What is the story of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm?

While the attention of the Horde and Alliance remained fixed upon Northrend, an ancient evil has been lying dormant within Deepholm, the domain of earth in the Elemental Plane. Hidden away in a secluded sanctuary, the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing has waited, recovering from the wounds of his last battle against Azeroth, nursing his hatred for the inferior creatures that infest the surface realm…and biding his time until he can reforge the world in molten fire.

Soon, Deathwing the Destroyer will return to Azeroth, and his eruption from Deepholm will sunder the world, leaving a festering wound across the continents. As the Horde and Alliance race to the epicenter of the cataclysm, the kingdoms of Azeroth will witness seismic shifts in power, the kindling of a war of the elements, and the emergence of unlikely heroes who will rise up to protect their scarred and broken world from utter devastation.

The face of Azeroth is altered forever as the destruction left in Deathwing’s wake reshapes the land and reveals secrets long sealed away. Players will be able to re-experience familiar zones across Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, rewrought by the cataclysm and filled with new opportunities for adventure.
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What are the features of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm?

Some of the new features of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm include:

* Two New Playable Races: Adventure as one of two new races–the cursed worgen with the Alliance or the resourceful goblins with the Horde.
* Level Cap Increased to 85: Earn new abilities, tap into new talents, and progress through the path system, a new way for players to improve characters.
* Classic Zones Remade: Familiar zones across the original continents of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms have been altered forever and updated with new content, from the devastated Badlands to the broken Barrens, which has been sundered in two.
* New High-Level Zones: Explore newly opened parts of the world, including Uldum, Grim Batol, and the great Sunken City of Vashj’ir beneath the sea.
* More Raid Content than Ever Before: Enjoy more high-level raid content than previous expansions, with optional more challenging versions of all encounters.
* New Race and Class Combinations: Explore Azeroth as a gnome priest, blood elf warrior, or one of the other never-before-available race and class combinations.
* Guild Advancement: Progress as a guild to earn guild levels and guild achievements.
* New PvP Zone & Rated Battlegrounds: Take on PvP objectives and daily quests on Tol Barad Island, a new Wintergrasp-like zone, and wage war in all-new rated Battlegrounds.
* Archaeology: Master a new secondary profession to unearth valuable artifacts and earn unique rewards.
* Flying Mounts in Azeroth: Explore Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms like never before.

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Why are you revisiting the continents of Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor?

As we developed new content and expansions, we learned a lot of techniques to provide players with a better game experience–but the majority of the new content we were creating was for high-level characters only. We felt we could apply the lessons of Outland and Northrend to improve the gameplay experience while leveling in the original two continents. Imagine revisiting a familiar zone like Darkshore only to find Auberdine destroyed by the cataclysm–and then discovering entirely new towns and quests in other parts of the zone.

Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms are central to World of Warcraft lore, and we want those areas to remain an important part of the game, not just a place to train or auction. Our goal is to make questing, leveling, and the overall story more fun for new, returning, and existing players. By redesigning areas of the original continents and introducing new content that matches or exceeds the quality of Wrath of the Lich King, we can revitalize the nostalgia and coolness of Azeroth.
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How did you decide upon the two new playable races, worgen and goblin?

The community has been requesting to play as the goblins for quite some time now, and we wanted to stick with at least one race that players were very familiar with. This expansion was the perfect time to bring the goblins to the forefront and offer more insight into their past, since the catastrophic events of the expansion really hit close to home.

As for the worgen, players have been hoping to be able to learn more about them since Silverpine Forest. This is a great opportunity to explore their lore and the mysteries of the Greymane Wall. The worgen are an aggressive and beastly race, which is something you see often among the Horde races, but is unique among the Alliance races.
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Will the two new races have all-new starting experiences?

Yes, we are creating all-new level 1 to 15 starting zones for both races. Players will start their adventures with the worgen in Gilneas, which was sealed off behind the Greymane Wall. Goblin players will start on the Isle of Kezan and then head to the Lost Isles in the South Seas before joining the mainland. Each starting experience will be presented in a fashion similar to the death knight starting area in Wrath of the Lich King, and these starting zones will make extensive use of our new phased-terrain technology.
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What new race and class combinations will be available?

A: Nearly every existing race will gain access to a new class they haven’t before. Some of the new race and class combos include dwarf mage, gnome priest, human hunter, troll druid, blood elf warrior, and tauren paladin. Since one of our goals with the expansion is to make the leveling-up process feel fresh again, it made sense to introduce these new combinations as another way for players to get a new perspective on Azeroth.
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Which classic zones have been overhauled? What are some examples of changes?

Nearly all of the game’s original zones are being altered to some degree, but the extent of the changes varies by zone. For example, Darkshore is flooded and has been completely redesigned with all new quest hubs. The Barrens have been split in two; one half is for low-level players and the other is for higher-level players. Azshara is now a low-level zone for Horde players and connects directly to Orgrimmar. Players will get to explore new sections of Blackrock Spire and Blackwing Lair, and we’ve also added Heroic versions of a couple of classic dungeons, Shadowfang Keep and the Deadmines.
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Why is the level cap increasing by five levels (to 85) instead of 10 as in previous expansions?

We decided to focus on providing more end-game and maximum-level content for players. We learned a lot from Wrath of the Lich King, and want to ensure players have more content to experience right away when they reach the new cap of level 85. We’re also putting a lot of time and effort into reworking the level 1 to level 60 content. We’ve learned a lot designing the previous expansions and felt we could apply those lessons to improve the leveling-up experience. Creating alts has always been a popular pastime for players, and we wanted to ensure Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms remain a vital part of the game world.
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“What kind of updates do you have planned for talent trees? Will any other new character progression options be available? ”

“Our plan is to update all of the talent trees, in some cases dramatically, as well as add new talents where appropriate. We don’t plan to make the individual talent trees go deeper than 51 points, because we want to provide players more flexibility to pick up some talents in other trees. Instead, we’re introducing a new form of alternate character progression that we’re calling the path system. The idea is similar to talents, but rather than earning points on a per-level basis, players will earn points to assign by completing quests, defeating certain raid encounters, and completing other objectives in the game. Paths will be shared among multiple classes and themed around the Titans, creators of Azeroth, such as Aman’Thul, Aggramar, or Khaz’goroth (among others). ”
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What new content will be available for high-level players who wish to play beyond level 80?

We’re adding a number of new zones for players as they advance from level 80 to 85 in newly opened areas such as Uldum and Deepholm, the realm from which Deathwing erupted. We’re also going to have more content for max-level players (level 85 in this case) right from the start than we did in previous expansions, including optional harder modes of all our raids for players seeking additional challenge. We’ll also be adding new achievements, including guild-based achievements as part of a new guild-progression feature.
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What are some of the new zones for players level 80 and higher?

Some of the new high-level zones in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm include:

* Uldum — Unearth the answers to some of Azeroth’s greatest mysteries in the land of Uldum, a vast repository of ancient Titan knowledge.
* The Sunken City of Vashj’ir — This great lost city lies on the ocean floor and contains the entrance to the Abyssal Maw.
* Deepholm — Subterranean dangers await within the twisted caverns of Deathwing’s domain, the elemental plane of earth.
* Mount Hyjal — This land, still scarred by the battle that took place here against the Burning Legion, is home to the regrowing World Tree, Nordrassil, and contains the gateway to the Firelands.
* Twilight Highlands — The dangerous Twilight’s Hammer clan dwells here, working in the shadow of the fabled stronghold of Grim Batol.

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What’s in store for professions?

In addition to new skill levels and new recipes, we’re also considering some enhancements to existing professions. For example, we’re considering giving tailors the ability to alter certain stats on cloth gear, letting leatherworkers alter stats on leather gear, and so on. We are going to allow players to gain multiple skill points for completing some tasks. We’re also doing a pass on all craftable items to make sure they are more valuable at lower level. Most exciting, we are adding a new secondary skill, archaeology, which will allow players to collect and use artifacts from some of the ancient races of Azeroth. Archaeology also plays a prominent role in the path system.
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What new PvP features can we expect? Will there be new Battlegrounds or a world PvP zone similar to Wintergrasp?

We plan to add new Battlegrounds for players to participate in, including one called Battle for Gilneas City. We will also introduce rated Battlegrounds, which will allow players to prove their skill and earn Arena points through either Battleground or Arena gameplay. The community has been requesting rated Battlegrounds for a while, and we think it would be great to finally see who reigns supreme in Arathi Basin, Warsong Gulch, or one of the new Battlegrounds.

We’re also adding a new Wintergrasp-type zone called Tol Barad Island, which will contain new PvP objectives and combat goals. Tol Barad Island will also double as a daily quest hub, similar to the Isle of Quel’danas, when player-versus-player battles are not taking place.
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Will there be any changes to player stats such as Agility, Spell Power, and so on?

We are always looking for ways to improve how player stats work. Our long-term plan is to simplify statistics and provide a more clear understanding of their effects on healing and damage dealing. For example, Spell Power will no longer be its own statistic, and Intellect will provide its benefits instead. We also plan to make Spirit the definitive mana-regeneration statistic, in which case we would remove the mana-per-5-seconds stat from gear. Confusing stats like defense and armor penetration will likely go away. Of course, existing items will be updated to reflect these changes. We’re also adding a new stat called Mastery, which ties into a character’s existing talents and will grant a unique function for each class. A rogue, for example, might gain an extra combo point through the Mastery stat.
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How many dungeons and raids will be available when the expansion launches? Will Cataclysm keep the same 10-player and 25-player raiding structure?

There will be eight new 5-player dungeons, available in both regular and Heroic modes. In addition, we are planning level-85 Heroic versions of two of the game’s popular original 5-player dungeons, Deadmines and Shadowfang Keep.

Regarding raids, we plan to continue to offer 10- and 25-player versions of our raid dungeons. We’re currently working on four raid dungeons for Cataclysm’s launch, and each will have optional, more challenging versions available for both 10- and 25-player raids. We received a lot of feedback from the community about the amount and difficulty level of raid content available at the launch of Wrath of the Lich King, and we wanted to make sure that more high-level content was available to players of every skill level at Cataclysm’s launch.
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Is another Hero class being added to the game?

We are not planning to add a new Hero class in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. For this expansion, it was more appropriate to focus on the two new races, the goblins and worgen. We never intended to include a Hero class in every expansion. As you saw with death knights, adding a new class changes the dynamics of the game dramatically, which is not something we want to do in every expansion. We still have plans to introduce new Hero classes in the future.
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Will I be able to use my flying mount in the redesigned Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor?

Yes. While the original Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor weren’t designed for flying mounts, we’re redesigning the continents with flying mounts in mind. However, we’re still determining whether there will be any restrictions on where you will be able to fly, at what level flying will become available, or whether you’ll need to do anything to unlock it. We’ll share more details about this in the future.
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Will I need the expansion to be able to experience the Cataclysm changes?

When the Cataclysm occurs, it will occur for all players, whether they have purchased the expansion or not–you will no longer be able to play in the original version of Kalimdor or the Eastern Kingdoms. However, certain features such as the new zones, new races, and new level cap will only be accessible to players who purchase the expansion.
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Will “phasing” be used more extensively in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm?

Yes. We’ve come up with a number of new, cool ways to use phasing since we introduced it in Wrath of the Lich King, and we plan to use it more extensively to change the world as players progress. We are also now able to phase terrain, which players will see firsthand in the starting areas for the goblins and worgen. We’re also adding some UI improvements to help determine when another player is in a different “phase” from you.
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If you’re creating an entire underwater zone, are you making any changes to the way players interact with water?

Yes. We’ll be introducing some new mechanics specific to the Sunken City of Vashj’ir that address current issues with underwater movement, combat, and other gameplay mechanics.
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Will there be any updates to the graphics and changes to the minimum system requirements?

Yes, there will be incremental tweaks and updates to the graphics engine in this expansion. For example, we’ve made improvements to the way that water is rendered. We’ll announce the exact system requirements closer to the expansion’s release.

Cataclysm Goblins first appeared in Warcraft II published by Blizzard Entertainment in December 1995, and have appeared or been referenced in many sources since.

Their earliest appearance chronologically was in the War of the Ancients trilogy; Neltharion created the Demon Soul before the War of the Ancients with the help of Cataclysm goblin artificers — hinting that the goblins may be an ancient race. The Faceless of the Deep also mentions remembering when they were created, potentially hinting the involvement of the Old Gods, or at least the longevity of their servants.
Early history

Cataclysm Goblins have been around for a long time, but the creatures were reclusive. Long ago, the Cataclysm goblins were a native race of the Isle of Kezan, and didn’t have a fraction of their current intelligence. There, the race lived as slaves to the jungle trolls, mining the subterranean tunnels where the trolls didn’t like going. However, soon the goblins unearthed a mineral known as kaja’mite (a strange mineral named after Mount Kajaro). The trolls valued the mineral, using it in voodoo rituals, and forced the subterranean goblins to continue mining the mineral. The goblins soon came to sense at some basic level that the mineral held enchantments unknown to the trolls. The goblins hoarded the mineral, using it to fashion crude objects of power deep within Undermine’s twisting tunnels. However, the mineral had some unexpected side effects, it causes the goblins to grow in intelligence. Soon, Cataclysm goblins developed technology, if just crude weapons and armor.

With their increased intelligence, Cataclysm goblin cunning rose, and soon the race enacted a plan to free themselves from the trolls. In little time, the Cataclysm goblins owned the Isle of Kezan, and declared Undermine their capital. Cataclysm Goblins rapidly expanded their knowledge of technology. Cataclysm Goblins created Azeroth’s first steam technologies. Rumors are that goblin technology back then was far more advanced than current dwarven technology. Cataclysm Goblins established themselves as master technicians, selling their goods on the open market. However, the power within the kaja’mite artifacts were finite, and soon dwindled, needing to be replaced. Eventually, kaja’mite ran out altogether. Desperate, goblins spread out into the world, attempting to find any pockets of kaja’mite they might have missed. Unfortunately, over the next few thousand years, up until roughly five hundred years before the First War, the Cataclysm goblins could find no further deposits of kaja’mite and Cataclysm goblin intelligence peaked. Without kaja’mite to strengthen their minds, Cataclysm goblins were unable to reproduce their brilliant technology or properly maintain it, and their works rapidly devolved into the crude juryrigged machines of today. The world began to fear the volatile machines, and sales dropped considerably. Goblins always had a love of money, however. With the loss of their intelligence and slow degradation of their technology, goblins embraced commerce. About two hundred years before the First War, the beginnings of Trade Fleets sailed out of Kezan and into the world.
First and Second Wars

Cataclysm Goblins chose war as the perfect opportunity to cash in some gold, and began building their trade empire during the First War.By the Second War, the goblins had established themselves as the traders of the world. Then, they became exclusive partners with the Horde. A Horde ambassador ventured forth and met with a single trade prince (rumored to be the Steamwheedle Cartel, perhaps Trade Prince Steamwheedle), asking for the goblins to provide machines and technology to the orcs, in exchange for spoils and gold. In the beginning, the arrangement seemed perfect. The goblin trade prince believed that the orcs would win the war, so he found it natural to join the winning side. As the profits flooded Undermine’s coffers, the goblins expanded their slave markets. However, other goblins disagreed and remained neutral; thus, only this single trade prince and his subordinates joined the Horde. In the end, the trade prince realized his mistake and left the Horde, and the goblin race remembers the mistake and remains neutral to this day. The goblin race as a whole, in fact, is neutral. They discovered it was more profitable to play both sides against each other.

Well I’m sorry it took so long and here is the official announcement…

* Cataclysm Updates will be included to customers who purchase from July 24th 2010 onwards or have only owned our guides for less than 6 months prior to Blizzards release of Cataclysm.
The updates will include Leveling / Dungeon / Dailies & Events Guide.
* Cataclysm Dungeon Guide updates will be free to all customers who own it.
* The first 500 customers who bought our Dungeon Leveling Guide during our opening special will receive all updates for Cataclysm for free, (Dailies & Events guides will be included).
* Cataclysm updates to all Bonus Guides will be free to all customers who own it.
* Customers who have purchased our guide before November 2008 would have inherited our Lifetime Update** promise and they will receive a free update to the Cataclysm Leveling Guide and any future expansions.
* An update fee for Leveling and Dailies & Events Guide Cataclysm content will be required for all other customers that didn’t fit any of the criteria above.
* Cost will be $20 for a single guide  or $30 for both Leveling & Dailies guides  (upgrade fee will cover both Alliance & Horde)

** We used to offer Lifetime Update promise in the past however this offer was removed at the end of November 2008  and we will honor that promise for all customers who purchased our Leveling guide before November 2008.
FAQ
1. I purchased my guide after November 2008  and it says LIFETIME in the members area, doesn’t this mean I will get lifetime updates ?
This is a definition required by our Membership system so that your account would never expire and you will be able to access the product that you have purchased for life. This does not imply that you’re entitled to free lifetime updates as you would have only seen this message AFTER your purchased.  please refer to the original sales page for the complete description of what you have purchased.
2. When will the Cataclysm updates be released ?
Close to the release of Cataclysm expansion itself,  our goal is to complete the Leveling and Dungeon guide first and get you ready just before Cataclysm is released. Then we will release the updates for Dailies guide a little later.
3. The update fee cover both Alliance & Horde and I only play eg. Alliance  will there be a cheaper option for single side faction?
No sorry we will only offer the 1 price, think of it as a Bonus..  (ie. Update fee for Alliance will come with Horde update as bonus and vice versa)
4. When will the Bonus Guides be updated?
Our main focus is to complete the 3 paid in-game guides updated first and have them running smoothly 100% ,  then we will update the Bonus Guides as soon as we can.  We hope to get them done within the first couple of month of Cataclysm.
5. So if I purchase your guide right now I am 100% covered for Cataclysm?
6. What updates will I get for free if I didn’t fit any of the criteria above? ( Recently purchased or within 6 month grace period, Inherit lifetime update for Leveling guide, or First 500 Dungeon Guide customer)
* Updates to Dugi’s Guide Viewer addon are always free.
* Updates for Level 1-80 content are free ensure that all Classic, Burning Crusade and  Wrath of the Lich King content will work for you.
* Updates to all Bonus Guide that you currently own are free when they are ready.
7. What will Cataclysm updates fee cover?
Leveling Guide update fee will cover new Worgen and Goblin starting zone and the newLevel 80-85 zones.
Dailies & Events Guide update fee will cover level 85 Dailies & Events guide

World of Warcraft: CataclysmThe first thing you do when you spawn outside the gates of Orgrimmar is run in and see what they’ve done to your home. The scooped plaza of the once-ramshackle desert town is changed forever. The low-slung bank is now a menacing, fortified tower studded with black iron from which the zeppelins fly around the world; the surrounding architecture has gone from tumbledown to terrifying.
This is the new old World of Warcraft that will arrive with the MMO’s third expansion pack, Cataclysm. Areas careworn to a comforting familiarity over five years of play have been ruptured by the apocalyptic arrival of the black dragon Deathwing on the mortal plane. Adventuring and society across the original 60 levels have been reshaped by political upheaval in the wake of the successful but costly war against Arthas in last expansion Wrath of the Lich King. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Blizzard unveiled its plan to overhaul the “old world” of Azeroth, as well as add new areas taking players up to a raised level cap of 85, in immense detail at BlizzCon last year. Today, we’re at the company’s Orange County compound south of LA for a fairly nuts-and-bolts update: the headlines are the scrapping of the Paths of the Titans customisation system, more detail on the new guild levelling and Achaeology profession, structural changes to player-versus-player and raiding, and a streamlining and reorganisation of character progression across every class.

Thousand Needles: flooded.But we’ll deal with all that later, because the next thing you do is summon your flying mount and take to the skies for a view of Orgrimmar – ultimately, of the whole of Azeroth – you’ve never had before outside of the set flight paths. You can now fly everywhere, and although some of the geometry’s a bit crude up here, it’s still liberating. It’s also a great way to survey the damage.
Over in western Durotar, the network of canyons that were once home to a bunch of thunder lizards and a particularly annoying goblin are flooded. Crossing into the Barrens, the Crossroads are as they ever were, but then there’s an ugly scar across the land and in the new Southern Barrens – now a level 30 up zone for both Horde and Alliance – Camp Taurajo is in flames, Mulgore’s locked away behind an imposing gate, there’s a brooding new Orc camp and the land is riven and scarred and tangled with vegetation. There’s just so much more stuff everywhere.

Stormwind’s park district has been obliterated by Deathwing. It’s just a smouldering black scar.Further south, Thousand Needles is flooded too, the original canyon zone now deep underwater, save the bluff-top villages clinging to their pillars of rock. Sinister Twilight’s Hammer architecture has sprung up on the clifftops (the cult, instrumental to the main Cataclysm storyline, will crop up throughout the 1-60 levelling experience as well as 80-85). The salt flats have become a lake where a giant Goblin barge, besieged by pirates, dredges and prepares to resume (boat) racing with the Gnomes.
It goes on. Tanaris is half gone under the sea. Desolace’s grey wasteland harbours a riot of green regeneration and a Cenarion moonwell at its middle. The Stonetalon Mountains are almost unrecognisable. A volcano has erupted in the middle of Ashenvale forest, and Horde siege machines surround and intimidate the Night Elf encampments; new Horde Warchief Garrosh, war hero of Northrend and less peaceable than Thrall, wants to end Orgrimmar’s poverty and is happy to rape the sacred forest of its resources to that end. Azshara, dumped from beautiful but barely functional mid-level zone to a starter area for the Goblins, has been rudely scrawled over with elevated roadways for rocket-cars, and is dominated by a comically large cannon.

Capture the Flag

Twin Peaks is a new 10 vs. 10, capture-the-flag-style battleground. Much like in Warsong Gulch, players must work to dominate variable terrain, infiltrate the enemy base, and steal the enemy flag, returning it to their fortress while remaining in control of their own flag. The first faction to capture three enemy flags before time expires will win the battle.

Dominating the Terrain

Although the Wildhammer and Dragonmaw bases are virtually identical, the terrain surrounding each base is not. Players will need to work to control an asymmetrical field where the mountain peaks are divided by a valley river. A single bridge over the river serves as a choke point in the center of the map; although deep, the river can be crossed. On either side of the river sits an outpost where temporary character enhancements can be claimed. In addition, tree stumps and rocks throughout the valley create strategic points for you to use line of sight to your advantage. To prevent absolute domination by one faction through its control of the enemy graveyard, the Horde and Alliance players resurrected in Twin Peaks will spawn from one of two graveyards per faction.

Wildhammer Longhouse

Serving as the Alliance stronghold in the north, the Wildhammer Longhouse hovers above the valley, atop a series of plateaus. With three entrances to the complex, players have two primary means of reaching the longhouse: scaling the plateaus to the northwest, or using the stairwell up the middle in order to access any of the three openings. Be careful, though! Falling or being knocked off the cliff can not only cause damage, but it can also hinder a successful offensive against or defense of the base.

Dragonmaw Clan Compound

Acting as the Horde base in the south, the Dragonmaw Clan Compound sits over a body of water into which the valley’s river feeds. With three entrances to the compound, players have a few means of getting inside. One entrance on the southeast side requires riding up an incline and crossing a knee-deep river. A second entrance is through a water pipeline leading from the surrounding lake, while the main entrance can be accessed via a bridge over the waterfront. You’ll want to be aware of your surroundings when you use the main entrance, though, because players can be knocked down into the water, slowing their advance or crippling their defense.

Those who seek to control Twin Peaks will face an intense battle. The lands surrounding this ever-troubled location are key strategic strongholds of Deathwing and all of his followers. The Twilight Highlands are as rich with history as they are fraught with disaster and tragedy. Will the Dragonmaw clan, reinforced by Garrosh’s Horde, take control? Or will it be the Wildhammer dwarves, reunited with their Ironforge brethren and accepted into the Alliance, who seize the peaks?

- Cataclysm Worgen racial talent – Flayer – Skinning skills increased by 15 and lets you skin faster. Skinning knife not required for skinning.

Blizzard has used racial talents to influence professions, but this seems like a strange choice (as worgen can themselves be skinned!). Worgen do have sharp claws, however, so it makes sense that in World of Warcraft Cataclysm they should be able to skin quickly and have more skill.

- Worgen WoW racial – Two Forms – Switch to your currently inactive form. 1.5 sec cooldown.

The Alliance Worgen class in WoW Cataclysm will have an unique ability – to change their appearance! This should not be confused with Druids, however, who have different talents and abilities in each of their forms – it is purely for cosmetic appearance purposes.

- Worgen Cataclysm racial – Dark Flight – +70% run speed for 10 seconds. 3 minute cooldown

Similar to a rogue’s sprint ability, Dark Flight will give Worgen the racial talent of running very quickly on just a 3 minute cooldown. That cooldown may be changed as the Beta release approaches, because it seems a little low for such a useful racial ability.

- Worgen racial – Viciousness – +1% damage

Worgen will not just be used in PVP, so what can raiders expect from the new Alliance class? The Viciousness racial ability will see all Worgen get a 1% damage increase, which will translate nicely into damage in raids and is not to be ignored.

- Worgen WoW Cataclysm racial – Abberation – Length of Curses and Diseases reduced by 15%.

The final racial talent for Worgen in the new WoW expansion is Abberation – or a protective passive talent which will mean curses and diseases on the player will be reduced in time. Whether this will be effective in game is to be seen (the majority of curses/diseases on players in game do not reach their intended ending point anyway as they are usually cleansed). We will update you about this when we know more.

Here are some of the facts that he has shared, his insights about WoW and its future and of course what he expects from the coming World of Warcraft expansion, WoW Cataclysm.

How about this for hot new WoW Cataclysm info? One of the lead producers of World of Warcraft and one of the key driving forces behind the WoW expansion, WoW Cataclysm, has been giving a lot of interviews since the announcement was made at Blizzcon that there would be a follow-up to the most monetarily succesful game of all time and the game that has changed the face of RPGing, MMOs and computer games in general. His name is J.Allen Brack, and he joined the WoW team at Blizzard in 2005 after working on another popular MMO, Star Wars Galaxies.

WoW Cataclysm – More info revealed!

1) Lore and the WoW novels

The history of Azeroth and the stories that surround all of the Warcraft games are one of the many reasons that gamers keep coming back to WoW over and over again. This lore has been fleshed out by in game vignettes, history written online on the Blizzard site and also in literature published by Vivendi, Blizzard’s parent company. But will this tie-in with novels continue in the future? Yes, says J. Allen Brack. After the recent release of the novel ‘Rise of the Lich King’, Brack points out that the story and lore in that book closely follows that of the upcoming game, and it is likely that this pattern will continue in the future.
2) WoW’s shelf life

Many people have questioned the staying power of a juggernaut with the power of WoW. How can it possibly maintain this level of momentum after such a long time? Surely casual players will leave because of the repetitive gameplay? Surely hardcore gamers will leave because they will burn out, never to return? Not so, says Brack. He feels that the game has the potential for not sure one more expansion, but many more – saying that there is the potential for 10 more years of World of Warcraft. He was quick to add, however, that the producers are simply keeping their eye on this next expansion, and are trying to make it as enjoyable as possibly for all gamers and Warcraft players

3) Achievements – what are their future in WoW?

Achievements are a relatively new feature to WoW, but they have proved hugely popular with both casual and hardcore gamers. Unlocking new achievements and areas on the map is another way for max-level players to enjoy the game, and to give some unexpected benefits and bonuses to others. Brack points out that although Blizzard didn’t invent this particular wheel, they are on the way to perfecting it, and in further expansions of World of Warcraft, achievements will feature heavily and often. Exciting times!

4) Levelling speed – are we all too far behind 85?

The idea that there are now 85 levels to climb to get to max can be quite daunting for many. If you start a new character, even with XP boosts and rested bonuses it will still take many days and weeks to level, right? Well…maybe not. Brack mentioned that, just as with previous expansions, there will be a tweaking of the XP system which means that it will be much quicker to clear the lower levels, and it should work out about the same time as when the first game shipped (1-60) when the expansion hits (1-85). We’ll see about that! I can’t wait to Buy WoW Cataclysm and play it over the next couple of years!

5)WorgenTF? Where did Worgen come from?

The idea of having another race has always been around in the minds of the developers, but Brack pointed out that the Worgen are slightly different. They have always been a mystery in the game itself, usually hanging out with ghosts, demons and ghouls in Darkshire – but now there is another possibility – that Worgen may actually be from another dimension or time. The questline for a player will actually involve becoming a worgen (as opposed to beginning your character as one) and after you have ‘become’ a worgen you will be able to turn between your human and worgen form at will (although it has previously been pointed out that there will be no practical advantage in either form).

Stay tuned for more WoW Cataclysm info in the next few weeks!

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