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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsCataclysm beta removes portals from Dalaran and Shattrath
by Brian Wood 
Sep 26th 2010 at 11:27PM
This is not a terribly surprising move. With the Cataclysm expansion focusing on the old world, the Blizzard developers no doubt want the old Azeroth to feel lived-in. As long as Dalaran (or Shattrath) has convenient portals to every old-world destination, players would continue to set their hearthstones there for ease of transportation.
However, transportation around the old world is not as limited as it was back in vanilla days. Some of the new zones like Deepholm have portals back to Stormwind and Orgrimmar; those capital cities themselves have portals to Deepholm and others that are not yet active. We've also seen signs of new portals being constructed in the Twilight Highlands.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider'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 5 of 16)
mingdi9 Sep 27th 2010 2:16AM
The difference is that getting from Orgrimmar to Twilight Highlands or from Ironforge to Uldum is, in fact, actually really inconvenient. Conversely, the trip from Orgrimmar to the Undercity or from Ironforge to Stormwind is just a quick trip on a zeppelin or through the Deeprun Tram, and that's the part that is affected by the removal of the Dalaran portals.
murabayashi.harukaze Sep 27th 2010 2:56AM
Since my PC lags out when I go to Dalaran, so bad sometimes that the game actually freezes and I have to force-close it and log back in again, I've been "taking the long way" around Azeroth for quite some time now. Profession dailies, trainers, and badge vendors are needed from time to time so I have to set my hearths in Dalaran for that, but unless I *have* to go there I avoid it at all cost. I'll take the zeppelin from Orgrimmar or Undercity, I'll piece together my own flight paths to avoid flying *through* Dalaran because the lag would follow me if I didn't. The Dungeon Finder made it possible to do Violet Hold for me without needing a Warlock summon and for that I'm very grateful. Ports might be gone from Dalaran and Shattrath, but I don't think I'll be all that affected by it. I just hope Zephyr is still in the bar in Shattrath so I can get to Tanaris easily!
Utakata Sep 27th 2010 3:54AM
It's funny....
...I'm a Mage that can zip around Azeroth when ever I please. Yet, I have never lost the sense of scale of WoW.
I also play Guild Wars where you can instant portal to any city, town or village once you have discovered it. GW is far more massive of a world than WoW. I know this, because I haven't lost the my sense of scale of that game either.
Perhaps this "loss sense of scale due to portalling" is another straw man excuse that the devs are covering up for doing something stupid, while clammering around for a rational. It's not the first time they've done that.
...good one, dana.
Muse Sep 27th 2010 4:17AM
I didn't want portals to the new zones either, but got outvoted by the people who can't manage a map.
veil Sep 27th 2010 8:28AM
its worrying how people have gotten to the point of downgrading anything that doesnt agree with their viewpoint.
to dana...yes, find a different game. this is hardly a hardcore vs casual debate...don't clutch at things that arent there. this is pointing out what the game is and isn't. by most accounts, games are not designed to cater to your personal whims. this isnt burger king...you can't have it your way. im sorry to say, but blizzard doesnt give two sh*ts you have a kid. they design the game according to their criterias, goals, and agendas. of late they've been accommodating to a wider spectrum of players, but that doesn't mean that they're making ala carte requests while designing their game. if we were to take your perspective, then i by all means should be livid at the ny mta for not having toasters and microwaves installed in every ny subway car. my time is precious too...and gosh darnit i want my butter toasted bread in the morning on the way to work.
Josin Sep 27th 2010 9:20AM
@Danawhitaker: SportsNight fan?
Me too.
jair Sep 27th 2010 2:06PM
Not sure why some people feel the need to be jerks. I think Dawn brings up fair points, but it is what it is. Seeing the wonderful scenery will be great the first dozen times, but it will get old, just like it always does. Bank alts make it easier, but I hate having to switch toons constantly to set up auctions, and nothing sells while it is sitting in the bank alt's mail. While going from SW to IF is easy, not so much for Darnassus, and god forbid Exodar. I'm sure some of that will improve in Cata...
I don't like the change, but, I would hope that they will add an AH in Shatt and Dal since there won't really be any excuse not to with the portals gone. Dal will certainly not be a lagfest with the portals gone.
chyllyphylly Sep 26th 2010 11:41PM
Goodbye dalalag.
Rod Munch Sep 27th 2010 12:01AM
Hello Stormping and Latencymar! (I erm... couldn't think of one for Orgrimmar :P)
Jeffrey Sep 27th 2010 12:14AM
Lagrimmar!
Possum Sep 27th 2010 4:11AM
Use Undercity, it's small and centralised, and if you absolutely need to, there is a Zep to Orgrimmar and a transporter to Silvermoon. It's nowhere near as busy as Org.
Al in SoCal Sep 27th 2010 12:29PM
And that right there might be the reason for the change. With all the debate on whether the developers wanted us to experience the largeness of the world, or get us back to our "roots" - the real reason is probably with more new players signing up they did not want Dal to become worse than it already is.
Remove what you cannot fix apparently is the mantra of the Activision / Blizzard group - let's not forget the "fix" to WG as in "we want less people to use WG for less times throughout the day".
Maymer Sep 26th 2010 11:37PM
I do believe this was a triumph...may I even dare and say, huge success?
Damn forums...It's always hard to state my satisfaction
Eturyu Sep 27th 2010 1:28AM
They do what they must.....because they can.......
For the good of all of us. Except the ones that are mages....
Maymer Sep 27th 2010 12:44AM
greyed out for a Portal reference? oh boy, tough crowd tonight...
Finnicks Sep 26th 2010 11:38PM
If they only add a portal for one zone, it should be Uldum. That zone is far removed from any capital city. It takes a solid 10 minutes at 310% speed to fly from TB to Uldum.
And the Alliance have it worse. Theramore is 15 minutes from it.
Cephas Sep 27th 2010 12:01AM
Orgrimmar and Stormwind are getting rings of portals, most of which aren't working ATM, but there are decorations around each one that strongly indicate that there will be one for all of the new zones.
Matchu Sep 27th 2010 12:07AM
Use the still in place Caverns of time portal?
Noyou Sep 27th 2010 12:40AM
Isn't Uldum in Tanaris? Just go through the CoT portal and then fly/ride from there. As for them taking all the portals out from Dal and Shat- sucks for anyone still leveling through those zones I guess. It will be interesting to see what towns will get populated beyond SW/Org. When I was leveling my Mage I hung out in Exodar a lot. Was quieter and surprisingly once you get to know the layout it is a lot more efficient to traverse than even IF (my fav city).
Kylenne Sep 27th 2010 12:59AM
@Noyou: Back in the paleolithic era of BC, when I was still Alliance, I did just that on my old spacegoat mage main. Blessedly quiet compared to SW and IF, laid out infinitely better for me, and zero lag. Plus, it's pretty.
Nowadays, it's Silvermoon I hang out in. My friends love to rib me about it, but my connection loves me for it. What can I say, I'm a blood elf mage, it's home, and everything I need's in the Bazaar. XD