stranglethorn
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Cataclysm Beta: Northern Stranglethorn and The Cape of Stranglethorn
There are several reasons people disliked Stranglethorn Vale in vanilla WoW. I could go into detail about the confusion that The Green Hills of Stranglethorn presents to new players. I could tell you about the lack of coherent direction in questing. I could harp on the horrors of the multiple quests with low drop rates. I could spend an entire article just talking about the amount of running around you have to do. Alternatively, I could just tell you that it's all fixed in Cataclysm -- all of it. The usual caveats apply: this is spoiler-heavy, some stuff is incomplete and it's from an Alliance perspective. The first thing you should know, if you don't already, is that Stranglethorn Vale has been split in two by a gigantic whirlpool, dividing it into Northern Stranglethorn and the Cape of Stranglethorn. %Gallery-98117% %Gallery-97186%
Cataclysm starting zone lore and other new details revealed
PC Gamer UK was lucky enough to get the chance to grill Blizzard about the upcoming Cataclsym expansion, and they came away with quite a bit of new information, which is available in their latest issue, as well as as in the PC Gamer Podcast.If you don't want to be spoiled, do not follow the break, I'm warning you now. There's a couple major story spoilers, especially regarding the origins of the goblins and worgen.
WoW Moviewatch: Don't Make Me Get My Main
Cranius is the legendary WoW musician behind Big Blue Dress and Darrowshire. If you've been following Moviewatch, then you already know he worked with equally amazing machinimator Legs to create a music video for Wrought. For BlizzCon 2009, the pair again created an astounding piece of art, titled Don't Make Me Get My Main. The story of the video is something with which most of us can empathize. At least, you can empathize with it if you've ever tried leveling an alt up through Stranglethorn. A beleaguered low level character is just trying to get his quests done, but a vile Blood Elf repeatedly gray-ganks the poor chap. The protagonist implores the ganker to leave him alone, before he's forced to go get his accomplished, powerful main character. I'll avoid spoilers for the ending, but trust me when I say it's probably yet another experience most of us have probably suffered through before. Congratulations to Cranius and Legs on winning a first place prize with this video. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an e-mail at machinima AT wow DOT com.
Around Azeroth: Under the sea
The worst part about finding huge skeletons in game is the fact that what is now a skeleton was once a living creature. What sort of creature left these bones behind, what sort of creature killed that creature, and is the second creature still around?! Run! Hide! Er... ahem.What I'm trying to say is that Gitr sent us this shot, telling us that it's located in Stranglethorn Vale, nestled on the ocean floor between the land and the water elemental island off the northwest coast. But for my part, I still advise all potential visitors to take a wide berth around those fangs...!Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing a copy to aroundazeroth@wow.com, with as much or as little detail as you'd like to share with the world! %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: Zeppelin crash!
I honestly think I've spent a lot of time exploring Azeroth, but this scene in Stranglethorn Vale is a new one on me. I'm not quite sure exactly where in STV this crashed zeppelin is located, but I agree with Pyrana of Scarlet Crusade, who sent us this shot, noting, "Maybe I'll think twice about taking the zeppelin from Grom'Gol to Undercity from here on out..."Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: Our favorite view in Stranglethorn Vale
For today's episode of Around Azeroth, we're wandering away from Outland to revisit one of our favorite views of the old world. And if you don't recognize the shot above, I have to say I'd be very curious to know where you leveled between 30 and 45 or so! But for those of you who don't know what we're looking at, it's a shot of the Goblin statue that stands on a tiny island just outside the port of Booty Bay. In this sunset shot, sent in by reader Kalku of Dath'Remar, it looks quite tranquil.Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: But where does the water come from? (Revisited)
You may recall recently seeing an Around Azeroth post featuring a screenshot of one of the many floating islands in Nagrand (and Outland in general), this one with a waterfall falling gracefully over the sides. I wondered, at the time, where the water was coming from to create this never-ending waterfall. Today, reader Fanny of Twisting Nether sends in a shot taken from Stranglethorn Vale, near Booty Bay, showing where water within Azeroth comes from -- out of thin air! I've got to say this explains everything... if Azerothian waterfalls can come from nowhere, why should Outland waterfalls be any different?Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: Welcome to Yojamba Isle
Reader Tiffa sends in this shot of Yojamba Isle, which looks like the ideal setting for a beach party, doesn't it? Blue sky overhead and palm trees below! However, the Zandalar tribe which resides here is a serious lot, dedicated to the fight against Hakkar, the Blood God, and his minions in Zul'Gurub. But if you fancy some good times in old Azeroth, pay the Zandalar a visit! The fights in Zul'Gurub remain some of my favorite in the game.Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: Why does it always have to be murlocs?
While you can't see all of the majesty of the Vile Reef from here, these ruins are are just off to the side. I think I'd even enjoy the place if it weren't for the swarming aggressive murlocs and the constant danger of drowning. Reader Arral of Arathor (EU) sent in this shot, noting the amount of time Blizzard put into this game -- even detailing these underwater areas.Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part.See more of your pics from Around Azeroth.%Gallery-1816%
And the award for world's worst WoW player goes to...
Now I don't mean to make fun-- maybe this poor guy just hasn't had a lot of experience operating a keyboard or playing videogames. Maybe he just hasn't quite yet or just isn't able to pick up the skills to play this game.But when Lynyrd, a 64 Orc Hunter on Drak'thul, puts up a PvP whine post on the forums about how he was killed and camped by a 34 warlock, you just have to wonder what's happening there. A few replies in, there's a mention of more players joining in to the fight (apparently Lynyrd was helping a few lowbie friends when they decided to gang up on some Alliance), but when all the dust has cleared, it really looks like a 64 hunter somehow got taken down by a 38 lock and a 37 priest. Lynyrd makes another appearance later in the thread (after a few more illegible posts by the interested parties, I'm ready to call shenanigans on all of this, but it's still funny), and posts his spec, which is very... umm.... "broad," I guess. Most hunters tend to specialize in one tree, but Lynyrd has chosen to go for the least of all worlds-- he's got the very uncommon 15/20/20 hunter spec.Again, I can't really believe this is what it seems like-- as players point out, any 64 hunter who knows where the autoshot button is should be able to drop a 38 lock without thinking twice. But a read through the thread itself is definitely chuckleworthy.
Around Azeroth: The green hills of Stranglethorn
Chef from Medivh sends in this shot that perfectly captures the essence of Stranglethorn Vale. Well, okay -- it's the essence of the zone minus the temples full of angry Trolls and the countless ravenous beasts that wander the land. If you disregard that , though, the place is really quite scenic, don't you think?Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part.
Around Azeroth: Rainy day in Stranglethorn
Dreyson of Hyjal sends in this image of Stranglethorn Vale on a rainy day. And, while so much of Stranglethorn looks the same to me, this shot was taken west of Nessingwary's Expedition, looking northwards up the river.So do you have a unique shot of Azeroth that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part.
