Alliance only city hub: Shrine of the Seven Stars & Vale of Eternal Blossoms

[Talen]

Bit of a shame that they're so similar, but eh.

Well, unless you want to show the Horde despoiling the Mogu temple, tearing it apart for the gems and gold and the Alliance preserving it as a measure of respect or vice versa, its probably too much to expect different maps. Someone would QQ about the difference.

EJL

[Hijiri]

Overall I'm happy with this.
When we get some random npcs and players in there people will enjoy it.
Much more in flavor with the MOP theme to have two similiar hubs compared to the previous "Sanctuary" where you have to tolerate the other faction because they are helping you defeat the greater evil.

[Atirador]

I gotta agree with the OP the supposed bank is looking awesome!

[hellboyy]

they look similar cos they are 2 parts of the 1 temple complex. there are many instances in asian architecture where they make twins or even multiples of temple buildings. alliance laid claim to 1 while horde did the other.

[Soulwind]

Also, PvP related stuff has to give very similar bases to each side, just like BGs

[Haidaes]

Wow both hubs are that close ? Oh the fun of playing the underpopulated race on my server...

[Meeka]

this is beyond epic !

thanks for sharing

edit: can anyone direct me to the horde post please ? cant seem to find it

another edit: how big is it really, considering a LOT of people will make this their new HS location, epically if there is a an AH, people will want a change of scenery.

and is it yellow,green, or blue area ? and if opposite faction comes by, will they be ported out ?

Link to the horde one: http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...-the-Two-Moons

It's HUGE. Feel free to click on the pictures above to give you a screen size idea. The building (lower and upper) certainly feels as large as the Trade District of SW imo.

It is intended to be the new hub (rather than SW or Dalaran). It's nicer, it seems to have a profession vendor/trainer area, an inn, a massive bank, and a massive AH. It still seems to be a work in progress. There is nothing up on the balconies for the alliance (especially compared to horde's) and horde actually only has one well developed balcony. So, I have no doubt they are going to add more details, NPC's, etc.

Yellow, green, or blue area? The colors shift subtly from room to room (and even within the room) depending on floor/wall/ and lighting. Some rooms have a warm orange feel, while others have a cooler blue'ish purple feel.

On another note...

They are that close to each other to promote world pvp. I'm not sure about getting ported out or how they will handle world pvp w/in the shrines.

---------- Post added 2012-05-06 at 06:09 PM ----------

I went back to take some more SN's from different perspectives to give everyone a better look/idea. Will include a few more comparisons.
Please feel free to click on them to see the larger picture.

Outside (from Palace):


Balcony with Flightmaster to left to give a scaling idea (can also see horde hub from balcony):


Main entrance from outside- the archway on the left leads to short hall -> 'profession/vendor' area
and the one on the right leads to a short hall -> inn- both have arches that connect to the inside:


Going through the left arch:


To this room (profession/vendor?):


Quick comparison to hordes to show the layout is different (and possibly not as complete):


Going through the right arch to the inn:


Close up of Alliance Inn vendor/keeper/room:


Back of inn beds!:


Quick comparison to horde's:


Back of inn (the beds are behind the 'shades')-horde:


An AH comparison:

Alliance Left Side


Horde Left Side


Alliance Right Side


Horde Right Side


Color demonstration (archway to the back right of the main room)- ultimately leads to bank:


Another hallway:


More hallways:


A different bank perspective:


Close up of bank 'teller lines':


And some Vale of Eternal Blossom's SN's <3:

Town near hubs:


Vendor with take out boxes ^_^:


Large building in back with rooster playing for tips (left):


Close up of rooster XD:


Mogu are HUGE:

[chrth]

Do the Vendors harangue you to come to their tables and buy their wares? Are the vendor prices negotiable?

If not, I fear they're not accurately portraying Chinese culture

[PBitt]

Yeah the two cities look like they share the same basic template but there are surely some differences...which is smart on Blizzard's behalf, it should be a happy medium between 'lazy Blizzard didn't design two different cities' and 'Wow total horde/alliance favoritism their city is better!'

[Donnie]

Am I the only one who wishes it didn't have an auction house? If you remember in wotLK not having an auction house in Dalaran is what made going back to the old cities worth it. Stormwind and Ironforge was just as populated as Dalaran. Same goes for Org.

It gave us variation as to where we could spend our time, now I see Stormwind getting the same treatment ironforge got in cata: abandonment. It sucks too bcause I was looking forward to Ironforge being a hotspot for player activity again, guess that won't be the case.

RIP: Ironforge, I'll never forget you.

[Snoooke]

Yesterday I had the chance to make a video of the Alliance City "Shrine of Seven Stars".

I am new and can't post Videos yet. So just search of "Shrine of Seven Stars" on Youtube.

Maybe someone else can link it here.

[Donnie]

Yesterday I had the chance to make a video of the Alliance City "Shrine of Seven Stars".

I am new and can't post Videos yet. So just search of "Shrine of Seven Stars" on Youtube.

Maybe someone else can link it here.

[Envojus]

To everyone whining about the fact that they are mirror images of themselves... Here's a thought :

They are mirrored for balance sake. Maybe we will get pvp Objectives (aka tol barad) where we will get to invade the opposite city every say 4-5 hours. If so, making the interiors equal saves blizzard from "Boohoo, invading cities is unfair, the horde has a better layout when it comes to defense!"

[Snoooke]

The EagleOwl Mage
Thanks for linking.

Envojus
I don't think there will be any pvp in those 2 cities, but i get your point. I don't mind it beeing lookalike. I think they can get a good hordish/alliance look when NPCs and players start running around the cities on live realm

[Givememop]

Can't wait to see this in person, it looks amazing . I've never really liked Orgrimmar so this will be awesome.

First post, long term reader, woot :3 .

[Gnowo]

Great improvement of graphics

[Alyngwen]

I see this, the first thing I think is.. "Minas Tirith"?

[MMOTotal]

I see this, the first thing I think is.. "Minas Tirith"?

All we need now is some guards guarding that tree and we are all set

[mvallas]

Apparently, architects are a scarce commodity on Azeroth[...]

Oh, this just opens up TONS of comments about dungeon rehashes and reusing Wyrmrest/Twilight Highland sarlac pit for a raid zone. :P

[Urti]

I'm kinda disappointed that the areas for Horde and Alliance are so similar. I'm not heart-broken or devastated over it, but I was kind of expecting more variety. I am really surprised by how close the two are though, considering the whole up-shift the faction war is supposed to take.