

Layer of Fey
-Xavax : One of the satyrs main bastion where they can summon the shadow of their master. Champions must find their ways in this dangerous maze to cut the commanding heads of the satyr cult.

-Fluttering Storm : In the beginning of the invasion, Xavius scared a dragon faerie who fled in a flutter of their wings. That little gust of fear grew into a storm of panic and now threatens to sweep away the Groves of the faeries. Adventurers must protect the grove, calm down the panicked faeries and reveal the intruders.

Layer of Abstraction
-Tinkering Minds : Do mechagnomes dream of electric sheep ? You'll find out in this place where the dreams of every inventor, genius and mad scientist twist, turn and beep in an everlasting storm of Eurekas.

Tinkmaster Overspark is ready to dive into the literal spark of invention to create his ultimate masterpiece, while Gazlowe is not far behind to profit from this new source of ideas, even more potent than kajamite.

-Restless Slumber : Guided by Malorne and Elune's light, champions must progress in the darkness to push back the herds of nightsteeds and strike at the heart of the Nightmare.

This dungeon starts like Tyrande's phase in Cataclysm End Time dungeon as you must follow Malorne's path of light through the Nightmare.

Primal Layer
-Sharp Teethed Jungle : Gonk's hunt is coming to an end as he and the loa of Zandalar enter the corrupted portion of the Savage Lands. But beware, for there's always a bigger predator.

This dungeon would be similar to the Halls of Reflection in wotlk and will have you run away from Xibala. While she is chasing the Loa of Zandalar, you must avoid getting stomped on or crushed by fallen debris.

As a bonus, you'll get to hear the Loa bicker all the way.

-Eternal Hunt : There's only one creature more obnoxious about their own achievements than Huln Highmountain : it's the spirit of Huln Highmountain as his peers remember him. Follow the legendary tauren on a hunt as he narrates his prowess and dares you to do one tenth as good.

Highmountain Taurens will get simp dialog options.

First raid, Atal'Hakkar
Following the loa incursion in the Rot, the Emerald defenders are reaching one of the main bastion of the Nightmare : Atal'Hakkar a gigantic and frightening vision of the sunken temple. To enter the temple, adventurers must cross a swamp of thousand snakes, escape the insatiable maw of Xibala, crawl through corridors filled with cultists, ghosts and bloody abominations. There, they'll finally climb endless stairs to meet an all-powerful Soulflayer. And maybe they can save a figment of his twisted soul to restore the fallen god to his former glory.

The roster of boss would include : a swarm of giant snakes, another chase from Xibala, a blood river elemental, troll cultists, angry ghosts, a haunted room and its traps, crossing a bridge above an hydra, swarms of voracious windserpents, the corrupted ghosts of troll priests, Hakkar.

8. Denizens of the Dream
Among the many inhabitants of Emerald you will of course meet green dragons, dryads, keepers of the grove, treants and ancients, faerie dragons, moonkin and Wild Gods. But the upset balance in the Dream pushed G'Hanir to call some of his lesser known servants. Meanwhile, the servants of the Nightmare have awaken forgotten enemies or made up their own never before seen allies for this war.

Shrummies


The worker force of the Emerald Dream. These fungi creatures carve, build and grow everything you can't imagine yourself in the Emerald Dream. They are related to the fungarian you can meet in Kul'tiras and Zandalar, but way more chummy.

Sproutlings


The base soldier of the Emerald Dream. They are like G'Hanir antibodies, swarming in defense of their homeland. Very weak individually, they can be surprisingly dangerous together, acting on some sort of plant hive-mind.

Bugbears
These disharmonious creatures were long rejected and exiled to the corners of the Dream. They are related to the grell, compensating with ferocity and strength what they lack in intelligence and agility.

Worsidh and Sabersidh
Inspired from the Irish Cú Sidhe and Cat Sidhe, these creatures are tortured spirits of wolves and nightsabers, twisted by the Nightmare's dark magic. They were made by the satyrs to counter the worgen and kaldorei attacks.

9. Future Patches
After defeating Hakkar, the Emerald guardians realized that the Serpent's mind is what holds the Dream together and that killing him would make the whole plane of existence collapse. They have set to protect Hakkar's soul and turn their efforts into healing the Primal Layer, but the other agents of the Nightmare are only waiting to strike wherever their defenses weaken.

The Horned Beast
In this patch, Xavius reveals the extent of his newfound powers and knowledge. Creating new satyrs out of rotten stumps, spilling nightmares from his foaming mouth and turning allies against each other in one whisper, he is now building a new layer of corruption, one that will cover all that is Emerald in an endless hell.

Crawling Darkness
Xavius has been defeated and his Veil of Night is shattered. The Emerald defenders can focus on the last threat to the Dream : the Old Gods. Although vanquished one by one in the past, the rampant corruption of the Nightmare has fed Yogg saron and his kin, allowing them to open a breach to the endless Void.

Waves after waves of abominations are now pouring into the Dream, threatening to break through to Azeroth itself.

Descent into the Abyss
Defeating the Old Gods led to their retreat in their home dimension. Champions of the Emerald Dream are pursuing, making sure the breach will stay close and the Emerald Dream safe. If there was one time for the void elves to shine, it would be this. And it also makes for a nice transition to a Void expansion.


[End of Concept]

As usual when doing these things, I am left a bit weak on the gameplay side so I would enjoy suggestions ! I am also very obviously biased towards trolls and taurens, and I must admit, I'm not sure what to do of the whole Ysera and Malf/Tyrande situation. If people have more interest in these characters, I'd be happy to hear what they have to say !

[Shadowferal]

A layered dream world isn't a bad idea. When I first began my druid back in '05 I toyed with a similar idea, not as detailed as yours however.

But, like yours, it seemed a giant effort that was primarily druid-oriented.
So...added zones..yes.
But as a full expansion? Hmm...

[Val the Moofia Boss]

It would be cool if you could see lower layers from the upper layers (and vice versa), maybe even do a big skybox thing like Argus.

- - - Updated - - -

But, like yours, it seemed a giant effort that was primarily druid-oriented.

Wouldn't be the first time an expansion's aesthetic was slanted towards a particular class (TBC and warlocks with all of the fel magic and demons, Wrath with Death Knights, Cata had a druidic and shaman slant, MoP with monks).

[DatToffer]

A layered dream world isn't a bad idea. When I first began my druid back in '05 I toyed with a similar idea, not as detailed as yours however.

But, like yours, it seemed a giant effort that was primarily druid-oriented.
So...added zones..yes.
But as a full expansion? Hmm...

Thanks, the idea of an Emerald Dream expansion has been in my head for years, I just finally decided to actually put it in writings.

And you're right, when discussing the idea, it was also my opinion that there was not enough variety and content in the Emerald Dream to make a full expansion. Especially in the art direction department. How many shades of green can you push on your audience before they start ripping off grass ?

It would be cool if you could see lower layers from the upper layers (and vice versa), maybe even do a big skybox thing like Argus.

I actually didn't think about it, but it would be really cool yeah. In the map, the layers are pretty flat and full. But you could imagine gaps here and there, with a view on the lower layers.

Wouldn't be the first time an expansion's aesthetic was slanted towards a particular class (TBC and warlocks with all of the fel magic and demons, Wrath with Death Knights, Cata had a druidic and shaman slant, MoP with monks).

I think one expansion can lean toward a certain class without completely excluding the others yeah.

[username993720]

Now, this is a proper expansion concept. Kudos to you.
I also made one and based it on the various dreams we have in real life:
https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ream-Expansion

Those that say the Emerald Dream has no potential at all and it's just a green forest we've been to before are delusional.

[DatToffer]

Now, this is a proper expansion concept. Kudos to you.
I also made one and based it on the various dreams we have in real life:
https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ream-Expansion

Those that say the Emerald Dream has no potential at all and it's just a green forest we've been to before are delusional.

Thanks ! I made this partly because I too thought the Emerald Dream was not enough (especially in Art Direction) to be a full expansion. That was mostly a thought exercise to see how to make it work.

I see you've thrown a lot of ideas and some of them I didn't even think about like the random effects (getting naked suddenly, being someone else) or the inspiration from the Green of DC !

[username993720]

Thanks ! I made this partly because I too thought the Emerald Dream was not enough (especially in Art Direction) to be a full expansion. That was mostly a thought exercise to see how to make it work.

I see you've thrown a lot of ideas and some of them I didn't even think about like the random effects (getting naked suddenly, being someone else) or the inspiration from the Green of DC !

Yeah, i took too many sources. But, at least it shows how much potential this place has.

[LemonDemonGirl]

Any expansion (concept or not) with trolls is an instant win for me! Also the Dream having 'layers' is very interesting. Makes me think of how different Planes in D&D are structured.

[DatToffer]

Any expansion (concept or not) with trolls is an instant win for me! Also the Dream having 'layers' is very interesting. Makes me think of how different Planes in D&D are structured.

Thanks, the "proto"Dream layer was fun to envision and I couldn't not have trolls here. Especially once I made the connection with Hakkar !

[Z3ROR]

How would these layers gameplay wise work? What idea did you have with that? Like Shadowlands? Big tree in the middle (like Orobos) and 4 zones, dreamlayers, around it or something?

Cool idea for the emerald dream btw!

[Golden Yak]

Some nice ideas! I too think the Emerald Dream is ripe for expansion material. Glad to see the early concept of the Dream being 'layered' from the WC3 novels is still thought of.

[Wangming]

I really love this idea. I always loved the Emerald Dream as an expansion concept. That and Naz'jatar. It would be nice to have at least one.

[DatToffer]

How would these layers gameplay wise work? What idea did you have with that? Like Shadowlands? Big tree in the middle (like Orobos) and 4 zones, dreamlayers, around it or something?

Cool idea for the emerald dream btw!

Thank you ^^

The way I tried to describe it, G'hanir is in the middle and the zones are on top of each other. You can navigate between them with the tree or with the "dreamgates". And that's where things can be interesting level design wise. For example, imagine there's a treasure in layer A next to a dreamgate. You want to reach it, but it's in an inaccessible enclosed area. You'd need to reach the dreamgate in layer A in order to travel to the dreamgate in layer B and get the treasure.

Some nice ideas! I too think the Emerald Dream is ripe for expansion material. Glad to see the early concept of the Dream being 'layered' from the WC3 novels is still thought of.

Thanks ! I really wanted to exploit the layer concept, because I think it's very underplayed in game ! I'm not entirely certain the Emerald Dream is good for a whole expansion concept, as there is a lot of redundancy in themes and art direction, but I thought it was nice to try.

I really love this idea. I always loved the Emerald Dream as an expansion concept. That and Naz'jatar. It would be nice to have at least one.

Thank you ! I do think Naz'jatar and the realm of the naga deserved more too. I did another expansion concept around Azshara's return, but it's less of a submarine expansion and more of a Polynesia isles expansion. But an expansion under the sea, there must definitely be things to do !

[username993720]

Thank you ^^

The way I tried to describe it, G'hanir is in the middle and the zones are on top of each other. You can navigate between them with the tree or with the "dreamgates". And that's where things can be interesting level design wise. For example, imagine there's a treasure in layer A next to a dreamgate. You want to reach it, but it's in an inaccessible enclosed area. You'd need to reach the dreamgate in layer A in order to travel to the dreamgate in layer B and get the treasure.

Damm, it brings Teldrassil to mind. Or the tree from Avatar.
Just think of it: a tree so massive that when you're on the edge of an upper level you can look down and see the lower level. Maybe even navigate using Dragonriding like the N'avi.

[Melorandor]

I would have taken this over Shadowlands any day. I feel that the Emerald Dream is a hit or miss concept, can't really build anything there, and the fact it might be patch content for Dragonflight rules it out. I totally dig this concept, and I think it is great.