Doesn’t mean they will never happen, but the evidence in fact strongly points to a much higher likeliness of Gilblins becoming an AR next expansion. Here is a rundown of why:
Gilblins were created by Hobart Grapplehammer using Naga DNA. Keeping in mind that there is plans to go to the Naga Capital city and likely fight Azshara at some point. The escaped Gilblins are for the vast majority currently slaves of the naga. If we kill Ashara we will be freeing them.
Hobart Grapplehammer made a statement at one point in the game that he will someday perfect the method of getting fully intelligent Gilblins to be produced.
Notice that all allied races so far share similarities with existing races. Despite a blizzard representative saying that they are not sub races, all of them might as well be. If Vulpera were to come out right now, they would be the only AR released that is not an outright reskin.
However it is not just merely in appearance. Vulpera have no correlation with goblins nor are they a super intelligent race. Notice that each existing AR so far had a key similarity in their nature with each other so far. Dark Irons like to tinker, but are not super intelligent however also love drinking. Nightborne shared a similar background of the blood elves in which they are mana addicted and were tapping powers from a central magical force to thrive. Highmountain Tauren are down to earth, peace loving Tauren that share similar principles and live by similar codes.
Another critical thing. They have all been major races that have played a vital, critical and important role in the primary storyline of the character. Zandalari and Kul’tirans are major races in each content. Similar story goes with the rest. We have been working the Vulpera, but for the most part, they are mostly just friendly to us and a not instrumental in our adventures.
In regards to the argument of their widely customized models, this should be considered irrelevant. This is because as we have seen such as in the case of cyborg gnomes, Dark Irons and Zandalari they can come out with new models. If they want Gilblin to be a goblin AR, there will be models.
Gilblins due to Hobarts experiments have a much longer history directly related to the horde as they were created by Hobart himself who is horde sided.
In regards to the argument that they will do it because of popularity. Don’t forget about how many people wanted eredar, naga, ogres, etherials, high elves, draenei rogues, gnome druids/paladins, void elf demon hunters and many more. Just because people are willing to potentially pay for it doesn’t mean it will happen.
If it is in fact true that blizzard is getting us warmed up for a tinker class, three is a possibility they may feel that adding Vulpera as a race may dampen the intense feeling of rivalry between Goblins and Gnomes since Vulpera aren’t at the same height of intelligence as either.
Gilblins have been confirmed to become friends when Nazjatar is out.
–Summary–
Hobart created Gilblins and is Horde Aligned. They escaped. We will be killing their captors.
Hobart stated that he is working on developing gilblins with fully developed goblin intelligence.
3-4. Even though a Blizzard rep said ARs aren’t sub races, so far they have all been reskins and had critical similarities to each other.
All ARs so far have been critical to the main plot at some point.
There are many examples of speculated new races in the past with vast custom options on npcs that never become ARs.
Gilblins have a longer history with the Horde.
Popularity does not mean it will happen. Just look at eredar, ogres and naga.
Blizzard may see adding Vulpera as devaluing the rivalry between goblins and gnomes.
Gilblins are confirmed to be friends when Nazjatar is out.
Now I personally find Gilblins to be a little underwhelming compared to cyborg gnomes(or whatever you call them). There is also the possibility that a completely different race we haven’t seen before may end up being the goblin AR later on or one that doesn’t have models developed for it.
Vulpera fits more into main race terrority. As much as people want it to happen, there is an overwhelming evidence pointing at the greater likeliness of Gilbins.
Ya but who sits there and works on the geosets, and even animates cape physic interactions with the Vulpera’s tail even though not a single Vulpera throughout the entire storyline in Vol’dun ever wore a cape or any player-available clothing.
The answer lies with the Alpaca models. Blizz did not create these adorable models for nothing. They will be the racial mount for horde vulpera and alliance is going to be jelly!
Perhaps they may become a main race or race for a much later expansion, but not necessarily the next one. Who knows. Its all just speculation right now, but so far the evidence is in favor of gilblins.
But Gilblins are ugly, horrid, vicious, and evil little creatures and deserves only to be expunged like the failed science experiment they are.
Just like Mimiron’s experiments with kajamite.
I dunno… the fact that there was so much work done on the vulpera model already and that they have a presence and connection to horde in the current story… seems like vulpera are more likely than gilblins to me.
There are many example of npcs out there with a wide variety of custom models that did not end up becoming a playabe race so far and I am not saying Vulpera won’t become one, but what I am saying is that gilblins are much more likely.
If we go by history, then there is a very high likeliness we won’t be getting new ARS other than Zandalari and Kul’tiran till next expansion. There was 4 released least expansion and there is 4 being released this one. Blizzard has never in the past come out with new races after announcing a specific one for an expansion.
But it wasn’t necessarily meant to be a Legion concept. I think they just used it to test the waters and fine tune it for BFA. The idea of it I think will stay strictly for BFA. They may expand on it next expansion and there is no reason for them not to include something more in the next several months - they sure have it up their sleeves.
But they tend to like to scrap these things and do something else in a new expansion or go back to new race, class type deal.
Similarly, Pandaren were the original consideration for the Alliance race in BC. Playable Draenei and the whole retcon their creation brought on only happened after they decided that pandas didn’t have a tight enough relation to the story.
I’d welcome Vulpera, but the reason why I am kinda not so welcoming of them being a goblin AR is mainly this. So far all other races have been essentially reskins under the allied race bracket and mechagnomes are very similar to regular gnomes. Now because of this expectation of similar races I kind of hope for something more goblin-like. If Vulpera was just a new race I’d be thrilled, but as a goblin allied race? It doesn’t seem to be a good fit except in the size of it.
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