Cataclysm Beta: Old weather flying will cost 250g
by Mathew McCurley 
Sep 9th 2010 at 11:00PM
Zarhym -- New Flight SkillWe've added a new flying skill called Flight Master's License. When World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is released, players who purchase the expansion will see this skill available from flight trainers for 250 gold once they reach level 60. This new skill is required for flying around all Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms zones, including the new level 80-85 zones.
Zarhym -- New Flight SkillThe cost for this is 250 gold. The name has also changed. I've updated my original post with the new information. :)
Previously, during the Twitter Dev Chat in April, the developers responded that more than likely, players would be able to fly from the beginning without purchasing the tongue-in-cheek "Old Weather Flying." As for why Blizzard is now adding such a skill, I have no idea. I don't mind ponying up the gold, considering the rate at which gold is earned in Cataclysm feels much faster than in the original game. My best guess is that Blizzard still wants flying in the old world to feel special and be a goal players will strive to reach for rather than stumble across. Also, it appears that if you do not have the Cataclysm expansion, you will not see this ability as trainable -- if you want to fly in the old world, you'll need the new expansion. What do you think about the Flight Master's License?
Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
tulipblossom Sep 9th 2010 11:06PM
I'm actually completely okay with this. I do remember when it seemed as if they weren't going to implement something like this, but I truly am okay with them changing their minds. I think this gives low level players and new players something to strive for. It was really exciting to get my flying skill for the first time, in BC. And, 250g seems like a really fair price. I know that when I was leveling up a new toon, right before Wrath, I had plenty of gold for everything I needed, as soon as I hit Outland and that was without the help of any other toons, since my main at the time had barely any gold at all, haha.
I think that this sets a goal for new players that will really excite them and although a lot of people won't be thrilled with the idea, I"m sure, I don't think it's a bad one. I'm glad it's not very expensive, though, for the players who are truly new to the game or those folks who have a plethora of alts.
tulipblossom Sep 9th 2010 11:09PM
As a total side note: I read on the official beta forums that on the PTR right now, once you buy your Journeyman riding that your low level riding mounts all scale to 100%. If this is true and makes it live, I will be so ecstatic! I have wanted this sort of thing forever.
Anyone have any confirmation of this fact, one way or the other? Thanks so much!
Claire Sep 10th 2010 12:36AM
@tulip, I'm excited about the scaling, too. The Black Stallion is awesome looking, and there never was a truly black fast horse.
angelus1121 Sep 10th 2010 2:03AM
@Claire, there is the Black War Steed (PVP mount).
brownyboi Sep 10th 2010 2:19AM
Unfortunately, all the 100% horses are covered with barding and you can't see what they look like. Even if they do all look like shire horses!
This is going to be so cool!
lolikitty Sep 10th 2010 6:43AM
I'm super happy about the scaling of all ground mounts !
On topic : 250g is trivial for 80's, and affordable for 60's, also is a Cata feature and therefore available to Cata buyers, so yup, no problem with me.
Mark Sep 10th 2010 10:02AM
That really is a great change, I hate the armor covered horses. Now I can ride my black stallion mount again. What I wouldn't give to have one of the original epic mounts though, like the white stallion. To think how many people foolishly traded them in for the new ones. I bet they really regret it now. Unfortunately this was all before I started playing so I never had a chance at one.
Thundrcrackr Sep 10th 2010 10:51AM
I'm ok with it too. So this will put the riding training progression at:
level 20 - Apprentice - 4g
level 40 - Journeyman - 50g
level 60 - Expert - 250g and "Old Weather" flying - 250g (Old Weather won't be necessary while questing through Outland and Northrend but will be nice to have when going back to the old world to do holiday quests)
level 70 - Artisan - 5,000g and Cold Weather flying - 1,000g
level 80-85? - 310% flying - ?
QueenOfBlades Sep 10th 2010 1:07PM
310% flying is another 5,000g
BUT if you are cool enough to have one of those nifty 310% mounts, you don't need to buy the training.
Blackfish Sep 10th 2010 1:27PM
OK. I understand the fact that they added a gold cost to Azeroth flying...wait....no I don't. And I don't understand why the comments that are so excited about paying 250g have been uprated. As it was said in a beeee-ooootiful phrase that I'm angry that I didn't coin (Damn you Ghostcrawler!!), why on Azeroth should we (people with one or multiple 80s) have to pay for "old weather flying" when we've already paid for flying, epic flying, and the original, c-prefixed "cold weather flying?" And if 250g is such a trivial fee, then why charge it at all? It's not a goldsink, which makes sense for economic reasons, and it's not free, which would make the most sense, after flying in Outland and Northrend. Did the folks who went to Northrend suddenly forget how to control those wacky flying mounts? Did people who don't want to go to Outland, Northrend, or the new Cataclysm zones discover after crazy, wacky, downright silly hard aerodynamic research a much, much cheaper secret to flying after Azeroth got blowed up by Deathwing?
In closing, I will tell you 2, maybe 3 things. Number one: I work nights, and we went to the bar after work, so I'm drunk right now. Number two: I work nights, and it's fun to have a reason to drink in the morning other than raging alcoholism. And, back to my original point...sweet Jesus, if anybody read this far, and I made a valid point, just reply and make me look good. I'm really not a cheap bastard, I just don't understand the 250g price. That is probably because, as I may have mentioned before, I have indulged in a bit of morning drinking, and I don't really understand what numbers mean.
Thank you, and good night Azeroth (and outlying areas).
QueenOfBlades Sep 10th 2010 1:37PM
The 250g doesn't bother me. It's the double 5,000g hits that annoy me a little. I know many folks have gold pouring out of their ears and that's ok, but now with Azerothian flying and 310% flying, everything seems a off-kilter to me. I wish they would revamp the lineup just a wee bit...
level 20 - Apprentice - 4g
level 40 - Journeyman - 50g
level 60 - Expert - 250g and "Old Weather" flying - 250g
level 70 - Artisan - 2,000g and Cold Weather flying - 1,000g
level 80-85? - 310% flying - 5,000g
So there's some kind of progression.
Dazaras Sep 10th 2010 2:56PM
The only thing I can see that this accomplishes is it cuts off people who haven't bought the expansion from using flying mounts in Azeroth. I dislike this because I won't get to fly around as soon as 4.0 hits and will have to wait until I get the expansion, but I also object because, if it does indeed require Cataclysm, it will cut off new players leveling their mains through Outland or Northrend from flying when they visit Azeroth (assuming they haven't bought all the expansions ahead of time).
I don't see any reason for this; you could make an argument for Blizzard getting paid for their work on remodeling Azeroth, but really those people flying in Azeroth without Cataclysm would be such a minority it's unlikely to be a serious issue.
Sehvekah Sep 10th 2010 4:23PM
@Dazaras
It's mostly about keeping people who haven't bought Cataclysm from being able to enter the new zones(hyjal, uldum, ect). The alternative being portals and invisible walls, I'd rather have this.
Jase Sep 10th 2010 4:28PM
I can confirm that all ground (and air) mounts scale to your highest ground and air speed respectively. I love it :)
Quark1020 Sep 10th 2010 7:18PM
@Blackfish
I don't see why i have to pay $25 for my driver's licence if i already payed $10k or so on a car. Or why i have to go through the whole licensing bit if i already payed for driving lessons!
:P but we must.
Vessol Sep 9th 2010 11:10PM
The point of Cold Weather Flying in Northrend was to help the flow of quests in the first few zones and then to make Icecrown and the Storm Peaks, which were designed for flying, more epic.
This on the other hand really has no point or reasoning. It doesn't add to content. It's also too small to be considered a gold sink such as mammoths and 310% flight speed are, but it is still large enough for many players to at least grumble about.
Rudzy Sep 10th 2010 7:40AM
Actually, it looks like it's being done to make it control method to be a Cata exclusive. Those without the Expansion will be unable to buy the skill. Also explains the trivial price.
V Magius Sep 10th 2010 9:53AM
I'm going with Rudzy on this and a little of the first post up there. 1-58 you don't really need a flying mount. Really couldn't get it anyway. With the way leveling goes and costs, you should be able to buy the flying skill somewhere within 58-80.
At that point, you can level through Northrend without flying, so you can skip Cold Weather Flying and can just get Old World Flying and a rather cheap price. If you skip CWF, there is really no excuse not to get Old World flying.
SunGod228 Sep 10th 2010 10:06AM
Magius,
You have to consider the tome of cold weather flying though if you already have an 80. I know I would be tempted to buy a tome of cold weather flying to level an alt through wrath. Questing is sooo much faster with flying.
V Magius Sep 10th 2010 10:28AM
@SunGod
That is a consideration. I was going on the assumption of a brand new character with absolutely no support. I should have put that in my original post.
Yes, if you have an 80 already in place, there is really no reason not to get each riding skill when it becomes available. I'll leave epic flying out as it is really expensive. Epic flying is nice and all, but you'll be fine if you don't buy it immediately.