Cataclysm will turn Ashenvale into a warzone.

When Cataclysm changes the face of Azeroth as we know it, Ashenvale will become a warzone. A volcano will erupt in the center of the map, disrupting the Night Elves and giving the Horde the opportunity to take control of several Alliance strongholds. Intrigued? Then you should definitely check out the Q&A that Blizzard recently posted with quest designers Eric Maloof and Steve Burke that focuses on how the zone will change in the exapansion. We’ve posted the entire interview after the jump for your reading pleasure.

Ashenvale will be a major questing hub for both Horde and Alliance players from levels 20-25. According to the Q&A, “Horde players will have much more to do” in the zone, including a variety of new quests. There are no significant changes planned for Blackfathom Deeps at this time, but the changes to the storyline and terrain should be more than enough to keep players occupied. More details can be found in the Q&A below.

A. The concept for Ashenvale was to show the effects of the Cataclysm while taking the opportunity to streamline the zone’s level design. There were areas of Ashenvale that were pretty unfriendly in terms of accessibility and quest flow. The level designers and quest designers worked together to alleviate the problem areas and highlight the big changes.

Q. Who will be using this zone (what levels/factions)?

A.Both Horde and Alliance players, roughly from levels 20–25. We anticipate that this will be a well-traveled zone in terms of general player flow.

Q. Without giving up any spoilers, what’s the general storyline for this zone? How has it changed from the original design?

A. Among other catastrophes, an enormous volcano has erupted in central Ashenvale. As the night elves struggle to deal with the chaos caused by the Cataclysm, the Horde is seizing what it perceives to be a golden opportunity. Garrosh Hellscream’s forces are now bearing down upon the night elves and have overtaken several key positions that once served as Alliance strongholds. There is a definite feeling that the balance of power in this region now teeters on a goblin tripwire….
These changes also mean that Horde players will have much more to do in Ashenvale.

Q. What do you think is the most exciting new feature of the zone?

A.Visually, it has to be the volcano. It’s stunning, and it provides a great landmark in a place otherwise known for its dense forest. Thematically, the tension present in the zone gives it a whole new feel. The Horde is barricaded inside the walls of Splintertree Post under a massive assault by the night elves and their allies. Meanwhile, Astranaar is desperately fighting off waves of Hellscream’s forces. Practically everywhere you go in Ashenvale, it’s impossible to escape the fact that it has become a warzone.

Q.What goes into redesigning a zone like this?

A.A bit more than meets the eye, we think. Ashenvale is deceptively large, and previously there were many issues in terms of quest flow and Horde/Alliance content balance. Soon after we rolled up our sleeves and broke ground, we realized that our work was cut out for us. There were numerous quests we wanted to keep, but there were also a great many that no longer fit or didn’t play out efficiently. We also needed to create a variety of new quests, especially ones “For the Horde”™.

Q. What was the most challenging aspect about implementing these changes?

A. It can actually be a bit tougher to come in and “do surgery” to an existing zone than it is to completely gut it and start from scratch. Given our ambitious time constraints, trying to determine what stays, what goes, and what other changes to make is certainly a challenge.

Q. What should players do or go see first?

A.Horde players should visit the Mor’shan Rampart first. There’s a new Horde contingent there who is fighting hard to make sure that no night elves escape Hellscream’s onslaught — not that they’d make it far into the Northern Barrens! Alliance players who come down from Darkshore will want to help defend Maestra’s Post and Astranaar as both settlements struggle to keep from falling under Hellscream’s control.

Q. Who seems to have the upper hand in the zone: the Horde, the Alliance, or the elementals?

A.The Horde and the Alliance are throwing themselves at each other on many fronts; neither has a clear upper hand here. The elementals in Ashenvale are a minor nuisance in comparison to the faction struggle.

Q. Should we expect any changes within Blackfathom Deeps?

A.There are no significant changes planned for Blackfathom Deeps at this time.

Q.What has happened to Silverwind Refuge?

A.The Horde has happened!

Q. What has changed the most: the storyline or the terrain?

A.The amount of change has been pretty equal between storyline and terrain. The terrain is much less frustrating than before, and the visual results of the Cataclysm tell the story as much as the quests do. Story-wise, the theme hasn’t changed so much as its intensity has.

Today we’re covering the changes being made to Ashenvale in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm as the Warsong Outriders and the Silverwing Sentinels continue to vie for domination of the region. Quest designers Eric Maloof and Steve Burke sat down with us to discuss what it’s been like iterating on a familiar yet evolving Kalimdor territory.

Q. What was the original concept for the zone?

A. The concept for Ashenvale was to show the effects of the Cataclysm while taking the opportunity to streamline the zone’s level design. There were areas of Ashenvale that were pretty unfriendly in terms of accessibility and quest flow. The level designers and quest designers worked together to alleviate the problem areas and highlight the big changes.

Q. Who will be using this zone (what levels/factions)?

A.Both Horde and Alliance players, roughly from levels 20–25. We anticipate that this will be a well-traveled zone in terms of general player flow.

Q. Without giving up any spoilers, what’s the general storyline for this zone? How has it changed from the original design?

A. Among other catastrophes, an enormous volcano has erupted in central Ashenvale. As the night elves struggle to deal with the chaos caused by the Cataclysm, the Horde is seizing what it perceives to be a golden opportunity. Garrosh Hellscream’s forces are now bearing down upon the night elves and have overtaken several key positions that once served as Alliance strongholds. There is a definite feeling that the balance of power in this region now teeters on a goblin tripwire….
These changes also mean that Horde players will have much more to do in Ashenvale.

Q. What do you think is the most exciting new feature of the zone?

A.Visually, it has to be the volcano. It’s stunning, and it provides a great landmark in a place otherwise known for its dense forest. Thematically, the tension present in the zone gives it a whole new feel. The Horde is barricaded inside the walls of Splintertree Post under a massive assault by the night elves and their allies. Meanwhile, Astranaar is desperately fighting off waves of Hellscream’s forces. Practically everywhere you go in Ashenvale, it’s impossible to escape the fact that it has become a warzone.

Q.What goes into redesigning a zone like this?

A.A bit more than meets the eye, we think. Ashenvale is deceptively large, and previously there were many issues in terms of quest flow and Horde/Alliance content balance. Soon after we rolled up our sleeves and broke ground, we realized that our work was cut out for us. There were numerous quests we wanted to keep, but there were also a great many that no longer fit or didn’t play out efficiently. We also needed to create a variety of new quests, especially ones “For the Horde”™.

Q. What was the most challenging aspect about implementing these changes?

A. It can actually be a bit tougher to come in and “do surgery” to an existing zone than it is to completely gut it and start from scratch. Given our ambitious time constraints, trying to determine what stays, what goes, and what other changes to make is certainly a challenge.

Q. What should players do or go see first?

A.Horde players should visit the Mor’shan Rampart first. There’s a new Horde contingent there who is fighting hard to make sure that no night elves escape Hellscream’s onslaught — not that they’d make it far into the Northern Barrens! Alliance players who come down from Darkshore will want to help defend Maestra’s Post and Astranaar as both settlements struggle to keep from falling under Hellscream’s control.

Q. Who seems to have the upper hand in the zone: the Horde, the Alliance, or the elementals?

A.The Horde and the Alliance are throwing themselves at each other on many fronts; neither has a clear upper hand here. The elementals in Ashenvale are a minor nuisance in comparison to the faction struggle.

Q. Should we expect any changes within Blackfathom Deeps?

A.There are no significant changes planned for Blackfathom Deeps at this time.

Q.What has happened to Silverwind Refuge?

A.The Horde has happened!

Q. What has changed the most: the storyline or the terrain?

A.The amount of change has been pretty equal between storyline and terrain. The terrain is much less frustrating than before, and the visual results of the Cataclysm tell the story as much as the quests do. Story-wise, the theme hasn’t changed so much as its intensity has.

Look lively — the efforts to retake the areas of Gnomeregan and Echo Isles have begun. While it’s been some weeks since we shared the details surrounding these calls to arms, the battle has finally begun!
If you are of the illustrious Alliance and wish to take up the charge of retaking Gnomeregan as called by Gelbin Mekkatorque, you’ll want to report to him for duty in the district of Tinkertown in Ironforge. Members of the noble and steadfast Horde are tasked to report to Sen’jin village in southern Durotar. No matter if you’re a weathered champion of your faction, or are still learning the ways of battle, you’ll be able to help in these monumental efforts to change the very landscape of Azeroth. Dismissed!

Varimathras is likely second in command of The Forsaken. He is a Dreadlord, a race of demons from The Twisting Nether used as commanders for the invasions of the Burning Legion. With the fall of the Legion at the Battle of Mt. Hyjal, he and several of his brothers were abandoned in the Plaguelands at the Ruins of Lordaeron. They had no news of the defeat of the Legion, and continued to rule over the undead stationed there while waiting for further instructions from Archimonde the Defiler. Their fortifications were assaulted during the Undead Civil War by the forces of the Forsaken and their leader Sylvanas Windrunner, and Varimathras was captured by the Dark Lady. Out of cowardice, he swore fealty to her in order to preserve his own life and assisted her in the destruction of the Dreadlords Balnazzar and Detheroc. He personally attacked and was forced to have killed his brother Balnazzar, leader of the Plaguelands’ Legion forces. Since then he has assisted Sylvanas in her rise to power as ruler of the Forsaken, and aids with her from the Undercity. He runs the day to day affairs of the undead faction, monitoring the progress of the Forsaken’s war against the Scourge and the Scarlet Crusade. His position is highly special as he is the only former member of the Burning legion who openly became one of the rulers of the Azeroth faction (Horde). Although he is a powerful leader of the Forsaken, he does not give honor when killed.

Appears in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Appears in World of Warcraft

According to legend, Terokk is the god of the arakkoa, a race of bird-men who reside primarily in Terokkar Forest – believed to be named for him. Terokk was once a revered hero of the arakkoa, and is said to have built their capital city of Skettis with his own claws. He ruled the arakkoa of Skettis for hundreds of years, until one day he mysteriously disappeared, leaving only his spear, his mask, and his writings. He is now seen as evil, denounced as a false prophet by a faction of arakkoa renegades led by Rilak the Redeemed. They are of the belief that Terokk’s actions – including the corruption of avians at Veil Lithic and the resurrection of the denizens of Veil Rhaze, destroyed when Auchindoun was annihilated – will damn the arakkoa race for all eternity. Talon King Ikiss, leader of the Sethekk clan that has set up shop in Auchindoun, has declared himself Terokk reborn, and has stolen the Relics of Terokk for his own corruptive use.

An island in Blackwind Lake, set in the center of Skettis, is known as Terokk’s Rest; it is here that adventurers in the service of the Sha’tari Skyguard can summon Terokk himself back into the world, and destroy him once and for all.

Appears in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade