Ask A Beta Tester, part 2
by Allison Robert 
Nov 9th 2008 at 9:00PM
Adamarius asks...
I remember reading on Wowinsider a while back that they were testing a new NPC collision system. You showed a video of it on the Tournament test realms. Has there been any news of this being implemented in Wrath, or has this been shelved until its "Ready"?
I'm pretty sure it's this video that Adam Holisky shot on the tournament test realms. Sadly, not much news since then, and we didn't see anything like it on the beta servers, so for the moment I think the latter of your two options here is the correct one.
Jatheak asks...
Drall asks...
I've seen many of the new armor models, and, while they look pretty epic, can't find more then one or two for them. All the helms look the same, and the shoulders...Am I just not looking hard enough?
Between gear consolidation and the number of quests that almost everyone is going to be doing while leveling, yes, you're going to see a lot of lookalikes running around Northrend. This seems to change a bit later into Northrend; I saw much greater variation among players at 80.
Hellscreamy asks...
Which starting zone in Northrend has the most village's or forests and the least open area's? I don't wanna end up in another Barrens look-a-like.
If you're looking for forests, hit Howling Fjord; if you want a more open landscape dotted by the odd populated area here or there, start with Borean Tundra. Both are beautiful and have an array of interesting and engaging quests. Neither one on their worst day could ever be mistaken for the Barrens unless the only thing you're doing is reading general chat.
The Wrath of the Lich King beta has come to a close, but the WoW Insider crew is still here to sate your Wrath curiosity with Ask a Beta Tester! Leave your beta questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em! Don't forget to check WoW Insider's Wrath Roundup page for anything we haven't answered here!
I remember reading on Wowinsider a while back that they were testing a new NPC collision system. You showed a video of it on the Tournament test realms. Has there been any news of this being implemented in Wrath, or has this been shelved until its "Ready"?
I'm pretty sure it's this video that Adam Holisky shot on the tournament test realms. Sadly, not much news since then, and we didn't see anything like it on the beta servers, so for the moment I think the latter of your two options here is the correct one.
Jatheak asks...
Are there enough incentives for Lake Wintergrasp to constantly have enough players in each battle to be both enjoyable and competitive?
I think so, but I don't have too many specifics at the moment. What I can tell you is that before the beta emptied out post-patch, Wintergrasp seemed to get a lot of traffic. Blowing things up is apparently a lot of fun. Who knew? I only got to make one visit but remember seeing vendors (in the then-Horde controlled fortress) selling gear, consumables, an interesting account-bound item granting 2,000 honor, and a new PvP mount. Zach Yonzon had a much better write-up on it here.Drall asks...
I've seen many of the new armor models, and, while they look pretty epic, can't find more then one or two for them. All the helms look the same, and the shoulders...Am I just not looking hard enough?
Between gear consolidation and the number of quests that almost everyone is going to be doing while leveling, yes, you're going to see a lot of lookalikes running around Northrend. This seems to change a bit later into Northrend; I saw much greater variation among players at 80.
Hellscreamy asks...
Which starting zone in Northrend has the most village's or forests and the least open area's? I don't wanna end up in another Barrens look-a-like.
If you're looking for forests, hit Howling Fjord; if you want a more open landscape dotted by the odd populated area here or there, start with Borean Tundra. Both are beautiful and have an array of interesting and engaging quests. Neither one on their worst day could ever be mistaken for the Barrens unless the only thing you're doing is reading general chat.
The Wrath of the Lich King beta has come to a close, but the WoW Insider crew is still here to sate your Wrath curiosity with Ask a Beta Tester! Leave your beta questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em! Don't forget to check WoW Insider's Wrath Roundup page for anything we haven't answered here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Zuldim Nov 9th 2008 9:33PM
Chuck norris started in borean tundra.
rokk Nov 9th 2008 11:15PM
I have a question. I'm assuming that in the borean tundra you get reputation for the warsong offensive. Do the quests in howling fjord at vengeance landing give warsong rep? or is there a forsaken equivalent? Should I go to borean tundra for the rep or what?
blkmasta55555 Nov 10th 2008 2:09AM
The Forsaken is the Hand of Vengeance I believe.
Vekz Nov 9th 2008 9:55PM
Chuck norris actually started in every zone.
Zali Nov 10th 2008 1:01PM
Chuck Norris hasn't started the game yet because he will begin training at level 1 million, and there isn't a zone available where he will get any XP.
Jason Nov 9th 2008 11:30PM
What are you talking about? Chuck Norris CREATED every zone.
Darxe Nov 9th 2008 10:04PM
Two questions for Ask a Beta Tester:
1) What bags do Death Knights end with after their starting zone? I read that they start with a 16-slot backpack and four 12-slot bags, but do they get anything bigger from questing?
2) Which starting zone has more Cobalt veins? The answer won't affect which zone I go to, but I'm curious. And if I'm asking that, then: Which of the two zones has more herbs? Fish? Beasts?
Absoli Nov 10th 2008 7:33AM
As to what zone has more of what, from the experience I had, the Howling Fjord seemed to have more herbs, while the Tundra had a good bit of ore in the open and in the caves. There are some in both of course, but I do plan on sending my herbalist to the Fjord, and my miner to the Tundra.
JLocke Nov 9th 2008 10:14PM
I remember seeing some screen shots of an awesome looking frost wyrm flying mount. Someone told me that its specifically for Death Knights. Say it aint so!
DJScythe17 Nov 9th 2008 10:44PM
Not exactly; unless a real mount implemented later on, the mount you're speaking of was part of a quest in the Death Knight starting zone. This "mount" was more of a siege engine, and was used to breath fire upon Scarlet Crusade forces as well as occasionally eating one to fuel the beast.
Schadenfreude Nov 9th 2008 10:49PM
You get to ride a frost wyrm as part of a death knight starting zone quest. I don't think there are any actual frost wyrm mounts in the game yet. (Though hopefully there will be later, the new frost wyrm model is flippin' sweet.)
bryan Nov 9th 2008 10:30PM
In Response too:
"Drall asks...
I've seen many of the new armor models, and, while they look pretty epic, can't find more then one or two for them. All the helms look the same, and the shoulders...Am I just not looking hard enough?
Between gear consolidation and the number of quests that almost everyone is going to be doing while leveling, yes, you're going to see a lot of lookalikes running around Northrend. This seems to change a bit later into Northrend; I saw much greater variation among players at 80."
A lot of the gear used the same models because it was beta. Models can be tested easily internally. Using the same models meant beta had smaller files and helped control the lag. A lot of the models will come on the cds and put into place when you install the game.
DJScythe17 Nov 9th 2008 10:31PM
I agree with Drall; the opening area gear does seem to be all the same. While the clown-like mishmash of gear in early Outland was a little annoying, it faded early into the next few areas and crafted armor added more new but uniform sets of gear. However, the models for quest gear well into 75 seemed all the same, with most crafted gear following in suit. I got rather sick of seeking out new feral staffs for my druid, only to find that the staff I quested for used the exact same model in a slightly different shade. (Unfortunately, when I tried to go to WoWHead for proof, it seems the model viewer and "Same Model As" function were currently down after bugs in the animated Java version of them. For now, take my word for it.)
DJScythe17 Nov 9th 2008 10:55PM
OK, looks like the model viewer is back so here's one example of the excess model recycling: Bramblethorn Greatstaff(http://www.wowhead.com/?item=35807) has the same model as 21 other new items.
dcwdvl Nov 9th 2008 10:36PM
I believe it was 40g a profession to train Grand Master.
Chris Morgan Nov 9th 2008 11:37PM
You sai Chromie was the Bronze Dragonflights rep at Wyrmrest Temple but isn't Chromie in Western Plaguelands right now? Does this mean there are two Chromies is the game or has the old Chromie been replaced?
Halokon Nov 9th 2008 11:47PM
Chromie herself says she's in many different places and time simultaneously, a pre-built excuse for having her do two jobs at once :)
Balius Nov 10th 2008 6:50AM
There are multiple pairs of NPCs with the same names patrolling withing earshot of each other within the Caverns of Time, and there's a quest where the player meets himself in Wrath. If an army of Chromies marched on Ironforge, it would still be reasonably within the established lore and abilities of the Bronze Dragonflight.
Aviandonis Nov 10th 2008 12:13AM
Just a question, I don't think it has been asked before. Since thrall and his people set sails for durotar a long time ago, how come they never spotted northrend? Or any other explorers?
Aloja Nov 10th 2008 1:31AM
They probably did, Aviandonis. They were told to go the the western lands of Kalimdor though, by the "Prophet", not the frozen lands of Northrend.
Also, no other explorers were really around. Nobody wanted to go across the ocean, to my knowledge, other than the Horde and Jaina's fleet. The closest thing was the island the Horde met Vol'Jin(Sp?) on.