Aquatic mounts and the next expansion
by Mike Schramm 
Feb 25th 2009 at 7:00PM
A lot of you readers glommed right on to the first thing that I too noticed in the notes about the patch 3.1 pets and mounts yesterday. Ok, well, the first thing I noticed was the Gurloc and Wolvar orphans -- new Children's Week fun! -- but the second thing was the fact that we've got an "aquatic" mount going into the game for the first time ever. Not only are normal mounts going underwater, but we'll soon have access to an Aquatic Riding Ray that will presumably only work under water.That's a big deal, and it pins just a little more credence onto the longtime rumors that the next expansion of the game will take us into the big watery swirly known as the Maelstrom. Lots of water activity was actually updated in this expansion already -- there are many more items designed to help us breathe underwater, and breathing itself was buffed quite a bit.
Of course, the Emerald Dream is also rumored to be included in the next big expansion, but of course we've also heard rumors that we'll actually see both at the same time. Whatever the truth turns out to be, you can probably put money on the fact that this is only the first Aquatic mount we'll see in the game, and that we'll be headed into the water even more soon.
Patch 3.1 brings us Ulduar, dual specs, significant changes to all the classes, and more! We've got you covered from top to bottom with our Guide to Patch 3.1.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Blizzard, Expansions, Mounts, Rumors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
bearclaw Feb 25th 2009 7:05PM
I'm on a dolphin doing flips and shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
nice
maybe first?
TJ Feb 25th 2009 7:06PM
Here's hoping they do both and pump out a content-heavy expansion but avoid adding the 10 extra levels. I shudder to think about leveling 1-90...
Nadril Feb 25th 2009 7:09PM
I do wonder how long they'll keep doing that. I mean, from a design standpoint it's the easiest (Pretty much a reset every expansion pack) but looking through a new players eyes it is quite daunting really. I assume they'll just up the old world content leveling speed if they do that though.
Angelofwar Feb 25th 2009 7:12PM
I don't care if they add another 10 levels, but please do not make the XP to level something ridiculous like 3 million. Leveling is dandy at all but I just hate the fact that it's such a CHORE. It's fun to explore new content, but I don't want to spend 5 hours per level in that content, and end up hating it like I have nearly every other zone I've been in.
Dan Feb 25th 2009 7:16PM
They seem to do that every expansion (boost the leveling speed). Since Zin-Azshari would be entirely hostile, I can see it being something similar to Isle of Quel'Danas rather than its own expansion.
To me personally, unless they come out with some immense plot development, it doesn't seem like there's quite enough in the burners (i.e. Zin-Azshari and the Emerald Dream) to make a full expansion. In addition, I can't imagine leveling another 10 times between just 2 zones.
sephirah Feb 25th 2009 7:19PM
Questing is nice for some, bad for others.
In an expansion without additional levels (so no need for xp), how many people would skip questing at all and just jump in instances/raids?
They could simply remove the various areas in which people wouldn't go, place portals to the various instances and be done!
A bit boring, isn't it?
Loremastah Feb 25th 2009 8:30PM
@Dan
Actually, Zin'Ashari would be just one small zone in the great sea. You have Kezan (Goblin Home), The home of the Zandalar trolls, the broken isles/Sargeras's tomb, Mak'aru (Markura home), the murloc home, The Great Rift (exact center of the Well of Eternity), Plunder Isle (Bloodsail HQ) Hiji and Tel'Abim, just to name a few.
Dan Feb 25th 2009 9:04PM
@Loremastah
That's a really good point, I forgot about those. However I don't think those islands could form a cohesive enough environment for an expansion; that is, unless the Naga start expanding to all the islands.
(Which of course would be really cool, especially if they introduce new types of Naga and models; those Sirens and Myrmidons are getting really boring...)
Dennis Feb 25th 2009 9:46PM
10 more lvls per xpac....... I can imagine lvling my alt now.
Hillsbrad Foothills
3: LF help, four 100s camping me. I rezzed they did a /sneeze emote and I died =\
Andrew Feb 26th 2009 12:43AM
And Gilneas and Kul'Tiras! Don ' t forget about them like Metzen did!
Horris Feb 25th 2009 7:06PM
I'm ridin' on a dolphin, doin' flips 'n shit.
SaintStryfe Feb 25th 2009 7:15PM
Yo dawg I heards you like dolphins so we put dolphins in your WoW so you can dolphin while you wow
Retron Feb 25th 2009 7:20PM
The dolphin's splashin, gettin e'rybody all wet!
Nick Feb 25th 2009 7:42PM
this ain't Sea World, this is real as it gets
Dobmeister Feb 25th 2009 7:45PM
So long, so long, and thanks - for all the [shiny] fish [scales]!
Willow Feb 25th 2009 8:02PM
I'm on a BOAT, mutha*%#@ers, don't you ever forget!
Sam Feb 25th 2009 7:13PM
I would take mu guess for the next expansion at the Emerald Dream, seeing as an upcoming book is most likely about Malfurion.
ObiChad Feb 25th 2009 7:17PM
I Got My Swim Trunks and My Flippy Floppies
Cryoh Feb 26th 2009 8:20AM
I'm flippin' burgers - you at Kinko's straight flippin' copies >.>
Kakistocracy Feb 25th 2009 7:16PM
If improved underwater breathing was the goal, why were the nagrand cherries nerfed so harshly?