Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPatch 3.3.3 PTR: New mounts, models [Updated]
by Anne Stickney 
Feb 20th 2010 at 5:00AM
Patch 3.3.3 will be bringing about some welcome changes in the user interface, instances, and those pesky frozen orbs you can never get rid of, but it looks like they aren't the only things getting an overhaul. Fishing around in the PTR files found some new models as well.
Two new mounts have been added to the game files, the Blazing Hippogryph and the Wooly White Rhino. Where these mounts are obtained is currently unknown -- we'll update with more information on the new mounts as we learn more.
In addition, it looks like Anduin Wrynn finally got his wish -- a new model has been added for the young king-in-training. With more and more models getting overhauls, does this mean players of male humans might finally get rid of that funky overbite? Check out the gallery for pictures of the new mounts and models, and stay tuned for more 3.3.3 PTR info as it develops!
Update: MMO-Champion is reporting that the two mounts are TCG rewards. However, with the recent developments between Blizzard and UDE, this information may change. Keep that in mind, and we'll let you know if we hear any word from the blues about it.
Filed under: News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Snuzzle Feb 20th 2010 3:00PM
Maybe it's just me, but his eyes really creep me out. They're kid-sized eyes on an adult head. I really, REALLY hope those get tweaked before this model goes live, otherwise I will be giving him a wide berth in SW castle.
Stella Feb 20th 2010 5:20AM
I'm calling it now: Cataclysm will end with Anduin marrying Valeera. The next Queen of Stormwind will be Horde.
the_rage_of_trebor Feb 20th 2010 5:36AM
Valeera isn't part of the Horde shes just a Blood Elf
Possum Feb 20th 2010 6:59AM
Is she a blood elf? I didn't read the comics cause...well, do I even need to explain that? But if she's a defected blood elf doesn't that make her a high elf? What was her situation re: eating up the fel magic after the fall of Silvermoon?
Guildenstern Feb 20th 2010 7:59AM
Yes, she's a Blood Elf. From what I gather Broll (the druid in the comic that's become kind of her surrogate dad figure) makes her some kind of herbal Moonwell water cocktail and she gets high off that.
Someone should get that poor kid a Sunwell ring.
Oni Stardust Feb 20th 2010 1:31PM
@Possum: Yes, she's a Blood Elf and for a good chunk of the comic she struggles with addiction to fel magic.
Calling that she'll get with Anduin seems a little off though. She is considered a child by Elf standards, but in actual age she isn't far off from Varian (that is what's implied in the comic anyway, they never state any actual numbers).
Thus she would be too old for Anduin, but I could logically see her developing some sort of romance with Varian. It's a possibility anyway, there haven't been any hints or evidence to suggest it.
Also, in the comic Valeera has made it clear that she dose not consider herself to be Horde nor Alliance. But her friendship and loyalty to Varian technically makes her Alliance.
MightyBurebista Feb 20th 2010 9:24PM
Do you realize you've just invoked the madness of thousands of lemon-writing fangirls?
Or maybe not...
Hollow Leviathan Feb 20th 2010 5:36AM
Why the crap did they update Varimathras' model if all I see on my lowbies when I go to drool at Sylvanas at a safe distance is that stupid same-model-as-always orc interloper?
Players new to the game will wonder who the crap this Varimathras dude is when they reach his moment in the story in Northrend, simply because he isn't around setting it up.
Kylenne Feb 20th 2010 11:44AM
Uh. You may want to check the date on that linked article. Just saying.
Joergentf Feb 20th 2010 5:39AM
I hope Anduin becomes a major character in cataclysm. I really want to see how the relationship with his dad is.
brucimus Feb 20th 2010 6:57AM
my prediction is he(Wrynn Jr) will secretly fall in love with a Goblin princess. Knowing he will never be able to be with her publicly ...they run off today a lonely Goblin outpost and buy wolf parts and sell level 10 mail armor
taijathehuntress Feb 20th 2010 5:51AM
Oh thank god.. I thought Anduin was going to end up like on of those kids in soap operas, they always show up a few times but are perpetually 10.
Nice model.. kinda got that prince charming thing going on.
jtn2 Feb 20th 2010 5:52AM
Audin is Deathwing's new human form! That's where he's been hiding! The real Audin's bound in a closet somewhere.....
Swifteye Feb 20th 2010 5:55AM
Sorry to comment again so soon, but I just wanted to add that they did a *really* good job of making Anduin look like a teenager! Even more than getting less fugly male models, I hope this heralds more preteen and teen looks! I mean it's ridiculous currently, if an NPC is 17 or under they get a little boy/girl model, and if they're 18 or older they immediately jump to a grizzled 40-year-old look.
I'm really glad *my* height and face didn't jump from 6-years old to middle-aged on my 18th birthday!
nonentity Feb 20th 2010 6:15AM
Trying to think where the gryphon mount could fit.... only thing I came up with, the Summersomething Festival? Especially with the fact that it's an ... "adjusting" mount like the Love Rocket or the horse of the Headless Rider, both from other world events.
But that's still quite a few months off, why put the mount in the game already...
Yeah, Red Dragonflight and Blazing, Red Gryphon.... still, doesn't really fit imo, don't think it's a drop/reward from the new instance.
Anduin... hells yeah.... my favorite guy in the Alliance top-tier (going by the comic). Hope he gets a more prominent role now ingame, maybe to somewhat balance out Garrosh's RAGE!!!!!111 on the Horde side?
But still..... Anduin gets a new model before Thrall....? Seriously? Please Blizzard, PLEASE, change Thrall's appearance.....
Alliance got 2 cool looking race leader models, Varian and Velen (yeah, he's not the same level of detail as Wrynn but let's face it, he's a unique character model, beard, hair, clothes and all that) while Horde only got Sylvannas.
Gief cool new looks for faction leaders, plx.
kia Feb 20th 2010 7:00AM
"But that's still quite a few months off, why put the mount in the game already..."
The Big Love Rocket was datamined by MMO-Champ months before the event began, IIRC.
SpaceDog Feb 20th 2010 6:29AM
Myno rhount!!!!!!
I mean... Rhyno mount!
*squeal*
I hope it's not from TCG.
SheldonLock Feb 20th 2010 6:40AM
New Skin =/= New Models.
Raze Feb 20th 2010 8:24AM
This. There is a difference.
The reason Anduin looks a little awkward is because they put this 'teenage' skin over an adult human model, and, knowing what we know about how bad the human male model looks in this game, it can only look so good when you dress it up.
Hm. Touching up the look for player characters'll tougher than I thought. New skins won't cut it if they'll only turn out like this, so we'll probably need total model overhauls, something I highly doubt will happen with Cataclysm.
Mattimus Feb 20th 2010 11:37AM
No, the Anduin model is not the default human male. It may have been built off of the default human model, much like how Varian's was, rather from scratch, but it is not simply a the default human male with new textures.
In fact, odds are it was built from scratch, directly onto the outfit, because it is obviously not a default human male wearing those clothes.