An interview with J. Allen Brack

Among some of the things discussed by J. Allen Brack and Gamespy:
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Flying Mounts are gone until level 77, at which point you will either complete a quest or a visit a trainer to be able to use them again. You will still not be able to use the mounts in the old world, so even though Naxxramas is on Azeroth, your flying mount will not be able to cross back over the sea to visit the old stomping grounds. The Old World was designed using too many graphical shortcuts in places people were not meant to access to allow flying mounts.
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They have recieved massive positive feedback so far about the return to Azeroth and the old traditional fantasy as opposed to the sci-fi feel of the Burning Crusade. In that same vein, they are bringing back many familiar sights and storylines from Old Azeroth. Sholozar Basin will be Un'goro 2.0, complete with crystals and pylons. No word on whether it will also contain more Land of the Lost and Nintendo references. It will also contain some of the flavors of Stranglethorn and the old Netherstorm biodomes, says J. Allen.
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In a similar vein, we can expect to see more of the ever-popular Scarlet Crusade, this time in the form of the Scarlet Onslaught. The Worgen are back in homage to the Sons of Arugal and Shadowfang Keep.
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While the city of Dalaran will be headed up to WoTLK, don't expect to see nothing but a hole in the ground where it used to be in Alterac. J. Allen reveals that they do have plans for the spot, and the concept drawings they have for it look very cool.
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The Dragonblight, J. Allen Brack said, is probably his favorite new piece of content for the expansion. It is where the Dragons were born, where they recieved sentience from the Titans, and where they come to die, and where the Lich King has been twisting Dragon corpses to serve him as Frost Wyrms, so there's a lot of great lore and history there. It will include a raid instance called the Chamber of the Aspects, and while no bosses have been designed for it yet, it will probably have bosses representing each of the Dragonflights.
It sounds like the developers are nearly as excited about WoTLK as we are, which is usually a good sign of things to come. We hope you've enjoyed all this awesome new information we've found for you tonight. There may be more to come, so stay tuned as we scour all the latest news.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Interviews, Mounts, Lore, Raiding, Expansions, Quests, Instances, News items, Blizzard, Wrath of the Lich King






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mike May 9th 2008 5:30AM
wow lots of info about WotLK
SpaceDog May 9th 2008 5:45AM
I want it now!
Zarzuur May 9th 2008 6:23AM
Worgen are back, nice!
Bloodtrip May 9th 2008 6:24AM
I think your Flying mounts should work there... If they can restrict you from flying to high, and restrict you from flying out of a boundary area, then i am sure they can put a flight boundary around areas that you cannot fly over. or take the time to "fill in the blanks" and patch up those areas...
But its great to finally hear information about WotLK, it seems like there will be a lot of nostalgia in the story line, yet so much new things to do, see, and learn.
Nightshifter May 9th 2008 7:26AM
5,000 gold and I have to wait until 77 to use it again? Sorry, but that blows, especially after buying epic flying for my alt and my wife's.
BaboonNL May 9th 2008 7:30AM
Nothing's stopping you from flying circles in Outland, we the rest of us have fun in Northrend.
neadamthal May 12th 2008 7:41AM
yah it would be good to get some clarification there... do we lose our flying mounts period? or do we still have them in outland?
Matt May 9th 2008 2:17PM
QQ more, good god, you need to see the content like everyone else that spent 5k, and at 77 you can use it again, dont let your tears ruin your makeup...jesus
alrdye May 9th 2008 5:05PM
QQ noob. Level your butt up to 77. This is better than it was in BC. Droods got flight at 68 but everyone else had to wait till 70. Oh noes!!
Eternalpayn May 9th 2008 7:41AM
Wow. After reading everything, especially the stuff in this article, and am completely freaking ECSTATIC about the expansion. Thanks so much for posting this stuff! I can't wait!
Tatiyanna May 9th 2008 10:22AM
Reading that statement, it sounds more like they are not going to work again until 77 period. When you complete a quest to be able to use them again. Nothing about only in the new area.
If it was only for the new area, it would be flying mounts in the new content will be available at lvl 77.
Michel May 9th 2008 10:31AM
it's only about the new zone. you can still fly in outland.
Markymark May 9th 2008 11:09AM
Just be glad they'll let you fly in the new areas and not use epic land mounts lol. All in all this expansion is getting me excited...only thing is I gotta get a lvl 70.
dpak May 9th 2008 12:35PM
I have to say, take the time to add flying mounts to the old world.
Really.
Dont look at it as a problem, look at it as an opportunity.
There is a lot of unused land there....land that could be the next expansion. Call it "the skys of azeroth".
new instances, new lost worlds upon high, new zones could be in the previously unaccessible areas.
Also, regarding "having access to areas" if you are level 70 (or 80+) what areas are you supposed to be out of in az?
dpak
elprogramer May 9th 2008 4:09PM
Agreed, whole heartedly.
Silverrealm May 9th 2008 1:20PM
I personally don't want to see them waste their time developing flying in the old world.
WHY exactly do you NEED it? In outlands it's useful for numerous things... old world is fine as it is.
Bynde May 9th 2008 3:35PM
What does this mean, exactly..."While the city of Dalaran will be headed up to WoTLK,"
They are physically moving the big purple dome? Or they mean it will "open up" in Azeroth after the WoTLK is online?
Also, I'm glad they are "reigning" in (haha! Get it?) the flying mounts. I love it in outland but seriously, if you can fly over whatever Mob or whatever terrain you want, what's the fun of that?
Daniel Whitcomb May 9th 2008 5:46PM
Bynde -
Last we heard, Dalaran will be the "new Shattrath" of WoTLK. It will actually lift off and fly up to Northrend, and sit above the continent as the new capital city.
J. Allen reveals to us is this interview, though, that they do plan to put something new at the spot where the purple dome now sits in Alterac.
Wimpette May 9th 2008 10:36PM
Why is it that every WoW site on the Internet has been granted interviews with Blizzard, yet WoW Insider was not? Doesn't look good for Insider.