Patch 5.2 interview with Dave Kosak
Inside an old alt's vault
The latest patch 5.2 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsAre we being teased about the next expansion?
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Apr 6th 2009 at 7:00PM
So there's been a feeling in the air lately that some of the blues have been in a bit of a teasing mood. Sure, that's not neccessarily new, but what is interesting is what exactly they may be teasing us about. For example, here's a recent post in which one Sulmus of Aerie Peak asks for the Greymane Wall to be opened. Zarhym soon jumps in to say that they would be "out of their mind" to open the wall... then follows up with random ellipses. To top it all off, Bornakk and Crygil jump in with silly punctuation of their own.
Now when Alex and I were discussing this the other day, Alex insisted that they were basically admitting that the Greymane wall would be opened, likely in conjunction with the next expansion. He says it's already in the planning stages, and the blues are just waving the knowledge tantalizingly out of sight because they're not allowed to officially announce it yet. Now, at first I wasn't really on board with it, but then I noticed another post Zarhym commented in.
Imani of Aerie Peak posted a thread with the aim of advocating for more Old World content along the style of the Un'goro detour or Stormwind Harbor in Wrath. With the Maelstrom, she said, Blizzard should focus on fleshing out different areas of the old world, such as Gilneas, Azshara, and Grim Batol, weaving them in with new expansion content to give a sense of continuity. It's certainly a good idea to begin with, but what caught my eye is that Zarhym himself commented that it was a good post, thus surreptitiously tagging the thread with the air of officiality via blue text and providing a tacit endorsement of the idea.
Now of course, Zarhym's not a member of the dev team proper, and he could just simply be saying he thinks it's a cool idea (because it is), but considering his other post, I can't help but wonder if Alex had a point. Maybe these are ways to say, "Yeah, we're headed to the Maelstrom and filling out Azeroth for the next expansion, but we can't tell you that officially, so here, have some oblique references and teasing!"
It could all be wishful thinking, sure. Maybe the blues are just having some fun and commenting on some cool ideas, but still, I'm thinking I'd put good odds on a Maelstrom-related announcement at the next BlizzCon. Time will tell, but I'm starting to feel sort of optimistic.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Expansions, Lore, Rumors
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 7)
engine Apr 7th 2009 5:06AM
This expansion is not a mess, and the story is coming along much more coherently than anything that happened in TBC. If you're remember, this expansion isn't even six months old, and is still awaiting it's first content patch and "act two" of its storyline.
Believe that retarded fake list if you want to, but let me tell you this for sure. Goblins will never be a playable race. Ever.
engine Apr 7th 2009 5:06AM
And neither will the Pandarin.
Sibe Apr 7th 2009 6:09AM
Never stated the whole expansion's story was a mess. A part from the Wrathgate event, my opinion of the story is that while it was not a mess (like I said the Forsaken plot of the overall story was), but that I personally disagree with how Blizzard used it. This mostly includes with the whole direction Blizzard has taken, as a casual in Vanilla you left like a small piece of a very huge puzzle, now however it seems that the player IS the puzzle... I mean, the Lich King tells you every 10minutes that you are special and that you are his purpose for the future. Again, that is nothing wrong with the actual story, just how Blizzard presents the story to the player. I agree that Illidan didn't get enough coverage, but at the same time I admit that seeing him that one time after all that hard work with Netherwing was truly EPIC. But seeing the Lich King ALL the time takes away from the epicness, Blizzard needs to find middle ground, the storyline with Drakuru was justified, you had to work hard in that storyline and meeting Arthas at the end when Drakuru betrays you, was sweet and the player deserved it.
And... Pandaren = money.
Balius Apr 7th 2009 7:45AM
By this point in the lore, the player is expected to be exalted with several factions, and is on a first name basis with gods, demigods, all the leaders, and heroes. We've fought back evil cults, trolls, demonic uprisings, trolls, undead alliances, trolls, rival violent orcish and dwarven legions, trolls, dragons, trolls, elemental lords, trolls, old gods and their armies, trolls, and even the lieutenant to Sargeras. We've even gone back in time to free Thrall from prison, help summon the orcs to Azeroth by Medivh's side, and assist in the battle at Mount Hyjal.
There are stronger people, there are better leaders, there are more dangerous enemies, but by this point the player is a celebrity presence in Azeroth. And given all that we've helped do, it seems fitting to me that Saurfang talks to me like a fellow veteran. Continuing to treat the player like some fresh off the street raw recruit would be wrong at this point.
Balius Apr 7th 2009 8:13AM
I should also point out that the Wrathgate poison was not just poison, it was a combination of demonic essence and the undead plague, with some other nasty things mixed in. The people it killed were liable to rise from the ground as something new in Sargeras' armies (by way of Varimathras), which is why the red dragonflight torched the place to the ground.
For the orcs, at least, there's also a lot more honor in facing a foe and dying to his blades than being poisoned to death with no enemy to face. Getting torn apart by undead would be a vastly preferential end over poisonous gas.
Sibe Apr 7th 2009 9:07AM
Then why doesn't my Argent Dawn rep account for nothing?
Sorry, but you have no proof on your theory that "the player is already well known". The Lich King doesn't say, "okay you already beat Black Temple, so I know you are powerful". And even if you did, he would be ignorant, since the player would have only conquered BT as apart of an army (raid) rather as one person. No, mmorpgs don't work like this, and Blizzard knows this and hence doesn't assume the player has overpowered certain powerful forces (I mean, not even 10% have beaten Kil'Jaeden in Sunwell). Again, your theory is wrong.
And we really don't know what the Wrathgate poison is, you have no proof that is was anything, for all we know the Red Dragonflight only did this to end the lives of the armies rather and not let them suffer the poison's slow effects. TBH, my thoughts, the Red Dragonflight was only there to make it look like the ending of LOTR (to make it look epic). Even the beginning of the quest could have just been a click of the item on the ground. There is no evidence that your OPINION is truth, so please, stop making rubbish up and saying it is fact. All that I said was based on the facts that were already there.
Sibe Apr 7th 2009 9:14AM
Oh yes, and the whole "Orc honour thing", just being there willing to fight and DIE for a cause would have been enough. And they were tricked, no doubt in that... But they didn't die in dishonour, dying in dishonour would not be willing to fight for what you believe, but they were more then willing and they were ready. SURE... they were betrayed, but they did not die in dishonour... There your ignorance is showing.
Jiffah Apr 7th 2009 12:44AM
I believe the Maelstrom would be the best choice for the next expansion and I also believe that the Emerald dream would be best translated in phased zone accessible from the portals around the world trees and perhaps an instance hub (perhaps where the maelstrom is but not, in the dream) with it as well. The area is too vast even for an expansion. The Maelstrom, as an expansion, would be much smaller if underwater combat is not too heavily involved, but could still be equally large as Northrend if not bigger if need of space would be needed. Deathwing and eventually Azshara are the next evil in sight if the Lich King is defeated at the end of Wrath. Which will eventually lead to Sargeras, or will it?
Oirin Apr 7th 2009 1:21AM
If there is an unknown uprising in Maelstorm, I think it would have been foreshadowed already, ships from Kalimfor and Eastern Kingdoms go across the sea, if by chance the ships start getting attacked, or go "missing" you can have some of the npc mentioning about the strange disapperance. With Stormwind having a harbor now, it is open for attack. But from what rumors i've herd, you've got a dreadlord controling Maelstorm causing an uprising of nagas. It would be sweet to have the opening event last longer and gradually bring in the next xpac, like with Quel'danas where you had to do the daily quests to move forward, that was great.
Centipede Apr 7th 2009 1:39AM
Look what our friend at Blizzplanet is saying about this:
"Back on February 7, during our interview with Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson we asked if there were plans to open Gilneas in a future expansion. They said there were awesome plans for Gilneas but couldn’t talk about it."
Gulbrandt Apr 7th 2009 2:08AM
Deathwing, the head of the black Dragonflight. is rumored to be hiding deep beneath Grim Batol, in the Wetlands.
Azshara is probably in the city of Nazjatar, located deep in an ocean trench.
Kil'jaeden is still very much alive. Beaten back and humiliated and alive.
Sargeras, the dark Titan and creator of the Burning Legion is unknown, but I'll bet he's still alive, too. Kil'jaeden serves Sargeras.
The Nightmare in the Emerald Dream (Or sometimes called the Emerald Nightmare), a force not even the green dragoness Ysera knows why it exists, and continues to grow.
Various Old Gods (we've met C'Thun and Yogg Saron already).
Gulbrandt Apr 7th 2009 2:09AM
Whoops, heh, meant to be a reply to someone else.
Sunfire Apr 7th 2009 2:32AM
-- The expansion III team actually started concept work over a year ago and has been working on early zone art and story details for a few months.
-- Expansion III includes the Maelstrom and Grim Batol and BWL-II courtesy of Deathwing.
-- Emerald Dream is not getting its own expansion but may be a transitional piece to Expansion IV where the Nightmare will be elucidated as an exta-planar entity.
-- The next hero class will be a healer but it may not be Arch-druid. There won't be new playable races until Exp IV.
-- There are 2 content patches left for WLK - Icecrown circa August/Sept and Uldum for Winter 2009/2010.
-- Expansion IV involves the 2nd Portal in Nagrand firing up
-- Expansion V is the last one currently planned and involves the pursuit of Sargeras
-- Summer 2010 is good estimate for Maelstrom.
Azizrael Apr 7th 2009 2:41AM
Nice post, but Icecrown is definitely patch 3.3. I hope the rest of this speculation is true, though.
Draelan Apr 7th 2009 3:08AM
Yeah. Icecrown is 3.3, and although Blizzard stated before that they want to do Uldum, I believe the last thing I read was that there are no gaurentees. Patch 3.2 is currently an unspecified raid. Could be Uldum. Might not be.
And I know I'm not the only one who doesn't want an "Archdruid" hero class. The name itself indicated a "superior" druid. Now, if Blizzard wants to make a healer hero class that just happens to be nature based and has another name, I could deal with that. (Depending on how it was done, I might not be IMPRESSED with a healer druid clone, but I'd deal with it.) I just think there are far better possibilities.
engine Apr 7th 2009 5:13AM
Nice job stating your theories and ideas as fact, Sunfire.
bszota Apr 7th 2009 3:35AM
ive always stuck to the idea of the Maelstrom being the next expansion.
All of the 'missing' zones in Azeroth are coastal, and there are numerous islands around the maelstrom to open up.
I also dont think that the maelstrom itself is underwater. Ive always pictured it as, well, a maelstrom: a giant giant giant whirlpool in the middle of the ocean. I think Zin'Ashari is visible and 'open air' at the bottom of this whirlpool. So while youre in the city you have this giant wall of water swirling around you.
With regards to new playable races... i think goblins and, wait for it, pandaren would be made playable. (quit your whining, Pandaren WERE a joke; but they are now a part of the lore. China objected to the fact that their national symbol had been mixed with japanese culture... the panda were dressed as samurais. but then they were altered to be more chinese in style... so no more problem).
So the pandaren would join the alliance (dwarven links) and a faction of goblins would join the horde.
"BUT THEYRE NEUTRAL" i hear you cry.... well would your nation remain neutral if the naga rose up from the ocean and swarmed onto your islands? no. you would make allies VERY quickly.
I think two coastal zones would open up, the horde and alliance head on in to see whats happened, and stumble on the naga, in droves (FINALLY WITH NEW VARIED MODELS I HOPE). The zones quests would lead them to cross the ocean to a selection of islands: a troll island, sargeras' tomb islands.... etc. culminating at Undermine where the bulk of neutral goblins would be at war with the naga. we sort them out and then head north into the maelstrom itself.
All in all about 8 zones.... plus more maybe....
Oirin Apr 7th 2009 12:02PM
I highly doubt the Goblins would make allies that quickly, the Goblines are the greedy money making type, if they joined the horde, they would worry about the Alliance profit, so they would most likely not join any faction, but being that the Goblines are neutral, both Alliance and Horde if asked would most likely help them.
Mr. Know Apr 7th 2009 5:04AM
Actually, there was a rumor that the next expansion is not the Maelstrom or the Emerald Dream but Both.
Basically it is about azshara doing some crazy stuff to do with generating more water for the world, causing massive tidal waves that flood the world. This is intern causing a huge disruption in the Emerald Dream (which is under attack by the Nightmare) and the combination of the two is going to cause the world to im/explode.
Basically these are a few speccs
-No New Races
-Two New Hero Classes
*Archdruid (healer/"ethereal damage dealer")
*Blade Master (Heads up straight damage)
-New Ocean Exploration System (Underwater!)
-Underwater and Sea Top Siege Combat with Customizable boats and submarines.
-"Shove Off" Zoning from anywhere in Azeroth (means you can access the maelstron any where anywhere
-Level Cap is only 85* There are some discrepancies (new stroy driven leveling system)
Gormakr Apr 7th 2009 9:59AM
I like the ideas above about Gilneas, Maelstrom, Emerald Dream, etc.
However, I think it would be very cool for Blizz to take it's phasing technology to the next level and use Azeroth as the stage for a next level Alliance vs. Horde conflict.
The Wrathgate events seem to set the stage - maybe it's time for a 4th war. I have a hard time seeing everyone getting along once the common enemy of Arthas is beaten back.