The Next Expansion: A Skeptical Look At The Leaked Information
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iTZKooPA on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 21 Comments Tags: Boubouille, blizzcon, cataclysm, classes, deathwing, expansion details, level cap, mmo champion, old world, the next expansion, third expansion, wow: cataclysm
iTZKooPA on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 21 Comments Tags: Boubouille, blizzcon, cataclysm, classes, deathwing, expansion details, level cap, mmo champion, old world, the next expansion, third expansion, wow: cataclysm The Next Expansion is an ever growing series of articles that focuses on WoW’s upcoming third expansion. The column covers news, speculation and even gameplay mechanics that PL’s writers would like to see implemented.
Late last Friday MMO-Champion ran a story on the next expansion that detailed enough information to keep many brains busy over the weekend. Boubouille insists that none of the information posted is speculation, but pure fact. I was as giddy as a school girl (or my girlfriend) around Robert Pattinson (swoon) as I read the news, until I took the time to think things through. It just sounds too good to be true.
You can consider the races, Worgen and Goblins, confirmed as well as the third expansion's title, Cataclysm. Those tidbits have been repeated by "sources" for weeks now. I'm skeptical about a few other things, as are many others out there. My main concern is that the larger playerbase is getting too excited before the details are official. Simply put, I fear hype backlash.
Boubouille is one of the great Internet sleuths, so it is hard to doubt his skills. Nevertheless here's what I have trouble digesting:
- Level 85 Cap: There's really no justification to not do 10 additional levels like we are used to. If the developers want leveling to take longer then Blizzard can simply make the XP pools far larger. We've also no reason to believe that WoW has to end at level 100. No matter what this isn't a big concern; just the first point that caught my eye.
- Class Combinations: This is certainly plausible. Orc Mage, Tauren Priest, Blood Elf Warrior, all highly likely, lore-fitting modifications to our current race/class structure. It's the Troll Druid that I can't see being a reality. On the one hand, It'd be a perfect way to get more Horde playing the most underplayed race in the game. However, two druids for the Horde and only one for the Alliance (Night Elf) just doesn't seem like a move Blizzard would make.
- Flying In Azeroth: There's a reason that Blizzard never allowed flying in Azeroth, the game's basic design. If you look really closely at the old landscapes you can see that Blizzard employed a lot of tricks to get objects, foliage specifically, to look 3D without it actually being 3D (allows the client to have a crappier computer). These Doom-esque tactics would need to be completely redone across all of Azeroth to enable flying. Even using the superb tools created by Blizzard, it would be a daunting, and boring, task.
- Unfinished Original Content: Areas like Mount Hyjal only compound the flying issue. The zone was never made accessible because Blizzard never finished the content. It was there however. If we are allowed to fly in Azeroth then Blizzard has to spend more time completing, or at least overhauling, the formerly neglected areas of Azeroth.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see all of this come true. The fact of the matter is it would be a massive undertaking. The scope of the expansion, as detailed by Boub, would effectively be like starting the game from scratch, as far as content is concerned. Blizzard is good, but I don't know if the company can pull all of this off in approximately two years development time.
If Cataclysm comes to pass as described it will set a new precedent for MMO expansion.
It's hard not to get excited, especially with awesome mechanics like flooding, town sacking (kinda), revamped old world content and the return of Deathwing. Love me some horizontal content. Just remember that BlizzCon, and official confirmation, is only days away. Take a deep breath, do a reality check, and wait...for ~120 hours.
Reader Comments (21)
i think all these changes would be the only way to justify not releasing new zones, i.e. continets....and the like. And yes, Tauren pally ftw!!!!
Well, flying in the Old World would be made possible by the replacement of the original zones with Post-Cataclysm locations. The original sundering did a number on Azeroth, so one would imagine that the expansion would need to be suitably cataclysmic.
yes after all this hype about the new expansion and what it will include I am just going to wait for Blizz's word before being as giddy as a school girl.
the bummer is that I am not really excited about the races they are adding. I am sure there will be plenty of lore for them to fit, but the BC races still have more appeal.
New race/class combo's I like them adding to tauren and gnome those fit, as well as a couple others. However, dwarven shaman??? hmmm... don't know about that one or the troll druid. that class has been the core of tauren and night elf lore, so it would be really interesting to see them work that one in there.
as for improved old world content. the programming behind what was suggested would be incredible to say the least. especially with what you mentioned as far as how the graphics are now. Also, since Blizz has always said themselves that it would just take too much to make it possible. (cough, make a faster land mount in the old world wouldn't be too bad) especially with the choppa now that thing should smoke any of the animal mounts in the game.
now thats not to say i didn't like the gossip and info that was aquired, but as you say iTZKooPA, i will just take a deep breath and wait for Blizz to really floor us at Blizzcon.
Your point about the Troll Druid giving the Horde two Druid races as opposed to the Alliance's one doesn't really hold up when you consider that we don't know what classes are playable for Goblin and Worgen. It's entirely possible that Worgen get Druids to balance things out. It's even possible that the list was preliminary, and maybe some other pre-existing Alliance race would be given Druids later in development.
I think blizz is trying to throw us of by throwing false info out there for ppl to find, and see what ppl come up with... i really dont see thrall bcoming the guardian of tirisfal,garrosh leading the horde and killing cairne.Also how does Nelf mage fit into the lore they despice arcane maqick for goodnes sake :p.
If Mount Hyjal is such a problem, why not put a big pink bubble around it like they did with dalaran? They could just say that it's there to protect the fragile remains of that big old tree.
The most interesting bit for meis Garrosh taking over the horde. As a horde player it's interesting cos it seems the next expansion is going to have a lot more horde lore in it but this makes me so excited. Although most people i know are unhappy at the thought of Garrosh taking over, (i agree, he's kinda a dick) it's going to be so exciting to see him wage war against the alliance and see orgrimmar get destroyed.
Although i think the chances of any of the above happening is slim and if it does it will probably never be as cool as i think it's going to be.
This sucks seriously...
Flame Cataclysm!
Alliance, Horde and ?. Maybe sniff sniff i smell something else.
I think its moot to argue it would be unfair for the Horde to have two races capable of being druids and Alliance only one....cough, cough....how many races for Alliance can currently be Paladin?
@moophobia. You also have to realize the pally class was originally alliance only and currently only dranei can be shamans. Personally I don't see blizzard doing any of the class changes. It'd require highborne to be implemented. I dunno. It just feels too radical for blizzard. Hopefully they'll just implement more content rather than redoing old.
i get it realy i do there are no garantees but lets start the comment
WHY CANT PEOPLE BE FREKING OPEN MINDED???
ok now lets delve into the problems:
Troll druids,seriously didnt anybody raid ZUL`AMAN?? seriously nobody?? AT ALL?
NE mages existed why cant they exist again?? WHY?? REALY WHY? TELL ME WHY!!!
as for 1druid vs 2 druids maybe they will make draenei druids.I`ve seen broken druids in the game any reasons why there cant be draeney druids?
what happend to my comment?
I'm sorry but your answers don't make sense at all.
There are plenty of reasons why the cap could be 85. Increasing the XP pool will just annoy people. It doesnt change that if the level cap is 90, Blizz has much less room to work with before 100.
As for class combinations, while many of them don't make sense, the datamined information could be stuff that Blizzard is THINKING about and isn't sure about. It could very well be functional.
Blizzard couldn't care less how boring a job is. And considering they are redoing much of Azeroth anyway because of the Cataclysm, I can see it quite plausible that they might remodel everything to fit with flying. It isn't so impossible an idea.
Illithian I don't really get your responses. As was pointed out, whoever said that WoW was going to end at level 100? So why can't it simply go to level 90, and the XP pool is going to increase no matter what.
As for the job being boring, I don't think that was the point at all. The point was that being able to redo the old world while adding additional content in two years would be difficult, and impressive.
Back on topic, can't wait to see how they progress the game. If this info comes to pass then count me as a pre-orderer.
There is a Good Reason Why Bliz Did't Allow Flying in Azeroth
And That is...
Long Ago I Was in West of Black Rock mountens
I was Triing To make my Maw trugh the Mountains Don't Ask me why
And I did I moved Trugh Some 15 Meters of Mountains
And when I was done whit that I fe in a Place that Did't Have Any Denivelationsn No mobs No nothing
But Why Wod That Be?
Its Called Economy Why Wood Blizard Pay For Desinging Useles Mountains
They Cost Money And They Are Useles
Plus Azeroth Was Desing to Have few Enterencez To Every Map I don't Think Bliz Just Changed His Mind About that
Your blog is a good game guide. Thank you very much.
@ Madarra
Thats the point I keep making to anyone who says Troll druids shouldn't exist. We've seen shapeshifting trolls all over the place in the game before, with Zul'aman being the most notable example. While it's not strictly druidism their shapeshifting is based on similar principles. Trolls who can shapeshift worship one of many animal gods, while Druids worship 1 goddess but their shapeshifting depends on belonging to one of several different animal based factions (druids of the claw/ fang etc.).
Besides both shamans and druids are both nature based with emphasis on the respect and learning from one's elders. The only difference is that shamans traffic with the spirits of the elements while druids commune with the spirits of nature.
Dwarf Shamans are easily possible in that Dwarves have always had a strong connection to the earth. Their use of fire and lava in the Grand Forge means it wouldn't take much to gain a connection to that element as well. After that Dwarves wanting to pursue these connections would eventually connect with air and water to become full Shamans.
Infact none of the new class/ race combinations bother me in the slightest, variety is the spice of life and change isn't necessarily a bad thing. NElf Mages is slightly iffy due to their race essentially abhorring all Arcane practices, but then if the Orcs can look past their complete hatred of all things demonic and allow Orc Warlocks then surely the NElfs can do the same.
Gnome Priests is also odd, but then if the little buggers love magic that much, then there's no reason a few of them will take to the Light out of sheer curiosity. I can easily see the Taurens embracing the Light and becoming Paladins and Priests (besides I've seen enough Tauren Argent Crusade NPCs around).
Human Hunters and BElf Warriors have taken too long in coming around, and it's good to have them in the game at last. Seeing as the Undead can do anything the Humans can do (except become Paladins while they can still become Priests :S. I guess the whole Priest's recognising both the Light and Darkness is all that allows Undead to become Priests) it's only natural they can become Hunters as well.
I personally am looking forward to having an Undead Hunter and a Dwarf Shamen ^^.
Level 85 is one of the most believable things I've heard...even moreso than new races. Here's why:
1) If someone was going to make up a story and claimed level 90 was the new cap, people would believe it. That's the trend. Who in their right mind would say 85 was the new cap unless they did have some inside knowledge? Now, it's possible someone did this JUST so I'd make that assumption, but that's a stretch.
2) With 10 levels, BC put everyone so far ahead of the old world that it became obsolete. WotLK then made Outland worthless as everyone abandoned it. With only a 5 level difference, some of the Northrend content may still be of use and interesting after the new expansion is out. Sure, 85 would have a distinct advantage over level 80, but running some of the raids and instances wouldn't be quite as simple as if people were level 90.
3) When all is said and done, most people leveled up from 60 to 70 or from 70 to 80 really fast after the expansion was out. It's not like there are tons of people sitting around at level 71-79. Those who are those levels likely aren't staying there for long. Why not cut that grinding time in half and only bother with 5 levels? Makes sense to me.
4) With 10 levels, you need distinct quests for the early, mid, and high 70s (or 60's in the case of BC) to do. Kill half those levels and you can concentrate more on the level 85 content rather than have to worry what stuff to give from 85 to 90.
I'm not an expert on Night Elf lore, but it doesn't surprise me that they might get mages, and here's why. Malfurion seems to be the embodiment of that race's ideals. While he's been away their new leader commissioned Teldrassil which Malfurion specifically opposed. Seems like they're not putting too much stock in Malfurions rules.
Having taken a look at azeroth from the air I can say a small team of 4-5 would take less than a month to fill in the gaps. It seems the problem is purely a manpower one. if you follow they have moved a lot of devs onto other projects then it would make sense they just didn't want to deal with it until they had to redo zones. Then it made sense to fill in the gaps. There is still an area in the burning steps where you can get to an area just north of the starting human zone. In there is an easter egg. A single pool of peaceblooms can be fished here. 20 per pool, and if you follow the stream around you can see some of the areas that need to be fixed.