Is change always good?
Cataclysm will rend the world we
know so well in the past, and pieces it back together again to create an
Azeroth that is largely unrecognizable from the one we hold so dear. Blizzard has always been releasing new information
and screenshots to give us a taste of the impending
changes. As this information has been released it’s easy to
see that Cataclysm will truly be an expansion pack unlike any other.
Players always tend to look back and
reminisce the things they are familiar with in the good old days. Wishing, hoping, and
dreaming that things had never changed. However the changes made in the past will look like mere
child’s play compared to what Cataclysm has in store for us.
Below are the exact four places we will always remember in WoW.
Orgrimmar
Orgrimmar won’t be rent off
the face of Azeroth in a fiery explosion, or engulfed in a gaping chasm
like many other locations, and in fact will remain mostly intact.
However, big changes are coming for the home city of the Orcs. Garrosh
Hellscream has taken over as Warchief and under his rule some drastic
changes have come to Orgrimmar including new construction that gives
the city a much needed visual update.
The new improved(?) Orgrimmar.
However under Garrosh more sinister changes will be taking place in the
home city of the Orcs. All non-Orc NPCs have been expelled from the
center of the city, leaving us to wonder if in the future players of
other races will even be admitted entrance.. Further proof of
Garrosh’s radical policies can be seen in the reception of
the newest members of the Horde; the Goblins. Instead of welcoming them
into the city with open arms as Thrall would have done, Garrosh has
instead isolated them to the Valley of Spirits which has been reverted
into a slum.
So while Orgrimmar will still reign as the capital city of the Orcs,
Garrosh’s changes leave the city irrevocably changed. Once a
peaceful, and beautiful (by Horde standards anyway) city that welcomed
all Horde races, the city is now tarnished almost beyond recognition by
Garrosh’s policies. Not to mention the more dire consequences
that could result from this change, as it seems these changes spell the
end of the alliance of the Horde races, and may result in war. Only
time will tell how things pan out for the Horde under
Garrosh’s rule, but these changes to Orgrimmar will leave me
wishing for the Orgrimmar of old.
The Barrens
Ah the Barrens, home of the infamous Barrens chat, the final
resting place of Mankrik’s wife, and the zone whose
name is synonymous with annoyance for most players. You may be
wondering why this zone even made the list of places we’ll
miss in Cataclysm, but take a second to look back, and dredge up those
Barrens memories you may have long forgotten and you will have your
answer.
The Barrens is the zone that everyone loves to hate, in fact I
don’t think I’ve ever met a single person who has
said “Gee, I love the Barrens!”. However this zone
being the cesspool of irritation that it is, is exactly what
makes it great. Looking back most Horde and Alliance players will find
they have some story compliments of the Barrens that will likely make
those around them groan. And while your experiences in the Barrens may
have been less than complimentary, where would we be without them? I
know my leveling experience wouldn’t have been near as
interesting without getting ganked along the road by the Alliance
patrol, or /facepalming in real life thanks to some random comment in
General Chat.
The changes to this zone are huge, with the land being literally rent
in two to create two new zones, the Alliance takeover of Camp Taurajo,
and the lush new growth thanks to the druid Naralex. These changes and
more will serve to destroy the enigma that is the Barrens. While most
people will say good riddance, I can’t help but be saddened
that new players will never again have the Barrens experience.
Southshore
Climate changes resulting from the Cataclysm that will rock the world
of Azeroth will cause the city of Southshore to be wiped off the face
of the earth by devastating tidal waves and I’m more than a
little sorry to see it go. This seemingly unremarkable town nestled in
Hillsbrad Foothills is the last Alliance stronghold located in the
zone, and is steeped in lore and history, all of which will be lost to
the waters.
With the removal of the Alliance presence from the zone, Hillsbrad will
be a far less interesting place. No more will random charges by low
level Horde being lead into the town to complete Helcular’s
Revenge, nor will unsuspecting new Horde to the zone accidentally
stumble into the town unawares. The destruction of Southshore may also
spell the end of the quaint farms across the lands as Southshore
provides their main defense they will most likely be overrun by their
enemies. Where the Allaince refugees will go is anyone’s
guess.
Shimmering Flats
These Goblins can't be happy
with the changes Cataclysm has brought to them.
The Shimmering Flats….will
be…a…LAKE?!
Nooooooo! While this zone is annoying to get to, it’s
probably one of my favorite places in Azeroth (minus the vultures and
carcasses of course) and the zone that I will miss the most. I love the
easy to complete quests, and the general feel of the zone. Not to
mention it has its very own racetrack complete with Goblin and Gnome
racers who continue to compete at high speeds despite all the racing
wreckage around them. Seriously, who doesn’t like this place?
The Shimmering Flats despite it’s desolate state gives some
life and humor to the world and Azeroth will be a darker place indeed
without it.
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