The Queue: Savage lands

Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey) has way, way too many entertaining stories from BlizzCon.

Somewhere in the vast expanse of the Mojave desert is the above plank of wood. I'd explain the significance, but I think it would take far, far too long to properly tell the tale. We'll just say that overlord Editor-in-Chief Alex Ziebart, his girlfriend and I took ... a tiny detour on our way home from Anaheim, and leave it at that.

T_Hohl asked:

Thoughts on no flying till 6.1?

I honestly don't mind it at all. The only expansion where we were given flying at the outset of the expansion was Cataclysm. All other expansions required you to hit level cap to fly. Now, I realize that the thought of waiting for an entire patch to launch may make some people quail inside, but I'd also like to point out that no sooner were we playing in Pandaria than 5.1 was on the PTR. I don't really expect that the turnaround for the first patch of Warlords is going to take a long time to get out -- and I'm excited for the prospect of flying being somehow involved in a quest, rather than just something you go out and buy from a trainer. I like interactivity!

BadAndyMk3 asked:

Q for the Q: What would you like the next Legendary to be? Same system as in Mists, or something else? Would you like a weapon? A gem? A socket? Another cloak or perhaps a piece of jewelry? Something completely different? Something upgradable or static? How would we acquire it? What would you like to see?

As long as it involves more Wrathion, I totally don't care.

Okay, okay. Honestly, I loved the format of this expansion's legendary. I liked that we got several legendary pieces as the expansion went on, and that the legendary chain was an ongoing process that everyone could complete. I liked that it wasn't limited to a particular class or spec. And I liked that it's a cloak that I can hide if I want to. I like the light-up cloak proc, but I never show cloaks on my characters, because they look like silly flappy capes. I'd like to see more of that kind of accessible legendary -- it was cool!

ErikSetzer asked:

Right, so does anyone know if the stuff in the Post-Blizzcon Online Sale will be available later? I'd love some stuff, but I'm trying to shop for others for Christmas, yet I don't want to miss out or pay more later.

Generally speaking, the BlizzCon-only stuff is limited quantity and won't be available once supplies run out. But you never know. Honestly, I'd say if you want it, you'd be best off getting it now, while you know it's available. I ordered the part 2 edition of the Mists soundtrack myself!

Aldarix asked:

Soo is there a reason why Thrall's skin colour is green when from lore Durotan and his wife didn't drink the blood.? I was under the impression the drinking of Mannoroth's blood turned the orcs skin colour green which seems evident from the WoD photo where only Gul'dan is green skinned.

When the orc chieftains of the various clans of the Horde got together and drank Mannoroth's blood, they were binding themselves to the Burning Legion. Part of that involved extensive use and exposure to fel magic and energy -- which is where the green skin comes from. It didn't really have to do so much with Mannoroth's blood, as with what that blood signified, and what came after. Only the orc chieftains drank the blood -- their clans did not. But because they were inundated with fel magic day after day, it turned their skin green. It's like being around radiation -- the corruption seeps into your skin. Durotan and Draka didn't drink the blood, but they were around more than enough orcs who did, and thus experienced the green skin as a result.

Now as for Garadar, the place was so remote, so out of the way, and so isolated -- it was basically a quarantine zone for orcs that had been stricken with the red pox -- that it avoided that exposure to fel magic entirely. That's why the Mag'har have brown skin, they were never corrupted. As for Thrall, both Durotan and Draka had the green skin, and that passed along to their child.

Gul'dan is the only green-skinned orc in the WoD promo art because while Garrosh prevented everyone else from drinking Mannoroth's blood and thus succumbing to corruption, Gul'dan still decided drinking the demonic Kool-Aid was a really keen idea. We'll see more on that in Warlords, I'm sure.

anastrace asked:

So in this alternate timeline, if the first war hasn't happened will Stormwind look different since you know...it never burned to the ground in the first place? Will Varian "truce be told" Wrynn get pushed aside for his father or Anduin? o.O Will Wrathtion let his aunt know to uh...change her name and game plan a bit? So many questions. Will Lor't"I just got a personality"amar get pushed aside for a non crazy, non set back Kael'thas?

No. This isn't an alternate timeline, this is a time anomaly that encompasses Draenor, and Draenor alone. Check out Know Your Lore on Sunday, where I'll explain it in full. I even drew a helpful diagram!

Stanleyluckymon asked:

Do you think will will get to see the ogre continent this expansion or a later expansion?

From what I understand, we'll see that continent in a later patch -- it just won't be a part of the whole launch experience. Think Isle of Thunder.

DaEvilGenius asked:

QFTQ What do you plan on using your "Lvl 90 boost" on? New character? Current alt?

I need a level 90 draenei ... something. I don't know what yet, but I do know that I really want to be stomping around the Temple of Karabor. I mean, that was pretty much a given the second they announced it. Right now I'm waffling between hunter, shaman or possibly a monk. I'm leaning towards shaman.

KnackeredOne asked:

Q 4 the Q Has anyone been able to confirm if the female frost wolf Orc in the Warlords trailer is Draka, Thralls mom? I really liked her in the manga and in Lord of the Clans and hope she didn't hurt that Draenei hunter too badly.

I don't know if that's her exactly, but I kind of hope so! Draka was an interesting character. There's a cool two-part story about her in Warcraft: Legends Vol. 4 & 5 -- it was written by Christie Golden. In the story, Draka's past is explored a whole lot more. When she was young, she was a sickly kid, kind of the runt of the tribe. The story's about that, and about her journey to becoming a Frostwolf warrior -- it's a really good read. Highly recommended!

Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column. Leave your questions in the comments, and we'll do our best to answer 'em!