Update #3 - Just to make it clear, the NDA on the Alpha isn't lifted, you can still get your ass banned for posting that kind of stuff. Also, Blizzquote layout added now that it's official.

World of Warcraft Cataclysm Press Tour
Earlier this week, general gaming sites and a couple of official fansites were invited to the Blizzard HQ for a press tour of Cataclysm. The NDA (on the press tour, don't get too excited) just lifted and a couple of information have been revealed.

This post will probably be updated multiple times during the night, so far this is what I gathered before the NDA lift:

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Path of the Titans is gone
The whole Path of the Titans idea has been removed from the game. It will no longer rely on Archeology or on any kind of PvE/PvP progression and instead Blizzard will just introduce a new type of glyphs: Medium Glyphs.

Medium Glyphs will add a "fun factor" to abilities, and it wouldn't be surprising to see something similar to the Fortification or Breakthrough glyphs first previewed during Blizzcon 2009. (But probably not these exact glyphs, a lot of stuff happened since last year)

Guild Talents are gone
The guild talents are gone and your guild now gets extra bonuses depending on its level. There are 25 levels and each level will automatically reward with more cool stuff. The leveling process remains unchanged and your guild will gain experience through PvP, Dungeon and Raid progression, questing, etc ...

Guild currency has also been removed and rewards will just be "unlocked" after you reach a specific level or complete a guild achievement. Once a reward is unlocked, members will be able to purchase it with gold. Some of the rewards include guild tabards, mounts, heirlooms, and it looks like you will finally be able to have a guild tabard on your mount. (Just like the Argent Tournament banners)

New members of a guild won't be able to buy everything directly, they will have to contribute to the progression of the guild before they can access the top rewards. Each time a player helps towards the leveling he will gain reputation with the guild, the best rewards will require players to be exalted with their guild before they can buy it.

Archeology will be less important
With the Path of the Titans gone, Archeology will become a "true" secondary profession and you won't really have to level it anymore. However it will still be used to let you get cosmetic/optional items, get more information on the game's lore, and ultimately it looks like we can expect rewards similar to fishing. (Nothing mandatory, but you'll be happy when you actually find something)

Information gathered from other sites:
  • You will find two types of items: Common Artifacts will give you more information on the lore of a race, and might be used in some kind of collection game. Rare items will give you usable items, most of them will be cosmetic but some of them will have actual effects. (Details on Wowhead)

Raids & Dungeons Split
Raid leaders will be able to split an ongoing 25-man raid into up to three 10-man raids. Those 10-man raids will be able to continue from that point on, with bosses already down.

So far it looks like it won't be possible to merge 10-man raids into 25-man raids, for obvious reasons.

Information gathered from other sites:
  • Raid IDs should be much more flexible. You will be able to join any raid as long as it doesn't have any bosses up that you have already killed. (Details on Wowhead)
  • There will be more Algalon-style encounters—ultra-hard optional bosses for hardcore players only. (Details on Wowhead)

Rated Battlegrounds
Rated battlegrounds will be available for pre-mades of 10, 15 and 25-player sizes. The amount of Conquest points rewarded will be capped so that players who enjoy both arenas and rated battlegrounds don't feel they have to prioritize one over the other.

Information gathered from other sites:
  • The classic Honor titles will be coming back and rewarded to the top teams each season. (Details on WoR)
  • The "Gladiator" equivalent teams will also receive epic ground mounts. Ground mounts because they want to reward something you can ride in the battleground and be proud of / show off. (Details on WoR)

Grim Batol Raid
The Grim Batol raid instance will be called the Bastion of Twilight, and you get to fight Cho'gall as the end boss! If you manage to defeat him in Heroic Mode, an "horrific secret will be revealed when he dies".

Information gathered from other sites:
  • This is an entry-level raid, just like Naxxramas in WotLK. (Details on Wowhead)
  • It will feature 5 bosses, and an Algalon-style optional and ultra-hard boss. (The "horrific" secret?) (Details on Wowhead)

Skywall Raid
As expected, Al'akir will be the end boss of the Skywall raid instance.

Information gathered from other sites:

Deepholm
Princess Therazane (yes, that's her) will be a questgiver in Deepholm, in a similar experience to the Sons of Hodir's questline in Storm Peaks.

Information gathered from other sites:
  • The Ogrim's Hammer has crashed in the zone and the Skybreaker is still in the air. One of the questline will require you to find out what happened. (Details on Wowhead)

Heroic Deadmines / Shadowfang Keep
Heroic versions of classic instances might not be ready for the release of Cataclysm and will be shipped in content patch instead.

Old world changes
There are a more details on old world changes, especially capital cities.

Information gathered from other sites:
  • Stormwind has been completely redesigned to accomodate flying mounts. The Park of Stormwind has been destroyed by Deathwing and the Dwarven District now hosts a Bank and an Auction House. (Details on Wowhead)
  • Orgrimmar has been redesigned as well: Garrosh is the new Warchief and is located in the center of Orgrimmar, not in the Valley of Wisdom. Goblins have their own area, the Valley of Wisdom becomes a Tauren district, and there is now a back gate leading directly into Azshara. (Details on Wowhead)

Miscellaneous Changes/Information
  • Wrath of the Lich King had 1000 Quests, Cataclysm has over 3000.
  • The current heirlooms will stop growing after level 80. There will be a whole new crop of heirlooms for Cataclysm. Goblins and Worgen will be able to start using heirlooms immediately at launch. (Details on Wowhead)
Cataclysm Zone Changes
A new video of zone changes in Cataclysm was released. Stole this one from Wowhead.



Cataclysm Screenshots
A few high resolution screenshots have been released. Courtesy of World of Raids.



This article was originally published in forum thread: World of Warcraft Cataclysm Press Tour started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 410 Comments
  1. Critterbot's Avatar
    Guild reputation? Wow...
  1. bbr's Avatar
    Path of the Titans is gone
    The whole Path of the Titans idea has been removed from the game. It will no longer rely on Archeology or on any kind of PvE/PvP progression and instead Blizzard will just introduce a new type of glyphs: Medium Glyphs.

    Medium Glyphs will add a "fun factor" to abilities, and it wouldn't be surprising to see something similar to the Fortification or Breakthrough glyphs first previewed during Blizzcon 2009. (But probably not these exact glyphs, a lot of stuff happened since last year)

    Guild Talents are gone
    The guild talents are gone and your guild now gets extra bonuses depending on its level. There are 25 levels and each level will automatically reward with more cool stuff. The leveling process remains unchanged and your guild will gain experience through PvP, Dungeon and Raid progression, questing, etc ...

    Guild currency has also been removed and rewards will just be "unlocked" after you reach a specific level or complete a guild achievement. Once a reward is unlocked, members will be able to purchase it with gold. Some of the rewards include guild tabards, mounts, heirlooms, and it looks like you will finally be able to have a guild tabard on your mount. (Just like the Argent Tournament banners)

    New members of a guild won't be able to buy everything directly, they will have to contribute to the progression of the guild before they can access the top rewards. Each time a player helps towards the leveling he will gain reputation with the guild, the best rewards will require players to be exalted with their guild before they can buy it.

    Archeology will be less important
    With the Path of the Titans gone, Archeology will become a "true" secondary profession and you won't really have to level it anymore. However it will still be used to let you get cosmetic/optional items, get more information on the game's lore, and ultimately it looks like we can expect rewards similar to fishing. (Nothing mandatory, but you'll be happy when you actually find something)

    Information gathered from other sites:[list][*]You will find two types of items: Common Artifacts will give you more information on the lore of a race, and might be used in some kind of collection game. Rare items will give you usable items, most of them will be cosmetic but some of them will have actual effects. (Details on Wowhead)
    Kind of lame, I was rather looking forward to the path and archeaology.

    If they put arch on the same level as fishing and cooking, that's still fine though.

    But... RIP guild talents,, those were cool.
    Very lame that they got removed.
  1. The Glitch's Avatar
    Everyones complaining about Heroic DM and SFK not being in at release, But forgive me if I'm wrong but were we ever told it they would be in at release? Weren't we just told it would be part of cataclysm? Things get put in throughout the expansion in content patches, why are people so surprised by this? >.>

    Also loving the changes, PotT's from the little info we had about it, sounded confusing, and probably a must have for all characters, so very grindy in my eyes.

    Guild talents, I think would just cause guild drama, and heck we don't need anymore of that, so I'm thinking this was a change for the best.

    And I definitely agree that Inscription just didn't cut it when they introduced it in WotLK. Just never felt like a finished Profession to me. So perhaps the "fun" Medium Glyphs will go towards making this a proffession that will seem worthwhile.

    All good!

    PS. had major problems getting onto MMO-champ today I know your having problems, but I'm having withdrawls! been 3 days now that I've not been able to read MMO-champ without alot of problems
  1. Pseudosavior's Avatar
    Aww... But... PotT gone? I was really looking forward to it. Why, Blizzard, why?
  1. mmoc516e31a976's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by bbr View Post
    But... RIP guild talents,, those were cool.
    But they aren't going anywhere. Guild talent trees are the ones that are scrapped.
  1. Schlock's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by bbr View Post
    Kind of lame, I was rather looking forward to the path and archeaology.

    If they put arch on the same level as fishing and cooking, that's still fine though.

    But... RIP guild talents,, those were cool.
    Very lame that they got removed.
    So they pulled a lot of the revamped stuff that actually made this an expansion, and changed it into an overgrown content patch? Yay
  1. homerunhomer's Avatar
    Good game Blizzard, you just removed something else that was holding me to keep playing in Cataclysm. Path of the Titans seemed like a fun way to make your character slightly different from the rest, as well as making the new profession meaningful.

    Medium glyphs. Wonder if Kotick came up with that one himself?

    Would have preferred it if Blizzard stopped removing anything from the game (past or future) that meant players had to think about anything. This better be one breathtaking expansion if they want players (myself included) to continue playing.

    Oh, just seen about the rated battlegrounds change. So now I have to put together a team too? Seriously...
  1. Frozenbeef's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dalinth View Post
    What's a 5 man random battleground? Never heard of it.
    Its when 5people on a realm join as a premade then join the random bg queue
  1. mmoc516e31a976's Avatar
    Path of the Titans was indeed nothing more than an expanded glyph system. If so, then why just not use the system that was already in game and expand it? It's nothing but a logical decision.
  1. soulfringe's Avatar
    This is really heartbreaking. Especially since blizzard hyped it up so much. This just seems like a total cop out. I am reminded of this from a recent game called Warhammer. Whatever happened to those super awesome interactive cities of theirs ?


    At least they aren't trying to sugar coat it with a "don't worry, we will definitely get it later". Hate being lead on. But still, these things were a great spice to look forward to in Cataclsym. Without them, it just makes things taste more bland.

    Meanwhile I am wondering how seasonal changes will effect the classic titles in terms of permanence.
  1. nsupra27's Avatar
    Man, I hope they don't pull the Dance Studio bullshit with Heroic DM/SFK.
  1. xalenthas's Avatar
    So yet again they remove anything that might possibly take someone more than 10 minutes to achieve or might possibly give those that work together some advantage.
  1. Sinshin's Avatar
    No more pets from archeology?QQ
  1. Tanthalus's Avatar
    now a question - with so many new quests being added - will it be possible to level 1>85 in azeroth only ? without going near outlands or northrend?
  1. Worgoblin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Tauror View Post
    Path of the Titans was indeed nothing more than an expanded glyph system. If so, then why just not use the system that was already in game and expand it? It's nothing but a logical decision.
    Logic has no place here!

    Now... I will continue with my whining and crying like a child!
  1. mmoc2cfe61b4f1's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by nsupra27 View Post
    Man, I hope they don't pull the Dance Studio bullshit with Heroic DM/SFK.
    no, they won't, because it's nowhere as much work to make DM and SFK hc than to make so many animations for the Dance Studio. they will release it when there's literally nothing to do ingame.
  1. mmoc516e31a976's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by nsupra27 View Post
    Man, I hope they don't pull the Dance Studio bullshit with Heroic DM/SFK.
    Doubt it. Heroic dungeon system is already in-game, so it's nothing more than lack of time.
  1. mmoc41cf701c4f's Avatar
    Are they scrapping features just to release the expansion sooner? Activi$ion ftl.
  1. Shorteh's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Fool View Post
    it's nowhere as much work to make DM and SFK hc than to make so many animations for the Dance Studio.
    I hear extracting and re-adjusting existing dances into mini-loops for every model is long and hard work.
    Clearly you haven't ever made a model do animations using "skeletons".
  1. bbr's Avatar
    You got conflicting info here.
    Wowhead says the 25 man will split into 2x10 man groups, while you've listed 3x10 here on mmoc.

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