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by Adam Holisky 
Aug 10th 2009 at 2:00PM
As we're getting into the season of news and information, all major leaks and spoilers will be happening after the break. If you don't want your surprises ruined for you, don't read this post. If you want to know, click after the break and enjoy. This policy worked well for us during the testing phase of Wrath of the Lich King and we're pleased to continue it now.
After the break, the new playable races of Cataclysm.
Our sources have told us that the new races of Cataclysm will be:
- Worgen – Alliance
- Goblin – Horde
You can find out more information about the Goblins and Worgen from WoWWiki, as well as from previous articles we've written.
BlizzCon 2009 is coming up on August 21st and 22nd! We've got all the latest news and information. At BlizzCon you can play the latest games, meet your guildmates, and ask the developers your questions. Plus, there's some great looking costumes.Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 36)
Retron Aug 10th 2009 5:16PM
New goblin-only hero class:
Arch Bank Alt!
Clydtsdk-Rivendare Aug 10th 2009 5:17PM
402 comments and counting.
I think that's a record.
Retron Aug 10th 2009 5:50PM
@Yeng
I was thinking the exact same thing!
Now consider this: Ozzy + Bark at the Moon + 3 Wolf Moon t-shirt = a Maelstrom of Manliness! I will have so many chicks coming back to my airbrushed van, it'll be ridiculous.
jbodar Aug 10th 2009 6:04PM
@vaeevictiss
If you're wondering why you were downrated: when did Blizzard say they were allowing race changes, aside from faction-change?
Terethall Aug 10th 2009 6:13PM
This settles it: I'm wearing my Three Wolf Moon shirt to Blizzcon.
I don't care about the risks.
And I pretty much just had a joygasm at the thought of rolling a worgen. I'll probably re-roll a warlock to replace my current human main one if they don't give us race changes by then.
Oh God this news made me happy.
Hekgne Aug 10th 2009 6:24PM
While the theory that the playable Worgen will be ex-Gilneas makes a lot of sense it would put another Alliance race on Eastern Kingdoms. When the speculation for the new races began before BC it was commonly held that Blizzard would start the new Alliance in Kalimdor and Horde in Eastern Kingdoms to balance out the populations on the continents. That ended up being the case.
If Blizzard wanted to do the same for this next expansion then perhaps the playable Worgen we will be the Scythe of Elune summoned variety as they have an established population in Kalimdor already. There are a few unused areas on the map tha could do - though Blizz could just change the map again (the Azeroth map is currently unavailable on the official site with the explantion given that it is old and outdated).
I'm still hoping for a return to Gilneas though :)
Bel Aug 10th 2009 6:24PM
@Durane, I've never, ever seen a Worgen or Goblin Deathknight.
jbodar Aug 11th 2009 1:45AM
@Bel
Why would they make the new races the ONLY ones that can't become Death Knights? Regardless of past Death Knight lore, Blizz's criterion is simple:
"Can you die? If yes, congrats, you are eligible to join the Scourge as a Death Knight. Please ask for assistance at the nearest Necropolis."
Dennis Aug 11th 2009 1:00PM
I still get to kill worgen!
picojames Aug 11th 2009 3:09PM
I was hoping the new alliance race would be the Pandarens. Wow used them as a spoof for Burning Crusade but they would fit so well into the game. If anyone has played the old Warcraft games they would know about them. A type of Samurai race that harbours in the far reaches of a secluded island at the center of the world map. Just seeing the artwork of them by Blizzard artist Samwise http://www.sonsofthestorm.com/gallery.php?artist=samwise would make me want to play them more then the Worgen.
Steve Aug 10th 2009 2:04PM
Hmmm... So no neutral, pick-your-own-faction race than. Anyway, GOBLINS FTW!!
havitech Aug 10th 2009 2:20PM
I for one am glad that they are not implementing neutral races.
I'm guessing the goblins that will be playable will belong to a new organization, separate from but on neutral grounds with the Steamwheedle Cartel and hostile to the Alliance.
And the Worgen...it will be interesting to see how they spin the lore to accommodate that.
rosencratz Aug 10th 2009 2:31PM
The neutral faction idea has always been a nice one but never a practical one.
outdps Aug 10th 2009 2:47PM
It makes no sense- will they make two types of goblins? One that are red to alliance, and one that are yellow?
wow.cazz Aug 10th 2009 2:55PM
Cutting and pasting something I sent to my wife and friends a couple weeks ago:
Worgen would fit in like Undead do with Horde. Redeemed from their fallen brethren. It’d be easy to implement, there’s a big area unused south of Silverpine called Gilneas where humans shut a huge gate (that big gate south of SFK), blocking anyone from coming in and no one knows what’s been going on there for the past however many years. One of the WoW developers said they have something “very, very, very interesting” planned for the area. It could be that all the humans turned into Worgen. They could have 2 zones there for levels 1-20, then they could have a boat to Menethil or SW.
Glenn Aug 10th 2009 3:04PM
@wow.cazz
Just one problem with that, the forsaken were alliance before they fell to the scourge. The forsaken/worgen analogy does fit though, except that it points to worgen joining the horde. The alliance denied the forsaken for being dead. The alliance denied the blood elves over an addiction. In both cases, that drove the people to the horde. Worgen going to alliance doesn't fit without some serious retcon action.
impurezero Aug 10th 2009 3:08PM
outdps,
Of course. That's not a problem at all. Just like there are currently Orc NPCs who are friendly to alliance and Human NPCs who are friendly to the Horde, etc.
NPCs can be neutral, friendly, or hostile to you no matter what their race. This will be the same. The specific Goblins inside Undermine (I assume) will be hostile to the alliance, as well as their questgivers. But any other goblins (i.e. steamwheedle) will stay whatever rep level they've always been.
Best thing about this though: Another king to kill for [For The Alliance!]
wow.cazz Aug 10th 2009 3:13PM
Undead are icky and blood elves are a little nuts. Puppies, on the other hand, are fluffy.
You make a good point for real, though. Lore/continuity issues never stopped Blizzard before!
Aesthetically, worgens make a good addition to Alliance because BC they added draenei (Alliance needed something big like tauren) and blood elves (Horde needed something cute like night elves or humans.)
This time they're adding goblins (Horde needs something small, like gnomes) and worgen (Alliance needs something primitive like trolls or tauren.)
Of course, this may be total coincidence, but I think there's some basis of truth there.
Elmo Aug 10th 2009 3:25PM
Goblins yay
but Worgen... nay!!!! I WANT PANDAREN D:D:D:D:
Neirin Aug 10th 2009 4:23PM
As has been stated many times by many great game designers for all sorts of different games: silhouette is important in determining whether your target is friend or foe. Yeah, we have big red letters or w/e, but I'm sure you'll notice the giant tauren barreling down the hill at you before you notice the words above his head.