Project Lore

One example of phased content: the Wrathgate event. The MMO is an odd beast. Like most games, or game series, it evolves and grows in expected ways over time. Players are provided with a bevy of new options or the graphics are given a shiny new coat of paint (especially if it's associated with a generational jump in hardware). But the online RPG is no moulting reptile. It can't simply shed its old skin. Expansions offer new content, but rarely do much for the old, so we're stuck with the less impressive aspects of the game, and the developers are consistently reminded by these ancient artifacts of their failings the first time around. I'm sure Blizzard would love to reshape the original continents as much as we players would like to see them do it, but the drain on resources would be absolutely massive. I know I've stated this in previous posts, but it entails so much more than a graphical overhaul. They'd have to reconsider how quests, dungeons, leveling, and other such balance-related aspects of the game are dealt with. What starts as one problem to deal with quickly spirals out of control. But let's be honest, who is it that wants to experience this content again? I'd wager it's largely people who are at the end game, and have been there for a very long time. Often, that means relegating yourself to a scant few zones worth of content, which, as we all know, can get boring very quickly. A first-time player should still have a lot of fun exploring the old world and those who are leveling alts likely want to progress through it as quickly as possible. Mainland Azeroth, specifically Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms, is the bread and butter of the Warcraft universe, though! It seems necessary to revisit and reinvigorate those areas so absolutely central to the lore. So, how do we do that? What can Blizzard do to persuade us to go back? Well, by moving forward, actually. Through the idea of phasing. It's already in the game, if you're looking for it. The go-to event whenever anyone talks about this sort of thing is the Wrathgate, and as great of a showcase as it might be, it doesn't really deal with the complexities of the concept's implementation.  Simply put, phasing allows parts of the world to look/act/behave differently for players at different stages of the game. The problem with Wrathgate is that it's mostly cosmetic: a player who hasn't completed the line will see a standing army and one who has will see, well, the aftermath. A better example to look towards, and perhaps a test bed for what we can expect looking forward (should Blizz choose to go down this road) is actually Icecrown Glacier. There are several questlines involving the Argent Crusade and Ebon Blade that slowly change certain parts of the zone, even opening up new questlines along the way (which otherwise wouldn't be available to players who haven't progressed that far yet). For phasing to truly be game-changing, it needs to be able to make sweeping changes to the player experience. What this all boils down to is this: why not phase the whole of Azeroth? If some world-changing event is ahead, make it so that level 80-90 players see a different kind of world. What if the Crossroads were in ruins or you suddenly had high-level mobs in the newbie zones? Those are simple examples, but they could scale with the amount of work Blizzard feels they want to put into it. It's the Battle for the Undercity on a much greater level! Of course, that does present some problems to overcome. Specifically, how two such versions of Azeroth can exist concurrently. Blizzard isn't completely shy about fudging the timeline (which would explain how Kael'Thas could exist as an uber raid boss in Tempest Keep and in his weaker, defeated form in Magister's Terrace at the same time), and you could argue that's necessary in a persistent-world MMO like Warcraft, but there are more practical concerns. For instance, would it be possible for a level 80+ character to return to the old version of Azeroth and how would that even be justified in the lore? What if they want to play with or help our some of their low-level buds, who they wouldn't be able to see in the phased version of the world? Would things like auction houses be connected across the great 4th-dimensional abyss? The disconnect between gameplay and practicality does eventually reach the point of becoming undesirable if you stretch players' suspension of disbelief too far. Nonetheless, I can think of at least one solution, as cliche as it might be: portals. WoW lore does have a few built-in fail safes for things like this. We already know there are alternate versions of Azeroth, like that of the Emerald Dream. And then there's the possibility of the Infinite Dragonflight finally finding success in corrupting the timeline, resulting in a completely different chain of events. Areas, or possibilities like these, can be accessed through special gateways opened up by the dragonflights in their attempt to restore order. What sorts of ideas might you readers have for this sort of thing? Is phasing a viable option? Would you be willing to excuse the lore to explore an alternate version of Azeroth at any cost, or should it have to jive with the existing story line? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

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Sit around in General or Trade chat long enough, and you're bound to see someone or other recruiting members for their freshly-formed guild. Part of the pitch almost always incorporates how "freakin' awesome" their guild tabard is. Now, I'm all for guild pride, but it's just so damn hard for me to get excited about tabards. iTZKooPA recently posted an article about fashion sense in WoW, namely how awful it can be at times (though nothing will ever compare to the Subligar class of armor from FFXI -- man-thong anyone?). One of his key complaints was the lack of available customization in the game and, indeed, if you play a certain class, you've got few options moving forward through each tier of equipment. I mean, if you've got an ugly set, you're pretty much stuck with it. So you say, "Hey, Amatera! What about tabards?! They're one of the few pieces of gear that anybody can put on!" And my response to that would be, "Maybe they can be worn by anybody, but I don't know why anybody would want to wear them!" Ugh.... it just ruins the entire outfit! Let's face it, tabards are a fashion faux pas. Even a cool design on the front (as rare as they actually are) doesn't prevent them from covering up that sweet, new breastplate you just picked up. What's the point in throwing a dirty bedsheet on top of your ass-kicking getup? It makes you look like you're getting ready for a sleepover with Ysera! Unfortunately, Blizzard sought to complicate matters with the release of Wrath of the Lich King. Leaving your guild tabard in the closet is one thing, but it's much tougher to stop yourself from wearing something that could greatly increase your ability to earn reputation. Generally, the rewards associated with the four factions that offer such tabards piddle away quickly the farther in content you get, but they still provide an easy avenue for completing rep-related Achievements, as well as add more incentive to go back and complete Heroic dungeon runs. I still hate wearing them, though. All except for the Tabard of the Ebon Blade completely clash with the dark hues of end-game Rogue armor. Just as well, they seem far too easy to come by these days. Used to be that if you were wearing a fancy Tabard of the Argent Dawn, it actually meant something! So, is there anyone else out there that hates tabards as much as I do? Or do you think they're the greatest thing to happen to fashion since Vera Bradley (and, yes, I'm ashamed to actually know what that is)? Granted, I'm pretty much a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy in real life, so if there are any experts out there, feel free to tell me off in the comments section!

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If you didn't roll a Death Knight yet, then you may not know much about the Knights of the Ebon Blade.  The merry band of Death Knights are lead by Darion Mograine from their base in Eastern Plaguelands.  It is tough to describe the faction without dropping any spoilers - do the opening Death Knight chain - so let's just say that after Mograine broke free from the Lich King's control, he pledged his remaining days to bringing his former master down.  To help him in his task, he formed the Knights of the Ebon Blade, a faction that directly mirrors the Paladin-filled ranks of Knights of the Silver Hand. Seeing as I am going to pop into Revered after this round of dailies, I am qualified to deliver yet another guide on reputation grinding.  Consequently, Ebon Blade is one of the four factions that can be Championed, making Exalted an easily reachable feat.  Add to that a collection of six daily quests, and you'll be throwing back flagons of ale with Mograine in no time.

• Shoot 'Em Up - A quick weapon-based task.
• Vile Like Fire! - Vehicular siege quest.  As the title suggests, you get to burn stuff.
• Leave Our Mark - Basically a kill x mobs quests, you just have to stab their bodies with a marker after their death.  You can ninja other player's mobs if they aren't doing it, or you scare them off.
• From Their Corpses, Rise! - A simple kill x mobs quest like above.  Just sprinkle the solution of their corpse for a new friend.
• Intelligence Gathering - This is Ebon Hold's version of Hot and Cold.  First you must grind key drops off the same mobs from the above quest, then use the keys to open lockboxes.  However, not every lockbox contains the quest item needed, just a handful of copper.  Yes, copper.
• No Fly Zone - Another kill x mobs quest, but it is actually annoying for toons with no ranged.  The mobs are flying and will occasionally hover just out of melee range as they toss harpoons your way.

Combining Championing with normal and daily quests means you can get to Exalted in no time flat.  Of course, there is a catch.  Like the Sons of Hodir, players must gain access to the faction's main base on Northrend before they can access dailies or even the tabard.  Although there is an opening quest chain, the totality of it is no where near as long as the Sons, in terms of numbers or time invested.  In Icecrown you will find a quest via the flying ship of your faction aptly titled It's All Fun and Games.  The first part has you poking out Sauron's the Lich King's eye.  Get it?  Once you complete the opening chain, the opportunity to free the Shadow Vault from the Lich King's minion will arise.  Upon your victory you will be meet with a new phased quest hub for yourself. It should be noted that you essentially need Cold Weather Flying to do these, which would make a fake level requirement of Level 77.  You can probably get around it with the help of a friendly Warlock and partner, but why put them through the trouble?  Ebon Blade holds a good collection of items aside from the DPS head enchantment that Solidsamm demands.  If you haven't begun raiding, then you'll likely find something of interest from the faction.  If not, well there is always those Achievements things everybody loves.

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