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View Full Version : Grim Batol + Dalaran, instances of the future


Nysard
22-05-2007, 01:15 PM
I wrote this earlier to take my mind of other things while i'm sat here bored, posted it in my blog but decided to give it a wack here, see what others think. Sorry if it's a bit rough around the edges, but was done in a short space of time.

/me casts "Wall of text resistance + 350 on all surrounding users"

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When I first started playing WoW way back when open beta had just finished I came across an area that left me stricken with fear and panic. I’m sure i’m not alone, for many low levels must grind away on whelps in the Wetlands and accidently venture to far west, then it hits you.

Red Dragonkin everywhere, of the elite status as well, which normally means you don’t last very long, what with being around level 25.

But, even after my swift defeat, although I do have to say I fought valiantly, well if by valiantly you mean ran a mile, windmilling my arms sobbing like a ‘lol boi’ that just realised he can’t have the name ‘Legolas’ on his Night Elf Hunter so has to settle for ‘Legolasxx’ instead.

But anyway, it was a traumatic experience for me, but not to be defeated I went back there when I hit a higher level, and even more recently when I hit the big 7 – 0.

Yes, i’m talking about Grim Batol.

Here’s some snippets from WoW Wiki about Grim Batol, so for those not interested in history and lore, scroll down now:

Taken from the History of Warcraft: Volume IV:

“Meanwhile, in the war-torn lands of the south, the scattered remnants of the Horde fought for their very survival. Though Grom Hellscream and his Warsong clan managed to evade capture, Deadeye and his Bleeding Hollow clan were rounded up and placed in the internment camps in Lordaeron. Notwithstanding these costly uprisings, the camps' wardens soon re-established control over their brutish charges.

However, unknown to the Alliance, a large force of orcs still roamed free in the northern wastes of Khaz Modan. The Dragonmaw Clan, led by the infamous warlock Nekros, was using an ancient artifact known as the Demon Soul to control the Dragonqueen, Alexstrasza, and her dragonflight. With the Dragonqueen as his hostage, Nekros built up a secret army within the abandoned - some say cursed - Wildhammer stronghold of Grim Batol. Planning to unleash his forces and the mighty red dragons on the Alliance, Nekros hoped to reunite the Horde and continue its conquest of Azeroth. His vision did not come to pass: a small group of resistance fighters, led by the human mage Rhonin managed to destroy the Demon Soul and free the Dragonqueen from Nekros' command.

In their fury, Alexstrasza's dragons tore Grim Batol apart and incinerated the greater bulk of the Dragonmaw clan. Nekros' grand schemes of reunification came crashing down as the Alliance troops rounded up the remaining orc survivors and threw them into the waiting internment camps. The Dragonmaw clan's defeat signaled the end of the Horde, and the end of the orcs' furious bloodlust.”

To me it seems that it has all the trademarks of what could, and in my opinion should be an epic instance.

I do believe that we will one day see a Grim Batol instance, maybe even in a ‘back to azeroth’ patch that see’s heroic modes for some of the higher level instances and of course the addition of one or two new instances, Grim Batol being one of them.

I’m not sure how many of you reading this will have read up on the Stratics House of Commons chat that took place last night with the Blizzard devs.
Anyway, here’s a snippet:

“Brannoc: *Medievaldragon* Will Karazhan Lower Side and the Crypt be opened in the future as dungeons? Warcraft: The Last Guardian mentioned Khadgar discovered a doorway to the bottom of Karazhan, a mirror copy in reverse of the tower above.

Tigole: Perhaps, although there are some other Old World locations we'd like to visit first. Grim Batol, Dalaran, Uldum all come to mind. We have some pretty cool ideas for future Caverns of Time instances as well.”

I know we could have expected that answer but still it at least gives hope that one day we will be gathering our forces outside of Grim Batol, Wetlands will be populated by epic mounts making the trek across the marsh lands.
Now on to my next point, Dalaran..

Yes, again, probably one of those first ‘WoW’ factors alot of people get, that huge purple bubble just sitting there.

Those of us that have played the earlier Warcraft games know of Dalaran quite well, we even get to see it destroyed by Archmonde (if your interested check this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3BxvHhz4XQ&mode=related&search=) out.)

Of course, many of WoW’s players are already associated with Dalaran through the Violet Eye faction.

A Dalaran instance would be great, and again coupled with a Grim Batol instance in a ‘return to azeroth’ patch would do the job nicely I think.
As for what would be in Dalaran, this i’m unsure. Perhaps it may just stay as its purple bubble forever and we have to venture into the Caverns of Time for a quick ruck with Archmonde, but no, that won’t work because the keepers of time won’t allow us to save Dalaran, after all their job is to preserve history, not alter it.

Regardless of what happens with both Dalaran and Grim Batol, i’m sure that we will see them eventually, more than likely to accompany Northrend in the next expansion if you are to believe the rumours, well here’s hoping anyway.

- Nysard

swaldman
22-05-2007, 01:51 PM
For other Azeroth instances don't forget Uldum, and the raid portal at the back of Darkwhisper Gorge (no idea where that goes), and present-day Hyjal of course, and probably some others that I haven't remembered (is there another prision in Stormwind after all?).

Nysard
22-05-2007, 01:59 PM
For other Azeroth instances don't forget Uldum, and the raid portal at the back of Darkwhisper Gorge (no idea where that goes), and present-day Hyjal of course, and probably some others that I haven't remembered (is there another prision in Stormwind after all?).

Uldum was mentioned in lasts night chat, along with a possible revamp(well, they said they'd like to) of Gnomer.

Of course i'm sure a lot of it was the devs giving us info that we want to hear, wether or not we'll actually see any of these places is another matter.

Still, would be nice though, populate Azeroth again, although suppose that would leave an empty Outland, half a dozen of one, half a dozen of the other as they say.

OneMadOgre
22-05-2007, 07:50 PM
I want that whole penasula that is missing from Gilneas. Trigole had told me when I visted a few years back that was going to be expansion fodder.

Undermine could be interesting as well.

Fursphere
22-05-2007, 07:54 PM
Did you guys forget that the Emerald Dream has been talked about for over 2 years now?

Just because the Devs say "Dalarn, Grim Batal, Uldum.. etc" doesn't mean that they're going to do them ANY time soon.

Like Hero Classes and Seige Weapons in BGs... /ducks and runs

Xmcdaniel
22-05-2007, 07:58 PM
I think they are going to do a bunch of Caverns of Time stuff in the near future. At least I hope they do. I like the Azeroth lore a lot better than Outland lore. Outland has a much better design in terms of player flow though.

Fursphere
22-05-2007, 08:00 PM
#1 thing I want in WoW:

Flying Mounts in Azeroth.

Seriously. Get the graphics guys working on cleaning up the "shortcuts" they took in azeroth, so we can start flying there! The guys who worked there butts off getting hte 300% mounts are going to awnt to keep using them!

Xaintrix
22-05-2007, 08:33 PM
no way that's going to happen, they didn't want to say it and actually alluded to it a few times...but the universal truth is that it's much much cheaper to come out with new content then fixing old content

Fursphere
22-05-2007, 08:47 PM
Lets just play with an idea for a moment.

Once outlands is "spent", Blizz already says they want to get back to Azeroth, and add more content.

Possibles:

Northrend
Maelstrom
Undermine
(insert new area here)

If Northrend happens, it'll probably be the journey to level 80, maybe even beyond? Who knows.

Now, as the players are grinding there way up, questing, killing, exploring, etc... that Epic Flying mount they paid 5000G (+ hours grinding rep for the Netherdrakes!) for... they aren't going to be able to use?

Come on now. Its a major design flaw that neds to be addressed.

Xaintrix
22-05-2007, 08:55 PM
Oh I bet they'll be able to use them, in new areas developed in an expansion.

Since neither you nor I REALLY know where we're going in the next expansion, let's wait and see THEN kibitz over why flying mounts can fly over one part of azeroth and not the other. Y'know.. if it even happens? : )

Kitano
22-05-2007, 08:55 PM
Now, as the players are grinding there way up, questing, killing, exploring, etc... that Epic Flying mount they paid 5000G (+ hours grinding rep for the Netherdrakes!) for... they aren't going to be able to use?

Come on now. Its a major design flaw that neds to be addressed.

You know I'd be satisfied if I could just use my epic flying mount as a land mount outside of Outland. Blizzard can say something like the magic of Outland keeps them aloft and we can ride them on the ground in Azeroth and save ourselves from having to carry 2 mounts at all time. I'm a Hunter so I already lose a bag slot to an ammo pouch/quiver so every slot counts. :undecided:

Fursphere
22-05-2007, 09:16 PM
Oh I bet they'll be able to use them, in new areas developed in an expansion.

Since neither you nor I REALLY know where we're going in the next expansion, let's wait and see THEN kibitz over why flying mounts can fly over one part of azeroth and not the other. Y'know.. if it even happens? : )

That would simply just blow me away.

You can use them in the freezing Northrend areas, but sorry... no go in the rest of Azeroth...

IMO they never should have put flying mounts into the game, until they were usable in ALL areas, not just Outlands. But thats just me and my $30 / month. Nobody cares about my opinion. :)

Nysard
22-05-2007, 09:31 PM
I've heard a bit about the Emerald Dream, in the startics chat it is mentioned one or twice, think it was Tigole who said they completly scrapped what they were doing on it because they have big plans for it.

Would be interesting to see, and a chance for Druids everywhere to bow before Malfurion, as if I remember correctly he currently resides within the dream, does he not?

Northrend for me is the odds on favourite for the next expansion, but isn't that Arthas's current dwelling? I'd hate to see us have a wack at him at level 80, but I suppose there's enough in Northrend to keep us going. The blue dragonflight alone should be quite nice, not to mention any frost wyrm's we happen to bump into.

Who knows? (well, apart from the devs) but what would be nice is some clear cut answers to which way the devs are going. Can we expect more instances in Outland (more than likely) or will we eventually be able to return to azeroth to face up against powerful enemies.

Saying this i'm yet to see hardly any of the high level instances, and what with Illidan arriving tomorrow, all talk of Arthas, Red + Blue dragons, more CoT, for me personally, I can wait.

As for flying mounts in Azeroth, yes please :)

rohadric
23-05-2007, 02:44 AM
Isn´t there an instance being planned in the Ghostlands aswell? In the southeastern parts, where the trolls dwell. Atleast theres already a meeting stone in place, and you can see the instance portal behind a large wooden gate.

Zalath
23-05-2007, 10:24 AM
Isn´t there an instance being planned in the Ghostlands aswell? In the southeastern parts, where the trolls dwell. Atleast theres already a meeting stone in place, and you can see the instance portal behind a large wooden gate.

Zul'Aman, baby

rohadric
23-05-2007, 01:02 PM
Yep, thats it. :grin: