World Of Warcraft Expansion Confirmed

[Shjinta]

According to World of Raids (http://www.worldofraids.com) someone managed to get a picture taken of a display showing off the new WoW Expansion. There should be the official unveiling within the next three hours when Blizzcon officially begins.

Here is the picture taken (http://www.worldofraids.com/news/expansion/wolk.jpg).

[Exodus]

yay....
another billion+ was just made

oh hellgate london please come soon please please please..
it's like a prayer...

[Shjinta]

OMG, First news Post ever!!!!!

[Voodoo]

Am I mistaken or isn't there supposed to be another game announcement besides the WoW expansion?

[Valkyrist]

For a brief moment, my heart lept with joy. New classes and maybe new races? Sign me up!

Then...reality set in. Announce it all they want, we probably would be lucky to see this within a year. Bleh. Let the wait begin!

[Shjinta]

Am I mistaken or isn't there supposed to be another game announcement besides the WoW expansion?

World around the campfire is blizzard is suppose to show off what their third team is working on.. Rumors point to something Diablo related

[Exodus]

just a question, don't ya have to credit worldofraids for getting the news from them?

[CrashCart]

Am I mistaken or isn't there supposed to be another game announcement besides the WoW expansion?

I was under that impression as well. WoW expansion, Starcraft 2, and "Team 3"'s game?

Diablo 3, hopefully. :D

[Echani]

I'm trying to read what the text on the right says, so far I've got


Some of the highlights you will learn more about at BlizzCon
The dark necromantic Death Knight, the first new character class added since its launch
Northrend, the harsh icy continent where the Lich King holds .... complete with new zones, quests, items and monsters
New level cap of 80, including access to mighty new powers and skills
New battlegrounds, something about siege warfare and destructible buildings
Expanding character customization options, including new hairstyles and the ability to change existing characters... colour variants.. etc


Looks pretty interesting. I wonder if this'll be out before WAR or if it's aiming to draw away some of that release hype next year

[PathMaster]

Am I mistaken or isn't there supposed to be another game announcement besides the WoW expansion?

Not mistaken. Rumored to be D3. There is also conflicting reports about the title of the expansion. The pic is one title, the other is "Into the Malestrom". Will need to wait to see what the exact title is. I am almost thinking it might be either two expansions, or a content patch massive in scale named one of the above.

[kid cabelgo]

just a question, don't ya have to credit worldofraids for getting the news from them?

He's right you know.

Oh, and grats on your first news post. It's a fun feeling to see your post up there on the main page, no?

As for the expansion pack, does that mean you'll be able to take down Arthas, and wield Frostmourne?

[Echani]

Wouldn't wielding Frostmourne come with a bit of .. er.. baggage? What with the evil and all.

[kid cabelgo]

Wouldn't wielding Frostmourne come with a bit of .. er.. baggage? What with the evil and all.

Hehe that's what I was wondering about. I mean, it sounds like a pretty ultimate weapon, but they can't just ignore the whole backstory and the curse of the sword right?

[Shjinta]

I'm just unhappy with the fact its another 10 levels. I was bored out of my mind by the way Blizzard did 60-70. Anyways Blizzard will most likely and I hope only release this bad boy in Summer of 08'. We haven't gotten Dick in terms of free content, and this current expansion has only been out for Seven months. So either Blizzard is being paid by the highl evel guilds or they are only concerned with making more money.

[Shjinta]

Not mistaken. Rumored to be D3. There is also conflicting reports about the title of the expansion. The pic is one title, the other is "Into the Malestrom". Will need to wait to see what the exact title is. I am almost thinking it might be either two expansions, or a content patch massive in scale named one of the above.


I was reading about that. I still think blizzard is blowing their guns. The Lich King is the best content they have. All this old gods, and dragons crap they haven't used is frigging boring. So I believe after this Expansion WoW will go downhill fast.

[Exodus]

no more than wielding ashbringer or whatever that sword is called
as for frostmourne I remember a long time ago they planned that their was only one frostmourne per server, I wonder if that will still stand

[NeuroMan42]

Here is everything I found about the Expansion...

An FAQ for the WoW: Wrath of the Lich King expansion may have leaked onto a German WoW forum earlier today after being up on the European Union WoW website late last night. If its contents are legit, players can expect:

1. Death Knight Hero Class (starting at higher level, damage-dealing tank)
2. Level 80 character cap
3. Siege weapons and destructible buildings in PVP
4. "hundreds of new recipes and thousands of new items"

But I'm not a WoW freak, so hit the jump for the entire FAQ and some bombshells that I may have missed.

FAQ for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

What are the features of the new expansion?

Wrath of the Lich King builds on the rich foundation established in World of Warcraft and The Burning Crusade, providing a wealth of new content for players to explore. The harsh, forbidding continent of Northrend, home of the Lich King and his undead minions, will be uncovered on the world map, and to contend with the new challenges found there, players will be able to advance to level 80, acquiring potent new abilities and talents along the way.

In addition, Wrath of the Lich King will introduce the death knight hero class to World of Warcraft. Once certain criteria are met, players will be able to create a new death knight character, which will start at a high level. Furthermore, player-vs.-player battles will reach a new level of intensity with the addition of siege weapons and destructible buildings, not to mention a new battleground. There will also be an abundance of new quests, dungeons, monsters, items, and recipes -- as well as a new profession, inscription -- for players to try out. The expansion will include some additional character-customization options for players as well. We'll be going into more detail on all of these features in the months ahead.

How will the death knight class fit into the game?

The death knight combines martial prowess with dark, necromantic energies. Players might be familiar with the death knight from previously released Warcraft games -- most recently, in the campaigns for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and the Frozen Throne expansion, the former paladin Arthas became a death knight and wreaked havoc across Azeroth and Northrend before fusing with the spirit of Ner'zhul to become the Lich King. The death knight is the first hero class in World of Warcraft; once certain criteria are met, players will unlock the ability to create a new death knight character, which will begin play at a high experience level. We're currently exploring various options for how the death knight will play and the types of abilities at its disposal, and we'll be revealing more information about this new class as we get further along in development.

Will the death knight have any abilities from previously released Warcraft games?

The way we portrayed death knights in past Warcraft games is certainly a source of inspiration, but we are still determining how best to capture that feel within the mechanics of World of Warcraft, and haven't made any final determinations on specific abilities.

What role will the death knight play in groups and raids?

In general terms, the death knight can be considered a type of class that combines damage dealing and tanking, but naturally it will have an array of unique abilities as well.

What races will be allowed to play death knights?

We haven't yet made a final determination about which races can be death knights. However, the class will be available to both the Alliance and the Horde.

Will there be additional hero classes in the future?

Yes, we do intend to add more hero classes in the future, but right now our focus is on the current expansion.

What is the story background of the expansion?

Players last visited Northrend in the Warcraft III expansion, when Arthas Menethil fused with the spirit of Ner'zhul to become the Lich King, one of the most powerful entities in the Warcraft universe. He now broods atop the Frozen Throne, deep in Icecrown Citadel, clutching the rune blade Frostmourne and marshaling the undead armies of the Scourge. In Wrath of the Lich King, the greatest champions of the Alliance and the Horde will do battle with the Scourge amid Northrend's howling winds and fields of jagged ice, and ultimately face the Lich King himself.

Will players actually get to encounter Arthas himself?

Players will be skirmishing with the minions of Arthas from the moment they set foot on Northrend. He will be a constant presence as players progress through the expansion content -- which will culminate in a showdown with the dread Lich King himself.

Can you discuss some of the new talents and abilities that will be available from level 70 to level 80?

As with character advancement up to level 70, players will gain access to an array of potent and exciting new abilities and talents as they make their way from level 70 to level 80. However, it's still too early to get into specifics on these.

How long will it take to advance from level 70 to level 80?

We were pleased with the pacing from level 60 to level 70 in The Burning Crusade, and we intend to take a similar approach to pacing character advancement in Wrath of the Lich King. However, the specific amount of time that it will take players to reach level 80 will vary widely based on play style.

What can you reveal about Northrend?

The first area of Northrend we're showcasing is the Howling Fjord, a region of grasslands overlooking massive cliffs at the southeastern edge of the continent. This, along with the Borean Tundra, is the front line of the war against Arthas, and players will come face to face with his minions as soon as they set foot on Northrend. Eventually, as players progress further, they will explore the Grizzly Hills, Dragonblight, and more. We'll be showing off some of these new areas in the months ahead.

What's the level requirement to enter Northrend?

Players of any level who have purchased the expansion can visit Northrend. However, all of the content is designed for players level 68 and up.

How many new dungeons will be in the expansion?

The first dungeon players will enter is Utgarde Keep, which is intended for five players around level 70. Utgarde is inhabited by the Vrykul, a Viking-like race bent on proving their strength to the Lich King, who will raise the most worthy of their warriors to serve him beyond the grave. We intend to provide a variety of dungeons comparable to that in The Burning Crusade and will be revealing more details about some of these in the months ahead.

Do you plan to continue with the 25-player model for raids?

Yes, we've been pleased with the tactics, intensity, and variety of the 25-player raid model, and plan to continue with it.

In what ways will players be able to further customize their characters in the expansion?

In addition to the numerous new character-customization options that will be available with all of the new weapons and armor added by the expansion, we'll be offering some fun ways to alter both existing and new characters with regard to dances and hairstyles, but we're not ready to go into more detail just yet.

What can you reveal about the new profession coming with the expansion?

Inscription allows the player to permanently enhance their spells and abilities and to create mysterious items of power to use, trade, and sell.

What can players expect with regard to player-vs.-player combat in the expansion?

Players will be able to take control of siege weapons and use them to destroy opposing buildings, adding a new layer of complexity to PvP battles. Naturally, we'll be providing some fun places to put these new tools to good use, and we'll be revealing more information about them in the months ahead, in addition to the new battleground content being added.

Can you give a sneak peek at the new recipes and items in the expansion?

There will be hundreds of new recipes and thousands of new items available, but we're not ready to discuss specific examples just yet.

How many zones will be in the expansion?

Northrend will be roughly equivalent to Outland in terms of size and scope.

Will there be any new cinematic scenes?

Yes, our cinematics department is hard at work preparing a new intro movie for the expansion.

Release/Availability

Do you need to own the expansion to play with friends who have it?

There will be many aspects of the expansion that will be available to all players. However, in order to experience certain content, such as Northrend, or be able to play as a death knight, players must purchase the expansion.

Will there be an open beta test of the expansion?

We have not yet determined whether the expansion will require an open beta test. If we do decide to conduct a beta test, details will be posted on the official World of Warcraft website once we've gotten further along in the development process.

When will the expansion be released? How much will it cost?

We have not yet announced a release date for the expansion set. However, we expect to announce further details, including the release date and price, on our community website in the months ahead. Please stay tuned to [link] for more information.

Will there be a collector's edition?

We have not yet made any determination about whether there will be a collector's edition of Wrath of the Lich King. We'll be announcing details such as this closer to release.

Will a Mac version be available simultaneously with the PC version?

Yes. As with all of our games, Wrath of the Lich King will be compatible with and optimized for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.

What are the system requirements?

We'll continue to ensure that the game is playable on a wide range of hardware. However, we have not made a final determination on the system requirements as yet.

Will the expansion be released globally at the same time?

We recognize that players throughout the world will be eager to experience all of the new content being added with Wrath of the Lich King, and we will make every effort to release the expansion simultaneously worldwide. However, there's always the possibility that unforeseen circumstances could delay the launch in any given region. We'll share the launch timing with players in each region as soon as the plans have been finalized.

What is the ESRB rating for the expansion?

The expansion has not yet been rated by the ESRB. However, we anticipate that it will receive the same rating that the original World of Warcraft received -- "Teen."

[bapenguin]

OMG, First news Post ever!!!!!

Yup..and you forgot to uncheck your signature. Tsk Tsk!

[TempestBlayze]

Awesome! My Dwarf can finally get a haircut. I've been asking for this since 2005!

[Oblivion]

That looks very fake, the faq that is. Also, visit wow>general forums and see the preemptive whining of the wow horde.

[Shjinta]

Yup..and you forgot to uncheck your signature. Tsk Tsk!


DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll know for next time.

[Nura]

Goddamnit! give me my ghost! damn you blizzard for ripping that game out of my hands! damn you!! i bought a xbox for it! >_<

[boratika]

Arthras is such a Kerrigan wannabe.

"Oh look, I was human in the first chapter but now I control the swarm...I mean scourge."

[The Continental]

Hehe that's what I was wondering about. I mean, it sounds like a pretty ultimate weapon, but they can't just ignore the whole backstory and the curse of the sword right?I chuckled.

[Apex]

World around the campfire is blizzard is suppose to show off what their third team is working on.. Rumors point to something Diablo related

I believe that as my friend at Blizzard who is staying very quiet but being very smug is leading me to believe that. As well as him putting forward our mutual friend for a role on the 'new team' as an artist, whose portfolio which he made for the job, which I've looked at, screamed Diablo as much as it possiblly could. Since it was of Diablo himself.

[PathMaster]

Yea..there is many unconfirmed reports about the web. If the people who get the unconfirmed patch notes are also getting the Expansion FAQ, then it is more then likely correct, otherwise..I would say no.

[51|RandoM]

Raise your hand if you thought there'd not be another WoW expansion, just so we can point and laugh.

This is roughly akin to confirmation that water is wet.

[Oddmaker]

I'm disappointed.

[PathMaster]

Raise your hand if you thought there'd not be another WoW expansion, just so we can point and laugh.

This is roughly akin to confirmation that water is wet.

Wait, what? Water is wet? Damn, I owe some friends some cash. Damn drunken bets. :eek:

[bKangy]

Looks good for those still playing and are like level 70, but I mean, it's just pointless for anyone not already at end-game to get this stuff. And unfortunately, to get to the end-game, you need to endure some of the most boring gaming ever.

[Johan]

WoW is like your average Westerner; always expanding and fat as hell.

[everar]

The magical 2rd expansion is the swan song of most MMO's.

And with the next gen arriving soon (Warhammer / Conan), things are looking blue. Well, bluish-green for Blizzard. They'll still be making hella cash and then Starcraft II will come out.

And I don't know what people are thinking to be fake about this. Northrend graphics were already leaked all over the internets.

[McNinja]

I played WoW a LOT until about 2 months ago. Got out once the sheer futility of it hit me. I know that it "floats the boat" for a lot of people, but it just wasn't doing it for me anymore. The higher you go in levels (I hit 70 on 5 characters), the more you are punished by grinding to get the best gear/recipes for crafting and all for what? To have the same skills/gear as hundreds of thousands of other people. It's the same with all MMORPGs. >.<

[Vermillion]

If this is anything like the last expansion, count me out.

The new levels for the Drenari were great. Then you hit level 20 and you are stuck going back to the same boring crap you've played already.

Would it kill them to have an actual full race with a FULL new area to level all the way through? I'm so sick of playing the same game over and over.

[Telefrog]

Will there be additional hero classes in the future?

Yes, we do intend to add more hero classes in the future, but right now our focus is on the current expansion.


I take this to mean that a new hero class will be the draw for the 3rd expansion.

[Zeal]

The drums...of...war....thunder....once...again...

::Arthas' theme::

[PathMaster]

I take this to mean that a new hero class will be the draw for the 3rd expansion.

Actually I think I heard that already have two more done as well. Priests and another class besides them. Total of 3 done so far.

[Grifter]

The magical 2rd expansion is the swan song of most MMO's.
Are you calling WoW a turd?

[GunnyMo]

I've been clear and free of WoW for three months now and don't regret a thing. :D

The expansion looks cool but it also looks like more of the same ol', same ol'. They should have introduced new classes with Burning Crusade instead of just flipping pallies/shammies.

[NeuroMan42]

I have been clear of WOW also for 3 months, and although I do check the news on it about once a week. I really have no desire to go back to it at all. Frankly... most MMOs just hold no interest for me. I am in the Tabula Rasa beta but it feels more like a solo game then an MMO.

[Tricky Thumb]

I don't think there's nearly enough compelling content for anybody who's not playing the game anymore to come back. It would've been nice of them to focus half of their attention to high level content and half to low-mid level content.

[Kem0sabe]

I have been clear of WOW also for 3 months, and although I do check the news on it about once a week. I really have no desire to go back to it at all. Frankly... most MMOs just hold no interest for me. I am in the Tabula Rasa beta but it feels more like a solo game then an MMO.

Also on the Tabula Rasa beta, the damn thing looks like its using a modified Auto Assault engine, plays and looks like crap and is completely reminiscent of Guild Wars in terms of % of instanced content compared to live server content.

[PathMaster]

http://www.wow-europe.com/wrath/

Enjoy!

Looks good.

[Abash Alarmist]

I am curious on how they plan to deal with flying mounts in Northrend.

[Exodus]

I have been clear of wow for 3 months too LOL
coincidence?

I almost kinda have the itch to go back but I really really want diablo 3 and hellgate london, I just do not have the time to deal with the masses of emo kids and social attention required -_-

make no mistake, you have to make friends in wow in the end to get anywhere, or be the person who everyone is just itching to kick out of the guild

[NeuroMan42]

I don't think there's nearly enough compelling content for anybody who's not playing the game anymore to come back. It would've been nice of them to focus half of their attention to high level content and half to low-mid level content.
Totally agree... I played very casually and often with my daughter. In the BC expansion almost all of the content was for 60+ and with Lich King it looks like it is once again 65+ content.

[Your Good Twin]

Hey guys! Let's all post how long we've been "free" of WoW and our general opinions on the game and MMO's in general!

[Exodus]

Hey guys! Let's all post how long we've been "free" of WoW and our general opinions on the game and MMO's in general!

oh fuck no, as soon as hellgate london comes out I'm gonna be addicted again, and a girl I got a lotta lesser than signs and 3's for is dragging me to guild wars 2 even if she has to buy me a copy -_-