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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBlizzard releases official Gnomeregan and Echo Isles Cataclysm information
by Adam Holisky 
Mar 17th 2010 at 1:53PM
Blizzard has released a series of background information pages on the Gnomeregan and Echo Isles campaigns to be happening with the coming Cataclysm expansion. We've known for a while that this pre-cursor world event will be happening, and it's nice to see some official information come out about it.
For those looking for the datamined material, check out the following heavy spoilers:
For those looking for the datamined material, check out the following heavy spoilers:
- Operation Gnomeregan: Transcript and details of the event
- Operation Echo Isles: Transcript and details of the event
The full Blizzard announcement is as follows:
Nethaera -- An Assault on Two FrontsHigh Tinker Mekkatorque, betrayed by Mekgineer Thermaplugg and forced to flee the irradiated city of Gnomeregan with the few of his fellow gnomes who managed to survive, is preparing to reclaim his once glorious city. Meanwhile, in distant Durotar, Vol'jin of the Darkspear trolls is determined to exact revenge upon the witch doctor Zalazane for dividing the Darkspears and seizing the land bestowed to them by Thrall: the Echo Isles. Read more about the ongoing struggles of the gnomes and the trolls... and their plans to seek redemption.
Gnomes: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/3p9/gnomeregan.xml
Trolls: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/3p9/echoisles.xml
Gnomes: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/3p9/gnomeregan.xml
Trolls: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/3p9/echoisles.xml
Regarding "Patch 3.9": The URLs above point to these events happening in patch 3.9. It is possible there will be a patch 3.9, however it is also possible the "9" simply stands for "the very last patch before 4.0" (patch 4.0 is the Cataclysm content patch). No one outside of Blizzard knows the right answer, and don't read too much into URLs.
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: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
Stoneblade Mar 17th 2010 3:46PM
IIRC, the quest dialog and the text in the manual have both been saying he was driven mad by the forces he unleashed, for as far back in the game as I can remember... It's not like the text on that page was some sort of new retcon or anything.
I agree "driven insane" is an overused plot device, though, I don't feel like it's somehow making me think that all mentally-ill people are somehow demonized by a troll losing his sanity by tampering with forces he ought naught (I guess I might also be thinking of thos old "voodoo" movies, stories, etc.., any more than a "mad scientist," or "mad bomber," or "The Mad Hatter." Hell, one could probably argue it's more demonizing to the people that practice the religion that the troll's "voodoo" is based on, than mentally-ill people...
Ultimately, though, they're just plot devices and character stereotypes in a videao game, and they are what they are, good or bad.
But that's my two cents.
Daedalus Mar 17th 2010 3:53PM
If Blizzard really were sending the message that everyone who's crazy needs to die, then my fellow gnomes and I would be in a lot of trouble.
Frankly, just about everyone in the game seems to be suffering from some form of mental illness. (The NPC's aren't doing well either. (/rimshot).)
Actually, the message seems to be: insane = you're okay; murderous and insane = your head is a quest item.
Besides, there are plenty of non-insane bad guys: Arthas just let his rage and ego get the better of him, Guldan was simply an amoral powerhungry monster, and Yogg Saron (as well as all the other old gods) simply enjoys making lesser beings suffer.
Even your examples are questionable: Illidan may have been insane, or may have just been trying to save his own hide from being munched on by demons. Malygos was fully aware of the damage he was causing; he just didn't care.
Personally, I think the whole "he went crazy" thing is more how the characters that thought they knew these people rationalize how far they fell. It's a lot easier to tell yourself that someone who had been your friend went crazy then it is to accept that you were friends with someone who was always that evil but you just never noticed.
Rowan Mar 17th 2010 4:15PM
Though I've nothing to add to the "insane" debate, I must say the comments regarding it have been extremely interesting and enlightening - I very much enjoyed reading through them. Thank you. :)
Katalliaan Mar 17th 2010 2:58PM
About how "3.9" could refer to the last patch before 4.0:
Blizzard seems to do their patch numbers not as decimals, but as individual numbers. For example, patch a.b.c would mean something along the lines of Version A, Patch B, Subpatch C, where Version 1 = vanilla, Version 2 = BC, etc. Every time a new expansion is released, the version number goes up by 1 and the patch and subpatch numbers are reset; every time a new patch is released, the patch number goes up by 1 and the subpatch number is reset.
While I do think that it is strange that the URL has 3p9 in it, I think it might be intended to mean 3.3.9, and not 3.9.x or "the very last patch before 4.0"
Cataca Mar 17th 2010 3:26PM
I think your a bit off there.
I think it's VersionA.ContentPatchB.MinorPatchC
That would explain why the current live version is 3.3.2
We are in Version 3(Wrath), Content Patch 3 (ICC), Minor Patch 2 (Class changes/bugs/other little stuff)
They put 3p9 (stands for 3.9) because they are not sure if they want to release any more Minor Patches to change classes or other little things before patch 4.0
Cataca Mar 17th 2010 3:40PM
Er...nm I miss read what you where saying. XD I pretty much restated what you did beside the last bit.
And I see your point of the 3.9 versus 3.3.9.
Either way, I think they where just giving themselves room and it still implies the last patch before 4.0
Rowan Mar 17th 2010 4:10PM
I thought ret-cons only occurred when they changed something? They're not exactly changing anything, just adding to the story already there. Nothing is changing about us *thinking* we killed Zalazane and Thermaplugg - we still think we did. However, the story goes on to say we actually didn't...oh wells.
Either way, I'm still completely pumped about this. Don't think I've been more excited for a world event than how I am about this. I'm looking to the Darkspear event far more than I am the Gnomeregan one but, hopefully I'll be able to take part in both (barring my Alliance Paladin is of level to do everything). Not to mention the closer we get to this, the closer we get to Cataclysm (or are they one in the same?)
Hoggersbud Mar 17th 2010 6:20PM
It's a RetCon, it's just a pre-empetive one. Retroactively, they've stated that all of this time, and that is FOREVER, that we have been doing those quests...yeah, they weren't REALLY REAL!
Al Mar 17th 2010 10:15PM
Remember when you waded out to the Echo Isles, avoiding raptors and tigers on the brink of starvation? Remember when you battled through brain-washed minions, and bought down justice on Zalazane, before killing and beheading him?
Never happened. He stood behind a tree, using Voodoo Ventriloquism to trick you into bashing a scarecrow to 'death'. Good job not knowing the difference between a tusked, long-eared head and a pineapple.
tulipblossom Mar 17th 2010 4:25PM
I couldn't be more excited about this news! For Gnomeregan! :D
jfofla Mar 17th 2010 5:12PM
You are not prepared!
Hache Mar 17th 2010 5:16PM
"The gnomes' techno-savvy has been vital in past conflicts, and many Alliance heroes are likely to join the offensive to recapture the extraordinary inventions within the fallen city"
I hope this means new engineering schematics!
RetPallyJil Mar 17th 2010 5:28PM
The Gnome Army pic is downright adorable. Wook at the widdew sowjers aww cuuuute!
fus3box Mar 17th 2010 7:50PM
"The gnomes' techno-savvy has been vital in past conflicts, and many Alliance heroes are likely to join the offensive to recapture the extraordinary inventions within the fallen city."
= loot? = new raid or instance?
Cataca Mar 18th 2010 3:54PM
Could possibly mean Heroic Gnommer
GamerX Mar 17th 2010 9:04PM
in reference to the picture: Sontar-HA!
Aguinaldo Mar 18th 2010 2:03AM
Oh noes good thing Zalazane the level 80 elite ignored me when I was level 7 then!
Sintraedrien Mar 18th 2010 3:10AM
"The time to strike at the head of the Beast is now!"
Al Mar 18th 2010 4:07PM
"and don't read too much into URLs."
That's a quick way to get hacked.
beyourself.ggs Mar 19th 2010 4:02AM
Good article and a nice summation of the problem. My only problem with the analysis is given that much of the population joined the chorus of deregulatory mythology, given vested interest is inclined toward perpetuation of the current system and given a lack of a popular cheerleader for your arguments, I'm not seeing much in the way of change.
http://www.fullserviceit.com/