[Bird]

Some nice information surfacing about the Cataclysm events. I'll spoilertag them in case anyone wants to wait until they're actually out.

Spoiler

After digging around, it looks like Orgrimmar and Stormwind will be taken over/attacked by the Twilight's Hammer. I'm thinking it'll be like Battle for Undercity, except the people in disguises will be allowed in, and those not in disguises will get attacked. It also explains why Orgrimmar will need rebuilding.

I also noticed some.... interesting.... objects being added. Namely, objects with the same name as zones. Is it possible that there'll be some sort of "Battle map" present in game?

There are also these VERY interesting NPC's;
http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/38830/ph-grimtotem-protector/
http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/38846/ph-slain-druid/
http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/38839/dark-iron-guard/
http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/38870/dnd-dark-iron-guard-move-to-bunny/
http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/38905/ph-grimtotem-vendor/
http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/39023/dnd-tb-event-bunny/
http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/38831/slain-bluffwatcher/

Anything marked [DND] means it's not meant to be targettable (similar to these earthquake mobs) and [PH] is placeholder. "Bunny" NPC's are usually used as triggers or traps to part of an event (for example, Thorim jumping down from his platform is trggered by getting close to a "bunny" npc, which can be seen by tracking undead).

What does it mean?
A) We'll see the dark iron returning
B) There's gonna be a Thunder Bluff event, with the normal guards being slain
C) The Grimtotem ARE definately making a return

Additionally, there's a new instance BESIDES the Ruby Sanctum.... Stormwind;
http://db.mmo-champion.com/instance/723/stormwind/

There's one last thing, and it'd be that it looks like they're preparing the "No man's land" debuff ready for the beta;
http://db.mmo-champion.com/s/73537/no-mans-land/

It's used in zones that aren't quite ready to accept players.

So this patch isn't merely some UI improvement patch.... it's part 2 in the step towards Cataclysm.

Courtesy of Chronalis of MMO-Champion.

[Natalie Taylor]

snip.

Interesting, MMO-Champion tends to be right in these matters, I remember an extensive list of speculation they did before Cataclysm was announced, and every single detail proved to be right. I'm not sure how they do it, but I tend to trust their info now, to a degree at least.

That sounds very interesting, looking forward to seeing what happens.

On a completely different note, I've been thinking about somethint that's probably never gonna happen (I might suggest it to Blizzard though). It's an idea I have for a dungeon design contest.

The basic premise is this, single player isntances, for people who want a challenge and decent loot while playing on their own. Either if their friends aren't online or they don't want to bother with finding a group (Not as much of a pain with the new system, but bare with me here). Basically they would be short instances like a warehouse in Stormwind or something of similar scale.

The contest would be this, Blizzard releases a toolset containing game assets, and the players design these short dungeons. Some winners are picked, their designs are refined and put in the game. I'm sure there would be massive apticipation for something like this, I for one would defiantely get to work on something

I had an idea for a short instance in Stormwind, or any city for that matter where a warehouse would fit in. Say this warehouse is being used by smugglers, your objective is to go in, kill three smuggler leaders (bosses) and collect ten or so crates of smuggled goods. Moderate loot and gold rewards based on your level and a short and quick adventure if you're tired of soloiong other content.

It's of course extremely unlikely that something like that would happen, but I'm considering to suggest the concept of single player instances anyway, can't hurt. So what do you think about this?

[Scotties Hottie]

Interesting, MMO-Champion tends to be right in these matters, I remember an extensive list of speculation they did before Cataclysm was announced, and every single detail proved to be right. I'm not sure how they do it, but I tend to trust their info now, to a degree at least.

That sounds very interesting, looking forward to seeing what happens.

On a completely different note, I've been thinking about somethint that's probably never gonna happen (I might suggest it to Blizzard though). It's an idea I have for a dungeon design contest.

The basic premise is this, single player isntances, for people who want a challenge and decent loot while playing on their own. Either if their friends aren't online or they don't want to bother with finding a group (Not as much of a pain with the new system, but bare with me here). Basically they would be short instances like a warehouse in Stormwind or something of similar scale.

The contest would be this, Blizzard releases a toolset containing game assets, and the players design these short dungeons. Some winners are picked, their designs are refined and put in the game. I'm sure there would be massive apticipation for something like this, I for one would defiantely get to work on something

I had an idea for a short instance in Stormwind, or any city for that matter where a warehouse would fit in. Say this warehouse is being used by smugglers, your objective is to go in, kill three smuggler leaders (bosses) and collect ten or so crates of smuggled goods. Moderate loot and gold rewards based on your level and a short and quick adventure if you're tired of soloiong other content.

It's of course extremely unlikely that something like that would happen, but I'm considering to suggest the concept of single player instances anyway, can't hurt. So what do you think about this?

Why's it have to be an instance? I mean isn't this basically just an elite quest? 's not like they haven't made them all soloable anyways.

[Philip Lyon]

Why's it have to be an instance? I mean isn't this basically just an elite quest? 's not like they haven't made them all soloable anyways.

True, though I planned the entire thing around the concept of designing an actual "dungeon", which would be an awesome oppurtunity to get

[Michael Russ]

True, though I planned the entire thing around the concept of designing an actual "dungeon", which would be an awesome oppurtunity to get

Well I suppose it could be fun if there were more low and mid level dungeons like that. I was sorely disappointed in how every guild I joined just blew off the low level instances by having some level 80 Death Knight run you through them. It was the same in pubs. They'd always pull some super high level to do the instance for you, and it was no fun at all.

It was like "forget actually playing the game with a group and succeeding, just stand in that corner and don't aggo anything while daddy 80 takes care of it all".

If anything there ought to be an upper level cap on instances. :meh:

I also wish they'd incentivize world PvP to some extent. Battlegrounds and Arenas and "set PvP flag status so nobody can attack you" just killed all spontaneous PvP. So basically it needs more player-player interaction on and within both sides.

[Sammie LM]

Well I suppose it could be fun if there were more low and mid level dungeons like that. I was sorely disappointed in how every guild I joined just blew off the low level instances by having some level 80 Death Knight run you through them. It was the same in pubs. They'd always pull some super high level to do the instance for you, and it was no fun at all.

It was like "forget actually playing the game with a group and succeeding, just stand in that corner and don't aggo anything while daddy 80 takes care of it all".

If anything there ought to be an upper level cap on instances. :meh:

I also wish they'd incentivize world PvP to some extent. Battlegrounds and Arenas and "set PvP flag status so nobody can attack you" just killed all spontaneous PvP. So basically it needs more player-player interaction on and within both sides.

Well, on a PVP server that "problem" in non-existant. Virtually every time I step into Tarren Mill for example there's a full on war going on after someone got ganked and called their guild and everything snowballed from there with the aid of the trade chat and free time When levelling in Stranglethorn I'll simply go with one of my 80's to the general area and then log on him if I get ganked to much by the same guy. A friend of mine has three accounts, so when we're questing together there's always an 80 or two following us, but not in our group to reduce our XP

Also, I've been levelling my warrior as prot spec by doing random instances, and I get groups full of people my own level so we can do the isntance properly. You might want to look into that if you're levelling a new character and you want to do some classic instances without an 80 boosting you.

[Red Bevinz]

Ravenholdt is where you go for the Rogue quests. The only way to get rep with the Syndicate is to farm Ravenholdt members for days on end. And still, there's no Syndicate NPC's you can talk to.

I meant after I do the very few quests they have, especially the one for ST. I always thought they should have a Syndicate thing similar to the Bloodsail thing; would make it alot more interesting.

Anyways, Kelley's on the list, Yellek.

If anything there ought to be an upper level cap on instances. :meh:

...You mean just while they're in a group with lower levels, and not just "you can never go in here again", right? I had to solo DM 4 times on my 44 rogue to get http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=8492.

[Add Me]

I meant after I do the very few quests they have, especially the one for ST. I always thought they should have a Syndicate thing similar to the Bloodsail thing; would make it alot more interesting.

Anyways, Kelley's on the list, Yellek.


...You mean just while they're in a group with lower levels, and not just "you can never go in here again", right? I had to solo DM 4 times on my 44 rogue to get http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=8492.

There is the "Insane" title. Exalted with Ravenholdt, Syndicate, Shan'delar(spelt wrong, the highborne inside Dire Maul), Steamwheedle Cartel and Bloodsail Buccaneers at the same time.

[Jade]

There is the "Insane" title. Exalted with Ravenholdt, Syndicate, Shan'delar(spelt wrong, the highborne inside Dire Maul), Steamwheedle Cartel and Bloodsail Buccaneers at the same time.

Christ, I can't imagine how many Ravenholdts I'd have to kill to get exalted with the Syndicate...

[Anna S]

Christ, I can't imagine how many Ravenholdts I'd have to kill to get exalted with the Syndicate...

Plus you'd have to keep your Ravenholdt rep at exalted while doing it. It blows my mind how anyone can complete that.

[danni Marchant]

Plus you'd have to keep your Ravenholdt rep at exalted while doing it. It blows my mind how anyone can complete that.

http://www.wowhead.com/?achievement=2336

Not true, as that would be impossible. All you need to do is get exalted with them once and then it counts, your reputation with them after you've reached exalted for the first time doesn't matter. It's impossible to be exalted with Ravenholdt and the Syndicate at the same time because they'll cancel eachother out, just like the Aldor and Scryers.

The only thing that's hard about this achievment is that it takes a lot of time.

[Joe Bonney]

I just started playing wow 2 days ago, I have one character Ghaskull a Lv8 Troll Hunter on the Stormrage realm.

[aisha jamil]

I like the orc and troll starter area. I've always felt that was the easiest place to begin. Until you go to the next village. Then you have to swim all the way over to those dumb islands.

[Franko AlVarado]

I always found Elwynn forest the easiest zone to level in quickly, but that's just because I played alliance for about 4 years and went there at about level 6 as I knew the quests inside and out. Doing the 1-6 zones of another race of your faction can also net you a decent bit of reputation, about 3k or so I think.

[Sherry Speakman]

I always found Elwynn forest the easiest zone to level in quickly, but that's just because I played alliance for about 4 years and went there at about level 6 as I knew the quests inside and out. Doing the 1-6 zones of another race of your faction can also net you a decent bit of reputation, about 3k or so I think.

Yep, as well as being easy XP for early level players. Or, you could do them high level and just blast through. But that can have undesired effects if you disrupt the leveling of new players. It's not nice to sweep an area clean of boars or something and then turning around and seeing a new player just staring at you. Thats why I'll offer to help new players if they want to come along.

[GEo LIme]

Should I buy WOTLK even though Im such a low LV?

[Campbell]

Yep, as well as being easy XP for early level players. Or, you could do them high level and just blast through. But that can have undesired effects if you disrupt the leveling of new players. It's not nice to sweep an area clean of boars or something and then turning around and seeing a new player just staring at you. Thats why I'll offer to help new players if they want to come along.

That's true, and I try to do it when as few new players are around as possible. Though I do that rarely to say the least, I'm exalted with every main city on my main anyway so there's no need. Luckily the mobs in those areas spawn very quickly and in large numbers because so many new players get into the game at the same times.

[Leah]

UGH. I officialy hate this new LFG system; so many noobs, dumbasses, and need-rolling-then-quitters. Yesterday, I was running Maraudon (PW), and some warlock needs the ring the last boss drops: the http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=17713. I already had it, but I was still pissed at him for doing that when other people actually needed it. And later on, I was running ST, and some hunter needs the shield the last boss drops; the http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=10835. The tank was so pissed, I convinced him to write a ticket to the GMs.

Stupidity should be a crime.

[Scott]

Sadly enough, blizzard will not do ANYTHING about need rollers in the LFG system. The only limitation they put on it, is if you can't use it, you can't roll need. Works to some degree, but 2 warriors, one tank and one dps, rolling on the shield at the same time presents problems, because the dps warrior is just being a cod.

[Sebrina Johnstone]

I started up a hunter to troll the bg's a few weeks ago. So far I've learned a few things. 1.) BoA's in almost every slot even if they are wrong for your class is way overpowered. 2.) Ending every other sentence with mon upsets a lot of people. 3.) You can troll and be good at the same time.


So if you're in Nightfall battlegroup and run into http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Anvilmar&cn=Flipoutmon that's just me messing around mon.



Edit: Should I buy WOTLK even though Im such a low LV?

If you can afford to go ahead. It adds a bunch of stuff that could be beneficial to any level. For a low level example you could set your hearthstone to Dalaran. This city has portals to all the faction's capital cities for easier navigation between continents. Dalaran also has all the profession trainers that could train you in a small area. Less hassle looking for them that way.

[Big Homie]

I started up a hunter to troll the bg's a few weeks ago. So far I've learned a few things. 1.) BoA's in almost every slot even if they are wrong for your class is way overpowered. 2.) Ending every other sentence with mon upsets a lot of people. 3.) You can troll and be good at the same time.


So if you're in Nightfall battlegroup and run into http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Anvilmar&cn=Flipoutmon that's just me messing around mon.



Edit: Should I buy WOTLK even though Im such a low LV?

If you can afford to go ahead. It adds a bunch of stuff that could be beneficial to any level. For a low level example you could set your hearthstone to Dalaran. This city has portals to all the faction's capital cities for easier navigation between continents. Dalaran also has all the profession trainers that could train you in a small area. Less hassle looking for them that way.

Oh yeah, BoA items are awesome, my warrior is levelling in instances with BoA chest, shoulders, sword, bow (For the stats) and I've got the 2h BoA axe to use for quests. Add the fact that I bought dual talents for him and you'be got one sweet warrior

I'm gonna replace the chest and shoulders though, with the pvp versions, the resillience bonus is apparently quite helpfull for low level tanking.

[Roy Harris]

I forgot about the WG versions. I only step into that zone to do VoA. The last time that happened was when the frost watcher was released. I didn't even know they had chestpiece BoA's with resilience. I think I might have a few shards saved up to check them out.

[Shirley BEltran]

I forgot about the WG versions. I only step into that zone to do VoA. The last time that happened was when the frost watcher was released. I didn't even know they had chestpiece BoA's with resilience. I think I might have a few shards saved up to check them out.

I just bought the shoulders like 1 minute ago, can't afford the chest on either of my 80's yet though, haven't done enough instances while we hold WG recently.

[Christie Mitchell]

Should I buy WOTLK even though Im such a low LV?

If you want to be a Deathknight, you need to have the expansion and get a character to a certain level. I forgot what it was, can anyone clarify that for me? Me and my friends are getting back into WoW, I am being a Dwarf hunter. Getting my trial upgraded this friday, can't wait!

[Melanie Steinberg]

I forgot what it was, can anyone clarify that for me?

I believe you need a level 55 character.