I got a fever, and the only prescription is more Deathwing!
You all may remember, and may even have shared similar sentiments, that before the release ofCataclysm, one of my absolutely most anticipated aspect of the expansion was the idea of a very present villain. Back in November, we got word from Zarhym that Deathwing would not only shatter the Azeroth that we loved, but also would patrol the skies freely, inflicting pain and death upon all who dared walk upon his kingdom.
And yes, he sure does that, randomly but also uncommonly and only in certain zones. But it’s something that happens so rarely that there’s never that constant feeling of looking behind your back or searching the skies to ensure you’re alone. And I’m not insinuating that this should be a very common occurence – after all, that would take away from its specialness, plus it could have the potential to become somewhat of an annoyance if it was a constant issue. But at the same time, the current level isn’t one that instills any sort of sense of suspense that I was hoping the expansion would include. Continue Reading
The addition of a whole new horde of Cataclysm requirements to the Loremaster achievement may have put a delay on my acquisition of that title, but an ongoing glitch (or at least, what I assume to be one) makes the related Seeker title easily within grasp for anyone who has not yet earned it.
I found out via fluke. Throughout my Loremaster-seeking adventures, you see, I had also been tracking the Seeker achievement. I knew that at some point on that journey as I worked my way through Outland, I would hit the 3,000 quests mark. So, I thought it’d be nice to see the number slowly creep toward the goal.
I was only a couple hundred quests away from that goal when the Shattering hit. I already had earned my Loremaster of Kalimdor and Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms achievements, so thankfully I didn’t have to worry about those getting sidetracked by the hundreds of quests removed in that patch. But my Seeker questing record, on the other hand, plummeted by about 1,000 quests. Ouch.
But the pain was temporary. As I checked out the Shattered world and reveled in the new questing opportunities, an interesting thing happened. I happened to glance at the tracking sidebar, and noticed that it had gone back to its previous number, and was correctly increasing as I completed new quests.
The next time I logged in, the number had dropped again to the total that did not include quests removed from the game. But sure enough, as soon as I turned in a single quest, the number hiked back up again. Continue Reading
In this episode of For the Hoard, I’m venturing across Kalimdor, from Orgrimmar to Darkshore while seeking out a new pet that is sure to become a new favorite. Withers the magical growing and shrinking tree is an easy grab for Hordies and takes a bit of questing in Darkshore (a reward from Remembrance of Auberdine) for Allies.
Either way, there’s a lot of new sights to take in along the way, so join me for the fun in this first post-Shattering For the Hoard.
When the Shattering occurred, many areas of Azeroth were changed forever. And that included Orgrimmar, which for many of my fellow Hordies is now our new home base. The capital city still has a similar feel, but on a much grander scale. Some things have been moved around, some completely new areas of the city now exist, and others have remained mostly unchanged. While this video is not meant to be a run down of every single new NPC location, I’ll run through all the major revamped areas of the city and show you some basic ways to get around. Better to learn it now before Cataclysm hits.
Want to see where the new Warchief lives? Care to view the new Goblin Slums? Just wondering where the heck the flight path and zeppelins now are? Or maybe you’re a predominantly Alliance player and just want to see the city’s new look? Find all that and more below. Hope you enjoy.
*Update* The video that was posted yesterday obviously didn’t upload in full. Here’s the right one!
The first time I loaded up WoW after downloading The Shattering Patch was a magical moment. I had seen the new opening cinematic previously after it was unveiled at BlizzCon 2010, but not in such pristine detail across my full screen. That, and the realization that while I had been patching, the Shattering had occurred and Deathwing was now on the prowl sent shivers down my spine.
While I haven’t yet encountered Deathwing in-game since that fateful moment, I have seen the the destruction that this vile, vicious, frightening creature has wrought upon the lands that I love. And I know that someday, he will pay.
What was it that made me conjure up these images of future retaliation? It was a quality cinematic produced by the creative minds at Blizzard. I love behind-the-scenes looks at game development — and this quick look at the making of the Cataclysm opening cinematic makes me appreciate the work that went in to giving WoW players around the world these same feelings that I had upon loading up the game after the latest patch.
The holidays are upon us already, and it’s that time of year that we all sit back and reflect upon that for which we are thankful. And then drink in merriment.
This week, as Americans (even those of us on the other side of the globe) roast turkeys then run the gauntlet of Black Friday crazyness, and as in another part of the world, the Christmas markets open to the masses, I’m starting to feel warm and fuzzy inside already.
Which is why in this post, I’ve decided to reflect upon only the good things that are coming our way inWorld of Warcraft, and some which have arrived already. Luckily, with Cataclysmjust around the corner, there’s a lot to be thankful for at this particular moment in-game.
And although we may not be thankful that maintenance has been extended (currently set to end at 5 p.m. PST ie past my bedtime), we can still have some fun anticipating what’s to come. In fact, what BETTER time than now to let the lovefest begin!
I am thankful for:
Holiday deals — If you want to grab a spare copy of WoW (or 5), are looking into recruiting a friend or even are looking for gift ideas, the World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King each are now on sale both in the U.S. and in the EU. Pick up all three for a cool $20, €20 or £16.00.
The Shattering – We’ll see if my good vibes on this one wear off after post-patch mayhem, but as of now I am ridiculously excited to cruise around and get to know the new Azeroth, even in the places that it is “shattered” beyond recognition.
The guild perks system — from mount speed bonuses to auctioneering awesomeness to mobile banking to the all powerful mass resurrection, Cataclysm‘s guild perks system is looking quite tasty. You can bet Mordil isn’t the only one with high expectations for the system.
New playable races — Worgen and Goblin goodness is just around the corner. Whether you’re planning to roll one from the start or focus on your beloved main, we’ll have plenty of fun stuff to keep us entertained, and that’s also thanks to the… Continue Reading
With the amount of attention I’ve been giving to my super Loremaster adventure over the past couple of months, one thing I’ve been hugely interested in is how the achievement would change in the Post-Cataclysm world. We knew that the achievement would still be available, but we also knew that the complete overhaul of all the Old World content would likely mean the complete overhaul of the achievement as well.
Now we have some clarity from Zarhym: if you’re mid-way through completing either Loremaster of Kalimdor or Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms and want the majority of your quest efforts you’ve put in thus far to still count… well, you have not very long to make it so.
Zarhym on Loremaster in Cataclysm
In the wake of Deathwing’s devastation, adventurers will be summoned to embark on new quests from levels 1 to 60 in these transformed territories — and with so much new content to be found on these original two continents, many original quests will no longer be available after the shattering occurs. These quests will automatically be removed from your quest log, while any quests you’ve accepted that still exist in Azeroth will remain in your log.
You may be wondering how the shattering will affect the Loremaster achievements. If you’ve already completed Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms or Loremaster of Kalimdor, you will not lose your achievements. However, if you’ve made progress toward these achievements without yet completing them, be aware that any quests that are removed from the game will no longer count toward your progress, so you may see your achievement quest counter drop. If you’re close to earning either of these achievements, we strongly suggest you finish them with great haste, as Deathwing’s return is imminent. Continue Reading
"Deathwing" by Espenartman on DeviantArt. Imagine this as your last moment before dying a firey death.
In the World of Warcraft, We all know Deathwing is coming. If his giant picture plastered all over Cataclysm paraphernalia wasn’t enough, now all of Azeroth has started shaking — literally — in anticipation of his arrival. And if the mere thought of him occupying the same planet as you is not enough to make you tremble, perhaps the realization that he will be patrolling the skies, searching for victims to breathe fire upon, will awaken you to the danger that lies ahead.
In the week after BlizzCon 2010, as we all worked to digest the welcome tidbits of information presented at the con, I somehow managed to overlook another gem of a blue post that confirms what’s coming. It’s big, it’s angry, and it breathes fire. Yes, it is Deathwing. And once he’s unleashed, may the Blizzard GMs show mercy.
Zarhym — On Deathwing After The Shattering
One of Azeroth’s oldest adversaries will soon tear through the Elemental Plane to reforge the world in flame, but this foe won’t be conducting his reign of terror from the confines of a castle or lair. Deathwing is a destructive force the likes of which adventurers have yet to see in World of Warcraft, and his appetite for devastation can only be satisfied by the shattering of the world. Following his explosive escape from Deepholm, Deathwing will cast a deadly shadow over the people of Azeroth as he wreaks indiscriminate havoc across the land.
Once free to terrorize the world, Deathwing will randomly choose territories in Azeroth to attack each day until his ruinous reign is brought to an end. A blackened sky will be the only warning before every living creature caught in his approach is consumed by his terrible fire. The unfortunate victims of his malice will receive a rare Feat of Strength… as well as a repair bill and corpse run.
When Deathwing returns, you’d best keep your eyes on the skies.
…There is very little warning once he decides to strafe a zone. If you’re not in the zone already, you have virtually no chance of sacrificing yourself to his flame.
If you’re in the zone, you’re almost definitely screwed. Continue Reading
