In slight relation to my previous fungal whale post and Zangarmarsh-
I love that the Horde's main locations in Zangarmarsh are Troll-run
They aren't really related to the zone in a meaningful way, but it makes total sense that they would be the ones there. They're jungle trolls that live on islands, they would know their way around environments like that.
Also fond of Shadowprey Village in Desolace for similar reasons
I can't be the only one who's curious to learn more about the Hobgoblins, right?
Like, there's got to be some serious implications behind their existence right? We know that Goblins get turned into Hobgoblins, no one seems to be born a Hobgoblin. Why do they exist? What the fuck is up with them?
Not sure how likely or how practical it would be, but if they continue making neutral playable races in the future, I think it would be cool if they implemented Half-Orcs and Half-Elves some day.
If anyone is curious about why I think Half-Elves should be neutral too, I firmly believe that there would be at least some with the Blood Elves in Quel'thalas proper. Ones who were raised there, or ones from outside that maybe identified more with their elven heritage or made their way there after the Scourge's attack; something along those lines.
Plus there is Dalaran to consider, as well as the possibility of undead ones in the Forsaken. There was at least one officially in the old RPG books: Oni'jus, second in command of the Royal Apothecary Society and a master of mundane poisons whose idea it was to add "Royal" to the Society's name. She is sadly no longer canon (for now). There might even be some in the Trade Cartels, same for Half-Orcs too.
I don't know if any from the Night Elves and Nightborne would be likely, there would have to be a big time-skip to justify it. Though, Night Elves have had contact with the factions for about two decades or so as of Dragonflight, so it isn't impossible. Nightborne aren't happening without a time-skip though.
Mok'nathal would also be an amazing option for a Half-Orc origin, naturally, but they would probably only be Horde.
I don't know, this thought just occurred to me the other day and I'm just kind of spitting out my train of thought.
An addition to this- I was thinking that you could choose your "origin" for them to get specific customization options and racial abilities.
Like, for Half-Orc, it would be pick what the other half would be: Human, Draenei, or Ogre. Human and Draenei would be neutral options and ogre would be Horde exclusive because of the Mok'Nathal.
Half-Elf is a bit tougher. I figured you would instead pick what type of elf your heritage would be. Night Elf would be Alliance Exclusive, to match the Half-Ogre option, and Thalassian Elves would exist as a neutral option. Both options would have Darkfallen customization options.
I thought that not having another neutral option when Half-Orcs would was a little unfair though, so I had been considering what that would even be.
Nightborne are out, naturally, due to them not being around long enough and it also being another Horde-only option.
I considered Highborne; they are considered distinct enough from Night Elves to be counted as a separate people from time to time, they were neutral until Cataclysm, and you could kind of use it to cheat and get "Nightborne" options for people who just want to kind of play around with that. On the other hand, physical customizations wouldn't really be different enough from Night Elves, and stats and racial abilities probably wouldn't be distinct enough from Thalassians, though maybe the mash up of aesthetics and racials would be appealing. Plus the Shen'Dralar were pretty reclusive before Cata and are solely Alliance now, so I don't know how much sense it would make. Then again, the Moon Guard were still around until Legion, so I suppose they could also serve as an origin point. At least, I think they can, I'm not entirely sure at the moment if the Moon Guard is supposed to be made of regular Night Elves, Highborne, or a mix of both. Either way, I have some hang-ups about whether or not half-Highborne would even join with the Horde; I think a sense of kinship with the Blood Elves and Nightborne would be enough of a draw, but I can't help but wonder if I'm grasping at straws.
So I got to considering other options, of which there aren't really any. In light of that, I loosened my definition of what could be considered an elf, an decided to think about the Satyr and Naga.
Satyr's would be interesting as an option, because in that instance you would be more of a quarter-elf/quarter-demon. However, given how they are almost universally depicted as loyal to the Legion or the Old Gods, I don't know how likely it would be. Granted, it's not impossible for there to be Satyr that buck that trend, the Illidari had Satyr members for instance, but I don't think Blizz would really consider it and Satyr's don't seem popular enough to change that.
Side note: there are also the crystal Satyrs of the Unbound in Crystalsong Forest, but they are all depicted as hostile and considered "mad" so I wouldn't hold my breath. Bit of a shame, I would be really interested in that.
Naga would kind of be perfect as another option, or at least they are one I would be really hyped about. They're numerous enough and find their way all around the world that it would be believable, playable Naga have been considered enough that we could at least assume there's a fair number of friendly ones potentially out in the world. Plus, the customizations would be insanely awesome; in my head they would all have gills, there would be options for sharp teeth and snake eyes, maybe even an extra set of arms and the hair of snakes. It would probably be a broad spectrum of "snakiness" depending on the individual, though I would think they would all have actual legs and not snake tails, for the ease of modeling if nothing else.
I don't know how the more beastly males would work with non-Naga, but have been online long enough to know for sure that there are people who would absolutely be down for it. Plus there are now more humanoid-faced males in lore, so there is that. One thing that makes me hesitant though is that Naga hatch from eggs, but this is a fantasy series so I kind of doubt it would end up being an actual issue.
I know this is all kind of rambley but this stuff was bouncing around my head a lot and I really wanted to put some of it into words
Just remembered this, when Night Elves were being raised as dark rangers, I think there was mention that only certain one's would "choose" to return; angry souls or elves who felt that Elune had abandoned them.
Kind of just realized that them feeling that way makes a lot more sense considering they were probably being tortured in the Maw at the time.
I mean, it's kind of obvious but it's also something that I don't think really clicked in my brain before. I guess It happening way before the Wisps in the Maw were dealt with was why?
There is also the practical excuse. I mean, I would choose zombie over hellish torture dimension any day.
and we go back to Northrend, I wonder what the new capital will be for the expansion. I doubt they'll go with Dalaran again, so operating on the assumption that we'll be using an existing location, I think that the likely options will be...
Grizzlemaw - now ruled over by Furbolgs that are finally purified
Zul'Drak/Gundrak - Could easily see surviving Drakkari finally banding together to rebuild, and maybe opening up to the other factions to ensure survival/out of desperation. I like to think it would be a coalition of living and undead trolls
Wintergrasp - Finally find some greater use for it
Moa'ki Harbor - According to Exploring Northrend, the largest Tuskarr settlement since losing Kaskala
Kaskala - Finally reclaimed
Pal'ea - According to Exploring Northrend, has been reclaimed by the Tuskarr and is currently expanding
Isle of Conquest
Strand of the Ancients
Azjol-Nerub - Not too sure about this one considering what's going on in tWW, but I feel like it's a fair possibility
Coldarra/the Nexus
Crystalsong Forest - Unlikely, but I could see them rebuilding in the Highborne Ruins, especially if they go with a Dalaran connection and the elven factions. Doubt it though, considering the expansion before this will be so Elf-focused
Didn't consider any Storm Peaks locations, considering that it seems we'll be fighting the Titans who will be based out of Ulduar, or Icecrown locations, considering I doubt that anybody would choose that. Sholazar also has Titan connections and also no locations that seem like they would fit for a capital city.
Ok, so in my reaction post to The War Within, I mentioned being concerned about what they will do with Zul'Aman and the Amani in the Midnight expansion. It feels like Blizzard could very easily go and side them with the Void to keep them as enemies, which would be messed up for all sorts of reasons. However, I had a thought earlier and remembered Vol'jin is going to be returning from Ardenweald eventually and that could potentially tie into things. Vol'jin is supposed to be "the future of the Trolls," so maybe we'll be seeing him get involved in things and end up with the Amani in a more positive light. Maybe have to reckon with the whole conflict between them and Quel'Thalas. Plus Zandalar being involved now could play into things. I don't know, I'm trying to think positively about it.
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