Re: Highborne/Nigh elf mage
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2026 9:15 am
I think adding a subrace, an entire new starting zone or horde-elves is overcomplicating the idea.
There's plenty of reasons why night elf mages should be a thing:
Night elves have an extensive history with arcane magic. Some of the most powerful mages in WC lore were night elves. In contrast, Orcs can be mages even though they have no history of using arcane magic.
Yes, night elves under Malfurion outlawed the use of arcane magic after the destruction of the Well Of Eternity. That alone does not stop them from using it, especially when player choice comes into play. The same way that warlocks are playable as humans/orcs/dwarfs, night elf mages would occupy a similar social position. Teaching/performing magic in secret and taking measures to avoid discovery and scrutiny.
The argument for warlocks among the races is often "power is alluring". I don't see why night elves couldn't fall into the same trap when it comes to arcane magic, especially after just recently losing their immortality.
The night elves are a part of the Alliance. Plenty of the Alliance races are openly practicing arcane magic, in the case of Theramore even positioning mages as political leaders. The night elves even tolerate a mage within their city (Portal trainer). I don't see how night elf authorities couldn't turn a blind eye on some of their own if they're already allying with the High Elves, who are direct descendants of the Highborne.
Implementation could therefore be pretty easy and interesting. Mage trainers hiding in basements/caves. A secret society of night elves that pose as librarians/historians/record keepers, but secretly teach & practice arcane magic behind closed doors. A hidden resurrectionist movement that views the outlawing of the arcane as a mistake and wants to reconnect with their magical roots, potentially even seeking out Highborne allies (among the Shen'dralar for example). There's also opportunities for interesting quest lines that explore these themes.
And for the Highborne RP-fantasy, you choose a paler skintone and leave off the face tattoos and you're golden.
TL;DR: No reason to not allow night elf mages, when we can allow warlocks.
There's plenty of reasons why night elf mages should be a thing:
Night elves have an extensive history with arcane magic. Some of the most powerful mages in WC lore were night elves. In contrast, Orcs can be mages even though they have no history of using arcane magic.
Yes, night elves under Malfurion outlawed the use of arcane magic after the destruction of the Well Of Eternity. That alone does not stop them from using it, especially when player choice comes into play. The same way that warlocks are playable as humans/orcs/dwarfs, night elf mages would occupy a similar social position. Teaching/performing magic in secret and taking measures to avoid discovery and scrutiny.
The argument for warlocks among the races is often "power is alluring". I don't see why night elves couldn't fall into the same trap when it comes to arcane magic, especially after just recently losing their immortality.
The night elves are a part of the Alliance. Plenty of the Alliance races are openly practicing arcane magic, in the case of Theramore even positioning mages as political leaders. The night elves even tolerate a mage within their city (Portal trainer). I don't see how night elf authorities couldn't turn a blind eye on some of their own if they're already allying with the High Elves, who are direct descendants of the Highborne.
Implementation could therefore be pretty easy and interesting. Mage trainers hiding in basements/caves. A secret society of night elves that pose as librarians/historians/record keepers, but secretly teach & practice arcane magic behind closed doors. A hidden resurrectionist movement that views the outlawing of the arcane as a mistake and wants to reconnect with their magical roots, potentially even seeking out Highborne allies (among the Shen'dralar for example). There's also opportunities for interesting quest lines that explore these themes.
And for the Highborne RP-fantasy, you choose a paler skintone and leave off the face tattoos and you're golden.
TL;DR: No reason to not allow night elf mages, when we can allow warlocks.