Diablo 3 - Release Launch Times, Customization, Loot Mooching, Graphics, Blue Posts

Zandalari Island Area Preview
In previous posts, on the Blizzcon Pandaria map, and in interviews, a Zandalari Island off the coast of Pandaria has been mentioned, which might be the unlabeled island in the northwest corner of the current World Map.

Important - As usual, this is WORK IN PROGRESS. The screenshots and video do not reflect the final version of the area.








Misc Beta Changes - Guild Perks, Scenarios, and more
The last few patches have added a few small but interesting things to the game.

Guild Perks
New Scenario Objectives
  • Rescue the villagers from the 6 nearby houses.
  • Defeat Vengeful Hui
  • Bring Brewmaster Bo to the Unga Ingoo Brewing Cauldron.
  • Bring 100 Jungle Brew to the Brewing Cauldron.
  • Defeat Captain Ook.
New Scenarios
  • Klaxxi Island
  • Brewmaster 04
New Guild Challenges
  • Scenario - 5 per week at 10,000 guild XP each. Rewards 125 gold.
  • Challenge Mode Dungeon - 3 per week at 10,000 guild XP each. Rewards 250 gold.



Cloud Serpent Questing Area
A previous interview mentioned that you would be able to raise your own cloud serpent through ~20 days of daily quests, which would involve things like racing. One area of Jade Forest has trainers, cloud serpents in training, race spectators, and an island right off the coast with level 90 mobs and an instructor.

There are also several NPCs that mention joining the training program after you have some more experience. One of the NPCs in this area of The Arboretum has a quest that is not accessible yet at level 87. It is likely that this area will be the area you do some of the Cloud Serpent questing in.







Leaders of Azeroth: Velen Short Story Now Available
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Not long ago, the prophet Velen and a number of draenei resettled on Azeroth, hoping to put a halt to the Legion’s murderous activities in Outland. Sensing great courage in the Alliance, the draenei pledged themselves to this noble faction.

Yet much time has passed since then. The Legion's forces in Outland have been greatly diminished. Now, Velen must guide his people into an uncertain future and decide what role, if any, the draenei will play in the Alliance.

The Seat of the Naaru's soaring energies inspired inner peace from the most bloodthirsty of warrior pilgrims, awe from even the most jaded of Azeroth's inhabitants. The figure floating before the Seat had long taken comfort from this column of Light. Velen looked out from his meditation chamber, seeking insight. . . in all the connections, great and small, where he might perceive the lines of the future. For the past several months, those lines had increasingly felt fragmented.

As the Prophet of the draenei meditated -- his legs crossed beneath him, his hands resting on his ancient knees -- the crystals that reflected his energies glowed and pulsed and swirled around him, not in patterns but in chaos. And the visions, the endless possibilities of tomorrows, assaulted him.


Blizzard Entertainment is proud to present the latest entry in the "Leaders of Azeroth" short story series: Prophet's Lesson!

Reminder: WoW Annual Pass – Last Chance
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
As adventurers gear up to battle demonic hordes with the impending launch of Diablo III, the World of Warcraft Annual Pass offer will soon close to new sign ups. If you plan on questing in both Sanctuary and Azeroth in the coming year and haven’t signed up yet, the Annual Pass is a great value that should not be missed.

You have until Monday, April 30 to sign up for the WoW: Annual Pass, which includes a 12 month subscription commitment to World of Warcraft, a free digital version of Diablo III (available when the game launches), the Tyrael’s Charger flying mount for WoW (available immediately), and other epic benefits. If you’ve been waiting for the last possible moment to sign up for the Annual Pass, this is it! After April 30, this offer will no longer be available.

Save the Children Charity Marathon
The Dragon Soul Challenge a few days ago was successful in helping to raise money for hungry children in the Horn of Africa, so we are doing it again! Nik and Kevin are going to be streaming monk leveling from 1-87 starting on Friday, April 27th at 8 PM CET

This article was originally published in forum thread: Zandalari Island Preview, Misc Beta Changes, Cloud Serpent Questing Area, Blue Posts started by chaud View original post
Comments 158 Comments
  1. ambigiouslynamed's Avatar
    so...blizz wants us to waste more time, shocking, truly shocking
  1. moveth's Avatar
    Love the cloud serpents. worth every single day we have to train them
  1. Youarefired's Avatar
    It's a shame I won't be able to summon people into the STV vortex anymore...
  1. mmocadda1d7289's Avatar
    I'd defo recommend watching Nik's stream. Watched last night and it sure was a lot of fun to watch him play but other than that, he really talks with his viewers all the time
  1. Roflomnom's Avatar
    So the stream is just a copy of what Athene is doing?

    Wth
  1. Adrim's Avatar
    Wow those are horrible perks.

    Grinding a guild to level 30 for a ten percent discount on a 100g-200g service you use periodically?

    That's garbage.

    I think Have Group, Will Travel should be limited to 2 other people, basically enough to use a summoning stone or spawn a lock summoning stone. It removes how trivial it has become, but still allows it to be useful in situations where you need to bring guild members together.

    Time Off is nice, especially with the number of people leveing Panda alts from level one. I sure hope it stacks with that racial bonus tho.

    All in all, guilds are going to be much less valuable and I don't see any reason at all to work towards 30 if that's the best they can do.
  1. Treeskee's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by ambigiouslynamed View Post
    so...blizz wants us to have the option to waste more time, shocking, truly shocking
    fixed

    Personally I'm glad they're giving people stuff to do and get us out there.
  1. Zik3l's Avatar
    Wait what, removing mass summon?!? That's one of the few good things blizzard have done lately!
  1. 4KhazModan's Avatar
    Yay, taking away the useful perks and replacing them for ones that will have NO purpose at 90. 100% rested bonus? AWESOME!
  1. Karei's Avatar
    I'm honestly not that impressed about the Guild Perk changes.
    Mixology is gone and now this. What is the point to be an Alchemist again if you don't even get any benefits out of it?
  1. BennyZee's Avatar
    I'm honestly disgusted at the guild perk changes. The cauldron buff has been a great boon to raiding and keeping the cost down. And I'm glad that the Rested experience boost helps with a max level character (which would be one of the main type of toon in a 27 guild).
  1. Landin55's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by 4KhazModan View Post
    Yay, taking away the useful perks and replacing them for ones that will have NO purpose at 90. 100% rested bonus? AWESOME!
    Alts....And people complaining about this...they told us WAY back they would be doing this, especially have group will travel. They want people to get some more travel time I guess or maybe they want to give it a class? Who knows.
  1. Ryme's Avatar
    I think the change to guild perks is to make it less daunting to create or join a new guild, right now you put yourself at a huge disadvantage by starting or joining a new guild compared to a level 25 one - so much so that many do not bother and/or feel pressured to stay in guilds that don't suit them.
  1. Sabence's Avatar
    NO! More Zandalari! I was hoping we were done with them ;/
  1. 4KhazModan's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Landin55 View Post
    Alts....And people complaining about this...they told us WAY back they would be doing this, especially have group will travel. They want people to get some more travel time I guess or maybe they want to give it a class? Who knows.
    Obviously these serve alts. But now we really don't have much benefit for being max level in a level 30 guild. Really, the only thing to look forward to is the void storage and transmog thing. As a mog-o-holic, this will save me thousands.
    But its not worth taking out chug-a-lug, and honestly, have group will travel is amazing, as a 10 man guild, you really only had 2 people summoning at the portal, it really was the same as is now, but just took longer.
  1. mmoca9bf05c4ed's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Karei View Post
    I'm honestly not that impressed about the Guild Perk changes.
    Mixology is gone and now this. What is the point to be an Alchemist again if you don't even get any benefits out of it?
    You get your 80 stat bonus from alch just like you do from every other profession ^^ or well BS engineers and JC don´t get 80 stat bonus, but you get the point
  1. darkhelmet's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Zik3l View Post
    Wait what, removing mass summon?!? That's one of the few good things blizzard have done lately!
    I kinda like the instant ports in Rift.

    ie: add some mage port npc's, roughly 1 per zone. Interact, select destination, pay the fee, and bam!

    Cutting 11 minute taxi rides to 9 minutes really isn't going to encourage people to get out and about.
  1. Suikoden's Avatar
    Those replacement guild perks are freakin' laughable.
  1. furydeath's Avatar
    It also seems guild leveling is bugged our guild went from 25 to 30
  1. Landin55's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by 4KhazModan View Post
    Obviously these serve alts. But now we really don't have much benefit for being max level in a level 30 guild. Really, the only thing to look forward to is the void storage and transmog thing. As a mog-o-holic, this will save me thousands.
    But its not worth taking out chug-a-lug, and honestly, have group will travel is amazing, as a 10 man guild, you really only had 2 people summoning at the portal, it really was the same as is now, but just took longer.
    Benefit.....Raiding/PVP end game? I guess just to spite blizzard and their new perks your whole guild could leave the guild at 90 and raid by calendar invites. A guild is not some perk whore (except for alts) it is a social group (to some degree) that plan events and work together like in raiding or pvp. And yeah have group will travel was awesome.... but oh well, maybe mass teleportation for mages? Could happen.

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