Howdy all.I can't help but think that Cataclysm is going to amount to something more on the lines of a "Mini-Expansion" rather than a full blown expansion like Burning Crusade or Wrath.
Sure, we have a great deal of new content coming out such as two new races being released, and the level cap is raising. Just by five levels though instead of ten?
Also, there really isn't all that much being added as far as new zones are concerned. A lot of old world material is being redesigned, yes. But actual new zones? Hyjal, Twilight Highlands, South Seas, Gilneas, and a few others.
It doesn't seem to amount to what we were given in BC or Wrath, yet it's enough to amount to its own software.
I say this because I wonder, will Cataclysm take less time to release than Burning Crusade or Wrath of the Lich King?
The amount being added to the map is roughly the same as the other expansions, I believe, it's just scattered around the map instead of clumped together.
ReplyDeleteGilneas, Lost Isles, Hyjal, Uldum, Twilight Highlands, Deepholm, Sunken City...that's seven new zones.
Outland also has seven zones. Northrend has ten, but one is Wintergrasp, which is kind of in its own category (and it sounds like Tol Barad will be similar in Cataclysm), and another is Crystalsong, which is pretty darn empty.
Add to that all the "new" content being added to the vanilla map, with the terrain changes to the Barrens, Hillsbrad, etc, and that sounds like a pretty full expansion to me.
I do agree, however, that Cataclysm will be setting the stage pretty directly for the expansion that will follow it. I predict that the storyline surrounding the Sunken City of Vashjir and the Absyssal Maw will directly lead into the level 85-90 content, and at 90 we'll raid Queen Azshara's palace. Doing it this way, they get people more familiar with the lore, foreshadow future developments, and iron out the game mechanics of underwater mounts, combat, quests, maps, etc.
We were talking about this in the guild yesterday and yeah, I can see that the amount of change being coupled with the new zones will equal your average expansion. Coolness. That gives us time to get ready for it, though I am eager to play a gobby mage already.
ReplyDeleteOne gripe I have with the way they're doing things, it makes it sound like Queen Azshara is mightier than Deathwing. I can't say I agree with that really. :(
It just doesnt seem to sound as much, as they arent adding it in as a continent but as zones scattered around the map. a new hero class would be nice, but death knights were (are) overpowered and so i cant quite see them putting another one in this expansion. 5 levels disappoints me. In the far future are we goong to be going up 1 level per expansion? to be honest, i dont care about race/class combinations or new races. I want a new class, new primary profession and a new continent.
ReplyDeleteAlso, they're redesigning the whole thing for flying mounts which is going to take time. Amazon.co.uk (the font of all knowledge) has a release date for it for 3rd september 2010. I can get bored of wow in that time if some changes arent made soon...