What will Midnight's zones & patches be?

[Enteroctopus Magnificus]

We technically haven't had a post Cataclysm Quel'thalas so they can really do anything with those zones and use the excuse of Deathwing for new landmass.

Either that or there's another unknown land mass on the Zul'aman side, which has never been discovered because... trolls. They have every excuse in the world to make us discover new lands. It remains to be seen whether they'll seize the opportunity.

[Al Gorefiend]

So who else just wouldn't care if there's entire unexplained zones, continents, islands etc. invented on the spot?

There is a reason we never heard of entire troll zones east of Zul'Aman, they haven't been written into the story yet.. Like, suspension of disbelief has to involve the reality that the planet Azeroth has existed longer than some of the ppl posting here... New stuff must be written and created.

[genegerbread]

So who else just wouldn't care if there's entire unexplained zones, continents, islands etc. invented on the spot?

There is a reason we never heard of entire troll zones east of Zul'Aman, they haven't been written into the story yet.. Like, suspension of disbelief has to involve the reality that the planet Azeroth has existed longer than some of the ppl posting here... New stuff must be written and created.

But this doesn’t really apply to Zul’Aman imo. They’re presumably revamping and upscaling all of Quel’thalas, and we do know that there is more to ZA beyond the instance considering the Tor’Watha (I think?) gate to the north of the instance entrance.

The issue with areas being invented on the spot is that it’s a bit jarring for any story, and you really don’t feel any “wow factor” (pun sort of intended), or any sort of satisfaction. Even Khaz Algar, while not super fascinating to me, had a frame of reference starting in Dragonflight. Similarly, as we learn more about the Arathi Empire, it’ll make it that much more satisfying to journey to Avaloren(?) when the time comes.

It’s obviously more nuanced than that, but having some sort of preconceived notion of a given unexplored landmass is a very important part of worldbuilding: Since I started playing, I always tried to imagine what the Dragon Isles might look like, and I found it to be that much more satisfying when we finally got to journey there in 10.0.

With all that said, Zul’Aman already has quite a bit of pre-established lore to go off of, and expanding it would make a lot of sense. It wouldn’t necessarily be the Shadowlands zones insofar that “hey, we’re gonna turn players’ entire conception of death upside down by introducing these new races and a story that completely diverges from what was established in WCIII onwards.” To be sure, part of the Shadowlands ick from a storytelling/lore POV can also be chalked up to Blizzard removing any sense of spiritualist and afterlife mysticism in the game, but that’s starting to slowly trickle back as we learn more about the true nature of the Cosmos (it is very possible that the Shadowlands are a false realm of death ultimately constructed by the Titans).

My two cents!

[Z3ROR]

We technically haven't had a post Cataclysm Quel'thalas so they can really do anything with those zones and use the excuse of Deathwing for new landmass.

Blizzard can do wild things. I've played in my mind before that if Blood Elves can floating structures that entire floating city could also be possible. I mean Dalaran can't be the only floating city in the Warcraft Universe, right? And now Dalaran is crashed we need a replacement floating city to go to. So maybe an entire city or even entire floating zone up in the sky is a possibility of what Blizzard could do. Imagine what Blood Elves can do if they are closer to the sun with their magical powers.

[Nibelheimy]

I remember during WoD it was teased that the Arrokoa had a giant flying apexis city I was very much hoping would be a patch zone.

[Just Passing through]

I just hope that we get some new zones instead of remastered ones.

Came here to say that. Actually I don't just hope it - no way we get an x-pac without new zones, right? I mean..one could claim "well, they did it with Cata"...but that is a revamped world and here it would be 3-4 zones.

[genegerbread]

Came here to say that. Actually I don't just hope it - no way we get an x-pac without new zones, right? I mean..one could claim "well, they did it with Cata"...but that is a revamped world and here it would be 3-4 zones.

Tbf this would be more than just a graphical overhaul— iirc in one of the post-Worldsoul Saga reveal interviews Metzen said that Midnight would involve a complete overhaul and upscaling of Quel’thalas. Virtually speaking, we’d essentially be getting a whole new continent. Especially because of how inaccessible and aged current Quel’thalas is.

I’m personally super excited for the prospect of this remake.

[Joshuaj]

If I were to guess

12.0: Quel'thalas, Quel'danas, Zul'Aman, and Eastweald (If not, then Quel'thalas can just be 2 different zones, like in TBC, that, or the area above Stratholme can become a zone, idk). The first raid will take place at Zul'Aman, where we battle and kill the C'Thraxxi there.

12.1: This can either be for the area above Stratholme, or for Azeroth's biggest Moon. Regardless, the raid will likely involve the Sunwell.

12.2: If it doesn't happen in TWW, then K'aresh. Otherwise, either Azeroth's biggest Moon, or a battleground realm where the forces of Light and Shadow clash. The final raid will likely involve a last stand against Dimensius: The All-Devouring!

[Enrif]

First things first:

Midnights map will not be part of the eastern kingdoms map, it will stay separate from the rest of the EK. It will be likely a similar return as we have seen Outland in TBC to Draenor in WoD. Not Cata that included Gilneas into the EK.

Again: Midnight will not be part of the EK map. It will be its own map.

Thus, i will not entertain any idea about including areas that are firmirly set in the EK, like the plaguelands or lordaeron.

With that out of the way:

The obvious four zones are Eversong Woods, Ghostlands, Zul'aman/Amani Homelands, Quel'danas.

Quel'danas is, of those, the smallest, and i would see here an expansion of the area to also include the sea around it more.

Back in TBC there were already Naga on the shores of Quel'danas, and with the elven reunification plot and the song of depth foreshadowing, it makes sense to have an area with big naga influnece. The isle of Quel'danas, being an isle, makes the most sense. And making the water only part of the zone, instead making it the full zone, the devs can avoid some of the pitfalls that this design had in the past.

Now, for Patch zones, things are more up in the air what it could be. The themes of the expansion are outside of the void, also elves, and the light as it stands with us against the darkness. Another elven zone is hard to find that makes sense geographically, as i don't think we will see a return to Suramar, and the night elves just had a new zone in Bel'amath, and none of the other night elves zones make sense as they are part of their respective maps (kalimdor or broken isles).

So, without a clear new zone for elves, and the void already covered with K'aresh either as in 11.2. or a patch in midnight, i would look to the light as a patch zone. And for that there are 2 options: some Arathi island (which i doubt), or a revamped Azuemyst/Bloodmyst with the draenei and lightforged at its core. Similar to Quel'thalas, the draenei isles are not part of the classic/cata map, and it would make sense to update them as well.

As for a second area for the other patch (assuming we get K'aresh in 11.2), it is harder to pin down something. It should probably be something that ties into TLT at that point, as K'aresh (pressumeably) ties into Midnight. So it would be something titan related. It could be a random new isle, something floating above quel'thalas, or once again a underground zone.

So my prediction is:

11.2
- K'aresh

12.0
- Eversongwoods
- Ghostlands
- Zul Aman/Amani Homelands
- Isle of Quel'danas and the sea around it

12.1
- Azuemyst Isles

12.2
- Something Titan related

[Z3ROR]

First things first:

Midnights map will not be part of the eastern kingdoms map, it will stay separate from the rest of the EK. It will be likely a similar return as we have seen Outland in TBC to Draenor in WoD. Not Cata that included Gilneas into the EK.

Again: Midnight will not be part of the EK map. It will be its own map.

Thus, i will not entertain any idea about including areas that are firmirly set in the EK, like the plaguelands or lordaeron.

Blizzard have mentioned a couple of times in the past that they want to stitch those lands into the main land. I think the Midnight expansion is a great opportunity to do so. So I think it will be part of the Eastern Kingdoms map. But... A new expansion continent has it's own server for load balancing and such. So there might be some clever zone transition happening. You can see something like that with Delves already. You walk in and you are instantly in another instance. I think Blizzard is gonna do that also with the new expansion, but instead of a narrow doorway you get an entire zone border that transitions you to the new instance.

[Enrif]

Blizzard have mentioned a couple of times in the past that they want to stitch those lands into the main land. I think the Midnight expansion is a great opportunity to do so. So I think it will be part of the Eastern Kingdoms map. But... A new expansion continent has it's own server for load balancing and such. So there might be some clever zone transition happening. You can see something like that with Delves already. You walk in and you are instantly in another instance. I think Blizzard is gonna do that also with the new expansion, but instead of a narrow doorway you get an entire zone border that transitions you to the new instance.

while it would be great to have a seamless world, and the airlock tech they got since zaralek and delves is promising, i don't think it is there yet. As we have heard from housing interviews that the neighbourhoods and the homes will have loading screens, and no seamless transition. So i don't think it will be ready for midnight.

If they can pull it off, great. But i would err on the side of caution and not bet on that.

[genegerbread]

while it would be great to have a seamless world, and the airlock tech they got since zaralek and delves is promising, i don't think it is there yet. As we have heard from housing interviews that the neighbourhoods and the homes will have loading screens, and no seamless transition. So i don't think it will be ready for midnight.

If they can pull it off, great. But i would err on the side of caution and not bet on that.

I don't remember where exactly, but I remember a dev interview mentioning that Quel'thalas would be seamlessly attached to EK. Or maybe I'm just tripping

UPDATE: Nvm I was indeed tripping, tried to find a source and couldn't find anything.

[Z3ROR]

while it would be great to have a seamless world, and the airlock tech they got since zaralek and delves is promising, i don't think it is there yet. As we have heard from housing interviews that the neighbourhoods and the homes will have loading screens, and no seamless transition. So i don't think it will be ready for midnight.

If they can pull it off, great. But i would err on the side of caution and not bet on that.

They didn't use the airlock tech on purpose with Housing, cause that would make it far too complex and recipe for disaster. But with delves and Zaralak it's much simpler. The amount of instances of the zones (Plaguelands-zone and Qual'Thalas-zone) are just a few and can be counted on one or two hands maybe instead of the hundred thousands of players for Housing.

[Enrif]

They didn't use the airlock tech on purpose with Housing, cause that would make it far too complex and recipe for disaster. But with delves and Zaralak it's much simpler. The amount of instances of the zones (Plaguelands-zone and Qual'Thalas-zone) are just a few and can be counted on one or two hands maybe instead of the hundred thousands of players for Housing.

well, you have to remember how the airlock currently works. It works by obfuscation the view by walls. The entrances to zaralek, the delve entrances, even the transitions between TWW zone are all walled of in view, allowing the seamless system to work.

the issue with the transition between quel'thalas and the rest of the EK would be that they can't obfuscate the view, and players could fly high above the ground to see far into the other map. Unless they build a "wall" that blocks the view and you have fly or walk through each time you transition. Like a void wall. But would that really be seamless? every time seeing that void wall from both sides?

I'm sure there are more issues than that, like the difference between loading a small area (like delves) or even just a part of the current map (zaralek and TWW), compared to loading a different map altogether, especially one that was build 15 years ago. All the airlock tech is currently only used in DF and TWW maps. We don't know it it works with the old maps at all.

But again, if they can pull it of, that would be a great surprise. So it is more reasonable to think that they don't, and that the map stays separate.

[Z3ROR]

well, you have to remember how the airlock currently works. It works by obfuscation the view by walls. The entrances to zaralek, the delve entrances, even the transitions between TWW zone are all walled of in view, allowing the seamless system to work.

the issue with the transition between quel'thalas and the rest of the EK would be that they can't obfuscate the view, and players could fly high above the ground to see far into the other map. Unless they build a "wall" that blocks the view and you have fly or walk through each time you transition. Like a void wall. But would that really be seamless? every time seeing that void wall from both sides?

I'm sure there are more issues than that, like the difference between loading a small area (like delves) or even just a part of the current map (zaralek and TWW), compared to loading a different map altogether, especially one that was build 15 years ago. All the airlock tech is currently only used in DF and TWW maps. We don't know it it works with the old maps at all.

But again, if they can pull it of, that would be a great surprise. So it is more reasonable to think that they don't, and that the map stays separate.

Of course, the development of that kind of technology does not stand still. So never say never. Obscuring the view with walls is in a new version, a further development of it, perhaps no longer necessary. And in addition, high mountains between the two zones where the airlock boundary is, could have the same role.

[Enrif]

And in addition, high mountains between the two zones where the airlock boundary is, could have the same role.

This clashes with flight. If you can just fly high enough, there is no obfuscation.

[procne]

That would make sense, especially considering there doesn't seem to be any other way to tie the Harronir/Rootlands into the story in any impactful way going forward.

I think they would tie nicely in the Last Titan, with them being created by Eonar, in defiance of Amanthul. If we see a war against, or between, the titans, or titans against Azeroth - I think Harronir would certainly be a side then