Getting to Outlands

[JamesT]

Is there only going to be one way to get to the Outlands (the portal in Blasted Lands)?

[Loriel]

AFAIK there is only one portal in Azeroth, i.e. the one in Blasted Lands - so I assume this will be the only available means of self teleportation to Outlands.

Apart from the lore, locating the entry point to Outlands in a lvl 55-ish zone also makes a lot of sense, imo. It should prevent lvl 10 lowbies from becoming confused aggro beacons in Hellfire Peninsula, and it ties the zones nicely together, lvl wise.

People heading to Outlands will probably be tempted to get the quest-based buffs before they depart, as they'll be riding through that area anyway.

So I'm guessing the nearby Horde and Alliance flight points will see a lot of traffic soon. Personally I'm more interested in learning about the reported world event that will open the Portal, and whether or not it will open on the launch day of the expansion.

In any case, expect a lot of lag and congestion in Outlands the first couple of weeks.. On PvP servers it will be mayhem squared.

[swaldman]

Apart from the lore, locating the entry point to Outlands in a lvl 55-ish zone also makes a lot of sense, imo. It should prevent lvl 10 lowbies from becoming confused aggro beacons in Hellfire Peninsula, and it ties the zones nicely together, lvl wise.


It also gives some... uh, point, to the Blasted Lands. Although I'm sure there's a lore reason for them being there, they're not really part of any of the ongoing threads of WoW stories, and are more of a "side diversion".

[JamesT]

It also seems like a time-sink having to travel there... for alliance, this means SW to BL via flight path, and then ride to the portal. Once there, if you are lucky enough to have a flying mount, I suppose you can fly anywhere quickly, but otherwise, run to flight path from portal, which looks like a bit of a hike.

Blizzard hasn't mentioned anything about a new mage teleport spell or if Locks can summon people into the Outlands... at least that I've heard. Has anyone heard anything about this?

Also, what about the cost of a flying mount?

[Loriel]

This is ofc all speculation, but I suspect many people will leave their characters logged out in Outlands most of the time. I'm assuming that there will be linked auction houses in the Alliance/Horde outposts, which means there's little motivation for them to return "home" to IF/Org.

Some will probably want to attend raids to BWL/AQ40/Naxx etc, in which case they obviously have to return home to Azeroth. Then again, the commute probably won't be that bad. Time wise it's probably comparable to an Alliance player wanting to get from Ironforge to Silithus - which can take maybe 15-20 minutes, depending on how you long you have to wait for the boat.

It would be amazing if Warlocks could summon people into Outlands, although the Warlocks themselves would probably hate it. They would be spammed by requests to summon, including assembling 25 man raids..

As a Mage I'd love to have a new "rank" of Teleport and/or Portal, but I doubt I'll be that lucky. The teleports and portals connect you to the major faction cities in Azeroth, but there are no major Alliance or Horde cities in Outlands. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they grant me that power :)

No idea on the cost of the flying mount, but you can be sure it'll be expensive. 20,000g, maybe? And possible some fancy new mats as well. The flying mount should be an accomplishment and you will have to work hard to get it (read: time sink), but this could be hard work for the hardcore guilds aiming to raid the instances only available with a flying mount. A whole lotta farmin' coming up :)

[Naolin]

Blizzard said there would be other means then the dark portal to get to outland, and your heart stone will work there as well.

Can't find the link though...

Flying mount will not be that expensive to be honest, at least not if blizzard wants to cater a wide crowd and BC is well aimed at a lot of players.
20.000g would be mad and not something that I would see as casual friendly or grind friendly or even anyone friendly.

But in the end we just have to wait :p

[Serrat]

No idea on the cost of the flying mount, but you can be sure it'll be expensive. 20,000g, maybe? And possible some fancy new mats as well. The flying mount should be an accomplishment and you will have to work hard to get it (read: time sink), but this could be hard work for the hardcore guilds aiming to raid the instances only available with a flying mount. A whole lotta farmin' coming up :)
doubt they will be that expensive since they are required to get to certain areas which can only be got to by the flying mounts

but no doubt that it will be some kind of time sink

[Dynatos]

It's probably pure speculation and rumor, so I'm taking it with a grain of salt, but I read somewhere that the new flying mounts cost less than 1k gold.

[amgyn]

The flying mount will be a quest item which will require a raid to complete.


at least thats what i heard.

[Argument]

I'm pretty sure I've read that Blizz have stated flying mounts will be cheaper than epic mounts, and also that the new Blood Elf and Draeni capitals will provide access to Outlands, though sadly I am at work and don't have time to dig up my sources.

[Naolin]

The flying mount will be a quest item which will require a raid to complete.


at least thats what i heard.

Some flying mounts, some will be drops etc. They said there would be more then one way to get a flying mount. But it's sure one of those ways will be soloable.

Well all with a grain of salt again :p everything is open to change.

[DrOsmius]

I distinctly recall a Blizz post saying that obtaining a Flying Mount will be a major milestone...and major milestones are not come by easily, certainly not just by buying it. There will no doubt be a quest and soulbound items.

[Rathun]

I'm pretty sure they also mentioned we would also be getting a second unique Heathstone or some item similar bound to Outland. Essentially you'll go to the Dark Portal at least once, but faster methods after. And yes, Warlocks can summon to Outland from Azeroth. It is logical lore wise, the portal will simply pass through the Dark Portal, which shortens the distance between Azeroth and Outland by loads, so summoning from Stormwind to Hellfire Peninsula will be the same distance as summoning from Stormwind to Tirisfal Glade.
Flying mounts will also be very cheap, Blizz wouldn't want one of the big selling points of the xpac limited to an elite with more time to grind gold than sense.

[yavvy]

I'd guess something like:
Armored Gryphon / Wyvern from faction, rep needed
Nether Drakes from quest
Specials from boss drops

[bud]

i think there might also be epic flying mounts just the way it is with land mounts right now.

[silkfire]

I think there will be a spell!! "Teleport: Outland" like Moonglade port spell, what u think?

[Shellar]

After the Portal opening event is over, all racial capitals will receive a method of transportation to Outland.

[Leviathonlx]

Blizzard has said there will be more then 1 way into Outland which I would imagine both the Exodar and Silvermoon will have portals that go to Outland that require you to first have gone through the Dark Portal to use. Not sure if anyone else mentioned this in the topic as I didn't read every post :p

[Hettar]

Ok, I'll add my grain of salt here.

I'm about 90% positive I read somewhere on the official forums that the Portal in Blasted Lands would not be the only means of access to Outland. I'm less sure about that, but I also think there was talk of portals in each capital city to outland.

Well, if that isn't solid news, then what is ? ;)