Patch 3.3 PTR: NPCs hint at events of Icecrown instances
by Matthew Rossi 
Oct 2nd 2009 at 5:00PM
Once again they're hard at work at MMO-Champion digging out juicy bits from the 3.3 PTR files. Like what, you may ask? Oh, like the existence of somebody named Deathbringer Saurfang, that's what. And that's not all: we also will apparently see appearances from Muradin Bronzebeard, as well as the expected appearances by Sylvanas, Jaina, Varian, Saurfang the Elder and the like. We're also seeing possible hints at the Quel'Delar questline with new appearances by Lor'themar Theron and Grand Magister Rommath.
In addition, other tantalizing changes are evident. Baine Bloodhoof is listed as a leader and a boss mob in these files... preparations for Cataclysm, or is Baine going to step into the spotlight sooner? There are also a host of AV figures listed. Perhaps updates to Alterac Valley are in store? At any rate, it's tantalizing indeed to imagine seeing two Saurfangs in one raid. Can Icecrown Citadel contain that many cleaves?
In addition, other tantalizing changes are evident. Baine Bloodhoof is listed as a leader and a boss mob in these files... preparations for Cataclysm, or is Baine going to step into the spotlight sooner? There are also a host of AV figures listed. Perhaps updates to Alterac Valley are in store? At any rate, it's tantalizing indeed to imagine seeing two Saurfangs in one raid. Can Icecrown Citadel contain that many cleaves?
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Raiding, Lore, Bosses, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Andrew R. Oct 2nd 2009 5:04PM
Nice rebound on blizzards part for Trial of the Crusader. While the new dailies are everything are nice the raid is just meh compared to Ulduar. There's no really story or plot.
This on the other hand seems epic and I can't wait to go in.
nyctef Oct 2nd 2009 6:48PM
I'm pretty sure it's deliberate - vanilla WotLK was a little boring, with recycled (though fun) Naxx, and a couple of one-boss raids. Most of the new content was 71-80. In terms of raids, I think they were probably already concentrating on Ulduar, which was big and epic. TotC was an interesting "try things out" patch, but not very epic when compared to Ulduar. Icecrown sounds like it will be pretty cool.
Kurdaj Oct 3rd 2009 3:04AM
I thought the expansion ought to have begun with Icecrown. As patches get released, more of Icecrown is opened up. That way, over the course of years, the Horde + Alliance break open the fortress and finally deal with Arthas.
Imagine if the first "raid" raid wasn't Naxx, but the first wing of Icecrown Citadel. And then after killing Yogg-Saron, the players receive the key to advance to the next wing of IC, which opens it for the server, and the different servers compete to see who can unlock that wing of IC first (like the AQ gate race).
And then lastly, Anub'erak in ToC drops the last key to IC and the players finish exploring all of IC before Arthas. Patch 3.3 hits, Arthas struts out, and the fight is on. Every raid lockout, the players still have to battle through the three wings of IC, with Arthas as the final boss.
I think that would have been much cooler than recycling Naxx. I mean they've recycled Naxx, Onyxia, in Cataclysm they'll do BWL and MC.... is this becoming World of Lazycraft?
JKWood Oct 6th 2009 1:55PM
Imagine, for a second, that you're an author. You write a book, and everybody who reads it really likes it, and so you're happy and successful. Ten years down the road, you've written other books, but it doesn't mean that you like your first book any less. So, you release a tenth-anniversary edition, with a special foreword written by someone who you really admired and personally coached you on your writing after reading that first book. There's illustrations included, and an offer of miniature figurines of the characters. You do this because you want people who have never read your book before to do so, because you put a lot into this book.
Now, imagine you're a Blizzard content developer, and nobody bothers running your raid anymore because there's better loot in the later ones...
Avan Oct 2nd 2009 5:04PM
Baine Bloodhoof dies, becoming an undead tauren to replace Varimathras in Undercity.
What? It's a -B!
Knob Oct 2nd 2009 5:19PM
I have no idea if you're joking or not, but the new advisor of Sylvanas is an orc called Brogar Bloodfist. He's a member of the Kor'kron. And as I mentioned in one of the other articles here, all the Abomination guards in Undercity have been replaced by Kor'kron and the Apothecary Quarter has an Kor'kron overseer as well. The Horde is keeping a very close eye on what the Forsaken are doing after the events of Wrath Gate.
Knob Oct 2nd 2009 5:19PM
And I made a typo. :(
His name is Bragor Bloodfist.
Suzaku Oct 2nd 2009 6:21PM
Also, as an addition to that, Varimathras has been replaced as leader of the Deathstalkers by one Aleric Hawkins, and the group is now "the Dark Lady's Elite Guard", as opposed to Varimathras's.
Radiophonic Oct 2nd 2009 8:30PM
WTF, I want my Aboms back :(
Nazgûl Oct 2nd 2009 5:08PM
Interesting. I hope they have some solid lore in the dungeon.
David Oct 2nd 2009 5:10PM
Finally some new Blood Elf lore? For 6800 years we were lead by the Sunstrider line, and now with Kael'Thas's descent, there is nothing left. Yet we have heard so little of what was to become of the Sin'Dorei after the events of the Sunwell. I am looking forward to seeing what lore they have come up with.
qoa Oct 2nd 2009 8:12PM
Yes. Because you don't see blood elves everywhere, and the entire last expansion didn't star them.
Sunreavers CHECK
Isle of Quelwhatever CHECK
Kelthas CHECK
Josin Oct 5th 2009 8:32AM
Yeah, blood elves are REALLY hurting for Lore. They should really get more attention, like the gnomes, who are just FLOODED with Lore, right?
Seriously... BEs had a whole expansion of Lore focus. You can sit tight and let someone else get some attention once in a while.
Ringo Flinthammer Oct 2nd 2009 5:12PM
The last time we saw Muradin in WotLK, he explicitly said he was going to Icecrown Citadel. Of course he's there.
Killchrono Oct 2nd 2009 5:14PM
'Deathbringer' Saurfang?
I thought that was already implied when someone spoke his name.
Jason Oct 2nd 2009 5:17PM
at mere mention of his name I usually pee myself...
Deathbringer is a given...
Red Viking Oct 2nd 2009 5:45PM
Not one but TWO Saurfangs!
Killchrono Oct 2nd 2009 5:55PM
@Red Viking
I lol'd heartily.
I hope Blizz names an achievement so.
Valt Oct 2nd 2009 5:20PM
To be honest I kinda forgot whole Belf want vengeance for Arthas. looking at images in MMO of the new raid makes me drool a lot. Looks really stylished.
AV characters look more like Cataclysm (lvl 85) raid boss versions rather than anything shockingly new.
Also "Orc air totem" and "Hogger (1) Level ?? Humanoid" are on the list
Charlie Oct 2nd 2009 6:01PM
New totems for orc, troll, and dwarf are already on MMO.
Orc and Dwarf are meh, but the troll ones are sweeeeet.