Fail Pug posted the other day about some of the changes occurring in Cataclysm, specifically the Alliance changes. In the blog he had a bit of a crack at our beloved King Varian Wyrnn. Naturally I (badly) came to the defense of Varian which lead to the question why? Why am I a fan of the King of Stormwind? Well, my answer to the question blew out a bit so I’ve turned it into a blog.

So, why do I like Varian. Firstly, he’s the figure head the Alliance never had.  The Horde have always had Thrall and he was never just the leader of the Orcs, he was the leader of the Horde and is one of the most iconic characters in the world, up there with Arthas and Illidan. Read the rest of this entry »

Lore and Order : WoW

So, you defeated the Lich King did you? Well, he ain’t nothing compared to what you’ll be facing in Cataclysm. Deathwing is one of the most evil and powerful forces in Azeroth – and he’s coming for you.

Azeroth began with the Titans, god-like beings that shaped the lands and created life, as they had done at countless worlds before and would do for countless worlds in the future. On Azeroth, the Titans encountered battled and defeated the Old Gods, chaining them deep within the bowels of the earth.  Before leaving Azeroth for ever their final act was to appoint guardians to watch over Azeroth in their absence.  The Dragon Aspects – Alexstrasza, Ysera, Nozdormu, Malygos and Neltharion were each granted a portion of the Titans powers.

Neltharion, the Earth Warden, was Aspect of the Black Dragon flight. He continued to shape the Earth in the Titans absence, ensuring that life would continue to flourish.  As he molded the lands however, he discovered the Old Gods – or more to the point they discovered him. Read the rest of this entry »

Usually I’m not a big fan of WoW mechinima but this is truly exceptional and completely epic. It’s pretty much the story of Wrath, put together and recut and is awesome. SPOILER ALERT: If you’re still holding out on seeing the clip at the death of Arthas, stop the Part three at the 5:20 mark.

Lore and Order – WoW

My first memories of Gnomeregan are of a brave level 20 something Mage, entering it’s depths with four other brave soon-to-be heroes. None of us had been there before but we’d heard the stories. They turned out to be true. It took me six attempts on different occasions to finally clear that foul instance. Now, as Cataclysm nears, it’s time to go back. Once more into the breach dear friends…

Gnomeregan was once home to the Gnomes (hence the name). It was a city of technological wonder and prosperity. The greatest minds of the Gnome kingdom constantly improved on the city with new wonders undreamed of by other, surface dwelling, races. Tanks and bombers we’re added to the might of the Alliance and arguably the greatest technological breakthrough seen in Azeroth to date, the Deeprun Tram, was created to run from Iron Forge to Stormwind.

While all of Azeroth was battling for survival against the Burning Legion, however, an insidious attack from within befell Gnomeregan.  The Troggs, unwittingly released by the Dwarves as they delved into Uldaman, invaded Gnomergan from beneath the city, quickly overcoming the formidable defenses of the city – defenses created to prevent an attack from above, not below. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been watching the class changes for Cataclysm come through with much interest.  Paladins are the last class to get their changes, but after seeing the awesome new abilities that Shamans and Priests received, I’ve been coming up with some design ideas of my own.

Like the paladin class, the major issue for the shaman class is movement – we can’t move and heal very effectively.  By binding Divine Favor to Holy Shock and using the resulting instant Flash of Light cast, paladins can do a little bit of healing on the move – probably more than the poor old shamans with just Riptide right now.

To address this for Shamans, Blizzard have proposed a new spell:

Spiritwalker’s Grace (level 85): When this self-targeted buff is active, your spells are no longer interrupted by movement and possibly even by your own attacks. This will give shaman of all three specs another way to heal or do damage when it’s necessary to move in both PvE and PvP. Instant cast. 10-second duration. 2-minute cooldown.

10 seconds of moving and healing!  I’m sure Vok would love that right now on the Lich King fight!  It fits in really well with the spiritual, elemental side of the shaman lore as well.

So what can they do for paladins?   Read the rest of this entry »

Lore and Order – WoW

I’ve spoken previously about the draw, and fear, of Role-play. I’m also a big fan of lore in World of Warcraft, playing for the story. Today I’m going to post something different – a history of Serevok, my main. He’s been a pretty big player in the world of Azeroth and Outlands and this is his story, so far.

Serevok was found in the wreckage of the Exodar on Azeroth, after the Draenei fled from the Burning Legion in outlands. He had forgotten much of what he once knew, but what he remembered was not pleasant. The Orcs turning against his people, butchering thousands in their rampage, including his parents. The return of the Burning Legion, forcing them into hiding once more on what had been a peaceful planet for centuries. The fierce battle to take the Exodar and the frenzied flight from Draenor. The pain of leaving so many friends behind, and the realisation he had no family left.

On Draenor, Serevok had been a medicine man, a healer who could channel the spirits and cure the ill or injured. Looking around the crash site, seeing the dying Draenei, the dying land, Serevok turned his back on these healing skills. Enough, he told himself, was enough. He would help his people, but he would no longer run. They had run too long, suffered too much. He would no longer heal those that fought in battle but fight alongside them to destroy anyone that threatened the Draenei. It was time to defend, instead run from, his home.

Immediately, Serevok helped his people secure the lands around the crash site of the Exodar. To his shock he found both Blood Elves and Naga on this planet – creatures that had invaded Draenor. He learnt how to harness the powers of the spirits and used them to drive this evil away from his people. It was a long and hard road, but with fire and earth and axe he fought, no more would he see his people threatened.

In time he found that this planet had also suffered greatly – at the hands of the Burning Legion and others. These peoples, however, had not fled, but had stood and fought. The Draenei people joined this Alliance of races that refused to leave their homes. He fought long and hard, befriending these strange new races and increasing his own mastery of the spirits. Read the rest of this entry »

Lore and Order (WoW)

If you have any interest in the WoW comics, you’ll know that a new Guardian of Tirisfal is busy saving Azeroth at the moment. If you have a interest in Warcraft 3, you’ll know that Medivh was once a Guardian of Tirisfal and if you like rumors for WoW, you’ll know that the good money is on Thrall to be the next Guardian of Tirisfal. What, though, is the Guardian of Tirisfal?

3000 years ago, some 7000 years after the first invasion of the Burning Legion, the Council of Silvermoon met with the most powerful wizards of the human nations to form the Order of Tirisfal. This society’s goal was simple, although the task difficult – to prevent the return of the Burning Legion and destroy any remnants of it left on Azeroth.

To this end, one member of the Order was to be proclaimed Guardian and unimaginable power was passed to them. Imbued with the powers of men and elves, the Guardian of Tirisfal could, single handedly, face the most powerful agents of the Burning Legion and, for a time, Azeroth was safe from this threat.

Eventually, however, the Burning Legion used the Guardians themselves against Azeroth. Sargeras battled the Guardian Aegwynn in Northrend and while it appeared he was defeated, he managed the smallest of corruptions. This corruption did not touch Aegwynn in any significant way, however her unborn child was effected profoundly, unknown to any. Read the rest of this entry »

In my experimental youth I dabbled in the Horde for a month or two, but I’ve been a die-hard Alliance player for most of the game’s lifetime. This has left some pretty big gaps in my mind about what’s going on in the world of Azeroth — it’s like wondering whether people in other countries practice Christmas or something.

We’ve spent the last year shoulder-to-shoulder with the Horde in Northrend while we were taking care of the Lich King, but that’s getting wrapped up as we speak. After some years of being buddies, Blizzard has decided that, come Cataclysm, we’ll all be squarely back on the continents at each others’ throats wondering where all the beaches went, and I’ll still be wondering what’s going on with green guys.

Read the rest of this entry »

Very short blog today. By the time you read this, 3.2.2 will be live and the bell tolls for thee, Arthas Menethil. The story that began at with Warcraft III comes to it’s conclusion new stories begin. Following the defeat of Arthas will be an in game movie much like the Wrathgate.

MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT!

Below the break is the movie – enjoy if you choose to watch it, and good luck getting your kills! Read the rest of this entry »

Lore and Order (WoW)

The world is at war and no matter how some may try to escape, ultimately everyone must fight. Gilneas tried to escape the wars that have ravaged Azeroth, however the time comes when they must rejoin the Alliance, or face destruction. The Human Kingdom of Gilneas lies to the south of Silverpine Forest, ruled by the Greymane Dynasty. At the time of the Second War, Gilneas was once of the mightiest kingdoms on Azeroth, a wealth of resources and men.

The Greymane Wall

During the Second War, Lord Genn Greymane argued endlessly against the Alliance. Gilneas was a mighty kingdom and had no need of an Alliance with weaker nations to hold off the Horde. Greymane was fearful his kingdoms resources would be squandered by lesser nations.

Beset by the Horde, though, Gilneas did join the Alliance, although its contribution was token at best. Many speculate that Greymane’s reluctance can be traced back to the influence of Daval Prestor – now known to be Deathwing in his human form. Read the rest of this entry »