The Subscription Numbers Are In The Details
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iTZKooPA on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 42 Comments Tags: -1, PvE, argent tournament, chillmaw, details, devil is in the details, fun quests, murloc, murloc suit, questing
iTZKooPA on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 42 Comments Tags: -1, PvE, argent tournament, chillmaw, details, devil is in the details, fun quests, murloc, murloc suit, questing 
Some people like to equate details with polish. Either way you take it, as a synonym or as an aspect of polish, the inclusion of them makes video games better. Blizzard has a long-standing reputation for going above and beyond in the company's titles, which is why they are still played years, hell, possibly decades after their initial release. During my initial run through Wrath of the Lich King's quests I mainly focused on the designs and stories implemented as I grinded to level 80. Now that I am there, or on my second run through with the priest, I can focus more on the small details instead of worrying about my XP per hour. Yes, I take the game that far.
I've written almost a week's worth of articles on the Argent Tournament. They have spanned the gauntlet of guides to love and boredom. I've spent thirty minutes to an hour a day in Icecrown killing scourge, Chillmaw and riding horsies all in the name of the Argent Crusade and the five other factions. Three days, I've only missed three days of dailies. Yet, I somehow never realized that the damned Cultists actually ride on Chillmaw's back and head. I always thought that he summoned them during the fight. Definitely a detail that I just flat out missed.
That was my own stupidity though. One particular that recently caught my attention on Solidsagart was the Murloc costume. Any interaction with murlocs is a welcome one, and the chance to pose as one was something that I couldn't pass up. After donning the spare suit I took off towards the cavern to complete my mission of deceit and death. Secretly, I have always hoped that the murloc race was bidding its time before the scaled, two-legged race took over Azeroth. I realized during the quest that either they aren't intelligent at all, or their senses haven't adapted for above water scenarios. Just look at how awful the suit is. The stiching is obvious, it waggles around my body in an awkward fashion and my seeing sphere is falling out of its socket! How the hell did they let me get to Claximus without being harassed?
There are hundreds of these small gems spread throughout the game, so let's share as much of them with each other as possible. As noted, even "obvious" things may not be so apparent to other players who A) aren't very observant, B) too busy with their stabbing, C) pressed for time, or D) too busy leveling. What say you PL fans? What is your favorite small detail from Wrath, or all time?
Reader Comments (42)
i recently got the elwynn lamb pet and when i had it out for a awhile, an elwynn wolf ran up, killed it, then went to sleep. probably one of the coolest things ive seen in-game
Wow. There are so many little things. I never noticed any of that. way to go iTZKoopa
Probably the bears fishing in Grizzly Hills. Was there fishing for the turtle today and they're all around me, just minding their own business and fishing up salmon like me.
One of the quests that I really enjoyed was one in Icecrown right after you get the Crusaded Pinnacle going about the crusader that had been infected with the plague and was dying. You have to go to Moonglade, Wyrmrest, and Shat to try and cure him and each time you arrive he greets you so warmly.
The text really made me feel for him and love him. everytime your cure didn't work, finally at last A'dal comes to take him into "the light" at that point I really felt sad and happy for him that I was there for another "person." I have had, and still do, RL dealings of helping people and being there in dark hours of life. I guess it was just nice that a video captured me and brought out true emotions.
uhg, fragmented sentences, run-ons, and typos
Crusader* sad and happy for him.* RL situations*
nice that a video game*
One of my favorites definitely has to be the Hatch from LOST hiding on a tiny islet in Sholazar Basin. It's in the northern-most lake with all the hydras swimming in it.
And just noticed a mage NPC in Dalaran yesterday named Natalie Tootiblare, a reference to three of the main characters from the TV show Facts of Life.
I was flying round Sholazar Basin, back when I was doing quests there, and I had to go to a Gorlock camp to the north which has a small lake next to it with a little island on it. I then noticed on the Island there is a hatch door which when you mouse over comes up with "5, 9, 16, 17, 24, 43" which any 'Lost' fans will know is all the 'Lost numbers' + 1.
I just love the many little details Blizz puts in, but I can remember that one specifically.
The innkeeper of Thrallmar - Floydus Pinkus
That there is an inscription (obviously not in common) on many items including Titansteel Shield wall, that unless zoomed in on you can't see
Important Humans/Ect. are much larger than taurens (maybe even a troll when standing at their full height) like Rhonin
My favorite detail from Wrath is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reference in the sewers of Dalaran, but my all time favorite is the Snakes on a Plane reference in Nagrand by Nesingwary's Camp. Everytime I see it I chuckle.
There is one detail that keeps me going back to the Argent Tournament. I play a druid and if you have Moonkin or Tree of Life form you can mount the various steads in those forms. If I wasn't able to run around as a trent I would have given up on those quests a long time ago.
I made that same "failure of observation", iTZKooPA. I only missed one day of the AT dailies but like you, it wasn't until recently that I figured out where those cultists were coming from. Up to that point, I'd always been wondering "just where do they come from?" :lol:
I think the questline involving the dying Crusader is my favorite because you can see A'dal and the other Naaru at the end. Other than that, I just laugh at the various typos and whatnot that I see in quest texts.
Gonna reveal my nerdy side but I'm an English teacher so here's my fav. Up in the purple parlor in Dalaran there are 2 npc's named Arcanist Burroughs and Arcanist Ginsberg. They are having a conversation. They're obviously references to the two beat poets.
I like the refrences to Dune (famous book series) sitting in the Terrokar forest quests about the worms....
And the massive zelda hommage quest in un'goro.
I just noticed the other day that the Herold Lane you kill in Borean Tundra is the same Herold Lane that you helped back in Nagrand.. That was cool.
One of my favorite is if you go do Old Hillsbrad in CoT, you can see Kel'Thuzad (back when he was a human) and all of the SM bosses (as kids) in Southshore.
BTW, for those who don't know, the murloc outfit in the quest chain that iTZKooPA was referring to was actually a reference to the guy who won the costume contest at the 1st Blizzcon.
Well, I can't think of anything outstanding. I can't recall at the moment anything small that I've discovered. But after randomly hearing about Cutthroat Alley I visited it.
wowwiki link for Cutthroat Alley info: http://www.wowwiki.com/Cut-Throat_Alley
How about the name of the neutral inn in dalaran?
Legerdemain Lounge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leger_de_Main
One of the coolest things I saw in Howling Fjords was the shoveltusks hav fights for leadership of their little groups. It's am amazing thing to just stand back and watch. Especially as their health goes down as well
Outside Halls Of lightning Chester Copperpot From the Goonies
I'm fairly certain that Instructor Razuvious in Naxxramas is a take on the Starship Troopers character, Drill Seargant Zim. Check this video and spot the "Jagged Knife" reference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV3CrqyxJGI
One of the best (and least well known) details of WoW can be found in the ruins of Lordaeron throne room. It is especially significant for those of us who played WC 3. If you turn your other sound effects down and the ambient sound way up, you can hear the voices of the ghosts of Lordaeron's past (among them, Arthas' murdered father). It gave me chills the first time I noticed it.
You can use detect invisibility too, outside the thrown room to see ghosts of lordaeron citizens =)
One cool quest I did in Grizzly Hills is the Harrison Jones rescue in the ruins around the northeast area. Many fond memories of watching Indiana Jones. Keep it up Blizz! =D
There is an npc in the Venomspite in Dragonblight that you talk to during the Scarlet Onslaught chain. He goes by the name of Agent Mulder and you have to report to his partner Skully. Woohoo go XFILES!!
Harrison Jones was also the man at the beginning of Zul'Amon. You have to hit the gong at the same exact time as "junior". :D
The name of the butler in the Purple Parlor is Alfred Copperworth. A copper is the equivalent of a penny, which makes this a reference to Alfred Pennyworth, butler to Bruce "Batman" Wayne.