Something else that reinforces the idea of Worgen and Goblins as a playable race is the fact that with the introduction of Faction changes, we are unable to merely change -just- our race but stay on the same faction. For what reason would they not want us to be able to change race other than to prevent a mass amount of players from changing (within their faction) to Goblin/Worgen with the expansion?

I mean, we can already pay to change our realm, looks, gender, name, and (soon) faction. Only character customization missing is same faction race change and class change (which will never happen).

One other thing I'd like to bring up that could create interesting discussion...

If indeed we are getting Goblins and Worgen as new races, that would all but assure us that Undermine is the capital city for the Goblins.

Inevitably then that creates the question of...what is going to be the big neutral Shat/Dalaran city of the expansion? Any ideas?

Undermine doesn't necessarily need to be the capital city of the horde race Goblins. If only a single cartel joins the Horde, you could have that cartel's base of operations as the capital city for the playable faction, and keep Undermine as a bigger neutral city of Goblins.

I don't know that saying Undermine is definitely the starting area for Horde-aligned goblins is entirely necessary. The Steamwheedle Cartel is just one of several Goblin factions, and it probably would not change it's status as a neutral faction. A Horde-aligned group of goblins might get their own instanced starting area, and then take a boat to Ratchet to join the Horde-side leveling curve from there. I'm really thinking that the PC Goblin race will not be Steamwheedle-aligned, and instead be it's own show. Undermine, as the meeting place of all the Trade Princes, will probably stay neutral territory, making it still ideal for our new expansion capital.

And while I concur with all the people who've shot down the Gilneas/Worgen connection as fancruft, the area is particularly well-placed for Worgen to start there, and at the end of their 1-20 curve take a boat to Menethil Harbor, which brings them into the Dwarf/Gnome side of the Alliance leveling curve. They could just as easily boat to Stormwind and enter the 20+ game in Duskwood.

When it comes down to it, they can really put the Worgen starting area anywhere -- though I imagine it'll be Eastern Kingdoms and Goblins will start in Kalimdor, to maintain continental balance.

Continuing my speculation on racial features, what would the racial mounts for these new players be? Goblins would likely get Mechanical-somethings, to more strongly emphasize the Goblin/Gnome rivalry. But what would Worgen ride?

Keep in mind that this would probably open up all of these mounts for riding in-faction, so if Goblins get mecha-slugs, expect Tauren in them before too long.

Well I can see Goblins have something mechanized, and a lot more rattletrap then the Gnome mount. Worgan, not a clue. Wolves are likely out cause of the Orc mount. Here's an idea, how about a giant spider? That animal could easily be found all over Azeroth, so it would be easily explained. Something dark themed would match well. Another option could be Blizzard invent something, like they did when they added the Hawkstrider. Always figured that one was inspired by the extinct Phorusrhacids.

The hawkstrider is pretty obviously a chocobo. Now, giant spiders is something I could certainly get behind, but it seems a little ridiculous, doesn't it? Wolf-men riding giant spiders?

I agree that it will likely be something new, some new creature they invent for the starting area.

If Goblins really do pan out, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a boat connection from the starting zone to the Barrens (Ratchet) rather than Tanaris.

Random observation:

- TBC added Draenei and Blood Elf. Both races had a unique, new class to offer for each faction (Paladin and Shaman, of course... for all intents and purposes new classes to the Horde and Alliance respectively).

- WotLK added a new Death Knight class, with new 'undead' cosmetic changes for all the races.

- Cataclysm will add 2 new races, but what I'm wondering right now is.. what will be their draw? Why would anyone want to reroll an old class with a new race, cosmetics and minor racial buffs aside? So should we maybe expect some kind of extra features to make new races stand out?

If Goblins/Worgen are to be new races, what is the encentive to roll one and start off all over at level one? Blood elves/ Dreanei had once faction exclusive classes, and that was plenty, even for raiding guilds to reserve a slot for them.

However, even with the heirloom items, it would take quite a long time to reach level 78 to start on the new content. The release of new races would be a good incentive to open up a Death knight-like level advantage at level 55 or 65 at character create.

And here's to hoping its semi-worgen. I kinda have a fondness for shape-shifting. :P

With phasing, you can have two versions of the starter areas. You have a level 80? You start in the level 68 phase. You don't? You start in the level 1 phase.

That assume, of course, a more heavily scripted starter area than usual for a new race.

Worgren can of course go thru a fast-forward version of the fall of Gilneas : they start by invading Gilneas, converting humans and slaughtering resisters, until they get involved into a race-changing event, which stabilize their natures (basically, DK redux, with a more positive slant, as the Worgren actively seek their redemption, instead of being betrayed by the lich king and turning traitors. Bonus points as the late stages involve cleaning up Gilneas of the feral worgren pockets that want to remain beastly savages).

Goblins would have a similar story, facing whetever peril threatens them, and ending up with one of the Trade Prince seceding from the official Undermine position, and the goblin player following him.

Also don't assume that the start level will be the standard 1-20 affair. It is quite possible they could extend it to level 30 or 40 by offering either a larger zone or accelerated levelling. This keeps in line with their continual levelling speed increases.

As I said a few weeks ago when we were discussing the possibility of Worgen as a potential race, the ingame and RPG sources both paint Worgen as pure evil. Due to this I think it is fairly safe to say that the Worgen playable will be from Gilneas and were infected and found a way to control their curse after wiping it out from spreading to others. It is very likely that the Greymane Wall could have been shut to keep it in rather than keep the scourge plague out.

It does raise questions why the Humans would accept them into the Alliance willingly when an almost identical story for the Forsaken saw the humans turn against their ex-lovers friends and family and try to kill them.