Ghostcrawler: There will (not) be at least 31 bosses in Icecrown
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 10th 2009 at 7:00PM
Ghostcrawler has posted an interesting little hint at the next patch (we know of) headed to the game. In response to a discussion about "tanking niches," he talks about Icecrown Citadel over on the forums, and just happens to mention that people might think of tanks as waiting outside until "boss 4, 17 and 31 (yes, IC is that big)." 31 bosses? More like Icecrowded, am I right?Blackrock Depths is the largest 5-man in the game, if not the largest instance, and it boasts over 40 bosses (that's mostly counting encounters, though -- you wouldn't count The Seven, for example, as seven different bosses), including lots and lots of optional bosses and even a holiday boss. Ulduar, by comparison, has about 14, and Karazhan is about that same size (though that depends on how you count random bosses, like the Opera Event). No matter how you slice it, 31 raid bosses is a ton of bosses to go through -- Icecrown could be a return to a really epic, large-scale instance.
Of course, there will likely be wings involved (Naxxramas' Quarters have worked out pretty well, I think), and with the new changes to raid lockouts, Blizzard no longer needs to squeeze the raiding experience into an average of two or three nights a week (which is what it seemed like they were usually aiming for before). If yours is the kind of guild that likes to clear everything in one night, though, you might want to start freeing up some time now.
Update: GC now says he didn't mean the instance would have 31 bosses, he was just throwing in some ridiculous number to prove a point. Our question: why did he say "yes, IC is that big" if he didn't mean it would be that big?
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Instances, Bosses, NPCs, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 7)
Ezlo Aug 10th 2009 7:16PM
Magister's Terrace was just a setback?
Craig R Aug 10th 2009 7:28PM
"Magister's Terrace was merely a setba-" *thunk*
"Your arm's off!"
"no it isn't."
"Then what's that!"
"I've had worse."
"what're you gonna do, bleed on us?"
"I AM INVINCIBLE!"
"you're a loony."
Clbull Aug 10th 2009 10:42PM
Imho, I'm predicting:
1) An enpowered version of Sapphiron and Kel'thuzad. Since KT was Arthas' main lieutenant, and was the final boss of the easiest raid in Wrath, I wouldn't be surprised if he and sapphiron made a reappearence. Kinda like how Kael'thas reappeared in Magister's Terrace.
2) Members of the Knights of the Ebon Plague, if the Lich King somehow regains control of them during their assault on Icecrown Citadel
3) Sindragosa. The dragon that Arthas raised as a frost wyrm in the Wrath cinematic could likely make an appearence, maybe as a boss right before Arthas himself.
4) Bolvar Fordragon and Saurfang the Younger, resurrected as Undead.
jahaj Aug 11th 2009 12:31AM
DK Drakuru
Admiral Faceless One
Scourged Northrend Giants
Galakrond
lots of frostwyrm trash, all involving felmyst mechanics
Teh_Haxorz Aug 11th 2009 2:30AM
Probably some sort of way to make Kel'Thuzad come back again.
Suzaku Aug 11th 2009 4:42AM
Kael'thas Sunstrider
bregark Aug 10th 2009 7:09PM
How do you get to 40 bosses in BRD unless you count the Seven separately?
I count 41 on this page, with the Seven each counted:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Blackrock_Depths
Rodrigo Aug 10th 2009 8:52PM
Still pretty amazing how you can enter BRD, get completeley lost (because you forgot the way after about 5 years since your last visit) and discover stuff you have never seen/heard of before...
Tumleren Aug 10th 2009 7:09PM
No wonder they implemented the lockout-system.
I mean, man.. 31..
t0xic Aug 10th 2009 7:17PM
I think you nailed it. They knew Ice Crown was going to be !@#$ huge, and they didn't want people QQ'ing about not being able to finish it before the reset.
Extending raid IDs makes that issue go away. Your RL is already planning your 7-day-a-week raiding schedule =)
Mercutio Aug 11th 2009 4:47AM
How to make 31 bosses doable without a raid lock extension:
Attunement.
3 or 4 wings. Collect the gems/rings/trinkets/chicken wings to make the broach/knuckleduster/tinkers bag/mega bucket and viola! You can now face Arthas (after facing his guardians).
Personally I can see Icecrown being more than just the citadel. There are several forts along with the way that could easilly house gate-keeper bosses.
Blizz: PLEASE don't mess this up. 9/10 on chances to be utterly epic-o-meter.
Andrew R. Aug 10th 2009 7:11PM
If everyone in the raid doesn't walk out of Icecrown with at LEAST one piece of gear from a roll then there's something wrong with this. Especially in a 10 man raid.
Velatix Aug 10th 2009 7:12PM
this could possibly indicate the amount of time between 3.3 and the new expansion.
arilasWL Aug 11th 2009 6:41AM
This. You have to consider hard modes as well! I can envision spending a lot of time in Icecrown, even before every boss is on farm. I think it's a GREAT idea for a final raid for an expansion. GG Blizzard!
busuan Aug 10th 2009 7:14PM
Arthas is the final champion of the 3rd War: Race to Be Top Evil.
While the silver medalist got the whole outland and black temple, it is simply fair to give the champion his own support team.
Scott Aug 10th 2009 7:16PM
Amen. This is going to be fantastic if the rumor turns out to be true. 31 bosses is just like...well...the Baskin Robbins of WoW raiding!!
Brokenmilk Aug 10th 2009 7:14PM
1-Lich King
2-Sindragosa
3-Bolvar/Saurfang
4-Anub'arak, AN and CC were both only setbacks!
And...
14 versions of Kael'Thas, each only a setback.
14 versions of the Black Knight, each only a flesh wound.
Arbitor Aug 10th 2009 7:27PM
That makes 32...
I know he said at LEAST 32 bosses, but Im willing to bet you didn't mean that did you?
`_`
Brokenmilk Aug 10th 2009 8:13PM
D'oh.
I, uh, actually meant there to be not 32, but 34 bosses.
2nd to last boss will be Gamon
And a special bonus "real" last boss at the end, like Algalon...Hogger.
And they will all be In the Mountains.
Tumleren Aug 11th 2009 4:01AM
Algalon Hogger.
I want this