Battle for Azeroth Mysteries
Some of the things we didn’t hear a peep from the developers: Outdoor World Bosses. Usually, World of Warcraft panels have a developer discussing Professions, but this year we heard nothing on that front. We barely heard anything about new character UI systems (except for the Heart of Azeroth), nor heard about improvements to existing character UI systems in detail. The developers didn’t discuss the new reputation factions except for the mention of the fox-like Vulpera.
At BlizzCon 2016, we knew where we would go after reaching max level 110: Suramar. If you ask me where we are going at level 120, unless I missed it, I have no clue. We also knew about the Tomb of Sargeras last BlizzCon, and even got a glimpse into an image of Argus. This year, all we know is there is we will encounter Azshara at some point, but no context on what conditions will lead to that; and we don’t know what the gathering of Azerite and new Allies will lead to as an equivalent of the Tomb of Sargeras and Antorus.
Considering the main theme of Battle for Azeroth is War between the Alliance and the Horde, the Tomb of Sargeras or Antorus equivalent (in theory) should be a clash between Anduin and Sylvanas’ forces — and if that was the case, would that mean only one faction leader is coming out alive? Do you feel a Siege of Orgrimmar type of raid 2.0 breeze coming from the horizon?
Another mystery brewing in our minds is how exactly does Battle of Azeroth starts? We know pieces of the puzzle: Teldrassil in flames with Sylvanas looking. The cinematic’s Assault on Ruins of Lordaeron. We will learn the why in Christie Golden’s novel titled World of Warcraft: Before the Storm. Pre-order it if you haven’t yet, for a 10% discount.
The novel preview shared by Random House at BlizzCon, hinted that Sylvanas wants to raid Stormwind. What is her motivation? Why now? We know that Greymane halted her plans in Stormheim from seizing her prize for Helya to gain Immortality for her Forsaken. We also know from the upcoming novel’s preview that a new Forsaken council does not want the Immortality Sylvanas wishes for them. So the unanswered question is what is Sylvanas’s true motivation for a War against the Alliance.
Is it vengeance for robbing her plans in Stormheim? Or is the true goal an alternative for the Forsaken council rejecting Immortality? Just think about that for a second, and let it sink in.
Nathanos: “Not all of them desire for themselves what you desire for them, my queen. Many on the Desolate Council harbor deep reservations.This is the peril you created when you gave them free will. They are now free to disagree.”
Her pale brows drew together in a terrible frown. “Do they want extinction, then?” she cried, anger flaring brightly inside her. “Do they want to be rotting in the earth?”
Could the reason for the war against Stormwind be the raising of thousands of corpses by Sylvanas’ valkyr for a more robust number of Forsaken?
In theory, that might even open the doors for Undead Night Elves, Undead Dwarves, Undead orcs, Undead Tauren, and more in 9.0. If Sylvanas doesn’t end up dying in this expansion, and if she seized a massive army of Forsaken by rising the dead of this massive war as her intended prize, then that would also bring about another question: how can the Alliance counter that in 9.0 or beyond?
Enter Fordragon the Lich King (joining the Alliance)?
Just saying. It is a mystery what Sylvanas’s reasons are for this war, but what little we know points to the basics: she doesn’t care about the orcs, the blood elves, the trolls, or the tauren. She is appalled that a portion of her Forsaken rejects the immortality she desperately seeks for her people. Yet she pits the Horde into a War that will surely decimate the dwindling numbers of the Forsaken. There sure must be a reason to this war, and it is not to benefit the Horde, but her Forsaken. I’ll leave you with that thought.
NEXT: BATTLE FOR AZEROTH: END GAME
| Post-BlizzCon 2017 The Unknown Mysteries of Battle for Azeroth | |||
| 1. Kalimdor Cities | 2. Eastern Kingdoms Cities | 3. Battle for Azeroth: Mysteries | 4. Battle for Azeroth: End Game |
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I think that my question is if the “EK for alliance, Kalimdor for Horde” thing is meant to be permanent or just a temporary situation.
In the same way that it feels really unfair for some races to be uprooted from their ancestral homes, perhaps continental hegemony for each faction would be indeed the best way for a lasting truce, if not peace.
It would be interesting if this happens to be indeed the long term plan, but are they willing to shake up things so much?
Well, to me it would make sense to move all Horde to Kalimdor, and
all Alliance to Eastern Kingdoms. they have the phasing technology to
keep the level 1-110 leveling experience intact, and then switch you
from level 110-120 and beyond into the new status quo using a phased
version.
What would make this radical change
interesting is the introduction of Allied Races. What if you start a
level 20 Allied Race starting location and leveling experience in the
Horde-only Kalimdor phased version instead of the old-school starting
location? That would feel different in a sense, even creating new
contemporary quests.
By that I mean this: the old level
1-90 quests are not contemporary with a Nightborne storyline. I mean,
could you imagine a level 20 Nightborne starting in Silvermoon City
reliving the Cataclysm quests, going through the Dark Portal into
Outland at level 60, then going to Icecrown to kill Arthas the Lich
King? Sounds Absurd.
I say — Allied Races should have
their own unique level 20-120 leveling experience. Or make them just
start at the lowest level of the expansion which in this case would be
level 110.
Starting at level 20 I think is way too
exagerated to level to 120 to unlock Heritage Armor. It is a terrible
idea considering everyone wants to unlock at least 3 Allied Races, and
future ones.
As good as this sounds, even Blizzard’s resources are limited. I would already be happy if the introduction of the allied races makes us really experience the depth of their lore.
Would be cool, yet highly unlikely with the resources that would be spent. That’s the major issue with adding any new races, the leveling experience will always be outdated for them.
Even with the scaling leveling being present through all the game, it still means that any character has to go “back on time” when they reach 60 to go to Outland or Northrend.
So yeah, it won’t make any “in game” sense so you gotta see your leveling experience with these new races as non canon, though I do agree with the idea that it would make more narrative sense for the allied races to start at 110, it would give them a very unfair advantage in terms of investment. People would just make allied races to bypass the leveling haha!
I think we are stuck with that, at best we can have a disclaimer that, IDK, Chromie is sending you back in time so you can experience this world you have been so cut off from, like your whole leveling experience is a Caverns of time instance. Heck, maybe you have Chromie in the “Adventure Guide” explaining this to you.
While we can’t rule it out, hitting the reset button with us being where we were before the
expansion started sounds cheap. Then again you are right: Having the two sides seperated by so much distance would rob WoW of much of its potential for tension.
There might be a plot twist like: The Horde retakes the Blackrock Mountain with the surrounding territory, while the Alliance takes Dire Maul.
Yet in a way, having the continents divided itself is a gridlock that makes the tensions everpresent, yes, but unyielding in results and stagnant.
With one continent per faction, at least each would be able to truly consolidate their power and advance with more stability, which would benefit Azeroth in the long run. This in turn would make any new territory a new scenario for war, which I think could be a good way of preserving the conflict.
Personally, I would have preferred if both continents had been split in half rather than a continent each. The divide for EK is easier, on the Thandol Span. North for the horde, south for the Alliance.
For Kalimdor, I would actually have the horde loose Orgrimmar and Durotar, with the divide happening on the scar in the Barrens, folowing west to give Stonetalon to the alliance, and Desolace to the horde. Thunder Bluff becomes the new Horde capital, the orcs resettle on Dustwallow. Mulgore and the revitalized Desolace serve as food suppliers.
Well I think we miss a simple solution regarding where the Forsaken and Night Elves are going to live now: Silvermoon(one half of the city is free for rent) and Azurmyst Isles(a lot of free space). This would give Blizzard a reason to update these places.
But speaking of these two races we forget there are a lot of minor Horde powers in the Eastern Kingdoms in peril no one asked about. The Renvantusks are probably save, but what about Okril’lon Hold in the Blasted Lands, with the Dark Portal being a major strategic assess? Stonard, the Blackrock clan, the Dragonmaw clan… I can’t see a bright future for them in an Alliance-controlled continent. Oh and let us not forget the Frostwolves. Could Thrall return with a vengeance story?
My best guess at how it plays out before the next expansion hits:
Sylvanas’s rule in Undercity is challenged by the Desolate Council, a group of Forsaken seeking deat since they see no reason to go on. At the same time Stromgarde is retaken by Danath Trollbane, with the Worgen making major moves, maybe taking Southshore. Genn is openly vowing to retake Lordaeron. Meanwhile in Silithus the Alliance manages to take a major load of Azerite from the Horde and ships it to Teldrassil. Sylvanas knows the power of this material and leads a naval attack on Darkshore and Teldrassil(bypassing Ashenvale) to take it back. Something happens and the Azerite explodes, setting Teldrassil on fire.
The Alliance retaliates…
This would give both factions a reason to fight for, without making one the big bad. Would Sylvanas order the torching of Teldrassil in cold blood, I can’t see the rest of the Horde standing with her.
The efforts of Horde and Alliance to have Kul’Tiras/Zandalari join them is pretty logical. Who has controle over the sea has the initiative to attack the other continent. With Azshara appearing I guess we will have a major naval battle between the factions in patch 8.1 or so. Suddenly she and her Nagas appear, sinking the majority of both fleets, ensuring she is the queen of the oceans.
We deal with this, but I hope we don’t kill her. Kezan being just a dungeon is a heavy blow already.
As for the endgame: With the Naga defeated both factions resume the war. No distractions and no mercy anymore. Every place of major strategic importance is a battlefield. I don’t know where the last raid starts, but having it being Stormwind would make for a nice tribute to Warcraft 1 and the Siege of Orgrimmar. The Horde would win and major lore figures on both sides would die. Before there can be any victory celebration or even a burial of the death though, we see darkness falling as the forces of N’Zoth make their move, attacking the exhausted Horde/Alliance forces.
As I said, this is only my best guess.