Blizzard posts interview with designers of Southern Barrens
by Michael Sacco 
Aug 5th 2010 at 8:00PM
Cataclysm Preview - Southern BarrensQ. What was the original concept for the zone?
A. The Barrens is one of the areas of Kalimdor hardest-hit by the Cataclysm. It has literally been ripped in two! The Northern Barrens retains much of the feel of the original zone and fulfills a similar gameplay purpose: it's primarily a training ground for low-level Horde characters. That gave us enormous freedom to create a whole new gameplay experience for the Southern Barrens. In the wake of the Cataclysm, the Alliance has been aggressively expanding into the heart of the continent from the east coast. As players enter the zone, they'll find that the Horde is really up against the ropes. The escalating conflict between the two rival factions is front and center here, providing a backdrop for much of the area's quests.
A. The Barrens is one of the areas of Kalimdor hardest-hit by the Cataclysm. It has literally been ripped in two! The Northern Barrens retains much of the feel of the original zone and fulfills a similar gameplay purpose: it's primarily a training ground for low-level Horde characters. That gave us enormous freedom to create a whole new gameplay experience for the Southern Barrens. In the wake of the Cataclysm, the Alliance has been aggressively expanding into the heart of the continent from the east coast. As players enter the zone, they'll find that the Horde is really up against the ropes. The escalating conflict between the two rival factions is front and center here, providing a backdrop for much of the area's quests.
Those wanting more details about this new/old Cataclysm zone can check out the full interview here.
Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Noyou Aug 5th 2010 8:16PM
Gnomish spoiler detector enabled.
Bonksy Aug 5th 2010 8:28PM
Goblin spoiler detector destroyer enabled.
MrJackSauce Aug 5th 2010 9:00PM
Woohoo there's gonna be some awesome awesomeness happening in the Southern Barrens!! I can't wait to revenge Taurajo, claim Bramblescar and wreak havoc over a whole zone with an army at my side.
Blizz, you have outdone yourselves. /tear
Dehvi Aug 5th 2010 9:12PM
Wow it's only been up for 10 mins and there's nothing but Alliance QQing about get the short end. I guess that's what Blizzard is trying to accomplish though. A true hatred for the opposing faction. I just wish the actual players would stop QQing and start thinking about how they can get back at the opposing faction. I remember large scale battles at Tarren Mill, and running through STV and getting ganked every other turn (well that still happens). Point is, I HATE Alliance. I've never played Alliance, and I have no interest. It's just programmed in me since I started playing 3 months after WoW's vanilla release. So I'm completely excited about seeing a return to that mind set.
Noyou Aug 5th 2010 9:38PM
Did I miss something? All I see is someone QQing about about alleged QQing. Is this going on in beta? If so I think you are using the wrong format for your whining. As most of us posting on here do not have Beta keys. Uh, feel free to QQ I guess (downvote in progress).
zdave Aug 5th 2010 9:55PM
I think he's talking about the maybe 2 semi-whining comments at the end of that post on the forum; those two commentors of course representing the entirety of the alliance playerbase.
Noyou Aug 5th 2010 10:42PM
LOL Z. I didn't read the whole post yet as someone destroyed my Gnomish spoiler detector. Or maybe it just asploded.
titaniummage Aug 6th 2010 6:33AM
He was actually referring to the actual article itself. Look at the comments on the actual forums.
Leethax Aug 5th 2010 8:40PM
Is this the end of Barrens chat?
...Actually, I suppose it's just migrated to Trade.
Lachdanan Aug 5th 2010 8:57PM
Ah yes, I remember reading that interview on a French website a couple weeks ago. Pretty interesting read; it gives a good feeling of zone developing process.
Terrant Aug 5th 2010 9:25PM
The most important question remains unanswered: What about the quilboars!?
Ana Stubbs Aug 5th 2010 10:05PM
Ha, typical... "The site is down for maintenance."
Paciphae Aug 5th 2010 10:07PM
Quote: " Horde players should check out the utter devastation at Taurajo. Someone... has got... to pay. "
Um, like maybe Kosak and Marotte? They're the ones who did this, not the Alliance npcs they made to take the blame. :/
tehaxe Aug 5th 2010 11:05PM
i didnt know that?! plz tell us more!! >:(
Hurbster Aug 5th 2010 10:59PM
Soooo, the Alliance builds something or takes something and then promptly loses it or it gets destroyed ?
Jamie Aug 6th 2010 4:46AM
As much as this annoys me with the horde-bias in this area, you know... it's a bit of a slap in the face to take away what the Alliance have gained BUT to be fair to logic this area is right slap bang in the middle of 2 major Horde capital cities.
hypnotoad Aug 5th 2010 11:29PM
*spoilers*
Having just finished Souther Barrens on my Druid, there is definitely a "Holy Crap, war is everywhere" vibe. Some of the Alliance quests have you arresting looters in the ruins of Taurajo, and later the Alliance commander responsible for allowing Taurajo citizens to flee (as opposed to massacring them) is murdered by Horde assassins and hung from a tree. Southern Barrens is pretty well done, neither side is blameless here.
Plus, Mankrik is now an elite blademaster destroying Quillboar by himself.
Murdertime Aug 6th 2010 4:49AM
It's worth noting that Mankrik has always been a blademaster. Though he's a touch more overt about it now. If you look at him in the Crossroads, he's hanging around a Burning Blade banner, the faction to which all Blademasters belonged.
Rajinnu Aug 6th 2010 4:35AM
Yeah Southern Barrens looks pretty cool, I haven't done the questing but the zone itself is looking very awesome and wartorn.
I am holding off on 'old world questing' as I wanna save that for a new toon, only doing the new zones and bits and pieces on 80+ chars
Irontoof Aug 6th 2010 7:43AM
So it's essentially Hellfire Peninsula Lite?