The Unofficial High Elf Discussion Megathread

10/11/2018 04:56 AMPosted by Shadows
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It really makes me think High Elves are already written into this expansion and we just haven't got to that part in the story yet. That would explain why Blizz could be so flippant about it. All building for the big dramatic reveal!


The big dramatic reveal will be Blood Elves getting blue eyes as part of the heritage Questline. Calling it now.


Could happen, but I doubt it. Nothing in the ptr suggests that their eyes are reverting back to their original eye color (which isn't exclusively blue, btw)

The full quest can be seen and completed. If at some point Lor'themar made a statement about how the sunwell is reverting the changes that the fel crystals have gave them, I could see it. Unless the armor itself somehow gives them blue eyes (which few people would be happy with), or Blood Elves get blue eyes out of nowhere, it probably won't happen
10/11/2018 04:56 AMPosted by Shadows
The big dramatic reveal will be Blood Elves getting blue eyes as part of the heritage Questline. Calling it now.
LOL! Won't happen but you can keep on dreaming!
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10/11/2018 04:33 AMPosted by Lorithyn
10/11/2018 01:54 AMPosted by Iratio
Is it non-constructive to say: drop it - High Elves are in the game. Literally, besides a faction or two, the race is part of the Horde. And one of those factions that are not, are the High Elf faction that were transformed by the void.

Edit:
A rose is still a rose by any other name. A High-Elf is still a High-Elf by any other name.


We're not arguing that they don't have the same biology, but there's a race of thalassian elves allied to the Alliance that we'd like to see playable. It has nothing to do with those who call themselves Blood Elves

Edit: The anti crowd needs to be honest, they know exactly what we mean when we say High Elves. We're obviously referring to the ones that have thrown their lot in with the Alliance and are still calling themselves High Elves to this day. When Elisande called out the Quel'dorei as being peasants playing at nobility, the Blood Elves were not confused at all as to who she was referring to


When you say race of thalassian elves you make it sound like they are different aside from politics. They aren't Politics are not enough of a detraction to make them a separate allied race For the opposite faction. You need to go void elf/Nightbourne visual change worthy. And those two were changed so much that blizzard no longer considers them what they originally were.

So as we all know, Blood Elves are High Elves just with a different moniker. If kael'thas had decided to forgo the name and just ended up with the Horde then you'd still have the same people not agreeing with his choice. But then they would just be called High Elves. Nightbourne were changed over thousands and thousands of years, void elves are changed at the genetic level. High Elves??? They have a different originating hub thats all.
I would love to see High Elves finally added to the game, and have wanted to play one since Vanilla WoW. Unfortunately every year for the better part of 14 years I was disappointed that they were not added. Discussions like this one YEARS ago would always point out how if ever they were to be added, it would likely be as a "subrace" to one of the existing races (many suggesting to Humans), which is essentially what allied races are.

Now you can imagine my annoyance and out right disgust that Blizzard added Void Elves to the game (and I stand by my opinion that they were a trash race to be added, but at least have the High Elf silhouette so that's why I'm using them).

But I'm still holding out hope that Blizzard will come to their senses, realize that they continue to be one of, if not THE most requested races to be added. And now that Void Elves have been added there really is no reason not to add them as was pointed out by Taliesin and Evitel. In their video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Sr-sadSk4&t=3s) regarding High Elves they break down every reason given against adding High Elves and completely destroy them.

Anyway like I said I really hope Blizzard stops listening to Ion (who has some sorta sick fetish for hating High Elves) and overrules the dude and adds High Elves to the Alliance...and Ogre to Horde!
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To those saying that the “political” difference isn’t enough to warrant a playable high elf, just note that this is a faction war. Now makes more sense than ever, right now the Silver covenant and elves in Highvale sympathize with the Alliance, and fight with the alliance when need be. Sylvanas and lor’themar will obviously want to dispatch them before they become a threat, so it would only make sense for the silver covenant to want to join the Alliance to prevent their destruction.
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10/11/2018 05:38 AMPosted by Tyrandia
To those saying that the “political” difference isn’t enough to warrant a playable high elf, just note that this is a faction war. Now makes more sense than ever, right now the Silver covenant and elves in Highvale sympathize with the Alliance, and fight with the alliance when need be. Sylvanas and lor’themar will obviously want to dispatch them before they become a threat, so it would only make sense for the silver covenant to want to join the Alliance to prevent their destruction.


Yes it is a faction war. And it would be the opportune time if they had to to justify it. But lets be real the last half of this expansion is gonna be old god oriented and were not gonna be too deep in faction war stuff. IMO High Elves missed the boat.
10/10/2018 06:42 PMPosted by Talendrion
High Elves are as impossible as the developer's sensibilities dictate so.

They want to preserve faction identity; that's the reason why HE aren't playable, they look too much like BE.

So what if they decide "if we make them look different enough, that's okay"

Justifications of why they look different come after the decision they need to look different. And as for those justifications, look at any idea presented on this thread.

If you call that a headcanon, you are missing the point of those ideas. The point is that HE can conceivably made to look aesthetically dissimilar to Blood Elves


There isn't even faction balance right now is why that is so dumb there is a 10% gap at max level and it's growing it's up to 20% in eu.
10/11/2018 05:43 AMPosted by Tunkaningan
10/11/2018 05:38 AMPosted by Tyrandia
To those saying that the “political” difference isn’t enough to warrant a playable high elf, just note that this is a faction war. Now makes more sense than ever, right now the Silver covenant and elves in Highvale sympathize with the Alliance, and fight with the alliance when need be. Sylvanas and lor’themar will obviously want to dispatch them before they become a threat, so it would only make sense for the silver covenant to want to join the Alliance to prevent their destruction.


Yes it is a faction war. And it would be the opportune time if they had to to justify it. But lets be real the last half of this expansion is gonna be old god oriented and were not gonna be too deep in faction war stuff. IMO High Elves missed the boat.

Maybe, maybe not though, just because it may transition into old God stuff doesn’t mean tensions won’t be high. If the faction war dies down then why add any more allied races?? I just don’t see blizzard letting an opportunity to make some money go. Sub time to grind exalted, faction and race change money and even some boost money, it’s all there for them.
10/11/2018 05:20 AMPosted by Tunkaningan
10/11/2018 04:33 AMPosted by Lorithyn
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We're not arguing that they don't have the same biology, but there's a race of thalassian elves allied to the Alliance that we'd like to see playable. It has nothing to do with those who call themselves Blood Elves

Edit: The anti crowd needs to be honest, they know exactly what we mean when we say High Elves. We're obviously referring to the ones that have thrown their lot in with the Alliance and are still calling themselves High Elves to this day. When Elisande called out the Quel'dorei as being peasants playing at nobility, the Blood Elves were not confused at all as to who she was referring to


When you say race of thalassian elves you make it sound like they are different aside from politics. They aren't Politics are not enough of a detraction to make them a separate allied race For the opposite faction. You need to go void elf/Nightbourne visual change worthy. And those two were changed so much that blizzard no longer considers them what they originally were.

So as we all know, Blood Elves are High Elves just with a different moniker. If kael'thas had decided to forgo the name and just ended up with the Horde then you'd still have the same people not agreeing with his choice. But then they would just be called High Elves. Nightbourne were changed over thousands and thousands of years, void elves are changed at the genetic level. High Elves??? They have a different originating hub thats all.


I'd argue that they don't need to be different genetically to be considered for an allied race. They are a particular group of elves, a race of thalassian elves, who are allied with the Alliance... An allied race, if you will. While they're all but the same race their political differences couldn't be more apparent. So much in fact that they will attack and kill each other

I understand the concern for them though, it all boils down to visuals in the end. If the faction lines are important, High Elves could be made to look different enough. It doesn't take 10,000 years of isolation to have different idle animations hair styles and body proportions, but if it does there's been a significant population of High Elves living in Dalaran for thousands of years who have lived separately from the Blood Elves of Quel'thalas. We know this to be canon as of Chronicles V3, which goes so far as to explain that they have cultural differences too

They have the population, they have the lore, they support the Alliance, they are politically different, they couldbe visually different, and Lord knows they are in demand from the player base. Everything points to Alliance High Elves being playable at some point
10/11/2018 05:43 AMPosted by Tunkaningan
10/11/2018 05:38 AMPosted by Tyrandia
To those saying that the “political” difference isn’t enough to warrant a playable high elf, just note that this is a faction war. Now makes more sense than ever, right now the Silver covenant and elves in Highvale sympathize with the Alliance, and fight with the alliance when need be. Sylvanas and lor’themar will obviously want to dispatch them before they become a threat, so it would only make sense for the silver covenant to want to join the Alliance to prevent their destruction.


Yes it is a faction war. And it would be the opportune time if they had to to justify it. But lets be real the last half of this expansion is gonna be old god oriented and were not gonna be too deep in faction war stuff. IMO High Elves missed the boat.


If that Silvermoon warfront turns out to be a real thing there would be no better time than that, I'd imagine
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10/11/2018 06:07 AMPosted by Lorithyn
10/11/2018 05:43 AMPosted by Tunkaningan
...

Yes it is a faction war. And it would be the opportune time if they had to to justify it. But lets be real the last half of this expansion is gonna be old god oriented and were not gonna be too deep in faction war stuff. IMO High Elves missed the boat.


If that Silvermoon warfront turns out to be a real thing there would be no better time than that, I'd imagine


Considering the amount of work being done to Blood Elves, I think there is quite a chance of that actually happening.
As far as the Possible heritage armor quest line any ideas?

I’d say revisiting the Amani Troll wars, where the alliance between elves and stromgarde started.

Maybe seeing the transition the Highborne made to the EK and how the Thalasssian culture came to be.

Or even a quest line showing how the Silver Covenant came to be?
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10/11/2018 06:11 AMPosted by Xyaa
Considering the amount of work being done to Blood Elves, I think there is quite a chance of that actually happening.


On the one hand, adding High Elves for the Silvermoon Warfront would be awesome and probably cut down on development costs for Blizzard. Horde and Alliance end up with the same gear sets, color-swapped. People would decry it as lazy, but at least it works.

On the other hand, it'd be a chance for Void Elves to actually get some decent looking sets instead of their fairy-princess Dreadlord Heritage Armor.
10/11/2018 06:28 AMPosted by Tyrandia
As far as the Possible heritage armor quest line any ideas?

I’d say revisiting the Amani Troll wars, where the alliance between elves and stromgarde started.

Maybe seeing the transition the Highborne made to the EK and how the Thalasssian culture came to be.

Or even a quest line showing how the Silver Covenant came to be?


All very good ideas. I'd wager it would focus more on lore exclusive to the Quel'dorei, something that they don't share with Blood Elves. It'll likely depend heavily on how High Elves get introduced in the first place, the silver covenant being a likely contender
10/11/2018 06:37 AMPosted by Lorithyn
All very good ideas. I'd wager it would focus more on lore exclusive to the Quel'dorei, something that they don't share with Blood Elves. It'll likely depend heavily on how High Elves get introduced in the first place, the silver covenant being a likely contender


I don't think that High Elves would have a questline to get Heritage Armor. Allied Races get that just by hitting max level.
10/11/2018 06:42 AMPosted by Alurna
10/11/2018 06:37 AMPosted by Lorithyn
All very good ideas. I'd wager it would focus more on lore exclusive to the Quel'dorei, something that they don't share with Blood Elves. It'll likely depend heavily on how High Elves get introduced in the first place, the silver covenant being a likely contender


I don't think that High Elves would have a questline to get Heritage Armor. Allied Races get that just by hitting max level.


Shoot that's right... I need to alter my expectations, I'm still impressed by the scenarios the dwarves and Blood Elves are getting lol
10/11/2018 05:20 AMPosted by Tunkaningan
10/11/2018 04:33 AMPosted by Lorithyn
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We're not arguing that they don't have the same biology, but there's a race of thalassian elves allied to the Alliance that we'd like to see playable. It has nothing to do with those who call themselves Blood Elves

Edit: The anti crowd needs to be honest, they know exactly what we mean when we say High Elves. We're obviously referring to the ones that have thrown their lot in with the Alliance and are still calling themselves High Elves to this day. When Elisande called out the Quel'dorei as being peasants playing at nobility, the Blood Elves were not confused at all as to who she was referring to


When you say race of thalassian elves you make it sound like they are different aside from politics. They aren't Politics are not enough of a detraction to make them a separate allied race For the opposite faction. You need to go void elf/Nightbourne visual change worthy. And those two were changed so much that blizzard no longer considers them what they originally were.

So as we all know, Blood Elves are High Elves just with a different moniker. If kael'thas had decided to forgo the name and just ended up with the Horde then you'd still have the same people not agreeing with his choice. But then they would just be called High Elves. Nightbourne were changed over thousands and thousands of years, void elves are changed at the genetic level. High Elves??? They have a different originating hub thats all.


actually high elf and blood elves are different races. They are the same species which is thalassian elves but they are different races. It isn't just their eyes. Blood elves have darker and redder skin.
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Highelves cant be differentiated to a large enough extent from Bloodelves without defeating the purpose of what they currently are. As proof, look at Void Elves. The Bloodelf model that was taken and twisted into a completely new theme based on a darker concept, simply to give the model to the Alliance as well as a High-elf based concept. That is the level of change that makes them viable, a complete remaking of everything they were before, which does not diminish or take from the Bloodelf concept.


Did it sit well with the Pro-Helf fans? No. It was rejected, yet it was also the only viable option they came up with.

Let's not kid ourselves, Highelves -had- to be one of the first Allied Race concepts Blizzard discussed. Do you think they dont know about the requests? Of course they do. They always have.

Taking that into consideration, you can almost picture the decision-making process and how it all came to be rejected and turned towards Void elves. "We cant just give them Highelves because it is just Bloodelves. The idea is almost identical. It takes away from the theme. What about a variant?". How many ideas were thrown around before they settled on the idea of Voidelf being unique enough?

Will Blizzard end up regretting this decision and introducing yet another race using the Bloodelf model? Maybe....but I highly doubt it. Until then, the Alliance Highelves will continue to be used as they were intended to: To push forward a story and conflict of the Highelven remnant as a whole.

That is all I have to say on the matter. Enjoy the wishful thinking and brainstorming.
10/11/2018 07:53 AMPosted by Eleroleron
That is the level of change that makes them viable, a complete remaking of everything they were before, which does not diminish or take from the Bloodelf concept.


10/11/2018 07:53 AMPosted by Eleroleron
Let's not kid ourselves, Highelves -had- to be one of the first Allied Race concepts Blizzard discussed.


10/11/2018 07:53 AMPosted by Eleroleron
How many ideas were thrown around before they settled on the idea of Voidelf being unique enough?


Here's the thing... Void Elves are Blood Elves, not High Elves. Blizzard completely missed the mark here. It wouldn't have been impossible for Alleria to go looking for missing members of her forces from the Sons of Lothar and find them at Telogrus, already transformed. Or for her to have joined the Silver Covenant in a battle against some Void threat in Silithus and the Silver Covenant was turned into Void Elves.

Those kinds of stories would've been infinitely better received than random Blood Elves, who were part of the Horde, studying the Void to protect Quel'Thalas, and then turn around and fight it.

As I've said before, if different hairstyles and such are enough to set Nightborne apart from Night Elves, then it should suffice for High Elves, there is absolutely no need for this double-standard hypocrisy.

Likewise, as I've said before, be careful what you wish for. Just think of Draco'dorei. Dragon Elves. More powerful, and instead of tentacles being the major differing factor, it'd be horns. Lorewise at least one can argue they'd be biologically different. I could see Dragon Elves having clutches of eggs.
10/11/2018 08:24 AMPosted by Crøwley

More delusions lol


Were money to be the driving factor, this game would be monitized out the rear so bad EA would even do a double take. Want Pathfinder? Drop 60 bucks?

Instant access to an allied race of your choosing? 60 bucks?

Let's be glad that isn't their driving factor.