Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsBlizzard 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 3 of 10)
Lloren Aug 11th 2011 1:15PM
Oooorrr... If they do introduce updated player models, this could be how we get the option to either update or keep the one we already have. They said before that one of their concerns about doing this was that people would not want to be forced into having their toon suddenly look completely different.
Thomas Higgins Aug 11th 2011 1:20PM
This screeny is proof that someone in Blizzard is a big Calvin and Hobbes fan, for I think the author, Bill Watterson was the first person to use that word in one of his cartoons about the mad wee boy and his pet stuffed tiger.
Who grew up to be Jack and Tyler Durden.
Daedalus Aug 11th 2011 1:29PM
@Thomas Higgins:
Not to take anything away from Bill Watterson, (whom I really like...) but "transmogrify" is a real word, dating back to the 1600's.
loop_not_defined Aug 11th 2011 1:35PM
Oh shit...
What if transmogrification lets you change one item to look like another item?
ARE WE FINALLY GETTING AN "APPEARANCE TAB"?!
*cough* *choke* *hack*
loop_not_defined Aug 11th 2011 1:39PM
Crap, missed, like, the other millions of posts where people drew that conclusion. Got too excited. :X
Stonebeard Aug 11th 2011 1:47PM
@loop_not_defined
I hate to get my hopes up again, but if transmogrification is a way to change the look of items... well, I may just cry.
If they made it a microtransaction or something like that, I would also cry. But they'd be wholly different tears...
Thomas Higgins Aug 11th 2011 2:10PM
@ Daedalus. Ooops! I must admit though that it was reading Calvin and Hobbes that I first read it and thought "transmogrification" was Watterson's creation, like "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" was created for Mary Poppins.
txnicole Aug 11th 2011 4:53PM
I think transmogrification will be the ability to change your face, skin color, piercings, and the like. The things you can't change at the barber.
Drakkenfyre Aug 11th 2011 9:33PM
For some reason, the "Void Storage" reminded me of a Voidwalker, and not any void an Ethereal would be involved with. The NPC beside him makes me think it's the NPC to change your minions sex back and forth.
But there are more appropriate NPC's to base that on, instead of Ethereals.
Wren Aug 11th 2011 12:55PM
My hope? Ethereals join the alliance. Pandaren can join the horde. But if I can get a wind/arcane space mummy with an attitude that would make a goblin feel charitable? I will be a happy man.
Eccentrica Aug 11th 2011 1:01PM
This. One thousand times this.
Thomas Higgins Aug 11th 2011 1:05PM
Surely the Ogres would be a better fit? Smart ones like the Ogri'la? Particularly in the Death Knight flavor.
Aubrey Aug 11th 2011 1:25PM
I'm with you here.
Plainswander Aug 11th 2011 1:29PM
Ethereals are far more driven greed than goblins, and much more amoral as well. They're the Unscrupulous Corporate CEO's to the Goblins Shady Traders and Black Market WIzards....
I can see them joining alliance because they're so "surface civilized", but if they did, it would put a stake once and for all in the notion that the Alliance are the "good" races.
Ominous Aug 11th 2011 1:32PM
It'd more likely be the reverse - "cute" Pandaren to the alliance and Ethereal "vagabonds" to the Horde - if it was either.
Udderpowered Aug 11th 2011 1:35PM
If this comes to pass (unlikely, but fun to speculate), it'd be the first time I feel like the Horde got the worse of the new races. Ethereal animations are great, they have an interesting past that has enough room to be greatly expanded on and they're just damn cool.
Customisation would be interesting, but I'm sure they can go under a slight redesign to have vague facial features to alter.
Blayze Aug 11th 2011 2:37PM
Unless we get the Pandyr instead of the Pandaren.
Josho Aug 11th 2011 3:17PM
It wouldn't be the end of 'good' races; if you recall, they aren't totally corrupted by the notion of greed - Nexus-Prince Haramad opts out on giving the ata'mal crystal to Kael'thas and the blood elves because he's so inspired by the player's selflessness and lets you take it to A'dal instead.
matticus Aug 11th 2011 3:17PM
I would think the fact that Tauren are Horde would have already put a stake in the notion that Alliance are the "good" races.
Dreyja Aug 11th 2011 3:38PM
ACH - I I would hope the exact opposite! It just goes to show - someone's going to feel ripped-off no matter what they do. :)