I don't know if we've
mentioned this before, but even if we have, it's interesting enough to put out there again, I think. There is a dragon in the expansion that can be soloed, and drops a epic flying mount at 100% drop rate -- all you've got to do is find him. A few people have already nabbed the mount, and lots more are
on the hunt right now. The mob in question is
the Time-Lost Proto Drake: it's a rare elite spawn (but as I said, it's possible to solo it, especially at level 80) that shows up every six hours or so flying around the Storm Peaks. Unfortunately, none of the usual suspects have maps of where he's been seen yet, but we're hearing it's
around the southern part of the zone. When he goes down, he'll drop the mount, a good chunk of gold, some Frostweave, and
a random enchantment Talisman.
An interesting tactic on Blizzard's part -- on the one hand, this is definitely a big change from the huge questlines and rep grind from the netherdrakes: just kill this one dragon and you're guaranteed the mount. On the other hand, the rare spawn rate, and the fact that it is a 100% drop rate means there'll be a lot of competition, at first anyway, for the kill. But the good news is that the odds will only get better -- if you're willing to do some dragon hunting for a few hours and have some keen eyes for what's in the air, you could pick up one of the coolest flying mounts yet.
Tags: 100percent, dragon, drop, drop-rate, epic, epic-mount, flying-dragon, proto-drake, rare-spawn, spawn, time-lost-proto-drake
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Expansions, Mounts, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
Bjara Dec 3rd 2008 1:57PM
Yes, how dare you WoW Insider, informing us of awesome stuff in Warcraft. What do you think you are. . .a Warcraft site or something?
cjshrader Dec 3rd 2008 2:07PM
Yes, I additionally wish they'd stop telling us what to expect in future patches or any advice on where to find anything.
In fact, I hope from now on they only talk about Warcraft 2.
Zuldim Dec 3rd 2008 1:57PM
Speaking as someone who knew about this, and was going to try to get it, good job WoWinsider.
Anyone who's QQing about it, shut up. Seriously. Everyone has a right to look for it.
MrTNightElfMohawk Dec 3rd 2008 2:47PM
Thank you for one of the few positive comments so far in this thread.
A lot of people in this thread are being elitist and selfish.
Deadly. Off. Topic. Dec 3rd 2008 5:01PM
Well it is the world of ME ME ME ME CRAFT.
I hope the people at Blizzard up the anti and actually MOVE where the mob is so that it pisses the QQers even more.
It'll be "What the hell? You found him at Hellfire?!"
Snerks.
Borrik Dec 3rd 2008 2:00PM
Thanks for keeping the gaming population in the loop
BUT
Thanks for blowing the lid off this eliet spawn. It was being camped before by people who heard through the grapevine, now it will just be a cluster... well you know.
The respawn timer is outragious and random have fun trying to get it.
/epicfacepalm
Chris Anthony Dec 3rd 2008 3:41PM
See, that's the funny thing about these rare spawns - announcements like this produce *spike* interest, not consistent interest. Once it gets well-known enough, it's not worth camping because so many other people are doing it, and so people will stop camping it - it'd be like grinding for the Staff of Jordan back in the day, since the chance of actually getting it would be so low.
Since most people will give up on the spawn, you'll be left with the die-hards - the same people who knew about it before the article was posted.
So really,the article has done nothing except make a bunch of people say "hey, cool".
jurandr Dec 3rd 2008 4:02PM
I agree with what Chris Anthony says. I've known about this mount since they were posted on mmo-champion a month or so before wrath was released. I scrolled through them, and decided that I WILL have the time-lost proto drake. I know most of his spawn locations, and I know his timer, and I also know what other mobs share his spawn timer. I took time to research this mount and I'm not letting that go to waste. Others will give up, but I don't plan on that.
Naix Dec 3rd 2008 5:43PM
"So really,the article has done nothing except make a bunch of people say "hey, cool"."
Except this article has also tipped off other hardcore players that did not know.
I will be putting this area on camp now.
Azhariel Dec 3rd 2008 2:00PM
In after OMG BAW NOW IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO GET THIS ZOMG
Isabella Dec 3rd 2008 2:02PM
I got mine on Nov 16th, and I was very close to the horde outpost of Grom'arsh Crash Site. I was hunting rhinos for leather and meats and I happened to see it cruise by overhead... 'southern' didn't apply for my kill.
Yeah, I know, hate mail inc.
JPN Dec 3rd 2008 2:04PM
I hate to break it to you all too, but not every player reads this...in fact not very many do. Plus you've gotten good tips on here that others didn't want people to know, so they're an equal opportunity spoiler site. Relax.
Elnaira Dec 3rd 2008 2:07PM
Not many people knew about this _at all_
This article does change that though. Lot's of people read this and will most likely pass it along to others now. :\
Well, it still lasted longer then I expected.
kol Dec 3rd 2008 2:11PM
WOW...awsome thanks for letting it out of the bag. My server just saw a huge increase in flyer looking for the spawn (they must have all just read todays post). Ive been camping it since last Sat with Zero sightings.
Mingzifer Dec 3rd 2008 2:14PM
Easier then what I had to go through to get J boots in EQ!
Arcaria Dec 3rd 2008 2:54PM
Haha yeah! It's obvious that people who complain about rare mobs and long respawns never played EQ.
William Sagemire Dec 3rd 2008 2:22PM
I've already been hunting this thing for over a week now. I'm not spending hours and hours to do it, but every once and while, mainly when I'm in Storm Peaks for dailies, I'll do a run around the circuit that I believe it pats and spam my macro.
So far, I've only found the corpse of Vyragosa.
And I've seen many other people day after day in the same areas (sometimes sitting in the same spots, where they think the spawn point is), who I suspect are also looking for it.
@The people whining about it being posted here:
Simply knowing about it does not entitle you to it. No matter what you know about when it spawns, where it spawns, where it pats, and no matter how many hours you waste looking for it, it still comes down to luck. You'll either get lucky or you won't.
WoW Insider's post won't change your odds.
Heilig Dec 3rd 2008 4:05PM
"Simply knowing about it does not entitle you to it."
You're retarded. No one said we were entitled to it. We're upset because the odds of being the one to get it just got a lot lower due to all the new people that will now be hunting it.
"WoW Insider's post won't change your odds."
See above. Both about the odds changing (which this post WILL have an effect on) and your being retarded.
William Sagemire Dec 3rd 2008 4:20PM
Yes, calling some one retarded = instant win.
You sir, have bested me. Bravo.
The odds are no lower than they were before. It's not like only a select few knew about it. Otherwise that select few would have their TLPDs already rather than crying about it here. It was probably known during the beta as well.
Elnaira Dec 3rd 2008 5:56PM
Though he uses foul language I have to agree you don't get the essence of the statements being made here at all.
It's nothing against WoWInsider and it's definitely nothing against Mike. ;)