Okay, how did we miss this?
We’ve been wondering about the level of change in each old-world zone for Cataclysm for months now, and the answer has actually been under our noses since BlizzCon. During the Art Panel, the above planning map was shown, along with some information to either side of it. We can’t make out everything in it, but there’s a lot of information if you know what you’re looking at.
The zone colors, from what we can infer, indicate the level of overhaul each zone is receiving. Red is a heavy overhaul, yellow is moderate, green is light, and blue means a brand-new zone. The yellow stars indicate a dungeon, and the red stars indicate a raid. The white tabs each have a letter on them, indicating what in the zone was being changed at that particular point — L for level, Q for quests, etc.
Astute readers will see some things jump out at them immediately, like Thousand Needles having two stars on it.
Read more…
Castille World of Warcraft blizzcon, Cataclysm
Borex brings up a question I’ve heard ever since Blizzard first announced they were going to tear up Old Azeroth in Cataclysm: what’s the deal with Outland? Up until now, continuity throughout the game has worked more or less the way it should: new content gets added on to the end of the game, so anyone leveling up sees the story as they’re supposed to (more or less — there have been a few elements that have had to be “dealt with” for sure, but for the most part Blizzard has just wiped those clean). But obviously, if Deathwing returns and starts messing with players right away at level 1, the whole continuity will get shaken up. Hence Borex’s question: why will level 60s be bothering to go out to Outland and deal with the Burning Legion when, in the world Deathwing invades, the Burning Legion is no longer considered the most pressing threat? Is it logical for level 60s to leave the world, head to a distant planet, and then come back to Azeroth at level 70? Shouldn’t they stay and fight?
Bornakk’s reply hints that Blizzard will probably just gloss over it as best they can — they’re not going to build a whole new 1-85 experience involving Deathwing. When you constantly update a five-year-old persistent world game like this with new stories and content, something’s got to give somewhere. My guess is that Blizzard, being the perfectionists they are, will probably come up with a quest or two that gives a lore reason to go out there (“Hmm, you’re too green to face the power of Deathwing, but our companions in Outland need help holding what’s left of the Burning Legion at bay!”), and leave it at that. They may increase the XP and get you out of there even quicker, but going to Outland at 58 is still a gameplay necessity (Northrend shares the problem at 70, but of course we don’t actually know what’s going to happen with the Lich King quite yet). It’s likely the lore will just have to deal.
Castro World of Warcraft Cataclysm, Expansions
So the convention is over, Blizzard has shown all (or at least most — there are still secrets, we’re sure) of their cards, and the next expansion will involve the return of Deathwing and a completely remade Azeroth. Goblins will be in there as the Horde race, but as for the original speculation of the Maelstrom and the Emerald Dream, well… It remains to be seen exactly how those will tie in to what we heard about at BlizzCon.
The biggest hint I saw at the Emerald Dream in the last year was the fact that Blizzard is going to release a “Stormrage” novel — that would hint that good old Malfurion Stormrage and his kin would be spotlighted in the near future. Richard Knaak says the novel is set in the present, so something is going on for sure. Even though Deathwing is going to be the big bad this time around, something’s still cooking with Stormrage.
Which actually makes sense. If we’re going to get looks at Deepholm (the elemental plane of Earth, where Deathwing has been lying dormant recently) and The Firelands, as well as Skywall and the Abyssal Maw (the Fire, Air, and Water planes, respectively), that could mean they’re going to open up Azeroth’s other planes as well, with the Emerald Dream among them. The return of Deathwing would undoubtedly bring the other Aspects to bear, and Ysera would definitely be among those. In the opening ceremony last weekend, Metzen dismissed the Emerald Dream as “rumors and speculation,” but the upcoming Stormrage novel still hints we still might see the Emerald Dream sometime soon.
Castres World of Warcraft Blizzard, blizzcon, Cataclysm, Odds and ends
Well, BlizzCon is over and done with, and what a crazy two days it’s been! The official announcement of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, new races, stat changes, new raids and dungeons, new progression paths, guild leveling, the beautiful Tricia Helfer as Kerrigan in StarCraft II, the Diablo 3 Monk class … my brain is positively swimming in new stuff. There was something for everyone here, except maybe those hoping for new info about the next-gen MMO.
So, I asked you guys a few days ago what announcement you were waiting for at BlizzCon. Some of you got your wishes, looks like! What was your favorite announcement made at BlizzCon? Anything got your blood pumping? Some special phrase into a microphone that warmed the cockles of your heart? Don’t be shy. We all fell a little in love this year. Let the world know, and be at peace.
Castille World of Warcraft blizzcon, Cataclysm
Cory Stockton and Scott Mercer gave an in-depth look into the dungeons and raids available at the launch of WoW: Cataclysm during the Raids and Dungeons panel today at BlizzCon. We’ll look at the dungeons first.
OVERVIEW:
At launch, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will ship with eight 5-man dungeons and two heroic versions of old-world dungeons.
Grim Batol: One level 85 5-man.
Skywall: One level 80-82 5-man.
Abyssal Maw: Two 5-mans; level 80-83 and level 82-84.
Deepholm: One level 80-83 5-man.
Uldum: Two 5-mans; level 83-84 and level 85.
Blackrock Caverns: One level 85 5-man.
Shadowfang Keep: One level 85 heroic 5-man.
The Deadmines: One level 85 heroic 5-man.
Koeningsmark World of Warcraft blizzcon, Cataclysm
Straight from the press disc comes the concept art from World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. We also have plenty of pictures we got off the floor. Check out those Goblin and Worgen drawings. Great stuff!
Catalans World of Warcraft blizzcon, Cataclysm
No, what you see above is not the logo of the (probably) upcoming World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. It’s the graphic being used by a phishing site that’s been making the rounds lately and we’ve received a number of emails about. To make sure everybody is completely clear, if you see the logo above, the website you’re visiting is absolutely not legit. There are no Cataclysm Alpha invites going out to the public, and certainly not Beta invites. When Blizzard kicks off a beta, we’ll be sure to tell you. And even better, Blizzard will be sure to tell you. Until that happens, please be careful about what you click on. The pre-expansion period is prime time for phishing attempts.
Naturally, even if that’s not the graphic you see, you should be wary of Cataclysm-related phishing sites. There are quite a few right now, and they will even grow more numerous after BlizzCon. Be mindful of the sites you’re linked, be careful where you enter your WoW account information, as well as your personal information. I know we’ve said it many times before, but we really can’t say it enough. Don’t do anything silly, and if you want to be absolutely sure that you don’t do anything silly, grab yourself an authenticator if you can. If you can’t get the physical authenticator, there’s always one of the mobile authenticators.
Castres World of Warcraft Account Security, Cataclysm