World of Warcraft 2: Cataclysm

Posted by Stropp on July 17, 2009

Back a couple of weeks ago the news became public that Blizzard had registered Cataclysm as a trademark.

And the MMORPG blogosphere erupted into speculation.

Not being above a little speculation myself, as well as not being above a little smart-arsedness, I suggested that the term Cataclysm sounded like something that would be used for an expansion. The smart-arsedness came in with the speculation that WoW: Cataclysm could be about the destruction of the old Azeroth and a increase in starting level because Blizzard were sick of maintaining the old world and wanted to concentrate solely on adding levels to WoW. (That was the smart-arsedness btw.)

Of course, everyone else said that it was about the swirly thing in the middle of the world map, and they’ve probably got it right.

But today in the comments on the WoW: Cataclysm post, Kiryn of the Eleven-Four blog, suggested that Cataclysm also sounded like it could be a sequel where the old world was destroyed and where everyone had to (from Outland) retake their old, shattered lands.

Hmmm. Now that sounded familiar.

Everquest 2 is based exactly on that premise. Old Norrath was destroyed when the gods left (also destroying the moon Luclin) as they were upset at being continually ganked by the players. (I wonder if one of them was Twixt?)

Big chunks of Luclin rained down upon the world and (I guess) the change in tidal forces ripped the continents apart. Residents of EQ2 are now basically rediscovering the old world through each expansion.

Now given Blizzards aptitude for taking what others have done and then improving on it through polishing it out the wazoo, it may be that they are looking (as Kiryn suggested) to be taking what EQ2 has done and adding the unique Blizzard/WoW touch.

So here’s what to expect from WoW2: Cataclysm.

• The game will be set 500 years after the events of World of Warcraft 1.
• Several player species will be lost and will need to be rediscovered through quests, world events, and expansions.
• Some player species will be renamed. Expect Tauren to be renamed Minotauren.
• All of the player cities will be consolidated into two remaining large cities, one for each faction. Other old cities will be rediscovered over time.
• Players will be able to collect shiny objects on the ground.
• A butterfly winged race will be added. Probably Furbolgs will evolve wings over the 500 years (making them even more annoying.)
• Crafting will be added made more relevant and fun.
• Housing will be… err… Housing probably will never be added.

Release date: When it’s ready.

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