Night Elven advances in Cataclysm:

[ravenmoon]

Cataclysm sees the first true offensive of the night elves since WC3, we've seen Blood elf and Draenei rising in TBC, classic had so much focused on Orcs, Humans, Trolls, Forsaken. Wrath was a Forsaken/Human fest, even TBC had a large Orc sub-plot as did Wrath. Dwarves got a lot of exposure too in classic and in Wrath with Ulduar and Storm Peaks. But not the Night Elves - who seemed too peaceful. Many new players never quite experiencing them like us Veterans of WC3 have. Ferocious, tenacious, deadly and very powerful. Their skilll wetting orc pants in delight feeling that in the night elves they'd finally met a truly worthy group of opponents.

So, with the scant glimpses the official preview gave us, everyone seemeds to be talking about how the night elves are been driven back and beaten back by the horde, however after seeing all the new screenshots and the old ones, the Night Elves perhaps have made even more advances than the humans in cataclysm and are certainly not been beaten even though the horde gain some new ground, so do they. The outlook I've noticed paints the picture of an advancing Elven force coming out of seclusion in Military style. WC3 focused largely on stopping Archimonde then Illidan, night elves had emerged but weren't asserting themselves in their homeland. Classic we see what seems to be a war taken to them to claim most of their ancestral lands, in particular Ashenvale and Ferelas.

The horde and the alliance each of two races that really seem to have spread out in Cataclysm. The horde it's largely the Goblins and the Orcs, for the alliance its largely the Night Elves and the humans. Few signs of Blood ELf and Draenei movements in the far south, although night elf bases may have Draenei helping out. We do seem some movement in the Taurens, Forsaken and the Dwarves, but outside Gnomeragan and Echo isles the Gnomes & Trolls are largely still, the Trolls at least get a new improved section of Orgrimmar, can't say the same for the Gnomes in Ironforge unless upper Gnomeragan is re-acquired. Lets take a closer look at what the Night elves gain and lose.

Ashenvale
Contrary to popular belief, Ashenvale is NOT horde dominant, although the horde have a rising presence there having taken over a night elf post. Silverwind Refuge: Lost totally to the orcs.
Astrannar gets attacked but this is now confirmed to be part of an alliance quest defending the city from Horde attacks launching from Hellscream's Watch that now overlooks the city - a major tactical disadvantage and what the horde were planning.

Remember the horde quest that tells you the strategy is to provoke the night elves by cutting down excess trees, and secretly move troops through the north and south of ashenvale by passing Astrannar and thus enveloping the city and cutting them off.

The battleground of Warsong Gulch is where the senitnel army meets the Hellscream clan to block of further ORc incursions into the zone. In the comic, the battle to the east is fought, and Broll accompanied by Varian and Vaneesa help the Sentinels beat the Orcs in a decisive victory.

The cataclysm then occurs, and the venture co. goblins blow a hole through talon deep tunnel blasting it wide open, the Night elves rush to deal with this massive affront to nature and the horde use their distraction to move in invade and capture Silverwind Refuge, likely destroying Silverwing Grove while they're at it. Plus the cataclysm causes the volcano to erupt the ash and lava destroy a huge area through the Furbolg village of Green Paw. The Sentinels likely rushed to deal with talon deep path and left the the zone undefended

Anyway, the pictures show Stardust Spire is a new night elf base, so the Elven army closes in on the gap and take the fight to the Venture co Goblins and stop any horde incursion, they establish a military base having lost Silverwing refuge.

Well it succeeded, they built hellsecream watch and foritfied Zrom'gar out post that pictures show now has a horde ship port. Darnassian ships are seen in the bay, it seems like a battle, I can spot about 4 from these two pictures:
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_03.jpg
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_02.jpg
Astrannar has to defend an air attack from the horde, whiles Zrom'gar has to defend a naval attack from the Night elves. The night elves would not want the horde to control the sea route on Kalimdor's western coast, they have to re-supply major warposts in Stonetalon Mountain and Ferelas, and cannot allow a horde ship yard. One of the horde ships looks like it's just taken a beaten as its sails are in tatters.


Lost:
Silverwind Refuge.
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_21.jpg
Note: Bloodtooth Camp, Silverwing Grove & Silverwing outpost are not on the map, but you can assume that they are, well at least Silverwing Grove becasue we still have a Warsong Gulch battleground and the alliance entrance is at Silverwing grove but it's strategically bad because the horde have bases both west and east of that point.

Gained
Stardust Spire
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_17.jpg

Retained
Orendil's Retreat http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_10.jpg
Astraanar http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_14.jpg
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_29.jpg
Maestra's Post http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_09.jpg
Raynewood Retreat http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_32.jpg
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_31.jpg
Forest Song
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_42.jpg

Horde Bases Gained:
Hellscream's Watch http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...henvale_28.jpg
Silverwind refuge

Strategic Military Organization
Logging camp is still there in the east as is splintertree, but then there is Forest Song and Talendris Point breathing holding that in check.

Silverwing outpost and Grove lie inbetween Moshan'rampart barrens entrance and the newly claimed Silverwind Refuge. You could say the 2 logging camps flank Silverwing defense parameter.. however new alliance post Stardust Spire, Astrannar and Silverwing flank Silverwind Horde longging camp.

look at it from the north, Zoram'gar is isolated, it is under attack by Nelven ships presuambly from Rut'theran and Lor'danil ports, the land in set has Maestra's Post, Orendil's Retreat, and Stardust surrounding it.

Zoram'gar - Flanked by Stardust, Maestra & Orendil
Stardust - flanked by zoram'gar and silverwind refuge.
Silverwind - flanked by Stardust, Astraanar, Raynewood and Silverwing Grove/post
Astrannar - flanked by Hellscream's Watch and Silverwind
Silverwing - flanked by Silverwind, Splintertree and East logging camp.
East Logging camp - flanked by Silverwing and Forestsong
Splintertree - flanked by Raynewood and Forest Song

Horde have no advantage here, horde has increased foothold here, and the alliance lost ground, but it is still Alliance dominant, though horde rising.

Conclusion:
Horde have the Barrens entrance (The Mor'shan Rampart) to Ashenvale
Night Elves hold the Azshara Entrance with Forest Song in Ashenvale and Talendris Point Base at Azshara entrance
Night Elves holde the Stonetalon Mountain pass entrance with Stardust Spire
Night Elves control the Darkshore entrance with Orendil's Retreat
Horde have naval base from the western sea at Zrom'gar:


Night Elves still have the upper hand in this territory, but horde have added Silverwing Refuge and Hellscream's Watch to Zoram'gar outpost, Splintertree Post and Warsong Lumbermill. Only Zoram'Gar is fortified.

Darkshore:
Lor'danel http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...rkshore_12.jpg
Grove of the Ancients (being regrown) http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...rkshore_39.jpg

Darkshore is alliance controlled territory and will still be a major night elf level 10-20 levelling zone. There is a horde flightpoint at opened up Shatterspear Camp http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...rkshore_03.jpg. Do note this camp was always there, just not accessible till Cataclysm. The Night elves do have a camp in Azshara even though that's goblin controlled now.

Grove of the Ancients remains firmly in night elven hands. Despite the disaster you can see the Night Elves and the Circle of Ancients regrowing the zone to the south.

This is to continue extending all the way up to Lor'danel, there is a horde base at the far north and likely some horde quests, but I presume this would be like the alliance base Talendris point in Azshara -i.e. a presence by the opposing faction in a largely faction dominated land.

Felwood
Talon Branch Glade & http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...felwood_28.jpg
New huge base,
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...felwood_14.jpg
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...felwood_15.jpg
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...felwood_17.jpg

from the pics, it looks like the fourth largest Night elf settlement after Darnassus, Feathermoon & Night Haven, it's slightly bigger than Lor'danel and about the size of Astrannar. This new post is where the mountain range beneath
slightly south of Jadefire run is somewhat in between Irontree woods and Shatterscar Vale.

Horde have fortified Blood Venom post but it seems to be the only outpost for the horde there
There is a goblin base in Irontree Woods - don't think it's horde though as i see no horde banners and no flight points - could be venture co as there are shredders there. It could also be the home of that wandering gnome. It is unclear yet, but my guess is it's a Goblin logging operation and it's venture.co

The Night Elves have been trying to re-grow Felwood since the first war, and have finally started succeeding, make no mistake this region of Northern Kalimdor is ELven through and through, they've been there for the last 10,000 years, and although we do have a horde incursion here and the main enemies here are crazed Furbolgs and Satyrs, this is Alliance dominated. The new base with Talonbranch in the north east, Moonglade in the far north and Hyjal to the east, put the military tactical advantage to the alliance

Talonbranch Glade definitely has some Worgen/Night Elf partenrship going on here, similar to the Night Elf/Draenei partnership in Forest Song



Azshara
Talendris Point: http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...azshara_01.jpg
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...azshara_02.jpg

Horde controlled, however Nigtht Elves have a base at the entrance to Azshara, complete with watch tower and flight point. I guess this is the counter to the horde troll village ppf Shatterspear in Shatterspear Vale in Darkshore. Talendris point is no longer just a camp now, it has a tower and a house. The Elves are getting very serious about guarding their lands. They patrol from the area north of the point in a similar way Shadowsprey is tucked at the far north point.

Stonetalon Mountain
Stonetalon Peak http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...netalon_01.jpg
Thal'darah Overlook http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...netalon_04.jpg
Tahl'darah Grovehttp://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...netalon_10.jpg
Farwatchers Glen http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...netalon_32.jpg
Windshear Hold http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...netalon_31.jpg
Dwarven Norwatch Expedition Base Camp http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...netalon_49.jpg

Alot of new movement here, but the Elves aren't backing down here at all, it's about 50-50 in stonetalon moutnains, to, the elves have the north and the west and some other points inbetween, the horde have the south and east. The elves guard the ashenvale entrance too, and the Venture Co. Goblins aren't quite done causing mischief. The Dwarves hold a mine there too.

I don't see the elves over run here either

Desolace
Nijels Point http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...esolace_05.jpg
Karnum's Glade http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...esolace_13.jpg

Again there are two bases each here, Ghostwalker Post and Shadowsprey VIllage for the horde, however we see the Night Elves have created a huge forest in the middle of Desolace called the Cenarion Wildlands http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...esolace_08.jpg and http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...esolace_09.jpg. the base Karnum's Glade is at the centre, it would seem they have the upperhand in Desolace too.

Although it's 2-2 base wise and this zone is not a warzone, it is a peaceful zone, where Centaurs and Cultists are the main concern as far as military action is concerned. Ghostwalker post and Shadowsprey are peaceful not military. Nijel's point is military well largely, but Cenarion wildlands with Karnum's Glade aren't though you can expect them to be guarded vigilantly..

Cenarion wildlands is Night elf grown and Nijel's point as the strong base here, put the Night Elves are in ascendancy here.

Feralas
Feathermoon Stronghold http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...feralas_06.jpg
http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...feralas_10.jpg

Tower of Estulan http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...feralas_14.jpg
New Thalanaar http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...feralas_30.jpg

Again here it's 3-2 alliance-horde. Camp Ataya and Camp Mojache are the horde bases here, but this again is Nigh elf ancestral land with at least 4 ruined cities and off course the Highbourne city of Eldre'thalas aka Dire Maul. And now 3 Elven settlements.

The Night ELf base is the second largest night elf settlement in the game, coming after Darnassus, and we see the place with ots and lots of Galive throwers. Night Elves aren't really at war with the Tauren despite the horde-alliance war thing, so it is my guess that The Highbourne intend to re-take ALL of Dire MAul and clear out the Ogres and Satyr. - but we shall see.

Military Strategy:
3 alliance bases to 2 horde
Feathermoon is a military base, and the biggest Night Elven settlement outisde Darnassus - Don't know what they're preparing for, but I suspect it is to claim All of Dire Maul or Desolace.

Camp Ataya and Mojache seem peaceful, no war machines, although the horde and the alliance fight, there is generally a peaceful relationship between the Tauren and the Night Elves.

This puts the area militarily Alliance dominant again, with 3 flight points, 1 at Fearthermoon, 1 at New Thalanaar and 1 at the Tower of Estulan overlooking ruined Isildien and Dire Maul - leading to my suspicion of an Eldre'thalas assault or an ogre cleanup.

Conclusions
Well there goes. The only other new Night Elven settlement I know of is in Wetlands the Greenbelt, there may be more, but Cataclysm sees many new Night Elven bases, funny cos we only see 2 new human ones, the bases in the South Barrens and the one in Swamp of Sorrows.

The worgen seem to have a base in Blasted Lands east side, but outside that it's just Gilneas. They may have the other Islands of Kul'Tiras though, even though one of the Kul'tiras island, the prison Island of Tol'Barad is a level 85 quest hub/WG type battleground

The peak base is ruined, but Talon Deep Barrowdens still seems intact, the cataclysm is the cause for the destruction of the buildings. at the peak, but the Night elves make more outposts further south.

[inkheart123]

As an alliance player, i completely agree with the statements about ashenvale, its wierd that all horde think is that theyve COMPLETELY taken over ashenvale when in reality theyve only gained one base and one small camp. The alliance still hold a firm grip on ashenvale with stardust spire and the new nelf ships on the coast reiinforcing it. I would say the battle is getting closer to 50-50 now in ashenvale not "horde dominated" like many people say it is because of speculation that the horde basically take over every aspect of ashenvale, the alliance still have more bases.

I do however somewhat dissagree in felwood, although alliance have popped up more bases in the area, i think i remember seeing another horde base in the area from the screenshots...although i could be wrong about that, if i am wrong then its slightly tipped in alliance favor, if im not then i would say its more 50-50

However i really like this post as it shows how night elfs are much stronger then most people right now are portraying them

[Morrigann]

Thank you for compiling this. Look at the cata previews, I kept thinking "Man, Night Elves are getting shafted. Hard."
But seeing this makes me less bitter

[Powerogue]

what the horde doesn't shred up in the night elf lands deathwing does 8( darkshore and ashenvale look like the two most damaged zones of the expansion.

it does appear we'll be gaining a lot of territory in the renewed barrens and desolace though.