The true High Elf Solution

Community General Discussion
63

I think you’ve missed that type of behavior from the Helvers.

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64

They are the super-casuals, the ones who may or may not even step into LFR or PvP, they focus on going to old outdated content and farm transmogs, collect pets and sometimes don’t even bother to get max level. The games huge and they are a small niche of it. I think someone did the breakdown of actually High Elf Screen time and the most screen was recently in Legion and it didn’t amount to much.

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Good news! There is one here too! (Hint hint)

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66

Let’s see. In Vanilla we had several High Elven Lodges in the Eastern Kingdoms, High Elves in Stormwind and in Theramore, and one in Menethil Harbor. Might be missing a few, there were a lot of High Elves back then, and a planned reputation for the Alliance with them that didn’t make it into the game.

In BC we had the Allerian Stronghold and High Elves amongst the Sons of Lothar.

In Wrath of the Lich King the Silver Covenant was a part of the Alliance Expedition to Northrend, guarded the Alliance’s area of Dalaran, support the Alliance in the Argent Tournament, etc…

In Cataclysm the Silver Covenant was the Alliance force sent to dispatch the Amani Threat, being the conduit through which Alliance players accessed that dungeon.

In Mists of Pandaria, there were High Elves defending Theramore until it’s destruction, then we have the Purge of Dalaran, then the Isle of Thunder, and wrapping it up nicely with High Elves joining Alliance forces in the Siege of Orgrimmar.

High Elves in WoD were mostly with the Kirin Tor, and had very minimal, almost non-existent presence.

In Legion the Silver Covenant became a major part of the Hunter Lodge, with High Elves also found in the Paladin class hall and the mage class hall.

In Battle for Azeroth we see more High Elves, especially those working as members of the 7th Legion such as Archmage Yvera.

Geez, look at that. From Vanilla to present day, the High Elves have had a presence in Alliance content. For a non-playable race they sure do a lot, especially for the Alliance.

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67

haven’t we learned from time to time blizzard doesn’t pay attention to their own lore or game.

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You said screentime, as in cinematic screentime?

That sounds like a lot but its just all peppered in. It’s not part of the mashed potatos it’s just seasoning. If they were a much bigger part than they are now it still would not give the Alliance the right to strip Horde of it’s identity.

Upon looking at that list i will admit it seems like a lot. However, even if i were to concede that the High Elves have had an effect on the story i still could not be ok with what i see is murkying the waters between factions. Long time players may be sick of it but as a newer player i really enjoy it. I don’t want a mercenary mode.

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69

Not as in cinematic screentime, no. I mean as, in-game presence and relevance. Think about it for a moment. Any race could’ve made do in place of the High Elves for any number of events.

The Silver Covenant’s initial existence was to oppose the return of Blood Elves to the Kirin Tor. There was no reason for High Elves to be that. It could’ve been Gnomes, Humans, Dwarves, races already in the Alliance and in Dalaran, who mistrusted the Blood Elf use of Fel Magic and such.

When it came to the Amani in Cataclysm, the Draenei could’ve gone to aid the Blood Elves, as the two were already in excellent standing with one another.

In MoP it could’ve been that same group of Humans, Dwarves, and Gnomes instead of the Silver Covenant. In Legion the High Elves could’ve been cut out or replaced with others.

The fact is, High Elves were added, repeatedly, especially as Alliance content through all of this, at the EXPENSE of development for actually playable Alliance races. When Gnomes, Worgen, and Draenei had nothing for years, High Elves remained updated and relevant to the Alliance throughout World of Warcraft’s lifetime, and that trend is continuing.

There is no race that should be playable for the Alliance more than the High Elves. It’s not stripping the identity from the Horde, because the Horde never had any identity with these elves except as enemies. It’s giving the Alliance a core race that has always remained loyal to the Alliance, even at the expense of exile.

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I will agree that Gnomes and Worgen have been severely underrepresented. Though Draenei just had an entire expansions worth in legion. KJ’s an eredar, lot of the enemies were Eredar, Velens a Draenei, the lightforged army are Draenei.

But blood Elves have been a part of the Horde for 14 years, the entirety of World of Warcraft basically. Tehy have became the most played Horde race. How is this not stripping that identity?

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The dev’s have straight up said the experiment of introducing a race as neutral was a failure in their eyes and will never do it again, let alone rewrites massive swaths of lore and content just to appease a group of alliance players.

While the idea is “neat” for the thought you’ve put in it, it’s still impractical and only benefits a small player base despite the amount of work it would require.

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72

lets also ad in, the Highelves as they were known as at the time. regretted teaching humans magic, and wanted to break away from the human alliance to go back to their own lives. Elf society was technologically superior, they were more intelligent, and also more pretentious.

This changed as they experienced their fall of Rome.

Why i say blizzard doesn’t pay attention to their own story.

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Because the High Elves have NOT been a part of the Horde, they’ve been a part of the Alliance longer than the Blood Elves have been part of the Horde.

If you feel that adding High Elves to the Alliance somehow, ‘strips the identity,’ of Blood Elves from the Horde, then either you’re not paying attention to both sides of the spectrum, or you likely feel that the, ‘Blood Elf Identity,’ within the Horde is purely aesthetics. That’s hardly an identity. That’s an image. If you want to say it’d be stripping an image of the Horde, fine, but the High Elves won’t suddenly be fielding Blood Knights, have golden glowing eyes, or be led by Liadrin.

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74

and as i pointed out, wanted out and away from that alliance.

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Which is why there are High Elves in Alliance content throughout World of Warcraft’s lifetime.

A distinction needs to be made.

The High Elves of Quel’Thalas, who would become Blood Elves after the Third War and join the Horde, wanted out of the Alliance.

The High Elves of the Alliance, who remained High Elves after the Third War, wanted to remain part of the Alliance and did so.

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76

the highevles, pre-bloodelf wanted out of the alliance, again they regretted teaching humans magic.

hell they were against sylv teaching nathanos.

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Not all, however. Some High Elves chose to remain with the Alliance, even after Anasterian withdrew Quel’Thalas from the Alliance. There have been High Elves living in Dalaran since it’s foundation, happily living alongside, and working alongside, races which would go on to form the Alliance.

[Edit]: There are even Blood Elves who feel so strongly that they want to be part of the Kirin Tor, still.

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78

The amount of mental gymnastics and pleading in this post is beyond terrible. I fully disagree with it on all points. Take it to the megathread and be gone.

You want a ton of content that benefits you yet takes away from others.

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79

The Alliance already has playable High Elfs, and I am perfect.

/tentacleflip

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80

wouldn’t it just be easier to have 2 pandaren and have them choose prior to entering the game (like it is done on a level boost) for death knights, so the choice is not in game, like literally have 2 elves High and Blood and have the player choose prior to logging in game.

Also in terms of Demon hunter, you would need forsaken Night elves as their equivalent.

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81

You have void elves, which are high elves but were mutated by the void magic. Same thing, just with “blue-eyes”…and blue skin…and void whispers to insanity…and death…what?

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82

True!!
:sunglasses:

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