WoW:BC Beta [Archive] - The ECA Forums

Grahamr

10-16-2006, 06:45 PM

OHHHHH SHIZ! i gotta get to at least level 50,and fast! i level my pally slowwwww.

So,if this is legal,tell me darkhelm....is Exodar and the Azuremyst islands cool? and how do you get from there to the rest of kalimdor? does the Draenei Area-Auberdine boat dock at the thrid unused deck in auberdine?

((chances are,you won't understand this question.))

EDIT:Read your site. the world event you described sounds fking BADASS! hopefully,i can fight may way up to a higher level in time to be useful during it. despite that,i had a gay old time running around silithus during the world event then,watching people fight giant anubistiaths and whatnot. can i access the dark portal at level 44,or will i get a prompt/invisible wall upon entering it?

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-16-2006, 10:44 PM

OHHHHH SHIZ! i gotta get to at least level 50,and fast! i level my pally slowwwww.

I have 2 level 60 characters: Xlorep my Tauren Druid, and Oguler my Orc Hunter; both of them are transferred to the beta server (Perolx and Relugo respectively, because name changes are mandatory when transferring characters into the beta server)

So,if this is legal,tell me darkhelm....

Completely legal.

is Exodar and the Azuremyst islands cool?

Yes. Azuremyst island is like nothing else in the game to date. Sort of forested, with large purple crystals all over the place stuck in the ground, and fragments of the Exodar all over the place in different areas. Really quite cool. There's a lot of typical night elf area creatures there, and then a few new ones as well. And some of the coolest quest lines I've ever seen (like a furbog totem quest chain that just rocks).

The Exodar is simply the most gorgeous city I've seen in WoW. I was simply gasping for breath as I wandered through it all. Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe it.

and how do you get from there to the rest of kalimdor?

There is a boat that goes to auberdeen, and I believe flightpaths. However you must have the expansion to get there, since both the Draenei and Blood Elf areas are actually technically on the Outland server (even though they are on Azeroth).

There also is a portal to the Exodar for the Alliance, and to Silvermoon for the Horde next to the Dark Portal on the Outland side. This is important, because there is no auction houses in Outland, so to do any AH trading, you have to go to Azeroth -- and I forsee the Exodar becoming the new Lagforge, and Silvermoon becoming the new Lagrammar.

does the Draenei Area-Auberdine boat dock at the thrid unused deck in auberdine?

I believe so. I haven't used it myself yet.

EDIT:Read your site. the world event you described sounds fking BADASS!

It apparently isn't a world event. It's just the Burning Legion constantly storming the Dark Portal, with a combined force of Horde and Alliance defenders attempting to hold it at bay. It literally is a constant warzone just on the other side of the Dark Portal. For quite a long ways too.

hopefully,i can fight may way up to a higher level in time to be useful during it. despite that,i had a gay old time running around silithus during the world event then,watching people fight giant anubistiaths and whatnot. can i access the dark portal at level 44,or will i get a prompt/invisible wall upon entering it?

I think you must be level 55 to enter the Dark Portal. Which is a good thing, because otherwise you'd never make it. Really. I saw a level 55 character aggro the Pit Commander (freaking Pit Lord demon the size of The Crossroads) after going about 15 yards away from the Dark Portal (towards him, rather than ducking back towards the alliance or horde camps to the left & right of the portal), resulting in a massive onslaught of demons on that poor guy. Seriously, the Outlands is no place for anyone too low level. Blizzard says 55 is OK, but I'm thinking that if you are less than 60, you're going to have issues. the lowest-level mobs I saw there were level 59 in Hellfire Peninsula.

I'm going to try and get some screenshots of things next time I can get online, which from the looks of things, will be Thursday at the earliest.

bayushisan

10-17-2006, 01:09 AM

I am so glad I put a reserve on Burning Crusade. I hear Shaman get some more nifty abilities. The expansion is the thing that got me back into WoW

Grahamr

10-17-2006, 01:58 AM

I have 2 level 60 characters: Xlorep my Tauren Druid, and Oguler my Orc Hunter; both of them are transferred to the beta server (Perolx and Relugo respectively, because name changes are mandatory when transferring characters into the beta server)

Completely legal.

Yes. Azuremyst island is like nothing else in the game to date. Sort of forested, with large purple crystals all over the place stuck in the ground, and fragments of the Exodar all over the place in different areas. Really quite cool. There's a lot of typical night elf area creatures there, and then a few new ones as well. And some of the coolest quest lines I've ever seen (like a furbog totem quest chain that just rocks).

The Exodar is simply the most gorgeous city I've seen in WoW. I was simply gasping for breath as I wandered through it all. Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe it.

There is a boat that goes to auberdeen, and I believe flightpaths. However you must have the expansion to get there, since both the Draenei and Blood Elf areas are actually technically on the Outland server (even though they are on Azeroth).

There also is a portal to the Exodar for the Alliance, and to Silvermoon for the Horde next to the Dark Portal on the Outland side. This is important, because there is no auction houses in Outland, so to do any AH trading, you have to go to Azeroth -- and I forsee the Exodar becoming the new Lagforge, and Silvermoon becoming the new Lagrammar.

I believe so. I haven't used it myself yet.

It apparently isn't a world event. It's just the Burning Legion constantly storming the Dark Portal, with a combined force of Horde and Alliance defenders attempting to hold it at bay. It literally is a constant warzone just on the other side of the Dark Portal. For quite a long ways too.

I think you must be level 55 to enter the Dark Portal. Which is a good thing, because otherwise you'd never make it. Really. I saw a level 55 character aggro the Pit Commander (freaking Pit Lord demon the size of The Crossroads) after going about 15 yards away from the Dark Portal (towards him, rather than ducking back towards the alliance or horde camps to the left & right of the portal), resulting in a massive onslaught of demons on that poor guy. Seriously, the Outlands is no place for anyone too low level. Blizzard says 55 is OK, but I'm thinking that if you are less than 60, you're going to have issues. the lowest-level mobs I saw there were level 59 in Hellfire Peninsula.

I'm going to try and get some screenshots of things next time I can get online, which from the looks of things, will be Thursday at the earliest.

Thank you for answering my questions. anyways,thats surprising! i don't want Ironforge to become abandoned!! that would suck! be great if everyone was spread around the cities,but i guess that would never happen.

and the constant world event with the portal attacking....whoa....just...whoa.

are there any tricks to leveling pallies,or how to resist the urge to goof around and fight horde while you could be doing an experiance-gaining instance run?

10-17-2006, 08:58 AM

/r/ picture of demon the size of the Crossroads.

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-17-2006, 12:48 PM

Thank you for answering my questions. anyways,thats surprising! i don't want Ironforge to become abandoned!! that would suck! be great if everyone was spread around the cities,but i guess that would never happen.

Apparently, I was mistaken about the portals, they seem to be one-way, and apparently are where the NPC reinforcements come running out of to to fight off the Burning Legion (it is just constant streams of horde & alliance NPCs smashing hard against the demons at the gate, complete and utter chaos). I tried to use the portal like someone else in-game had said they were for, and... nothing happened.

and the constant world event with the portal attacking....whoa....just...whoa.

The Legion also regularly assaults the two cities in the zone. You can stand in Thrallmar (the Horde town) and periodically, random demons will storm the gates, with a TON of NPCs rushing to defend it. And, it's not just the demons that do it. I've seen Alliance players attempt to assault Thrallmar as well.

Hellfire Peninsula is quite literally a massive constant war. There really is no "safe" locations, everywhere is chaos, everywhere is fighting, and demons are literally crawling out from nowhere to attack you. You think the Un'Goro Devilsaurs are annoying, wait until a level 70+ elite giant Fel Reaver comes marching by and monkeystomps everything it sees. Or when you happen to stumble into a platoon of demons marching down Glory Road heading to the Gate.

are there any tricks to leveling pallies,or how to resist the urge to goof around and fight horde while you could be doing an experiance-gaining instance run?

Tricks to levelling pallies? Honestly, the highest-level paladin I've ever had is currently level 11. However, I'd say it's the same thing for all classes, more or less. Personally, I like questing, and levelling; I tend to shun instances, PvP, and most of all raids. Burning Crusade might change some of my views however, because as a relatively annoyed with PvP in any game type of player, the PvP scenarios I've seen running around on just Hellfire Peninsula alone (and there are a number of PvP quests there I've seen), with the objectives and all, is enough to build even excitement in me.

Mind you, I've not gotten into any of the other zones in Outland. I've heard incredible things about the others -- I just can't get there without dying currently.

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-17-2006, 01:02 PM

/r/ picture of demon the size of the Crossroads.

Ok, I got some screenies up:

The Burning Legion assaulting the Dark Portal (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Legion_Assaulting_the_Gates.jpg)
The smaller demons on this image, are in fact about twice to two and a half times the height of a tauren, possibly a little bigger. The Pit Commander in the background is at almost my maximum clip range, and he still takes up a good portion of my screen. Getting any closer draws his attention and results in rapid and instant death.
The Horde Camp next to the Dark Portal in Outland (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Horde_Camp_by_Portal.jpg)
The smaller portal in the camp is where NPC reinforcements run out of to go smash against the legion. The Alliance has a similar camp on the other side of the Dark Portal. Note the size of the portal on the Outland side.
Thrallmar (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Thrallmar.jpg)
This is me flying into Thrallmar, the horde town in Hellfire Peninsula. Directly out the front gate is enacampments of Fel Orcs, and the Glory Road which is just all kinds of craziness. Across from that, is the Alliance town, I forget its name.
Flying from the Dark Portal to Thrallmar (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Flying_over_Hellfire.jpg)
Here's a shot of me along the route from the Dark Portal to Thrallmar. I was looking out at some of the chunks of debris floating in the distance, including what appears to be an Alliance tower smashed apart, adrift in the Twisting Nether.

Grahamr

10-17-2006, 02:40 PM

Ok, I got some screenies up:

The Burning Legion assaulting the Dark Portal (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Legion_Assaulting_the_Gates.jpg)
The smaller demons on this image, are in fact about twice to two and a half times the height of a tauren, possibly a little bigger. The Pit Commander in the background is at almost my maximum clip range, and he still takes up a good portion of my screen. Getting any closer draws his attention and results in rapid and instant death.
The Horde Camp next to the Dark Portal in Outland (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Horde_Camp_by_Portal.jpg)
The smaller portal in the camp is where NPC reinforcements run out of to go smash against the legion. The Alliance has a similar camp on the other side of the Dark Portal. Note the size of the portal on the Outland side.
Thrallmar (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Thrallmar.jpg)
This is me flying into Thrallmar, the horde town in Hellfire Peninsula. Directly out the front gate is enacampments of Fel Orcs, and the Glory Road which is just all kinds of craziness. Across from that, is the Alliance town, I forget its name.
Flying from the Dark Portal to Thrallmar (http://darkhelm.org/BC_Screens/Flying_over_Hellfire.jpg)
Here's a shot of me along the route from the Dark Portal to Thrallmar. I was looking out at some of the chunks of debris floating in the distance, including what appears to be an Alliance tower smashed apart, adrift in the Twisting Nether.

Nice! that's awesome! are there any normal-sized demons? the ally town is called honor hold. it would be kind of ghey if hellfire was under attack ALL the time. i would perfer it if it was(relatively)quiet normally,but then you hear on general"OMFG TEH LEGION IS COMING WE R AL GONNA DYEZOMG!" and all hell breaks loose.

another question...if i were to purchase and install the xpac,would it's functions be dormant until the patch when the portal is opened? or do they release the xpac when and exactly the servers are down for final implementing?

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-17-2006, 03:42 PM

Nice! that's awesome! are there any normal-sized demons?

Yes, there's quests there to actually hunt and kill demons, Fel Orcs, etc. It's just REALLY BIG ones keep assaulting the Dark Portal, I guess to be able to breach into Azeroth.

the ally town is called honor hold.

That's right. I keep forgetting it. Something about not having a level 55+ alliance character (my Dwarf Hunter's only level 52)

it would be kind of ghey if hellfire was under attack ALL the time. i would perfer it if it was(relatively)quiet normally,but then you hear on general"OMFG TEH LEGION IS COMING WE R AL GONNA DYEZOMG!" and all hell breaks loose.

Actually the constant assault is part of the excitement. You *can* navigate around, it is just that the place tends to be, well, active. From what I've heard & seen, the Burning Legion tends to be assaulting the Outland in a number of areas. Of course they would be attacking Hellfire Peninsula -- the forces from Azeroth are attempting to make a foothold there, something that the Burning Legion is extremely against. The Dark Portal has been opened, and the Legion would love to get some vengeance on the Azerothians for kicking their celestial butts back off that planet, twice now in history, something no other planet (according to the Blizz developers) has ever done.

Outland is most definitely not for the feint of heart. Remember -- there are flying mounts available in Outland. You can circumvent a LOT of the battles going on on the surface, by simply jumping on your mount and flying away. This makes it so that Blizzard can do stuff on Outland that they'd not be able to on Azeroth -- like having a constant fight against the Burning Legion.

From what I've seen, they took a great deal of time to make the demon assaults not very repetetive -- there is a bit of variation & randomization in the kinds of demons, their abilities, and their tactics when assaulting the Dark Portal, Honor Hold, and Thrallmar. And this is just what they are doing in Hellfire Peninsula. From what I've heard, there are zones where Infernals are apparently part of the weather patterns of that zone, they come, rain down, inflict AoE damage, spawn up and attack anything nearby -- I've not been able to confirm this, since any time I even attempt to go through the center of Hellfire Peninsula, I tend to get killed very fast. I might need a level or two to be able to go farther. It also doesn't help that I don'thave an epic mount on either of my level 60s (but ALL of the NPCs on mounts apparently do).

Oh, and the XP gain post 60 is... well.... slow. You do not start with any rested experience saved up when you get into the beta server (and I think the expansion will be like this as well).

another question...if i were to purchase and install the xpac,would it's functions be dormant until the patch when the portal is opened? or do they release the xpac when and exactly the servers are down for final implementing?

I'm pretty certain that the servers will be brought down just before launch, and brought up at launch with the new Burning Crusade software on them. Blizzard's been upgrading all of the server hardware to support Burning Crusade for a while now (if they aren't already done). There won't be a delay (I mean, it's the same thing they did on the release of WoW -- brought down the beta servers just prior to release, and the game launched with the new Live servers when the release date hit).

Grahamr

10-17-2006, 04:15 PM

Yes, there's quests there to actually hunt and kill demons, Fel Orcs, etc. It's just REALLY BIG ones keep assaulting the Dark Portal, I guess to be able to breach into Azeroth.

That's right. I keep forgetting it. Something about not having a level 55+ alliance character (my Dwarf Hunter's only level 52)

Actually the constant assault is part of the excitement. You *can* navigate around, it is just that the place tends to be, well, active. From what I've heard & seen, the Burning Legion tends to be assaulting the Outland in a number of areas. Of course they would be attacking Hellfire Peninsula -- the forces from Azeroth are attempting to make a foothold there, something that the Burning Legion is extremely against. The Dark Portal has been opened, and the Legion would love to get some vengeance on the Azerothians for kicking their celestial butts back off that planet, twice now in history, something no other planet (according to the Blizz developers) has ever done.

Outland is most definitely not for the feint of heart. Remember -- there are flying mounts available in Outland. You can circumvent a LOT of the battles going on on the surface, by simply jumping on your mount and flying away. This makes it so that Blizzard can do stuff on Outland that they'd not be able to on Azeroth -- like having a constant fight against the Burning Legion.

From what I've seen, they took a great deal of time to make the demon assaults too repetetive -- there is a bit of variation & randomization in the kinds of demons, their abilities, and their tactics when assaulting the Dark Portal, Honor Hold, and Thrallmar. And this is just what they are doing in Hellfire Peninsula. From what I've heard, there are zones where Infernals are apparently part of the weather patterns of that zone, they come, rain down, inflict AoE damage, spawn up and attack anything nearby -- I've not been able to confirm this, since any time I even attempt to go through the center of Hellfire Peninsula, I tend to get killed very fast. I might need a level or two to be able to go farther. It also doesn't help that I don'thave an epic mount on either of my level 60s (but ALL of the NPCs on mounts apparently do).

Oh, and the XP gain post 60 is... well.... slow. You do not start with any rested experience saved up when you get into the beta server (and I think the expansion will be like this as well).

I'm pretty certain that the servers will be brought down just before launch, and brought up at launch with the new Burning Crusade software on them. Blizzard's been upgrading all of the server hardware to support Burning Crusade for a while now (if they aren't already done). There won't be a delay (I mean, it's the same thing they did on the release of WoW -- brought down the beta servers just prior to release, and the game launched with the new Live servers when the release date hit).

I guess i should start lving...right now

EDIT:Light bless you for answering my questions,mr.darkhelm

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-17-2006, 04:37 PM

I'm available for other questions. But like I said before, bear in mind that I don't have all that much free time to actually play the Beta (maybe once ot twice a week), but I will answer what best I can.

Grahamr

10-17-2006, 04:42 PM

Lol,either my airport suxxors,or teh servers are down. i'm putting my money on the latter.

here's another question:will outland take away alot of people from azeroth? i mean,with people flipping out and slugging the crap out of each other and the legion,do you think the 60s will even bother to participate in a SS/TM tug-of-war? and with a whole goddam contident for 55+,will the higher level zones on azeroth become abandoned?

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-17-2006, 05:50 PM

I would say that at first, people will flock to Outland. Simply because it is new, exciting, and fresh. But once that newness settles down, people will figure out where they want to go, and where they want to spend their time. 60+ I see staying mostly in Outland, but for 55 - 59... I'd expect them to possibly hold off on going to Outland quite so soon. Level 55s get splattered bigtime by the demons at the Dark Portal. Hellfire Peninsula's the lowest-level zone there, and there is only a handful of creatures that are level 59, everything else is 60+.

The existing battlegrounds are being update with level ranges for 60 - 69, and 70; so the battlegrounds on Azeroth won't be deserted for too long, probably.

Boffo97

10-17-2006, 08:01 PM

As said, I'm in the Beta as well (I'm XDH's roommate and went to Blizzcon with him). I didn't have high enough level characters to transfer over and play with the Outlands, so I've been focusing on new Blood Elf and Draenei characters.

So far, I've got a Blood Elf Warlock and Hunter, and a Draenei Paladin and Mage, and all are coincidentally level 14 right now. The Paladin is used exclusively for questing with a Shaman DarkHelm quests with.

One big improvement in the early quest lines is that 1 or 2 of the early quests on both sides will award you 4 slot bags. This really helps in case you get one of those characters for whom bags just aren't dropping and you don't believe in buying bags.

When you first reach the Blood Elf capital, it will appear to be mostly ruins infested with mobs, with just a tiny square that makes Goldshire look like a bustling metropolis. You might be somewhat disappointed. But look around before you give up on it.

In the Blood Elf starting area is one of the new hunter pets, the Dragonhawk, in addition to being gorgeous, the Dragonhawk breathes a cone of fire that has limited area of effect. Once my hunter went from level 9 to 10 and got the Hunter quests, she became much more fun to play.

One annoying feature of both the starting and intermediate areas for the Blood Elves is The Dead Scar. This is a very wide strip down the ground of both areas marking where Arthas used a huge weapon against Silvermoon. The annoying thing is that the area now spawns Undead like crazy, and several quests send you into there.

I'll try not to spoil too much, but I'll try to be here to answer questions like DarkHelm as well... but two words for you for the 2nd area.... Zombie... Murlocs.

For the Draenei, you have arrived on Azeroth in a spaceship called the Exodar. One month ago, the Exodar crashed, and you are just waking up from stasis in the starting area.

Be prepared for the idea that a lot of your quests will revolve around the idea that the Exodar (and possibly sister ships) were powered by radioactive stuff that has really screwed up the local animals and so now you have to kill them.

The game does proceed to show how much it rules by actually referencing Weird Al Yankovic's movie UHF with a quest called "Red Snapper - Very Tasty!" A later quest gives a reference you may have heard of as a guy named Kessel lends you his personal mount so you can warn people of an imminent Blood Elf invasion and get back to him in 15 minutes... yes folks, it's "The Kessel Run"

Speaking of mounts, there are 2 quests that let you preview the Draenei mount early, which is an elephant looking thing called an Elekk. The Blood Elves get ostrich like creatures called Hawkstriders, which have been derisively called Chocobos by some beta testers.

Draenei have an interesting quirk in their racial abilities. Melee classes get Heroic Presence. When they are grouped up, people in their party within range get a bonus to their attacks. Spellcasters get Inspiring Presence. People in their party get a bonus to their spell casting.

XDH's and my Shaman/Pally group is fun because there is no limit to the ways we can heal. Shaman has numerous ways of healing, so does Pally, the Draenei has a racial healing spell, plus all the items, including a jewelcrafting item.

Grahamr

10-17-2006, 09:17 PM

All this information is awesome,but i think i'm in for a lorelol moment....

When,during the missions in wc3,did Arthas use a "Huge weapon" against silvermoon? from what was happening there,he just stategicly busted through the gates and killed everything.

EDIT:and technicly,there were three attempts on azeroth. the war of the aincients(which split azeroth into two landmasses) the first and second wars(the orcs were sent through the portal by the legion) and the thrid war(which involved the scourge first,then demons later)

then there's my personal explanation for the end of beta event,called"The Legion's Carnival"(named after a historical event called"Custer's Carnival" from wing commander) where the remaining demons from the thrid war try to conquer the main cities.

Boffo97

10-17-2006, 09:36 PM

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-17-2006, 09:41 PM

Grahamr

10-17-2006, 10:51 PM

Boffo97

10-18-2006, 01:00 AM

It isn't the use of a huge weapon. It is the ground/area that was scarred by Arthas' march into Quel'Thalas. It looks like a huge weapon hit it, but it's just tainted/corrupted land that the undead scourge leaves behind in its wake.
OK, then I misunderstood. It's hard to keep track of all this lore sometimes.

10-18-2006, 07:44 AM

Is it sad that I just turned on cheats once and attempted to cover the whole of the Quel'Thalas map in blight? ;p

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-18-2006, 10:00 AM

Is it sad that I just turned on cheats once and attempted to cover the whole of the Quel'Thalas map in blight? ;p

Nah, that's what I did.

Boffo97

10-18-2006, 10:44 AM

Ah,that clears it up. i guess they marched in a strate line...LOL! you could probably estimate the number of artha's troops if you counted how wide and long the scar is....((how many ghouls do you think would fit shoulder-to-shoulder across it's width,and how long is it? like,a mile or two?))

then again,everything in Wow is kind of scaled down. for instance,Theramore,if you've been there,is a small walled city housing a few dozen npcs,including guards,vendors,questgivers,and Jaina Proudmoore and her retinue. in the lore...it's supposed to have some 9,500 people......

Almost missed your question here.

Honestly, I'd estimate that if the Undead involved were totally shoulder to shoulder, Arthas' column could be about 50 soldiers wide.

and between the two zones, I'd place the Scar's length at about a good 3-4 scale miles or so.

Grahamr

10-18-2006, 11:51 AM

Is it sad that I just turned on cheats once and attempted to cover the whole of the Quel'Thalas map in blight? ;p

LOL,i did that in a multiplayer(without the multiplayer) map one time,but i got bored.

Grahamr

10-18-2006, 11:52 AM

Almost missed your question here.

Honestly, I'd estimate that if the Undead involved were totally shoulder to shoulder, Arthas' column could be about 50 soldiers wide.

and between the two zones, I'd place the Scar's length at about a good 3-4 scale miles or so.

Whew....thats a hell of alot of Undead,Brah.

I wonder what arthas is doing right now in northrend..

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-18-2006, 12:02 PM

Whew....thats a hell of alot of Undead,Brah.

I wonder what arthas is doing right now in northrend..

Getting annoyed that people keep killing his lieutenant.

Grahamr

10-18-2006, 02:50 PM

"So wait,you don't mind that i killed you that one time?"

AND AFTER..

"Wait,you keep on getting killed by......raid...groups? and their"farming" you?
Well,let's see what those epiced-out bastards think about me!":D

10-18-2006, 05:57 PM

Phew, now I know I'm not alone ^^

I bet you won't fight Arthas untill two expansion packs from now. Illidan is probably first.

BeardedFerret

10-18-2006, 07:31 PM

Boffo97

10-19-2006, 01:18 AM

Illidan is first. He's the final raid boss for one of the Outlands dungeons.

I'm really loving this thread. A quick question - what are your impressions of the talent revamps? Who's winning, who's been screwed and what impressed you the most?

Well, I haven't been able to play the high level content myself.... but the first thing that's made me go OOH in that area is a new Paladin skill at level 14.

Righteous Defense: Instant Cast, some low amount of mana, casts on friendly target, forces 3 mobs attacking that target to attack you instead.

10-19-2006, 08:53 AM

That one Warrior talent is just plain scary. It gives them UNLIMITED rage for 10 whole seconds.

Hide me T_T

Grahamr

10-19-2006, 12:03 PM

Righteous Defense: Instant Cast, some low amount of mana, casts on friendly target, forces 3 mobs attacking that target to attack you instead.

i can see people casting that on folks they don't like.

:p

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-19-2006, 12:13 PM

Of course, Chris Metzen of Blizzard actually pretty much stated that at BlizzCon last year. Illidan is most definitely in the Burning Crusade. I mean, Outland is where he's at. I want to say he's in Tempest Keep or something. Arthas, from what Metzen said, is too powerful for mere level 70 characters to face. He'd wipe the floor with everyone. Arthas will eventually be in the game, but charactes have to get up to a level/power to actually be able to face him. Northrend will become accessable for players to get to, eventually. Just not now. The current thoughts people have guessed at is there will be either one or two more expansions before Northrend.

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-19-2006, 12:26 PM

i can see people casting that on folks they don't like.

:p

How would that do anything to the person they don't like. It takes 3 creatures that are agroed on someone else, and transfers their hate to you, so the creatures focus on you. It doesn't change the tagging for the creatures, so if you kill them, that other person still gets the XP. All it does, is help that person.

10-19-2006, 01:58 PM

Chris Metzen of Blizzard

*angel choir*

Grahamr

10-19-2006, 05:04 PM

How would that do anything to the person they don't like. It takes 3 creatures that are agroed on someone else, and transfers their hate to you, so the creatures focus on you. It doesn't change the tagging for the creatures, so if you kill them, that other person still gets the XP. All it does, is help that person.

Oh...well,i think there was a hunter spell that transfered threat onto another target.

and yea,Metzen is sweet. :D his Whole Draenei/Eredar/Sargeras screw up just showed that he was another normal person,just like all of us.

But i have a question to ask. who do you think will be the FINAL enemy in Wow? i mean,in the last expansion pack published or something? i'm guessing sargeras. according to the lore,his spirit is lost in the twisting nether or something. maybe he's amassing power,and finds a way to get back? who knows,maybe Sargeras will find the zerg and use warlock magic to turn them into Fel Zerg:)

10-19-2006, 06:18 PM

The FINAL boss will be Kerrigan.

Then, the Zerg implode the universe. ;p

Grahamr

10-19-2006, 07:11 PM

you mean Fel Kerrigan and Sargeras tag-teaming?

No,look dude. the Zerg are a parasitic Alien race that spreads like a plauge,inherits traits from the creatures it conquers,and threatens the whole galaxy(like tyranids,right?) and demons are Dark beings from the twisting Nether that are just OOZING with evil,and in many cases,possess evil warlock magic.

NOW,imagine The Zerg twisted into Fel zerg in the same way that orcs are made into fel orcs. they have been biological hives and all sorts of breeds,as well as super-evil magic! YOU CAN'T FRIGGIN FIGHT THAT!!:D

10-19-2006, 08:13 PM

Fel Zerg sound very very scary.

The only thing worse is if the Zerg assimilate the Burning Legion into themselves.

Grahamr

10-20-2006, 01:24 AM

LOL,YEA! that would suck:p

But that's kind of my point,i mean,they would let the zerg eat demons,and then the zerg would become demonic zerg under their control. or something....Kerrigan as a demon would be L337. no raid group could beat that.

it would also be funny if the terrans discovered the holy light,and trained some marines to be pallies:)

Hey,Xlorep,do players have to walk through the blasted lands in order to get to the portal,or can they fly though on an FP? and if they do,will the 61 elite demons still be there?:cool:

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-20-2006, 02:13 PM

Hey,Xlorep,do players have to walk through the blasted lands in order to get to the portal,or can they fly though on an FP? and if they do,will the 61 elite demons still be there?:cool:

You have to walk through from the Blasted Lands, there is no flight path. However, there are possibilities for summons, teleports, or hearthstones to get around that. The level 61 elite demons are gone, and now at the foot of the Dark Portal is a sort of (very) small camp of Horde & Alliance, with a quest giver sending you on a quest through the Portal.

On the subject of flightpaths.... so far, the only flightpaths I've found are from the Portal to Honor Hold or Thrallmar. After that, you basically are screwed until you get a flying mount. And bear in mind, from what I've seen, the zones in Outland tend to dwarf the Barrens. An Epic mount is a good thing to get ahold of if you want to travel in Outland.

Grahamr

10-20-2006, 03:29 PM

Okay...so if this is true,there will have to be a horde town in blasted lands,and that whole area will be filled with High-level Players traveling to the portal...heheheh...let's see one faction try to put it on lockdown.:D

and i understand the OMGWTF demon siege of the portal is constant,but what about the world event to open the portal itself? are there any details?

P.S if you wouldn't mind,could we get some more screenshots?:D

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-20-2006, 04:11 PM

Okay...so if this is true,there will have to be a horde town in blasted lands,and that whole area will be filled with High-level Players traveling to the portal...heheheh...let's see one faction try to put it on lockdown.:D

Well, the Horde town in Swamp of Sorrows is really not that far away.

and i understand the OMGWTF demon siege of the portal is constant,but what about the world event to open the portal itself? are there any details?

Blizzard decided against a world event to open the Dark Portal. Everyone who buys the expansion, will have access to Outland. That said, they might have there be some craziness in the world going on during the release, similar to the release of Naxx.

P.S if you wouldn't mind,could we get some more screenshots?:D

I'll try and get some. I just need, well, time to play and such.

10-20-2006, 04:37 PM

There were actually Zerg and Marine units in Warcraft III. You'd just have to find em.

Grahamr

10-20-2006, 09:11 PM

Well, the Horde town in Swamp of Sorrows is really not that far away.

Blizzard decided against a world event to open the Dark Portal. Everyone who buys the expansion, will have access to Outland. That said, they might have there be some craziness in the world going on during the release, similar to the release of Naxx.

I'll try and get some. I just need, well, time to play and such.

1.True. Stonard is close. my point is that Blasted lands will become the Next STV. with high level players of both factions going in and out of it,it may become the Gankfest(or not,because most of them are hi-leveled)of the century. and it's smaller then STV...Uh oh:P

2."World event" refers to a world-changing event that occurs around the game world. so the stuff when naxx was opened...was kind of a world event.(i loved the foggyness and the spawning undead in the cities...but they should have been more ruthless,as in appearing in greater numbers and attacking Civs. think about the scourge..they don't hold back because that person is required for a quest,their freaking evil zombies!lol)

3.Sorry if i'm being rude or impaitent. take your time,pal.
:D

10-20-2006, 11:10 PM

[sings]Ganky McDoodle had a dagger...[/]

Grahamr

10-20-2006, 11:45 PM

[sings]Ganky McDoodle had a dagger...[/]

I joined your site!

:D

But this is going to be like,a Gnome mage,striding through the blasted lands on his mechnostrider,on the way to the Dark Portal,and THEN A CRAZY ORC CHICK(let's say she's a warrior) Sweeps out of Nowhere,and MURDERS HIM,and then a Human Paladin comes in and smashes her,then the Paladin gets sliced by an Undead rogue,who gets turned into a rotting paste by a Draenei Hunter,then a Tauren Shaman TOTALLY frostshocks him to hell,but then a Night elf druid bites the shaman's head off,but he gets beatened down by a lovely blood elf rogue,who is on her way to the portal,when a Dwarf hunter Boom!headshots her and walks into the portal.

Then the Horde raid Nethergarde:)

Grahamr

10-21-2006, 02:06 PM

BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!lol.

10-21-2006, 02:19 PM

Thefremen

10-21-2006, 05:00 PM

10-21-2006, 05:11 PM

There's Broken in the Swamp of Sorrows. (On regular WoW)

..wait.. how did they get there? O_O

Grahamr

10-21-2006, 05:49 PM

They left the portal,i belive. maybe a while before the orcs entered azeroth. but if that's true,wouldn't the orcs have to go through swamp of sorrows to get to the human lands? they probably would have found and massacred the lost ones.(Yea,lost ones are the dudes in swamp of sorrows,broken are the guys who helped out illidan,and exiled ones are the new alliance race.)

Boffo97

10-22-2006, 01:03 AM

If I recall, the Draenei should have shadowmeld of some sort. Do they have this, or is this exclusive to the Broken you met in Frozen Throne?

PS: you do meet the Broken, right? (They're the Draenei that look absolutely nothing like the Draenei)

Draenai don't seem to have any type of stealth ability. Here are their racials:

* Gift of the Naaru: Healing spell castable on self or others
* Heroic/Inspiring Presence: Melee classes get Heroic Presence which grants other members of a party increased chance to hit, Casters get Inspiring Presence which grants increased chance to hit on spells.
* Gemcutting: +5 bonus to Jewelcrafting
* Shadow Resistance: +10 Shadow Resistance

BE Racials:

* Arcane Affinity: +10 Enchanting
* Arcane Torrent: Silence all enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds, plus gain X mana for each Mana Tap charge currently affecting you. (starts low and scales up)
* Magic Resistanec: All resistances +5
* Mana Tap: Drains X Mana from your target and charges you with Arcane energy for 10 minutes. This effect stacks up to 3 times. (scales up, only works on enemies with mana)

Other nice touches:

* Quest log increased from 20 to 25 quests
* Quest tracker now automatically tracks a quest when you do something that applies for that quest and removes it when you haven't done anything for it within a few minutes.
* Interface options allow for auto-loot setting, and displaying the target of your target.
* Graphics improved on a lot of the spells and abilities. Hunter's Mark is now a snazzy looking spinning arrow. Judgment of Righteousness now looks like a hammer falling from the sky onto your target.
* Worldofwarcraft.com details the new LFG system.
* Meeting stones will allow two members who are present outside a dungeon to summon additional party members.

10-22-2006, 09:52 AM

RIP /4 :(

I'm gonna miss that ****.

Boffo97

10-22-2006, 10:03 AM

RIP /4 :(

I'm gonna miss that ****.At least to this point, the LFG channel is remaining intact.

And the new LFG interface would work better in Beta if people were USING it...

10-22-2006, 02:04 PM

At least to this point, the LFG channel is remaining intact.
......................
GLORIOUS

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-23-2006, 12:41 PM

I have some screenies I need to post. But I need time to get to do it. Been a bit crazy at work.

Grahamr

10-23-2006, 08:12 PM

I saw some cool news on Warcry. coming from a troll mage. i might link it later.

EVERY zone in outland is going to have a world pvp objective.

Xlorep DarkHelm

10-23-2006, 08:38 PM

Yep. I saw also that apparently, the release has been pushed back from Q4 '06 to Jan '07.

Dagrak

10-25-2006, 05:57 AM

I see thy've bulked up the Blood Elves after a few underdeveloped whiners complained they were too femine. Personally I much preferred the more elfish original version, it looked like they were someone who would actually kill you rather then just rough you up. The new versions aren't that drastic a change but enough to bug me a bit.

Grahamr

10-25-2006, 12:13 PM

Aren't elves supposed to look effeminate?

10-25-2006, 12:22 PM

High Elves are actually supposed to be smaller and LESS bulked up than Night Elves.

Appearantly their metamorphosis into Blood Elves changed that =/

Thefremen

10-25-2006, 02:48 PM

I'd like to have some male to play as in that game that doesn't look like he works for vince mcmahon. ;_;

Grahamr

10-25-2006, 04:51 PM

Oh, great. Belfs should at least be close to humans in size.

Too many big races for the horde!!!!

10-25-2006, 05:29 PM

Yeah, I guess it's the 'Horde races must be big and mean' thing.

Night Elves are big and mean too, though.

Though somehow female Night Elves aren't that frightening ^^

Grahamr

10-26-2006, 06:44 PM

Though somehow female Night Elves aren't that frightening ^^

Human females are better. I had a dear friend named Snowbelle(a level 40ish human female mage) who i hung out with, but then both Snow and her RL buddy studrew (he's a male night elf) both disappeared without explanation!

:(

Xlorep DarkHelm

11-01-2006, 03:40 PM

I haven't forgotten about getting those pictures up, but between work, and life... I've had literally no time to spare yet.

Grahamr

11-01-2006, 07:30 PM

Hmm...If Grahamr ashcrest fought Xlorep darkhelm, who do you think would win?

11-02-2006, 06:40 PM

Hmm...If Grahamr ashcrest fought Xlorep darkhelm, who do you think would win?

No one. There's two stealthed rogues waiting for you two to wear each other down.

Xlorep DarkHelm

11-02-2006, 08:29 PM

The problem with your question is... you think Grahamr ashcrest would know what's happening...

The problem with the stealthed rogues is... Xlorep's regularly a stealthed cat...

Thefremen

11-02-2006, 09:24 PM

In that case, I think Fremen Murbella is just gonna lay out a freeze trap.

Xlorep DarkHelm

11-03-2006, 07:05 PM

Heh, I can do that as Horde or Alliance. something about my Horde and Alliance mains are both hunters.

Grahamr

11-03-2006, 09:25 PM

Grahamr Ashcrest-a 20 year-old human paladin with dark hair, he holds a deep belief in the light and favors speed over strength, hence his lack of shoulder armour. Grahamr is an Optimist who does anything he can to help others, which can put him at a disadvantage.(I.E jumping into a guard zerg to save a gnome who no one cares about) He has an unbreakble will, however, hence his catchphrase"/y There's no Labriynth i can't get out of!!!!" when using lay on hands. Oddly enough, Grahamr seems to feel tremendous emotion whenever he encounters People,Places,Things ETC. relating to Arthas, and for some reason, feels guilt for his sins, even though the two of them never met in person and are not related.(Highlight to read spoiler-He's actully something of a Nobody created from Artha's last bits of sanity, by the naaru). He has a relationship with a Female mage, Snowbelle, that is not unlike that of Arthas and Jaina proudmoore. The two of them are forced to spend prolonged periods of time apart, due to their duties. Grahamr also admires the argent dawn, and finds wildkin adorable. As of now, Grahamr is on kalimdor, and Snowbelle is critically injured after a battle against the forsaken at dalaran(in which she was impaled by a weapon infected with something from the apothecary)

VS

Xlorep darkhelm-A grizzled veteran with a sence of ethics, This Orc hunter participated in the battle against Cenarious and His army of Treants and Night elves, Alongside Grom. He refused to drink the blood of Mannoroth, Instead fleeing back to Thrall. Later on, he participated in the raid on Theramore, serving under Rexxar. Xlorep sniped alliance from the outer wall of theramore, but only fired at combatants. Recently, Darkhelm was among the first Horde troops sent through the dark portal. In the Hellish disarray of the Legion and Azerothians destroying each other, Xlorep abandoned his post to save his Tauren friend, Boffo.(Boffo is a tauren, isn't he? eh, it's just a guess). he now wanders around outland, searching for a place called Shattath city.(LOL! I wrote your lore for you,d00d! assuming xlorep doens't have lore already, or is evil, lol)

((Snowbelle is based on a real friend on my server,BTW. where did she get off to?))

Boffo97

11-10-2006, 04:17 PM

For whatever it's worth, Blizzard has announced a release date of Burning Crusade of January 16th, 2007.

Xlorep DarkHelm

11-10-2006, 04:19 PM

Xlorep darkhelm-A grizzled veteran with a sence of ethics, This Orc hunter participated in the battle against Cenarious and His army of Treants and Night elves, Alongside Grom. He refused to drink the blood of Mannoroth, Instead fleeing back to Thrall. Later on, he participated in the raid on Theramore, serving under Rexxar. Xlorep sniped alliance from the outer wall of theramore, but only fired at combatants. Recently, Darkhelm was among the first Horde troops sent through the dark portal. In the Hellish disarray of the Legion and Azerothians destroying each other, Xlorep abandoned his post to save his Tauren friend, Boffo.(Boffo is a tauren, isn't he? eh, it's just a guess). he now wanders around outland, searching for a place called Shattath city.(LOL! I wrote your lore for you,d00d! assuming xlorep doens't have lore already, or is evil, lol)

((Snowbelle is based on a real friend on my server,BTW. where did she get off to?))

For the record, Xlorep is a Tauren Druid. Oguler (my main) is an Orc Hunter. Both are level 60 ;)

Boffo is actually a Human Warlock, Morsh is his Orc Warrior.

I have one or two characters (Horde: Oguler (M), Xlorep (M), Kankali my Undead Warlock (F), and Daskinor my Troll Shaman (M); Alliance: Sorlina my Dwarf Hunter (F), Uyness my Gnome Warrior (F), Rolthen my Night Elf Rogue (M), and Sielba my Human Mage (F); My Draenei will be a Priest named Zhokq (M), and my Blood Elf will be a Paladin named Elrena (F)).

So does Boffo97...

And honestly, with the talents keep getting reset on me, I've found that playing my level 60's is a bit irritating, especially as I only play about once a week. So, I've been levelling my Draenei & Blood Elf.

Boffo97

11-10-2006, 04:42 PM

Just to fill in the details...

My toons:

Alliance:
Boffo - Human Male Warlock - Named after my Internet Handle

Iridiscia - Night Elf Female Hunter - Named after a character I used in a story once

Libbi - Human Female Paladin - Named after a friend

Sapsinger - Gnome Male Rogue - Named after a Kender I played in RPGs

Shamanyoo - Draenei Male Shaman (future) - Joke name I admit, but the most common name in English is Smith, and that came from an occupation.

Horde:
Morsh - Orc Male Warrior - A little fooling around with the random name generator suggested "Moresh" and taking the E out made it sound more Orcish to me.

Stormwindspy - Troll Male Mage - Joke name for a fun concept character. Essentially, this guy is either a spy for Stormwind, or is deluded into thinking such. Usually when I take him into Orgrimmar, I proceed to give a speech about how all the evil Horde people may carry on with their activities, feeling completely confident that I am NOT a spy, and thus will not report their activities to my true masters in Stormwind.

Greygear - Tauren Female Druid - Another concept character. This one: In any spot where it would matter (so excluding bags and shirts and such), I can only have poor quality gear.. hence grey gear.

Ilp - Male Undead Priest - It's actually an acronym, standing for Impressive Looking Priest, actually named after the Priest in The Princess Bride who proclaims "Mawwaige!" Plus I thought Ilp sounded appropriately Undead-ish. I later learned that that role was actually credited as "The Impressive Clergyman", and "Tic" wouldn't have been a good character name at all.

Traitor - Female Blood Elf Hunter (future) - I could actually go two ways with this... another concept character... or someone so reviled by her own race that she's lost all sense of her own name and is just referred to as Traitor. As to what she DID to get such universal revilement before she even hit level 2... who knows? Of course, I could end up with a Traitor being Exalted.

Pending Deletion:

Muucau - Male Tauren Shaman - Joke name and even though he was my 2nd highest Horde guy for a while, he seems odd man out if Blizz doesn't increase number of characters per server... especially since my Draenei can take up his spot.

Grahamr

11-10-2006, 05:39 PM

For the record, Xlorep is a Tauren Druid. Oguler (my main) is an Orc Hunter. Both are level 60 ;)

Boffo is actually a Human Warlock, Morsh is his Orc Warrior.

I have one or two characters (Horde: Oguler (M), Xlorep (M), Kankali my Undead Warlock (F), and Daskinor my Troll Shaman (M); Alliance: Sorlina my Dwarf Hunter (F), Uyness my Gnome Warrior (F), Rolthen my Night Elf Rogue (M), and Sielba my Human Mage (F); My Draenei will be a Priest named Zhokq (M), and my Blood Elf will be a Paladin named Elrena (F)).

So does Boffo97...

And honestly, with the talents keep getting reset on me, I've found that playing my level 60's is a bit irritating, especially as I only play about once a week. So, I've been levelling my Draenei & Blood Elf.

Oh, Xlorep is a cow? Sorry! :P does he have an RP background?

You sure do have a lot of characters.....

Boffo97

11-10-2006, 06:17 PM

Oh, Xlorep is a cow? Sorry! :P does he have an RP background?

You sure do have a lot of characters.....

Well, my theory is that if I get tired of playing as a Warrior, I can freshen the game up by having the entirely new experience in playing as a new class.

Xlorep DarkHelm

11-10-2006, 07:37 PM

Oh, Xlorep is a cow? Sorry! :P does he have an RP background?

Indirectly. Xlorep DarkHelm is a character I've used in pencil & paper RPG's. The word "Xlorep" actually comes from my pencil & paper RPG games as well (derived from the name of my first RPG character's name, a Marvel Superheroes character named "Shifter", a -- and I know this is a shocker -- shapeshifting character, which is why my druid is named that)

I really have a hard time getting "in" to RP on WoW. Like other MMOs, the whole process is disjointed -- RP in WoW requires you to add to the game, using elements that simply don't exist in the game, or to attempt to rewrite the lore of the game to match your character if possible. There is really nothing in the game that helps foster a feel for RP'ing, and that is mostly at the fault of the MMO genre at large, and the way the game mechanics function.

You sure do have a lot of characters.....

Well yes. But there is a method to my madness. I actually had a strategy for figuring out what race/class/gender my characters would be -- and this strategy will finally be realized to completion when BC is released. The strategy is:

There are:
10 Character slots per server
10 Races (in BC)
Divided evenly between 2 factions
9 Classes in total available
2 Genders

I wanted to divide these numbers evenly. So, I have one character of every race, evenly divide the genders between them, and evenly divide the classes between them. I had to pick one class I wanted two characters to be, and I evenly divided the factions & genders between them. The class I chose was Hunter, which is by and large, my favorite class, and the class I had wanted to play since it was announced to be released (actually, I wanted a class like that before Blizz announced the existence of hunters).

So, two hunters. Because of my strategy, one is male, the other female. One is Horde, the other Alliance. I picked an orc male first, because my first character was a "recreation" of my last, and favorite character I had in EverQuest, "Oguler Denju" (mangled version of "Uglier Than You") an ogre beastlord. In WoW he was recreated as a hairless orc hunter. For a while, I even had him level up with a bear (like the ogre beastlord pet), which I had named "Bar", the name I'd jokingly use in EQ. I developed him as Beast Mastery spec'ed (once again, because of the ogre beastlord origins of the character concept).

For my other hunter, I decided to pick dwarf, mainly because of the gun bonus and because you can throw a rock anyhere in Azeroth and hit two female night elf hunters (apparently, people believe that if you want an alliance female hunter, it better be a night elf). I have made her be marksmanship & survivalist spec'ed (to be different). The two hunters also have completely different professions (Oguler is a leatherworker/skinner, Sorlina my dwarf is an engineer/miner). I made an effort to make them distinct.

From there, I had set in motion how to pick other race/class/gender combinations. I ended up with 3 male and 2 female characters for the Horde, while having 3 female and 2 male characters for the Alliance -- this came to a grand total of 5 male and 5 female characters. With 8 races, and 8 classes left, I've simply picked race & class following my strategy, resulting in the male tauren druid, female undead warlock, male troll shaman and female blood elf paladin for the Horde, while female gnome warrior, male night elf rogue, female human mage, and male draenei priest for the Alliance.

Character names are usually references to my past MMO characters, or pencil & paper RPGs I play (or in the case of Uyness, Daskinor, and Sielba, they are references to the Dark Sun campaign setting that I'm helping move to the 3.5e D&D rules as part of the official team over at Athas.org).