The only issue I see with armor on Naga, assuming they donāt have slots you canāt transmog like with MechaGnomes and Dracthyr, would be that all legging and feet transmogs would have to be newly created and applied to a lower body and tail section of male and female Naga models. Iām not sure which direction Blizzard would go, probably like with Dracthyr to save development costs if I had to guess, but either way, armor shouldnāt really be an issue with playable Naga, in my opinion.
Speaking of tails and armor, Iām wondering if playable Saurok would have some transmogs that would cover their tail some with armor or just have a hole to have their tail stick out. Iād prefer to have the tail covered, depending on the type of armor of course, as I feel like that would look a lot better than something like a Saurok covered in plate armor but having a naked tail stick out of the armor.
Of course, a lot depends on if the tail equipment racial idea weāve talked about ever became a racial or not, since tails with something like axes or spiked maces attached to tails or tails holding orbs for slight buff increases would affect tail armor transmogs. So that would have to be kept in mind as well.
Recently, the forums went through some changes. While everything seems ok in the main post here, my Stonemaul Ogre megathreadās links (images, videos, etc) showed up as URLās. This issue seems to have affected some older posts in here, which I may go through to try and fix them up sometime if it is possible. Would take a bit to go through all the posts in here and fix them up, though. Sighā¦
Iāll have to be careful when I go to revamp the main post of this megathread. I always worry that itāll glitch out and look like the quadratic equation exploded, especially with forum changes. So far, the main post seems ok, and hopefully itāll stay that way. -grumble grumble-
On another note. it sounds like news on the next Blizzcon may be forthcoming in the future, according to Mike Ybarra on Twitter:
āHad a good Blizzcon review just this afternoon. Weāre figuring out communication and show plans. A lot has changed since pre-COVID. We know players are eager to understand changes happening and when things will roll out. More soon when we are ready, thanks for your patience.ā
Not sure when Blizzcon will be or if itāll be near the end of the year like it use to be. I assume WoW info would be on the next major patch and aside from a potential teaser, I also donāt know if it is too soon for a new expansion announcement, but it could be a possibility.
Whenever Blizzcon is, Iāll be sure to share links to announcements and report on anything Saurok related. A shame I canāt really attend it in person to spread the Horde Ogre & Saurok support. Maybe someday Iāll be able to, as well as enjoy Super Nintendo World afterwards since that went up recently.
Iāve linked videos of Aeon/Lizardman from the Soul Calibur series before and this time, I wanted to link some official artwork of them from the series. A lot of designs work really well for playable Horde Saurok idea inspiration.
All images come from here:
From Soul Calibur III:
From Soul Calibur IV:
From SoulCalibur Broken Destiny:
From SoulCalibur V:
You can find more images in the link above, as well as more info on Lizardmen/Aeon throughout the Soul Calibur series.
As I said before, there are a lot of great designs that would make for some really great playable Horde Saurok customization options. From frills, scale colors and patterns, to horns and such. Saurok have a lot of potential with customization options, so sharing examples is pretty important to inspire ideas and show how big said potential is.
I recently learned of a species of lizard I had not heard of before called chuckwallas. I wanted to share some videos of them to show off some facts and also some really neat scale colors and patterns that would make for some great Saurok scale customization options.
Videos are below:
Itās primarily the scale colors and patterns from chuckwallas that work for playable Saurok idea inspiration. I do think with the current in-game models of Saurok and with IRL reptiles, Saurok would have a huge number of scale customization options that would be really interesting and make player characters potentially unique to each other.
Iāll be sharing more IRL reptile information in the future for playable Saurok idea inspiration!
I came across a neat video on Youtube of someone with a 3d printer who created some 3d Lizardfolk models and scenery to be used in D&D gameplay. Video is here:
There are links in the videoās description on its Youtube page where you can either download for free or buy the files needed to 3d print the stuff you see in the video.
For the Lizardfolk models, of which there appears to be 10 of them, the files for 3d printers needed for them are being sold on here:
Maybe if I become talented enough, I could make my own Saurok army and 3d print them someday!
Got another art piece from DeviantArt to share! This time, itās an Argonian from Elder Scrolls. It was created by ValkiriaIX and was uploaded to the website on Oct. 3rd, 2012:
One of the reasons of sharing this is to help imagine Saurok wearing cloaks with hoods on them. Obviously, I donāt really see helm graphics showing off Saurok spikes or horns poking into the hood, but itās still a good reference for it. And speaking of, another feature from this would be the usual Saurok customization inspiration with scale colors/patterns and spikes/horn options.
As usual, Iāll continue to keep an eye out for art pieces to share for playable Saurok idea inspiration!
Something I didnāt know about the Freehold dungeon was that there was a three week rotation of three different captains, one of which being Captain Eudora of the Bilgerats, you could join the crew of during the dungeon for the Council oā Captains encounter.
Doing so, to my understanding, would turn any NPCās in the dungeon of the crew you joined to become friendly. In the case of the Bilgerats, this allowed friendly Saurok mobs. Granted, I assume you couldnāt interact much with them and itās just for the duration of the dungeon, but itās still another instance of Saurok being friendly to and working with others as opposed to immediately wanting to eat their faces. Even if it would be temporary.
Unfortunately, this feature of the dungeon currently is planned to change to where you only join one ship crew ever, which isnāt the Bilgerats unfortunately:
Itās unclear if this will actually go through or if it does, if itāll stay that way. Itās a shame if it does get changed this way, as it is a neat feature of the dungeon.
Ah well. Maybe Iāll be able to make allies with other Saurok in a long term fashion so I can get their banner in the Horde embassy and a spot on the Horde side of that character creation screen someday!
Slightly late with this, but this monthās Trading Post items and bonus reward have been revealed:
Nothing Saurok related as usual, not that I was expecting anything. The skull belts look like something that would fit very well with some transmogs if Saurok ever become playable. Kinda fitting in a way.
Today is also a big patch day, so whenever the maintenance and all its potential extensions finish, Iāll keep an eye out for anything to report back here. Again, not really expecting much, but you never know!
This lizard was just told it was a new month and went to go submit some in-game suggestions for playable Horde Saurok! Sounds like a great idea to me!
With the beginning of each month, I make in-game suggestions for each race I want to see playable along with a mention of their respective megathreads on these forums. While it is far from a guarantee of seeing our dreams come true, I do think every little bit helps, and doing it monthly I feel is reasonable and not that intrusive or annoying.
If youāre interested in doing the same for races you want to see playable, I made a little guide on how to do so in-game here:
Happy May 4th everyone! Also known as May the Fourth be with you!
As a Star Wars fan, today sounds like a good day to show off some Trandoshan stuff to help with the usual playable Saurok idea inspiration! First, some art pieces:
āBosskā by MaximusSupremo on DeviantArt, uploaded on April 16th, 2019
āZavasā by Draixe on DeviantArt, uploaded on May 9th, 2014
And lastly, some videos that hopefully I havenāt linked before:
A lot of Trandoshan features work really well for inspiring some ideas for Saurok culture. Itās why at least once a year, usually on May 4th, I try to share some various cool things about them. A shame that Star Wars Galaxies, where Trandoshans are playable, went the direction they did, and that theyāre neither playable in the Old Republic MMORPG, nor does it sound like a possibility unfortunately.
Ah well. Maybe weāll be lucky to see them playable in future Star Wars games, and of course seeing playable Horde Saurok in WoW. Until then, May the Fourth be with you all!
Posting this in both my megathreads since it is kinda big bews. Mike Ybarra recently announced that more details on the upcoming Blizzcon would be announced roughly within the next two weeks:
When it comes to WoW, Iām sure there will be at least one more major patch for Dragonflight. I am curious if we could see a new expansion announcement as well, or if that would come after whenever the final patch for Dragonflight comes out. Hard to really say either way, though we would have to wait awhile for the next expansion anyway, so who knows?
Whenever more info on Blizzcon comes out, Iāll be sure to report it here. Hopefully weāll learn more sooner than later!
Came across another Argonian (Elder Scrolls) mug shot art piece that I wanted to share for some Saurok customization idea inspiration. This one was created by ValkiriaIX and was uploaded to the website on August 18th, 2012.
The scale colors are pretty good in this art piece, which would make for really cool Saurok scale color options. There are also some markings, which makes me wonder if Saurok could get a markings option. That or if it would just be based on whatever scale patterns you could choose.
As usual, Iāll keep an eye out for any other Lizardmen related art pieces to share for playable Saurok idea inspiration!
Blizzard has announced features of an upcoming patch, called āFractures in Time.ā Info here:
Not really much in the way of anything Saurok specific. However, I did notice a number of interesting points.
The lesser point is the following:
"Join Together for Time Rifts
The time streams have become a bit more unstable with recent events and as the boundaries between the timelines weaken, minions from other timelines have begun making their way into Azeroth. Players will join together to take on Time Rifts, push back against the waves of minions, and plug the hole to set the timeways straight again."
The term āminionsā isnāt really anything specific of what that could be. It could involve various jobber NPC races just sent through to cause problems so players have something to beat up. Donāt really expect Saurok from it, and even if they did show up, itād just be enemies for us to slaughter without much thought. Wouldnāt really affect Saurok in our timeline anyway, regardless.
The other and more major point of the next patch is that Warlocks are coming to more current playable races!..aside from Dracthyr.
"The Warlock Class Expands to New Races
In the Fractures in Time content update, the Warlock class will become available to Night Elves, Draenei, Lightforged Draenei, Pandaren, Kul Tiran, Tauren, Highmountain Tauren, Magāhar Orcs, and Zandalari Trolls.
Warlocks will also be able to undertake a new quest line starting with the quest āBeginning Impositions,ā which will unlock a new imp pet customization. Players will also be able to visit the Barbershop to customize their pets.ā"
This is pretty big news for future playable races, since it seems that Warlocks would be aā¦errā¦lock for them. Unless we get more restricted races like Dracthyr, which would be a bummer in my own personal opinion.
As you might know, one of my potential Saurok characters I want to make is a Saurok Demonology Warlock, unless Necromancers become a playable class. So this news has me pretty excited that it seems likely that if Saurok became playable, they could have Warlocks as an option. Hopefully Death Knights will be available for them as well, seeing that theyāre a little more complicated in making available for new playable races. Not impossible at all, of course, thankfully, so hopefully Iād be able to make a Saurok Unholy Death Knight someday.
Iāll keep an eye out for any other news to report, as well as Saurok related stuff to share if I see any!
Some more news in the Fractures of Time patch has popped up, this time involving the current allied races. Unlocking criteria for them will be changed in the following information:
-All restrictions for unlocking Allied Races have been removed, with the exception of a level requirement.
-All Allied Races can now be unlocked once you have a level 40 character on your account (was level 50).
-Newly created Allied Race characters will now be directed to Chromie, not the warboard.
-Characters now learn the appropriate mount riding skill upon reaching the appropriate level without needing to visit a mount trainer:
Level 10 - Apprentice Riding
Level 20 - Journeyman Riding
Level 30 - Expert Riding
Level 40 - Master Riding
Developersā note: Riding trainers will still exist in the world, but you will be unable to purchase riding skills from them.
Changes like this, while not entirely perfect, are welcomed for those who play the game long after allied races have become playable. Itās different when it is a current content, even though there were plenty of valid criticisms of the whole Allied Race system, much as I did enjoy it.
Despite these changes for current Allied Races, I honestly donāt think that the whole Allied Race system is completely abandoned, seeing as it is sort of an effective carrot on a stick for getting players to do current content and also potential revenue streams for race changes and such. Itās also a way to get some races playable that may not have been selected as a Core Race, as well as not having to wait for an expansion launch to become playable.
I would guess that future Allied Races would still have unlock criteria as before. I donāt really see that changed, given what I typed in the above paragraph. I could see those restrictions lifted once the expansion area they debut in becomes legacy content, however. I also recall Blizzard mentioning that the Allied Race system isnāt being abandoned, though that remains to be seen given how they tend to abandon many expansion features as opposed to designing them to be more evergreen. So weāll have to see if that becomes a thing again in the future.
I also feel like any future Allied Races might be more like Vulpera, where theyāre a full race that might share skeletons and animations of existing Core Races. At some point, it seemed that Blizzard was more interested in implemented Sub Races as Customization Races instead of having their own race slot (for worse andā¦well, worse). Iām sure it takes a lot less resources, granted Customization Races really donāt get the treatment they deserve to retain their own identity unfortunately. But for full races like Vulpera, they need their own race slot when becoming playable, so I would guess that those would be more likely to become Allied Races as opposed to Sub Races in the future.
It sounds like future Allied Races would still have racial hubs to start in, seeing as you get directed to Chromie when you make one. I do wonder if Exileās Reach would become an option, either with level scaling or just having Allied Races start at level 1. Despite that, I donāt really see Racial Hubs being removed from future Allied Races, which at least gives them a feeling of having a place in the world (of Warcraft!) for them, even if they can be fairly small.
As I said before, I donāt really see the Allied Race system abandoned, and if it means getting some races becoming playable when they wouldnāt otherwise, I still support it. And I know Iād do what I would need to do to unlock Saurok on the Horde Side of that character screen, though they would also work as a Core Race too!
