It sounded at first like you were advocating for "stepping away from what's come before" but then you say 3d Era characters should be returned? I guess they could be changed to fit upcoming scenarios but why bring all the negative baggage of a character back when you could just make a similar new character. I guess I just don't understand

Not the SAME characters per se, but who they represent - I may have worded it poorly.

The Dragon King is in the shadows, the two Edenian brothers are awoken, Chaos and therefore Order are stepping into the battle for Earth Realm.
Havok works as a great character - perhaps needed a better moveslist, but needs better support than who he had with him in Deception.

I'd like to see them continue to explore more new races, maybe some more evil characters. A new mutant tarkatan maybe, a demon, etc.

I'd like to see it continue onward.

I sorta get what your saying. However, they shouldn't just leave out originals that are crucial to the story just becAuse a few people don't want to see these core group of character's in the game anymore. Guys like jax and kung Lao should take a break for a game or so because they are irrelevant to the story. Characters like Liu Kang and Johnny Cage have to, and will stick around because of their role in the story.. like it or not its a good chance EVERYONE who appeared in MK1 will be back in mk11, goro and Shang Tsung included. And that's great IMO

Honestly the story was so disappointing in mkx ( Game was great though) I lost most of my interest in the story for the first time in a mk game

It seems that they intend to follow the same path of events as they did previously, just in a radically different direction and a few surprises thrown in. I mean, even though MKX was basically MK 4 retold, we should look at it this way:

Chapter 1 of MKX WAS actually Mortal Kombat 4. The remainder of the game was all new story that occurred as a result of the new timeline. It just so happens that it was a major plot to revive Shinnok. These events set us up for...

Deadly Alliance/Deception. The Deadly Alliance, it seems, will likely be composed of Emperor Liu Kang and Empress Kitana. Raiden is already "Dark Raiden" so he's still progressing on the same path as he did in the original timeline, albeit through slightly different means.

It comes down to this - though the timeline is altered, it will still play out toward the same series of events...there will simply be new casualties, events, and characters along the way. The only thing that is probably fully preventable is Armageddon, but not the battle leading up to it. That will probably take a different turn as well.

I do hope they opt to deviate entirely and create an all new story out of this, but I get the sense they're just taking an alternate route to the original timeline.

I can't wait for Fujin, Reiko, Havik, Daegon, Hotaru, Sareena, Taven, Ashrah to return.

This is the right direction that the story should take. These characters are great and underrated

Blanche I don't understand you. Why make a 'simular' character then you just fall into Jared or Kira territory. Returning characters from 3rd Era make new are great as is totally new characters that don't play like other characters. For MK11 I want more 3rd Era characters and new editions as well as certain mkx staples that make sense to return like cassie. Also I really believe that Liu Kung and Kitna are gonna be bosses in mk11