While I’m sure this has been discussed at length previously. With a Revamped Quel’thalas on the horizon and Heartlands giving us a glimpse on the current state of the Arathi Highlands. I believe that should we ever get a full revamp Lordaeron we can be in a good place to tell not only interesting stories focusing not only on the rebirth of the region but realistic faction tensions stemming from so many groups settling in such a close proximity.
True North:
At a High level the zones need to be crafted with the idea that the groups actually live there. Its been years of peace in game, there would be new infrastructure built, questions would’ve been answered such as how to they trade, connect with their faction, where the borders are ect.
The Other True North Point is that the zones need to be evergreen. This means that when questing in the zone the priority needs to be on the cultures and people that live there. There shouldn’t be major conflict unless it is resolved in questing and reflected in game. To piggy back off the first point the infrastructure needs to be built up and be immersive. 15 years since Cata’s launch and no one likes seeing Kalimdor be a warzone still, or half of Silvermoon be in ruins since BC. Its not fun and doesn’t feel good to see your favorite race seemingly be stuck in squalor for decades. The lack of conclusion to these conflicts also leaves a sour taste. With Exploring Kalimdor being such a dumpster fire we still don’t know how the Horde Night Elf conflict ever shook out with who currently owns what and that’s not acceptable with the amount of time that’s passed.
I’ll Start with the Horde First since they are the major Player in the region
With the Forsaken their Core territories should Be Tirisfal, Silver pine and Parts of Hillsbrad. Lordaeron City needs to be revamped as an actual capital city, a major port built in Tirisfal to connect them to Quel’thalas and other places. The forsaken seemingly are reinventing their identity post Sylvanus as Lordearon proper so lets give them new settlements with quests to flesh that out. The Blood fang pack controls Shadowfang and can be a great source of tension if they are supported by Gilneas and the Alliance. In Hillsbrad We can ratchet it up with a rebuilt and fortified Southshore staking a claim in what was once Forsaken land as they deal with Alliance expansion and their own weakening after the 4th war and the loss of Sylvanus.
In Alterac I would love to see a Frostwolf victory in the valley lorewise and an expansion of the clan into alterac proper really fleshing them out as they have been separate from the rest of the orcs on azeroth, their relations with the New forsaken and how they react to the Maghar being so close. As well as the threat posed by an expanding Alliance presence in the region.
In the Hinterlands the RavenTusk Took Jintha’Alor as a capitol I would love to see that expanded upon along with new backing from the Zandelari and a conflict with the Amani over the soul of the Forest Trolls that hopefully leads to a Forest Troll Allied Race for the Horde.
In Arathi we got to see that the Maghar have taken over Hammerfall I would love to see it updated with Iron Horde Architecture as well as a large terraforming project with the Earthen, goblins and their own shamans to cut through the mountains and build a port on the eastern side of the EK to link themselves and the Raventusk to the rest of the horde. In my mind it makes no sense how the maghar can do anything when they are locked between mountains and Stromic land. I would love to see their tensions with Stromguard expanded on and their relations to the Raventusk and Frostwolves be fleshed out
Alliance:
Gilneas has been taken back now lets get it updated and filled with quests, vendors and amenities that city should have. Lets explore how their rebuilding has been and their lingering hatred for the Forsaken after the multiple wars between the 2. This can also be play on with with the populace wanting to render aid to the bloodfang and punch the forsaken in the mouth without starting a new war. Theres a lot of bad blood just because the queen can work with them doesn’t mean the population has to like it. We can also explore Tess a major character and really build her up.
South Shore is currently being rebuilt but it should be as a major bastion instead of a small town. This should be the center of the Alliances recolonization efforts in the region. All the original inhabitants got melted with blight so this would be Stormwind colonists and families who fled during WC3 returning. This can create tension with the forsaken and frostwolves and add some nice color while pushing for a aggressive and active alliance without being evil. Tueralyon wants to reclaim his home and remake the original human kingdoms. He might not want war, but he can push for colonial expansion against a weakened forsaken. Especially as it can protect Stromguard from the west and act as an anchor to connect to the wildhammer.
The Wildhammer in the hinterlands should have a revamped Arie peak and focus on fleshing out their place on the council of three hammers now that the bronzebeard and dark iron are merging under 1 throne very soon. They should also have a B plot of their relations with a resurging Raventusk and tensions being so close to so many horde nations.
Stromgaurd can obviously expand on their tensions with the maghar and their culture now that they have been reborn after BFA and their relationship with the rest of the Alliance
Non Aligned:
This is Pretty common but its been 20 years lets have the plaguelands be restored for the most part. Im really interested in what the Argent Crusade has been up to post Legion and the 2nd scourge invasion. I would love to have a story of their rebirth, taking Stratholm as a capitol and forming a new multiracial with both fmr Plaugelands under their control. I think this opens the door not only to build up a new roster of characters but opens the door to quest with neutral characters that don’t have the baggage that come with say Dalaran and the Kirin’tor.
What do you all think? In my ideal world we can return to the factions having real and reasonable tensions while still being at peace and willing to work together. I think Lordaeron is the perfect place for this to be apparent, the politics can feel real and it would be good to see every group on the upswing and feel like they are actually settling their lands.
With that said do you agree with me or what would you rather see in the region?