Pre-Cataclysm: Retaking Gnomeregan/Echo Isles
Amatera on Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 24 Comments Tags: echo isles, gnomeregan, mekkatorque, pre-cataclysm, sen'jin village, vol'jin 
Oh, data-mining always brings such wonderful news! The artifacts of code and unfinished content often give you a fair idea as to what's coming in the near future and, considering where we're at right now, that means getting the goods on pre-expansion events.
At this point, most of you have already read about the new Ruby Sanctum raid dungeon and how that plays into the lore leading up to rebirth of Deathwing, but if we dial things back a notch we find that even the smaller, somewhat forgotten factions will have their role to play in what's to come.
You may recall a little piece that iTZKooPA wrote a couple of weeks ago. It's also something that we discussed on the podcast, wondering why Blizzard didn't give any of the "assault on Northrend" roles to existing faction leaders instead of brand new characters whose importance to the game would likely begin and end with the questline they're associated with.
I think we spoke a little too soon, as both High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque and Vol'Jin will be getting their due in an upcoming patch, starting with the reclamation of their respective homelands!
That's right, it seems as though they may finally be crawling out from under the shadows of their more popular faction-leader bretheren. Each will be at the head of an assault to retake what was once theirs. The Gnomes for Gnomeregan and the Darkspear Trolls for the Echo Isles.
Scrounging through the files of Patch 3.3.3. has revealed new, updated looks for these heads-of-state. While they may still not be important enough to receive fully-reworked models, they are both sporting a fresh set of fashionable duds:
Mekkatorque, Now and Then.;)
Vol'Jin, Old and New.
MMO-Champion has also discovered several new spells and skills that seem to be directly related to the reclamation efforts. Both the Gnomish and Troll versions of the event appear to have the player rallying recruits, while the latter may also incorporate some kind of bombing run on the Echo Isles. There appears to be at least one new flight point in the area, along with a description of a spell that requires you to be mounted:
Frogs Away! - Toss one of Vanira's attuned frogs at one of the illuminated locations on the Echo Isles. Only works when riding a bat. / 100 yd range, Instant
While these will no doubt be fun distractions for players eager to get their hands on the expansion, they also beg the question: will these factions finally be getting their own home cities? I think it's a bit early to say. Gnomeregan is still really close to Ironforge and Sen'Jin Village/Echo Isles will be within a stone's throw of both Orgrimmar and the new Goblin area in Azshara.
Then again, while I'm not sure if the Gnomes have any motivation (other than, well, returning home), the Trolls are rumored to be kicked out of Org along with the Undead when Garrosh taks the reigns of the Horde.
Should they find new sanctuary on the Echo Isles, I think I know where my Hearthstone's going to be set in the expansion.
This is a lot to take in, readers, but tell me what you think about the possibility of these two factions getting their own cities. Is it necessary? Is it even feasible? How do you feel about the way these pre-Cataclysm events look to be progressing?
Reader Comments (24)
"Is it necessary"
No.
"Is it feasible"
Not really.
"Is it going to be awesome"
HELL yes.
I'd love to see Gnomer have a purpose other than being well.... a useless instance. We all hate it. Yes it was cool once, and now it can be cool again. Good going blizz.
Finally Gnomes have picked up the pace and taken the spotlight.
Awesome... just awesome.
Oh and Gnomeregan will be frikkin huge...
To be clear, this event seems to be involved with taking the "surface" of Gnomeregan back, so it's likely that the 5-man dungeon will still be there in the expansion.
it took the gnomes more than 20 patches and 2 expansions to retake a area attacked by lvl 20-29 mobs... pathetic
and it took the trolls more than 20 patches and 2 expansions to retake an area with lvl 5-8 mobs... even more pathetic.
the retaking will be cool though
BUT I LOVE GNOMER!!! BEST QUEST LEGS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! F*CK U ALL!
Will the Echo Isles and Gnomeregan become cities, you ask?
No.
Considering the failures that were Silvermoon and Exodar, and how abandoned Shattrath is now - and with the addition of 2 NEW races; I think the most logical conclusion to come to is this:
The Echo Isle, and Gnomeregan's Surface (Datamined Achievements and Quests, for now, say only the SURFACE is being reclaimed) will become the Troll and Gnome starting 1-5 'subzone'.
As it stands, every race has their own unique starting area - save Trolls and Gnomes. They share everything of theirs with Orcs and Dwarves, respectively. Now, considering that, and how close a new city would be to Ironforge and Orgrimmar - it is only practical that the Trolls move out of the Valley of Trials, and the Gnomes leave Coldridge Valley - and head out to Upper Gnomeregan and Echo Isles.
From there, they can then move into Dun Morogh and Durotar
Oh, and to continue on the Gnomeregan situation:
Being that only its surface is being retaken, that can still leave the doors open to a Gnomeregan Dungeon - though I doubt it'll stay as is
GOOOOOO TROOOOOOLLLLLSSS YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAA AA A A A A *Pant*.... phew.....Alright!
How do people datamine all this?
(pardon the noobness)
Eh? Exodar and Silvermoon failure!? Those are the two most beautiful home cities in the game, not to
mention the fact there are no better areas for leveling up toons; they're streamlined and resource rich, perfect for upskilling and farming mats for the AH.
@WML: Octavix is right... Silvermoon and Exodar are, in terms of population, a failure. Ok, the architeture of the cities are amazing, the leveling there is smoother and funnier (and the quest rewards are REALLY better), but there are no high level people, just because they are centered in the main cities. So, creating a new town would be cool, but useless...
The reason the Exodar and Silvermoon are empty is for two reasons. The first is because trial players can't go there, and the second is because no one is there. If they were opened to trial players, their populations would rise, and so their populations would rise (again). I doubt Ex's would rise as high as the populations of SW or IF, as its a pain in the arse to get to/from Exodar. Silvermoon might as it's easier to get to.
I think part of the reason they're empty is because they're just so out of the way, normally, and they really aren't central to the action. I could see far more people choosing a city to set their hearth to in Cataclysm based on personal preference than population, primarily because you'll be able to fly everywhere now. It wouldn't be nearly as much of a pain to get around as it is now.
about time. maybe those tanks and planes parked around ironforge will get a purpose. BUNKER BUSTERS HOOOOOOOOOO!
This is awesome! finally we gnomes get some attebtion!
In your face, gnome racists and punters!
LIKE!FINALLY!
The only reason i go to Silvermoon is because i can get away from the lags in dal and not that (less people in a certain place, the less likehood of lags)
imo Octavix is dead on. gnomer and echo will be starting areas so every race has their own. good job Octa :P
Vol'Jin hair turns red when hes angry you wont like him when hes angry...
I agree with previous posters, they will not become full fledged cities. Maybe towns in the range of Thelsamar; has an inn and an FP but no real trading aspects. At least, not for the Gnomes as they will not be kicked out completely from IF. The Trolls may get a commerce area is Garrosh no longer wants them in Ogr. Echo may turn into something along the lines of Ratchet; has a bank and small AH. But this all depends on how restricted Ogr will become after Garrosh takes over.
finnaly gnomes get some love
finnaly gnomes get some love
gnomeragon is to big to become a subcity then again if their nto taking down the bottom part its probably to small to be a real city but hey reason why they expand renevate create a nice place for their leader