The portals among us
by Amanda Rivera 
Jun 25th 2007 at 9:25AM
Many of us have stepped through the Dark Portal into Outland, and in that time dozens of players have mastered the content available there. Now that we have BlizzCon in our sites, all eyes seem to be on what our next expansion will be. As Chris Metzen mentioned at the last BlizzCon, Outland is peppered with portals, each with the potential to open another world for us to explore.
I personally know of two such dead portals, empty and devoid of life. The first is in Zangarmarsh, at the appropriately named Portal Clearing, and the second is in Nagrand. Have you found any other portals in your time in Outland? If so, do you think that the locations of the portals could be a clue to what lies behind them? Going with this theory, we might postulate that the Zangarmarsh portal might lead to the Maelstrom, since that zone is riddled with naga. What do you think?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Expansions, The Burning Crusade
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
heinricho Jun 25th 2007 9:33AM
there is one in a crater in Blade's Edge. surrounded by demons.
Whut Jun 25th 2007 9:38AM
Zangarmarsh reminds me of the Emerald Dream.
nav Jun 25th 2007 9:46AM
'If so, do you think that the locations of the portals could be a clue to what lies behind them? '
No. Any relation between Hellfire Peninsula and the Black Morass? There seems to be no reason to think the local climate or whatever has any relation to anything portally, and we know the naga came through with Illidan, not through some other portal direct from the Maelstrom.
Mad Cow Jun 25th 2007 9:59AM
You guys are killing me ... seriously ...
"Now that we have BlizzCon in our sites ..."
sites != sights
=/
Mats Jun 25th 2007 10:02AM
Is there really a portal in the game now that does not have a quest line tied to it already? I know I have done quests with both those in the post, and the one in the comment section. (Both, if you count the one that was added in 2.1 and the one in deaths door)
nav Jun 25th 2007 10:16AM
There's not really a quest tied to the Zangarmarsh portal. You kill Xeleth there, but he's not coming through the portal but from the lake next to it.
Siorra Jun 25th 2007 10:21AM
Personally I don't think any of the portals in Outland are going to be opened up. It's a stand-slone thing, and I don't believe that it will lead anywhere else. As for expansions, my guesses are towards the Emerald Dream and Northrend. If you zoom right out on the map you can see Northrend being covered by clouds, which may hint to a future use. Then again, arthas will probably be the final boss of WoW, so they may hold that one back. But also, seeming though Illidan has finally been killed, maybe his brother who's trapped behing those many portals on Azeroth may want to know about this...
Koskun Jun 25th 2007 11:02AM
There is the portal at the bottom of Winterspring that goes to Mt. Hyjal. You used to be able to go through it when you were dead, and there were a couple of spots you could wall climb to get in it.
I seem to remember a portal somewhere in the water in Azshara too at one point.
Don't forget the portal at the end of Deadside (technically where they put Naxx if my memory serves).
Don't forget the whatever it is at the southern end of Tanaris (I forget the name).
roarr Jun 25th 2007 11:34AM
south end of Tanaris? you mean Uldum?
http://www.wowwiki.com/Uldum
Kaylek Jun 25th 2007 11:52AM
What about the portal at the center of Duskwood? I think I remember something about it being related to the Emerald Dream?
Sylvina Jun 25th 2007 12:02PM
The portals in outland give you access to the Cow Level.
Baluki Jun 25th 2007 12:24PM
There's apparently one portal in every zone in Outland, if memory serves. As far as I know, they all go to Legion-controlled worlds, which is why Illidan closed them all in Frozen Throne.
As far as I know, we don't know specifically what's on the other side of each one, except the one in Blade's Edge. It goes to the planet that the Legion uses to produce all of its hound-like units.
Quoi Jun 25th 2007 1:03PM
The portal in Nagrand is used in a Netherwing quest.
tabularaza Jun 25th 2007 2:03PM
There is also a tiny portal or something in Netherstorm at 71,42.
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3588/wowscrnshot062507195111ga6.jpg
Aziraphale Jun 25th 2007 2:15PM
I would love it if Blizz somehow came up with a totally new or unexpected place for these portals to end up in. What if in the next patch or whatever, one of these portals opens up and leads you to Argus... covered in Zerg.
Strongmark on Arthas Jun 25th 2007 2:28PM
I was thinking the same about the one in Duskwood, I always wondered where that one went... scary dragon keeps me from going in there too much
Laukidh Jun 25th 2007 2:50PM
The negrand portal is active for one npc at least. During the netherwing quest line, you attack an elite and he flees into the portal.
Chadwick Jun 25th 2007 3:04PM
My take:
The Blade's Edge one leads to Argus, which will be an expansion. Pushing the attack to one of the Legions major worlds.
The Zangarmarsh one leads to a yet unnamed world. The same for some of the other random portals in Outland.
The 4 Portals to the Emerald Dream are obvious. This can be yet another expansion.
The Great Sea/Maelstrom would be another expansion. This could include Undermine and Kul Tiras as well. Even the homeland of the Zandalar Trolls.
Then of course there is Northern. An expansion of mega level proportions. Level 100 anyone?
So I see at least 4 or 5 more Expansions with the rest being content/patch filler.
Of course I hope they expand more on everything through out all these additions. More work on Professions (New and old) and more work on the Classes (Expanded Old, Hero or New Classes) as well as some emphasis on racial traits, spells, skills, etc.
Deadhead Jun 25th 2007 3:36PM
When mmo's have expansions they "usually" do not make a previouse expansion necessary for the next. That way a consumer does not have to buy a previous expansion if they don't want it. Most new expansions will probably be added via non outland routes.
Chadwick Jun 25th 2007 4:33PM
@19
I would disagree regarding this MMO though. Blizzard has already forced you to buy there first expansion to get to level 70 and Outlands. My guess is that they will continue with that route.
Plus somewhere in all this content they are trying to tell a story. A big story I guess.
My 2c.