Hi Turnro
Unfortunatly, I'm way too bad in unit designing to tell anything useful about these changes and new unit.
However, I still can say that I'm eager to play as this new unit. They insert themselves pretty perfectly into the Shadow League, and the model is very coherent with this lore.
I also read some ideas about Illidan in this topic. I'd be glad to share my thoughts about it.
In fact, I think we seen Illidan already enough in the Sentinel storyline. It'd be a joy to see him once again, as an ally or an ennemy, but i think it's not an unavoidable thing to do with the Sentinel storyline.
However, I think making Illidan appear once again in the Highborne storyline is something you cannot dismiss, Turnro. The last thing we saw about him was Furion arrogantly saying that he wasn't a threat anymore ; with that said, Illidan's return is not an option, as he becomes an ally, or most likely remains an enemy.
Well, and about Illidan shipping Tyrande ? To my mind, seriously, why not. After all, Furion became such a cold hearted douche in this storyline that it would almost be credible.
Moreover, Illidan suffered a cruel fate within the WHOLE Warcraft lore. I mean, he did his best to save the world, and even thought he made a wong decision by doing his ... tricks with the magic consuming ... Well i don't really remember everything about this part, but Illidan did only things that he thought was right. And for that, Furion sent him to jail.
Illidan had a crush on Tyrande, but even before he could confess, Tyrande already made her choice on Furion. Really. That guy is probably the most unlucky in the whole Warcraft lore.
I can't even tell about the Guldan's Skull incident and the curse he brought on himself only to defeat Tichondrius. And what's the only thing Furion did to thank him ? Rejecting his brother and telling him never to come back.
And finally, what about Furion's digging in the Highborne, usurping his brother's place, and banishing him once again ? Seriously. I don't really like Illidan, but the facts are obvious : the ENTIRE world is against him.
I didn't even tell about Frozen Throne's ending, where he travels through Azeroth and Northrend to the Icecrown Glacier, fighting with all his will, only to eventually get his ass kicked by some Arthas badass Frostmourne bearer motherf*cker !
I honestly think that Illidan was made a loser and an unlucky fellow for too long. So that's why I'd like to see, someday, some JUSTICE coming onto him.
Honestly, it wouldn't be so bad to see a heart-injured and hardly weakened Tyrande, fighting for survival after Furion's hateful smite, being rescued by Illidan stalking on his brother's plans at the temple of the moon. To this point, maybe Tyrande could revise her judgement about him, and maybe think that even thought his methods are not always good, his intentions are still honorable.
Plus, maybe she could bear a grudge against her fallen love. So coming along with Illidan in an attempt to get revenge on Furion and stopping him from his madness, and even maybe to try and make him back to reason. Or maybe just trying to get ahold of herself and take arms to fight against the legion's probable return, without trying to confront Furion anymore. In fact, there are lots of possibility.
About the Illidan x Tyrande shipping, I think it's a pretty audacious idea. It could be Illidan's ultimate revenge on his wasted life, and the fair reward he deserves for fighting with all his heart so far. And maybe Tyrande could even find in him what Furion lacked in this Highborne timeline. I mean, 10 000 years far from her love, and all she gets is a freakin' Fire blow ?!
Turnro's campaigns are offering us, Warcraft III lovers, an alternative about the storyline that Warcraft could have been. This is, truly, a treasure. And I think there a a whole lot of way of turning it so that the experience about the story can be way different from the original schemes.
So that's why I'm fond of this shipping idea. I'm totally fed up with the "Illidan is a victim" trope, I want to see him finally achieve something. And even if he doesn't save the world from the Legion or Furion's madness, this shipping could grant him great justice about the streak of bad luck that impacted his whole life. That's why I'm supporting this idea.
However, I'd understand if Turnro didn't want of it.
After all, let's remember some things.
- For the whole Warcraft stories, we never had a real love story displayed. Not the beginning of a love story, I mean. Tyrande and Furion were together since 10000 years and even more, and Jaina was separated from Arthas even before the Human campaign started. So even though there were indeed some deep relationship between the characters, the dialogues in-games never really showed anything related to it.
- For playing the 4 campaigns, I think that relationships between characters are not Turnro's favorite interest. Even though I'd be most enjoyed if he really did something about it, I find it very unlikely that he decides to put Tyrande and Illidan together. That's not the point of the campaign. At least it could be an interesting secondary feature/story, alongside the main storyline, but it adds even more work to Turnro who is already crawling under the weight of so much maps remaining to be done.
- I'm pretty sure that Turnro's already have other plans for both Illidan and Tyrande. I'm almost sure that Tyrande is really dead and will never come back. And we're not even sure that Illidan will ever come back in this story ! And even if he comes back, I'm not sure that what Turnro planned is even compatible with Tyrande's presence by his side.
Just imagine that Furion wants to submit Illidan to his will ; if Tyrande is with him, what will happen to her ? Will she just get killed once again, and everything of this would have been done for nothing ? Knowing that Furion just rushes into everyone and lead them to their demise in the Highborne storyline, the probability that Illidan loses to him if they are to encounter once again are incredibly high. And if Illidan loses again, he will lose everything, even Tyrande, the love that he hardly got after all that bad luck.
Seriously, if this is what's going to happen, I'd rather let Tyrande rest in peace and never be saved by Illidan. That ending would be just way too frustrating. Illidan could have finally achieve something in his life, all of this to end like shit. It doesn't even deserves the try.
To sum up, I'd just say that I approve the shipping, but I'm just not sure that it can be useful to anything for Turnro's campaigns. Oh yes, it could be a unique opportunity for him to develop the between-characters relationships, but it has many counter-effects and it really depens on what Turnro planned for his campaigns. I could honestly pray for this to be feasible, because that's probably one of the most beautiful things that I could see in the Highborne campaign, but i don't want to interfere with the modder's plans.
Just do what you want about it, Turnro. I just wanted to explain everything I thought about that idea. Sorry for the long text !
Good luck with the making of the game. I'm still following you and look forward your next release. May the force be with you !