The Burning Crusade: Dark Portal opening event?
by Paul Sherrard 
Jan 3rd 2007 at 9:15PM
There has been a lot of speculation that there will be an opening event but no one has any real evidence of what it will be. The only thing we do know is that there will be one. Discussion on the official forums has sparked a little interest and discussion on the matter, gathering a blue response:Drysc says,
"Everything in life is a learning process, and we have learned a lot from every in-game event we have done as to how they can be improved. I'm not going to give anything away, but the player 'clumping' that you have concerns with is something we're specifically attempting to avoid. The re-opening of the dark portal is an event that will change Azeroth as we currently know it, and it's only fitting that the tremble of such an event is felt throughout the world. It's still likely that players will group up at the portal, but the event we're planning won't encourage it as the AQ event did."
So what kind of event could it be that wouldn't encourage all of us to mob the portal? There's not been any hint of what the event might be while I've been online in the beta, so I'm left being really curious. Will it be something like the Scourge invasion? Will there be mini-portals?
What do you think they will do for the portal opening?
[Thanks to Chris McDonnald for the submission!]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Expansions, The Burning Crusade
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dave Jan 3rd 2007 9:45PM
My bet is on a "call to arms" type event, that directs people to Blasted Lands and/or Outlands.
My guess is that they'll have someone hanging around in each major city telling you "holy shit, the dark portal is open again, we have to go stop them from coming in". The guy will then offer to teleport you either into outlands directly, or to a spot in the crater in blasted lands. I don't know about Alliance side, but in beta there are a couple of Blood Elves that appear to be making a mage portal to Org, but you can't actually go in. My guess is that it's the output of the portal from Org to Outlands. (it may have some other use, maybe a portal from outlands to org in the future, but it doesn't do anything yet...)
I have huge doubts about anything appearing suddenly in Azeroth involving you killing demons or anything. It's not a demonic invasion, it's a Burning Crusade and clearly we're on the offensive, not the other way around.
Barod Jan 3rd 2007 9:53PM
I just hope once Outland is open to everyone once the expansion ships that they'll have another hearthstone specifically for Outland.
Jack Jan 3rd 2007 10:14PM
They hinted a long time ago that the portal in the Blasted lands would not be the only way to get to The Outlands.
I'm assuming that ways to get there will open up near the major cities to avoid such problems as that many players going to one spot and crashing every realm.
ben allen Jan 3rd 2007 10:22PM
i think #3 probably has it right; if they're trying to discourage the kind of lag-death that would inevitably accompany every lvl 60 being at the portal, they would probably devise alternative ways to get to Outland. teleporters in major cites/areas seems reasonable.
as to what kind of big event will happen, i don't think anyone has any inkling at all. i'd love to hear some good theories though.
DigitalFeonix Jan 3rd 2007 10:21PM
I've thought about this and I think it might have something to do with the inclusion of the new races. In one of the early previews we saw the Blood Elves entering Thrall's chamber and pledging themselves to the Horde and the equivalent for the Alliance. I think it will be a scripted event like that, where the new races enter the capital cities (UC, TB included) and pledge their loyalties to the faction.
isobelle Jan 3rd 2007 11:04PM
i think it's cute that they hope people won't need to clump up on the 'old side' of the portal (blasted lands).
guess where everyone that gets to the outland 'however the hell they do it) will be though? on the NEW side. Hellfire Penninsula is going to be a throbbing shit-ton-crash-fest of people, regardless of how they ended up getting there in the first place.
Kyle Jan 3rd 2007 11:05PM
(Some minor spoilers from the first quest given before entering the Dark Portal)
One of the NPCs outside of the Dark Portal talks about how demons attacked all over the world, and, of all factions, the Argent Dawn fought back.
So, something like that, I'd imagine. Seems like in the vein of the scourge invasion, but probably not as calm as that one was. But we'll see.
ben allen Jan 3rd 2007 11:50PM
here's a thought, let me know what you all think of this:
perhaps there will be some kind of attunement quest, given out perhaps by different NPCs. maybe even different quests (to prevent then everyone from all going off to the same place to complete a single quest)this would make peoople then go and finish those quests, which would take differing times for different players, this might to at least massage the flow into the portal a bit.
as for once people get there, unless Blizz has some ace up their sleeve we don't know about, #6 is probably right: it's going to be a crazy lagfest for a while...
Barod Jan 3rd 2007 11:25PM
In response to post no. 7 are you sure they weren't talking about the distant past or did the npc name specific points recently?
Kyle Jan 3rd 2007 11:41PM
I can't recall exactly what he said, but he did mention something about Kazzak opening the portal and the AD fighting the demons afterward.
Lukkey7 Jan 4th 2007 12:03AM
THE PORTAL IS OPENING IN 5..... 4..... 3..... 2..... 1............................. You have been disconnected.
You are 1,245th. Estimated time, 1 hr 32 min.
CrimsonHavoc Jan 4th 2007 12:42AM
I think I will watch the event on YouTube... you know someone will capture and post it...
Guernia Jan 4th 2007 1:49AM
If there is an event or events that diffuse people around the globe, they definitely need to announce where you need to be ahead of time, or people will still be lining up outside the portal come the switch flip.
So my guess is they'll have some kind of event in the week leading up to the expansion going live. ie. next week. Should be interesting if it pans out.
Jp Jan 4th 2007 2:26AM
#7 is on the money.
When you reach the Blasted Lands, the first NPC you talk to says something along the lines of "This was the site of a massive battle only weeks ago. The Legion reopened the portal, and streamed through. Netehergarde and Argent Dawn heeded the call and fought them back, but were unable to force the legion to budge until the armies of Azeroth joined the assault. Now the battle rages on on the other side...", and then you go into Outland.
What's going to happen is demons are going to show up all over the place. And not the normal demons we've seen, Eredar and Shivan and Mo'arg in droves, all over Azeroth. At the very least, it will be like the Scourge invasion, but with demons instead of scourge. Probably different areas.
Meriones Jan 4th 2007 3:30AM
I rode by the Dark Portal yesterday and saw they got rid of all the demons there. Instead there was a camp with catapults and supplies pointed at the portal. Horde on one side and alliance on the other.
Orin Jan 4th 2007 8:11AM
There is really only one solution to the lag problem for all of us. That is to be the first person there to get stuff done before the servers crash! :P
Seriously, I think Hellfire Peninsula is going to be a horrible place to level on a PvP server like the one I play on. I expect to spend most of my time in groups for the first week or two to avoid the mass ganking going on. That's assuming the server stays up and running with everyone piled into the zone...
Thankfully though I can stealth in cat form. I feel bad for all the non-stealth classes... And my hunter alt. :(
Pogle Jan 4th 2007 8:44AM
whats the best way to stop the clumping? As #7 said, an invasion, but take it one stage further and kill everyone and not let us release.
I too will be watching it on youtube the day after.
aaron Jan 4th 2007 4:38PM
Im going to log out behind the portal so that I get insta ported when I log in. :p
Rich Jan 4th 2007 10:02AM
i think it would be sweet if just as the Dark Portal opens, A lvl 150 elite Dragon comes out and wipes everyone and then just goes away... i think that would be the funniest thing in the history of WoW
Chris McDonnald Jan 4th 2007 10:13AM
Thanks for the regocinition for my news submition. Thats my second one for this site!
When I sent in this article I also posted the same questions in my realm and on my guilds website. You can read what is going on there for other ideas.
Kalecgos Server:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html;jsessionid=52AA6241ED52CC7E698AA1DF8CEDC21F?topicId=61467085&sid=1
Jett Guild:
http://www.jettclan.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=9959