High Elves in 12.1 💙

[Elcorynd-argent-dawn]

@Ангеланика-gordunni

Guys, we still have a chance to get High Elves in 12.1!

I really wouldn’t put high hopes for this. Just to avoid really huge disappointment.
As mentioned by Kaeros, it’s a generic question on platform, answered by a Quest Designer (not sure how a quest designer is involved in decission making for any race).

Also, one of his answers in thread is
“Reminder: I’m not privy to the discussions around allied races. I’m reasoning it out along with all y’all”

and

“I think the difficulty with high elves is are they different enough from blood elves to be their own allied race? Lorewise of course there’s a difference but cosmetically they look very similar. Not to say it won’t happen but that’s a consideration.”

---

Getting new customization for existing races in 12.1 is possible, but having another race added not likely (not to mention they’re adding Haranir, which in my opinion they were working on since release of TWW, preparing them to be added in future).

[Alfiriniel-silvermoon]

Well as long as there is hope and people actively support it, there might be a chance to see them eventually.

In the end, as things are now, all we can do is request them and hope Blizzard takes the feedback from the forums to heart.

[Ангеланика-gordunni]

@Kaeros-dentarg

Bald fact is

Bald fact is that your opinions, your assumptions, your fantasies, your interpretations of lore and history, your conclusions, your poems, your denials and distortions of facts are of no interest to anyone here. Thank you

[Kaeros-dentarg]

The only thing we can infer is that High Elves AREN’T coming in Midnight.

As a senior Quest Designer he wouldn’t be involved in deciding whether an allied race is coming, but he would be involved in doing the first few quests them that would lead to the embassy.

He has essentially given the game away by even answering to a tweet talking about them, when if they were in the pipeline the only appropriate answer would be to NOT talk about them.

Couple that with Ion’s statement that allied races are deployed where they make narrative sense and that we are going into a thalassian elf expansion, what other conclusion are you going to draw?

If not now, when?

[Kaeros-dentarg]

Look you are the one with the reputation as the obsessive on this matter. I mean for heaven’s sake, you conduct this debate across two continents.

And there’s always someone like you in these debates. Short sentences, a complete detachment from the facts, an inability to recognise when those facts are against you and a tendency to use emojis as words. You’re just someone with an elf obsession who can’t take no for an answer and too much time on their hands. I mean I can only manage to participate in ONE forum on this matter.

[Alfiriniel-silvermoon]

I don’t mean to cause a ruckus, purely topic related, but doesn’t Erevien also have an account on the USA forums to do the exact same for the opposite reason.

As for the tweet I would like to refer to my recent comment:

@Alfiriniel-silvermoon

Well as long as there is hope and people actively support it, there might be a chance to see them eventually.

In the end, as things are now, all we can do is request them and hope Blizzard takes the feedback from the forums to heart.

Nothing is certain and everything is “possible” for now at least. I don’t think they will be added in Midnight, maybe towards the end of it.

The Haranir were suppose to be added in TWW. Which also didn’t happen. I am not saying that this is the rule, but we can agree that we both don’t know what the future has in store for us.

[Ангеланика-gordunni]

@Kaeros-dentarg

I mean for heaven’s sake, you conduct this debate across two continents.

You can create your own thread titled “No High Elves” and write all your demagoguery there, but I’m not interested in reading your delusional posts in my thread. Thank you for your understanding

[Kaeros-dentarg]

The Haranir were supposed to be added in TWW but were delayed when Metzen returned and created the world soul saga. TWW was supposed to end in Harandar aka the rootlands originally.

And your hopes that ‘if we keep asking for them maybe we’ll get them’…no, I’m afraid you won’t. Because that is exactly the sentiment I heard eight years ago when I last saw this topic really spike from other people who believed the same. People who had your hopes and felt as you do that if you keep asking you’ll sway them. I wonder if they still play. I wonder if they still believe that. How do they feel now seeing Midnight and all their asking did nothing. Do you really want to be still waiting in 2033?

[Alfiriniel-silvermoon]

On a personal level, I’m certain we’d get along well but an intriguing certainty, one might almost think you’ve already seen the data. Should your predictions hold true.

I appreciate your perspective, though I find the skepticism somewhat misplaced.
I’d prefer that we maintain a focus on the substance of the argument rather than personal remarks.

[Elcorynd-argent-dawn]

@Ангеланика-gordunni

Bald fact is that your opinions, your assumptions, your fantasies, your interpretations of lore and history, your conclusions, your poems, your denials and distortions of facts are of no interest to anyone here. Thank you

Then what’s the purpose of discussion here?
Just to await positive approach across the board is being delussional, not what Kaeros is stating.
The thing is, if anyone here doesn’t agree with you, they are labeled as HE hater.
People are posting here and mostly having normal and logical approach to this topic, trying to keep discussion alive. People are presenting their opinions on this matter - some will agree, some will not.

@Alfiriniel-silvermoon

I don’t mean to cause a ruckus, purely topic related, but doesn’t Erevien also have an account on the USA forums to do the exact same for the opposite reason.

Yes, we have representatives on both sides.

@Alfiriniel-silvermoon

Nothing is certain and everything is “possible” for now at least.

Exactly! The story, the races and the game direction is always something that changes and develops. No one can say with 100% certainty if high elves will or won’t be added (or any customization to already existing void/blood elves)

@Ангеланика-gordunni

You can create your own thread titled “No High Elves” and write all your demagoguery there, but I’m not interested in reading your delusional posts in my thread. Thank you for your understanding

I don’t think what you classify as ‘demagoguery’ is correct.
If you’re not interested to listen to other people’s opinion then why creating a public post (anothe one, since you already created more of them, and even on US forum as people pointed out)?
I don’t event think you are interested in any kind of meaningful debate about high elves. Besides first post I don’t see any meaningful conversation from your side, no ideas how to deal with this huge topic, no possible outcomes, solutions.
You just proposed (again!) to add high elves as playable race.
And that’s when your job was done.

@Kaeros-dentarg

And your hopes that ‘if we keep asking for them maybe we’ll get them’…no, I’m afraid you won’t.

Exactly!
For OP: I am affraid the game development doesn’t work like that (e.g. I will ask for it, so I will get it). If that was the truth and the OP statement of ‘tens of thousands’ wanting to play HE would be true, we would get playable HE long ago. I am not saying there’s no possible option for the future with more customization (similar to Amani) or new race, I am just purely stating that I wouldn’t count on a single post from quest designer.

As for now, there is no announcement regarding playable/customizable HE in Midntight and you should accept this as a fact.

[Livía-aerie-peak (Livía)]

@Elcorynd-argent-dawn

Can you please explain how story of High Elves and Blood Elves differs prior to the destrucion of Sunwell by Arthas?
Because as long as I know, they share exactly same heritage.
The split, or rather exile, happend after the Sunwell events.

Irrelevant. Blizzard have established quite clearly that there are multiple sects of High Elves still in WoW.

@Elcorynd-argent-dawn

It is as if people refused to accept that today’s Blood Elves are the former High Elves. They bare another name, but that’s all.

The ones refusing to accept that there are more factions of High Elves that only blood elves are you…

[Rexfu-draenor]

@Linir-twisting-nether

No one forced you to come here and be “bothered”.

That might have been a valid point if you kept it to the main helf thread, but you don’t.

The devs don’t even come to the EU forums so your spamming does nothing but annoy everyone who isn’t in your delusional group of alts.

@Amora-argent-dawn

We’re here talking about the game we love, and how we’d like it to blossom.

Why are you here, hm?
How about you focus on things that make you happy instead.

If you love the game so much why are you trying to change it? Why are you whining on the forums for 18 years instead of playing it? You guys (all 2 or 3 of you) are the exact definition of insanity

[Kiryanor-grim-batol]

@Amora-argent-dawn

But they’re not just any other elven race. They’re og High Elves, with a story and unique identity we’ve been teased with for several expansions.

I think you missed the part of the story where in the aftermath of Scourge attack on Quel’Thalas, destruction of Silvermoon, losing the Sunwell and 90% of their population High Elves renamed themselves to Blood Elves.

And sadly they’re not unique. The only difference between the High Elves and Blood Elves is purely political. Over the years the High Elves failed to meaningfully distinguish themselves. They failed to build up from the split. Hell most of the groups we know were the ones that simply stayed wherever they were before the destruction of Silvermoon. Yes that somehow implies that the “High Elves” of Dalaran which went to form Silver Covenant were not disturbed by the fact that the Alliance Commander Tried to Execute their Prince and up to few thousand of their kin for supposed treason.

The crux of the problem is that unless Blizzard pulls out another Shadowlands level of Retcons it’s virtually impossible to create a High Elf Race without taking away from Blood Elves who are by the lore considered the true High Elves and a Core race of the Horde.

[Livía-aerie-peak (Livía)]

@Kiryanor-grim-batol

it’s virtually impossible to create a High Elf Race without taking away from Blood Elves

Adding playable high elves would not take anything away from the blood elves. They would still own all their cities, their culture, their characterisations.

All it would do is make something that already exists in the damn game, playable.

Blizzard have already done the thing you call impossible. Repeatedly, and lo and behold, the blood elves still exists.

[Sahaan-argent-dawn]

Having watched this thread for a little bit since my early remarks when it was created, I’d like to chime in with a point I feel is getting lost in translation here.

My primary concern and what I am against are the blatant disregard for the information we have [for now] and using wishes for what you might want as facts of it existing. Every argument that is provided in this thread that deals with the narrative implications and for what is canon right now are completely disregarded.

So far, those arguing for the High Elves here take absolutely zero consideration for what the story is for what they want the story to be.

That is the problem, as far as I’m concerned.

---

What you DON’T say:

I -wish- the High Elves were more prominent, their story more central to support giving us High Elves as a Core or Allied Race.

What you DO say:

We are shocked and hurt that you haven’t added High Elves because of how important they’ve been historically and because we enjoy them so much.

---

I, myself, have a High Elf character.

Being on a roleplay server too I feel this is even more significant since it’s not just a customization thing, I’ve got a full-blown character; he’s got a full background, motivations, aspirations, a future.

The story of that character is that he was a mostly insignificant custodian of an arcane sanctum [which were a dime a dozen back in the day within the borders of the kingdom]. A Ley-Keeper, who when the Scourge invaded survived but lost his sanctum and failed in its defence. Unable to bear this failure, despite the lack of blame from his kin, he saw no other path but exile.

Rarely seen in the world, he’s a leywalker in present day. Scrolls in his bags, fingers stained with ink and pigment as he frantically charts and scribes the ley lines as he comes across them, studies them. Which in turn is also how he sustained himself with the absence of the Sunwell.

As much as I enjoy them however I am fully capable of seeing how [so far] there’s been little to no narrative support to lend any credence to adding them as a Core or Allied Race. There might be in the future, but there isn’t right now. That’s the whole point, we know this. We have the receipts in endless game content and literature. Light above, even adding the customizations was extremely generous with all this in mind.

But this is—in my opinion—the argument against you. [You] being those that want High Elves as a Core or Allied Race, regardless of what that solution would look like.

[Livía-aerie-peak (Livía)]

@Sahaan-argent-dawn

My primary concern and what I am against are the blatant disregard for the information we have [for now] and using wishes for what you might want as facts of it existing. Every argument that is provided in this thread that deals with the narrative implications and for what is canon right now are completely disregarded.

So far, those arguing for the High Elves here take absolutely zero consideration for what the story is for what they want the story to be.

Bold words from someone who have shown complete disregard for what the game presents…

@Sahaan-argent-dawn

I, myself, have a High Elf character.

You got either a blood elf, with their voice lines, or a balding void elf glowing purple and their distinct voice lines. Neither of which are the high elf from the alliance aligned high elven settlements.

@Sahaan-argent-dawn

Being on a roleplay server too I feel this is even more significant since it’s not just a customization thing, I’ve got a full-blown character; he’s got a full background, motivations, aspirations, a future.

One of the key parts of roleplaying is immersion. And quite frankly, there is nothing more immersion breaking than to see arbitrary restrictions.
The class restrictions, which blizzard likes to ignore themselves.
The transmog restriction, which blizzard likes to ignore themselves.
The faction barrier, which blizzard loves to ignore themselves.
The amount of alliance high elves littered about that blizzard refuses to add to the roster of playable characters.

All of these points makes the game harder to be immersed with, since all of them makes it abundantly clear that something is off with the ruleset of this world.

[Sahaan-argent-dawn]

Time for the reciepts, then.

As a people, the high elves are all but extinct: the remnants of the remnants of a fallen race.[19] They cannot even truly be said to have a culture, only a past filled with glory and regret.[2]

[7] Night of the Dragon, pg. 7
[2] https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/The_Warcraft_Encyclopedia/High_Elves

However, a fraction of the high elves refused to rename themselves blood elves, and while they are physiologically the same race, the difference is only political.[15]

[15] https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/The_Warcraft_Encyclopedia/High_Elves_and_Blood_Elves

In relation to the playable races, Blizzard has stated that the high elves have a considerably smaller population than even the Gnomeregan Exiles.[74] High elves are a rare sight even in Alliance lands,[123] and are considered a fallen, all-but-extinct race.[124] With the destruction of both Theramore and Quel’Lithien, the bulk of the remaining high elf population appears to be bound to the Silver Covenant in Dalaran, the Allerian Stronghold in Outland, and the Quel’Danil Lodge in the Hinterlands.

[74] https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Blizzard_lore_posts
[123] Night of the Dragon, pg. 105
[124] Night of the Dragon, pg. 7

Sources:
https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/High_elf

[Livía-aerie-peak (Livía)]

@Sahaan-argent-dawn

As a people, the high elves are all but extinct: the remnants of the remnants of a fallen race.[19] They cannot even truly be said to have a culture, only a past filled with glory and regret.[2]

Contradicted by their increased presence in game.

@Sahaan-argent-dawn

In relation to the playable races, Blizzard has stated that the high elves have a considerably smaller population than even the Gnomeregan Exiles.

Irrelevant to their playability, and argument contradicted by the addition of void elves.

@Sahaan-argent-dawn

High elves are a rare sight even in Alliance lands,[123] and are considered a fallen, all-but-extinct race.[124]

Contradicted by their presence in game.

Look at what they do, not at what they say they have done.

[Kiryanor-grim-batol]

@Livía-aerie-peak

Adding playable high elves would not take anything away from the blood elves. They would still own all their cities, their culture, their characterisations.

All it would do is make something that already exists in the damn game, playable.

Blizzard have already done the thing you call impossible. Repeatedly, and lo and behold, the blood elves still exists.

I believe I missed the point where the High Elves stopped considering Silvermoon their home and were willing to build a new capital for themselves with a new proper government… Oh Wait. They never did.

You’d basically need a giant freaking Retcon to give them a new never mentioned before settlement pop out with a new and proper leader unifying them. Because neither Varessa or Alleria are that. The former being a leader or a Paramilitary Organization in Dalaran where she resided because of her human Husband and the other focused more on the newly emerged Void Elves and her Personal Grudges with Xal to even consider properly leading her people.

[Livía-aerie-peak (Livía)]

They could still call Silvermoon a home without being allowed to go there.

They could easily start anywhere in the alliance. And blizzard added even a general starting zone which even removes the need of unique place to start. You could make them start in Northshire and no sane person would even bat an eye. They could start in Alleria stronghold and just chill there before heading to Alliance proper. They could start in Quel’Danil fleeing from a troll attack, or simply be someone who chilled out in Farstrider Lodge.

Nothing deeper or more bombastic than that is needed for the playability.