Blizzard fans were treated to a few big announcements during the opening of the first day of BlizzCon 2011.

We’ll start with the basics and move on to more specifics to come. First, we got our first look at the next World of Warcraft expansion, Mists of Pandaria.

• New Continent: Pandaria
• New playable race: Pandaren
• New class: Monk
• Challenge Modes
• PvE scenarios
• Pet Battle System
• New Talent System

Take a look at the preview video:

In related news, a newly available World of Warcraft annual pass has been revealed, and it will grant access to both Diablo III when it goes live and to Mists of Pandaria. The annual pass also will give subscribers guaranteed access into the Mists of Pandaria beta, as well as a new flying mount, Tyrael’s Charger.

And now onward to some tidbits on Diablo III. The Collector’s edition will have some interesting contents that many fans will be interested in getting their hands on:

• Art Book
• Game Soundtrack
• Behind the scenes blu-ray
• Diablo skull
• Asthetic artifacts
• Soulstone shaped USB containing Diablo II with its expansion Lord of Destruction
• World of Warcraft pet: Fetish Shaman
• Starcraft II Battle.net portaits

So what does everything think of what we’ve seen from BlizzCon 2011 so far? What are you most excited for?

Now that we’ve laid out the basics, keep watch of LoreHound.com for more detailed news as it comes out at BlizzCon 2011.

We’ve seen an influx of new pets and mounts to go collect since the release of WoW Patch 4.1 last week, and I’m here to show you how on For the Hoard. We’re starting off the action with something simple but cute — the Winterspring Cub. Hope you enjoy the episode, and keep a lookout for more FTH episodes coming very soon!

At 310% speed, this guy streaks blue across the sky.

For those of us who were lucky enough to score a 310% flying mount before Patch 4.0.1 hit, and also for those who didn’t but shelled out ~5k gold for the Master Riding skill, the time of fun has arrived. Well, technically, I suppose it arrived a couple weeks ago, but the whole moving thing delayed my ability to write this post.

Regardless, the time of fun has arrived! Those of us who now have Master Riding no longer have to choose one flying mount over another simply because of its speed. Now since all of our flying mounts will scale to 310%, we can once again give them each a chance to shine without sacrificing the ability to haul ass.

This, of course, means the re-introduction of my trusty old flying mount macro that I basically stopped using after acquiring Reins of the Onyxian Drake on a lucky roll. One of my first orders of business after getting my computer back up and running was firing that macro up, making a few additions, putting the button on my bar, and then spam-clicking the hell out of it for a few minutes, gleeful that it works.

At exactly the 255-character limit for macros, here’s mine:

/castrandom Sunreaver Dragonhawk,Albino Drake,Azure Netherwing Drake,Cobalt Netherwing Drake,Onyx Netherwing Drake,Violet Netherwing Drake,Blue Drake,Red Proto-Drake,Red Drake,Veridian Netherwing Drake,Onyxian Drake,Armored Blue Wind Rider,Celestial Steed

And although the Master Riding skill doesn’t specify, our previously non-100% speed ground mounts also got powered-up. So I’m adding in my Emerald and Turquoise Raptors back into the mix. Unfortunately, at least according to commenters on WoWhead, the buff does not apply to the Sea Turtle mount. Sad face.

Which mounts are you enjoying now with the speed-up? Alternatively for those of us who were still trying to complete What a Long, Strange Trip it’s Been in lieu of purchasing the Master Riding skill, I was happy to also see during my hiatus that the award of the Violet Proto-Drake still will award the Master Riding skill, even post-Patch 4.0.1. For those of you who missed the blue post announcement, view it in full after the break.
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In this episode of For the Hoard, I continue onward through Zul’Gurub, past the tiger mount-dropping High Priest Thekal, and up to Hakkar. This crazy ancient spirit is bad enough, but can I also survive through mind-controlled guildies?! This could be a tight one!