Currently our map of Azeroth has two continents, but anyone who's played the original RTS games knows more is out there. Blizzplanet has some interesting information that leads me to hazard a guess that we may be seeing more added to the cartography of Azeroth in the future.
They start with the information, lore and such that were added to the World of Warcraft RPG: Lands of Mystery tabletop rulebook. Should you own a copy (I, alas, do not) you will find it contains new info on Northrend and the
Add to this the new novel World of Warcraft: Tides of Darkness due out in August 2007. It seems too much of a marketing coincidence that the novel is planned to come out the same month as Blizzcon. That and the fact that there is an Expansion02 folder with Northrend items stashed in the 2.1 patch due out on Tuesday. It appears that future content will indeed spend more time in Azeroth itself.
It makes sense, really. The developers have been emphasizing that this is one game, not two, and what better way to do this than to refocus their efforts back on the known world. I myself am excited with the prospect of spending more time getting to know the people and places of Azeroth. I love exploring, and have been dying to know what else is out there. Seems like Blizzard will be granting my wish.
[image and info courtesy of Blizzplanet]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-14-2007 @ 9:10AM
cheesebanana said...
"in the 2.1 patch due out on Tuesday."
Just a guess or do you know something i dont know eh amanda?! :D
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5-14-2007 @ 9:30AM
kirby1612 said...
Even I could tell you it's going to be out on a Tuesday, I just don't know which one!
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5-14-2007 @ 9:30AM
RogueJedi86 said...
Don't forget that since 2.0.1, when you zoom all the way out to see both the Outland and Azeroth maps, Northrend is visible at the top of Azeroth. Surprisingly close too. It shows the SW parts of Northrend nearly touching Teldrassil and Darkshore. So probably another hint at Northrend coming eventually.
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5-14-2007 @ 9:31AM
Corley said...
@1 Well, she didn't say 'next' Tuesday, but I'm sure it will be a Tuesday. Just as vague as the CM's. Looks like you're learning well. ;)
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5-14-2007 @ 9:39AM
Dave said...
The patch is already being downloaded by your background downloader if you hadn't noticed...they never do that more than a week ahead of time.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:00AM
blitz1988 said...
I've always liked Azeroth better than Outland so I'm looking forward to the addition of new stuff in Azeroth...
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5-14-2007 @ 10:06AM
Tumples said...
Gief Undermine.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:25AM
Pili said...
I wonder at which point Blizzard will be spreading the WOW universe to thin. Already Azeroth feels empty (apart from the occasional alt) now that everybody is flying in Outland. I could see Shattrath, with no AH, becoming a desert when the new expansion comes out.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:40AM
jess said...
Will they let players use flight form/flying mounts in the new zones of Azeroth?
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5-14-2007 @ 10:49AM
draiken said...
Thanks for the link to Blizzplanet.com! Great story as always. Love your content!
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5-14-2007 @ 10:52AM
Mystical Parrot said...
@9 id imagine it'd be possible as the new zones would be instanced and not really connected to azeroth like the different regions of kalimdor for example are.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:59AM
crsh said...
Well there's definitely vacant room in Azeroth, a couple of zones that are part of the lore are mysteriously missing (Gilneas, Kul Tiras, etc) and there are “holes” in the map as well. Anyway, they added Quel’thalas in TBC by extending the land north of the Plaguelands where it was only water according to the map (yes that’s where the Belf zones are supposed to be, but weren’t part of the original WoW map).
I’m personally more worried about the diverging directions.. we went to Outland for the 60+ stretch, and we’re going back to Azeroth for the 70+ content after? Unless it’s content being developed in parallel to Outland content? Outland could fit new zones IMO, it’s a cluster of “islands” anyway, they could just append more, but if they drop it there to head back to Northrend and the Great Sea stuff.. what’s the point?
Unless of course this new expansion is only coming out late 2008…
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5-14-2007 @ 11:05AM
1up said...
Maybe to dock in Tanaris will get you to undermine!
I cant wait to see Gilneas!
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5-14-2007 @ 11:12AM
RogueJedi86 said...
Too bad the people who got Bloodsail Buccaneer Rep to get the pirate quests and gear would be killed instantly long before even getting remotely close to Undermine.
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5-14-2007 @ 11:23AM
Argent said...
"The patch is already being downloaded by your background downloader if you hadn't noticed...they never do that more than a week ahead of time."
the 2.0 patch was put on the downloader nearly 3 weeks before it went live. all that means is that they've finished the maps and images for the upcoming patch, but doesn't necessarily reflect that they've finished the scripts, databases and final code.
based on what i've seen so far on the PTR, i'd be a bit shocked if we got 2.1 tomorrow.
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5-14-2007 @ 11:36AM
Karnifex said...
@15
You mean Bliz hasn't shocked you at all in the past few years? To be perfectly honest, I expect the patch to be tomorrow because it's obviously too soon.
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5-14-2007 @ 12:12PM
Ugkul said...
The Warcraft RPG books are definitely great sources of information about Azeroth and its inhabitants. It'll probably be an odd leap though if they come back to Azeroth for the expansion, as will have hardly any 60-70 mobs. But oh well..
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5-14-2007 @ 12:38PM
Nyx said...
Gilneas! Gilneas!
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5-14-2007 @ 4:41PM
Heath said...
None of the future expansions will expand on the outlands, nor will any future expansions expand on future expansions. Blizzard will want anyone new to the game to be able to just buy WoW + whatever the new expansion out at the time is.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:45PM
Kor said...
Links to the Seas and Northrend, scanned by yours truly.
http://www.feralstorm.com/images/Other/Northrend.jpg
http://www.feralstorm.com/images/Other/The Ocean.jpg
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