San’layn/vampyr Elf ALLIED RACE Coagulated Megathread of Ideas{Re-VAMPed} (Part 1)

Community General Discussion
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But like I keep saying, San’layn aren’t just elves and that’s all people will ever see. Even now, comparing it to the “high elf” concept. No one would say that about ogres. No one would say that about Taunka, no one would say that about pretty much any non-elven race under the sun, but we get shoved into that box because San’layn are vampire elves.

Not only that, but I constantly encourage my community to stick to this thread only and be respectful. I don’t understand why I have to ‘settle’ and ‘compromise’ for anything, because San’layn are different than red-eyed blood elves.

And I dislike Venthyr, as I continue to say. People should go push for Venthyr if they want them so much, it’s easy to start up a thread and get support. It’s what I did. I’m not going to stop wanting this just because some others want a random new thing more.

We might never get San’layn, and my want to even be on the forums and try for this anymore is waning considerably. I’m someone interested in the lore. If they just go ahead and throw away/ignore the lore for the sake of this new thing, fine. But no, I’m not going to lie and say I’m ‘happy’ if they do.

Edit: Also, I’ll put things into perspective as well. They could make the most gorgeous Venthyr ever, the exact picture of a Toreador/regal vampire. They could form it into exactly everything I love about vampires, the noble savagery, the trapdoor spider. But I’d still not bow in asking for San’layn lore or for them to be playable beyond stupid red eyes.

This isn’t about just wanting a vampire race or an elf-like vampire race, or a beautiful vampire race. I’m a writer–there’s lore established already that got me interested in San’layn and vampires in WoW in the first place. To have that thrown away even for the most interesting new vampire race ever would be kinda sad to me.

Eventually this thread is going to fade into nothing and not matter. I’m not going to be asking for years upon years upon years, and my community isn’t nearly as large as others. It likely never will be. But despite how much I’ve hated the lore in WoW lately, I’m sticking to my words, because that’s one bit of lore that I do cherish.

And yes, I know I’m being stubborn. But… the context is in a megathread on the WoW forums. There’s no penalty for just stating how I feel on the matter and what I’m hoping for, you know? In a thread that I started, too.

I’m not going to go around and bash people, and I’m not going to put others down for their opinion on this matter. Me? I’m just sharing mine. I know there’s many who want Venthyr way more than San’layn, and that’s perfectly fine. I don’t see eye-to-eye with them, but that’s how preferences work.

Also… I don’t think anything is more likely than the other. There’s no models out to even determine that.

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I agree with you, Almighty, Powerful, All-Seeing, Blood Queen Fallynn! People who complain about SAn’layn simply being “another Elf”, need to shove themselves under a bus, because San’layn are more than just “another Elf”! They too, like the Forsaken, are Undead. Forsaken are the Undead Humans or Lordaeron, and the San’layn are the Undead Blood Elves of Quel’thalas. I put emphasis on the word “UNDEAD”!

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Which has also been expanded…where light worship sprung up from the fall of Tyr in Tirisfal, the same happened with the shadow/void with the C’thraxxi that lay near him.

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What doesn’t make sense, is the San’layn are part of our world. They already exist in it.
The venthyr are souls sent to a specific afterlife realm and change into these vampire like beings. Why would they even leave a plane of death and venture back into a living world?
I could see some aspects of them being used to more flesh out San’layn, but to actually have any of the covenant races as playable seems odd. Sure, something could change, just look how the void elves came out of nowhere when we should have had Broken.

The alliance already has the answer to the San’layn with the void elves.
Time for the horde to get theirs.

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Didn’t actually say any of that. Didn’t say it was just because they’re elves. You have to admit that the San’layn and the Venthyr are extremely similar beyond being elves and since the Scourge is in universe a bit of a generic brand version of the Shadowlands factions, I doubt that’s a coincidence.

All I’m saying is you don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment by taking such a hard nosed stance against the Venthyr.

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I’m just sharing that I would like San’layn lore/them to be playable beyond blood elves with red eyes and am not a fan of the Venthyr thus far. It’s just an opinion on it. Others are fully fine to disagree with me on it, I don’t mind. But I’ve been trying to explain that the lore is why I started this in the first place. If there’s a link to be had, great, but as far as we know, they’re not the same.

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With the end of the year coming up, I figured I would do what I did in my Saurok megathread and look back on the year some and also future stuff in a few of the megathreads I frequent.

First, I’ll look back at the year.

I was a bit late to the allied race megathread party in general, opting to lurk and just view the different allied race megathreads that were on the forum at the time. I had never posted on the forums before, and seeing the different megathreads at the time inspired me to at least start posting to support Ogres as a playable Horde race, one of the two races I most wanted playable at the time with the other being Saurok.

Before long, I had added both San’layn and Vulpera to my most wanted races list. My support for San’layn came after I had some inspiration to write up scenarios and ideas for playable San’layn, which I enjoyed typing up. I don’t consider myself a savant in writing, but I was happy that others enjoyed what I posted. It was through that medium where I really liked the idea of playable San’layn and added them on my banner of support for the Horde races I wanted playable.

BfA was unique in that it brought together people to help support their most wanted races to be playable. It was fun to engage in discussions and offer ideas for different playable races. Eventually, I was inspired by these megathreads to muster up courage to create my own Saurok megathread. They had been a race I really wanted but always felt that they didn’t have much of a chance. The San’layn megathread was one of the megathreads in particular that helped inspire me to create it, and I’m glad I went through it. I’m thankful both of the people that have supported me and also those that run the forums to allow us to maintain and support our megathreads.

In terms of San’layn specifically, we’ve had quite the carrot on the stick dangled before us. From their appearance in the Alliance war campaign, we had hoped to see something more come out of it during BfA…which at the time of this post, still remains to be seen. It has been a frustrating and trying time to not see much come out of it, not to mention the worry of San’layn turning into Sylvanas’ bootlicking loot pinata jobbers, and while I view the lack of continuation of the San’layn story in BfA as a missed opportunity, some hope is renewed for Shadowlands in case they make any form of appearance there, preferably on the Horde’s side of course.

As I stated before elsewhere, even with BfA coming to a close, I hope people will still show support for their most wanted races. The allied race system will likely be utilized still in the future and we’ll likely get new core races as well. If anything, BfA was a great time to gather up feedback from the players on races they want to see playable. To continue and show support for said races is still important, even if it may be awhile before we see new races in general. I admit that it can be a very trying and often frustrating time as well as the wait for any sort of information being brutal, but it is still important to show support of some sort instead of silently hoping.

Now that I talked about the past year, let’s talk about the future.

First of all, as we get closer to Shadowlands and when it comes out, I’ll help keep an eye out and report any San’layn findings. This character, my main, will be allying with the vampire covenant, and with Kael’thas around, it’s the best chance of seeing if San’layn have any activity. I still think this megathread will be popping during Shadowlands, and hopefully we’ll see the San’layn story continue…again, preferably as allies to the Horde and playable of course.

Second and also lastly, I do plan to do more writings in the future for this megathread and others. I’ve been on the quiet side for the most part, mostly because of a bit of burn out but also because of real life obligations. When I get inspiration, I’ll look into typing some more ideas, thoughts, and scenarios. As I mentioned, people like what I type, so I must be doing something right.

While it’s unclear if we will see anything come out of Shadowlands, we also don’t know what all will come in the future past it. Blizzard does plan several expansions at once, and it’s still a decent time to put in playable San’layn and continue their story. If not during Shadowlands, then San’layn can still happen past then, but hopefully we’ll see some good news soon. Still, no matter what happens, I’ll be here to help out and, for better or worse, we’ll march onward together.

Until then, I look towards the future…one I hope yields a day where Ogres, Saurok, and San’layn are members of the Horde and walk freely in Orgimmar. :japanese_ogre: :crocodile: :bat:

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I’m a fledgling author, freshly self-pubbed, so I don’t have much ‘PIZZAZZ’ to my statement just yet. It might not be impactful, but if it means anything, I think you ARE a wonderful writer, and I personally enjoyed everything you wrote. It inspired ideas of my own, and even if Blizzard doesn’t pick it up, I appreciate what you’ve contributed for us here.

I’m glad we could inspire you :slight_smile: You do a wonderful job keeping a megathread going, and I wish I could help you get more support. Saurok are awesome and I’d play one in a heartbeat. Sadly it seems they’re even more niche than vampire elves. Don’t fret though! I think Blizzard does consider all individual ideas if they’re rich and well thought out.

If there was San’layn activity in 8.3, it would have been datamined by now, sadly. I think the hope of seeing them prior to Shadowlands is as good as dead. Aside from the DK scenario, but like hell am I going to get my hopes up again only to be crushed. The Quill did me in.

My hope and desire to remain active is slowly waning, I will admit. Though I started this megathread and try to articulate my point of view the best I can yet still, of course. But I’m out of ideas. My brainstorming is going to my real writing now, where it should be. Perhaps if more lore comes out to inspire thought will I share more scenarios. I don’t think people like the stuff I’ve written either though, to be honest. It’s already been called ‘bad fanfiction’ so. :woman_shrugging:

Never know. The Revendreth zone is probably the best chance we’ll have for more elaboration on the ancient blood curse. They touched upon it in Stormheim, but having an in-depth look at it would be lovely.

We very much do, I love how creative you are. Perhaps you can apply that sass to vampire Kael’thas now, hehehe!

As a roleplayer, that would be very lovely indeed. Sadly people complain so much about elves, I’m not sure it’ll come to pass. But I can still hope and try to keep the support alive.

I know people will be asking for and wanting Venthyr as well. You all know I favor San’layn, but I sincerely do encourage someone to go start a thread and piece together your ideas and feedback. Tell Blizzard what you want and how you want them to be playable. Say how much you like the concepts. Because they did say, right now, that they’re listening. Naturally, this thread has my focus and support, I’m not going to start a new one (otherwise I would have for Mantid, believe it or not.) People will post their support and all. Those that want Venthyr and have no interest in SL are welcome in the discord as well, I turned it into a “San’layn/vampire” one a while ago anyway. It isn’t a competition even if we all have differing points of view. In the end, we can only share our best ideas and desires, and hope Blizzard pays attention.

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I would love these tbh

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So I was thinking of the Nightborne ring claws. Would you want to see sanlayn get just a normal blood elf body with new skin tones over? Or like more moderate model changes like sharper clawlike fingers?

If you see Elisande’s model you see finger jewelry that makes it look like she has golden claws. So would a glove model with claws similar to that be good enough?

Im thinking about the blood elf customization and have to wonder if San’layn may come through that. If that does happen some good transmog options would help enhance the race fantasy. For example I wish they would add the floating leg rings as a transmog option for boots on nightborne. If Sanlayn was a similar recolor to something like the maghar what sort of things would help with the fantasy?

Here are some suggestions.

  • glove transmogs. For claws/ gothic hand tattoos sort of like henna but maybe bloody ruins - magicical hand jewelry like hand laces would be dope. I love the jewelry as an option for gloves. Sort of like the fist weapons maybe actual ring finger jewlery options. A handlace with vials of blood. A sort of handlace mixed with magical ruins. Alot of these double dip with what I want with nightborne now that I think about it

  • cloak - sanlayn wings. Please!!! floating balls of fire/blood/ necromagic

  • shirt - tattoos/ sleaves / runes/ scars / vest jewelry - faction/guild tattoos

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Yeah see I’m conflicted on San’layn being customization only. I would like it if at least the skin came with fangs and claws. And I’d hope we’d get some lore on them too, if that were the case. In my opinion, it would be a bloody shame if we didn’t get flavor racials or jokes, and think of the missed heritage armor. On the other hand, no doubt the first raid of Shadowlands will have some beautifully appropriate gear for a San’layn character. Also, the Venthyr faction could have some vampire flavor racials to cover for that as well.

I like these ideas so long as we do get the lore, at least. I’m conflicted too because I do want an AR the most. But if it’s destined to be a customization, it gives San’layn access to the 40+ options coming in Shadowlands too, far more than we’d get for an Allied Race. So you win something but lose something either way.

Anyway! I do like those options. Not to mention they’re expanding things like glove transmogs. If you could transmog ‘claws’, that would admittedly be SUPER COOL. The wing cloaks coming out look promising. I hope Venthyr faction get a bat-like wing cloak too.

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I don’t like this red eyes argument people keep repeating. Can San’layn even have red eyes? On the San’layn wiki page it says “Their eyes have white, yellow, green, blue or black glows”

Between void elves and blood elves, you can have any San’layn eye color you want but black. On top of that, both races can be any of the classes listed on the wiki, and both speak Thalassian.

And if you want lore, between the Alliance war campaign and the quill, BFA spent as much time on the San’layn as it did on most allied races during their unlock questlines, if not more. Most allied races didn’t get much spotlight after becoming playable.

I’m not saying I don’t want San’layn. I’ve been rp’ing one since Wrath, so as far as I’m concerned, I already have one. The cool thing about the San’layn not being active ingame for so long is we can just make up our own lore about them! Fallynn is a blood queen, and my Scourge infiltrator can rest easy knowing after 10 long years behind enemy lines, the Forsaken have been culled from Lordaeron, Sylvanas has fled the Horde in disgrace, and the usurper Bolvar has been dethroned. My work here is done. I’m going to vampire heaven.

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I don’t play her as a Blood Queen, that would be god-modding. I’m already pushing it with a few powerful toons of mine, but I don’t overpower them against other players.

I roleplay San’layn all the time but already mentioned the many lore gaps I’d love to see filled in. The forums are about suggestions. Some are satisfied with how things are, whereas others see the AR system as an opportunity to expand in many areas for races they love. I’m the latter.

I’m glad you can enjoy yourself and play them as just regular elves, but I want something more than the abysmal stuff we’ve got, and to be able to officially play the vampyr elves. I’m certainly not going to stop actually wanting them for real as acknowledged in game.

Also yes, there’s a San’layn NPC in BfA that has red eyes under their helm. Blood Marquess. In addition, the vampyr Vry’kul from Stormheim are suspected to be afflicted by the same curse and have red eyes along with Lucard. Them just having red eyes, though, is unlikely. There’s probably a variety.

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Just wanted to wish every a happy holiday break. Whatever you celebrate during this time, please have a fun, happy, and safe holiday!

:bat:
:christmas_tree: :japanese_ogre::cut_of_meat: :meat_on_bone::crocodile:

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Hope everyone has some Happy Holidays indeed. Looks like 8.3 is ‘around the corner’ (granted, a while from now in my eyes, but to some it’s around the corner). Whatever you celebrate, I hope it goes well. And thank you for supporting this community too, I appreciate it.

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Just me again

I got you a present! :gift: (It’s a Thread bump :sweat_smile:)

Make San’layn happen Blizzard :pleading_face:

Also, Happy Holidays everyone!

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Fallynn… I give to you, a present! ((Thread Bump!)) Make San’layn relevant again, Blizzard! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everybody!

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Hello Guys. I want to say Merry Christmas. Plus love your closest love ones such as your friends and family the most in this world.

Have a Happy Holidays and a New Year as well.

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Sorry I’ve not been active. I think I’m becoming a bit more jaded when it comes to this and have lost a lot of my vigor. A lot of my energy has been going to my real book series since I recently self-published for the first time. If we get new information over these next few months (doubt it, as who knows when Shadowlands info will actually hit in more detail), perhaps my creativity juices for the game will begin to flow again.

Maybe in another year I’ll actually be able to draw San’layn. Got myself a tablet and am starting off bare bones with no experience, so that’ll be an adventure. But since I do like vampires and have many San’layn toons, I’ll be practicing with them. I could work on various features we’ve mentioned here as well and apply them to a drawing at least. (I’m only sharing when I’m confident the art is at least halfway decent though).

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I actually want to make graphs for Allied Races like that.

I suggest Jazza’s youtube drawing tutorials if you want to learn digital art.

He’s good at explaining in a way people can understand.

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