Cataclysm prologue quest data added to game
by Basil Berntsen 
Feb 23rd 2010 at 4:50PM
The patch 3.3.3 PTR has a bunch of cool pre-Cataclysm content added to it that was datamined by MMO-Champion. Massive spoiler alert, so don't click on that link or follow us after the break if you want to avoid spoilers!
We covered some of the achievements and abilities being added before, but the latest update has a bunch of new information in it. Specifically, there are a whole whack of quests being added that relate to the Alliance retaking of Gnomeregan and the Horde retaking of Echo Isles! Also, both Alliance and Horde will be able to do a Twilight's Hammer cult quest line. Click through for an exhaustive list. Also to note: they traced out where the new flight paths for these events will take you. Here's the Alliance map, and here's the Horde map.
It looks like the Alliance are going to get to:
- Drop complex radiation detection equipment from a flying mount
- Learn to use Mechano-Tanks
- Retake the surface of Gnomeregan
- Launch eavesdropping frog spies from a flying mount
- Enlist the help of some sort of super-tiger
- Retake Echo Isles
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
lightning4 Feb 23rd 2010 4:53PM
Watch the Cataclysm flood the Echo Isles and collapse Gnomeregan, leaving us back at square one.
Jonathan Feb 23rd 2010 7:20PM
As much as I would LOVE to see Gnomes and Trolls get their own cities, this would be absolutely hilarious from a schadenfreude standpoint.
Facio Patronus Feb 23rd 2010 7:30PM
LMAO I love that! You sir, have just made my day.
Austin Feb 23rd 2010 4:54PM
Hmm, quests for taking Gnomeregan/Echo Isles are both for level 80-85s....does this mean that they're the new Dalaran/Shattaraths?
Rowan Feb 23rd 2010 4:59PM
Really? From what I can tell they're all either 76+ or 1-80. I'm thinking this will be the content that holds us over till Cataclysm so, no doubt we'll see it in a the coming months.
Creese5704 Feb 23rd 2010 5:01PM
no there is no new Shatt/Dalaran in Cataclysm I assume that the darkspear trolls new town like Orcs have Org.
Eyhk Feb 23rd 2010 5:05PM
I think I remember Blizz specifically stating no Shatt/Dal hubs in Cataclysm which means we're stuck with what we have. Gnomeregan/Echo Isles *might* be a limited time quest hub / future capital city but unless they add even more portals to the portal infested shatt/dal I doubt it would take off.
Creese5704 Feb 23rd 2010 5:43PM
@Eyhk
There is extra spaces for portals in Dalaran and Shattrath for that reason. If they make Gnomer and Echo Island the permanent home for Trolls and Gnomes then there is space for them to make a portal there.
Dazaras Feb 23rd 2010 8:19PM
@Eyhk
What they said was there is going to be no combined Alliance and Horde hub, not that there aren't going to be any new central hubs or cities with portals or anything.
Ookami.kun Feb 24th 2010 11:39AM
@johnnytorrance
And then 10min later they respawned so you were back to square one. :D
zubbiefish Feb 23rd 2010 4:55PM
I'm hoping I can do the Gnomer stuff on my Mage. She's only lvl. 25 but she is the only Aliance character I have.
Rowan Feb 23rd 2010 5:07PM
Clicking on the links shows several of the quests being 1-80 so, I would suspect any level character can have at least some part in this - would be kinda lame if something this epic was only reserved for high levels (that, and my 32 Pally (only Alliance) wants to help as well! :P )
rhorle Feb 23rd 2010 4:56PM
Only a portion of gnomeregan is being retaken, not all of it. So the instance will still be there. The reason why we are re-taking a portion of gnomeregan and echo isles is likely to be a place for race-specific starting zones. As both trolls and Gnomes are the only ones to share a "new player zone" with another race.
Rowan Feb 23rd 2010 5:02PM
Seems like an awful lot of work and developing time, as well as time for 80's, just so all races can have a starting zone. Think about it, 80's spend however long questing and whatnot, then the only people who benefit are 1-10's?
(cutaia) Feb 23rd 2010 5:05PM
Especially considering a gnome would still be dumped into Dun Morough anyway from Gnomeregan, so at best you'd be talking about the first 5 levels.
Danterius Feb 23rd 2010 5:10PM
Yeah, I think they would spend that much time while benefiting only levels 1-15. You've got to realize that the vast majority of Blizzard's customers do not have level 80's. Levels 1-15 are essential in keeping a potential customer with Blizzard. Blizzard is already doing a great amount of work and rehauling on starting zones for Cataclysm, why is it hard to believe that they would do the same before Cata?
Artificial Feb 23rd 2010 5:16PM
What Rowan is saying here is that a successful business strategy for Blizzard would be to cater to the interest of a dwindling set of high level characters while making no attempt at all whatsoever to expand the player base with new blood, or do anything to rejuvenate older content both for new players expecting a more up-to-date experience, or older players making new alts to keep their interest going by trying something new in Azeroth rather than in, say, Guild Wars 2 or whatever the latest new thing is that they could make new characters in. Obviously, Rowan is a genius at marketing. ;)
Merusdraconis Feb 23rd 2010 5:19PM
If you look at the post-vanilla starting zones, they have quests that rely on you using your racial powers/death knight powers. I imagine the updated starting sub-zones are going to get something similar for each race. (One hopes that Durotar will become more visually exciting with Cataclysm; it's such a boring-looking zone.)
Durana Feb 23rd 2010 6:30PM
@ Rowan
Yes, I agree. I mean, high level characters are going to get absolutely nothing out of this upcoming expension.
... Wait a minute.
Sorry for the sarcasm, couldn't help myself. But that being said, this is wrapping up a story that has been unchanging for 6 or so years now. I think that's worth a bit of work. It's also a fun event to tide us over 'til Cata comes out. As to what will come of this (new zone, new city, etc.), well, all that is speculation. For all we know, after we free Gnomeregan, the cave could collapse leaving the poor little guys out in the cold snow... again...
And it's not like new content is a bad thing, even if it may only be for low level toons. Revamping the old world was one of the big points for Cata if i recall correctly, no?
(cutaia) Feb 23rd 2010 5:44PM
Artificial,
No...what Rowan seems to be saying is that it doesn't neccesarily make sense to make an additional section of the starting zone for the first 5 levels of the game (which take, what...20 minutes to complete?) just to start gnomes and dwarves in different physical areas. How does that benefit new players anyway?
When you played WoW for the first time and found yourself in that little valley with your gnome, did you think to yourself, "Wow...this is obviously the same starting zone as dwarves and those are the only alliance characters that share a starting zone and for some reason I know that already and it makes me angry. I sure wish they would make a separate starting zone for gnomes. Maybe one that's just slightly north of here and would still send me out to the rest of Dun Morough to do the same quests as Dwarves 20 minutes from now."
Adjusting the fun factor and flow of the starting zones as a whole? Sure, that makes sense in terms of drawing players in. Giving gnomes their own little tiny section of that starter zone? Doesn't seem even slightly important from a new player marketing perspective.