New Content Patch Before WotLK

According to Eyonix on the official forums:

With the release of Wrath of the Lich King approaching, we wanted to provide you with some important information. In preparation for the expansion, we will be issuing a new content patch in the coming weeks. Much like the patch made available shortly before The Burning Crusade's release, this content patch is designed to bridge current game content with that of the expansion and will contain some exciting changes and additions.

We have outlined some of the larger features scheduled to release with the patch below:

New class spells and talents
Stormwind Harbor
Barbershops in capital cities
Zeppelin towers outside of Orgrimmar and Tirisfal Glades
Two brand-new Arenas featuring challenging new layouts, terrain hazards, and moving obstacles
Guild calendar
Hunter pet skill revamp
New profession: Inscription

As mentioned above, this is not a comprehensive list, just some of the major highlights. We’ll post the full patch notes as soon as they’re available. Regarding Inscription, please note that all Burning Crusade players will be able to select Inscription as one of their two professions and level up to a skill level of 375 with it. Upon the release of Wrath of the Lich King, players who purchase and install the expansion will be able to continue leveling in Inscription and the other professions beyond 375.

I find alot of this interesting, and it is quite similar to the 2.0 patch before Burning Crusade. Getting our new talents will make raiding more interesting, the specs being more defined. I also think allowing Inscription into the game early is going to make herb prices go through the roof, so get your herbers out there to stockpile, and sell the day the patch hits. Make alot of extra gold that way.

News: WotLK Cinematic is up!

Go drool...

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/intro.xml

News: Vanity Pet and Mount Changes

"We’re pleased to announce a convenient upgrade to the way that mounts and vanity pets are handled in Wrath of the Lich King.

Players will be able to “learn” a mount or non-combat pet much like learning a spell, recipe, or new ability, and these creatures will then show up on a new Pet tab within the Character Info section of the interface. Players will be able to access and preview their learned mounts and vanity pets through this tab.

Once learned, the pet icon or mount icon will no longer appear in bag spaces or bank spaces. This inventory space will be made available once again for other adventuring needs. Pets can still be set to hotkeys by dragging them to the hotkey bar, much like any other spell or ability."

Some new information coming out of the WotLK beta, and a blue post. I think this is a great change, as it will open up at least 3 slots in my bag (vanity pet, ground mount, flying mount), and alot more in others.

News: Worldofwarcraft.com splash page

A new splash page shown on the World of Warcraft community frontpage shows an interesting new graphic. What looks to be the runes from Frostmourn radiate from the main page.

Since the World Wide Invitational is being held in Paris, France this weekend, I predict this will be the street date for Wrath of the Lich King. Before anyone gets excited, Blizzard is well known for changing street dates. If I were a betting man, and I am, I would say that WotLK will be out between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They will blow right through that date, and release in mid-Janurary, much like The Burning Crusade.

WotLK Alpha Leaks Part 1

This weekend, a version of the Alpha client for Wrath of the Lich King was accidently released, and boy is Blizzard pissed. Doing a Google search for the information, after hearing about it on The Instance, left me with a bunch of dead links and "Blizzard said, 'Stop That!'" posts I was frustrated. Then I came across WotLK Information Wiki.

NOTE: I don't expect to get a C&D from Blizzard, but the links in this post may not work much farther past the time this post was made. Be warned.

NOTE 2: SPOILER WARNING! This post will be full of WotLK spoilers. If you don't want to know whats coming up in the new expansion, outside of what Blizzard spoon feeds you, then I ask that you move on to the next thread. SPOILER WARNING!

First up, is a great video of some awesome shots of the towns and scenery from WotLK. I like the light effects from the lighthouses. Here is another great video from Caverns of Time: Stratholm. This place looks really cool, and I am all for adding new content to old dungeon hubs like CoT. I plan on doing a whole Deathknight column soon, so I will save my comments about the talents and spells, but I did want to dive into the juicy bits.

Warrior Spells and Talents: I have only leveled a warrior to 36, so I am not the best judge of what is good or bad here. I do like Trauma though, as I do like bleed effects. Titan's Grip is awesome, and I am curious if that means you can carry two 2-h weapons in a dual wield sort of way. Stalwart Protector is nice for tanks, but I don't think endgame tanks have many rage problems. Perhaps someone can fill me in on that.

Mage Spells and Talents: My Mage, Obret (70 Dranaei Mage [Frost]) is going to love Shatter Sheild. Any way to AOE mobs around me is going to be great. Frostfire Bolt is an excellent way to have another tool against mobs that are resistant to your normal spec.

Tommorow in Part 2, I'll look at Druids, Warlocks and the Enchanting skill through 450.

News: New WotLK Information, 2 Sources confirm!

I learned today, through MMO-Champion, and others, about two news stories out in the WoW world today. Eurogamer has a story about WotLK, as does Gamespy.

Some interesting tidbits:

• All dungeons will have both 10-man, and 25-man components. In other words, everyone will get to experience the content. Better rewards are given for 25-man raids. Heroic 5-mans will return.
  
• Vehicles in WotLK will have realistic physics, and can hold up to 6 players at a time.
• A new winged dungeon called the Nexus, which will include 70 and 80 5-mans, as well as raid content.
• Arthas will have multiple forms, starting out in Dragonblight, but moving into a dungeon of his own during the final patch of WotLK, similar to Sunwell Plateau.
• Dinosaurs. Need I say more?
• Blast from the past: Kolbolds, an "insane" Scarlet Crusade, Argent Dawn, the Scourge, Venture Company, and more make a return.
  
• Inscription will use Herbalism, and create Glyphs that modify your spells. Each player will have 4 major, and 2 minor Glyphs.
  
• Death Knights will start at level 55, and are plate wearing tanks or dps. Any player who has a toon 55 or higher can create one Death Knight per server.
  

There is a lot more info in the two articles. Feel free to comment about what you like, and don't like about the preview. Would love to hear your comments.

Podcast: Instance #103 - Transplant My Dungeon

Scott Johnson and Randy Deluxe were joined this week by Curt Shilling, in an extra long episode. Curt is one of those few great guys who actually loves gaming. I know he is a future Hall of Famer, but hearing him talk about his groups and toons sounds just like me!

There was some interesting news on Naxx being updated for Wrath of the Lich King, and Tier 3 sets being removed (but the art added again as Tier 7 perhaps?). They said it would be a 25-man, but I think that is incorrect, as I seem to recall a blue post saying it would be 10-man. Like Karazhan perhaps, but for sub-80's. Looking forward to seeing Naxx.

You can listen to the show by downloading the MP3 file here.

News: Wrath of the Lich King in Alpha

The Instance, along with most other WoW news sources are reporting that the second expansion to World of Warcraft, Wrath of the Lich King has entered "Friends and Family" alpha testing. This type of testing is common at Blizzard. A number of signs are pointing towards this. The http://beta.worldofwarcraft.com address has gone active. On top of that, the Public Test Realms were taken down much earlier than normal. Could they be using this server for something else, perhaps?

I have heard speculation on the street date from August '08, to January '09. If you know nothing else of Blizzard, you should know that they take as long as needed to get the game right. If that means going through multiple release dates, then they will do it. And we will bitch about it.

Nature of the beast.

Off to go tank Karazhan on Asher. Recently changed specs, and enjoying it greatly. Will discuss further later.