Content Ahead

Blog Azeroth – Shared Topic for the week of February 21st, 2011
Shared Topic Idea: Content Patches of Cataclysm

Although players are still busy digging through all of the Cataclysm raid and heroic content, some are already starting to wonder what we’ll see added to the game in the 4.1 patch and beyond. While we have some hints, what do you expect to see added over the life of the expansion? How many patches? How many new dungeons? What will happen to your favorite professions? And how will the expansion’s storyline continue to unfold — and which loose ends will be wrapped up by the time the 5.0 patch is released?

– Ringo Flinthammer

I started doing some brainstorming on this topic early so that I could hopefully come up with something new and different to share with everyone. Unfortunately, I think most of my comments will be retreads… but I’m plowing ahead anyway.

4.1 – Hyjal!
The first content patch of Cataclysm is already pretty well locked up. The Firelands raid and Abyssal Maw 5-man that were discussed at Blizzcon are up on the docket. Since Hyjal is getting the raid, there is the thought that a 5-man might also be added there alongside. This would help balance the locations of 5-mans. As it stands, Hyjal has none, Vashj’ir, Deepholm, Twilight Highlands, and Blackrock each have one, and Uldum is loaded up with three. Pushing one each into Hyjal and Vashj’ir give those a boost to spread the love a bit more.

I would also expect Hyjal to get some additional daily quests to help out the Earthen Ring. They will be instrumental in the Firelands raid, and it would make sense for players to assist them in gathering materials for the battle and paving the way for the main assault on Ragnaros.

4.2 – The Great Unknown!
The second patch of the expansion is much more in question. Assuming my guesses for 4.1 are nearly in line with the truth, that would mean that 4.0 included a raid against the forces of air while 4.1 included a fight against fire. The next good step would be to have a fight against water, so I’m guessing the 5-man Abyssal Maw will lead into a raid of some sort. This may or may not include battles with Azshara, although as I heard from the WoWInsider team, Queen Azshara may be getting more spotlight in later expansions. Additionally, the War of the Ancients raid through the Caverns of Time would make sense in this patch. A smaller raid in water world would give room for a larger raid in the past.

I hope that Vashj’ir does not go the way of the dodo and remain a bland leveling zone for the entire expansion. The underwater mechanics may be bothersome to many, but the zone is beautiful and abounds with opportunities for exciting questing and dungeoning. I would hope that with a water raid, daily quests might be added in Vashj’ir to give players a reason to use their sea-ponies.

4.3 – The Empire Strikes Back!
Following the path of Wrath of the Lich King, the third major patch brought bitter failure for the mortal races. The Big-Circular-Room-Of-Death (Crusaders’ Colliseum) was an utter flop as far as the lore of Azeroth. Everybody came together to slaughter one another, and then got slaughtered by the Lich King’s forces. It was the thickening of the plot, the dip before the rise, the fall before the… rise. Whatever you want to call it, we lost, picked ourselves back up, and then fought back to victory.

Following a similar scheme, this would be a great expansion to have a raid for the major faction capitals. Deathwing comes in, stomps Orgrimmar and Stormwind, and the players have to come to the rescue and try to save as much as they can. Yes, we eventually defeat the bosses, but the cities are burning and everyone feels the loss.

To help offset the need for 5-mans, some older 5-mans could get revamped heroic versions in this expansion.

4.4 – Return of the King!
Time for Deathwing to fall. I would again expect a gated release of the raid against Deathwing. Some have suggested that Deathwing is a large enough foe to serve as the battleground himself, which would be pretty neat. However, I also agree with those who ask, “Other than Deathwing, who do we fight?” I expect that some remnants of the Black Dragonflight will still stand between us and the Aspect of Death. Further, there have to be some nefarious schemes of the Old Gods that will come out and bite us in the keister.

A raid will likely come in Deepholm, possibly another 5-man and added questing. I would also expect a faction to appear that joins some forces together (ala Ashen Verdict) which has the best of Cataclysm’s reputation gear and rewards.

5.0 – Exclamation Marks!
Just to wrap things up, I want to mention that Tol Barad will likely be getting periodic updates with the content patches just like Wintergrasp did. I would expect a new wing to open each time with a themed single boss (with minimal trash) that gives a mix of pvp and pve gear. I would also like to see some exploration of the Worgen/Goblin stories through 5-mans, possibly including a dungeon in the Lost Isles…

Looking to the future, somebody needs to step up as the new villain for the next expansion. This expansion may or may not go Titan-heavy but I could see the next expansion featuring the Titans more directly. I would also, as others have suggested, be good with the idea of stepping out into the Twisting Nether again and hitting up some sweet alien worlds. The Burning Legion also needs to rear it’s ugly head again soon, so Sargeras’ goons will be knocking on our doors again.

Regardless of what is to come, I am excited to explore the new additions and defeat the challenges that Blizzard will put in our path.

!!!

~ by Aliera on February 22, 2011.