World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Expansion

The third expansion for the extremely popular World of Warcraft game has just been announced. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, as it has been named, offers tons of new content to the game including new races and class combinations as well as an extended level cap, new characters and new events. Dark and forgotten threats which have been out of sight for a long time have resurfaced on the shores of Azeroth unleashing a cataclysmic event upon the lands and are now preparing more nefarious plans to take it back.

One of the first changes that people will notice to the game is that the level cap has been increased from 80 to 85. Some players were expecting a little higher raise but everything has a reason. Putting the level cap at 85 suggests that Blizzard wants to add more expansions before reaching the 100 level cap. Having such a small level cap raise should be a somewhat big deal. It makes that when you gain a level it actually means something other than being one step closer to level 85.

While there aren’t any new classes Blizzard has added new class combinations to the mix. Some of these class combinations have been datamined from the 3.2.2 Test Realms and the “An Injured Colleague” quest along with it’s Night Elf counter-part help introduce these new combinations. The new class combinations are as follows:

Human Hunter
Orc Mage
Night Elf Mage
Dwarf Mage
Blood Elf Warrior
Dwarf Shaman
Undead Hunter
Tauren Paladin
Tauren Priest
Gnome Priest
Troll Druid

Due to the cataclysm, two new races have been forced to seek out new allies. The two new races in the expansion are the Goblins, which belong to the Horde side, and the Worgen, which belong to the Alliance side. Deathwing sought the services of the Goblins to use them as slaves as he had done in the past. The Goblins could not refuse the offer and became his slaves once again. However, a large group of Goblins resisted and fled to an island off the coast of The Barnes. Once on the island, the Goblins come across an Orc being held prisoner on an Alliance ship. The Goblins free him only to realize that the Orc is, in fact, Thrall himself. To show his appreciation, Thrall offers the Goblins a place in the Horde. The events take place in a quest line allowing players to experience why the Goblins shifted from neutrality to the Horde.

The cataclysm has cracked open the Greymane Wall and in doing so has revealed the fate of the kingdom of Gilneas. The worgen curse has taken hold of the citizens, transforming them into werewolf-like creatures. The citizens of Gilneas have found a partial cure to the curse which allows them to keep their human mind and free will while transformed. The citizens venture to Azeroth for help from the Alliance and decide to join them. Much like the starting area Death Knight, Gilneas will extensively use the phasing system to show you what happened from the time when the kingdom was cu off to the time you start. While playing as a Worgen you will have two forms, Worgen form and Human form, both of which will be fully customizable.

Blizzard has also added s few new characters to the game. These characters are as follows:

Dethwing the Destroyer/ Neltharion the Earth-Warder – Deathwing will play a major part in Cataclysm. Driven mad by the Old Gods whisperings, Deathwing turned on his own kind only to end up failing. Deathwing has sunk into the shadows and while the Horde and Alliance have been occupied fighting back the Burning Legion only to be best upon by the Scourge. All the while Deathwing has been planning and putting his pieces in place. Deathwing succeeded in creating a Twilight Dragonflight where Lady Sinestra failed. As seen in the Obsidian Sanctum, Detahwing has created the supreme Dragonflight and plans on unleashing it upon the world.

Azshara – Azshara will play a major role in Cataclysm as well. Unknown by many, forgotten by others and thought dead by her own people, Azshara has been dormant in Maelstrom. She has had the Old Gods transform the creatures around her into Naga after she failed in the War of the Ancients. She has become more powerful than ever before and seeks to reclaim power and region once again.

The Cataclysm – It is still unknown who the end boss is in Cataclysm. The cataclysm itself seems to have been caused by Deathwing and Azshara using powerful incantations in an attempt to summon extremely powerful beings. Both Deathwing and Azshara are extremely powerful but the cataclysm suggests a much more powerful being which could possibly be influenced by Deathwing and Azshara’s shared past of Old God influence.

The Guardian of Tirisfal – Returning to Azeroth is Malfurion Stormage. Malfurion will be aiding in the creation of the new Guardian of Tirisfal Thrall.

The New (New) Horde – Thrall hands over leadership of the Horde to Garrosh so Thrall can coordinate the Horde and Alliance forces in their fight against the Naga and Black Dragonflight. Garrosh, being unchecked by Thrall, declares open war on the Alliance.

The new content looks really good as well. Cataclysm is the first expansion to not feature a new continent. Instead, it gives you access to previously unreleased zones within the game as well as revamping some of the old ones as follows:

Classic Azeroth Revamp – Cataclysm will take the form of a revamped Azeroth, taking advantage of some of the newer things in the game like daily quests and phasing. Also getting a redesign are most of the mobs and quests in the classic zones which, hopefully, will make leveling up a little less painful. Some zones and dungeons will change dramatically in this expansion. The Barrens will be split into two separate zones of two different level bands. Azshara will become a low-level, 10-20 level zone. Some zones will be flooded, like the Thousand Needles. Orgimmar could face destruction and Durotar is completely wrecked. Over the course of the expansion you will see a new Orc city built. Gnomeregan has been added to the expansion with the proposition that gnomes may be able reclaim their capital however this is unconfirmed. as a result of the Druid’s magic, Wailing Caverns will become a lush, tropical area. Ragnaros, allegedly, will return and the Blackrock Spire will erupt creating a new version Blackrock Mountains.

You will now be able to fly in Azeroth. As part of the redesign in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor Blizzard is introducing the ability to fly to the two continents which gives you access to new areas and quicker traveling. Onyxia’s Lair from patch 3.2.2 is being revamped. Most of the leveling up will take place in the revamped areas of Azeroth and also in the dungeons, which will allow players to use them to level up as well.

There is also a few new unreleased zones and dungeons as well. With the help of the flying mounts and the redesign of many areas in Azeroth, a lot of the previously unreachable or incomplete zones are available to players. Thses areas is where most of the leveling up from 80 to 85 will take place. Some of these areas include Hyjal (present), Gilneas (The Worgen starting zone) and Uldum. It is unclear, however, if old Goblin locations, like Kezan and Undermine, will be in Cataclysm. However, several new islands have been risen from the depths of the sea as a result of Cataclysm. Some of these islands are on the backs of giant sea turtles and whales and there are also several underwater zones.

Needless to say, this expansion is massive and offers a ton of new content to the already massive game. To get all the details and to watch a trailer of the new Expansion, go to the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm website.

By: Zack Duncan