Patch 4.3 Preview - The All New Darkmoon Faire
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Step right up and prepare to be amazed!

It’s incredible! It’s unbelievable! You’ll be dazzled. You’ll be amazed! You aren’t prepared for the Darkmoon Faire, ‘cause it’s like nothing you’ve seen before! Don’t be shy now, don’t be bashful, step right up for a tantalizing glimpse of what we’ve got in store for you when patch 4.3 arrives!

That old thing?

No, no, no, Clem. The Darkmoon Faire isn’t what it used to be and it isn’t where it used to be. The management hasn’t changed but the Faire certainly has. It’s a whole new animal. Tickets? You don’t need those old tickets, just rip ‘em right up, ‘cause we’ve got new tickets! Out with the old, in with the new -- new quests, that is! Things have changed ‘round here: we’ve got an island all to ourselves now, and what an island it is. Mist-shrouded Darkmoon Island is a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. It’s a place of mystery and wonder, and you wouldn’t believe the deals we made to get it… or who we made ‘em with. But never mind that, just follow me right through here and I’ll show you what the Darkmoon Faire is all about.


All new! All spectacular!

Catch a show at the marvelous main stage or witness a dazzling fireworks display. But don’t stare too long or you might miss the stunning spectacles that surround you. Gaze in awe of our magical menagerie, get your fortune told by the amazing Sayge, go on a pony ride, experience the healthful effects of carnival food, and more!

Of course, there’s more to the Darkmoon Faire than just fantastic shows and culinary delights. You can still turn in your Darkmoon Cards, but you wouldn’t just come here for measly ol’ cards when there’s so much more to see, experience, and win. Yes, win! You like dancing bears, right? Everybody likes dancing bears. Even bears like dancing bears. How about a dancing bear… you can ride!

That’s not all! We have adorable companion pets includin’ a fez-wearing monkey, a plethora of profession recipes, toys, balloons, souvenirs, delectable carnival snacks and beverages, heirlooms for the little ones, and even replicas of long-lost suits of armor that we’re offering for your Transmogrification needs. You can also make your mark with new achievements and titles. All it takes to earn these fabulous rewards is a few Darkmoon Faire Prize Tickets and a good reputation with the carnies. How do ya get your grubby mitts on some tickets? I’m glad you asked!

Step right up! Try your luck! Everyone’s a winner!

Have we got games? You bet we’ve got games, and they’re so easy to play an orc could do it. Just head on over to the midway, buy some Darkmoon Game Tokens, and get ready to play. Easy to learn, difficult to master, anyone can play and everyone can win. Just lay your tokens down for a chance at winning Darkmoon Prize Tickets playing games like Whack-a-Gnoll, the Tonk Battle Royale, the Cannon, Ring Toss, the Shooting Gallery, and more! Five games are there to test your skills at any one time. The better you play, the easier it is to win a bucket of Darkmoon Faire Prize Tickets! Once a month, you’ve got a shot at tickets, and the fun never stops ‘cause you can play as many times as you like. But that’s not the only way to win big!


The Darkmoon Faire Field Guide

It’s your passport to riches, my friend. Y’see, we need a few things -- just some junk, nothing valuable to a big hero like you. We call ‘em Darkmoon Artifacts, and there’s all different kinds to be found all over Azeroth. The Darkmoon Field Guide helps you discover artifacts while you’re explorin’ dungeons, slayin’ monsters, and fightin’ in Battlegrounds. Without a guide, you’d never notice ‘em, and it’ll help keep you focused on the stuff we want. Whether you just reached level 10, or you’ve crushed the biggest baddies in the land, we need somethin’ from nearly everybody. You won’t have to go too far out of your way to get ‘em and each month you’ll get a new opportunity to seek out an Artifact for us. What do you get out of the deal? Don’t you worry, you’ll get your cut. When you bring a Darkmoon Artifact back to us, you’ll get valuable experience (it builds character, you know!), earn a better reputation, and possibly earn precious Darkmoon Faire Prize Tickets too!

Oh, did I mention that you can use the Field Guide to get to Darkmoon Island whenever the Darkmoon Faire’s monthly extravaganza is up and running?

So, you want to work in show business?

Maybe you’d like a little peek behind the scenes, eh? Want to see what it takes to run the greatest show on Azeroth? Well, it’s not all sunshine and cotton candy, my friend. There are beasts to heal, food to cook, and buildings to fix. If you’re willing help keep the show going and put your skills to work, you’ll not only impress us, but you can get experience, Darkmoon Prize Tickets, and even polish up your skills -- up to five skill points per profession, per Faire week, if you’re good at what you do!


Darkmoon Deathmatch!

Like any good carnival, the Darkmoon Faire has a shady side. You can leave the skilled labor to the suckers and go for a faster score instead. If you’ve got the minerals, the Darkmoon Deathmatch offers an experience unparalleled since the Gurubashi Arena. Pitmaster Pei has a big old treasure chest just brimming with goodies and Darkmoon Faire Prize Tickets that he’ll drag out into the Darkmoon Deathmatch Pit every three hours or so. Everybody wants it, so if you want a piece of the action you’ll just have to jump in and prove that you’re the toughest one in the Pit.

Oh, the Faire is perfectly safe, Clem. Just don’t wander into the woods.

Now, now, don’t panic. Darkmoon Isle might be a bit spooky, but except for the Deathmatch Pit, the Faire itself is completely safe, I guarantee it. It’s a sanctuary even, and we won’t let anybody’s beef ruin the fun. The shadowy woods surroundin’ the fair are another thing entirely, though. I wouldn’t say that people have disappeared into those woods never to return, but, well… people disappear into those woods never to return. So watch your step , and your back, when you leave the Faire. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!


Mark your calendar

Now that you know how amazing the new Darkmoon Faire is, you won’t want to miss it. Just take a look at your in-game calendar, and the Darkmoon Faire dates will show up there on the first week of every month. Darkmoon Faire barkers and displays will also pop up in every capital city to herald the arrival of the Faire. Silas Darkmoon himself has even started up a mailer to make sure that no one misses out!

Hitch a ride

During the first week of each month, convenient Darkmoon Faire outposts with Darkmoon Portals will appear in Elwynn Forest and Mulgore, offering free rides to Darkmoon Island and the Faire!

Darkmoon Mages in capital cities and on Darkmoon Island will also be around to help you get between the Faire and various capital cities. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, so naturally you’re obliged to compensate them for their services.

The all new Darkmoon Faire is coming to Darkmoon Island in patch 4.3. Don’t miss it!
This article was originally published in forum thread: Patch 4.3 Preview - The All New Darkmoon Faire started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 472 Comments
  1. CaptainArlong's Avatar
    There better be a carnie title you can earn. And when you have it on, you get a buff that says "Smells like boiled cabbage".
  1. shimargh's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Scyo View Post
    Monkeys with feces are classic. Hope they can throw them too, preferably at other pets and sparkly ponys. Your character should wear a sign while the pet is out though.
    "fez-wearing"
  1. mmoccf2a3d971d's Avatar
    Not pleased that this is only during the first week of each month. At least that's what I understood from the article.
  1. Bombkirby's Avatar
    Some one mentioned that opinions are fine and all....and they are...its just... when the STRONGEST reasoning people can come up with is... "It lukz like itz for little baby kidz!" I just facepalm.... If you want to share an opinion you HAVE to explain why you have the opinion. There needs to be a "because!" You can't just say "It sucks!" And have people understand your point! You have to go into detail and say "It sucks because of X and there has been a lack of X and they shouldn't be adding more of X since there is already so much of X anyways!"
  1. Pasture's Avatar
    I appreciate what they were going for but this blue post was a little bit too much in character. With something like this you want actual hard details.
  1. Divr's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Bombkirby View Post
    Exactly my thoughts. Seems like its in the Gilnean woods..... but who knows?
    I think you guys missed the word ISLAND mentioned many times.
  1. Wishblade's Avatar
    Ok, now I'm properly excited for 4.3, this looks like amazing fun, can't wait to try it out! =D
  1. Bombkirby's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vewen View Post
    Not pleased that this is only during the first week of each month. At least that's what I understood from the article.
    DMF has always been that way. Think of this as an upgrade to the faire. Besides....if we could do it every day we'd get worn out! This is kind of like dessert! If we had it all the time it wouldn't be special!
  1. Fryseboks's Avatar
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqqXkbSFXAEThis did it
  1. Bombkirby's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Divr View Post
    I think you guys missed the word ISLAND mentioned man times.
    No I did not miss it. I said it looks like GILNEAN woods. Not Gilneas. I mean it seems to be around Gilneas. It might be off the coast. It has the same trees as Tol Barad which is just off the coast too.

    EDIT: ...man times? XD Yes I suppose it is QUITE manly!
  1. Destruktion's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vasz View Post
    If it's not fluff, what is it? And why would they try and resurrect something that 1% of the playerbase cares about. I visit the DMF once per expansion, for my trinket, and that's it. I could walk past DMF at peak time and its empty every single time. It's like Brewfest, packed on day one; but empty after that ... and that's once a year.
    Fine, it's fluff. Fluff was what made the game interesting, what put the "World" in World of Warcraft.

    My only concern is that DMF will expire at the end of the expansion. I really hope it's designed in a way to keep it relevant throughout the rest of WoW, like the cards.
  1. Calamari's Avatar
    Wow. WOW. Skrew another tier of bosses and trash mobs, -this- is the kind of stuff that keeps my attention. The faire seems creepy as hell though but what carnival doesn't. Being able to buy old content armor models is a nice idea too. I'm curious where they are going with the dark forest, my batm4n senses tingle and say it will be a wintergraspish high level farming hotspot of some sort. Maybe even a mysterious new 5 man somewhere in there..?
  1. ThreeLions's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by bombkirby View Post
    "and even replicas of long-lost suits of armor that we’re offering for your transmogrification needs."

    i'm sold! :d
    damn straight!
  1. Bombkirby's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Archaos View Post
    Or the 3rd Island of Tol Barad that's been there since Cata came out? The terrain does look the same as TB/Gilneas.
    Exactly what I'm thinking. Around that area.
  1. Llamaeggs's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by onleal91 View Post
    I wonder how this will affect the reputation gains for those that are going for "The Insane".
    Wondering the same, and QQing that I just finished my DM rep grind last faire...
  1. Divr's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Calamari View Post
    Wow. WOW. Skrew another tier of bosses and trash mobs, -this- is the kind of stuff that keeps my attention. The faire seems creepy as hell though but what carnival doesn't. Being able to buy old content armor models is a nice idea too. I'm curious where they are going with the dark forest, my batm4n senses tingle and say it will be a wintergraspish high level farming hotspot of some sort. Maybe even a mysterious new 5 man somewhere in there..?
    Its where Deathwing is hiding....you know, so we can only attempt the raid one week a month so that the content will last till the next expansion. :P
  1. mmocbfaacb1cad's Avatar
    Looking forward! i also love the fact that the area looks 'Gilnean' has that spooky and haunted feel.
  1. Scratches's Avatar
    They had me with fez-wearing monkeys and mini-games (something this game desperately needs), but then they flushed all that away by keeping the Faire available for only one week a month.

    Oh well, moving on...
  1. ManOfMalice's Avatar
    This great, thanks a lot Blizzard for the efforts. Wow, I've never said that before, haha.
  1. Propane's Avatar
    The PvP fight sounds like fun.

    Nobody was doing Gurabashi Arena anymore.

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