Cataclysm Preview - Grim Batol
[blizzquote author=Blizzard source=http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/features/grimbatol.html]
During a bloody civil war among the three dwarven factions of Ironforge, the Bronzebeards ousted the Wildhammer and the Dark Iron clans from the ancient corridors of the mountain city. In the wake of the defeat, the Wildhammers ventured north and forged a new home, Grim Batol, in the mountains of what is now the Twilight Highlands. However, although they worked tirelessly to create a better future for themselves, the Dark Irons, who established the city of Thaurissan in the Redridge Mountains, could not move beyond the memory of their defeat. Consumed by the desire for revenge and desperate to control the entire dwarven region of Khaz Modan, the Dark Irons led a two-pronged assault on the Bronzebeards in Ironforge and the Wildhammers in Grim Batol. Despite their past differences, these two embattled rivals joined forces and drove the Dark Irons out of Khaz Modan, decimating the armies of the treacherous clan's sorcerer-thane, Thaurissan. Yet victory carried grave consequences. Although Thaurissan's wife and queen, Modgud, was slain during the attack on Grim Batol, her death tainted the mountain fortress. While the Bronzebeards rebuilt their glorious city of Ironforge, the Wildhammers felt forever changed by the horrors they witnessed at Grim Batol. They fled their cursed home and never returned.

The abandoned city's defiled corridors later became home to a number of nefarious plots. When the Demon Soul was discovered by the Dragonmaw clan and used to force Alexstrasza's drakes to serve the Horde, Grim Batol acted as the red Dragon Aspect's torturous prison. The Dragonmaw held Grim Batol through the Second War, before they were driven out by Deathwing, who planned to steal Alexstrasza's eggs. Yet as Deathwing carried out his plan, the Demon Soul was destroyed, and the powers locked within were returned to Alexstrasza, Ysera, Nozdormu, and Malygos. Deathwing narrowly escaped an assault by the four re-empowered Dragon Aspects, although he did not leave empty-handed; in his grasp were the eggs of Alexstrasza. For their vile transgressions, the fleeing Dragonmaw were shown no mercy, and the struggle came to a quick end. Members of the red dragonflight were left behind to keep watch over Grim Batol, and for years they successfully guarded its desolate halls from further intrusion... until the arrival of the Twilight's Hammer, a sinister cult who worshipped Azeroth's malefic Old Gods.

The cult, seduced by Deathwing's thirst for absolute domination over Azeroth, has claimed the Twilight Highlands as its base of operations. The black dragonflight has driven off the agents of the red dragonflight who guarded Grim Batol so that it may be used as a fortress for training Deathwing's minions. The halls of Grim Batol run so deep into the highlands that it is unknown to what twisted end the Twilight's Hammer is using this doomed dwarven marvel.

Called to action by the red dragonflight in the Twilight Highlands, players will be charged with putting a decisive end to the foul machinations developing within the level-85, 5-player dungeon of Grim Batol. The ferocity of the enemies within should not be underestimated, and with the assistance of brave Red Drakes and a handful of explosives, players can thin the ranks of Grim Batol's occupiers through bombing flights into the ruined city's corridors. Regardless of how successful these attacks might be, General Umbris will not allow his army to fall so quickly. In the end, adventurers will be left to their own devices, venturing into the darkest recesses of the dwarven fortress, where a nightmarish enemy is taking shape. Will you be able to uncover Grim Batol's secrets and emerge unscathed, or will your destiny be sealed within this tortured city, like so many brave heroes before you?[/blizzquote]



This article was originally published in forum thread: Cataclysm Preview - Grim Batol started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 173 Comments
  1. Dizzy Wolf's Avatar
    I love the gronn model too!
  1. Narshe's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by mi33 View Post
    OH GREAT, another Oculus. Nothing to see here, move along.
    More likely riding drakes on a rail, rather than free flight.
  1. Bowie's Avatar
    The Speed Gamers, having hit the $40k mark, have decided to extend the marathon! I can't remember how long the extension is, but it was mentioned the other day.
  1. alien1099's Avatar
    Hooray for more reskins and no new/original art/models. Seriously Blizzard? It's a fucking expansion. Quit being so damn lazy. Oh I'm sure a boss or two will have some original art... that'll get reused in the next expansion. Go figure.
  1. tusker's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by alien1099 View Post
    Hooray for more reskins and no new/original art/models. Seriously Blizzard? It's a fucking expansion. Quit being so damn lazy. Oh I'm sure a boss or two will have some original art... that'll get reused in the next expansion. Go figure.
    ...and if with every expansion came 100% new art/models/skins, people would just move on down the list to their next thing to complain about.
  1. alien1099's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by tusker View Post
    ...and if with every expansion came 100% new art/models/skins, people would just move on down the list to their next thing to complain about.
    It doesn't need 100% new art/models/skins, but damn, I don't see one single creature in those screenshots that isn't ALREADY in the game, and many have been since vanilla.
  1. Durandro's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by alien1099 View Post
    It doesn't need 100% new art/models/skins, but damn, I don't see one single creature in those screenshots that isn't ALREADY in the game, and many have been since vanilla.
    I guess the words 'This Is Still The Alpha' don't spring to mind?

    Placeholder models. They'll be updated or changed when Blizzard get around to it.

    And I think it sounds awesome, great place to start the war against Deathwing. Basically its similar to Naxx in that you're attacking a 'training ground' for his minions and taking out some of his Lieutenants.
  1. Alianthos's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Durandro View Post
    I guess the words 'This Is Still The Alpha' don't spring to mind?

    Placeholder models. They'll be updated or changed when Blizzard get around to it.
    Hem... I'm quite sure they wont make an official preview with placeholder models... This is the final layout and, well, it's.. okay, i guess. A bit boring.

    I'm always amused with this old argument "It's a placeholder, stop QQ" btw.
  1. Umbrokill's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Barky View Post
    definitely looks cool, but are they really recycling Vezax?
    Vezax was awsome :P I'm glad we get to see someone like that again

    This place is gonna be SOO great!
  1. Dark Side's Avatar
    Been watching the stream since monday
  1. Umbrokill's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by alien1099 View Post
    It doesn't need 100% new art/models/skins, but damn, I don't see one single creature in those screenshots that isn't ALREADY in the game, and many have been since vanilla.
    Well, considering that this is the same world that Vanilla was in, it kinda makes sense that the same creatures are here to
  1. Dragonshardz's Avatar
    Grim Batol: Revenge of the Recycled Models!

    On a more serious note - this should've been a raid. Feels less epic as a 5 man.
  1. mmoc516e31a976's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by alien1099 View Post
    It doesn't need 100% new art/models/skins, but damn, I don't see one single creature in those screenshots that isn't ALREADY in the game, and many have been since vanilla.
    I see humans everyday and everywhere. What's with the recycled humans content in RL?

    Seriously, we are fight OLD enemies, not new enemies. Unless they have good plastic surgeons, we should be expecting to fight against the same old models.

    And honestly, I care more about the mechanics than the models.
  1. Matt3s's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Alianthos View Post
    Hem... I'm quite sure they wont make an official preview with placeholder models... This is the final layout and, well, it's.. okay, i guess. A bit boring.

    I'm always amused with this old argument "It's a placeholder, stop QQ" btw.
    well i remember doing the icecrown citadel ptr the first day and there was a marrowgar with a model like the two big guardians in front of him.

    Guess they even bring placeholder models to ptrs.

    I don't know whether those models are placeholders or not, but given the information we got (oh secret sexy boss beneath cho'gall (ol god eek eek)) a vezax model isnt that far away.
    I think we simply have to wait a little longer.
  1. Wesz's Avatar
    It feels like a combination of Ironforge, Blackrock Depths, and the Utgarde dungeons (Refer to http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/.../june/ss56.jpg )
  1. Matt3s's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dragonshardz View Post
    Grim Batol: Revenge of the Recycled Models!

    On a more serious note - this should've been a raid. Feels less epic as a 5 man.
    There's going to be a Grim Batol Raid:

    Bastion of Twilight (Grim Batol Raid)

    Just like ICC with Icecrown Citadel Raid, Halls of Reflection etc.pp theres some more than just a one-sided content there.
  1. Wulfon's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Durandro View Post
    I guess the words 'This Is Still The Alpha' don't spring to mind?

    Placeholder models.
    any one who doubts this either has a short memory or hasnt played wow long
  1. XemnasXD's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by alien1099 View Post
    It doesn't need 100% new art/models/skins, but damn, I don't see one single creature in those screenshots that isn't ALREADY in the game, and many have been since vanilla.
    we're dealing with the twilights hammer cult who have been in the game since vanilla. They're definitely been given an update but i don't see wth you expect, this completely ignoring the fact that its still in alpha. Newsflash: these aren't new enemies we're fighting...

    jeez between people like you and that douchebag who was like "LOLOLOL OCC MOVE ALONG DERP" this forum is becoming unbearable when anything involving cataclysm is shown. You guys should just sit under a rock until this thing comes out to save us all from having to hear your QQs....

    OnT:

    I know deathwing and the gronn have a history but im still not sure why the black dragonflight would bring dragon killers with them. I don't think they'll be able to train them to just fight red drakes if that was the cause...should be interesting.
  1. mmoc516e31a976's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Wesz View Post
    It feels like a combination of Ironforge, Blackrock Depths
    It's supposed to be, since Ironforge, BRD and Grim Batol were built by dwarves.
  1. Tablemaker's Avatar
    Are there any mobs in Grim Batol that are NOT recycled from somewhere?
    This is Alpha. Not even Beta. Who says these boss models will get to see live?

    Oh... that's right. You do and everyone else who can only think in a negative manner.

    Complain when it is still like this a couple of weeks before live... or, take it to their forums to show your frustration.

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