[Expansion Concept] World of Railcraft : Choochoo Edition

[DatToffer]

Since it's mostly believed next expansion will be announced in the upcoming Blizzcon, the end for this season of fake leaks and poorly written expansion concepts is probably closer than I'd thought.

Before that happens, I wish to share with you the very much true visions granted to me by an anonymous source that is very much associated with Blizzard products (it's a friend of mine, they are very much associated with Blizzard products as a customer).

Now all aboard, because today we're talking about trains :

World of Warcraft : Race for the Railway

I like trains, you like trains, we like trains !

Everybody likes trains, they are fast and easy to travel in. In this expansion the peace between the Horde and the Alliance seem to finally be lasting. Since no one is building tanks and warmachines anymore, the people of Azeroth were able to put their efforts into something more productive, something that will bring them closer together. And thus the railways companies of Azeroth were born : the Blackrock, Gnomeregan and Stormwind Railway, the Union Kalimdor Railroad or the Steamwheedle Railroad…

Here you can see a more detailed view of the maps, on very large pictures.
Source of these maps is Sub-thermal. Thank you for making those maps, and sorry for what I did to them.

The railways will be used for fast travel and as a way to occupy the empty spaces of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, sometimes undoing the damages of the Cataclysm (mainly the Twilight Hammer presence). Tunnels, viaducts or sinuous railroads on mountain pass will allow access to new sceneries. Story-wise they will be used to show the world's evolution. Infamous people such as the kobolds or gnolls, will be hired to work on the trains while others like the centaurs would sell part of their lands for construction.

Some members of the Alliance and the Horde (namely, the night elves and the tauren) are not keen to see these iron roads paving their ancestral lands. But whereas the tauren accepted the rails under conditions, the night elves denied the right to pass on their lands to both the Horde and the Alliance. Political tension will rise as the leaders of the railroads find ways to work around regulations. In Winterspring the Everlook workers built their own railroad all the way down to Azshara, meeting with the Bilgewater’s rails. So what if Gazlowe is a leader of both cartels and a member of the Horde's council ? This is purely for business purpose.

Meanwhile in Lordaeron, the Forsaken could make a railroad passing through the Plaguelands, but then the Argent Dawn would have a right to look at their freight. To avoid that, they’d rather dig their way in the mountains, right to Tranquillien. In South Barren, the Alliance and Horde stopped fighting and are now racing each other on rails, building the fastest locomotive possible.

Gameplay-wise, the trains will also be the source of adventures with world quests of sabotage and incidents or scenarios of train attacks and murders on the Eastern Express. You’ll see several types of trains depending on the race building them : Iron Horde trains like the Grimrail train from WoD, Gnomish-Mecagnomish trains similar to the tram of Ulduar, Dark Iron armored trains, Forsaken gothic trains, Goblin trains, a Gilnean train…

Bring the Yee to the Haw with a new kind of duel
This new era of progress and exploration in the wild wild west (and east) will bring new customs for the adventurers of Azeroth. Like the quick draw duels and the Mak'gunra.

I'm a cow girl Bang bi-doo bang
Yes, I just got the hat and yes it's what started this whole concept.

These duels are made to be a quick dps comparison, because let's be honest, it's really all that matters. The way they work is that two characters will stand in front of each other, while a window opens where a miniature of the character stands against a bullet. The goal is to burst the bullet with all you got in 10 seconds before the guns are drawn and the players take all the accumulated damages. The winner is the one who's dealt the most.



New class : the Tinker



With all these trains running around, engineers are thriving and the Tinker class will finally get released. Originally meant to be a gnome / goblin / mechagnome exclusive, the need for more mechanics and the appeal of the steam engine drove more races to tinkering.

Three specs : Gadget (DPS), Mecha (Tank), Tech (Support)

No need to say more. The Gadget DPS spec will focus on gadgets and the synergy between them for burst and crowd control. The Mecha Tank spec will have the Tinker pilot a robot to withstand heavy damage and replicate with multi target abilities. Finally, the Tech Support spec allows you to enhance your allies with biology altering rays, nanobots and a special ability "Delete Cache and WTF" to solve all their little problems. With a fast pass for server queues granted to your group, your Raid/M+/Arena/BG sessions will never start late.

Home-in-a-box : Your home in a pocket



Speaking of technology, after mastering ducks Blizzard has now mastered instances and will allow players to create their own small instance in whatever environment they want to place their house. Thus another azerothian technology will make a leap : the goblin Town-In-A-Box. The people of Azeroth will be able to buy House-Kits and blow them into their very own home. They will then be able to decorate, invite friends or pack it up and move out.

Jastor in biz, Azeroth on bid
New continent and raid : Kezan and Undermine

One fan favorite villain will return on Azeroth after successful negotiations in the realms of Death. In an ultimate act of petty revenge and grandiloquent delusion, Gallywix has sold the world-soul of Azeroth to a cartel of brokers in exchange for immortality. Now Undermine is under new management, with all engines dedicated to digging the crust of Azeroth and reach her beating heart.

After having a panic attack, Magni is leading the charge on Kezan, only to discover the island covered in railroads, trains carrying out rocks and dust and doomsday locomotives on the expressway.

The man, the menace.
Goblins may be of small stature, but their greed is so grand it can become a cosmic threat

The goal in this new zone will be to derail (literally) Gallywix operation before diving into the depths of Undermine aboard an hijacked killing-train, fight robots and machines of death, reach the cowardly goblin on his new G.M.O.D. and defeat him to ultimately save Azeroth's soul (again).


The future is on track : Patch 11.1 and 11.2

There are no brakes on this preview train. After defeating the pesky goblin entrepreneur, you'll follow him into 11.1 and the Ghost Station : the realm of Death where his associates have built their own railway to freight Azeroth's world soul further into the Shadowlands. Aboard the Shadowpiercer, you'll fight your way through Cartel Choo's hierarchy, until you reach their infamous leader.

Then, as Gallywix keeps betraying his allies and outsmarting those who try to manipulate him, you'll reach 11.2, where a cartel of void ethereals gets involved. Aboard the Crazy Train, last stop Madness, you're going off the rails and fight wagons after wagons of unspeakable horrors.

Now what do you think ? Is a train expansion better than a pirate expansion or what ?

[RobertMugabe]

ngl I love it.

[Taen]

This is Ion Hazzikostas speaking. I don’t know where you got this highly classified information but I have dispatched my most elite Pinkerton squad to your location, determined by your IP address and confirmed by my contacts in the NSA. Delete this post immediately and I promise my retribution against you and your family will be swift and merciful.

[Zardas]

In an ultimate act of petty revenge and grandiloquent delusion, Gallywix has sold the world-soul of Azeroth to a cartel of brokers in exchange for immortality.

This is gold, thanks for the laugh

[DatToffer]

ngl I love it.

Thank you very much ! What part did you like most ? The one about the trains hopefully.

This is Ion Hazzikostas speaking. I don’t know where you got this highly classified information but I have dispatched my most elite Pinkerton squad to your location, determined by your IP address and confirmed by my contacts in the NSA. Delete this post immediately and I promise my retribution against you and your family will be swift and merciful.

Noo please don't kill my family. I won't tell about the 5th druid spec to be released mid patch !

This is gold, thanks for the laugh

Here at FakeXpac, this is what we're all about.

[meganite]

defo gonna buy this, choochoo all the way!

[Dejiko]

Finally the on-rails themepark MMO experience i have wanted for so long.
In truth i adore this, and would gladly welcome it over what will likely be offered.

[DatToffer]

defo gonna buy this, choochoo all the way!

Get your ticket for the collector edition and receive this superb sheriff doc battle pet !



Or get the collector deluxe edition and receive this dog operator battle pet !

Finally the on-rails themepark MMO experience i have wanted for so long.
In truth i adore this, and would gladly welcome it over what will likely be offered.

Speaking of theme parks, the more the story will advance through patches, the more the railroads will look like roller-coasters. This is why it is essential for future chapters to take place in the Shadowlands and the Void, where the laws of physics are merely suggestions.

I am unironically giga on board, this or a Explorer's League expansion would be utterly superb.

An Explorer's League expansion would be a cool way to rediscover the old zones or introduce an underground zone, maybe ? More relics and treasures !

Not a single mention of the pandaren being forced into working on the railways, shame.

We're very sorry. As a company, we realize that we should do better in representing the important chapters of our history and not just the happy ones. We won't shy away from difficult topics anymore and give these tragedies the visibility they deserve. New quests will be added to address the important issues of forced labor, as well as the consequences of lending a blanket to someone from another continent (or world).

[Devonitar]

Train expansion is something that I never knew I've always wanted.

[Armael]

Three specs : Gadget (DPS), Mecha (Tank), Tech (Support)

This really made me laugh out loud for real.

[Askyl]

This would actually be fun lol

[Hotmail]

Operator Thogar likes this.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

I have nothing of value to add except to express my full approval.

[Golden Yak]

10 million new subs, guaranteed.

Would play a WoW train simulator spin-off.

[MrLachyG]

Finally the return of trainers!

[Squigglyo]

How dare you make the stupidest but also the best concept for an expansion

[Mysterymask]

As an unapologetically huge fan of Zelda spirit tracks and someone who wants power rangers to do TOQers I approve of train expansion

[Xaviaton]

Hear me out; dragon riding train robberies where you board the speeding trains and get out before the guards catch you.

[Al Gorefiend]

Okay so let's us be dead serious for a sec.

the silliness of the thread aside, you did touch on a theme WoW still has yet to hit.

Wild West. Honestly a perfect theme, would work for that new continent/other side of Azeroth expansion. Cowboy Tauren, ACME-explosives Goblin golddiggers, Prospector Dwarves that say Darn Tootin' and Jumpin' Jehosaphat!

[Clone]

Okay so let's us be dead serious for a sec.

the silliness of the thread aside, you did touch on a theme WoW still has yet to hit.

Wild West. Honestly a perfect theme, would work for that new continent/other side of Azeroth expansion. Cowboy Tauren, ACME-explosives Goblin golddiggers, Prospector Dwarves that say Darn Tootin' and Jumpin' Jehosaphat!

Instead of trying to build the whole world in one game, Blizzard could have done a lot with something like this where Horde and Alliances try to settle on Kalimdor and the resulting conflicts with each other and the natives.