Next World Of Warcraft Expansion – Cataclysm
Posted on August 21st, 2009 by Lawbringer under Alliance, Blood Elf, Cataclysm, Death Knights, Dranei, Druid, Dwarf, Expansion, Gnome, Goblin, Human, Mage, Night Elf, Orc, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Tauren, Troll, Undead, Warlock, Warrior, Worgen, hunterPart 1 Of Our Coverage Of The New WoW Expansion: Cataclysm
All of the information regarding the upcoming expansion to WoW is going to blow your socks off. It’s so good that WoW is going to be like a whole new game, and that’s and understatement of the highest order. When Cataclysm comes out, your whole WoW experience will be rejuvenated. So many things are changing it’s a little tough to know where to start, but we drew from a hat and came up with something.
The new races look even better than we expected. For the Alliance there are the Worgen. The mysteries locked behind the Greymane wall in southern Silverpine are revealed as the great gate is torn down to reveal the human kingdom of Gilneas – but the humans are not merely human any more. This new starting zone will run from level 1 to 15 and the graphics are fantastic.
For the Horde (sorry about that) we get the goblins of Khazan who have been shipwrecked on the Lost Islands between Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. The zone looks an awful lot like Stranglethorn Vale, but you’ll get a big dose of the new water rendering all around the islands – and it is truly awesome.
So while we’re on the subject of the new races you should also know that every race in the game will get new class combinations. There are some odd entries in the list – to be sure. Dwarf Druid anyone? How about a Tauren Paladin? Combine all of that with the upcoming faction change service and there’s a pretty good likelihood that you might consider changing at least one of your alts to the other faction just to grab one of the new races without having to go from 1-85 (that’s right, the level cap is being raised – but more on that another time), although we recommend you not take shortcuts since Cataclysm will change almost everything about the entire world.
Here is the complete race/class matrix for your viewing pleasure:
When you find out just how much the entire game is going to change there is a good bet you’ll want to start all over from the very beginning and go from 1-85 on one of the new races. The whole game is getting an overhaul from the ground up and nothing will be like it was pre-BC. And that’s what we’ll talk about tomorrow. Until then, just know that Cataclysm is certainly going to Dominate!
Is it just me or does this expansion look to be the best yet?
So much will change… im looking forward to see what mounts the Worgen and Goblins are going to get. Definately planning on levelling my horde hunter up to change him to a Goblin as soon as the expansion hits.
zomg Law what a dream crush… I was actually working on an article on this… I even had that class/race combo pic. *sigh*
Cataclysm is huge, I’ve actually been watching Blizz Con most of the day (my friend paid for the live streaming video). They made a comment in passing that the goblin mount was going to be what looks like a go-kart/hot-rod. And the Worgen mount is looking like it might be some sort of worgen mastiff (?)
All I know is that my copies will be pre-ordered the day they start selling pre-orders.
Thanks for the mount info
I am on your side with the pre-ordering… i actually cant wait 
best thing is that its becoming more simple too. With the doing away of Attack Power, Armor Pen, Spell Power, Defense, and more, the game is going back to the simple roots of pre-BC where you just didn’t really have to worry about all that. Sure, the game will look nothing like it did back in that day, but i really feel that the game was getting out of hand for the casuals, you almost need a spreadsheet or intense addons to play normally these days.
Mate i agree, however i feel it is becoming to simple for my liking, i enjoy having to do a tiny bit of number crunching.
and in refrence to the spreadsheets, I have never even consulted one, yet i pull the numbers, and without and addon apart from Recount and Omen
There aren’t any dwarf druids as you said in the Article and the island is Kezan, and it’s different from STV because it has all new flora and fauna that populate it.
I wonder if Boomkin and Tree forms will be avail for this expansion. I mean, really! If you’re gonna make Trolls a tree of life (I’m a little scared what kind of plant that might be
give cows a new form!!!
I’d like to see a female gnome priest in a bubble. Very Wizard of Oz. Then I’d warstomp on top of them.
matt from camp?
I’m totally speechless on this. Allow my geek heart to quit fluttering and I may post something else later.
the entire reason this expansion is cutting all these stats (ap, defense, mp5, sp, armor pen, etc) is to decrease mudflation, which is ultimately the end of most mmo’s. Once you get to the point where an average dps is doing 15k and a mediocre tank is at 80k hp, the game gets less fun, and people quit. This expansion, thankfully, will reduce WoW’s mudflation by a lot, while adding new content and keeping the game fun.
also, goblins are totally OP
I don’t care about spoilers, I’ve been reading all I can on Cataclysm fact or fiction. It’s all fascinating, and I’m sure we will be waiting a whole year Nov. 2010 probably so I will be waiting patiently to play my Worgen Rogue or Mage.
What a bastardization of the story. I wonder if they will even explain why there are Tauren Paladins running about. The only thing I like about this expansion are the Worgen…. which only the alliance get… yay go goblins…
Hmm, now both sides has “little” people, I guess that is fair. Also now the Alliance has Dog people while the Horde has cow people. I guess it was the Alliance’s turn to get the cooler toons, since last time they got funky alien half goat people.
Hey Rob I like my funky alien half goat people LOL I have an 80 DK and pally now of them
, anyway I wanted to comment to correct the article. I see no Dwarf Druids nor have I ever heard of them. Maybe you meant Dwarf Shaman (which I think is really weird anyway).
Can’t wait for my Worgen. I’m sure glad goblins went to horde, their most likely the worst looking race yet… much like the gnomes.
The new metals are Awesomite and Pwnium
WELL SHIT!
I had quit wow, cuz it had gotten boring, but now i hear about this and i dont think i have a choice to stay gone..
Damn you!
I guess it’s good to see some excitement. Nice to know somebody will enjoy the expansion. It will end the game for many. I’ve had 3 in my guild quit already with the news, and many planning to quit when the expansion arrives.
I had 1000 Abyss crystals in the bank, which just went from 108g down to 30g each on my server. I wont be renewing my membership when it runs out. 5 years is enough for me. Now that any 4 year old can level and be raiding with a top guild in 2 weeks, I dont think I’ll feel bad if I change my mind later.
lol im not liking what is happening to horde! goblins? really blizz? i mean really u they give the horde midgets and give the allies worgen? they should keep midgets where they belong (alliance) with the dwarfs and gnomes, and keep the freaky animal people where they belong (horde) with tauren, undead, orcs…. okay well all horde are freaks except blood elves (who are fruity instead of freaky).
what is this faction change service eh?
Something about this just doesn’t smell right… I mean… was that trailer a little below the standard for Blizz or what?
Personally as a casual player I’m a little sick of just making it to endgame to have the finish line moved again. Let’s hope this doesn’t widen the gap between ‘noobs’ and ‘leets’ any further…
Kabanarama, if anything the 3.2 patch has reduced the gap between “noobs and leets”to next to nothing. You can now go do a few heroics and be in ulduar gear, the whole thing Blizzard is trying to focus on is closing that gap! They don’t want WoW to be a game where only the dedicated few can get to see endgame material. World of Warcraft is there to make a profit for the staff at Blizzard, they want as many people to have as much fun as they can in it, therefore they will have less people quitting and whatnot because they don’t have the time to play seriously. This then creates a larger revenue from WoW. So if anything the new expansion will almost completely close the gap between “full-time players”and “casuals”
Actually, in a way, both the addition of the Worgen to the Alliance and the admission of Tauren Paladins seem right in a way.
First of all, I see the Worgen as the Tauren of the Alliance. They are there out of political necessity, while not exactly fitting in entirely. The Tauren are with the Horde because Thrall was there to help them when no one else would. However, consider that Tauren seem to be a little more peace-oriented than the other Horde races. Orcs and Trolls have generations of vicious warmongering to work though, while Blood Elves and Forsaken are all about vengeance, mainly against the Scourge but also against other races. The Tauren are about neither blood vengeance nor bloodthirstiness, but about peaceful (mostly) survival.
Compare that “outsider” status to the Worgen who, remember, are basically human, but who suffer from a curse. In addition, they are natural enemies of the Forsaken, who try to dominate that part of the Eastern Kingdoms. Besides, if King Varian Wrynn is determined to go to all-out war, then the Alliance will need shock troops.
As for the “Holy Cow” Paladins, that innate peacefulness and devotion to balance and nature would fit in with the basic qualities of piety, devotion and strength that are the Paladin. The fact that the Tauren more naturally follow the Earthmother than the Light may come down to semantics, taken from a certain point of view, but it is a minor obstacle. When Lore is considered from the proper point of view, I see Tauren Paladins being “proper” classes as much as Troll Druids and Dwarf Shaman.
Dwarf Shaman actually make a great deal of sense. Ever been to Aerie Peak? The Wildhammer Dwarves are well known for being almost tribal. Chances are, they will either explain it as the Wildhammer joining the Alliance, or the Ironforge Dwarves forming a closer bond to their Aerie Peak cousins.
The troll druid I was not surprised about either. Seems like trolls fit perfectly for the roll. Worgen druids also seem to make a great deal of sense.
Now, if you consider the quest to be added in 3.2.2 for the Horde, it isn’t a surprise at all that the Tauren are gaining the Paladin class. One of the tauren elders gets to talking. Their god Mu’sha is their moon god, and they figure out that Mu’sha and Elune could very well be the same being. From there, it’s not a far inferance that they connect their Sun God (can’t remember the name for the life of me) to The Light that the humans/dwarves/gnomes venerate. From there, it’s an obvious move for them to start venerating their Sun God to bring them the powers of the Paladin. Like was stated earlier, Tauren are actually the most likely of the horde races to gain the Paladin class simply because of their views and cultural beliefs.
I’m sort of uneasy about the idea of changing all the terrain, but if anything would make it worth is I guess it would be flying mounts in Azeroth. I hope the story doesn’t get too ridiculous. I mean, how many dark, hidden evils are there in Azeroth? And I don’t like the idea of Thrall dying in a duel. Thrall gave the Orcs a certain “nobility,” which really feels like it would be lost if Garrosh forcibly took his throne.
Still, I’m way more excited for this expansion than any previous one.
I may be piecing together random,unconnected bits of information, but I don’t believe that Thrall is slated to die for Garrosh to take over. Rather, Thrall steps aside to assume a more critical position: Shamanistic representative on the New Council of Tirisfal.
As readers of the WoW comic will know, a character is being established to become the new Guardian of Tirisfal: Me’dan, son of Garona Halforcen and Medivh, Last Guardian of Tirisfal. In the latest issues of the comic, Jaina Proudmoore encounters a Draenei who claims to be Garona’s uncle, who is also a Priest or Paladin (the latter, I think). The uncle, Jaina, Aegwynn and undead sorceror, Meryl Winterstorm. Together, the four wielders of power seem poised to establish a new Council of Tirisfal, which will not just focus on arcane magic, but include wielders of holy magic, shamans, and druids as well. (I wonder if warlocks will be included.)
Can we have some more information about the removal of things like spell power, attack power, hit and pretty much everything that is important in the game?! This has me very worried to say the least.
Even in classic pre-BC WoW you had to be at hit cap, max defense, appropriate resistance ect. If you remove all of that what will be the point of gear management?
Gear and talents work hand and hand. As a mage there are come builds that are crit dependent making crit more important than haste. A 4 piece conquers set bonus and almost 50% un-buffed crit rating makes for a hell of a lot of free instant cast pyroblast. A huge haste rating makes other builds better so for them haste > crit. Sounds like Blizz is trying to make everyone the same.
If everything is done away with then at that point ANY upgrade will be usable. Yes it can be a annoying to have to pass on an item because it does not have what you need in favor of getting a different upgrade that does, but you do that if you want to stay on top of your game.
I like doing 1000-1500 extra dps in a heroic (unbuffed and with a 1% miss for lack of a Drani) than the average toon. When your in a pug and one person from another raid guild whines that the nublet in the corner has low dps because their under geared having the tank chime in with “That’s ok the mage is doing more dps than two of you” makes you know you have your stuff together.
If Blizz is going to just wipe that all away why the hell should I bother? Forget the Tier gear go for the biggest and easiest thing you can grab. Its all going to be the same now.
Anybody else have a problem with that?
Tauren Priest… Holy Cow!
all i know is Tauren were already an awesome race, with paladin class being added to them, they are gonna be amazing.(LOL re-roll horde imo)
and im wondering what kind of racials worgen are getting maybe i should change my NE druid to worgen.. and my gnome DK to worgen.. i hope they have good racial abilities