Furlbog have been allies with the Night-Elves and Earthen for millennia. Furlbog territory is largely Night-Elf territory too.

In regards to "Drakenoids", I think it's plausible. I think some people are just being too literal though. Remember what happened between the Draenei -> Broken -> Lost Ones? There certainly could be different (d)evolutions of Drakenoids.

Imagine, for example, the Gria's from Final Fantasy. Gria - The Final Fantasy Wiki has more Final Fantasy information than Cid could research

From a Marketing perspective people have already said, they need something new in an X-pac other than landmass and things to kill. Blizzard needs a shiny.

Hero Class(es), new Race(s), New Profession(s). We know Hero Class is unlikely (but possible), they probably want to lay off before they re-open the balancing can of worms. Profession possibilities are pretty thin at this stage - they had to invent sockets to make JC possible (augment your gear), then glyphs to make Inscription possible (augment your spells).

Sinking artistic manhours into a new race seems most likely.

Interesting idea - if they add 1 or 2 new races, what if they were the only races incapable of being DK?

Sidenote - if they add a new race to each faction, how would that affect certain achievements that require exalted rep with all groups in your faction? They don't revert achievements of that nature. Feat of Strength the old and new replacement Achievements?

Part of that went with a pet idea I had that wasn't mentioned and I guess if it weren't true would make it not work - the new race(s) could only be one (new) class. Something along the lines of Worgen or Dragon, each one has a human (healer) form and a wolf/dragon form (damage). I don't really think that's likely, but I can't shake the feeling that Blizzard dropping all these 'don't expect a new hero class' comments are red herrings.

As far as a new race, does anyone see a possibility of Ethereals joining either side?

Goblins start to strengthen their ties with the Horde for fun and profit, and the Ethereals decide to get 'a piece of the action' by trying to set up agreements/contracts with the Alliance.

Also, if Azshara is raising a continent, do you think Blizzard would change the coastal geography? Could stopping the rise of a new continent/land mass be the focal point of the expansion?

Ethereals using armor seems...odd. There exists no models with Ethereals using armor in any particular ways that are relevant to WoW, and I doubt that Blizzard will want to actually make another class/race that does not showcase their armor like they did with druids. This could change, of course, but at that point what is the point of an ethereal wearing armor given how distinguishable they are without it?

Also, the idea of an Ethereal permanently allying with any given faction seems odd given what we know of their preferences. This would be weirder than the goblins doing so, and the goblins have plenty of lore reasons.

I think it is highly unlikely that there will be any new player-races added to WoW (not just for the next expansion, but for the rest of its life-span). There is enough variety for that as is, and adding in more races at this point doesn't really seem like it would bring anything really new or exciting, and this isn't even considering the difficulty of picking what race(s) would get this treatment.

As for a new hero class - it is more likely, but again the niches are getting very small. Blizzard is running the risk of having something that is "too unique" to the point where it is required for most if not all new content because it will be balanced with the new class in mind.


Straying from the future expansion train of thought for a bit, it was recently brought up over on the official WoW boards that WotLK as it currently stands is leaving players hanging, just waiting for something "epic" to happen to drive the story forward. Obviously 3.2 is on the way, but I don't think that the events that we know about it so far are really suprising or drama-filled. We could yet be suprised on this front but I'm not holding my breath.

My question is this:
What would it take to happen in 3.2 or 3.3 to really blow players away with its scope?

For me, I would have to say it would take nothing less than the destruction of Dalaran. Perhaps in retaliation for foiling the plot to destroy the Argent Crusade by burrowing under the tournament grounds, Arthas launches an offensive that actually pierces Crystalsong and destroys Dalaran. It would still be a place you can visit, but it would be in ruins, with most of the shops and services available somewhere else (or just from NPCs standing around in its ruined state trying to pick up the pieces).

Dalaran getting destroyed would be perfect as players are used to the idea of it being an untouchable sanctuary where you can go to get things done, but even it wouldn't be safe from the Lich King. Standing in the ruins thinking about waht the city used to be like would be quite powerful. It would also give good impetus to go and take Arthas on.

Well, just that we as players have personally witnessed, that would be twice by Arthas and once by Archimonde.

Destroying Dalaran would be the coolest thing to happen in WoW yet; like you said, it would get your everyday player fired up to confront the Lich King (though it would have mad more sense to have Malygos destroy it, now that I consider it) and it would be even more memorable than the zombie event pre-WotLK. Alternately, I'd like to see the Lich King's Nerubian allies (slaves?) burrow under Crystalsong. Even if Dalaran survives, having an entire zone destroyed would be very powerful. It could serve as an entry point into the depths of Northrend and thus a passageway into 3.3's Icecrown raid...

Mounted (vehicle) combat has already been introduced in the current expansion. Sometimes it works quite well: siege engines in Wintergrasp and Strand of the Ancients are fun and balanced. Sometimes not so well: the horse jousting Argent dailies are universally disliked, and even though it's not difficult few people prefer the Oculus because of its mounted combat. Because of this inconsistent track record, announcing more mounted combat isn't going to be the exciting thing that draws people to the next expansion.

If you just mean allowing us to use all our normal class abilities while mounted and permanently disabling dismounting effects, that won't happen. The classes are balanced around the in game run speed, with escape mechanisms, melee distance closing abilities, spell ranges, and more.

I think it's safe to assume he's referring to being able to use regular class abilities while mounted. Vehicle combat is something else entirely.

I agree it would present a whole host of balance and technical issues though. Quite apart from which, I just don't think I'd want to do it, it'd likely feel weird and clunky.

The Lich Kings voiceovers have been added in todays PTR build. Blizzards new voice acting for the Lich King makes it VERY hard to understand what he is saying.

In response to what Tirion says:

Lich King: "You will have your challenge Fordring."
Lich King: "Ahahahahaha...... The Nerubians built an empire beneath the frozen wastes of Northrend, an empire that you so foolishly built your structures upon. MY EMPIRE"
Lich King: "The souls(?) of your fallen champions will be mine Fordring..."

No, Dalaran had the protection of Lordaeron.

Azeroth connected? And flyable? That would almost be like having a new continent in itself.

Of course they would have to enable a lot of unaccessable areas (Mt. Hyjal, Gilneas etc etc) for flight, I hope that they would put a little more effort into the flying mechanics which seemed to be pushed aside with the introduction of the vehicle system.

‘No-Fly zones’, honestly.. What happened to the aerial guards? Imagine buzzing Blackrock mountain, but being unable to land because of circling Black Dragon aerial guards. Outdoor capital cities such as Thunder Bluff would be heavily fortified with flying guards and towers, other cities would be considered ‘indoor’. Ironforge could have a tunnel leading to the airport etc.

I’m not so sure the Wildhammers would still be at an ‘uneasy truce’ with the Alliance, considering we have been on very good terms with both the Thane of Aerie Peak and of Wildhammer Stronghold, in fact they used to be a reputation faction (was removed in BC I think).

This leads onto character customization options. Most of the races could have new skin options, all the ‘old’ races (not draenei and Blood elves) need better graphics anyway.

Orcs- Mag’har, fel orcs?
Trolls- forest troll/ice troll shapes
Tauren- Taunka
Forsaken- alternative undead features
Blood Elves- Felblood?

Dwarves- Frostborn, Wildhammer
Gnomes- Mechano
Humans-
Night Elves-
Draenei- broken

One idea I always saw as interesting from a new race perspective (and one that would save Blizzard some time) would have one new race, pick whatever floats your boat, and then have it stand as neutral to start. Maybe levels 1-20/30 are spent in new zones where alliance and horde envoys are trying to convince you to join their side. At one point you have to choose one or the other.

What they race could be, however, is a bit more out there. Maybe some type of furbog or worgen could work. Maybe even people from Gilneas or even break away Naga.

I think it would create an interesting dynamic when it came to choosing a side.

I doubt we would ever see a neutral race due to PvP problems that would arise since then you wouldn't be able to tell without scrolling over someone if that Goblin, Naga or whatever is on your side and Blizzard seems to like making a distinction between the factions.

This would be great. I have a feeling it's going to directly link into the Tournament though. Whatever it is, it'd need to directly involve and affect the Argent Crusade. Something like the destruction of the grounds or the capture/conversion of combatants, which would give the Argent Crusade reason to say "Now is the time to go assault Icecrown".

I've been more or less convinced, ever since seeing that handful of panels, that Aristo!Varian didn't MERGE with Lo'Gosh!Varian - he died. Certainly there's some offhand reference to sacrifice, the resulting Varian that came out of the flash and smoke showed no characteristics of his clean-shaven diplomatic half, and his behavior ever since has been almost completely untempered by the restraint that one might expect from an experienced King.

I keep hoping the 'wussy' one will show up again and kick Lo'Gosh in the teeth for being so badly unbalanced, but that's probably wishful thinking.

Would there really be enough incentive in a new race alone to cause a substantially noticeable size of the playerbase (say 7-10%) to reroll?

The whole drive behind creating a Draenei or Blood Elf at the very start was to play a class you previously couldn't before on that faction.

So say they add a new race that begins at level 70 or so. Other then looks what would make people interested in giving up their geared 80 for a fresh toon that's the exact same class? Maybe a lot would reroll just for the looks and brief lore/quest/zone intro, but I'm not sure many would bother to continue leveling after that and simply return to their main.

Many many players rolled non-paladin, non-shaman Blood Elves and Draenei when they became available in TBC. Many players got a DK when that was possible with LK.

Blizzard needs to keep the game fresh, and that means a bit more than just raise the level limit and insert a few new zones with monsters and items. This will retain or bring players back resubscribing that think they've seen all they can with their alloted time investment. It's also a great vessel to catch those people that are disappointed or bored with their current main class/race. Instead of cancelling and going somewhere else, they can be retained. So I think Blizzard has quite some incentive to either bring new races or new classes.

We get new zones, mobs and items inside the lifecycle of one expansion. So what else can they do with a new expansion that they don't already do inside one? Classes and/or races.

E:double posting due to DB error.

If they're of the quality of the DK starting zone, people will play them. Extending the levelling zone up to 30 or 40 would help too, as some sort of rapid, phased levelling area. I don't see the race itself starting at anything but 1 though, as it would just mean future rerolls were 99% of that race.

As for Wyrixian's sigs. Well the Scythe of Elune just sounds like something said by the one it was originally gifted too.

The second one though is more interesting:
I think the Vyrkul could be a good contender commenting on their slaughter of the Tuskarr. And if the Vyrkul join one faction, it follows the Tuskarr might be pissed about that and join the other faction. The more I think about this one, the more I think it makes sense. Obviously neither model really has that many issues with graphics, the Tuskarr may have more problems with helms but we've seen otherwise fully armoured Tuskarr before.

They are also both water races, one being walrus men and the other all about their long boats. The only thing that might discredit it is that I think I read Tuskarr die if they leave Northrend. Still it wouldn't rule out Vyrkul as one race.

The quote is from notes inside bottles found on beaches throughout Azeroth and has absolutely nothing to do with Northrend.

Wyrixian just likes using quotes from things in game and I highly doubt they have any alternative meaning at all (although I'd imagine he enjoys reading people looking into his signatures).