^This. I was thinking the same thing when I read that.

I dont mind that so much really, arthas is supposed to be a powerful enemy, theres nothing wrong with the idea that somebody would have to go strengthen themselves instead of going straight at somebody.

Just like be / draenei in tbc, the problem is you get through something shiny and new, and dumped back into the mundane if you have levelled before

Its kinda of interesting, I was thinking there might be an alternative path if they are going to change the continent, why not just boost xp enough to bypass most of outlands ? Then again, its well worth a new players time to go have a look.

It was a test - the Horde/Alliance was happy to get the assistance for the Death Knights, but to make sure they could follow orders or at least do something helpful before going to Northrend (And possibly becoming a double-agent to Arthas), they were sent to Outland where Undeath isn't all that common.

Once they assisted the effort there then they were called back to fight here in Azeroth.

That wasn't a lore problem, it was all down to a bit of marketing confusion.

"So Darion, now you're free of the Lich King's control, what are you gonna do?"

"I'm going to Disneyland!... Wait, what? OUTland? Awwwwh man, I thought I was headed for THE space mountain, not A space mountain."

Outland is just the Death Knight training montage. They should change the Outland musical scores to appropriately-cheesy 80s music:

Hellfire Peninsula - "Burning Heart by Survivor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkI54EoZPJw
Zangarmarsh - "No Easy Way Out" by Robert Tepper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IuueKw1m98
Nagrand - "You're the Best (Around)" by Joe Esposito http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qae_TUTeGo

Also, /hate the WowInsider 3-URL-limit. :)

Honestly, you could probaly skip MOST of outlands by leveling in the 55-60 zones for longer, sure the exp isn't as good, but at least you spend less time in outlands.

jbodar- Thanks for pumping me up when I need to be sleeping.

This is not entirely true. not ALL death knights went to outlands... only the players did.

For example we see no Death Knight npcs in Outland... which is almost irrelevant but still. Fact is Darion DOES go to Northrend to deal with Arthas along with all his buddies, it's jsut you don't, your not powerful enough and you also have to prove yourself to the horde/alliance to whom have other concerns. You take a year out to go chase demons rather than zombies.

Where is the problem?

To put it simply, the fact that you are asked to go to Outland at 60 on release of Wrath or Cata is no weirder than the fact your asked to go to Goldshire or similar at level 5 since the release of TBC. Times changed but your still level 5/60.

@ Tiberius

One reason that people could think this is because Blizzard has a history of doing complete 180s on things that they have previously said would never happen.

PvP server changes?
Faction changes?
Race changes?
No "game effective" rewards for achievements? (mounts don't count, here).

I'm sure that Blizzard have perfectly justifiable reasons for their stances on these subjects at the time that the decisions were made... still, all it means is that I don't believe a word they say about things that will, or will not be allowed. It's their game and they can do what they want... but still...

The "ultimate" enemy is the same as always: Sargeras and the Burning Legion. Sargeras appointed Kil'jaeden as head of the Burning Legion, Kil'jaeden was responsible for the blood pact with Ner'zhul and the orcs, Ner'zhul and wonderblade Frostmourne are responsible for the final corruption of Arthas (not that he wasn't already on his way after wiping out Stratholme), and therefore Sargeras is ultimately behind the creation of the Lich King. In a roundabout way, anyway.

So as a Death Knight, even though it is unlikely the actual toon would know it, the player can rest assured that he is fighting the powers behind the creation of the Lich King in Outland.

Now let's go fight Deathwing.