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Patch 2.3: Cenarion Expedition flying mount edition [Updated]
You've heard so much news about patch 2.3, now here's a bit more. In response to a poster who was complaining that the Horde will soon have access to an Alliance mount (the Ram, via Brewfest quests) while the Alliance doesn't have access to any sort of raptor or wolf or anything, Bornakk says:While it would be available for both factions, we could also put in an epic flying mount that is purchasable for those who are exalted with the Cenarion Expedition. It would be very expensive, but it would be a sign of an accomplishment for people who go the extra mile and purchase one. Hmmm... this does sound like a good idea, how about we do this in patch 2.3?What sort of flying mount could it be, we wonder? Hippogryphs? I would have guessed nether rays if the Sha'tari Skyguard hadn't already snagged those. Does the Cenarion Expedition have a secret cache of flying cows they're not telling anyone about? The questions continue to pile upon mysteries already heaped upon enigmas!Update: Riddle unraveled! Apparently, it is a Hippogryph, and at the normal 280% speed. Thanks Icho, for asking the question on the forums and finding out for us! I had been hoping for an enormous Zangarmarsh firefly after reading some of the comments -- that would be classy! But alas, it is not meant to be.
Will there be flying mounts in Northrend?
Though the demo version we played at BlizzCon didn't allow the use of flying mounts, CM Vaneras on the EU forums tells us that we are going to be able to use our flying mounts in Northrend -- however, we may not be able to use them right away. Says Vaneras:...it has not yet been decided if they will be available as soon as you get there or how far into your exploration you will be soaring through the icy skies. The reason for the potential delay in free-roaming is to allow the development team a chance to design and create exciting and interesting content which people will not simply fly over and ignore. What sort of restrictions there will be on flying mounts in Northrend is yet to be decided, however. Will it be a level restriction or perhaps require some sort of quest? As soon as we find out, we'll let you know!
Do we also get Flying Sheep on Fire?
As the world found out this last weekend via Blizzcon, there are some grand plans in store for World of Warcraft and Wrath of the Lich King. One of the many things that was mentioned was the creation of Engineering-based flying mounts. however earlier today we received an email from someone calling themselves "Blizguy" and claiming to have leaked information about the upcoming Engineering mounts that will be featured in Wrath of the Lich King. Since I love the idea that Engineering is going to finally get some much-needed love, we figured we'd pass along this rumor. The claims are that the flying Gyrocopter will actually be a flying siege vehicle, much like the Dwarven Gyrocopters, Dwarvish Flying Machines and Gnomish Flying Machines from the original Warcraft RTS series. The rest of the rumor claims: Will require the max level of Engineering. Schematic will be obtained through a series of quests. Is a flying siege weapon! Will require level 78 to use. (Claims likely will be changed to 80.) Will have durability like any other piece of gear, and will require occasional repairs. My question is, if they're implementing the gyrocopters from the RTS series, will they be slow, heavily armored versions, or zippy but poorly armored flyers? Or perhaps will we see a combination of both with the lighter ones for scouting? In either case, while this is all only unsubstantiated rumors at this point, I have to admit, zooming in for an attack on a gyrocopter would be a pretty cool addition to PvP. (Never mind that whole "Horde didn't have gyrocopters" thing... heh) And hey, there might actually finally be a use for that airport outside Ironforge, even if only as a place for quest-givers.
WoW Moviewatch: First look at the broom mount
No, the broom mount isn't a joke, because MMO-Champion has some nice video of it flying around in Shadowmoon Valley. And for my part, I'd much prefer it to the standard wyvern -- but we still don't know just how to acquire them.Previously, on Moviewatch....
Fly away on your broom, Harry Potter
Warlocks rejoice, or at least I am rejoicing for the possibility of a new flying mount for my Warlock. Palm over at Worldofraids sent us some additional information about what is loaded into Patch 2.2, and although armor and weapons are always interesting to me, I was totally giddy when I saw the above image. I would love to be able to say that this means that there will be a warlock-specific flying mount, but I actually doubt it. These days the trends more towards cool mounts like these being drops from instances, available to anyone. In a way the ability to fly away a la Harry Potter would be just as cool if it were available for anyone, I just hold on to the idea of Paladin and Warlock specific flying mounts tightly. Like death-grip tightly. If druids can have flight form, I don't see why locks and pallies can't have a quested flying mount. It only makes sense since they quest for their epic mounts.Until further evidence comes to light keeping my hope alive, I will keep my eye out for more info on the Broom Mount. Perhaps that Grynfinndor guild you've been thinking about creating will now be able to soar through the skies in Quidditch formations soon.
Around Azeroth: Stunt flying
Reader Sylvina from Argent Dawn is clearly a trained stunt pilot -- so don't try this at home, people! Though, honestly, this is a trick you can do by messing with your camera settings in the console. If you type /console pitchlimit 900, you'll be able to turn your you camera angle completely around and upside down -- and if you happen to be on a flying mount at the time, well, you'll look something like this.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: Fly me to the moon
Reader Daveyp sends in an interesting Outland shot taken on the border of Terokkar Forest and Zangarmarsh. Sure, sure, it's a perfectly ordinary Zangarmarsh mushroom shot (and if history tells you anything, it's that I love Zangarmarsh mushroom shots) until you look across the sky, and see the only-in-Outland image of the flying mount in the moon. It's probably not that unique of a shot, but it is, amazingly, the first such image to arrive in my mailbox.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%
The Phoenix Mount is indeed in game -- with Ezra!
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Blizzard_s_Make_a_Wish_kid_gets_one_more_awesome_item'; As Nethaera and Eyonix have both pointed out on the forums before, the Phoenix mount is indeed in game. But as I had the honor to learn recently, it's not in the place that many of us might think it is. At least, the first one isn't. The others -- well, nobody but Blue has the vaguest idea where those are going to drop. (Of course, most people figure on Kael'thas or Al'ar in Tempest Keep as the drop source for the Phoenix Mount, much like the tiger mount drops in ZG from the tiger boss, and the Baron drops his own mount in Stratholme.)You see, the World First phoenix mount belongs to Ezra Chatterton, the young man who recently went to Blizzard's offices with the Make-A-Wish foundation. Ezra was given the first ever Phoenix mount in game for two reasons. First, it was probably the best gift that Blizzard could really give any gamer as far as one of the new Outland mounts. Netherdrakes are awesome, but a phoenix trumps that, if you ask me! And hey, who wouldn't want a mount that could move at 310% speed like the Swift Nether Drake arena award mount. Secondly, as Ezra's father Micah explained to me, the phoenix is an extremely important personal symbol for Ezra.
Around Azeroth: Idling ftl.
There's a reason you don't idle in the open on PvP servers. It's because people will kill you. And if you happen to be in a amusing spot, say, floating in the air over Area 52 when you meet your untimely end? People, like reader Goroth of Onyxia, will immortalize your corpse in screenshots. 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: A wrong turn somewhere...
In this single screenshot we see a sad tale unfolding as Pruflas of Blood Reign on Blackwater Raiders takes a wrong turn on his flying mount. In all honesty, this Kraator fellow -- a rare spawn in Shadowmoon Valley -- looks extremely unfriendly. It's a sad wrong turn indeed to send you flying directly into his face... 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: The solution to warlock pet problems...
Reader George sends in this buggy screenshot that, perhaps, is a reasonable way to solve the problems with warlock and hunter pets when getting on flying mounts. Oh, sure -- Blizzard's made a change that will cause pets to be dismissed when you mount up, but, really, having them ride along with you, perhaps in a little basket or side-car of some sort, is much more entertaining.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%
Netherwing colors revealed on PTR
For some reason I missed this in the small mention we gave it the first time around, but apparently the Netherdrake mount (which I'm currently grinding like a madman to get the skill for) is available in a bevy of colors! Our friends at WoWHead have posted not only the Tier 6 stats, but also all the different Netherwing mounts.When the time comes, you'll get your choice of Azure, Cobalt, Onyx, Purple, Veridian (wha?), or Violet dragon mounts. I'm sure Onyx will be a popular choice, but you never know-- paladins might want to go for purple just so it can match with their Tier 5 gear. Unfortunately, all those colors seem really-- blue. Where's my red Netherwing, or my gray dragon? Veridian is actually kind of greenish. Looks pretty blah to me, but whatever floats your flying mount around faster than a mage spell, I guess.The mount actually comes from a rep vendor, so as long as you get exalted with whatever quests need to be done, you'll have your pick of the litter. Even though each mount is Unique, I think that only means you can't have two Onyx mounts-- I believe that you'll be able to buy as many different colors as you have the gold for (maybe those of you on the PTR can confirm or deny*-- whoops, see update). Anyway, looks great! What color are you going for?Update: Word from the PTR says it's actually a quest reward, so one dragon for you. Choose wisely. Also Veridian is apparently a typo-- the color should be viridian. (thanks, kind readers!)Update2: Now we're being told that you can buy another color after you get your first one. Looks like we'll have to wait and see what happens on the live servers.
The Long Road to a Flying Mount
Abro from the Crushridge server has a great question: What's it going to take to get one o' them fancy flyin' mounts? Blue posts in the thread, but all they do is point us to the already-up preview site for the Nether Drakes. (In which, incidentally, I learned that we won't even be able to touch a flying mount until level 70!) But everyone, of course, has lots of guesses about what we'll have to do to take to the air.First of all, you know it's going to cost money, and lots of it. A normal mount runs about 90g or so, and an epic mount runs 1,000g, so most people are guessing at 10,000g at least. But then again, it could be higher-- Blizzard is saying there's going to be a lot of content between 60 and 70, and they clearly want a flying mount to be the ultimate prestige item. So it's not unlikely that they'll probably require some sort of quest item as well-- although even Blizzard wouldn't be so heartless as to put the necessary item in a 40-man raid instance... would they?There's more they can do to you. Lots of people are suggesting faction grinding, which seems really mean, but the video trailer does say it'll cost us "Quests, Reputation, Shopkeepers, or a combination of these three." At any rate, it sounds like it's going to be a long time before any of us lift off on a Nether Drake.
Burning Crusade Update: Nether Drakes
The Burning Crusade site has been updated with further information on the flying mounts that may be found in the Outlands. Lore-wise these creatures are the offspring of the black dragon Deathwing, who traveled through the Dark Portal to Draenor, believing it to be a safe haven for some of his eggs. When Ner'zhul opened multiple portals on Draenor with the intent of invading foreign lands, the magical energies released tore the planet apart - and altered the eggs, causing the resulting creatures to have the ability to shift between the physical and astral planes. In use, a Nether Drake will have the speed of an epic mount and be able to run on the ground as well as fly through the air. How they may be obtained or what they might cost, however, remains a mystery!
