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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe strange task of entering Dalaran
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Aug 12th 2008 at 8:00PM
Here's a somewhat annoying little problem with the Beta. As of the latest build, you can't just walk into Dalaran, or rather, you can't just use the teleportation crystal go up. Instead, you have to complete a quest to align yourself to Dalaran. But this quest is only available at level 74.
In the Outlands, it's not uncommon for a fresh 58 to head through the Dark Portal and right to Shattrath City. Binding in one of the Inns there essentially puts all of the Outlands before you, with flights connecting you easily to where you wish to go.
It seems strange that Blizzard has put up this strange quest attunement roadblock to those who wish to alight from the boat to Northrend and head straight to the capital. Perhaps it's a similar decision that caused them to restrict flying mounts to level 77 and above -- they don't want people skimping on exploration and seeing content, so they make you hang around the newbie zones for a while before you can just stick with Dalaran.
Luckily, not all is completely lost. Much like with Shattrath before level 58, You can still get teleported or summoned up by a Mage or Warlock before level 74. Still, it's a strange little extra hoop Blizzard's having us leap through to get the to top.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Expansions, Leveling, Factions, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Veras Aug 12th 2008 8:39PM
Grammatical error there: "can't just use the teleportation crystal go up."
Garrett Weinstein Aug 12th 2008 8:42PM
Personally, I like this better. I found it odd that shattrath not only let anyone of ANY level into their city, but the fact that just by talking to them you were immediately friendly, or atleast neutral with them. This seems a bit more fitting, especially for the Kirin Tor, seeing as how NOW you need to prove that you deserve access to their fortress.
Arann Aug 12th 2008 9:21PM
That's the thing though... all it takes is a mage/lock to port you into the city anyway. You don't need to be level 74 to BE in the city, just to use the teleporter (at least, that's how I understand the article.)
Yeah, that will slow down the influx of alts at first, but as soon as a few mages get access to the portal spell (assuming there is one), you'll probably see alts scampering around Dalaran as well.
I find it somewhat annoying that Blizzard has done away with attunements for raid dungeons because of the headaches they caused [casual*] players, and then turned around and added an attunement for a neutral city. I don't really care much, to be honest, as I'll play through the zones my first time anyway, but it does boggle the mind a bit.
*I thought I'd better differentiate so as to avoid any unnecessary flare-ups of the hc/casual debate. And yes, I count myself as casual. I never did finish the Hyjal or BT attunement quests.
Kaphik Aug 13th 2008 12:32AM
Shattrath does make a bit of sense, letting low levels in, because it is a city full of refugees. Dalaran should be much more exclusive, just by the fact that the kirin Tor runs the city.
Dave Aug 12th 2008 8:41PM
I dont know how everyone else but i like this idea, that i must be trusted to be aloved in the city , so by doing a quest i will be alowed to enter the city :) i hope this wont change!
Milktub Aug 13th 2008 10:13AM
Ditto. I think it's perfectly acceptable that an enclave of magicians would be less than trusting about letting some unknown warrior stroll into their city. Makes more sense that you'd have to prove yourself in some way.
Tearoffear Aug 12th 2008 8:54PM
One cannot just walk into mordor.
hpavc Aug 12th 2008 11:20PM
The kingdom is quite easily walked to, mt doom and the black gate are not however.
Zarkharaan Aug 12th 2008 9:02PM
The most amusing thing this change has spawned is the countless "how do i get into dalaran ??" questions in all General channels of Northrend.
It's getting annoying to the point of this question being the Northrend version of "where is mankrik's wife". I'll be fair and say I didn't know myself at first, though, and asked the question as well.
Thanks for posting this, though, maybe there'll be less of the questions.
Carrie Aug 12th 2008 9:25PM
I support it as well. It always bugged me to see level 10's and such walking around Shattrath when my character had worked so hard and *earned* the right to be there.
I'd be happy if they took out the ability for locks to summon and mages to teleport people there.
epsilon343 Aug 12th 2008 9:27PM
I prefer this and would even encourage them to just not let anyone in if they're not 74 or if they haven't completed the quest (could you imagine porting up to the city and then promptly getting nuked by mages standing guard?).
By requiring people to meet some pre-reqs before getting into the city it makes it feel like you're really exploring the new continent and gaining the trust of these people who bring you into this war that's bigger than yourself.
Michel Aug 12th 2008 9:52PM
to complicate the travel : YES. It forces people to enjoy the content and travel a little in lands.
to forbid players to port it their characters : NO. They have right to found way to visit the city and put their alt/roleplaying characters.
it's a game. and a fun game. Not an elitist way to show how much you rocks.
Kaphik Aug 13th 2008 12:30AM
I disagree with your idea that they have the "right" to be there. the Kirin Tor has the right to restrict anyone they want from their city. Using your roleplay example, lower level character have neither the experience nor wisdom to be worthy of entrance to the fabled city of Dalaran.
I do hope Blizzard keeps it this way. I don't have a mage, I am more than content to wait until level 74 to get there. Besides, one must go back to Azeroth to train anyway.
Michel Aug 13th 2008 8:18AM
I don't see why.
in old Dalaran, many peasants and common citizens lived under the direction of Mages.
now, they need people to conduct the war against the blue dragons. They don't give the whole entrance, yes, but they can trust Mage (or others spellcasters as warlock) to choose wisely who to let enter.
so, you can justify many things with some "rp".
PJ Aug 12th 2008 10:26PM
"Perhaps it's a similar decision that caused them to restrict flying mounts to level 77 and above -- they don't want people skimping on exploration and seeing content, so they make you hang around the newbie zones for a while before you can just stick with Dalaran."
It's funny those retards don't understand they can't force people to do that. Those who want to want to, the others are just being pissed of and considering dropping the game.
theRaptor Aug 12th 2008 11:19PM
I doubt one single player will drop the game because they have to move at 200% speed instead of 380% for a handful of levels.
The thing is that players will do stupid stuff like skimping exploration, and then realise that when "forced" to do it, that it was more fun. This is the reason Blizzard don't just let you X/Y teleport around.
Sibe Aug 12th 2008 10:32PM
Blizzard talked about this in their Blizzcast, they wanted at least one toon to experience the story before you skipped past it, having to do a quest means that most people's first toons will have to get introduced to Dalaran. While past that, an alt will be able to get summoned by a Warlock friend or ported by a Mage after that first point.
Dezrael Aug 12th 2008 10:40PM
Does it really make sense for a city full of mages on a war footing to allow unrestricted portaling or summoning in their city? Uh.... NO. I hope Blizz restricts this ruthlessly.
zepheron Aug 15th 2008 3:20PM
You should not be able to enter Dalaran until you are at least 70 this would make it a lot less crowded with low lvls and mean something when you arrive there.
Rannulf Aug 12th 2008 10:59PM
Blizz seems to be pulling out all the stops to make sure you have no excuse to not get into the story. I have to give a /salute, the story of the expansion seems awesome and I hope it's worth not being able to bum around Dalaran on a flying mount at 71