by Magistrate - 8 years ago     show comments

Azsuna, enchanting highlands and haunted ruins, lays in wait at the southern tip of the Broken Isles. This post breaks down the different sub zones, points of interest, lore, and models that bring the zone to life.

Azsuna was once a sprawling paradise of ancient Night Elven civilization. Over ten thousand years ago–before the Sundering–it and its people were destroyed and cursed by Queen Azshara, now ruler of modern-day Naga. The mystery of Azshara’s evil, as well as the presence of her Naga legions, are the themes of the zone.

Design and Art

For Azsuna, the designers wanted to capture the dramatic damage of the Sundering, as well as Azshara’s treachery. At first, players encounter a serene Elven paradise at the zone’s center, but as they explore, they encounter ancient ruins, dark, haunted forests, Naga invasions, Sea Giant allies of the Queen, and much more.

At first, the team looked at more of a ripped apart island for the zone. It then matured and galvanized into a quasi-Greek island theme, with a focus on stylized olive trees, cypress, blue skies, and white clouds.

Adding variation, they took the forests they had imagined and create different versions, including a haunted set and warm and cool variations.

Revisioned and highly detailed ancient Night Elf architecture is one of the bigger features of the zone. Many of the elements are ones we’ve seen before, such as those in Vashj’ir or Darnassus.

Taking those base elements, the team expanded the design kit. With an art nouveau approach, they focused on new flourishes, waves, counters, and other embellishments for new structures and pieces. The concept art was then finalized in a style guide, which their team of 80 artists and 60 designers use for new sets.

The zone also features strong ocean themes, including islets, coastal caves, coves, and much more.

Fun fact: Azsuna is also home to Warden Isle, a separate island off its coast that holds the Vault of the Wardens. The Vault of the Wardens is part of the starting experience for new Demon Hunters.

New Adversaries and Allies

Part of the curse of the zone is seen in a new bestiary entry–the Specter. Male counterpart to the Banshee, who is commonly seen in Elven ruins all over Azeroth, the Specter is jokingly referred to as the “Manshee” internally.

Existing Naga models have seen new, high-res updates, including new variations of armor and weapons. An additional type of Naga has also been added named the Naga Brute. The combined Naga forces work under Queen Azshara’s fevered desire to fine the Titan relic in Azsuna.

Azshara also employs new allies and creatures of magic, including new Sea Giants and the Wrath of Azshara.

Broken Isles Sea Giants are “nothing like” those seen anywhere else on Azeroth. Enormous creatures, they seem to stand three or four times the size of an average Azerothian human, some with chunks of galleons strapped to their shoulders for defense.

Although its origins and purpose are yet unknown, the Wrath of Azshara harkens back to the Immerseus model created for the Siege of Orgrimmar raid in Mists of Pandaria, although with more particle effects and detail, it seems. We’re promised that the screenshot does nothing for the creature’s size, which is said to be “massive.”

Last but not least on the new model front, we’re seeing revisions of the Warden models, as well as new Blue Dragonflight survivors. The Warden warriors can be seen on the new Warden Isle, as well as in enclaves, camps, and holdouts throughout the Broken Isles. Although their purpose and allegiance is still unknown, the Blue Dragons seem to huddle around pools of arcane magic and ley line nexuses in Azsuna (and perhaps elsewhere).

That’s all for Azsuna. Check out all the zones below:

• Highmountain
• Stormheim
• Azsuna
• Val’sharah
• Suramar