Patch 3.2: Argent Coliseum 5-man story and encounters (SPOILERS)
by Michael Sacco 
Jun 30th 2009 at 11:00AM
Okay, gonna say this right now.
This article is so full of spoilers you'll think you're in a movie with Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. The Argent Coliseum will be so spoiled that its parents bought it a car before it could drive. There will be less mystery to the Argent Coliseum than in M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village."
There. So. Thanks to Boubouille of MMO-Champion's help, I've spent the past few days digging through the spell and NPC data in patch 3.2's current PTR game files, slogging through thousands of new entries to find out how exactly the new encounters in the Argent Coliseum will be like (and who they'll be!). Well, I've been mostly successful in that regard, and I'm prepared to spoil about 90% of the Coliseum's encounters for you. But that's not all! This latest PTR patch was also kind enough to provide me with a ton of sound files related to the Coliseum and its set of instances, which has given me a very firm insight into what happens around the encounters. This particular article will focus on the 5-man instance.
Basic caveats apply: The encounters could change at any time, datamining isn't an exact science, I could be misinterpreting files, etc, etc. But I'm pretty solid on what I've written down, and anything I'm speculating on will be noted as such.
Any spell or ability listed in this guide will likely be a random rank, given the spell database's knack for throwing me 10-man and 25-man spells in the same area! Don't assume that the damage values are accurate for your favored raid size!
Remember, BIG SPOILERS AFTER THE JUMP. But if you can't contain yourself, then go right ahead, dear readers. Let's go down the rabbit hole.
TRIAL OF THE CHAMPION
Trial of the Champion is the new 5-man normal and heroic dungeon coming with 3.2. Below is the transcript for the scripted event that occurs before your entrance. Each side has a different intro. I've transcribed both below.
HORDE ENTRANCE
(Warchief Thrall and Overlord Garrosh are walking to meet Tirion Fordring outside the Coliseum.)
Thrall: Garrosh, I expect you to control yourself here. I do not want a repeat of the Violet Citadel.
Garrosh: Pah! That was a show of strength worthy of a leader. I only regret I did not kill the human before the mage interfered.
Thrall: We are guests here, Garrosh, and you will conduct yourself honorably.
Garrosh: What honor is there in thrashing about with blunted sticks? This is a waste of time.
(They approach Tirion.)
Tirion: Welcome, Warchief Thrall...Overlord Hellscream.
Thrall: Thank you for the invitation, Lord Fordring. We look forward to observing these games.
Garrosh: Speak for yourself, Thrall!
Tirion: I hope you'll see the merit of these events in time, Garrosh. We cannot win against the Scourge if we continue to war against another.
Thrall: Wise words.
Garrosh: Words of a fool, you mean! The Horde will destroy the undead without your aid, human, or that you of your pompous king.
Thrall: GARROSH! ENOUGH!
Tirion: Under my roof, I trust you will behave, gentlemen.
Thrall: Of course, Tirion. I apologize for his outburst. It will not happen again.
Garrosh: *grunt*
Tirion: Very well. If you'll follow me, then...
ALLIANCE ENTRANCE
(King Varian Wrynn and Jaina Proudmoore approach Tirion at the Coliseum's gates.)
Varian: Tirion.
Tirion: King Varian! Lady Jaina. Welcome to the tournament. Your place in the Coliseum is waiting.
Jaina: Thank you. It's the least I can do to support this. We need to stand together.
Varian: You ask much of me, Tirion, to sit and watch -- trusting the savages to keep themselves in check.
Jaina: I'm sure Thrall will keep his men under control.
Tirion: My people are here to ensure that they honor the rules of engagement. It will do your subjects well to see you in the stands.
Varian: Perhaps. I doubt the effectiveness of this gambit. We'd be better served preparing our armies for the final assault. But if my presence is required at these games to gain your support in the battle, then I will remain...for now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chivvy Jun 30th 2009 4:12PM
Hmm, like that opening bit. Garrosh and Varian are BOTH sons of motherless ogres.
silverUK Jun 30th 2009 11:12AM
Going to be sweet!
jgf Jun 30th 2009 11:14AM
Awesome!
Greenfield Jun 30th 2009 11:18AM
Mhhh, can we get war back to warcraft? cmon i want Ally fight Horde, not fight together agains something
Serje Jun 30th 2009 11:28AM
War doesn't necessarily mean we have to be fighting each other. In all of Warcraft we've always had a war against something. The Qiraji, the Scourge, the Burning Legion, and the Scourge....again.
Jaiyeson Jun 30th 2009 11:21AM
Thrall is such a punk now. He is like Carl Winslow from Familly Matters.
Thrall: GARROSH!!!
Garrosh: Did I do that?!? (snorty Laughter)
CaryEverett Jun 30th 2009 11:51AM
Thrall made me so happy I nearly cried.
Fedya Jun 30th 2009 11:29AM
[quote]
Garrosh: Speak for yourself, Thrall!
[/quote]
I understand that Hellscream is a big name among horde, but Thrall is still their leader. If you ask me, Thrall should organize a public execution in the middle of Orgrimmar!
Take Garosh to the gallows!
Ametrine Jun 30th 2009 11:35AM
Garrosh is severely pushing his luck now... and it seems Varian is starting to tug-the-leash a bit as well. I do not expect them to survive this expansion unscathed with such ever-growing hotbloodedness...
Silverhawkx Jun 30th 2009 11:45AM
So Thrall and Varian will watch us fight??
I hope we don't wipe infront of them.
Silverhawkx Elune realm
Xonate Jun 30th 2009 12:00PM
I'm probably just showing my bias here, but I'm really think that the conversations at the beginning between the faction leaders and Tirion are very revealing. We see Garrosh reveling in the last fight he instigated with Varian and basically saying that he wishes he could kill at least Varian, if not just humans and the other alliance races completely.
Varian, on the other hand, seems more concerned with the safety of his people, by not completely putting his trust in the Argent Dawn to handle the Horde, like he did with the Kirin Tor during the Ulduar opening trailer. And we all saw how that went, with Garrosh running in and attacking him.
So anyway, it seems that while Garrosh wants to just go crazy and kill the Scourge and the Alliance and probably pretty much anyone else, Varian is more contained, wanting to handle the Scourge first, and then worry about the Horde separately, rather than starting a second major conflict in the middle of the campaign in Northrend. At least, that's what I got out of this.
Dubbel Jun 30th 2009 12:35PM
Not biased at all. The conversation of Varian supports how he is shown in lore and the comic, which is a good guy. Despite what the blind Horde fanboys try to depict.
Irem Jun 30th 2009 1:33PM
I'm a huge Horde fangirl, and I'm glad to see Varian being given a chance to come off as a good leader. It's Garrosh that's the utterly hopeless case, and he has been ever since we first met him in Outland. Varian's too hot tempered and tends to see his hardline approach to the Horde as the only thing standing between the Alliance and a mob of slavering monsters, but Thrall's doing the Horde a disservice too by allowing Garrosh to speak up so often that Varian's justified in seeing Garrosh as the "face" of the Horde.
I do think Varian honestly cares about his people, and he's looking like the better man here, which I think is indicative of Garrosh not being long for this world. Varian's learning and is able to see the big picture, while Garrosh isn't. There's hope for a reconciliation between Varian and Thrall, who actually have quite a bit in common--but not while Garrosh has any power in the Horde whatsoever.
mauricet68 Jun 30th 2009 12:12PM
For a number of years that is what Warcraft has always been about: Alliance vs the Horde! But what happens when a threat comes about and threats everyone? Do we stand together putting our differences aside or do we like arrogant fools stand alone thinking we can beat back the threat? The Death god is a major threat. The Lich King is a major threat. There are strength in numbers and with the combine forces of Alliance and Horde both these major threats can be put down. As a Leader one has to find the best way to serve his or her people. The War Chief sees this and Lady Proudmoore sees this also. Together they see the traitor Prince Arthas wouldn't stand a chance. But divided things will fall. Warcraft is not about the Alliance vs the Horde anymore now a days. Its about saving the world from being over run by undead and power mad Old gods. It's not about doing whatever it takes to take revenge on someone who has done you wrong (Former Ranger General-now Lady of the Forsaken). It is about how best to serve your people in righting the wrongs done not only to yourself but to everyone of your people. You wisely chose to throw in with the Horde. Alone the Dark Lady knows she can't beat Arthas but with the strong backing from the Horde as a whole Arthas is dead meat permenantly. But secertly you make a concoction that will take down both the living and the dead. Shame on you and your selfishness! You might as well went it alone in your quest to get Arthas back if you don't care who you kill to get at him. King of Stormwind, yes you lost a good friend and a brother at arms. Yes, you where treated wrong by the Horde but guess what? You have to learn to see past all that shit. Some humans treated Thrall wrong and tried to hunt this Orc Leader down like a dog. He saw past all that and wants to give a Alliance between the Horde and the Alliance a chance to beat back those major threats. But you my dear King only see what you call are savages. You are so blind by hate, pain, and rage that your Leadership has gone down the tubes. It is not about you my dear King of Stormwind it is about the people who will suffer in the world if the major threats are left unchecked. Takes some Leadership examples from Lady Proudmoore and put them to use in your own life. Or better yet sit down with the Consort of the Red Dragonflight and get some pointers off him. Karsus has been through alot of stuff down the hundreds of years he has been alive and his has worked with those types of people you want to call savages for the common good of the world.
Bottem line is this: the enemy of my enemy can be my friend until I take care of the most dangerous enemy. Not one fraction in the Alliance or Horde are anywhere near perfect. There have been wrongs done on both sides of the fence. But now it is not about you, Alliance or Horde, it is about your people being wiped off the face of the planet by the Old gods or Arthas the traitor Prince. It's about Deathwing watching and waiting to pounce on our asses when he sees our defenses down because we keep the Alliance and Horde war going. The Major threats are out there. Now it is up to the Alliance leadership to work out those internal conflicts within the organization that keep us divided (King of Stormwind...Power play between the Night Elf High Priestess and Arch Druid) and up to the Horde to do the same (Overlord's do it alone attitude and Forsaken Dark Lady kill anything that gets in my way of taking out Arthas). Or it is time for some new Leaders to step up and take the reins of leadership from those that are ineffective in taking care of the Old gods and the Lich King.
zurkka Jun 30th 2009 12:34PM
WALL OF TEXT CRIT YOU FOR 99999
=P
jk that was a nice text
Blasterion Jun 30th 2009 12:14PM
This script certainly tilts biases towards Varian, since he was more cautious than aggressive and Garrosh was ruthless as usual
Blasterion(A)-GarroshUS
P.S. lol I am server garrosh but i hate Garrosh
aaronefields Jun 30th 2009 12:24PM
Garrosh is dead, it's just a matter of time. Watch.
Dude Jun 30th 2009 12:53PM
WoW pr0n. Awesome.
pzeeee Jun 30th 2009 1:22PM
http://www.mmo-champion.com/index.php?topic=69942.0
Found this post on MMO-champion. It lists screenshots in the first two post containing the voice over text you listed as the into the coliseum. To clarify, that means that those two dialogues are actually outside the tournment and assuming will happen on a timer, or as a world event for the first week.
Titusx Jun 30th 2009 2:30PM
I would like to say something about Garrosh. That guy shouldnt be trying to kill anyone. And I mean trying because he aint going to do it... heres why.
As I noticed in the Video for the Ulduar Patch, Garrosh could be considered a "Warrior", now, heres the thing... he is using 2 one handed weapons. Wich means, hes either speck one thing and gear for another or he didnt pick Titans Grip. Considering the fact that Arms is the best PvP spec for Warriors I think he is just a plain angry noob who doesnt know hes class.
On that note, Varian is welding 2 Two-handed weapons when he stands on SW (the dude has the brains to pick TG for hes PvE duties) but he fought Garrosh with just one weapon, wich means he dual-spec Arms/Fury for PvE/PvP stuff... the smart one of the two!
Now, hes trying to pick a fight with freaking Tirion! A freaking OP Paladin?! with an OP sword?! really?! This guy has a death wish. He might have given Thrall a beating but lets us remember that Thrall is a Shaman who still uses a Two handed weapon... even if its the god damned Doom Hammer... and we all know Enhancement Shamans are a laughing stock in PvP, I know cause Im one... so that doesnt count.
Really, Garrosh... L2P.