Around Azeroth: Gnome airfield
by Elizabeth Harper 
Oct 2nd 2006 at 2:00PM
Reader Ajax from realm Skullcrusher sends in this shot of the Gnome airfield up above Ironforge. (From where he's standing, you can see the runway and rows of little Gnomish airplanes below him in the snow.) It used to be easy to get up here, before Blizzard decided that "cliffwalking" (running up against impossibly steep cliffs until you managed to move up) wasn't something they wanted and removed it from the game. Ajax tells us this shot was taken a few months ago and that it's still possible to get there, though I'm not sure how these days. (Anyone want to enlighten me?)
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Filed under: Odds and ends
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Adam Oct 2nd 2006 2:07PM
There are two remarkably simple ways to get up there. One requires slowfall (and is the fastest), the other doesn't.
Of course the more people know, the greater chance it has of getting nerfed.....so my lips are sealed.
I'll give a hint though....one of the methods has you starting in loch modan, the other you can start right near the IF dueling area. :)
Axium Oct 2nd 2006 2:12PM
EWWWW GNOMES!!!!!
Ajaxthegreat Oct 2nd 2006 2:28PM
This is a video of how you can still get there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78xmt3Pe_es
Its not me, but thats the route I took. Its much easier on a mount, but doable w/o one. From there you can also get to the Flag on top of IF, and if your very very careful you can drop down onto the farms in the mountains in the the wetlands.
Have fun and enjoy.
Ajaxthegreat
-Skullcrusher
Mike Schramm Oct 2nd 2006 3:15PM
"Eww gnomes"? Come on now..
Gnomes are very tasty when cooked correctly. In some places, they're considered a delicacy.
/horde ftw
Mat Oct 2nd 2006 4:21PM
It'd be really cool if they'd just make it so everyone could go up there :)
Maybe add some quest givers or make it so you can take the plane somewhere or something like that.
Jedrallin on Kul Tiras Oct 2nd 2006 4:00PM
Read somewhere your account could be banned if you go to places that are considered "restricted".
If you do get there, there's a tunnel into IF with a rock blocking the door. Get close to it and move the camera about and you can see even the ramp was built into IF.
So where's some pics of Old Iron Forge I hear so much about?
Windshadow Oct 2nd 2006 4:18PM
I do not understand why they put so much effort into creating places like this and then never use them!
It must have cost them quite a bit to do all the art and codeing for this area... and the link to Ironforge via a tunnel seems to indicate that they had some use planned for it... but now many months later and still nothing... was the person tasked with this area given another job and this just got forgotten? it would be nice to learn what the facts about this area are.
Oscaron Oct 2nd 2006 4:36PM
The top of IF is still the easiest 'restricted area' to get to in the game. There is no need to wallwalk like you had to do with the Southern entrance from Dun Morogh. Just a lot of climbing passes and a looong walk.
From there, you can get to the Airport, the flag at the peak of IF's mountain, the Dwarf Village in the Wetlands, etc.
Yes, it is a risk of a 3-day suspension (been a long time since I've seen an account closed for climbing up there) but if you know the risks, and are willing to accept them, it is a fun trip.
As for Old IF. Well...All I have to say is:
1 Explorer
1 Mage
1 Not-so-secret Dueling spot at the IF Bank
2 Epic Mounts
1 Polymorph
It's a pin, but it's fun.
Oscaron Oct 2nd 2006 4:37PM
Er...pain* ;)
swiftlydead Oct 2nd 2006 4:46PM
Wall walking is a LOT easier as a horde character. Not just saying that -- it actually is. Though, ironically, alliance races do suck in general too...
Wall walking is still possible - it's just harder now.
Oather Oct 2nd 2006 7:59PM
It would be interesting to know if the buildings (like the one the character is standing on) are all still 'non-solid'. I used to go up there before the bans and the buildings on the sides of the mountains weren't solid. I even fell waaaay too far when I attempted to jump on top of one from above while exploring and fell right through the roof. If they have made them solid, maybe they are working on opening the area up?
Ajaxthegreat Oct 2nd 2006 6:15PM
They are all solid, as far as i know.
kG Oct 2nd 2006 10:31PM
@ #6 - This place is indeed used. It's for sight-seeing as you fly over it. There is a small cave with a couple of trolls on the western side of IF as well, and a tiny camp with a pair of gnomes near that. The only reason I thought to go over and verify the latter is because I also spotted them in a fly-over.
I'm surprised no one brings up the dwarf "mountaineers" between Burning Steppes and Northshire, which sometimes can be seen fighting a drake. Similar eye candy, no?
As far as costs go, the place seems to be at least partially recycled. If you talk to the gnomes maintaining the aircraft, they respond with scripts from the gnomes at Shimmering Flats.