World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

[schaefe]

Alot of folks are prolly already aware, but....second expansion in da woiks!

Level Cap raised to 80
Inscription Profession
New Continent-Northrend
Hero Class: Death Knight (whatever that is)
New Quests, Dungeons (of course)

No release date, but maybe X-mas time?

Thoughts?

Sammy? :)

[Telfer]

I'll renew if the Hero Class is really different. Maybe I'll renew for a month or so if there's a cool new race. Otherwise, meh.

[sammy]

I've been following Blizzcon through all the usual sources (WoWinsider / Kotaku / etc.) and digging through all the info.

A lot of contradictory info floating out there on the Hero class--whether it's supposed to be your character that gets the class or if you "unlock" it as a class option when you create a new character. Either way, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a Magic hero class to complement this Melee hero class in the release. (Death Knight is a plate-wearing, Shadow-magic using class.) I hope the rumors are true i.e. a Death Knight will start at level 40 or above...especially if Blizz doesn't add any sub-60 content.

Inscriptions are really intriguing. Basically enchanting for your skills/spells...and here's the kicker, supposedly the inscriptions are sellable on the AH. That sound was a thousand enchanters wailing in rage. Anyways, Inscriptions could potentially be a cool way to specialize your character even more. I'm sure mages and locks are getting teh bon3rz thinking about DPS inscriptions. No word on what the base mats for Inscriptions are, but I think it would be nice if it used (primarily) enchanting mats.

Northrend is a logical choice. I know the developers have already mentioned it will be environmentally varied (not all snow) as well as allow flying mounts, but the early feedback from Con attendees is that the zones aren't graphically grabbing (ala Zangarmarsh, Terrokar, Blade's Edge, Netherstorm). It's still early obviously, but Blizz really set the bar high with the Outland zones and I'm unsure if Azerothian zones can match.

Side note to above: finally, not only does the Dalaran bubble burst, but the whole city ups and flies to Northrend and becomes a capital city? I know some folks will miss that mysterious purple bubble on their way to Tarren Mill to get ganked.

The slight info out there about the new AV-type Battleground is nice, especially as Blizz admitted they dropped the ball a bit on the architectural fairness of AV.

Despite all the hate Blizz gets some times, they really do do a bang-up job (with a few muffs here and there).

I think, though, they really need to devote some time to adding some 20-50 content. They should also consider re-tuning some of the pre-BC endgame dungeons to low- or mid-50s so folks will actually do them before hitting Outland. As most folks are casual and won't ever really see deep into Kara, or Gruuls, Serpentshrine, Black Temple or Mt Hyjal (etc.), Blizz really needs to cater to them in making the mid levels enjoyable and full of variety. But then again, I'm an alt-aholic so maybe that's just me :)

Upcoming patch stuff: Guild banks--about time. Integral voice chat--good, but then again, I hated venting with PuGs and always made an excuse not to use it unless it was almost a full-guild run of another guild. Reporting AFKs in BGs--sweet jesus, about time. I'm not sure if the mechanic is 100% foolproof, but it will definitely stop those cocksucking honor leechers from sitting in the cave... I can't remember if this is in the expansion or a future patch, but supposedly healers (re: priests) are supposedly getting some sort of "free dps" source. Hmm. Also, there are some interesting pics of a slightly retooled Shaman Enhancement talent tree. Again, no idea if it's for a patch or the x-pac

Unsubstantiated rumor stuff: as for new races, I wonder if Blizz will add some more? Supposedly Worgen image files have received updates with Worgen being given animations to sit, drink, etc.

Future expansion stuff: It would be cool they ever got around to the Maelstorm and Undermine. And if they ever did Undermine, they better damn well make the goblins a player accessible race.


now imagine how much I would have typed if I actually still played...

[Chip]

The interviews I read were pretty clear that the Death Knight hero class would be unlocked. It would not be your character that "switches".