Chad "Pappy" Moore and Mike Donatelli introduce us to the new WildStar races

Regarding the ratio of race-specific content to the overall arc of Nexus and its infamous, yet mysterious history, Mike wanted to clarify the big picture:

“There are definitely stories that hit the touchstones of the different races and what’s happened to them and what they’ve had to do to get to the planet. A lot more of the content is focused on Eldan and [Nexus]. The Mordesh have come here thinking “This is the place we can finally find the cure, because of all this hyper-advanced technology.” Everybody has their reason to be here, but a lot of it will be about the Eldan.”

I asked Chad if the Mordesh are vital to the Exiles as they will get their hands dirty in the war against the Dominion in ways that the rest of their partnered races would nott. Will the Mordesh’s Black Hoods be the direct counter to the Mechari’s ICI?

“Absolutely, the Mordesh will do those things that might be distasteful to their Exile compatriots. They run the Black Hoods, which is the spy organization for the Exiles. It sets up a very interesting sub-conflict between the Mechari, who run the ICI on the Dominion side, and the Mordesh, who run the Black Hood.

So you get in the middle of these Spy vs. Spy battles between the two organizations.”

One of the other journalists enquired—referring to the teaser image and the creature seen in a beaker in the reveal video—whether the Mordesh would have a squid or octopus pet that follows them around. In the kind of tone that developers like to use when teasing something profoundly cool, but not wanting to state what it is, we were told:

Moore: “That’s very possible as well…I would hang onto that question. It may be that in some content that we’re going to be talking about in the future, very soon, that such a creature might actually show up.”

Donatelli: “I’ll tell you this: it’s way, way cooler than a pet.”

The WildStar team really is a speculation dynamo.

Going back to the idea of the Contagion, even though Lazarin, the Mordesh’s chief genius, had created a vaccine, I asked Chad whether the rest of the Exiles are worried that another outbreak could prove as deadly.

"Ultimately that’s always a fear. Currently the Contagion only affects Mordesh physiology, but there is always a fear that the contagion could mutate. That story is something that does come up, you will have to deal with outbreaks of the Contagion. Certain Mordesh, if they don’t get their Vitalus Serum, they can devolve into what we call the Ravenous.”

The interesting thing is that the Dominion sees all Mordesh as crazy, flesh eating monsters; while the Exiles, because of their nature, accept them and want to help. The humans are a little more wary [as seen in the reveal video]. And then the Granok are “You’re in the fight or you’re out of the way,” so everybody sees them differently on the Exile side and the content backs that up.”

If the Mordesh are viewed so differently between the races and factions, are the Chua similarly controversial, or is everyone just driven to the point of madness by their shenanigans?

Moore: “The Cassians are the group that has the biggest issue with the Chua. The Draken, as long as they don’t get in their way, like the Chua as they give them weapons they can go to war with. The Mechari, because of what they are and the role they play, are never entirely sure about anybody. They keep an eye on the entire Dominion. It’s just an issue they have to keep an eye on but they don’t look down on [the Chua] in the same way the Cassians do. “

Donatelli: “The Mechari have a secret, they were made by the Eldan a long time ago, they are shepherding the Dominion, so anything that helps make the Dominion strong, it’s just another fleshy race to them.”

Moore: The Mechari specifically targeted them because of their inherent technological skill. They shepherded them into the Dominion. They understand [the Chua] oftentimes can be an uncontrollable variable but at the bottom line they’re still doing what is best for the empire so they look on them in a positive light.”

Due to the Chua’s boundless enthusiasm, their love of wanton destruction and their exponential ability to learn and adapt, are they the Mechari’s Pandora’s Box? Is there a concern that the robotic race has unleashed a force that could eventually become overwhelming to all?

Moore (laughing): “I think that’s absolutely a valid concern.”

Donatelli: “There very well maybe things in place to cool their enthusiasm...”

Could the Mechari be holding a secret weapon back just for the Chua? Quite possibly. Does each answer to a WildStar question necessarily lead to another dozen questions? Definitely.

I have no doubt there will be a barrage of queries leveled at Chad, Mike and Chris today at San Diego Comic-Con; anticipation for WildStar builds like a Chua with a Lego set and a value pack of hand-grenades.

Stay tuned right here at ZAM for more news from Nexus as soon as it emerges.

Scott “Jarimor” Hawkes, Editor in Chief

Follow me on Twitter @Jarimor