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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria 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 6 of 10)
Blayze Aug 11th 2011 1:13PM
So many things it could be. All of them awesome.
florianna Aug 11th 2011 1:15PM
Void space being expanded bank space would be awesome.
But I don't think they could be a new playable race if that were the case. Its pretty much either/or. I vote for bank space.
Elpizo Aug 11th 2011 1:16PM
Ooh, let the rampant speculation commence!
Mr. Crow Aug 11th 2011 1:15PM
Occam's Razor would tell us that the "Void Storage" is just a banker, and the Arcane Reforger is a Reforger. I would doubt that the Transmogrifier is a tricked-up barber, but that's more because there's no Barber's Chair in the shot (and that's the doodad necessary for the actual Barbershop functions.)
I also doubt that the Transmogrifier allows for direct appearance changes, as that would subvert either the Barbershop and/or the Character Customization paid service.
The suggestion that the Transmogrifier is an NPC that offers a new function for altering Warlock demon appearances is an interesting concept, but I don't know why they'd build a specific NPC that only one class could use, and then put him next to NPCs that all classes would use. If that's even an NPC function, it would make more sense next to Warlock trainers in capital cities, just as Hunter Pet trainer NPCs are typically co-located with Hunter trainers.
Bloody mysterious...
Daedalus Aug 11th 2011 2:06PM
Well, Arcane Reforger almost certainly is "just a reforger" since that's the title currently given to reforgers in game.
As for Void Storage, my guess would be no, since every other banker I can think of is just labelled "banker." I'm guessing it is some kind of banking, but whether it be cross-character, cross-factional, cross-battlenet account, or cross-server is anyone's guess. (Safest bet is likely the least expansive: some kind of shared banking space for all characters on one server in the same faction.)
For the transmogrifier, I agree with your analysis; that's why I kinda lean towards others suggesting that it's a gear appearance thing (which would make sense next to an NPC that can change gear's stats...) Of course, that may just be wishful thinking, since of all the possibilities suggested, that's the one I'd most want to see.
Grovinofdarkhour Aug 11th 2011 1:15PM
Here's my wild, founded-on-nothing guess.
Consortium will be the first race of a third faction.
They will get no new cities of their own, but have access to both Alliance and Horde cities.
The three figures you see above have roles that could easily translate into Banker, Barber, and Reforger. Possibly only accessible by other Consortium.
Grovinofdarkhour Aug 11th 2011 1:17PM
Yet further proof I should read others' posts before constructing my own.
Apparently, I am STILL not a special snowflake.
RetPallyJil Aug 11th 2011 3:03PM
You're still special to us. /hug
Shade Aug 11th 2011 1:20PM
Not to be a complete debbie-downer, but isn't there a chance that this is nothing at all? It could be "Glimpses... at what the art team does when they're bored" and "Interesting... why did they put Ethereals in Stormwind?" Maybe it was just an exercise by new hires to acquaint them with the programs.
Obviously I hope it's something, because red herrings universally suck. But just saying, so we don't all go "AWWWW!" a-la-South Park if it turns out to be nothing
Grayswindir Aug 11th 2011 1:20PM
Please for the love of the Naaru be increased Bank space. I have NO ROOM in my bank due to all my awesome tier gear, items no longer in the game, really really rare weapons, and just plain cool items. Every single tab in my Bank is 22 slot and I have NO ROOM.
I would give 10k gold to just be able to get more space! I really am hoping this is an answer to prayer!!!
Falcom Aug 11th 2011 1:49PM
10k gold could buy a couple illusionary bags... Just sayin
nolarachel Aug 11th 2011 1:22PM
If I can be an ethereal, I'm deleting all my other toons...
Vitos Aug 11th 2011 1:23PM
Here's my baseless speculation.
Arcane Reforger is the same old reforger.
Transmogrifier is where you take an old item and a current item and change the appearance of the new item. Its a 1 to 1 ratio, so you can't make all of your hats look like the t2 pally hat if you only have one t2 pally hat. If you have a dozen t2 pally hats, you can make a dozen hats look like the t2 pally hat.
The Void Storage is specialized storage space. Primarily it will have tabards, gearsets and quest items.
To be added in 4.3 to SW, IF, UC and Org.
Noyou Aug 11th 2011 1:57PM
That is some very precise speculation :)
Zaraphiston Aug 12th 2011 6:07AM
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and reforge...and I'm all out of bubblegum"
Josho Aug 11th 2011 1:26PM
Ethereals...
I think I may have died and gone to heaven.
Aje Aug 11th 2011 1:33PM
alliance ethereals? anything the horde gets can't be as cool. same as worgens. so depressed/angry.
Noyou Aug 11th 2011 2:00PM
People said that about worgen. I think the goblins turned out way better in my opinion. I play alliance 99% of the time and had to delete my worgen. I like speculation but no sense in getting all up or down based on one screen shot. For all we know it could be as simple as outland being more of a focus in the next expansion. It could also be a building in the next CoT dungeon/raid. They could be a new faction there in a back to the future sort of way.
Wolftech Aug 11th 2011 2:14PM
Please, Worgen suck. Ever since this game started, Alliance has been getting the short end of the stick. This expansion has been the worst of it so far. Look at the amount of time spent on the starting area for Goblins vs Worgen. Then look at Azshara. Yeah.. thats a horde symbol right on the map made out of the land. And then you got the Orc Jesus, Thrall (savior of the world, walks on water, etc...). Plus all the territory gains of the Horde as well.
BTW, I fully expect to be down-rated by all the horde fan boys because they can never take the truth.
Daedalus Aug 11th 2011 2:55PM
@Wolftech:
I'm no horde fan boy, but I have to say, we do have a few things going for us: the Worgen starting area is beautiful, even if we don't get to see it for long and the story peters out just after. Werewolves in top hats are scientifically proven to be among the top 10% most awesome things that are, and none of our faction leaders are A.) dangerously, murderously unbalanced, (Garrosh) B.) Dead (Cairne), or C.) Both (Sylvanas).
Plus, do you know how many hordies would trade a tauren's weight in gold for the chance to kill Garrosh? We get to do it whenever we want.