Regan_

What peace? I'll tell the enemy players on Sunwell Isle...

But I agree that rp-wise both factions are supposedly at peace, and Thrall's enlightened personality makes feel unlikely to have an all out war again unless he's killed off, or the alliance becomes again the agressor. Which would be a bit tired if you ask me, since that was mostly the device used in WC3.

But I don't see Blizzard focusing the evolution of the MMO on the faction war, they seem very happy with Arena as their pvp hook.

What worries me if that when Arthas is out of the way, there's no really any major baddie of stature. Deathwing doesn't really cut it, his stature as a character is much lower as Arthas or Illidan are. Maybe Sargeras, but that would really push it, I already feel uncomfortable that Kil'Jaeden is getting killed.

Then again, most other MMOs have survived with a lesser cast of characters, and that bridge will be crossed in 2 years at least. I just feel disappointed how (story-wise) Illidan has been dispatched in such anti-climatic way. While Kael'thas, however, has a very nice story arc throughout the expansion, particularly if you play a blood elf.

 

Starfire

Again, why are you pushing aside Queen Azshara? And besides her there are always the Old Gods and the other Elemental Lieutenants. There's always time for a new Nefarian to pop-up somewhere.

And worst case scenarios: we go on a crusade to Argus/Xoroith, or we use the Cavern of Times and go back and take a part in the War of the Ancients =p (Although, personally I would -love- to be in a raid instance fighting with Cenarius and Illidan and Malfurion >.>)

 

Regan_

What I would really like to see, is the Horde/Alliance suffering a few, meaningful and painful setbacks. We have been too victorious since WoW started. What made WC3 so involving is the lots of bad shit that fell upon both sides, sometimes for their own fault. That's what made the final victory feel so earned and at the same time so phyrric. I miss this in WoW.

 

Kumar

And then what? WoW at its core is a PvE game. On a PvP server, this peace only exists between the NPCs anyway.

Kil'jaedean is not getting killed actually.

Why is why I am rooting for a large scale scrouge invasion of Outland and Azeroth before WoLTK's release. The moving of Naxx from Azeroth to Northrend and the resurrection of Kelthuzad should happen before the release setting the path for our journey to Northrend.

Queen Azshara, Emerald Dream, Deathwing (he can be made strong again), Kil'jaedean, Sargreas, Old Gods, Titans, and the fact that this is lore made by Blizzard so even making new enemies is not out of the picture.

 

Addled

There's still a lot of enemies to deal with:

1. Kil'jaeden is not dead, we simply interrupt his summoning via the Sunwell.

2. Emerald Dream. We still have to figure out why these green dragons are so pissed at us and why Malfurion is still stuck in the Nightmare.

3. Deathwing. This can easily be BWL version 2.0. I don't buy arguments that Deathwing will be an Onyxia/Gruul/Mag style raid, where you get some trash, possibly a weak boss, then the big guy. Deathwing is such an integral part of lore that Blizzard needs to give him his own lackeys, like his son Nefarian.

4. Queen Azshara. Some of the Human and Dwarf quests imply this, but why are all the Naga and murlocs suddenly coming out of the depths and invading the surface? Clearly something is happening, and soon it's going to come to a big fight.

5. Old Gods and the Titans.

I'm not saying that we'll fight an Old God or a Titan (if anything, fighting an Old God or a Titan at his full strength would be suicide for us) but a weakened one (like C'thun) would be an interesting fight. Not to mention, we haven't accounted for all the Old Gods yet. One is dead in the Masters' Glaive in Darkshore, C'thun is dead, there's at least 1-2 more Old Gods, plus whatever minions and servants, unaccounted for.

-------------

I don't agree that a new xpac will be based on PvP. This is a PvE game, if anything Blizzard tries to focus players on PvE. Any time we have massive PvP events, such as city raids and Tarren Mill - Southshore battles, the server lags and dies.

 

Fabulous Muscles

There's still many bad guys to fight and many dragons yet to be slayed in WoW lore. However, the reality is that WoW is now a relatively older game. With the expansion coming out and Blizzard actually marketing things like new hairstyles, new dances, and new styles of facial hair, it's starting to show that Blizzard is trying to give this game a face lift. Unfortunately, games like Age of Conan will make WoW show its age and make it look dated.

 

• _Retribute_

Not to mention blizzard could easily come up with unlimited content with CoT.

 

Regan_

They should give Gnomeregan back to the gnomes and put the old instance in CoT for oldskool lovers.

And give trolls their island too, my half a dozen lvl 20 horde alts have liberated enough times already.

Really, I think CoT is a great opportunity to advance some storylines and keep old instances in there. But I don't think Blizz will make fundamental changes to the under 70 content. But stiil the whole king of Stormwind / Onyxia storyline could be advanced that way.

 

• Falk

This is probably a completely offshoot tangent but I think it's a little silly to judge NPC strength based to where they're located in terms of character progression. What I mean is, Illidan isn't greater than Gruul, isn't greater than Kel'Thuzad, isn't greater than C'Thun, isn't greater than Ragnaros, just because of the quality of the loot they drop.

At certain points, canon has to break for playability. Bordering on some e-nerdery, I think the best quote I've seen on this matter is from this Star Wars wiki entry -
A solid in-game example of skewed power levels in WoW would be the flavor text and dialogue throughout the Obsidion questline - a single lv<60 Elite (well... not Elite anymore but anyway) golem was supposed to wipe out the entireity of Blackrock Spire?

 

Talgog

It's good that they seem to be at least paying attention to how powerful Kil'Jaeden is after the lore clusterfuck that was standing toe-to-toe with Archimonde, no strings. What has leaked of the fight design, and the official trailer for it, certainly cast a Sargeras-type feel over it (he gets through, this world has had it) and that players absolutely cannot do it themselves.

It would still be nice if Arthas and/or Sylvannas showed up for the fight, just to provide continuity to Wrath. If you want to see what Blizzard is doing (maybe - Kil'Jaeden is so far off that the leaks could be intentional fakes) go look up the leaked files. The Sunwell is where the Legion and Scourge storylines intersect and Blizzard put in the battle in the Dead Scar to underline that. If I was doing it, I would further extend that.

Arthas himself looks like he has gone all "force of nature" or "dark aspect" from the Wrath trailer, so it doesn't exactly seem likely he would "rejoin" or bond with the Alliance. He wants everyone to kneel to *him*, Horde and Alliance alike. The Scourge also happens to be the single most absolutely evil, negative force in Warcraft (outside of maybe the Old Gods, but that is serious "pick your poison" land). As someone else said, at least the Legion offers you power beyond your wildest dreams. The Scourge just likes to commit total atrocities and take your bones and flesh.

Wrath does seem intent on resolving the current Arthas/Scourge-Sylvannas/Forsaken story structure, one way or another, though. You have a distinct Forsaken presence on Northrend and they've brought their biological weapon you made for them with them.

 

Starfire

Chris Metzan has already commented on this in regards to Stratholme and Deatholme. Story-wise Deatholme takes place after Stratholme.

 

Emeraude

Oh my god you guys, Blizzard decided to release a new class for Wrath of the Lich King after all!

The Bard! World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

 

• caladein

Blizzard certainly doesn't disappoint with the April Fool's gags. Some of that art is just plain awesome though, especially the BE and Human ones on the second row.

Although I'm not sure what to think about an Orc playing a cello with a katana while wearing a fez. That's certainly on the odd side.

 

Prinsesa

I laughed heartily at the 'Axe Specialization' talent.

What impressed me more was the Tauren Marine gag for Starcraft 2, especially how fleshed out the entire unit was.

I suppose when you're making the follow up to one of the best games ever made, you can afford to spend some time on a joke, knowing everyone will still wait patiently for your release no matter what.

"We do want Sanctuary to be the tanking seal"

- Ghostcrawler

 

novasphere

Considering the amount of time they're spending designing, modeling, and texturing units that may not even make it into the final game, I think the Tauren Marine was a trivial matter. He'll probably end up in the game anyhow, if the whole Pandaren thing from Warcraft 3 is any indication.

 

◊ Embar

I found the spirit on the axe funny. It could probably fit right in those "Spirit Warrior" gags too.

 

Vaccine

I thought the picture of the Tauren playing the Cow Bell was the best part of the gag.

 

Vanadi

The molten core trailer was awesome as well.

 

Giske

Deathwing doesnt cut it? Sorry, but Deathwing is much more badass than Arthas or Illidan. Hes a completely batshit insane adamantium plated dragon aspect. What more could you ask for?

It raises questions though on how you would fight a dragon aspect, but since they have already included Malygos as a boss in WotLK I guess Deathwing isnt that unlikely as a raid boss anymore. I doubt however that you actually kill Malygos, probably something like make him get to his senses or something along those lines as killing an aspect would have pretty devastating consequences for Azeroth.

 

Vaccine

I hope they don't cop out and not put in Maylgos' insect form, really looking forward to seeing that.

As for other bad guys you've still got whatever is corrupting the Emerald Dream (my bet/hope is that its Hakkar but Archimonde is also a popular choice). I think its also safe to bet that Kil'Jaeden won't stop looking for another way to get to Azeroth either.

Queen Azshara is thought/known to be dwelling in/under the Maelstrom and the last rumours I heard about Gilenas were that it had been mostly overrun by Naga from the sea when they barred their gates to the plague (a staging ground for Azshara to assault Azeroth?).

There is the mysterious force under Tirisfal Glades which is possibly another Old God, and from what I understand it C'thun was being summoned into the world which is why he was weak for a god, whereas the guy under Tirisfal is actually here already.

The Caverns of Time opens up the opportunity to relive other important moments too, we're already getting the razing of Stratholme in the expansion. There are plenty of moments from both previous Warcraft games and just from the lore that would make good instances. That leads on to the still shadowy dealings of the Infinite Dragonflight which was forgotten about in Hyjal (blizz say intentional, I say time constraints, no way the bronze dragons would send you back to meddle with time for no reason).

We've got Anub'Arak, my faveourite bad guy. Even if he broke the shackles of Arthas' enforced servitude, it is unlikely he would be good. If Arthas/Ner'zhul really is banished back to the twisting Nether there are several charactesrs that could step up to lead/use the scourge (Anub, Kel'Thuzad, Sylvannas, any of the Dreadlords including Varimathras). After Anetheron and Tichondrius bought it that left Mephistroth in charge, who hasn't made an apperance in WoW yet. With Archimonde down too that pretty much puts Mephistroth at number 2 or 3 in the pecking order of the Burning Legion which makes him a pretty powerful guy.

Theres also the Anhillian, of which Azgalor is currently the leader (despite his defeat at the Battle of Mount Hyjal he escaped into the Twisting Nether). I think that the sunwell will be far from the last we'll hear from the Burning Legion in WoW's lifetime.

Closer to home theres the various shadowy cults infiltrating both factions' inner circles and plotting something.

Sargeras is possible though unlikely, but there are Titan related story lines that will be included without us actually slaying a living Titan.

Deathwing has already been mentioned but I have to agree that he isn't on par with Arthas/Archimonde/Kil'Jaeden without the Demon Soul's power. Last seen alive at Grim Batol it is speculated that he is being kept captive there by Alexstrasza but the appearance of a Black Dragon in the Netherwing quest line seems to contradict that. Malfurion found Black Dragons inside Mount Hyjal, another possibility. It would be a good fight and all but I don't see taking on the Black Dragonflight as big a problem as taking on the Scourge and the Lich King. That said Lady Sinestra sets the scene for Blackwing Lair V2 with Deathwing (or herself pretending to represent Deathwing) requresting Netherwing eggs to continue Nefarians work on creating a super flight. It would be a great escalation of the conflict between Malygos and the Black fight, upon defeating Malygos you are then informed of Deathwing's location and another questline continues.

Lastly theres always the possibility of making up new lore. Some people seem suprisingly resistant to this. But before WC3 no one knew who Arthas or Illidan was. Whats to say that WoW can't make up more of its own Super Villains. Whats for sure is that whenever we topple some big bad guy leader like Nefarian, Kel'Thuzad(had he remained dead), Illidan or the Lich King, it creates a power vaccum and it won't be long before some one steps in to fill it. I mean we kill Illidan, what happens to the tens or possibly hundreds of thousands of Fel Orcs remaining in Outlands. It only takes one leader to round up the remaining troops and retreat somewhere to regather their strength.

There is always Blizzard's golden rule too:

When all else fails, make another Troll dungeon.

 

Earthhoof

What's super weird about that is that when they zoom in on that one player's health bar as they're getting pummeled by Lucifron or whoever, the name is "Lieve", one of the priests from my guild. o_O

Also, I'd love to see the Scourge poke their noses into the Sunwell as a prelude to WotLK - the Lich King may want the other races to die also, but I can't imagine he'd be thrilled to have Kil'jaeden invading the world he has claimed as his own.

Edited: Okay, no way it can be a coincidence. The pictures feature either "Cow" and "Lieve" -- which were (respectively) our former MT's nickname and our lead Priest's name -- or "Mort" and "Putri", which were the nicknames for one of our Warlocks and one of our Warriors. This is too odd. :o)

 

Morlark

Well, that's what Tor'Watha is there for. See they're thinking ahead already!

 

Beliandra

I especially liked the self-deprecating zing of "10 unique bosses! 6 unique models!"

 

ipcv

We have already taken on Archimonde, Illidan and will fight the Lich King in WotLK.
Fighting Blackwing and Sargeras is not a question of "if", it's a just a matter of "when".
As far as Blackwing, we might just see it as a Sunwell-like "surprise" raid instance in WotLK or he might be the advertising point of the expansion after WotLK. Not sure if anyone noticed, but Illidan was really pushed and advertised as the pinnacle of TBC raids, only for Blizzard to pull the Sunwell rabbit out of the Blizzcon hat. I certainly hope the Lich King will be the last boss of WotLK, otherwise it would be quite disappointing to see Blizzard pull out another "surprise" instance after the Lich King one, just so we don't go mad from boredom until the next expansion. Queen Azshara might very well show up in WotLK as a raid boss, seeing as how placing her in the expansion after WotLK would make her a stronger character than the Lich King.

As far as Sargeras, going by common sense, I would think he would be considered a level 100 boss(so, the expansion after the expansion after WotLK), but, of course, Blizzard can always serve us all sort of "weakened"/"not fully summoned yet" bosses.

 

Starfire

You seem to insinuate that Queen Azshara is weaker than Arthas, this is not necessairly true, not even in the remote. All we know is that she hid her powers from Tichondrius and she seems to be affiliating with the Old Gods now. I think its a safe assumption to make that her Naga form is more powerful than her Elven form, so...

I can see it now... after Arthas summons the Horde and Alliance to Northrend to play his mind games... the Alliance and Horde eventually overcome Arthas.... the Nagas rise out of the sea and cherry-pick the worn and tired Alliance and Horde soldiers.

Brann's Bronzebeard's speculation is that only the Lich King can rival her, not that he is necessairly more powerful (and vice-versa, of course).