There is certainty that a new World of Warcraft expansion will be announced at BlizzCon. The question is what will it be? There are signs. Hints here and there.
1. Jeff Kaplan revealed on 2003 that the Emerald Dream was in development.
 Blizzard Quote: |
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 Tigole: “Actually, we have some pretty cool stuff planned for druids. They will definitely have a link to the Emerald Dream. There’s also a zone on the way to the peak of Mount Hyjal called Moonglade that will be very core to druid characters. Our *master of Warcraft lore*, Chris Metzen, is never short on ideas when it comes to the druid class. I was running around the Emerald Dream last Thursday… you guys are in for a treat. The level designers are doing a killer job.“—06 Dec 2003Tigole: “The Emerald Dream is shaping up to be extremely cool. We don’t want to preview any of that content yet as it is *endgame* and we want some surprises for players. The zone is massive and beautiful. And once the content team is done with it, it will be exceedingly challenging >=]“ —06 Dec 2003 Nethaera: “As for the Emerald Dream, there are no plans for anything as of yet but it is a consideration for the future. The Emerald Dream opens up a lot of different opportunities and the Burning Crusade is definitely not going to be the last of the expansion packs. There are many different places and story lines that can be pursued. The story is going to keep growing and as it does so, people will get to experience it.“—09 June 2006 |
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2. We have the questline of the Fallen Paladin in A Story of Valor—where we briefly visit the Nightmare in the Emerald Dream.
3. World of Warcraft: Stormrage novel is on bookstores due Feb 23, 2010 —- World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde introduced various questlines and topics of the Burning Crusade. That novel was launched on December 23, 2006. The Burning Crusade expansion was launched on Jan 16, 2007. World of Warcraft: Night of the Dragon introduced the Twilight Dragonflight on November 18, 2008—barely 5 days after Wrath of the Lich King launched. StarCraft: The Dark Templar launched on May 22, 2007—two days after StarCraft II development was revealed in South Korea. The point being, marketing of the novels seem to tie-in with the game’s topic at the moment they are launched. Would it be too far-fetched to link World of WarCraft: Stormrage with a new expansion that introduces the Emerald Dream and the Archdruid Hero Class?
4. Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson revealed a lot of what will be revealed in World of WarCraft: Stormrage during our video interview.
5. The Icing On The Cake comes in the form of a unexpected revamp of the Druid Forms‘s model and texture graphics. Last time we saw this was to introduce the new model of Sylvanas, Varian Wrynn, Arthas, Varimathras and other characters. But also when the Blood Elves were introduced with the Burning Crusade.
6. The World of Warcraft comic book showed recently Broll Bearmantle departing to Teldrassil after Fandral summoned his aid. The Nightmare is the reason. During our interview with Walter Simonson and Louise Simonson, they mentioned some of their characters would be showing up in other authors’ novels. From that I imagine Broll is showing up in STORMRAGE.
MAELSTROM: THE SOUTH SEAS
There are other factors floating around for possible expansions. The South Seas is a very strong candidate. Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson admitted there were BIG plans for Gilneas. We have seen the introduction in Wrath of the Lich King of the WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness famous Sea Turtle used to transport players between the Tuskarr sea ports. Let’s not forget the hand-drawn Isle of Kezan map on a chalkboard that appears in the official World of WarCraft: Burning Crusade Collector’s Edition Behind the Scenes DVD and the Nazjatar map.
The Tuskarr quest Return to Atuik warns of an impending doom from the Sea—(Return to Elder Atuik at Kamagua. He and the rest of my people must be warned of this impending doom that approaches from the sea.). A quest that simply ends and no follow up seems to come out of it. The novel by Christie Golden, World of WarCraft: Arthas shows Arthas the Lich King having a moment of insight with visions of the near future. (Spoilers).
We get a special fishing pole from the Tuskarr that allows underwater breathing. We also get the fishing rare drop: Sea Turtle Mount. Now we can breath underwater and travel underwater at 60% speed. But ... what for? There is no underwater content at level 80 to justify their inclusion other than for the fun factor. A South Seas and Maelstrom themed expansion would be very welcomed by fans. Who wouldn’t want to reach Nazjatar in Sea Turtle submarines, fight South Sea Buccaneers, to visit an underwater Gnomish-dome city, swashbuckling Battlegrounds, and to fight Queen Azshara?
Could it be the Emerald Dream? Or the South Seas? Why one or the other, when it can be both? Take for example the Burning Crusade. Was it only about Outland? Nope. It introduced Outland, Quel’Thalas, Azuremyst, Bloodmyst and later the Quel’Danas Isle (Sunwell Plateau) to boot. Would it be too far-fetched to see the Emerald Dream and the South Seas together in the next expansion? ... maybe. Hopefully we will find out at BlizzCon 2009 through August 21-22.
Disclaimer: This is speculation based on pieces of facts, and it is not a guarantee that the next expansion is based on the Emerald Dream. Treat this entertaining article as a unconfirmed rumor when you discuss it with other fans and guild members.
Guess I’ll go through the points. Personally I believe the Maelstrom is next.
1. Well a lot of things were in development since 2003. For example in the initial game they wanted to have Northrend, Undermine and even a part of Outland in the game.
2. I think that is looking too into the quest. For example we can look into the Riplash and Borean Tundra storyline being altered to not deal with the Naga since they wanted to give us a break from the Naga before an entire expansion is devoted to them.
3. The part about the archdruid in that interview was the interviewer interjecting his opinion and was not actually a quote by Kaplan.
4. This is actually a pretty good hint for a Emerald Dream expansion. Course then again it isn’t like Malfurion and the night elves have little connection to the Maelstrom and Naga.
5. That seems like it belongs in 4.
6. The re-work of druid forms has been something that was in the planning for years and they just have finally gotten to the ‘lower priority’ thing.
Now sure in the end the expansion could be the Maelstrom and there could be small bits of the Emerald Dream but I think an entire expansion would be better for both of them.