This year at BlizzCon 2023, WowCarry was fortunate enough to have an exclusive interview with Senior Narrative Director Anne Stickley and Associate Game Director Tina Wang. They discussed various exciting topics related to the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, The War Within. In this in-depth interview, Stickley and Wang provided insights into the introduction of the Arathi humans, the use of Holy Flame by the Arathi, the significance of the sword, the role of characters like Anduin and Magni, and the plans for future expansions. Let's dive into the details of this interview!
Stickley explained that the Arathi humans are a splintered tribe of the original Arathi Empire from ancient times. They are a devoted group to the Light and are known as uber Paladins. The decision to bring them into the expansion was driven by the desire to explore the history and culture of ancient human tribes that players haven't seen in a long time.
Wang added that the focus on the Arathi humans allowed the development team to create variety in the game, as they hadn't done a human-focused expansion in a while. They were excited to delve into the culture and history of the Arathi humans, including their animal companions.
Stickley revealed that the Arathi humans use Holy Flame to power their airships. The Holy Flame plays a significant role in their fight against the darkness and their clash with the Nerubians. Stickley also mentioned a favorite dungeon, the Priory of the Secret Flame, which has a Cathedral-like design.
Stickley and Wang discussed the role of the sword in the expansion. Stickley confirmed that the sword is part of the Worldsoul Saga, as the World Soul is calling out to people for a reason. While they couldn't reveal too much about the sword's role in The War Within, they emphasized that it would be addressed over the course of three expansions.
Stickley spoke about Anduin's character development, stating that he faced a moment of losing himself and almost becoming like Arthas. The expansion explores Anduin's struggle with his worthiness and battles the darkness within himself. Stickley clarified that Anduin doesn't have any remnants of Arthas in him but is grappling with the consequences of his traumatic experiences.
Stickley and Wang addressed the plans for future expansions and the pacing of their releases. They confirmed that the three expansions introduced at BlizzCon 2023 are just the beginning of an epic saga that will unfold over the next twenty years. The team aimed to avoid long periods of no new content and introduce expansions at a responsible pace to keep players engaged and entertained.
Stickley mentioned that 10.2 is not the last patch of Dragonflight, and there is still much more story to tell. The expansions will feature three arcs that lead into each other, similar to the transition from Warlords of Draenor to Legion. Stickley emphasized the thematic continuity and the expansion of the story with each arc.
Stickley and Wang discussed two new features coming in The War Within: Warbands and Heroic Talents. Warbands allow players to gather their alts and interact with each other around a campfire, creating a sense of camaraderie. Heroic Talents are customizable talent trees that offer players the freedom to lean into specific playstyle fantasies without affecting the existing talent trees.
Stickley and Wang explained that players can freely switch between Heroic Talents and are not locked into particular choices. The new system allows players to progress and earn loot through Delves, outdoor endgame content with a 15-minute timeframe. Delves provide a more flexible playstyle, respecting the player's time and accommodating different schedules.
Stickley and Wang revealed that the team is continuously discussing plans for updating old zones and professions. Although they couldn't share specific details about professions at the moment, they expressed the intention to keep them fascinating and rewarding for players.
On the art side, Wang mentioned that most, if not all, mounts that currently fly will have dynamic flying by the expansion's launch. This improvement aims to enhance the visual experience and add a dynamic element to mount gameplay.
With these exciting details and insights from the interview, players can look forward to The War Within, a saga that will offer epic storytelling, new features, and a fresh take on the World of Warcraft universe. Keep an eye out for more updates and announcements as the development progresses.
