"Zero lore. Maximum fun." with Onxyia back in town
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 14th 2009 at 5:00PM
When the news first broke yesterday about Onyxia returning to her status as a raid boss, I, probably like many of you, went into lore-generation overdrive. She's dead in the comic (Varian Wrynn decided her head didn't so much belong with her body any more), so how was she going to be a raid boss? I stabbed at ideas: she's in the Caverns of Time! Arthas could resurrect her as a Frostwyrm of some kind!Fortunately, cooler lore-heads (Ziebart and Sacco) prevailed: they pointed out to me this comment by Maxim in the original post: "Zero lore. Maximum fun. HOORAY!" That perfectly sums up why Blizzard is doing this: there's no lore reason or explanation behind it, it's just a straight up fun thing for us to do to celebrate the five-year anniversary. Bornakk makes it official: Ony is still dead, and she's not coming back. This is a one-time thing on the 5th anniversary.
While, unfortunately, that may destroy some dreams about seeing similar old-world content come back to life (at least until the 10th anniversary, when we'll probably see Molten Core updated for the level 100 15-man raiding scheme -- drool), it means that there's no thinking involved about why Onyxia's back. She's back, we get to raid the original raid and pick up some great loot while doing it. Zero lore. Maximum fun.
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Raiding, Lore, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Barinthos Aug 14th 2009 5:08PM
Wow, your stabs at ideas are exactly the same as the ones I mentioned in another article...crazy.
It's a bit disappointing that there's zero lore, but meh. I'll try not to lose any sleep over it.
Drow Aug 14th 2009 5:58PM
One time?
I heard it was here to stay, for good.
kindlingmania Aug 14th 2009 5:09PM
so does this mean the lvl 60 ony will be back to normal when the expansion hits after the patch that brings us the 80 ony? or will she dissapear forever after this?
volicio Aug 14th 2009 5:28PM
according to the official faq page, this is a permanent change. so I'm guessing that lvl 60 onxy is going bye bye for good. But, maybe we'll hear different news come out of the ptr.
Lykofos Aug 14th 2009 5:29PM
According to the official announcement, the change to a 10/25 L80 Raid is permanent.
Firestride Aug 14th 2009 5:32PM
I logged in on my main for the first time in a month this morning just to down her in her level 60 glory. Got the head, bag, and scales, and I (apparently) already had the T2 helm in the bank, so she's officially given me everything I'd ever want from her. Still don't see why they need to overwrite the old raid instead of just duplicating it, though.
Lemons Aug 15th 2009 7:16PM
They should just make another dungeon difficulty setting...something like "classic"...so people could still raid the old Onyxia's Lair.
Daniel Aug 14th 2009 5:08PM
Oh well no retooling of old instances is ok with me since this was my favorite encounter. Still a level 80 tuned UBERS may have been fun.
Daniel Aug 14th 2009 5:09PM
Oh well no retooling of old instances is ok with me since this was my favorite encounter. Still a level 80 tuned UBRS may have been fun. Edit for evil iPhone spell check...
Dustin Aug 14th 2009 6:14PM
This is going to be a welcome surprise! I love the idea and I can't wait to try my hand at a Brood of Onxyia mount!
Barinthos Aug 14th 2009 5:18PM
Hmm, well if this is only for the 5th Anniversary then it'll make it that much more a PITA to get that mount from Ony.
Well, good luck to anyone that hopes to get it...because you'll definitely need it lol.
Beatphreek Aug 14th 2009 5:31PM
Blizz actually said this in the initial post:
"This permanent update to Onyxia will convert the dungeon into 10- and 25-player modes..."
This is not just for the duration of the Anniversary celebration, its a permanant update. So is the loot according to that post.
Dabua Aug 14th 2009 5:32PM
I thought exactly the same, when I read the article and then I followed the link to the Bornakk comment to find out that "this is a one-time thing" referes to reviving old content in general and not to having Ony as a revamped raid-boss.
Ony will be here to stay !!!
Barinthos Aug 14th 2009 5:32PM
So Bornakk saying
"Ony is still dead, and she's not coming back. This is a one-time thing on the 5th anniversary."
Isn't true? I guess I'm a bit confused now.
Barinthos Aug 14th 2009 5:33PM
Ooh...ok. Thanks for clearing that up Dabua. I get it now.
This is the first and only time they'll be doing this kind of thing.
We'll see about that though. I wouldn't mind a revamped MC or BWL :P
MazokuRanma Aug 14th 2009 11:11PM
Yes, we'll see about it being a one time thing indeed. I for one am long past ever believing Blizzard when they say never about anything these days (Faction changes anyone...?).
volicio Aug 14th 2009 5:26PM
I saw your title and immediately thought of maxim's comment. and was like 3 stars for your observation of the situation.
Demonedge Aug 14th 2009 5:26PM
Actually the lore side kind of works.
Varian Wrynn in the lore kills Onyxia. However when we were all killing Onyxia around the time Ragnaros resurfaced and the gates opened in Silithus, Varian was still a captive on Algaz island. Varian doesn't return to Stormwind until just before WotLK so he would be killing her at some point in Warcraft history after the Sunwell is purified and in game terms when the raid dungeon bosses were level 73 or 83.
Onyxia retooled as a level 80 boss effectively retcons us killing her two years ago and lets Varian kill her now at this point in time now that he has returned as the King.
RogueJedi86 Aug 14th 2009 5:40PM
Except Varian's already residing as King again, so he already killed Onyxia, past-tense. He's killed her and moved on to the happenings in Northrend, like the chaos of the Wrathgate and its aftermath. And yet suddenly Onyxia has become strong again, long after she was killed by Varian. Blizz could've put some sort of retcon in there to explain. Onyxia the Wyrm Mother?
samd.tyler Aug 14th 2009 5:36PM
hooray!
is this just for the anniversary or for a week or so or permanent because otherwise it will be a massive zerg to onyxia :)