Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsCataclysm Worgen and Goblin starter zone maps
by Lesley Smith 
Aug 31st 2009 at 1:00PM
Both of the maps have a couple of unique touches. For example, both have images of their inhabitants on it. The Lost Isles map has a particularly ugly female Goblin in a bikini while Gilneas features a human in Victorian garb. The latter also has a couple of shredded bits as if a Worgen adventurer had used his or her claws when trying to read the map. The Goblin map features a scattering of indented gold coins at the corners, as if to hold it open. Both are awesome little touches that add that special bit of pizazz to the new zones.
But the maps do give us a proper glance at what we can expect from the two zones. Gilneas is dominated by Greymane Manor and the town of Duskhaven. Looking at it, I was expecting something a bit larger, but then you remember it is a starter zone. The Lost Isles is smaller still with an Alliance encampment to the North and an Orc settlement to the south, which explains their presence in the trailer.
We should note that the Gilneas map is only part of the Worgen starting zone. The city and the Greymane wall are due East of what's presented.
Check out the Goblin map and Worgen map over on WoW Todo.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: Horde, Alliance, Odds and ends, Blizzard, News items, Expansions, BlizzCon, Cataclysm, Worgen, Goblin
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
theRaptor Aug 31st 2009 1:40PM
1) There is no such thing as "hotlinking", it is just winging by people with ads who don't know how to run their webserver.
2) I just checked the maps on another machine and the site is still up.
Jeff Aug 31st 2009 1:58PM
Right. They had no problem reporting on all the Cataclysm leaks, but now they're terrified of a C&D if they post pictures of the game that was playable on the show floor?
Makes perfect sense.
Danel Aug 31st 2009 2:12PM
If this website actually posted the maps, you'd expect a bunch of morons screaming about how they'd 'stolen' it from the other site.
Kaorael Aug 31st 2009 1:41PM
I have the feeling these may not be the final area maps, but rather a phased area kind of like the starting area for death knights has it's own map which later becomes part of the Eastern Plaguelands one.
These are probably the very beginning maps and they will unfold later into a Lost Isles (notice the plural) and a Gilneas ones
censorman Aug 31st 2009 1:44PM
Hope there is a nice perch in Greymane for my quadboxed shaman to have a picnic, while waiting for puppies to come running out. Looking forward to slaughtering many a Horde traitor.
Kaorael Aug 31st 2009 1:50PM
It's a starting zone, they won't be flagged for PvP so you may have to wait a long time to kill a single one.
RogueJedi86 Aug 31st 2009 4:49PM
Besides, Worgen are ex-humans, how are they Horde traitors? The Human Alliance predates the Orcish Horde. The only real traitors are the Blood Elves betraying the Alliance.
Taladan Aug 31st 2009 6:38PM
Wow wow wow there, Rogue.
The highborne were allied with the Alliance (it sounds weird, but meh) and when they needed some help (it was FUCKING ARTHAS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!) they decided to simply ignore they pleas and let the highborne die (90% of their population, remember?)
The Alliance betrayed the Highborne and they decided to defect, rename themselves Blood Elfs and join someone who actually cared.
Obi-Habby Aug 31st 2009 7:19PM
By Alliance traitor he is referring to all the casual players who will re-roll Horde to go play a "cool werewolf looking guy". I am horde for life and I would be lying if I said I don't plan to roll a Worgen Rogue just to bask in the awesome factor.
tigrisraine Aug 31st 2009 1:56PM
Right click to zoom in and out on the big map...can you do that now? Have I been playing for 3+ years and never noticed that?
deluded spider Aug 31st 2009 2:04PM
I think you have. It works like crap, you can't really zoom in further than the view they've shown for these starting areas. You zoom out all the way to Outland, that's it.
I hate trying to find anything on the maps in WoW, especially if I'm, god forbid, flying somewhere. It keeps switching back to where I am rather than where I want to look. Annoying as hell.
Guapa Sep 1st 2009 6:45AM
@Spider: I had the same problem and found it was caused by some add on, I think it was Cartographer. Just kick it out and see if it helps.
Of course the map will still switch when you're moving into a new zone.
Illirien Aug 31st 2009 2:13PM
I can understand people being excited to find out 'secrets' regarding things to come. I wonder though how many people realise that 'scoops' like this are exactly the sort of thing that make companies less inclined to even invite press or public to events like this.
zombiesauridae Aug 31st 2009 3:28PM
Sometimes companies want 'leaks' like this as viral advertising to build hype about their product.
Kheradin Aug 31st 2009 2:54PM
These appear to be very early build maps. Many locations are unnamed or given generic names like "Orc Camp" for instance. Notice how the Goblin starting area is very close to another larger piece of land so there must be another island zone right next door. I'm sure they'll be much more fleshed out at a later date. However, I'm a bit concerned about the look of the Gilneas map - it doesn't seem to reflect the actual shape of Gilneas which runs primarily north and south - perhaps it's only one zone of greater Gilneas since the Greymane wall doesn't really seem to be shown either (the King's and Queen's gate hardly seem likely to be the entirety of the whole wall). I certainly hope that's not supposed to be all of Gilneas.
Wulfkin Aug 31st 2009 3:02PM
I would guess that that is the southern shore of Gilneas and indeed just one of the islands in the Lost Isles. There's no way either of those is enough room for levels 1 to 15. Must be the first of a multi-zone starting area.
RogueJedi86 Aug 31st 2009 4:53PM
The Orcs are only camping there after the shipwreck until they get reinforcements to pick them up, why give an elaborate name for a camp that you only expect to keep up for a few days? Do you name your tent+campfire every time you go camping?
Josh Aug 31st 2009 3:44PM
It's kinda ironic how most playable races in WoW don't have an actual "homeland". Considering the Night Elves lost Suramar, the Trolls, the Broken Isles, Gnomes, Gnomeragan, Goblins, Undermine, and Draenei and Orcs lost their homes on Draenor.
Mike Aug 31st 2009 5:21PM
Don't forget Stormwind was only recently rebuilt and Undercity/Lordaeron was reclaimed by the freed Forsaken after the curse. The eastern half of Silvermoon City was also rebuilt after Arthas tore through it. It's pretty much only Dwarves and Tauren that haven't had any homeland issues (and the former only because they defended the city from Dark Irons with the help of the Wildhammers).
Taladan Aug 31st 2009 6:43PM
Thunder Bluff is also a new city. The centaur were destroying most of Mulgore and Thrall helped the Taurens to retake their land. After that, they build Thunder Bluff.