New expansion, new map
by Eliah Hecht 
Aug 5th 2007 at 7:15PM
In Wrath of the Lich King, we'll get a new continent, new talents, a new class, a new profession, and probably lots of things we don't even know about yet. However, it looks like some of the old is also changing. Inspired by a post over at Casual WoW, the above image shows the WotLK map with outlines from the current live map superimposed in blue. So what's changed?
- Kalimdor changed in shape significantly. No longer looking quite so much like a penguin, it now has a more crescent-shaped profile.
- Two new islands off the southwest coast of the Eastern Kingdoms.
- New bit of land north of Westfall, west of Stormwind on the west coast of EK.
- Islands Northwest of Tirisfal removed, and two small ones added north of Scarlet Monestary [thanks, Captain Tonga]
Filed under: Odds and ends, Expansions, Wrath of the Lich King
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brunedas Feb 21st 2008 9:35AM
If you look on mapwow.com....you see the places with empty space in it...not lok at the map now and look at the new map.....there getting rid of the empty space..as for the extra land being added in, i think its just ports to northrend
Benor Aug 5th 2007 7:24PM
I'd guess that this will be the in game explanation of why both the Alliance and the Horde refocus on Arthas-he'll somehow flex his muscles to the point of affecting the geography of Azeroth, and he'll probably make it a point to brag about that to the faction leaders.
Django Aug 6th 2007 3:32AM
Well this map looks a lot like the map used in the Alpha of WoW, minus Northrend and the Draenei islands. Hence the two islands south of Stranglethorn.
JPJ007 Aug 5th 2007 7:32PM
I saw on some other forum (can't remember where) that it appears to simply be an old alpha version of the game map (see http://www.wowwiki.com/Image:Azeroth-alphamap-cities.jpg) with Northrend and the Draenei areas tacked on.
Robert Aug 5th 2007 7:35PM
With the exception of Northrend, its almost identical to the map they used in Alpha Maybe its an oversight. http://www.wowwiki.com/Image:Azeroth-alphamap-cities.jpg
crapton Aug 5th 2007 7:40PM
apart from the fact the alpha map is clearly different in several places yes it's almost identical...
Matt Aug 5th 2007 8:05PM
My guess would be that the new area of land west of Stormwind is where the Alliance will be getting on boats and departing to Northrend.
blkmasta Aug 5th 2007 8:07PM
Sur-a-mar!Sur-a-mar!Sur-a-mar! Would be interesting to see what has become of the birthplace of the Stormrage Bros. and Tyrande.
Dave Aug 5th 2007 8:26PM
I've been trying to figure out how we will be getting to Northrend. The trailer shows us arriving on a boat and if that holds true, then the changes in the map might suggest where those ports will be.
I'm a little more curious about those new islands off the coast of the Eastern Kingdoms. Am I the only one who doesn't know what they're supposed to be?
Shadowisp Aug 5th 2007 8:39PM
Maps change over time, maps are drawn by observations and measurements taken by explorers, and remember most of them are drunk dwarves of the Explorers League :P
What they dont explore know accurately, they guesstimate.
Just take a look at historical maps of the continent of Australia, 200-300 years ago the map was so off... since the whole coastline by ship was not explored, the map makers assumed most of the southern coastline of Australia, some maps assumed Australia was a horse shoe shape :P
redxiii Aug 5th 2007 8:55PM
Seems also very much like the Alpha map to me.
@4 It is different to the TBC-Content and the Continent of Northrend, yes - apart from that its the Alpha-map.
Thanks for your comments, @2 and 3
Its cool to have bright readers at this blog.
Combatc87 Aug 5th 2007 8:55PM
@8
While I do agree with that statement, I doubt Blizzard will use that excuse as a final reasoning, although knowing Blizz, they may use that excuse for the time being, until they're ready to unveil their plans for it, which may not come until a content patch post WotLK
WatcherZero Aug 5th 2007 8:58PM
Yeah it is strange altering the map, could of been a mistake or they thought that this map clooked better for emphasis on northrend (The other two continents curve towards it more).
As to boats that alliance use to get there ive no idea where they leave from though I would guess alliance has one from each of thier main ports. The thing I do know for definite though is that the horde get a blimp from outside undercity using that 3rd platform thats always been empty. When you did a charachter copy to the blizzcon servers thats where it spawned you with an NPC telling you to wait for the blimp to Northrend.
I would bet their would be a blimp from Orgrimmar to northrend too.
Avalanche Aug 5th 2007 9:27PM
The map posted is just the artistic version, not the in-game version. For example, look at the artistic version of the pre-BC map:
http://www.worldofwconline.com/gallery/albums/maps/World.jpg
It contains some of those features that people are saying are new. However, they aren't in the in-game map. It's also evident that this is only an artistic version because of the extreme mountain detailing on the continents, which isn't nearly that extreme in-game.
vlad Aug 6th 2007 2:55PM
blizz condensed all the wasted space so we can use FLYING MOUNTS!!!!!!
you heard it here first!
Nyctanessa Aug 5th 2007 9:50PM
Wondering why they would rip off the chunk of Silithus that is AQ..
RogueJedi86 Aug 5th 2007 9:57PM
Because AQ isn't quite that huge? Then again, I'd just shrug it off to concept art, modifying an old map to incorporate Northrend, Quel'thalas, and the Azuremyst Isle chain.
Captain Tonga Aug 5th 2007 10:05PM
TBH I think it is kinda strange that a Capital city doesn't have a dock, so if that little nodule is one it would make alot of sence and it would also eliviate alot of hastle going to and from Northrend. Regarding the two islands of the coast of Westfall, the Southern one looks alot like a crude image from a Warcraft Development dvd:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Image:Undermine.jpg
Adys Aug 5th 2007 10:11PM
No offense but if you think something is up out there it's totally stupid.
They used an alpha map, thats been linked twice now in preceding comments. Why? Im not sure, but Im betting you that since, as they said, they planned to release the game with Northrend at the start, this "new map" is nothing more than the ORIGINAL untrucked beta map with azuremyst and quel thalas changed.
They are not adding undermine, they are not adding another zone, they are not removing winterspring or felwood, they are not changing some random stuff. This would be huge enough to be at least announced at BlizzCon.
Speculating? Yeah right. I bet you Blizzard is lying and in fact Emerald Dream will be the real next expansion. After all, the files have been there since the release, aint they?!
fever Aug 5th 2007 11:29PM
It makes sense that the chunk of land by Stormwind would be for boats, especially as neither stormwind or Ironforge currently has a port, which is basically insane. Also, that chunk of land would stop us hordies from swimming north of Westfall into "Stormwind", and yelling. : ) Wonder how often some lowbie druid in the park freaks out and reports a hordie, lol.