BlizzCon 2009: Q&A with Cory Stockton
by Eliah Hecht 
Aug 21st 2009 at 10:00PM
The DirecTV stream has been of questionable stability today, but it has brought us an excellent interview with Cory Stockton, WoW's lead world designer. Here's what we learned:
- Development on Cataclysm was started before Wrath of the Lich King was done.
- Deathwing is the main boss of Cataclysm, as Arthas was for Wrath.
- You will not be able to go back to the old world content at all post-Cataclysm.
- Faction transfer will let you choose any race that can play your class.
- Archaeology is a secondary skill, like cooking, so anyone can get it. It ties in very closely with Path of the Titans, the new advancement system. It's all about traveling through Azeroth finding ancient artifacts, with a mini-game to decipher what the artifact is, and then you get rewards for it. Rewards will include profession recipes, items, and money, and the big reward will be new glyph slots for Path of the Titans (hopefully more on this later).
- The Worgen will have their own district in Stormwind.
Odds and ends, sure, but some darn interesting ones.
BlizzCon 2009 is here! WoW.com has continuing coverage, bringing you the latest in Cataclysm news, live blogs, galleries, and reports right from the convention floor. Check out WoW.com's Guide to BlizzCon for the latest! 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Rabidgun Aug 21st 2009 10:04PM
Worgens will have their own district? Are they taking over a current one or did the King build one for his new wolf allies?
Jack Spicer Aug 21st 2009 10:06PM
Maybe they've taken over the sewers.
Rabidgun Aug 21st 2009 10:08PM
Good thinking. We haven't seen much of the sewers in stormwind. Now would be a perfect time to add them.
Konstantyne Aug 21st 2009 10:16PM
maybe that blue portal thing in SW :P
usagizero Aug 21st 2009 10:17PM
They did mention they had to redo the city anyway for flying mounts, so who knows.
Husher Aug 22nd 2009 12:05AM
there has to be some reason why you can transform from worgan to human. you need to be in human form in order to go into human citys because your seen as a cursed man? that would suck i think
Moonkinmaniac Aug 21st 2009 10:05PM
Does this mean no giant cool Worgen city? :(
Neceseatie Aug 21st 2009 10:06PM
there is a worgen city , just sounds like a thing there adding for flavour, after all the worgens are humans. ish
Falcon6 Aug 21st 2009 10:07PM
Oh, no, Gilneas is still going to be their city from what we've seen.
And the city looks spectacular.
Myf Aug 21st 2009 10:08PM
It means we get a new Worgen ghetto
Moonkinmaniac Aug 21st 2009 10:18PM
Yay lol Ty
Sindragosa Aug 21st 2009 10:27PM
@falcon6:
Has Blizz confirmed anywhere that Gilnaes will be the Worgen city? I thought they said it was going to be a Battleground. If you have a link or a quote it would be nice.
I'm not doubting you; I'm just having trouble processing this sudden influx of new information.
Neceseatie Aug 21st 2009 10:06PM
id assume it was a "it was always there but worgens just bought up all the real estate" sorta thing. rather then they just built a new one. much like the harbour
Firen Aug 21st 2009 10:09PM
don't forget: "why did we even build a wall there? we should probably blow it up..."
Thorie Aug 21st 2009 10:07PM
"You will not be able to go back to the old world content at all post-Cataclysm."
What? no, no! it can't be! you...you all said it would be phased! No, no no no this isn't happening! Why?
I'll roll an Orc and Durotar will be wrecked. It's really sad. It really is. I mean, it's all for the better, But I really wish this wouldn't happen.
I was expecting that once you hit 80. old azeroth phases while you stay in Northrend.
Firestride Aug 21st 2009 10:49PM
C'mon, Thorie, if there's one thing it's really hard to do on computers, it's duplicate things.
Isendre Aug 23rd 2009 9:59AM
"It's really sad. It really is."
I think that's the point. And I think it's brilliant, personally.
Take this world that we all know, love, and have so much invested in, and just break it. It's like the Wrathgate chain all over again, but on a scale that effects everybody.
I guarantee, you will hate Deathwing, and you will really, really want to see him dead.
Adolyn Aug 22nd 2009 6:04AM
I'm quite surprised that it isn't set up as a phasing system that happens when you hit 80. Mostly because of story continuity. I mean, Deathwing has been setting his plans in motion while we have been busy with Outland, then Arthas in Northrend. But.... what about new players / alts? I mean, if they start fresh and the world is already destroyed then shouldn't Arthas and Illidan already be defeated? There isn't any reason to go to those places.
The story for anyone but our mains will be whacked out, so to speak. haha
I like the idea of Old Azeroth coming back to us! But its just strange that its not an 80-only thing.
Ziberious Aug 21st 2009 10:08PM
Time to take memorable screenshots of ALLLLLL the things you want to see over and over again. Cause you'll NEVA see it again..
NEVA!
Rabidgun Aug 21st 2009 10:13PM
I'm surprised I'm saying this but I'm going to miss the barrens the way it is. I really am.