The design evolution of home life in the starting zones
by Michael Gray 
Dec 10th 2010 at 8:00PM
The starting zones form a player's formative thoughts about how the denizens of Azeroth actually live their lives. These first glimpses of life-as-our-characters-know-it are key to defining what it would be like to "really" live as our characters do. When you're in a starting area, you get to see the "common dwarf" in his natural habitat. (Or human, orc, troll, and sundry other races.) Of course, there have certainly been technical limitations over the years that restrict the number of widgets and sprites available to designers. But it's interesting to see how the home life of Azeroth natives have been improved over the existence of WoW.
The above picture is from Elwynn Forest. It's the home of Donni Anthania, the Crazy Cat Lady. The domicile of Ms. Anthania includes a chair, table, a couple chests, and a wardrobe. It also has a small herd of cats wandering around the floor. Interestingly, Donni is wielding a cleaver. It's unlikely that the cleaver was intended to mean Donna is hostile; instead, it's probably because she's supposed to be cooking or something. But the Crazy Cat Lady has been in the game since before there were any expansions. Technical design was a little more limited then. Let's compare this to how the blood elves lived come Burning Crusade.
By comparison, the blood elf starting zone doesn't have much in the way of single family dwellings. The above is the palatial Sunspire, which seems to double as a barracks. The decor is very exotic. While the Sunspire has seating and shelves, it has been upgraded beyond Donni's home with the addition of pillows and indoor shrubbery. Multiple soldiers and people of interest dwell in and around the Sunspire, as well as dozens of containers for weapons and potions. This definitely conveys a sense of community and organization to the Sindorei; this is a culture whose sense of being a unit far surpasses Donni's lonely cottage.
Like Donni, though, the Sunspire also has cats darting around. I guess the blood elves and humans have that in common, at least.
Like Donni, though, the Sunspire also has cats darting around. I guess the blood elves and humans have that in common, at least.
Farshire isn't technically a starting zone. It is, however, the first glimpse of normal human life you get in Northrend, so we'll use it for our example. You can see how the widgets and decorations for a living space have vastly improved since the creation of Donni's home.
The walls have purely decorative features now. A massive bear skin hangs on one wall while a stuffed boar's head is mounted on another. The writing desk has books; this is a purely cosmetic feature that speaks volumes about this space. It isn't just an area taking up space in a game world. This home in Farshire is used by people to do things, like writing letters and reading books. The orange globe is another nice touch in the otherwise bleak Northrend landscape.
All this, of course, brings us to our furry friends in Gilneas.
The walls have purely decorative features now. A massive bear skin hangs on one wall while a stuffed boar's head is mounted on another. The writing desk has books; this is a purely cosmetic feature that speaks volumes about this space. It isn't just an area taking up space in a game world. This home in Farshire is used by people to do things, like writing letters and reading books. The orange globe is another nice touch in the otherwise bleak Northrend landscape.
All this, of course, brings us to our furry friends in Gilneas.
This is a home early in the worgen starting experience. It features food, buckets, decorations, and an entire second floor that player characters can't even reach. The coloration of the walls and fireplace are deeper and more complex than what we've seen in previous years. There is a bed against one wall, clothing hung to dry near the rafters, and a dangling lantern to provide the room some light.
This Gilnean home is someplace you could absolutely live. It feels virtually "real," accepting that it's of course all merely pixels. Note the portrait hanging across the fireplace; this is a subtle, human touch that helps bring a sense of history to the home.
In Cataclysm, we're seeing more than just game updates. There have been huge leaps and bounds in the setting design that help make the World of Warcraft that much more vivid and amazing.
This Gilnean home is someplace you could absolutely live. It feels virtually "real," accepting that it's of course all merely pixels. Note the portrait hanging across the fireplace; this is a subtle, human touch that helps bring a sense of history to the home.
In Cataclysm, we're seeing more than just game updates. There have been huge leaps and bounds in the setting design that help make the World of Warcraft that much more vivid and amazing.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is 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 1 of 3)
arcaneterror Dec 10th 2010 8:08PM
First link (Starting zone) is broken. There is no "http://starting-zone".
Erin Dec 10th 2010 8:47PM
I see what you did there!
trefpoid Dec 10th 2010 8:11PM
I just luv the magical brooms in Silvermoon! the atmosphere in the city is great, it just screams sin'dorei and you can really picture how they live. Blizz has done a great job with them and with the different styles of houses everywhere :D
Ultradave Dec 10th 2010 8:18PM
Its lovely to see places revamped and a whole lot more focus put on the realistic nature of buildings and surroundings, in the outlands and pre-cataclysm azeroth we were all falling over duplicates of the same caves and buildings.
AND a quick question i hope the queue guys pick up! Love your cata guides so far but I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a must-see list of zones to level in from 0-60. I haven't been able to find any and I've heard grumblings that some of the zones just don't cut the new cultist-deathwing-lava-stricken mustard.
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me out :D
trefpoid Dec 10th 2010 8:39PM
I made a forsaken hunter the other day and got her from Tirisfal Glades to Silverpine forest, the Hillsbrad Foothills, then Southern Barrens, then Thousand Needles, then Tanaris and Un'goro. I LOVED the whole process. It was just amazing and I recommend all those zones, specially Silverpine, Hillsbrad and Thousand Needles :D gonna try a new route next alt!
Possum Dec 10th 2010 9:40PM
At this stage I think there are so many fantastic zones that its more like 'heres a few you can miss' In which case I'd like to say miss Arathi Highlands, and Dustwallow Marsh (if Horde). And while Felwood definitely got an update it's not awesome so you can probably safely miss it.
For Horde I wouldn't miss the barrens (northern or southern) or Stonetalon mountains though.
Tirrimas Dec 10th 2010 10:58PM
Azshara. Definitely go through Azshara at some point.
Ultradave Dec 10th 2010 11:00PM
Thankyou guys! I'll be doing some levelling over christmas with my twin and I wanted it to be as good as it could possible get, I've been a ay for a few months and levelling with him will be so much fun so thanks for making it more fun already!
Merry Christmas to both of you :D
yarf Dec 11th 2010 11:36AM
@Ultradave and anyone else looking for zones by level.
http://www.wowwiki.com/Zones_by_level
That link has been updated for cataclysm so it has the new zones and their levels. It's helped me a lot with my Troll Druid since my usual path of how I'd level has been drastically changed due to the changes in levels of some of the zones. Anyway, hope that helps! :D
yarf Dec 11th 2010 11:44AM
WTB edit button, but that also has a link on it to:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Instances_by_level
For those who prefer to level via instance grind, that's a good guide to kind of help you out, especially if you'll be power leveling alts through instances later on. It's sorted by the level you can enter.
They even have instances by continent. I haven't found one for battlegrounds by level, but the xp in BG's has been significantly reduced, so I wouldn't suggest leveling that route.
RetPallyJil Dec 10th 2010 8:23PM
You're absolutely right; it's only in direct comparison that it becomes clear, but every patch, every year, Azeroth gets a little more "real." I just wish they'd give the original spots like CCL's house a freshening-up.
Mr Shinra Dec 11th 2010 3:58PM
@RetPallyJil
I absolutely agree. There would be a greater deal of fusion and cohesion among the changes of Cata if not just the new stuff was made to be more detailed, but that suddenly everywhere, its just a bit more life-like.
cloudhopper013 Dec 10th 2010 8:26PM
All the homes are becoming bigger and better and more home-ey. Yay! However... it seems very few are empty. Blizzard suddenly seems to have the urge to fill every space possible with npcs, even pointless ones. It makes an RPer cry and jump for joy at the same time, all of this does. Thank god they left Ruins of Gilneas empty (unless you do Silverpine questing) and Ahn'Qiraj. ZF is covered in dancing trolls, which is sorta cool. :D
On that note, is there any way to go back to empty ol' Gilneas again once done with Silverpine questing? The city is still empty, but unless you're in the chapel, it's in a different phase from everyone else. D:
Aggra Dec 10th 2010 8:30PM
The main thing about this game that always shocks me is it's careful details. I love it. It's so crowded (in a very, very good way) with details everywhere you look. It really immerses the player in the game world.
I think the evolution of in-game racial identity and increasing the starting zone detail is really helping this game stay story-driven and immersive. One thing I'd like to see: mirrors and bathrooms? (Does everyone just relieve themselves in the forests?)
Ametrine Dec 10th 2010 8:38PM
The great thing about being a druid is you can poop anywhere.
Rai Dec 10th 2010 9:54PM
Some blasting powder is reaaally coarse.
Greenimeani Dec 10th 2010 10:02PM
Oh contraire (sp)
In Honor Hold, there is quite the humorous npc "monologue" taking place outside of an outhouse. Also, outhouses are placed near the humans' inns, but I don't recall seeing them anywhere else... All the other races must not be so... *ahem* ..."delicate"
Talbot Dec 11th 2010 12:51AM
@Greenimeani: There is an in-game cut scene reference to an Orc using an outhouse...
Possum Dec 11th 2010 12:57AM
Does a bear druid poop in the woods?
Myrkyr Dec 11th 2010 1:06AM
There's an easter egg in Starcraft 2 showing a Tauren going into an outhouse. It rockets out into space, though, so think what you will about that.