We’ve seen a few post-Blizzcon interviews claiming that the 10.2.x patches are going to have a substantial amount of content - content that they’re confident that the players won’t see coming. Let’s put that claim to the test, shall we? What are your predictions?
Personally, I think we’re going to see two Allied Races:
Drakonid: The physical, monstrous side of the dragon fantasy that wasn’t quite met by Dracthyr, I think it extremely likely that we’ll see these guys as a playable race. The whole dragonkin rebellion and reconciliation questline, complete with Alexstrasza telling them that they’re free to choose their own fates, be that with the dragons or not? Virtually telling them to go out into the world and become adventurers? Pretty clear intent to set up their implementation as playable.
Tuskarr: As for these guys, while there isn’t as clear an indication as there is for Drakonid in-game, we’re getting certain indications from how they’ve been implemented. Male and female models. Actual customized models rather than static. A Tuskarr totem model for Shaman. We’re seeing the exact same indicators here that we saw with Vulpera.
Here’s the specific interview that prompted the post. Most of what they had to say was that they didn’t have anything to say, but there was some interesting (not not restrained) hinting.
We’ve already been told that this the intent. The only issue is the order in which it happens, I suppose. I think giving Druids a lot of race-agnostic forms is a pretty solid indicator of where they’re going…
I believe Tyr’s guard is leading into more paladins soonish.
I dunno as it’s also possible it’ll never happen because of the several forms and upcoming allied races. I’ll still welcome it but it’s best to temper expectations.
Especially considering how long the heritage quests took to return.
Orc and Draenei. With Fel Orc and Broken Draenei demon forms, perhaps? Regardless of how they do it, only those two make sense and both are actively in the Illidari. In fact, they make more sense than Night Elves themselves, given how Illidan sealed Outland away with but a few Blood Elves, Naga, and whoever he could recruit at the time.
The only downside of Drakonids is that we will almost surely have one body type for male and female-coded characters. Kinda like how the female NPCs right now have the male model.
I won’t argue it doesn’t make sense but it means I won’t have this lady Drakonid in my life:
look at her
I love her.
One problem I have with WoW right now is we don’t have any monstrous, beefy silhouettes for female-coded body types.
I do too I think the Tyr’s guard story was added in specifically for paladins, because the emerald dream involves the druids and shamans. I feel it will be in 10.2.5 or another story patch because they want to have it done before WW.
I mean… they could. Drakonid are an unnaturally created species, uplifted from whatever mortal species. My read is that the “natural” drakonid we find on the Dragon Isles lack the sexual dimorphism from their originating species because they are uplifted tarasek - reptilian, themselves.
I have no qualms with a body type 2. Especially if they disconnect the voice lines, perhaps?
But in all seriousness, I do think that they only lack a female model because resources are limited rather than any in-universe reason. Same reason as winged dragonspawn making a reappearance in Dragon Isles wingless.
I don’t either to be clear which is why I said female-coded instead of just “female” up there.
Someday Blizzard will let us mix/match voices, assign pronouns, and let everyone use any kind of facial hair so we can ACTUALLY code characters however we want. Yes I really do want that, more options are good.
Either way, I want that silhouette playable on drakonids.
Especially if they disconnect the voice lines, perhaps?