Breakfast Topic: Has the time come for Outland story updates?
by Allison Robert 
Dec 16th 2011 at 8:00AM
The two that come immediately to mind are the Netherwing Dragonflight and the Ashtongue Deathsworn. What's up with the Netherwing since Deathwing's demise? Do they even know about it or what's happened with the Aspects? And what's going on with Akama now? I'd argue that he, more than Kael or Vashj or Illidan, was the greatest and most compelling character of WoW's first expansion, and he had one hell of a unique model. The brains behind the Ashtongue's high-stakes Batman Gambit (warning: TV Tropes link) has got to be up to something these days, and if Blizzard ever revamps Outland questing, I hope it gives players a peek.
Then again, that's assuming that yanking Illidan back from the dead is even a good idea to begin with (is it?) or that Outland stories can be made relevant to their modern counterparts. Thoughts, readers?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Jamie Dec 16th 2011 8:03AM
Outland sucks.
Hal Dec 16th 2011 8:58AM
If you're referencing the quest, you probably should have made it more obvious.
Kodiack Dec 16th 2011 9:12AM
Off Topic: Servers are Down ATM
Noyou Dec 16th 2011 9:54AM
It was probably battlenet that was down. After a couple min. I was able to log on.
Jack Mynock Dec 16th 2011 10:04AM
Or maybe he was being serious because Outland is pretty awful.
Todd Dec 16th 2011 10:06AM
Undead Illidan.
That is all.
Gendou Dec 16th 2011 8:09AM
Yes. If only to fix questing and streamline leveling.
razion Dec 16th 2011 8:48AM
Not to mention time-continuity issues. Yes, everything can be explained, but to most people it just isn't too obvious. For the sake of overall comprehension, updating all leveling at the same time will eventually have to be done, at some point.
Boz Dec 16th 2011 9:34AM
"If only to fix questing and streamline leveling."
So long as this is the ONLY reason it is changed. Assuming the quest and leveling designers have limited resources, though, I'd prefer Blizzard focus on original content. Let's get the hell off of Azeroth already and take the fight to the Burning Legion.
Use Outland as a staging ground, and use those Burning Legion portals to shuttle Alliance and Horde troops to the frontlines. Argus and Xoroth are entire planets just waiting to be explored.
I want the same feeling I had back when the Burning Crusade was released and you stepped through the Dark Portal for the first time into a warzone.
anuillae Dec 16th 2011 8:10AM
They've got to do SOMETHING. I mean, the whole time thing is all well and good at the moment (hahaha), but when MoP comes out, it's going to be terrible. For a new pandaren, you'll have to start off in the present, then go back to post-Cata vanilla world, then make a huge jump back to Outland, then come forward a little bit to Northrend, then forward again to Cataclysm (again), and then forward again to the present.
They can't keep going like this, srsly.
Noyou Dec 16th 2011 8:50AM
I think the story part of it could use a facelift. Thinking about it, when they updated blasted lands they had a good opportunity to do so. The only reservation I have, is how much would it set new content back. Considering the amount of time people spend in outland now, I have to think It is a low priority. Now, seeing as how they might like the 5 levels of new content model, perhaps 90-95 will come with a "back to the outland" revamp.
Kakume Dec 16th 2011 9:20AM
I'm seeing this a lot about the Pandaren starting zone, and I don't think the assumption that the Pandarens start in the present is necessarily true. The starting zone is entirely separate from the 85-90 continent of Pandaria. It could easily be contemporary with, say, the Goblin and Worgen starting zones.
Andres Dec 16th 2011 6:41PM
You know, I hadn't thought about it that way, noyou, but if they're only giving us 5 levels again they had dang well better include an update to Outland and/or Northrend. Part of their justification for Cata's relatively minimal content was "But we spent SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT revamping the Old World!" Now they will have no such excuse.
Tolkfan Dec 16th 2011 8:14AM
Remove Outland and close the Dark Portal. Revamp Northrend storyline and squeeze all of 60-80 leveling into it (so that people actually see Icecrown and Storm Peaks while leveling).
Eventually reintroduce Outland as the starting zone for the inevitable Burning Legion Returns expansion. it could also serve as a starting zone for new outland races (Arakoa, Etherals, Broken, etc).
There, problem solved :P
minduim Dec 16th 2011 8:32AM
Too much wishful thinking... I too would love to see some new playable races like the Ethereals, but I highly doubt Blizzard would just ditch the entire zone. Remaking all quests sounds more probable.
razion Dec 16th 2011 8:45AM
I'd propose something similar--do it with Cataclysm, instead.
Close off the ships to Northrend, and the Dark Portal. Give access via the Caverns of Time for nostalgic people who would like to "go back in time and revisit it".
But instead of revamping Outland or Northrend, revamp Cataclysm to support 60-80. I mean, it only makes sense, right? We have plenty of quests in Catalcysm to support it, and plenty of room. We have more than the odd zone that isn't really "used" and could really use the attention (Arathi Highlands and Silithus, anyone?).
This way when we have to "revamp" again because content is "too old", we can repeat this process and just make all leveling up to the current content within the same expansion, so we don't get any time issues or aging issues ever again, until the next five or so years.
Blacklight Dec 16th 2011 9:48AM
Wishful thinking it may be, but that's about the best idea regarding Outland I've heard in ages!
paul.morales91 Dec 16th 2011 10:05AM
Good idea, but one change: instead of making it the starting area for outland races, make it the starting zone for the new Demon Hunter hero class. Illidan returns, bringing playable Demon Hunters with him, it write itself :D
Bapo Dec 16th 2011 2:40PM
I'm sorry, but to me personally, that sounds horrifying. Azeroth is so boring and dull. If they did something like that... just... ew. And while there are a few zones not used, I don't think it could support 20 levels.
Outlands needs an update. Not a closing of an expansion.
detailbear Dec 16th 2011 8:20PM
@razion The Battle for Stromgarde. It could either be the new 60-70 or 70-80 if they reworked Northrend for 60-70.
Ashenvale is contested Level 20-25. Duskwood, Wetlands and Hillsbrad are currently safe Level 20-25 zones. Take Dun Modr for the Alliance hub, Durnholde as the Horde Hub. Thandol Span and Throadin's Wall make natural barriers. Quests or PVP can be done for control over Southshore, Hammerfall, Refuge Point, Menethil Harbor and Stromgarde.
It would only be 10 levels (or possibly 20) to rework, not 60 plus two new starting zones.