Cataclysm Preview: Azshara
by Anne Stickney 
Aug 26th 2010 at 1:00PM
Popular player opinion has been a mix of excitement and wistful nostalgia when it comes to the zone of Azshara, one of the least-utilized yet most gorgeous zones from vanilla WoW. Some players are ecstatic that the zone is receiving a quest overhaul; others fear that the goblin landscaping will ruin the beautiful scenery unique to the zone. In the latest of a string of Cataclysm previews, game designers Craig Amai and Dave Kosak discuss the zone's changes and design in the upcoming expansion.
The lore of the region, the design of the quests and landscape, the whereabouts of Azuregos and the general concept and story behind the zone of Azshara are all addressed, as well as a peek into what went on behind the scenes to actually redesign the landscape into a functional, fun and still hauntingly beautiful place to level. Check out the official Cataclysm page for the full article -- and while we're on a nostalgia trip, take a look back at Azshara quests that you should finish before the new expansion hits, and check out the gallery of Azshara as it exists today.
The lore of the region, the design of the quests and landscape, the whereabouts of Azuregos and the general concept and story behind the zone of Azshara are all addressed, as well as a peek into what went on behind the scenes to actually redesign the landscape into a functional, fun and still hauntingly beautiful place to level. Check out the official Cataclysm page for the full article -- and while we're on a nostalgia trip, take a look back at Azshara quests that you should finish before the new expansion hits, and check out the gallery of Azshara as it exists today.
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 brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve Aug 26th 2010 1:05PM
I love Azshara for not having quests actually, it means there's rarely anyone there making it a quiet, peaceful place to get away for a while. I wouldn't mind it being updated too much, but the goblin stuff is just ugly and tacky. I guess it's supposed to be.
Vogie Aug 26th 2010 1:14PM
I just spent some time in Azshara on my lowbie mage for the mage quests in the zone... and good GOD I'm glad that's over.
Azshara has got to be the zone with the WORST mobility. Cliffs everywhere you can't get up. A giant bay & mountains with dozens of elites patrolling for no particular reason. Wrath-style mob placement. Sure, it was fun to Slow Fall-> Mount to fly down from the cliffs. But heaven forbid you needed to get up again... That's not allowed. Unless you swim & slaughter your way back to the middle of the zone, & Char thru some naga. Then find the hole in that valley to get out. Then Ride back to wherever you neede to go.
Yeah, it's beautiful, and I love blasting down silver giants to make Succubi smile. But boy does it need a steamroller or twenty
Nina Katarina Aug 26th 2010 2:31PM
Aszhara was the zone I was most looking forward to flying over - I love the fall colors theme, and I wanted to laugh at those cliffs. I would have been overjoyed if they made it into an 80-85 zone so that I'd be flying over it regularly for the next few years.
I'm hoping whatever the max-level zone is, the dominant color scheme is something other than blue and white. Sooo tired of Icecrown colors; I don't think it would be so bad if it wasn't dominant in Storm Peaks AND Icecrown AND Icecrown Citadel AND two of the big 3 heroics that I always get 'randomed' into.
brian Aug 26th 2010 11:09PM
Well, technically there's two max level zones, but we'll probably find that we'll go back to some of the lower ones too when their raids get added in later tiers.
Uldum is anything but white and blue. It's a lot of tan, but in a good way. I don't think it'll get old, because it's the only zone that really looks like that, plus the sand is broken up by awesome pyramids, statues, and even a river (Nile, anyone?). Plus it's just really awesome.
The Twilight Highlands has a lot of different looking areas within the zone. There's the dark brown petrified forest looking like a more ominous Thousand Needles, there's areas that look like the Shire, there's a red and green Red Dragonflight area, a black glass beach, and of course gloomy and shadowy Twilight Cultist areas. With a smattering of Old God, and elemental vortices.
Yeah, I think these zones are going to be a huge improvement from the stony/snowy/dark Storm Peaks and Icecrown.
Bri Aug 26th 2010 1:20PM
I just went to Azshara last night, in a desperate attempt to get my Explorer acheivement, and wow, do I hate that place the way it is. Sure, pretty scenery and all that, but it is absolutely RIDICULOUS to try to get around in that zone!
Personally, I really dislike Azshara, and I'm really glad it's getting overhauled. Maybe it'll make it more accessible to more people. I can't wait to see the tacky goblin makeover!
Firestyle Aug 26th 2010 1:27PM
I was really disappointed in the change of this zone to be level 10-20. I always thought of it as a poweful magical place - now it's a post-starter zone....I was really looking forward to leveling 80-85 in this zone....now I have to roll horde to experience the content....great...
Siaperas Aug 26th 2010 1:33PM
I agree with the sentiment that Azshara needed an overhaul. It always felt like kind of an after thought, or the place to quest for the most hardcore. The flow of the zone with limited mobility is difficult, especially, where some quests have you run to opposite ends of the zone. Having quested through it, I'm excited to see the changes, and I'll probably roll a goblin just to see it.
From a lore perspective, I'm sure the night elves are going to be thoroughly PISSED. With added Horde pressure coming in from Eastern Kalimdor, and the Horde not really caring about what they're doing to the environment on the way, I'm sure the night elves are going to be wanting to put the hurt on some green guys.
Selithe Aug 26th 2010 1:33PM
Personally, I think the reason people believe Azshara is such a beautiful zone is because of how little reason there is to be there. I'm sure if you had to be in the zone for an extended period of time, you'd get tired of it. Sure, it has a decent landscape and nice scenery but so many other zones do as well...Yet, because we spend much more time in said zones we don't take notice to how well designed they are.
Vladeon Aug 26th 2010 1:37PM
I like how there's absolutely no information in that official preview about the timbermaw tribe, even though they show a picture of the entrance. It's odd that there's no information at all about what I think is the most intriguing part of azshara. I mean seriously, if their main entrance is blocked off, why are they still hanging around? why did it get blocked off in the first place. Bah! I guess I'll just have to wait for cataclysm to come out before I get answers to these questions.
JC_Icefox Aug 26th 2010 1:53PM
My sentiments ride with most others, it seems.
BLOW THE CRAP OUT OF IT.
Just...let me get a blue whelpling first...
samk Aug 26th 2010 2:02PM
Time to farm up Azure Whelplings??
paragorillabear Aug 26th 2010 3:02PM
me always liked it
paragorillabear Aug 26th 2010 3:13PM
What I mean to say is that, sure, I understand that mobility is an issue in Azshara, but I always enjoyed my time there. I think this is just a further example of people enjoying the game leisurely VS. people enjoying the game Uber-ly.
It's like the dolts who want to bug Hadronox just to shave 2-3 minutes off a 10-minute instance run. Really?? Is your time in WoW that precious?
On many occasions, especially when I was at appropriate level, I've enjoyed riding through Azshara, enjoying the Fall colors and motif, taking a dive from the high cliffs and then swimming across the bay, killing a few Giants along the way.
I've taken all my characters there to pick up their class quest.
I've likewise gone there with each character to get the Love Potion ingredients for BRD.
And it's my go-to spot for farming Purple Lotus.
Sure, I've wasted time out there that could have been better spent min/maxing my existence and becoming Uber-uber, but to me it is those peaceful moments in the game when you can immerse yourself in an environment that make WoW such an enjoyable and unique experience.
I'm curious about the changes, but overall I will miss the old Azshara.
Dalrint Aug 26th 2010 4:15PM
So are the Waterlords gone?
I always liked them. I don't really know why.
brian Aug 26th 2010 11:11PM
Well, as we'll be seeing Neptulon in Vashj'ir, I'm sure we'll be seeing the water lords again in one way or another ;)
RogueJedi86 Aug 26th 2010 11:56PM
"Xylem's tower still stands, but Xylem himself seems to have stumbled upon something that has quickly driven him insane."
*sigh* Another good guy going insane. 5000g says he's killable, because in WoW, insane=death sentence. Clearly the goblins won't be bringing in a Priest to heal his mental scars so he'll get better.
So everyone get all your special mage quests from Xylem done before Cataclysm hits! If you're at least level 60, go visit him in his tower and do the quest to get Polymorph-Pig!
Killik Aug 27th 2010 4:05AM
WTB a WoW quest to give an insane being some therapy.
Namus Aug 27th 2010 12:22AM
Azhara: Wow's Dubai.