wow World of Warcraft What's Next Panel Liveblog

[Staff 1,182]

We're liveblogging the World of Warcraft: What's Next panel, so check back often for the latest news!

Highlights

Story in the War Within

• Dream-like visions come from the Heart of Azeroth.
• Anduin has survived his ordeal with domination and is now hearing voices.
• Thrall is looking to find the source of the mysterious voice.
• We will also hear about Magni Bronzebeard!
• Xal'atath is the mysterious harbinger Iridikron talked about.
• She is a harbinger of the void's dark machinations.
• In the Nerubian Kingdom of Azj-Kahet, we will meet a new civilization.
• Xal'atath has promised the Nerubians power.
• Alleria Windrunner will also take part in the story.

Creatures and Cultures in the War Within

Maria Hamilton is now talking about the creatures and cultures we will encounter in the War Within. The Earthen are no longer united but are split into the Unbound, Oathsword, Machine Speakers.

The Earthen will join the Alliance or the Horde. We covered a preview of the customizations here.

We will also encounter the Arathi who have mysteriously arrived in Khaz Algar. Even their airships are powered by sacred fire.

Xal'atath has made a new bargain with the Nerubians. She has provided them a way to enhance their viciousness, the queen has gladly accepted her offer.

Kobolds have built their own city! They are a force to be reckoned with lead by the Candle King!

3 out of the 4 zones are underground, all support dynamic flight (dragonriding) and seamless transition without a loading screen.

Dungeons, Raids & Systems

Associate Game Director Morgan Day is now talking about dungeons, raids, and systems coming in the new expansion.

The expansion will ship with 8 dungeons.

The Nerub'ar Palace will be an 8-boss raid. It is the result of the outcome of Xal'atath's bargain with the Nerubians.

Here's the raid's preliminary layout. The raid's quite linear.

They are focusing on evergreen features, they want to make the game great forever and not having to remove systems with new expansions.

They want to add something to everyone and make the game alt friendly.

Delves are an evergreen feature integrated into the outdoor experience. They want it to be a pillar of outdoor content. It will provide you with loot in the Great Vault! Delves will be outdated for every season. You can play delves in group or solo. There is an NPC companion joining you on all delves. In season 1 it will be Brann Bronzebeard.

Warbands are an opportunity to create a platform where you can share all the good stuff between all characters. Transmogs will be shared across all characters. Reputations and Renown are shared between all chars as well.

Hero talents are self-contained talent trees for each class. 2 Hero talents will be available per specialization.

In the following example, we're looking at a Warrior.

The Hero Talents system will unlock at level 71, you will earn 1 talent point per level between 71-80, for a total of 10 points. There is an extremely low swap friction between Heroic talents.

Livestream 

You can watch the What's Next panel live below.

[Prophet001 479]

Man the nerubian stuff is so pog imo.

 

So pog.

[Dejo93 942]

Really hope we get playable Nerubians one day

[Prophet001 479]

Dude i'm stoked for this lol

Hype

[Arcling 822]

They are called Nerubians, but they look more humanoid than the ones we knew. Their faces remind me a bit of Night Fae. However, these aren't Azjol-Nerub. Wish we have learned what they've been up to, there were some survivors after all.

[Starym 3,724]

1 hour ago, Arcling said:

They are called Nerubians, but they look more humanoid than the ones we knew. Their faces remind me a bit of Night Fae. However, these aren't Azjol-Nerub. Wish we have learned what they've been up to, there were some survivors after all.

They've also been changed by the Void. we don't really know the extent and how long this has been happening or whether they looked like that before they started mutating.