Wrath of the Lich-King

[kHayne]

Surprised there's no infos here about the next WoW expansion, details of which appear to be leaking thick and fast.

http://www.gamershell.com/news/40578.html
http://www.mmo-gamer.com/?p=209

Short of it (and these ARE still only rumours)
-Northrend, about the size of Outlands
-Level 80
-Fight Arthas
-unlockable Death Knight Hero class

Officially, expect it to be announced at Blizzcon in a couple days time.

Salivate with me, o ye WoWcrack addicts.

[Miktar]

Well, I think you currently represent the majority of the WoW players on this forum with it's low member rate (for now). I've noticed almost nobody is making new topics in Gaming Discussion at all, can't really figure out why. I guess nobody wants to put in the effort.

[kHayne]

Weird, since there's actually quite a sizeable WoW community in ZA, from what I can gather.
Oh wells. Then I slaver alone.

[Miktar]

I know there is a sizable WoW community in ZA - but they're not really signed up to the NAG forums, are they? :P

[Miktar]

Rumor: WoW Wrath of the Lich King FAQ?


An FAQ for the WoW: Wrath of the Lich King expansion may have leaked onto a German WoW forum earlier today after being up on the European Union WoW website late last night. If its contents are legit, players can expect:

1. Death Knight Hero Class (starting at higher level, damage-dealing tank)
2. Level 80 character cap
3. Siege weapons and destructible buildings in PVP
4. "hundreds of new recipes and thousands of new items"

But I'm not a WoW freak, so hit the jump for the entire FAQ and some bombshells that I may have missed.


FAQ for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

What are the features of the new expansion?

Wrath of the Lich King builds on the rich foundation established in World of Warcraft and The Burning Crusade, providing a wealth of new content for players to explore. The harsh, forbidding continent of Northrend, home of the Lich King and his undead minions, will be uncovered on the world map, and to contend with the new challenges found there, players will be able to advance to level 80, acquiring potent new abilities and talents along the way.

In addition, Wrath of the Lich King will introduce the death knight hero class to World of Warcraft. Once certain criteria are met, players will be able to create a new death knight character, which will start at a high level. Furthermore, player-vs.-player battles will reach a new level of intensity with the addition of siege weapons and destructible buildings, not to mention a new battleground. There will also be an abundance of new quests, dungeons, monsters, items, and recipes -- as well as a new profession, inscription -- for players to try out. The expansion will include some additional character-customization options for players as well. We'll be going into more detail on all of these features in the months ahead.

How will the death knight class fit into the game?

The death knight combines martial prowess with dark, necromantic energies. Players might be familiar with the death knight from previously released Warcraft games -- most recently, in the campaigns for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and the Frozen Throne expansion, the former paladin Arthas became a death knight and wreaked havoc across Azeroth and Northrend before fusing with the spirit of Ner'zhul to become the Lich King. The death knight is the first hero class in World of Warcraft; once certain criteria are met, players will unlock the ability to create a new death knight character, which will begin play at a high experience level. We're currently exploring various options for how the death knight will play and the types of abilities at its disposal, and we'll be revealing more information about this new class as we get further along in development.

Will the death knight have any abilities from previously released Warcraft games?

The way we portrayed death knights in past Warcraft games is certainly a source of inspiration, but we are still determining how best to capture that feel within the mechanics of World of Warcraft, and haven't made any final determinations on specific abilities.

What role will the death knight play in groups and raids?

In general terms, the death knight can be considered a type of class that combines damage dealing and tanking, but naturally it will have an array of unique abilities as well.

What races will be allowed to play death knights?

We haven't yet made a final determination about which races can be death knights. However, the class will be available to both the Alliance and the Horde.

Will there be additional hero classes in the future?

Yes, we do intend to add more hero classes in the future, but right now our focus is on the current expansion.

What is the story background of the expansion?

Players last visited Northrend in the Warcraft III expansion, when Arthas Menethil fused with the spirit of Ner'zhul to become the Lich King, one of the most powerful entities in the Warcraft universe. He now broods atop the Frozen Throne, deep in Icecrown Citadel, clutching the rune blade Frostmourne and marshaling the undead armies of the Scourge. In Wrath of the Lich King, the greatest champions of the Alliance and the Horde will do battle with the Scourge amid Northrend's howling winds and fields of jagged ice, and ultimately face the Lich King himself.

Will players actually get to encounter Arthas himself?

Players will be skirmishing with the minions of Arthas from the moment they set foot on Northrend. He will be a constant presence as players progress through the expansion content -- which will culminate in a showdown with the dread Lich King himself.

Can you discuss some of the new talents and abilities that will be available from level 70 to level 80?

As with character advancement up to level 70, players will gain access to an array of potent and exciting new abilities and talents as they make their way from level 70 to level 80. However, it's still too early to get into specifics on these.

How long will it take to advance from level 70 to level 80?

We were pleased with the pacing from level 60 to level 70 in The Burning Crusade, and we intend to take a similar approach to pacing character advancement in Wrath of the Lich King. However, the specific amount of time that it will take players to reach level 80 will vary widely based on play style.

What can you reveal about Northrend?

The first area of Northrend we're showcasing is the Howling Fjord, a region of grasslands overlooking massive cliffs at the southeastern edge of the continent. This, along with the Borean Tundra, is the front line of the war against Arthas, and players will come face to face with his minions as soon as they set foot on Northrend. Eventually, as players progress further, they will explore the Grizzly Hills, Dragonblight, and more. We'll be showing off some of these new areas in the months ahead.

What's the level requirement to enter Northrend?

Players of any level who have purchased the expansion can visit Northrend. However, all of the content is designed for players level 68 and up.

How many new dungeons will be in the expansion?

The first dungeon players will enter is Utgarde Keep, which is intended for five players around level 70. Utgarde is inhabited by the Vrykul, a Viking-like race bent on proving their strength to the Lich King, who will raise the most worthy of their warriors to serve him beyond the grave. We intend to provide a variety of dungeons comparable to that in The Burning Crusade and will be revealing more details about some of these in the months ahead.

Do you plan to continue with the 25-player model for raids?

Yes, we've been pleased with the tactics, intensity, and variety of the 25-player raid model, and plan to continue with it.

In what ways will players be able to further customize their characters in the expansion?

In addition to the numerous new character-customization options that will be available with all of the new weapons and armor added by the expansion, we'll be offering some fun ways to alter both existing and new characters with regard to dances and hairstyles, but we're not ready to go into more detail just yet.

What can you reveal about the new profession coming with the expansion?

Inscription allows the player to permanently enhance their spells and abilities and to create mysterious items of power to use, trade, and sell.

What can players expect with regard to player-vs.-player combat in the expansion?

Players will be able to take control of siege weapons and use them to destroy opposing buildings, adding a new layer of complexity to PvP battles. Naturally, we'll be providing some fun places to put these new tools to good use, and we'll be revealing more information about them in the months ahead, in addition to the new battleground content being added.

Can you give a sneak peek at the new recipes and items in the expansion?

There will be hundreds of new recipes and thousands of new items available, but we're not ready to discuss specific examples just yet.

How many zones will be in the expansion?

Northrend will be roughly equivalent to Outland in terms of size and scope.

Will there be any new cinematic scenes?

Yes, our cinematics department is hard at work preparing a new intro movie for the expansion.

Release/Availability

Do you need to own the expansion to play with friends who have it?

There will be many aspects of the expansion that will be available to all players. However, in order to experience certain content, such as Northrend, or be able to play as a death knight, players must purchase the expansion.

Will there be an open beta test of the expansion?

We have not yet determined whether the expansion will require an open beta test. If we do decide to conduct a beta test, details will be posted on the official World of Warcraft website once we've gotten further along in the development process.

When will the expansion be released? How much will it cost?

We have not yet announced a release date for the expansion set. However, we expect to announce further details, including the release date and price, on our community website in the months ahead. Please stay tuned to [link] for more information.

Will there be a collector's edition?

We have not yet made any determination about whether there will be a collector's edition of Wrath of the Lich King. We'll be announcing details such as this closer to release.

Will a Mac version be available simultaneously with the PC version?

Yes. As with all of our games, Wrath of the Lich King will be compatible with and optimized for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.

What are the system requirements?

We'll continue to ensure that the game is playable on a wide range of hardware. However, we have not made a final determination on the system requirements as yet.

Will the expansion be released globally at the same time?

We recognize that players throughout the world will be eager to experience all of the new content being added with Wrath of the Lich King, and we will make every effort to release the expansion simultaneously worldwide. However, there's always the possibility that unforeseen circumstances could delay the launch in any given region. We'll share the launch timing with players in each region as soon as the plans have been finalized.

What is the ESRB rating for the expansion?

The expansion has not yet been rated by the ESRB. However, we anticipate that it will receive the same rating that the original World of Warcraft received -- "Teen."

It's tough to see this as WoW fanboy rantings, since writing it would have required at least 20 minutes not playing the MMO.

[MrDeVil_909]

It's actually interesting that there isn't more of a WoW presence on these forums. But I suppose it really has its own community.

[RedNax]

It's actually interesting that there isn't more of a WoW presence on these forums. But I suppose it really has its own community.

I think if most of us had the time and money, we'd definitely play WoW. I'd love to play it, and I have the time but the money is a bit of a problem. I think the money is the problem for most people? But yea, thats just what I think =P

[dislekcia]

WoW has its own specialised forums. Places where people aren't ostracised for abbreviating every second word. Obviously serious WoW players are going to hang out there and in their guild forums, rather than a place that only rarely directly talks about the things they find fun...

-D

[kHayne]

@Red: money isn't an issue. Compared to what you get for a little over a hundred bucks a month (yeah, eish, that's breaking the bank hay), the three to five hundred and sometimes more otherwise spent on a single title you can often barrel through in an afternoon, well.. yeah.
Unless you're pirating your games. At which point my opinion = DIAF plz kthx.

@Dis. Well. Yes, I suppose. Some of us wowzombies are a little less one-dimensional than that though.

Anywai, ot: Blizz has officially trademarked the title, so that much is known.

[Miktar]

@Dis. Well. Yes, I suppose. Some of us wowzombies are a little less one-dimensional than that though.

And so handsome!

[kHayne]

Never mind all the sekzy voices on vent.

Oo

[Miktar]

You're a voice-man, huh?

[kHayne]

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6434/znihaahg2bbyjtb4dlujtc3bt3.jpg

*edit:
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9026/lerndedpk6.jpg

[Miktar]

Beautiful.

(Psst: Your pants are down.. I mean, Macrochan doesn't allow offsite linking)

[RedNax]

@Red: money isn't an issue. Compared to what you get for a little over a hundred bucks a month (yeah, eish, that's breaking the bank hay), the three to five hundred and sometimes more otherwise spent on a single title you can often barrel through in an afternoon, well.. yeah.

Ah well. For me (and my friends =P) money is an issue, but only because I can't afford broadband (Or lets just say my parents can't =P). But someday, I will play! *sniff*...

[dislekcia]

Nah, I'm not saying that WoW players are inferior and therefor don't want to hang out here. One of my housemates plays WoW and he's a perfectly rational human being, apart for the three hours he spends jumping up and down outside a raid entrance as a "standby healer" in case his guild needs him... He hits his guild forums the same way I hit the forums here. And, well, in general this place has never really been that welcoming of WoW - we see it differently.

-D

[kHayne]

True nuff. Seems it's more and more a case of PC gamers, Console X/Y/Z gamers... and WoW gamers. Kinda like our own little church of weird.

I still come up for air every now and then though, it merely takes a hell of a lot more to drag my interest away.

[MrDeVil_909]

I don't think it's just WoW, most MMO's are fairly detailed and need specialised forums, either in the wider community and/or focussing on the individual guilds.

When I was playing GuildWars the specialised forums were the best places for info and discussion. I can't really imagine a detailed build discussion and looking for farm groups here.

[kHayne]

And, it is officially official.

Official site:
http://worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/index.xml

Wowinsider coverage of demo at Blizzcon:
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/03/wrath-of-the-lich-king-hands-on-demo-from-blizzcon/

Teaser trailer (same as the one on the official site)
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/03/wow-moviewatch-wrath-of-the-lich-king/
*goosebumps*

What really piqued my interest...


Transform your hero's look with new character-customization options, including new hairstyles and dances.

[GeometriX]

As a semi WoW player, this does interest me. I gave up with WoW when TBC was released - just got bored really - but this could be cool. I really like the idea of taking on Arthas, and the whole Death Knight thing is intriguing.

[Tr00jg]

I also quit when BC was released... What I really loved about WoW was exploring its world. Blizz did a wonderful job at creating a unique want-to-explore world. Outland had this, but I never delved into it, but after seeing the trailer, it really looks pretty cool and "explorer-friendly", especially the scene where the couple walks through a forest with the light piercing through.

[Wiggles]

As always, Blizzard will release and outstanding product. I am a bit skeptical about the whole "Hero class" idea, but I'm sure they will make it work well, with the game and existing game world.

<3 Blizzard

[James Donaldson]

Is Black Temple also an expansion? I really like the use of the in-game engine for the trailer. I only saw a single picture for Wrath of the Lich King on Filefront -I'm guessing Arthas is finally going to do something -too bad I'll never find out what.

I've always been a fan of Warcraft...but always against World of Warcraft (odd, huh?). If the time cards (or the core games for that matter) were cheaper I'd give it a go.

Where DO you get the WoW cards from?

On another MMORPG note:
EYE OF THE NORTH AND THE GWEN MISSION PACK ARE COMING WOOO!

[Wiggles]

Is Black Temple also an expansion? I really like the use of the in-game engine for the trailer.

Black Temple was part a content patch.

[hell_rising1]

Personally i'm looking forward to Wrath of the Lich-King. I've been playing World of Warcraft for a few months shy of 2 years, and i've enjoyed most of it. Haven't had much time recently though because of matric, but thats besides the point. I like the appeal, and the inital impressions of Northrend. It just looks, you know, like a place you want to play. It makes me want to log in and level a new character, but i'm too lazy to level another character to 70.

The only complaint people seem to have is that the expansion is too soon and they haven't progressed in TBC content, let alone worrying about a new expansion full of content. But we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it, just hope Blizzard delivers some more top notch gaming with WOTLK.

[pfangirl]

Sorry guys, didn't know where else to put this seeing as the Art section is gone... This thread seemed subject appropriate, given that the boyfriend and I are fresh converts to WOW, and it inspired this latest strip:
http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/kawood/cargir24.jpg

[Miktar]

Hand position in 2nd panel awkward. o.o

But yeah, Appropriate Thread Posting +10: this is the right way to do it. :P

[Tr00jg]

Haha, great cartoon Pfangirl!

On topic:

One thing that bothers me slightly is the Hero Class idea. If I unlock it on 1 realm, will you be able to create a Death Knight on another realm?

[Mic]

It's late at night and this thread was forgotten ages ago, but instead of creating a new one I search for this one again...

When will WotLK come out here in SA?

[Paradox]

When will WotLK come out here in SA?

The real question would actually be "When will be be released?". Then you can worry about when it gets here, this is Blizzard after all.

Its just not a Blizzard game without a couple of delays :p

[Domanskip]

Still gonna be a while. Still 2.4 (Charity Scrub Patch) to come some time in the next month. Then probably 2.5 where map's, NPC's etc will be added. I'm gonna throw out 4 months as a guess.

I'm looking forward to Sunwell (new 25 man raid dungeon in 2.4) a lot now though as I'm sick to death of Illidan farming.....:(