Ask a Beta Tester: Of Northrend and Nesingwary

Today we're going on safari with a question from t_d, who asked....

Do we get to see Hemet Nesingwary do some big game hunting in Northrend and if so, who did he leave in charge of the Nagrand Expedition?

Where there's new adventures to be had -- and new beasts to hunt -- you will find Hemet Nesingwary, struggling to rid the world of dangerous creatures everywhere. Though on the beta realms, his camp in Nagrand still contains Hemet himself, we're guessing that when Wrath goes live they'll replace him with a stand-in, similar to what they did when he came to Nagrand from Stranglethorn Vale.

For more on on Hemet Nesingwary -- and other questions -- read on! But if you're the sort who wants to avoid spoilers, turn back now. We're aiming to avoid major story spoilers, but this feature is all about beta content and we can't talk about the beta without giving a few things away.

These days, Hemet hunts in Sholazar Basin (actually, he appears to have crash-landed in the Basin, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have time to stop for a good hunt), and with a larger force than ever, with a total of fourteen NPCs, including an innkeeper, a stable master, a smith (for repairs, of course), and plenty of quest-givers. All it's lacking to call the place home sweet home is a flight path.

What's new in the world of Nesingwary? The anti-Nesingwary faction D.H.E.T.A. (Druids for the Humane and Ethical Treatment of Animals), with a base-camp in the Borean Tundra, one zone over. (In the screenshot above you can see the statue of Nesingwary D.H.E.T.A. keeps in their camp.) Though they can't stand to see animals killed (and will attack you brutally if they find you with any animal blood on you), they have no problem taking out poachers and other friends of Nesingwary. By the next expansion, we could be seeing full-scale war.

Aracross asked....

Tell me about Old Stratholme. Do you know with who we will gain reputation? A new faction? Or no faction?

At present, it's the same old Caverns of Time faction. Not particularly interesting, as there don't seem to be any new reputation rewards, either. It may, however, change.

lynnia asked....

People keep talking about how fair or unfair it is to get to Dalaran at certain levels. But surely you only have to get a mage or warlock to take you there once then you can use the flight point or is the flight point on the ground and you have to teleport up every time?

If you get summoned by a Warlock or ported by a Mage into Dalaran, you can pick up a the flight path, set your hearthstone to the local inn, or whatever you'd like. I'm guessing that Warlocks and Mages will make a tidy profit, early on, bringing their fellow players to Dalaran, and most of us will be setting our hearthstones there for easy transportation throughout Northrend (Dalaran is conveniently located in the center of the continent), Azeroth (with portals to all major cities), and Outland (with a portal to Shattrath).

And for those of you attempting to avoid spoilers, stop reading now. There's only one question left, but its answer below, is speculation on what is likely to be a major spoiler. If you're curious... keep reading. If you want to avoid speculation, close your eyes, hit the back button on your browser, or otherwise leave this post be.

Nevr asked....

Any ideas or info on what the world event is going to be that kicks off the expansion if there even is one? Any clues in the starter quests?

There are clues here and there (including recently uncovered sound files in the beta client), though the world event, obviously, hasn't been implemented yet. NPCs throughout the starting zones talk as though they've been driven to Northrend, forced from their homelands and into the fight with Arthas and the Scourge. It's clear that no one was having tea and suddenly decided, over their crumpets, to take the long trip to Northrend to assault Arthas on his home turf.

I'd say the biggest hint I've run across is the flavor text spoken by Garrosh Hellscream in Warsong Hold in the Borean Tundra. You know, the text that comes up before you click on the quest options at the bottom? The stuff that you're just as likely to click past as to read? Sometimes it's worth reading! Hellscream says:

The razing of Orgrimmar was not just an attack against orcs, it was an affront to the Horde. An assault against our very existence!

The Lich King sought to sow the seeds of fear.

This....

<Garrosh points to the fortified walls that surround him.>

This is the result of Arthas's campaign.

The Horde fears nothing...

Standing next to Hellscream, High Overlord Saurfang continues that thought, in a less optimistic manner:

Fear has always been our greatest weapon. Entire wars have been won and lost upon the shifting shoulders of trepidation and doubt. So how, then, does one fight an enemy that knows no fear?

<Saurfang shakes his head.>

We do not just fight the Scourge in Northrend, we fight to gain control of our senses before they tear us apart...

Combine the bits of information we have, and it sounds like a massive Scourge invasion is coming to Azeroth, lead by Arthas himself. (And likely in conjunction with the disappearance of Naxxramas and the appearance of Ebon Hold over the Eastern Plaguelands.) Arthas will personally threaten leaders of both factions and major cities will be destroyed... or at least damaged. (Blizzard isn't likely to make major changes to existing content in a way that would prevent new players from accessing it -- so I very much doubt that Orgrimmar or any other cities will vanish completely -- but changes are coming.)

The Wrath of the Lich King beta is in full swing, and the WoW Insider crew is here to sate your curiosity with Ask a Beta Tester! Leave your beta questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em! And if you can't get enough Wrath, don't forget to check WoW Insider's Wrath Roundup page for anything we haven't answered here!