Neutral factions - Earthen Ring and Remastered Ravenholdt

[Zarinye]

Both factions are canon in original Classic, and I think there is a lot of potential to use them either as reputation factions or as flavored high-leveled quests.

In Classic, the Earthen Ring are represented by only a few NPCs, such as Je'neu Sancrea in Ashenvale. In the lore however, they are an ancient order which takes care of imbalances in nature and has an important role in the politics of the Horde. For example, they are responsible for letting the Forsaken join the Horde.

Lorewise, Ravenholdt is supposed to be a secretive order of master assassins and thieves. Ingame however, they are represented by their craving of a metric ton of unlocked junkboxes, and even then there's no real reason to painstakingly grind these boxes - the only reward is that their guards will have more respectful dialogue. Yes, that is really it.

For the Earthen Ring, I imagine that they would want you to restore the balance of the Elements in Azeroth by culling rogue elementals, killing Twilight's Hammer cultists and gathering reagents. Because of the lack of other content in the zone, I could imagine them setting up their base in Azshara. Shaman- and elemental-coded gear and perhaps a wolf mount could be fitting reputation rewards.

For Ravenholdt, they could possibly give you assassination contracts, perhaps with both PvE and PvP elements in remote corners of Azeroth. As they are a secretive order, their objectives shouldn't be known by the player, maybe even having the player do morally questionable acts to complete quests. For rewards, maybe one could get a special horse mount and more subtle yet good-looking gear (AKA "regular" proportions, no big spikes or bright colors).

[Gheor]

I have some plans for Ravenholdt, they are on the drawing table still however.

[Aykhanchik]

I have some plans for Ravenholdt, they are on the drawing table still however.

That's great to hear! Would be cool if Ravenholdt quartermaster/quest offered a good dagger at every level milestone (30/40/50) to motivate rogues, especially hardcore ones, to grind for it. In general, i'd say good weapon rewards are the biggest motivation to grind reputations. Desolace reputation epic axe and staff are a great example of that

[Critterbug]

years later....

[Mayson]

Both factions are canon in original Classic, and I think there is a lot of potential to use them either as reputation factions or as flavored high-leveled quests.

In Classic, the Earthen Ring are represented by only a few NPCs, such as Je'neu Sancrea in Ashenvale. In the lore however, they are an ancient order which takes care of imbalances in nature and has an important role in the politics of the Horde. For example, they are responsible for letting the Forsaken join the Horde.

Lorewise, Ravenholdt is supposed to be a secretive order of master assassins and thieves. Ingame however, they are represented by their craving of a metric ton of unlocked junkboxes, and even then there's no real reason to painstakingly grind these boxes - the only reward is that their guards will have more respectful dialogue. Yes, that is really it.

For the Earthen Ring, I imagine that they would want you to restore the balance of the Elements in Azeroth by culling rogue elementals, killing Twilight's Hammer cultists and gathering reagents. Because of the lack of other content in the zone, I could imagine them setting up their base in Azshara. Shaman- and elemental-coded gear and perhaps a wolf mount could be fitting reputation rewards.

For Ravenholdt, they could possibly give you assassination contracts, perhaps with both PvE and PvP elements in remote corners of Azeroth. As they are a secretive order, their objectives shouldn't be known by the player, maybe even having the player do morally questionable acts to complete quests. For rewards, maybe one could get a special horse mount and more subtle yet good-looking gear (AKA "regular" proportions, no big spikes or bright colors).

Ravenholdt and their dynamic with the Syndicate itself deserves to be looked at specifically in its own way.

Retail WoW, the faction question was brought up with lots of potential by the original devs, then never answered. Slowly all the Syndicate units were faded out more and more and Ravenholdt didn't get any new content, either. Eventually it was all but forgotten and this piece of Alterac / Hillsbrad history almost entirely deleted.

Here on T WoW, I'd love to see the lore expanded and the two factions fleshed out. And maybe, at a later date, other neutral unique factions being given more love.

[Mayson]

I have some plans for Ravenholdt, they are on the drawing table still however.

Is it possible to support you in any way? And do those plans include the Syndicate?

[Shlinderbury]

2025... and still no quarter master for rep with ravenholdt!

[Mayson]

2025... and still no quarter master for rep with ravenholdt!

Not true, there actually is one.

The only sad part is that his contributions are very light-weight.

[Ethenil]

The idea for a Syndicate/Ravenholdt conflict is one that goes back all the way to the earliest drawing boards for WoW, though sadly they were never eally realized.

Fleshing out their dynamic, giving them a solid story and solid rewards, and maybe tying in some custom instances for this whole thing would definitely make it worthwhile.

Maybe it will continue in Tol Barad? There are hints of Perenolde activity there.

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As for the Earthen Ring, it would be great to see them expanded whenever the story of the Twilight's Hammer picks up pace again. Maybe that zone south of Silithus! And then whatever update adds it could also add Earthen Ring camps and questlines across relevant zones in the wider world.