Ask A Beta Tester: Kalecgos, Wintergrasp, and how much is this going to cost me?

EDIT: several commenters have taken issue with the lack of a spoiler warning on this post when it went live at 9:00 pm EST. I genuinely apologize; it should have occurred to me to write one, and it's entirely my fault that one wasn't present. So consider this fair -- if belated -- warning that there's a significant, if general, spoiler in this AABT concerning an important quest chain in Wrath, and if you're trying to avoid spoilers completely, please do NOT read AABT. This column is nothing but a pile of spoilers compressed into a spoiled package and tied with a spoilery bow.
Willferal asks...
I know that in Wotlk, the players are fighting Malygos. But in TBC, Kalec/Tyri are blue dragons that help us, and Kalec is especially vital in his help to kill Kiljaeden. What's their role in Wrath?
I wish I knew. I never found any mention of Kalecgos while leveling, and Tyrygosa only got a brief mention at last year's BlizzCon. Tyrygosa's role in BC wasn't that extensive, but Kalecgos was all that and a box of crackers in Sunwell, so this is a little...mystifying. They both seem on passable (Tyrygosa) to good (Kalecgos) relations with the mortal races, so the involvement of their entire flight in Malygos' war would -- I hope -- concern them somewhat. I really hope Blizzard goes somewhere with this, but as of now I don't think you can expect to find anything in Northrend.
Carang asks...
I love professions. Probably one of the first things I will do is buy grandmaster for all of my toons professions. Do you know how much its going to cost to train grandmaster?
Hmmm. I wish I had a more accurate figure on this, but I do vaguely remember getting to Northrend on my main and being able to train up grand master herbalism, alchemy, fishing, cooking, and first aid all within short order (from what I've seen this is true of the starter areas for both factions; you'll find trainers for just about everything you need within a stone's throw of getting off the boat/zeppelin). By the time I got through training up the next skill level plus new recipes, I think I was out somewhere in the region of 350-400 gold. Bottom line; take some spare change with you.
Myshkii writes...
Enchanting-wise, are we gonna see something like in TBC where there were items that could only be used on items with ilvls of 35+?
Yup. Most of the new enchants have level requirements with the most common one being 60.
TheChao writes...
Where the hell is that last picture from?
This is from a real beauty of a quest given at level 75 by Chromie, the representative of the Bronze Dragonflight in the Wyrmrest Temple. It's called Mystery of the Infinite and it's an effort to determine the leader of the troublesome Infinite Dragonflight (the ones you spent so much time battling in Caverns of Time). You meet your future self on this quest (as we've previously observed, your future self considers your past self a noob), and there's a follow-up quest at level 80 called Mystery of the Infinite, Redux where you travel back in time to meet your past self doing the first quest. I promise it all makes more sense when you actually do it. I never got the chance to do the second quest, but the first one was an absolute blast.
Frostymage asks...
After the wrath gate quest horde characters get to retake the undercity with all the horde leaders. My question is what do the alliance players get?
The recently-returned King Varian Wrynn decides to go road-tripping and you're invited to The Battle for the Undercity. The Alliance and the Horde are after the same goal, at least initially; they want the people/demons responsible for what happened at the Wrath gate. The Horde kills Varimathras; the Alliance kills Grand Apothecary Putress. Directly afterwards, Wrynn essentially declares war on the Horde in revenge for Bolvar Fordragon's death. Whether or not he's justified in doing so is going to be the subject of much argument.
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, Expansions, Features, Leveling, Enchants, Wrath of the Lich King
Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria news





Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Amaxe Nov 11th 2008 7:59AM
Well, I am only going by the lore on the WoW website of course (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter4.html#22), but from *that* perspective, it does seem that because the Legion created the orc bloodlust and led Medivh to open the portal and the orcs later were responsible for half of the Scourge menace, it seems that if the portal had been thwarted, the scourge would not have happened.
Perhaps there are other places that tell the story more accurately of course. But someone who only had access to the online history could find the whole scenario rather contradictory
popeguilty Nov 9th 2008 11:17PM
Is that the same Chromie who helps you kill Araj in Andorhal?
Azri Nov 10th 2008 12:04AM
LOL why does my future self still have all the same gear? D: That's just sad.... *snerk*
Amaxe Nov 10th 2008 9:37AM
Future Self: The auction house is too expensive now
Azri Nov 10th 2008 9:40AM
But I totally have 35k saved up!
Oh, wait, yeah you're probably right...
Helasmoth Nov 10th 2008 1:56AM
Has there been any news as to whether or not Divine Protection will be made a more rotation friendly tool for Prot Paladins? I understand the nerf for the OP Ret situation, but it kinda limits its utility again back to what the spell pre 3.0.2 was and that doesn't seem to be what blizzard wants from their spells
Actuality Nov 10th 2008 4:20AM
So it seems a lot of Northrend is dynamic, and when you move on past a certain quest or zone the phasing comes in and changes the world to keep the story moving with you.
My question is: if the world phases, what happens to any quests that you skipped over during that last chapter? I mean, some people may well power level to 80 and then go back to achieve the Loremaster or whatever achievement and find out half the quests are lost in some older chapter.
Azri Nov 10th 2008 9:41AM
The world only changes for you, not for the entire server., and usually you can't skip any of the quests or else it won't phase properly.
Dpool37 Nov 10th 2008 5:04AM
What's the Lich King like? Is he tall?
Azri Nov 10th 2008 9:42AM
He is tall, spiky, and badass.
Markohs Nov 10th 2008 6:23AM
ZOMG if you don't want spoilers just stop reading beta information please. It's really boring reading your whines one time and another.
Jagoex Nov 10th 2008 11:55AM
I would just like to make something clear about the "spoiler" population in this commenting section, and those arguing that we should not read this column:
If you (those arguing against the warning) think that the Beta only involves lore and spoiler related issues, you are very much mistaken.
This column contains a variety of topics that have nothing to do with lore, and in speaking with heavy Beta testers (myself included), much discussion involves class balance, game mechanics, and other things that have nothing to do with potential spoiler issues!
For example, asking about the FLUIDITY of questing has very little to do with the CONTENT of those quests. Asking about professions and mounts has nothing to do with the context you get them in. Do you see the distinction? You should.
So please, think about that when telling us (those that hope for a warning) that we should not be reading this column. We are just as excited about the game and it's changes as you are--we just don't care to have a story read to us, and which to experience it ourselves.
Jagoex Nov 10th 2008 11:59AM
"which" = "wish"
Cursed mechanical memory ftl...
Kjelin Nov 10th 2008 6:42AM
Wow, ya'll complaining about spoiler alerts are like pathetic little children who have to have something to complain about. Doesn't really matter what it is as long as you get in your daily whine
Jagoex Nov 10th 2008 11:57AM
Lol, you really didn't think about your post when you hit "Add Comment," did you? =P
James Riggs Nov 10th 2008 8:19AM
Dear "OMG SPOILERZ" whiners,
The column is called "ASK A BETA TESTER" for the love of Pete.
Hello, McFly?
Mattarias Nov 10th 2008 9:31AM
One question:
Raptors. Will there be some badass raptors in Northrend?
Azri Nov 10th 2008 9:43AM
There are indeed raptors in Zul'Drak and other troll-related areas!
Amaxe Nov 10th 2008 9:49AM
Question: When it comes to achievements, what sort of vanity pets will be available? (43/50 with everything I don't have costing over 2000g on my server)
bonusfeat Nov 10th 2008 10:59AM
People, if you don't want things to be spoiled then don't read an article called "Ask A Beta-Tester".