Cataclysm: For Gnomeregan!
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 8th 2009 at 3:00PM
Our very own Michael Sacco actually got his hands on a copy of that PC Gamer full of Cataclysm details, and there was apparently one that we missed: Gnomes may be coming back to Gnomeregan. The little tidbit above is frustratingly vague, but it appears that as long rumored (and long hoped by the shorter denizens of Azeroth), Deathwing's return may break the whole war for the Gnomish capital wide open, and they might finally reclaim their mechanical homeland.
We say "might," because, according to this blurb, it could be anything at this point -- a questline that begins a takeover, a questline that represents a failed takeover, a new phased experience that leads to a takeover, or some kind of questline that brings Gnomeregan up to Heroic status (we know Shadowfang and Deadmines are already getting that treatment, so it wouldn't be too far off to expect other old instances to come around in future content patches).
Then again, let's not kill hope: maybe the Gnomes are finally heading back to Gnomeregan to have a capital city of their own, in all of its Gnomish engineering glory. We can dream, right?
We say "might," because, according to this blurb, it could be anything at this point -- a questline that begins a takeover, a questline that represents a failed takeover, a new phased experience that leads to a takeover, or some kind of questline that brings Gnomeregan up to Heroic status (we know Shadowfang and Deadmines are already getting that treatment, so it wouldn't be too far off to expect other old instances to come around in future content patches).
Then again, let's not kill hope: maybe the Gnomes are finally heading back to Gnomeregan to have a capital city of their own, in all of its Gnomish engineering glory. We can dream, right?
Filed under: Gnomes, Virtual selves, Blizzard, Instances, Quests, Expansions, Lore, NPCs, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Veranilla Oct 8th 2009 3:02PM
About time. It's a hugely unpopular, poorly designed instance. What makes me curious is if they're going to a. scrap the dungeon entirely or b. redesign it and then implement some phasing mechanic down the road.
SyddieGrl Oct 8th 2009 3:06PM
or c. Give the gnomes their city back to balance the trolls being evicted from Orgrimmar?
Captn Obvious Oct 8th 2009 3:17PM
WOOT!
THIS! IS! GNOME-REGAN!
Knob Oct 8th 2009 3:41PM
SyddieGrl: Trolls are taking back their lands in Stranglethorn Vale.
daan.leijen Oct 8th 2009 3:43PM
It's neccesary the gnomes get their capital back for game balance reasons too:
1. Worgen get their capital in a district in Stormwind
2. Goblins build their own capital in Azhara
So to even out the amount of capitals, trolls kinda have to stay in Orgrimmar and the gnomes should get Gnomeregan back OR get a completely new capital. Nuke Gnomer and build a new capital in the crater? If Deathwing is already destroying Azeroth, why not set the gnomes loose with some fine goblin engineering?
nova666 Oct 8th 2009 3:55PM
@ daan.leijen
You do know that the Worgen get Greymane City, right?
Kuno Oct 8th 2009 4:01PM
It still going to be an instance. But instead a crazy bomber as a final boss it will be A cyborg Blood Elf - foolishly returned to life and patched with crazy technology - Kael' The Suncyborger
Eye lasers, rocket boots, jet pack, auto-repair bots and an EMP system... mhmhm Gnomes, way to screw it up again!
Evil Midnight Lurker Oct 8th 2009 4:03PM
@nova666: No, they don't. Gilneas phases into a world PvP zone after worgen PCs leave it.
breaklance Oct 8th 2009 4:05PM
daan.leijen
daan.leijen Oct 8th 2009 3:43PM
It's neccesary the gnomes get their capital back for game balance reasons too:
1. Worgen get their capital in a district in Stormwind
2. Goblins build their own capital in Azhara
The goblins are re-engineering Azshara to be a low level zone, that doesn't neccissarily mean a capital will be there, nor has blizz said the goblines will have a capital. In either case if gnomer becomes a capital the horde will need another one, especially with two races of the horde being evicted from their capital (deadmines like explodes or something, and the trolls are being evicted from the inner sactum of orgrimmar). I'd love to see a zul'aman / zul'gurub-esk capital!!!
Eternauta Oct 8th 2009 4:11PM
Ok I can't stand this nonesense anymore!!
Worgen will get their own Capital: Greymane City (inside Gilneas).
IN ADDITION TO THAT, they get their own district in Stormwind.
You may be confused because there's also a new BG called "Battle for Gilneas", but it's instanced, it doesn't replace the actual capital of the Worgen (you can consider it a representation of the battle the Forsaken and their allies are waging against the Worgen and the Alliance, you get paht lewts, and it doesn't change anything in the end).
K Oct 8th 2009 4:11PM
My mind exploded.
This is awesome and I don't even have a gnome char.
nova666 Oct 8th 2009 4:22PM
@daan.leijen
No its just an instanced BG, and the city is till in the worgen's hands normally.
Blizzard mirror the city's location on the two continents. For instance Thunder Bluff and Stormwind mirror each other and the same with Exodar and Silvermoon.
Urza Oct 8th 2009 4:30PM
Will the horde be able to use the goblin transporter to raid the gnome leader.. that's all I c are about. :)
Olicon Oct 8th 2009 4:44PM
I rather like Gnomer. It's my single favorite "entire instance", and I rank it 3rd on my all time favorite, second only to ZF Stairs (it doesn't get more epic than that), and Wailing Cavern ledge jump before the boss. I think I'm just a sucker for gauntlets (especially earlier ones when it still feels really fresh), and environmental puzzles that involves the 3rd dimension.
Muse Oct 8th 2009 5:17PM
We're not getting a new Shattrath or Dalaran. Need new cities to divert the amount of people so capitals don't overflow.
crunk Oct 8th 2009 5:18PM
I hope we get our city back. I mean it's fine and dandy all that the Dwarves let us have our own little spot in Ironforge. But Jesus it gets hot & stuffy sometimes.
Cyanea Oct 8th 2009 6:24PM
Please tell me I'm not the only person who gets sick to his stomach at the thought of "Heroic Gnomeregan"
tonedeff Oct 8th 2009 6:37PM
The idea of not haveing that shitty and extrememly annoying instance not in my game anymore truly brings a single tear of joy to me!
loreaddict Oct 8th 2009 9:46PM
They MUST put "Powerhouse" as the background theme of the city!
Xirifus Oct 9th 2009 3:49AM
Woah, this is one big reply-thread :D
Also, if they make Gnomeregan as new capital, they just GOTTA add some hidden place like cut-throat alley (or w/e it was called) in Stormwind!