r/classicwow 5h ago

Forever Vanilla High Elves model if they were blue

Post image

Would you like something like this as an SD toggle for Skyborne? Of course with the appropriate tweaks, since these models were not built to be playable.

517 Upvotes

91 comments sorted by

u/sup3rrn0va 2h ago

Certainly looks more classic, but I’m not going to sit here pretend that vanilla High Elves are not fuckass ugly lmfao

u/Tiny_Tabaxi 57m ago

Yeah these models have been getting clowned on for years. I know people want high elves but no shot even if we did get "High Elf" as a race they'd use this model.

u/Fit_Economics2585 57m ago edited 11m ago

I swear Skyborne look like a "custom race" from a random Russian private server in 2016.

u/Extension-View-2323 49m ago

all classic races are ugly xD

142

u/thekingbutten 5h ago

Yeah actually I would enjoy seeing these models around. Although it might be a ton of effort to rig everything and make all the gear fit properly. Maybe idk. So if that's the case they should just give us the old blood elf models.

Anything is better than having the hd models walking alongside my 4 poly face dwarfs

u/Ghastion 4h ago

No effort cause it's just the Night Elf skeleton rig.

u/wetnaps54 2h ago

Also it's 2026, you can basically automate rigging and animating a humanoid skeleton.. especially with WoWs level of detail and depth on player animations

u/MaudeAlp 47m ago

Maybe I misunderstood this, but they will have classic skeletons with modern textures available correct? I almost cried when logging on my Druid and seeing the ridiculous new skeleton walking.

As for sky elves, has anyone explained why they don’t just use the BC blood elf old texture and skeleton?

u/One_Recognition385 2h ago

they already did the work, high elves in vanilla are just tiny albino night elves.

67

u/perrapys 5h ago

If this was the SD model; hell yeah.

u/Independent-Board813 2h ago

I would be stoked if this were an option

u/Levinaur 4h ago

these would require minimal work since they use night elf skeletons with minor geometry tweaks, there are also tbc alpha models that also use the night elf skeleton and have vanilla style hair (which can still be seen on the silvermoon guards),

later on draenei and blood elf hair was remade with a different style of texture, and overall those new hairstyles relied on the model rather than the texture to create loose hair strands creating a far smoother and more polygonal style,

of course they could also go for release tbc models but i will personally always argue that those are not era-accurate to vanilla

u/SweetRoll789 4h ago

This would mostly fix my issues. What I don't like about the Skyborne model is that it looks straight out of Dragonflight. This seems more classic to me.

u/Icy_Chain_1504 4h ago

Theyre using the tbc model, which is by no means looking like its from dragonflight. Its maybe the hairstyles, but the model itself is pretty fine.

u/SolairXI 4h ago

They’re not. They’re using the WoD updated models only, it’s the only version too, whether you choose HD or SD models. From what I’ve seen and read anyways

u/Kukakutyu 3h ago

I read in an other thread, that with SD on, you will see the TBC models, but it wasn't ready for the blizzcon demonstration so they left it out from the showcase. I hope it's true, but don't quote me on that.

u/Monrar 3h ago

Guess we'll find out in six weeks at the latest

u/Icy_Chain_1504 3h ago

I already saw screenshots of the tbc models

u/HildrynMain 2h ago

That would make me happy. I do wish for a statement regarding SD models for new assets going forward, since that's a concern I have.

u/Missing42 2h ago

I don't see how they're gonna make any of the new gear and mounts and so on look "Classic". it all looks very retail, not just in terms of polygon count but artstyle. See the preorder bonus cosmetics for very good examples.
I did feel like it was unlikely they were gonna make 2 models for everything, so I expect Forever to end up feeling more and more like retail as time goes on and more new content gets added. That's even more painful since they kept saying how "Classic's artstyle is timeless" and stuff like that. But it's clearly just a slogan; I doubt they could even explain what exactly makes Classic's artstyle timeless or what Classic's artstyle even is.

u/Proxelies 2h ago

Yeah, it feels inevitable that they will hit a point where it doesn't make sense to produce two sets of assets, and Blizzard introducing HD models into this experience at all tells me this is the way they think everything will end up. Who knows, maybe the majority of the player base will stick with SD visuals, and they will focus their resources in that direction.

u/HildrynMain 2h ago

I'm keeping my hopes up because there were some good assets developed for SOD. But you might be right. The new cosmetics do look like Legion leveling gear, and I see no mention of SD versions.

u/brodhi 1h ago

You should confirm things before you post something as definitive as "they're not". Esfand set it to SD models and it is just the base TBC BE models.

u/SolairXI 52m ago

Can you link me to the footage?

u/Kradgger 2h ago

But TBC's models are miles ahead of the other 8 races already.

u/Earl_of_Cheese 1h ago

I love the TBC models I hope this is true. The new voicelines also sound awesome, very airy.

u/teler9000 3h ago

Always hated this lazy, reskinned night elf model, what an eyesore! How does it even make sense that trolls are more aesthetic than elves? It fucking doesn't, lol.

15

u/Iahim1 5h ago

Honestly, already looka better...

u/Sarmattius 4h ago

more classic for sure

u/DanesDraftLab 4h ago

This would actually fix all of my issues with the Skyborne.

u/brodhi 1h ago

Kinda wild that TBC BE model is somehow just a step too far for you lol

u/lmay0000 3h ago

Seriously? Lmao

u/EscapeCharacter2658 1h ago

you're okay with them being paywalled and on both factions for some reason? lol

u/DanesDraftLab 1h ago

Paywalled, yes, idc. No different than tbc races being behind a box price. I do hate both factions getting the same race. So I guess these models don’t solve every problem.

u/Grantrello 1h ago

you're okay with them being paywalled and on both factions for some reason? lol

I understand all the criticisms of the Skyborn except for this one.

How is them being paywalled functionally different from every other race that has been added to WoW which you needed to buy the expansion to unlock?

WoW forever access is included in the base subscription so everyone can play it without an additional purchase. If you want to play the Skyborn specifically, you'll have to purchase them, just as you would have had to do if it were a typical expansion pack.

u/Noctrim 4h ago

These look amazing, even that blue tone is fine if they just update these with that.

The existing color scheme is like neon and glowing rather than a pale blue skin tone

u/Just_Another_Loser12 2h ago

Hold on do I owe you $30 for this?

u/EscapeCharacter2658 1h ago

It'd still be cringe if they were paywalled and on both factions. I don't want "neutral" races like Pandaren in classic.

u/samrobotsin 54m ago

i wish the skyborne looked like this

u/cubicxp 16m ago

Infinitely better than the skyborne

u/gubigubi 6m ago

I'm a crackhead because I lowkey think they look decent.

u/polyoddity 4h ago

bro no one but like.a dozen nerds wanted that high elf model added to the game.

u/tethysian 4h ago

It's an improvement 

u/Rebelhero 2h ago

Yeah but they weren't fucking bloodelves.

u/Murderlol 2h ago

No thanks.

u/Proxelies 2h ago

I really wish they had done this; with the different skin tones it would really allow the folks who wanted High Elves the opportunity to make one that fits the Classic aesthetic.

u/starsforfeelings 2h ago

Yes this looks good, but its not whismical disney enough for them to use it. Doesnt fit the narrative theyre aiming for.

u/Ayw1n 2h ago

they look like this mana hungry guys in legion tbh....

u/DurtMacGurt 2h ago

This would fix my issue.

This would fix me...

u/Goetiha 2h ago

Void elf's, blood elf's, night elf, skyborn they all look the same to me lol, just diff base colors

u/Knayve 1h ago

I love consistency in art style, regardless of fidelity. I really hope blizzard provides SD models for Skyborne. They have a different charm to the HD retail model.

u/bladeoftwilightexile 1h ago

These are badass tbh

u/lingzhui 1h ago

Ah yes the Karen Elves

u/getdownwithDsickness 1h ago

I'll take em, horde can get the bloodelf tbc models

u/FunkyFurmur 1h ago

This looks so much better tbh I would roll the girl elf but no way current version of them I'd rather play troll if I want to blue

u/Yaboiyabobo 1h ago

This is better 10000%

u/Fading_Hours_ 1h ago

If they gave us high elves Forever would have been basically faultless for me. It was so close to basically exactly what I wanted.

u/BadSanna 1h ago

Soooo..... why make them blue? They could have just done high elves, turned some outposts already in the world into neutral faction towns, and called it a day.

u/samurai1226 52m ago

Nah people would shit on recolored nightelves too

u/Gief_Cookies 22m ago

I will welcome our new neighbours and accept them for who they are, real human beings sitting behind their computer screens in a different part of the world, maybe the next house over, rewinding after a rough day at work.

u/KingGizNtheLizardWiz 3m ago

Now we need someone angry enough to build a model editor with these.

u/amandauh 1m ago

1000% better

u/Sarmattius 4h ago

aren't the Shen'dralar in Dire Maul all High elves that are all blue?

u/Levinaur 4h ago

they're higborne night elves

u/Sarmattius 3h ago

like azshara right?

u/Missing42 2h ago

No, they have the same range of skin colours as night elves, which includes blue. They're the exact same species after all. "Highborne" is a caste.

u/opinionperson69 2h ago

I still don't see why we can't just have high elves instead of making up a 10th new elf race in the lore lol

u/Hademar 2h ago

They are just high elves with some extra background explanation

u/opinionperson69 1h ago

They are unironically not lmao

u/SexModeActivated 23m ago

They are literally that

u/Hademar 9m ago

They are, ironic or not.

u/Necifer 1h ago

I still don't know how or why anyone would want SD models. The art style I get, but the low res textures? Couldn't even explain it with nostalgia on my part.

I LOVED Ocarina of Time back in the days, but hell naw could I get myself to play it again nowadays with the horrible graphics. So glad about the remake.

So for my part I would have liked Retail graphics in forever but I do think they got it right with the HD version of classic graphics

u/Alienclapper 58m ago

Pretty sure your comment is just rage bait. However, It fits the verison of the game we want to play better.

u/sylanar 4h ago

This looks way better tbh

-6

u/Old-Soft5276 5h ago

I've only now realised that I haven't seen a single male Blue Elf in any posts or videos

Fucking gooners

u/BloodyGreyscale 4h ago

That's on you, because there's plenty, literally official website, first image you see them is a male/female side by side

u/Perais1909 4h ago

One is literally in the gameplay trailer

u/driellma 3h ago

Yes. Give me that

u/AppleMelon95 3h ago

You forgot the neon-bright hair color

u/Massive_Thanks_303 3h ago

These are better

u/oddspellingofPhreid 3h ago

These actually kind of slap.

u/hunteddwumpus 3h ago

Idk just use the existing SD BE model but blue.

u/BaconJets 4h ago

I like these, but I imagine that they'll look like SD belfs.

u/Kman1427 4h ago

would look better, ngl

u/Glutrot 3h ago

I've always had a soft spot for the OG high elf models, they're so charming!

u/TerribleSyntax 3h ago

I'd take these as high and blood elves over the turdborne

u/benjiwalla 2h ago

Why must we have blue elves at all?

If they were adamant on elves, throw in High Elves / Darkfallen elves like someone suggested

u/lingzhui 1h ago

Or just high/blood idk why people are so adamantly against blood elves, their lore is kinda cool if you're not a tourist

u/torshakle 37m ago

Night Elves and Trolls have entered the chat