Blizzard drops "Glimpses" screenshot with 3 unknown NPCs -- possible patch or expansion hint?
by Adam Holisky 
Aug 11th 2011 at 12:45PM
The above picture titled "Glimpses" was just posted on Blizzard's Facebook page. It shows ethereals hanging out, offering arcane reforging, transmogrification, and "void storage," whatever that is.
We don't know where this is from, and the picture is presented by Blizzard with the comment, "Interesting." So we know it's a glimpse at something coming up. What could that be? It's possibly related to patch 4.3 or the next expansion. And on that note, it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibilities for Blizzard to start dropping hints for the next expansion now.
Our staff picked up that it's a generic Stormwind building right away. In fact, the NPC and layout looks very similar to Cordell's Enchanting in the Mages District in Stormwind; that's pictured below. Obviously, the doodads and room decorations are different, but the layout and NPC spacing are the same.
We don't know where this is from, and the picture is presented by Blizzard with the comment, "Interesting." So we know it's a glimpse at something coming up. What could that be? It's possibly related to patch 4.3 or the next expansion. And on that note, it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibilities for Blizzard to start dropping hints for the next expansion now.
Our staff picked up that it's a generic Stormwind building right away. In fact, the NPC and layout looks very similar to Cordell's Enchanting in the Mages District in Stormwind; that's pictured below. Obviously, the doodads and room decorations are different, but the layout and NPC spacing are the same.
Filed under: News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
zomgme Aug 11th 2011 12:50PM
VotV!
Klausse Aug 11th 2011 1:39PM
Lol - rereading the VotV "memo" that went around a few weeks back, it doesn't look as far-fetched any more. :) Maybe Mists of Pandaria is Blizzard trolling the community, and the "fake" VotV memo is the real deal?
That would be epic!
jonas Aug 11th 2011 1:45PM
If I worked at Blizzard, I'd spend all my free time making random crazy things like this just to mess with people :) But I doubt I'd be around long... :/
Coco Aug 11th 2011 2:07PM
Hmm, This could be the much-requested "appearance tab" mechanic.
an Arcane Reforger... Reforging is already meant for gear, so what would this variant do? Add stats to one gear to another's model?
Void Storage would be where you can save gear models you like that you've picked up
Transmogrifier... not sure where that fits in but the word usually means something similar to change or transform
Thundrcrackr Aug 11th 2011 4:21PM
It looks more like the room was taken from "The Finest Thread" than "Cordell's Enchanting".
http://www.wowpedia.org/File:The_Finest_Thread.jpg?c=1
Notice the painting and barrel in the far corner are the same. As well as the spool of thread on the left side of the counter.
Thundrcrackr Aug 11th 2011 5:09PM
So if i got my current headpiece transmogrified to look like my Deepdive Helmet, would it look like this?
http://i.imgur.com/xX1ur.jpg
Draelan Aug 11th 2011 6:22PM
I would be... very happy with the ability to alter the appearance of my gear.
*dreams of my rogue dual-wielding Dark Herring (http://www.wowhead.com/item=44703) again without losing out on stats/DPS*
awall Aug 11th 2011 7:34PM
Note that the regular Reforging NPC in the Stormwind screenshot is also called an Arcane Reforger. No new mechanics here, apparently.
Suzaku Aug 11th 2011 8:34PM
I think it's pretty obvious that this is a suite of new service NPCs to help manage equipment, to be introduced in 4.3.
Thaumaturge Vashreen
Arcane Reforging (previously known as a Thaumaturgy in the Cataclysm beta) is a way to reforge secondary stats on gear to something more useful. Nothing new here.
Vaultkeeper Razhid
As his title and profession imply, this likely has something to do with storing items. My guess is that it'll be specifically for storing armor.
Warpweaver Hashom
Transmogrification means "changing something's appearance", so I can only assume that it will involve changing the appearance of equipment. Likely by "warpweaving" two different pieces of gear together.
I'm also pretty disappointed at how few people know what "transmogrify" means, and how few people know it's an actual English word. I wouldn't be surprised if Blizzard changed the term, like they did with Thaumaturge.
Ilmyrn Aug 12th 2011 10:29AM
Vault Storage: A place to stow BoAs to transfer cross server, sort of a cross server bank that only works for heirlooms?
That's my guess anyway. As for the transmogrifier, fingers crossed that it's for changing gear appearances.
Snuzzle Aug 13th 2011 1:21AM
If it IS armor appearance changing, I'm betting right now it'll be super expensive. Reforging costs you vendor price of the item. Chances are Blizz doesn't want you changing armor appearance on a whim (just imagine, an entire arena team changing their latest season kit to look like crafted blues to get their oppositions' guard down, then back after a night of PVP to show off in SW/Org).
I'm guessing, perhaps, 10x to 100x vendor price. So for lowbies to make their armor look nicer would be cheap (wearing heirlooms but getting to a change of look after 50 levels of sameness! Yay!) but much pricier and more of a thoughtful decision for 85s.
RetPallyJil Aug 11th 2011 12:49PM
/kneel
/pray
Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space. Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space. Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space. Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space.
/stand
I always thought the Ethereals were pretty bitchin'. I'd like to see more of them (figuratively, of course)
Shinae Aug 11th 2011 12:52PM
Account-wide banking would be sweeeeet.
emberdione Aug 11th 2011 12:54PM
/kneel
/pray
Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space. Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space. Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space. Please let Void Storage be expanded bank space.
/stand
I am with you on this one.
RetPallyJil Aug 11th 2011 12:55PM
This would be excellent timing, if it is. Last night, I braved the cobwebby corners of my bank and discovered that there's nothing else I can junk for space.
I'd say 70% of my stuff is "This item is no longer available to players" lol You can pry my Frozen Runes from my (very) cold dead hands!
Minstrel Aug 11th 2011 1:22PM
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"I always thought the Ethereals were pretty bitchin'. I'd like to see more of them (figuratively, of course)"
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Ethereals are actually one of the existing "races" (species?) that I'd love to see become playable. I just love their look and style of movement. Probably way too much to hope for, though!
Ice Aug 11th 2011 1:28PM
Now I will pray that my wallet/gold wont be sucked empty by this void if its more space...
Joe Aug 11th 2011 2:07PM
And from an in-game story perspective, now that there's been two-way traffic between Outland and Azeroth, it never really made much sense that the Ethereals hadn't tried to expand their trading empires to Azeroth.
(Unless there was some back-room deal between the Goblins and the Ethereals...)
Jack Spicer Aug 11th 2011 3:02PM
Maybe Void storage could be how people would transfer heirlooms to a different server.
Jade Aug 11th 2011 5:05PM
I personally think Jack Spicer is probably right.
The idea of a portal through alternate dimensions (other realms) through the void, being run by the Ethereals would produce an in game justification for their being cross realm mail at all. Transmogrification? No idea. Sounds like it would turn items into other items. Maybe an in game ability to get stuff you got on quests traded or something.
Will probably be an identical place set up in Orgrimmar to handle horde side.