Posts with tag desolace

A little while ago, we did a "Top ten most beautiful spots in WoW" post, and many commenters had an interesting request: a companion post of the ten most desolate places in WoW. We thought it was a great idea, so we're taking the suggestion to heart. This was an interesting topic to think about, because the desolate spots in WoW are the ones I tend to avoid. For the most part, I don't want to spend my fun WoW time in virtual wastelands! Then again, sometimes those deserted, eerie places have a haunting beauty all their own. Check out our list, and tell us your own favorite desolate places in World of Warcraft!

This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com.

Soon, Deathwing the Destroyer will spring forth from his exile in Deepholm and wreak havoc upon Azeroth. The world (of Warcraft) as we know it will never be the same again. Some locations will be mostly unchanged, while others will be completely unrecognizable.

One of the things I'm looking most forward to in Cataclysm is having my characters wake up in the newly changed world and experience that "Holy cow!" moment. When I get home from the midnight opening of my local game store and install the game, I want to log in at the most interesting and significant place I can. I plan on taking some time during that last night to move my characters to certain specific locales.

There are many places to choose from. Where will you log out the last time before the expansion? Will you choose a place that will experience a big change, like the bottom of the Shimmering Flats? While it might be fun to wake up underwater -- or will you be floating, or ported to the speed barge? -- there might also be a million other players who had the same idea. You may want a more secluded and original place. Other zones with big changes like Desolace or Blasted Lands might be less crowded and still provide that "whoa" factor.

I don't know that we've ever quite posted about this, but here you go: given that we're going to be losing old Azeroth forever (sometime in the next 12 months, if the guessing is to be believed), Too Many Annas is stepping up the wallpaper project, aiming to put together pictures of every single zone in the World of Warcraft. Before, this was just a bit of idle fun, turning some scenic views into desktop-sized files, but with the recent Cataclysm-ic news, this is almost a public service, saving these classic old zones from extinction. We've got time yet, surely, but if you like the way anything looks in Desolace or The Barrens, now's the time to screenshot it for good.

TMA is even taking requests, so even if you just have a suggestion for a great view, you can send it along and it'll get into the wallpaper database. Only a matter of time until the world is completely shattered; probably a good idea to admire these old zones while we can.

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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 Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.

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So Cataclysm is coming and Kisirani is already working on an in-game launch event. It's gotta mean something right? Now don't get me wrong, even with my self-confessed zombiephobia, I loved last November's zombie invasion (though, at times, it got really frustrating). So now Kisirani is officially hard at work planning a new event to herald the beginning of an Azerothian cataclysm, I can't help but wonder what she has up her sleeves for us.

Is anyone else excited? I certainly am and it gives us something to focus on during the inevitable wait. To be fair, at least Cataclysm's not scheduled for 2012! We don't have that long to wait, we could be rolling Worgen and Goblins in just under/over a year's time. That just about makes it bearable. But it also leaves us with time to think about what Blizzard will do to introduce players to this brave new world.

Hit the jump to find out what we think could well happen prior to the launch of Cataclysm.

So when I first heard about the Cataclysm, I actually sort of figured Blizzard would use a sort of phasing system on the old world: You'd start in the current old world, and at some point, you'd do a quest series that would phase you into the new, Deathwinged Azeroth similar to the way one progresses into Icecrown in Northrend. However, the word has come down: When Azeroth burns, it'll be changed for good. There's no going back. Even those who don't buy the expansion will still find themselves in Deathwing's new world.

While we're told some zones will remain relatively unscathed, almost every zone will be touched in some way, whether it be simple storyline changes or more massive shakeups from rivers of lava or shrunken coastlines or war, or even more greenery thanks to shifting water sources.

So here's my simple question: Will you miss it? Will you be nostalgic for a desolate Desolace or the massive Barrens? Will you mourn for fallen Astranaar and Auberdine? I'm sure some things will be missed more than others, but then again, change can be good. Being able to move on to new challenges and new excitements has me pretty psyched all told. But then again, what if they get rid of Lakeshire Bridge? I have been waiting a long time to see that done. When the Cataclysm comes, what will you miss? What will you be glad to be rid of?

The materials for the elixir are fairly irritating to farm in quantity, and I find myself in a lot of areas I never even leveled extensively in when I was raising my Druid main. Desolace? Paid it a visit to get some fishing done. Blasted Lands? Uh...passed through it on my way to Outland. Maraudon? Did I do that? I want to say I did, but was brought up short at learning of the existence of a scepter that allows you to bypass two-thirds of the instance. I know for sure I've never set foot in Dire Maul North, much less a Tribute Run, I'd never seen the live side of Stratholme, and I hadn't so much as clapped eyes on the Emperor in Blackrock Depths.

There's not much to say about this video other than it's beautiful. Robgee did an excellent job with his footage and color filters. While Shipwreked is technically a music video, we would say that it's a work of art.

Robgee filmed this machinima in multiple locations, including Stranglethorn Vale, Feralas, Desolace, and Nagrand. However, he manages to make them look like they're real areas, although you'll only see but a tiny glimpse of a person. For a first effort, we think he did a fine job, and look forward to his next movie!

[Via Warcraftmovies.com]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Previously on Moviewatch ...

Where would you guess this beautifully lush landscape was located? Would you believe in the very heart of grey, dismal Desolace? If you find that hard to believe, you've probably never ventured very far into Maraudon (and I can understand why you wouldn't bother -- completing the dungeon requires a marathon play session), as the heart of the instance is all tranquil pastel colors and luminous waterfalls. Pyrana of Scarlet Crusade sent this shot in, noting, "I've never seen such serene visuals anywhere else in the game."

Do you have any images of equally serene parts of the game world? We want to hear your stories (and see them!) on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

I generally don't like to post negative questions, but I think we all have a story here. Player Mementomori of the Dethecus server kicked off the discussion by picking Desolace as the worst zone in the game. He cites a badly placed graveyard and lack of decent quests. Its only redeeming value is being of comparable level to Stranglethorn Vale, so it's a good place to avoid that overrun zone.

Popular vote getters are Un'Goro (which gets my vote with those damn dirty raptors plus being so far away from Alliance cities), Azshara and Swamp of Sorrows. Even a blue threw in his two cents. CM Drysc's vote went to Shimmering Flats. Great to look at, not much to do. In fact, that seems to be the theme of most of the complaints about zones: visually appealing, but lacks significant content.

What about you? What do you consider the worst zone in the game? And why?

Reader Tkrask of Hellscream (EU) sends in this nice picture of Ranazajar Isle in Desolace with a picture-perfect sunset in the background. If you aren't familiar with the scenic Ranazajar Isle -- and I can understand why you wouldn't be, the Naga inhabiting the place aren't what you would consider tourist-friendly -- is located off the northwest coast of Desolace.

Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth.

It's not often that I run across sites I have never before seen in Azeroth, but I must admit that this is one of them. Reader Shane has sent us this interesting image of the Maraudine War Horn. This is apparently what I've missed for skipping over those centaur quests on every character I've ever created... If you want to see this sucker in game, you'll have to work your way through the Gelki clan faction quests. (And good luck with that!)

Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part.

Desolace certainly lives up to its name -- its desolate and lonely plains are a solid mass of grey. (Well, I imagine the plains aren't lonely if you happen to be a scorpid, vulture, or centaur -- but to the rest of us...!) This particular shot, courtesy of reader Chris, shows Thunder Axe Fortress, base of the Burning Blade's operations in the region.

Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part.