We know that the upcoming Cataclysm expansion is going to literally tear our virtual world apart. What we don’t know yet — and what many of us are worried about — is how the changes to the world will affect the existing wildlife, namely the beasts that we can tame.
But I thought it might be fun to speculate a bit. In this post I’ll make some guesses about what pets may be in peril in Kalimdor. Later I’ll take a poke at the Eastern Kingdoms as well.
My speculation is loosely based off the color-coding in a map that was seen at BlizzCon, which seems to indicate the intensity of landscape changes in various zone. (WoW Insider posted about this recently, which brought it back to mind. It’s also been on a number of other news sites and blogs since BlizzCon.)
Now I’m going to make an unsupported assumption and guess that, for our purposes, major landscape changes are more disruptive to wildlife than level changes alone will be. In my experience with MMOs, a major landscape change will require the content people to re-place any spawners in that area — a tedious chore which also gives them a great opportunity to change around the enemies in an area.
Just changing the level of an area, on the other hand, can often be accomplished with a simple data tweak to the spawners, or at worst a search-and-replace operation on the data tree. Of course, revamping the quest flow through an area will also likely change what creatures are where, but often this will be handled as an addition in a small area rather than a wholesale replacement.
… Which is just a lengthy justification for why I think basing my speculation on what appears to be a landscape map may be useful. I could be utterly wrong, of course.
So let’s take a look at the red zones from that map — presumably the most disturbed zones — one by one. (I’m starting at the northwest and zig-zagging down.)
Darkshore
We’ve heard a bit about the changes coming to Darkshore. Auberdine will be destroyed and the night elves will relocate to the northern end of the zone. (This will help the quest flow immensely, especially if they add a second flight point at the southern end.) Apparently the Horde is encroaching from the south, as well.
Now Darkshore contains a lot of pretty common pet looks, plus two very special beasts: the transparent Ghost Saber and the turquoise Strider Clutchmother. Unfortunately for us, the Ghost Saber spawns in the very north of the zone — where the night elves are relocating their town — and the Strider Clutchmother spawns in the far south — where the Horde are encroaching.
If we are lucky, the Horde won’t disturb the southern part of the zone too much and the Strider Clutchmother will remain there. If we are very lucky, Blizzard will relocate the naga ruins in the north to someplace further south and we’ll get to keep taming Ghost Sabers. But I am rather worried about both of these creatures.
Azshara
From all indications, Azshara is going to get a major make-over. The goblins are reshaping the entire zone more to their liking, and who knows what — if anything — will survive.
Fortunately, Azshara is not a very pet-dense zone. It’s main claim to fame is some chimaeras, some turtles, and way too many taratulas. There are two rare beasts — the Evalcharr and Scalebeard — but neither has a really uncommon appearance. So while I will miss it as a handy place to grab a chimaera, I am much more excited about what new creatures the goblins may import from their islands.
Stonetalon Mountains
I admit it: Stonetalon Mountains is one of my least favorite zones ever. There’s that long boring run from Crossroads to the tiny Horde settlement, then another incredibly long and annoying run down through the Charred Vale to Desolace. The Alliance don’t have it much better, coming down from Ashenvale through all the goblins.
So I am completely ready for Stonetalon to get blown away. I haven’t heard much about specific changes, other than a canyon to Ashenvale rather than a tunnel, and the Charred Vale opened up to the sea on one side.
I’m rather hoping that Stonetalon Peak (the green valley to the north that contains the Alliance flightpoint) is relatively unaffected, because I tamed my Twilight Runner there. But otherwise this zone only boasts the same ubiquitous brown chimaeras and green taratulas, and we’re not in danger of running out of those!
The Barrens
The Barrens is, famously, being split into two zones divided by a lava-filled chasm. I don’t know if we have official names for these areas yet, so I’ll just call them Barrens North and Barrens South.
According to the color-coded map we have, the Barrens North will see moderate changes to landscape. I have no idea what that means at this point, but it seems reasonable to expect that we will not lose our lions and lionesses, our violet raptors, or our tallstriders.
Similarly, Echeyakee is probably safe, as is Snort the Heckler and Takk the Leaper. (Have you ever noticed that the Barrens rares have very Mafia-like names?) In fact, Takk is probably extra-safe since he is now related to the Leaping Hatchling mini-pet.
The Barrens South, however, seems to be up for some more severe landscape changes. Which means that, depending on exactly where the lava-filled chasm goes, we may have some special pets in danger.
Humar the Pridelord currently spawns just outside Ratchet, which hopefully means he’s safe. I’d also hate to lose Azzere the Skyblade, since the only other places to find this particular color windserpent right now are in instances. But my top concern for the Barrens South are the vibrant green scorpids in the Field of Giants. That’s the only place we’ve ever seen these scorpids, and they are by far my favorite color.
Thousand Needles
Apparently, the Cataclysm is going to flood Thousand Needles. I imagine the ‘needles’ will still be above water, but the Salt Flats definitely won’t be … and that really doesn’t seem like it leaves us much of a zone to work with.
Unfortunately, while I have never really thought of Thousand Needles as a bustling hive of beasts to tame, it actually houses quite a lot of interesting options — most of which probably don’t breathe underwater so well. So there are some worries in this zone.
Most notable is the rare Silithid Ravager, the only tan silithid you’ll find outside of Ahn’Qiraj. But Thousand Needles also contains the only non-instance red scorpid, the Scorpid Reaver. And Vile Sting, of course — although you can now find silver scorpids in Silithus, at least.
This zone is also currently the easiest place to tame low-level white wind serpents, which from what I see in game are a very popular choice. At least there are other options for the white wind serpents, though — getting another tan silithid is a bit harder.
Speculation is Fun!
At this point, all we have is speculation. As we get closer to Cataclysm, I am sure we’ll learn more about what will be changing and in what ways.
I’ve only touched what we assume will be the most affected zones here. There are plenty of pets in other Kalimdor zones that we could conceivably lose. But I have a certain level of faith in Blizzard — they know that some of us are crazy about pets, even if they don’t really understand it. *grin* So if we get to beta and we find out that they’ve removed, say, Echeyakee … well, we can let them know that we don’t think that’s such a good idea.
Next time: the Eastern Kingdoms!
Hopefully, we get more back, then we get taken away.
While the height of water required to flood 1k needles to the top without swamping feralas or tanaris is a valid point.. i dont think blizzard always necessarily considers these factors. For example, upon inspection of Sholazaar while camping rares, i realized 1) the rivers flow IN from the ocean, which doesnt happen in reality to my knowledge, 2) FOUR waterfalls dump into the rivers heart, and yet it does not flood even though there is no outlet for the water to leave that area.
just an example, sayin weird non-logical stuff still may happen, not trying to pick a fight or anything :)
NOBA!! HOW DARE YOU BE LOGICAL!!!!
*Coughs* But seriously, I see the Goblins of Tanaris going “OH !@#$! WATER!” And promptly building a dam. Because while Blizzard has done some silly things, I don’t think I could excuse seeing a fifty foot high wall of water just suddenly ending where Tanaris begins.
Which brings up the interesting question of exactly HOW we are going to get from Barrens to Tanaris. Bridges? A series of rafts put together? Good old fashioned swimming?
Well Palla, with the Introduction of Fliers in some zones of Azeroth, Maybe Tanaris will be one? After all it seems as if Southern Barrens is going to be more higher level oriented correct?
You know Gim, I didn’t even think about that. *Scratches his chin* And they are redoing leveling. I guess we really do just have to wait and see. I’d imagine the alpha either will start or is already underway, and we should see the beta inside of two months. I’d say the beta will hit shortly after 3.3 goes live.
I thougt Southern Barrens was the lowbie content- with the changes, and northern held the higher content. Seeing as it gets kasploded; and lowbie taurens would be shuffled straight to Camp T.
UNLESS THAT IS WHY THERE IS NOW A ZEP.
We get first class seats to the end of the world as we know it.
*shot*
Noba:
Not to mention the endless supply of water coming from the tiny floating islands in Nagrand!
Ryai:
Can’t believe I didn’t consider the possibility that most of those pinnacles could collaspe… just gotta wait and see I suppose
Edit:
And yeah, I’ve that zep from Org to TB is 100% because of the barrens splitting, guessed that the moment it was implemented
Hi Mania! Do you think you will put out a post or make a page when the Beta for Cat goes live, to list all of the pets that are going to be ‘extinct’? This way we can check to see if something we haven’t tamed yet won’t be around much longer, and we can have time to work to get that special pet before it’s too late. I know that what happens in Beta doesn’t neccesarily go live, but it gives a pretty good idea. I have 4 hunters right now, and each one has a special pet that they are not high enough lvl to get yet. I am a casual player and I don’t have time to lvl them ALL up before the expansion, so knowing in advance what pets will be missing will help in deciding which toon to spend the most time on. I’m sure there are other hunters in the same situation. Thanks! Your website is a wonderful hunter resource! Thank you for all the time and hard work you put into it! :)
Don’t think it’s your biggest priority Mania but Vile Sting is a rare elite though it doesn’t say so on Petopia. I just tamed him again today on my BE hunter (old hunter I hadn’t used in quite some time on my home server and decided to play again) and I witnessed him killing two feral druids beforehand. Haven’t felt so accomplished since the last time I tamed him, and since I tamed King Krush :)
A suggestion to help add a little extra umpff to BM would be maybe a buff for all beasts in group/raid,much like TSA for MM just to help make that spec a little more raid friendly
Fawna:
I’m sure Mania will. She’s covered 2 expansions thoroughly lol
Bloodspill: that would be minimal unless there were more than 3 hunters or more than a couple of feral druids. And PuG wise I just saw a VoA 25 I was in earlier complain when we had 5 hunters, even tho only I was BM [hur]
But outside that there were only 2 feral druids so, that sort of buff is kinda not helpfull for BM hunters.
We need a shot, or better group buffing for all, not specific creatures. Or all BM pets to do 5% moar dmg.
In the article you mentioned the Night Elves in Darkshore relocating up north to Mathystra Ruins, and I’m not sure that’s accurate. In the screenshots and trailer you can see that they’ve actually taken over the troll village that you had to climb into before. The Darkshore elves are all standing around troll huts with dead trolls at their feet. So Mathystra Ruins may very well be just fine.
Wait, you mean the trolls that only danced about? D: they killed them?
Omfg horrible murderous night elves D:
Yeah I remember the annoyance of running through the Stonetalon Mountains and avoiding mobs and such is a pain – but it does have a really nice Pacific-Northwestern forest look to the place. I have to admit that I never completed my horde quests there just because of the travel time. I always did mean to go back.
I wonder if Sun Rock Retreat will be destroyed and they open a flight point at Malaka’Jin (though there always shoulda been one there anyway). If Mt Stonetalon is turned into an active volcano now, theres a pretty good chance the peak could be wiped out… Charred Vale appears to be going under lava, so unless the vale is the exit point for the lava, then it would have to flow down from the peak I’d imagine.
And if that were the case, it’d certainly take out those pretty cats up there, and less importantly, the Alliance ( :P ).
In any case, I certainly hope there is an extra flight point added to the region, for both sides, it’s an aweful long run, even with players being able to have mounts at 20
“In fact, Takk is probably extra-safe since he is now related to the Leaping Hatchling mini-pet.”
In the upcoming patch 3.3, all rares that drop a vanity pet will no longer do so.
Instead, you may now find the vanity pet associated to the rare mob inside small nests that spawn throughout the area of the rare mob.
If I know those crazy Goblins and Gnomes, they will turn the Salt Flats into a boat racing track! that will be fun to watch.
boat racing isnt all its cracked up to be jumping sharks is where its at
*Chuckles* Nice Happy Days reference there…..I thought of Wrath as jumping the shark, and Cataclysm as sort of a return to a simpler time.
I think the official names are Northern Barrens and Southern Barren.
I’m hoping to get into the Cataclysm beta (who isn’t?) but for what may be something of an odd reason: I’m not too impressed with what’s been revealed of Cataclysm so far, and I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised. (Which means that I should probably start leveling one or another of my hunters like mad—just in case.)
That said: I’m in favor of sprite darter eggs no longer being BoP (and possibly sprite darters being reclassified as beasts and made tamable). And I’d like to once again put in a word for basilisks, hydras, diemetradons, and pterrordax as hunter pets…and for the addition of more warp stalkers.
Farseer: You do know the Darters -are- for a quest, like the whelps in Swamp of Sorrows right? Meaning half the time people go there to kill them, isn’t for a chance for a sprite darter. But to do a quest, right? And the ONLY reason why there AREN’T bots farming it is because of the darters being BoP, which is why they also have a LOW droprate 1/100. And even with that low of a droprate you can still spend in excess of an hour farming them for a drop.
So no, the sprite darter should stay bop, it deters gold farmers AND bots :/
Yes, I’m aware of what the darters are for. Disagreement does not equal incomprehension. If we want to “deter” bots and gold farmers, the answer is to actively crack down on them.
dude, the BoP also means it has a -lower- chance to drop than non BoP farmable pets. You also do get that too right? There is nothing wrong with only horde having to grind a pet for about, if things go right for them, as long as the alliance quest takes to do.
There’s also the fact that the quest is most likely still going to exist, and possibly be even shorter and easier for people to do; it might even incorperate the ally player not even having to leave feralas.
And don’t you think that already happens? I report bots, it gets taken care of. But the problem is Farseer, is on Terrokar after I reported 2 gold farmer/level farmer bots in the same zone, I got a message that made me realize how bad the botting comunity is. It seems alot of the bots now aren’t just chinese players [*shot for sterotyping*] but people who have BOUGHT gold.
So as people continue to buy gold they will continue to comprimise their accounts, allowing them to possibly become bots, and farming in places that drop pets. There’s also the fact gold botters/farmers will HACK accounts as my friend got hacked by one a few months ago and it destroyed/devistated our whole guild bank untill GM’s restored/sorted the mess out and got her characters back all their gear.
one BoP drop pet is a -small- price for horde to pay to spit lemon juice in the eye of gold farmers, bots and all that ilk. AND have a LOW droprate to boot :/
lower chance as in not 1/1000 but 1/100 bleh.*
In the case of Araga/Old Cliff Jumper, I am quite concerned about the destruction of Southshore/raising of the level cap of The Hinterlands. Will it mean we won’t see either of these single-skinned beasts again? I am hoping that Blizzard will adopt the rule that all those who tamed prior to Cat’s release gets to keep the old vanilla pets as they were, instead of submitting them to a re-skin due to the terrain alteration, or worse still, making them untameables.
Part of me thinks Blizzard’s introduction of swimming mounts has something to do with water-bound pets, or at least a quest involving water-bound pets (re: questline/chain similar to the Ravasaur mount for Horde). And it does sort of beg the question about being able to travel underwater for long periods of time…will sharks be a viable family? I know, I think stupid things, but part of me is rather interested in taming those hammerhead sharks for an underwater-based raid.
It’s a running joke in my guild that if Sharks become tameable, there’ll be a few of us hunters swimming around with DeepBlueSea, JAWS and Sharkbait XD I can dream, can’t I? *snickers*
Though I for one hope they alter pet slots to something similar like they’ve done for mounts/vanity pets. Or a 20-slot pet stable. Either/or. In short, I’ve had to level a few hunters on various serves just to “save” the pets I adore; because let’s face it, you can’t stop at five =)
Regarding the odd water flow in Sholazar and Nagrand: one is surrounded by ice and snow, sustained entirely by titan created technology, the other is part of the shattered wreck of a planet floating in the Twisting Nether. A few anomalies are to be expected ;)
There’s actually a fair bit of scope for flooding Thousand Needles without flooding Tanaris and without changing the terrain too much – the salt flats are already lower than the desert (check it out next time you ride over the pass in the mountain range between Gadgetzan and the flats) and the desert itself is only just above sea level. All the Cataclysm has to do is crack the mountain range east of the salt flats and the ocean would come pouring in. Blizz might decide to do something more exotic anyway, but the existing terrain means that do have the option of keeping it simple. If they do keep it simple, most of the gorge area would probably remain above water (although, as was pointed out, pillars toppling is definitely a possibility).
Regarding the Northern/Southern Barrens split, I got the impression that both Durotar and Mulgore would be feeding into Northern Barrens, with Southern Barrens becoming a higher level area. Going by the colour coded map, you could make that work by having the current Mulgore-Barrens pass closed by the Cataclysm and a new pass open up in the northeast corner. That wouldn’t change the overall Mulgore quest flow or terrain much (just a tweak to the “move on to the next zone” quest to send players northeast instead of to Camp Taurajo).
I wonder if we might see the goblins expanding Steamwheedle Port to cope with deepwater ships in order to make getting to Tanaris a bit easier though.
Yeah but geographically the flats are still a bit of a hurdur, mean even with the mountain cracking or an earthquake unleashing an underground river. The more I think about it, the more this is one of the most improbable places ever. [the river heart or whatever in the basin could be explained away as there's an underground river that the water leaks into, mean underground river/lakes happen, sometimes so drastically as that lake in russia where the WHOLE LAKE disappeared into an underground river system... that lead to an above ground river.]
Cause I mean as someone said there’s an old high elf, HIGH ELF, boat there. HOW DID IT GET THERE? Tanaris at one point had to be connected to the ocean- cause that cliff/mountain ‘protecting’ the flats isn’t really easily explained away for a formation. So at one time, atleast some of Tanaris, the flats, 1k and some of Feralas had to be under water.
Echeyakee … its still possible to get this cats skin in winterspring so im not too worried as long as that one stays as least alliance can get it too
Certainly we will lose a lot of options unless scorpions get water breathing or raptors sprout wings. We won’t know until after the fact which beasts we should have added to the stable while we had the chance but some seems more likely to go the way of the dodo than others. Example: The old pre-bc end game instances are due for a overhaul, no one is running BRD at 58 when they can quest in outlands and run Ramps for some really Xp and gear so BRD might be ripe for an overhaul and it is the one place to tame the red skin core-hound. We can only guess as to which of pets available now will be able available later and what new pets will become tameable. My prediction, gryphons and manticores :)
I would love a grypohn pet, but if you ask me, they seem a step above raptors. Alliance, especially the Wildfeather/Peak/Hammer/Heart whatever their name has had gryphons as pets and allies for a god while. Gryphons seem extra smart to know, “Hey, if we work and fly with these guys. They give us FOOD! Plus shelter!” They’ve also gotten to the point where they can quite easily show compassion and quick thinking to save their masters.
Gryphons, thereby, seem unlikely. Plus, it seems a bit odd to have a gryphon charge and peck your face off. Now a gryphon mini pet without the sickening baby features would be nice.
I want, though, some of the old skin wolves, no more Northrend ones. They look ugly.
Speaking of Griffon pets, weren’t there supposed to be a Wyvern and a Griff vanity pet? And Corehound?
… wait- could they possibly be ‘Store Pets’ like lil KT and the pandaren?
I agree Firewing, I absolutely LOATHE the Warg skins… I love the Regular wolf skins and the Plague Hound skin, and I am alright with the Direwolves except they have a strange looking Galloping animation as their run, but I can’t stand the poor, unnourished, and frail looks of the Wargs… although I think Skoll is pretty neat looking for his Storm-element features.
Gimlion: It’s as I told my friend. The northrend wargs are over exagerated sight hounds- like Deerhounds, Wolfhounds, Russian Wolfhounds/Borzois. Basically the legs, head shape AND the deep chest going so suddenly to a shallow-ish abdomin. I don’t get why I didn’t see it before [Wolfhound fanatic here], but that’s what the wargs are an exageration of.
I know that, but it still doesn’t make me like them anymore… Being kind of an Animal lover (not enthusiast or against eating meat or things like that, I just love animals) Its strange seeing such a starved pup, but I do understand what they are based off of.
being that i am a HORDE hunter, in 3.1 patch, the spite darter mini pet drops also for horde in feralas. and if u all want to talk about fixing dps on pet talents, they should merg shark attack with spiked collar.
Goraan we know the sprite darter drops for horde, but the alliance can’t kill those particular sprite darters in order to get the drop.
I agree Gimlion, the basic concept of the Northrend wolves are pretty awesome, but they look so emaciated that I just feel bad for them.
Firewing, bats and dragonhawks can already be tamed, and both of those show a similar intellect. Though I will grant you that the Wildhammer gryphons are smarter then the average be-….er, gryphon, I don’t think they stand as testimony to all gryphons. That and I totally want to tame one. *Laughs*
I’ve give you that. I also would be right in line to tame a gryphon. “We’ll be with you in a moment. Take a number and we’ll get your gryphon pet shortly….please hold.”
Pterradaxes are nice. I do want hydras. Hmm….foxes I wouldn’t mind. More cat varities, ( I <3 cats.) some new skins in general.
sprite darters – couldn’t a horde get an alliance quester to open the cage and then just go in and sit. later. after the alliance is gone, a few (?) rounds of volley should get mass quantities of sprite darters in their cage – fish in a barrel. it also is no fun doing it this way I figure. I think they should remain BoP of course.
however I *don’t* recommend it :) just wondering about the mechanics of it.
I’m very curious actually to see the results of the cataclysm. taking old environments away might also mean taking old pets away too – to be replaced with new skins tho
If anything stands as testimony for an intelligent creature; we can tame demi gods [Loque'Nak] and raptors. Now, raptors may not seem so smart at first glance but there are SEVERAL horde quests, and a few netrual quests that continually hint at raptors, especially Barren raptors AND Un’goro raptors as being deadly smart. And the only barrier between them and being considered a race most likely is they’re beasts and they can not speak.
And mean while I know that not all beasts are intelligent, saying ‘it’s to intelligent to tame’ is like throwing out half the lore for the be damned beasts you can tame.
I want a griff. I mean the vanity pet might be squish [and god I want the corehound and the wyvern so baaaad DDD: so baaaad guys], it is an epic model full sized- same with wyvern and hippogriffs.
Tho Wyverns SQUISH horribly when running.
But.
Hydra.
-Hydra-.
THE GHOST HYDRA WAS JUST THE BEGINING. RISE UP AND DEMAND MOAR.
I so want a hydra……with like an acid spit or something….
I’m hoping Un’Goro just completely blows up. >_> All of it. Take the devilsaurs from there with it. Or perhaps, flood it and fill it with NEW turtle models…we’ve had what? 3 turtle skins for all of eternity? Green, Purple, Red? lol
Naturae. How selfish are you?
Seriously.
You want easy as dirt to obtain turtles, to replace the majority of ONE OF BM’S DPS BEASTS. Just because you want more turtles and that’s your only solution to get more skins added to the five existing ones?
And not just that, remove an ENTIRE quest hub AND, not just that, AND RAVASAUR TRAINER?
So really, how selfish is your request :/
Raptors are pretty much safe since they thrive in eastern kingdom ( wetlands ) kalimador and northend and the raptors in ZD have Tak the leapers skin My big question which i havent heard much about is felwood? finished questing there with my frost mage sorry Palla!! ( chuckles ) is blizz gonna clean that up hope so!! When I was questing there i didnt see anyone else no Alliance or horde there just me was freaky.. and I think that 1K Needle will get a complete make over? maybe the pinnacles all topple and form a large island? but i do hope they create new pets we need a new beast look with the new continent look…
sorry double post!! But turtles have lots of different colors like blue, purple, rust,yellow and brown and green!! Un’Goro i think will be safe unless the new land changes have more areas for Devilsaurs to roam and I think a few dino’s should be added like triceratops stegasaurus and others would be a sweet addition..
Wolve I like the ghostpaw style and the black skins like Rema the den mothers and those in the Hinterlands and of course gotta keep Old cliff jumper!! But I think a new ferocity pet like a giant wolverine like beast would be good that could burrow
underground and pop up to attack would be rad since warpstalkers warp and appear by the target why not a burrowing attack? just a thought??
Naturae, the next devilsaur up to tame is level 70, so I have to disagree with you. You may have had a bad experience in Un Goro, but that doesn’t mean it should be screwed for everyone else. And for turtles….? Really? No. Just….just no.
I love Un’goro. So I also disapprove.And, also.
Mana wyrms. Do want.
I kind of want a spell to let us temporarily tame something like Dragonkin. So you have a ‘Summon whelp’ or ‘Summon Drake’ spell, which lasts, I dunno, a minute. Like the combat mithril whelp. Then has a 5-10 min cooldown.
Then again, I just really like dragons. :p
My main reason for even mentioning Devilsaurs from Un’Goro is because there are so many that virtually every BM hunter has one from there. xD There are only like 4 different devilsaur models but that one in particular is very common on my server. They should add new devilsaurs to low-level areas where raptors wander! :P