(A recap of what has happened, written by Blizzard)
I’ve played WoW for two days now, and I’ve noticed I am too late. What Deathwing will do, has been done. Yet, every now and then the earth will shake under your feet. I’m guessing aftershocks. Nothing bad though.
I’m now a Human Hunter for one thing. I paid Blizzard $25 to change from a Dwarf, to a Human. This is something I have wanted since I started playing as a Hunter, and now I finally have it.
As for the changes, I could post a wall of text of everything I’ve seen, but I rather let the folks at Wowhead do that for me, here. Enjoy. It also lists the new 78-85 level zones and the new underwater continent. Leveling to 85 I feel will be nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. But that’s what I said about WoTLK.
Also, and this is now official…, to finally enable flying in Azeroth, you have to visit a Riding Trainer and pay 250g for a “Flight Master’s License“. Level 60’s and up can get this. The spell is already available in your spellbook, but it’s not accessible until the release.
I know exactly what I’ll do to get it. Start by treating Monday like a normal day. Do any extra exploring (like maybe go back to that boat in Thousand Needles). Around 2:30am EST (or sooner, depending on how I feel) I’ll run to SW’s FP, and wait for the release time which is 3:01am. When the time comes and Cataclysm is officially released, I’ll buy that license (and take a few screenshots to celebrate). And be one of the first to fly in Azeroth. Then nearly scream for joy once I land on the roof of the Inn in Goldshire, never again will I have to jump up there.
And at the end when you enter the Maelstrom… you alone are the only thing that can save Azeroth from total devastation. You see, the World Pillar.. the very thing keeping Planet Azeroth together, is damaged. You have to ally with the god of the Earth and fix it. Because if you don’t… you won’t have a home to come back to.
I just wonder if it’ll be something like, I hit 85, head back to Goldshire to rest and celebrate. Then a guy runs up to me and says “Benie! You have to get to The Maelstrom! Azeroth is in danger if you don’t do something!!”
Then play Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone in Winamp after accepting the quest, get on my drake and fly there. Now that would be one epic story.
But seriously… the fate of Azeroth, resting on the shoulders of a guy who only solos low level instances, and doesn’t give a shit about getting better gear? The raiders of Azeroth have a better chance than I do. But I have read somewhere about “unlikely heroes” will save the world.
I did mention that the first thing I plan to do is fly in Azeroth, and safely see all the changes from the air. Yes, I can still see them on foot, but… some areas that were for the Alliance are now strictly Horde-controlled. Such as Hillsbrad. It’s now a Horde-only zone, with Southshore taken over by them. To go there on foot as Alliance would be suicide now.
Once I’m done exploring, I’ll shift to getting my level up to 85. Before, I didn’t feel like I could level up. But now, seeing the lands have been destroyed.. it’s personal.
Malygos is nothing compared to Deathwing now. And if him and the red flight would stop fighting and work together, maybe.. just maybe we’ll be able to finally defeat Deathwing once and for all. And Azeroth just might heal from this.
Tomorrow, I will be training for probably the biggest fight of my WoW life. And my training will start where it hurts; the heart of Blackrock Mountain. My revenge will begin by taking LBRS into my control, then UBRS. If Deathwing even gives a shit about me killing his minions, that is.
He doesn’t seem to care. He doesn’t crave power. All he wants is to wipe out all life on Azeroth. Several mob families have already been wiped out during the cataclysm.