Forum Post of the Day: The fight to enter Zul'Aman
by Amanda Rivera 
Oct 8th 2007 at 11:15PM
Patch 2.3 is adding a lot to the game we know as WoW, including a new ten man instance, Zul'Aman. With the addition of this instance, a question arises on the forums: exactly how will players get into the instance with all the chaos that will be going on outside?
By chaos of course I mean PvP. Like the original poster states in the title to his forum post, "one does not simply walk into the Ghostlands." For some this is a concern, for others it points to an exhilarating challenge looming on the horizon. On PvP realms this sort of struggle is common (can we say Ashenvale kids? Come on, say it with me Ashenvale.), but on other realms, PvE or RP, the sudden forced PvP that must inevitably occur outside the gates of Zul'Aman is something dreaded.
Bornakk the Blue replies (wait, you haven't heard of him either?) with what I would expect, nothing committal either way:
We are aware of the location of Zul'aman and players' concerns regarding it, but when this dungeon is available on the PTRs I encourage you to head over and give it a try. There may be some fighting involved but this tends to happy outside of a lot of dungeons already.
Part of me wants to stamp my feet and cry unfair, but most of me just shrugs and realizes that as with much in this game, entering Zul'Aman will require adaptation to new elements of gameplay, some created by the developers, and some created by the players themselves.
Each faction has had instances set within their territories before, within Stormwind and Orgrimmar even, but never was it expected that everyone regardless of faction would be running Ragefire Chasm. Knowing that those on the PvE realms will now be expected to deal with PvP in order to enter the Karazhan 2.0 instance, do you think Blizzard should install a mechanism that gives at least some measure of protection for those that do not want to duke their way into the place?
Filed under: PvP, Instances, Wrath of the Lich King, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Erica Olson Oct 8th 2007 11:24PM
Pardon my stupidity, but why would one be forced to PvP on a PvE realm to enter an instance? If that's going to be the case, it will be just one more place that I will avoid.
And another instance of Blizz bowing to the PvPers and their wants.
Noshtzy Oct 8th 2007 11:25PM
I don't understand. WHY would anyone on Normal or RP servers have to deal with PvP in the Ghostlands? Entering opposite-faction held territory doesn't automatically flag you. That only happens if you enter opposite-faction capital cities. I imagine Alliance will fly to Light's Hope Chapel and ride right up to Zul'Aman. No big deal.
jlpknights82 Oct 8th 2007 11:32PM
On a PvE realm would Alliance be attackable in Ghostlands? I thought you had to be in a city to be auto-flagged?
On a PvP realm it's expected, tho maybe a bit unbalanced, since the Horde will always have first strike. But hey, Alliance will just have to keep on their toes!
Perhaps they could just make the Zul'Aman area a sanctuary like Shattrath and the Dark Portal area (Outland side)? Or have uber troll guards that will pwn anyone that PvPs there?
eVEAN Oct 8th 2007 11:33PM
as a matter of fact, it does flag you. if its their territory you are flagged. and you will have to deal with the horde there waiting to get in as well (or just camping). the horde wont have it hard really, since its their choice to get flagged or not. Really though, if they just dont require a key or a gate to open then it wont be bad. you either stealth or run in, or just die once and rez and runin real fast.
jlpknights82 Oct 8th 2007 11:33PM
I should also add that I hope they buff the guards/NPCs in Ghostland quest areas. With high lvl Alliance running around all the time it'll be inevitable that the low level areas right near there will be griefed.
Jamesisgreat Oct 8th 2007 11:41PM
I dont think it does flag you for PvP actually - I'm a Night elf and was visiting Mulgore today (for Darkmoon Faire) and was fine.
Heilig Oct 8th 2007 11:44PM
@4
Expect something like guards to happen. After all, do you really expect blizz to implement a new raid without a painful new faction rep to grind? Zandalar tribe anyone?
imtraum Oct 8th 2007 11:46PM
It's actually really simple to get to the Ghostlands as an Alliance character and not get flagged on a PvE realm. It's not like you have to go through Silvermoon (which WOULD flag you--capitol cities flag you, not walking into opposing territories) to get there. I ran my level 10 Draenei Hunter up there to get a lynx and she never once was flagged. Just like every single Darkmoon Faire and there's always opposing faction hanging out in Mulgore or Elwynn un-flagged on PvE servers.
PvP servers, yes, it'll be a brawl to get in. PvE? Not unless your raid purposefully flags themselves for a bit of PvP.
Heilig Oct 8th 2007 11:46PM
And @5
You're just wrong, man. On PvE servers, you are only flagged when you go into a capital. The zones have no territory designation. My old dwarf hunter had The Rake at level 11 without getting flagged once.
Matthew Rossi Oct 8th 2007 11:51PM
Yeah, I took a blood elf to Azuremyst for a ravager pet and I only got flagged when I entered the Exodar itself. Stay out of Silvermoon and you can go to Zul'Aman without incident.
Matt Oct 9th 2007 12:08AM
If blizzard cared about what players thought they would just move the entrance to the eastern Plague lands there a small troll camp there that could be changed to serve as there to serve as the entrance. It seems to me Blizzard didn't want this is the old world and its at simple as that
Juliah Oct 9th 2007 12:26AM
I hope Blizzard makes it safe to go in there. I rolled on a PvE realm for a reason: those quests in DAoC that you used to have to complete out in the frontier left a permanent bad taste in my mouth, and I don't want there to be PVE content that I can't get to without going through PvP.
Jason Oct 9th 2007 12:28AM
You'd have to go way the hell out of your way to get to Silvermoon. Zul'Aman is on the southeast side of the Ghostlands, a good 10-15 minutes on an epic mount from Silvermoon.
On a side note, hurray for another crap story from WoW Insider. You guys need to get on top of your bloggers and writers.
Liel Oct 9th 2007 12:44AM
@14 Feel free to contribute not like anybody is getting paid.
Byron Oct 9th 2007 12:50AM
Easy, Ally raids group and summon at Strat, then ride into Ghostlands fully manned and steamroll any scattered Horde that mess with them.
For the cases where two equal sized raiding groups run into each other at ZA, Bliz might need to make the ZA entrance and meeting stone area into a Contested zone.
tiamazzo Oct 9th 2007 12:53AM
I hate to beat a dead horse, but you won't be flag if you enter the Ghostlands. On a PVP server, however, it'll be easy for horde to avoid PVP, which is kind of refreshing.
tiamazzo Oct 9th 2007 12:54AM
@16 70s to high to use the Strath stone.
Byron Oct 9th 2007 12:58AM
Addendum: Contested Zone on pvp realm, not Sanctuary. Making it Contested would prevent the unfairness of Horde being able to get the first shot, unless Horde ganks ally out in the Ghostlands. Ghostlands ganking may happen some the first few weeks, but will die down after the novelty wears off.
Byron Oct 9th 2007 12:59AM
@18: right, forgot about that. Light's Hope Chapel I guess it is then. 1 Ally warlock raid spot just got a litte more secure.
g8rCody Oct 9th 2007 1:14AM
I'm surprised this article wasn't written by the same woman that used to write Blood Pact, the Warlock "instructional guides."