Old Azeroth: Eastern Kingdoms
Hello peoples! Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving Holiday and a nice weekend, but tomorrow we have to get our noses back to the grindstones. Always sucks to go back to work after a nice holiday.
It's certainly no secret that Azeroth as we know it has been changed forever, and what we once knew is now gone. Realizing this before the application of Patch 4.0.3a, I took that day and evening to do a long run through of both Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor gathering screenshots as the world once was, mostly as a rememberance and nostalgia. Mostly done on Dakore, my orc shaman, but a few also on my dwarf warrior.
This post is all Eastern Kingdoms. Kalimdor will follow tomorrow.
So, here they are....
Eastern Kingdoms, as they once were before The Shattering.
The Badlands
Loch Modan/Badlands Border - Up until now, the dwarves had free access to the ruins of Ulduman to study Titan relics and mysteries of their ancestors. Hopefully they got all they needed, because a nasty chasm created by the Cataclysm has cut off this path completely.
Badlands - See these two mountains? Get a good luck at them, because they received a bit of trimming recently. Namely sliced at the center so they have black volcanic glass flattops now. Also, a scar of melted rock in between them. All courtesy of Deathwing.
Kargath - The Horde town in the Badlands was destroyed by a landslide. A new town, bigger and meaner, has been constructed though.
Blasted Lands
Dreadmaul Hold - This fortress has been held by ogres for a long time. Recently though it became an outpost for the Horde to rival the Alliance town of Nethergarde Keep.
The Tainted Scar - Here we see a dark canyon overrun by demons, once the place where Legion commander Doomlord Kazzak awaited the opening of the Dark Portal. Since then it has gone through one of the strangest of changes. What was once a barren, demon infested canyon has become a dark forest where a group of worgen make their home.
Eastern Plaguelands
Light's Hope Chappel - Once the measly center of hope ran by the Argent Dawn, who opposed the Scourge. With the return of the heroes of the Argent Crusade from Northrend, this bastion of light is getting a large upgrade, including walls and more buildings and greenery.
The Infectis Scar - One of many deep canyons of the Eastern Plaguelands, giving home to vile slimes. Now flooded with water brought on by the Cataclysm.
Crown Guard Tower - One of four previously haunted towers that Horde and Alliance battled for control of. Now controlled by the Argent Crusade.
Hillsbrad Foothills
Hillsbrad Fields - Once a bastion for humans attempting to rebuild after the undead sacking of Lordaeron, they themselves have now been sacked by the Forsaken. What were once fields for growing vegetables, they have now been perverted into fields growing something far more horrible.
Southshore - What was once a town of the Alliance in Hillsbrad, after the Cataclysm, it became a victim of Sylvanas's war machine. All that remains of this once proud coastal town are desolate buildings and puddles of plagued sludge.
Tarren Mill - The center of Forsaken dominance in Hillsbrad, this town is also getting a dark upgrade in its structures.
Ironforge
The High Seat - Say goodbye to Magni. He's getting turned into a diamond in his efforts to protect Ironforge and the world. After this, he'll be replaced by the Council of Three Hammers.
Loch Modan
The Loch - With the destruction of the Stonwrought Dam, the waters of this dwarven made lake will drop significantly.
Stonewrought Dam - This marvel of dwarven engineering met with a shattering end at the hands of Deathwing after he returned to Azeroth. Now with nothing to hold them, the waters of the Loch server to make the Wetlands more wet.
Redridge Mountains
Lakeshire Bridge - Here we see it under construction, but in Cataclysm, the Alliance finally finished it. Hurray!
Silverpine Forest
The Greymane Wall - Soon after the end of the Second War, Genn Greymane, King of Gilneas, broke away from the original Alliance and built this behemoth structure, isolating his nation from the rest of the world. With the coming of the Cataclysm, the gates of the wall have been shattered, giving the Forsaken a route to assault this nation of those who were once human.
The Sepulcher - After the Third War, the Forsaken turned this graveyard into a base of operations in Silverpine. After the return from Northrend and the expansion of their power, buildings were added to this place to help focus the Forsaken assault on the gates of Gilneas.
Stormwind
City Gates - Here we get a good view of the city gates before Deathwing made his big visit. Take a moment to absorb it as it was, when the battlements didn't have fiery red clawmarks and the Danath Trollbane statue was still standing. Deathwing, why couldn't you have also taken a lava dump on Turalyon's head?
The Park - For those of you who are going to miss this place like I am, get a look. Deathwing certainly does a number on this area. Fwoosh!
Stormwind Keep - When there was no arrogant Chynn statue or fountain.
Stranglethorn Vale
Janeiro's Point - A sad moment indeed....well, maybe not. The goblin statue just outside of Booty Bay's harbor got slammed by a large tidal wave during the cataclysm. The statue was broken, but it still stands. Inside the statue is....something interesting.
Nesingwary Camp - It was just a small hunting camp in the jungle where Hemet's famous hunts began. Now it received an expansion. I wonder if the members of D.E.H.T.A. will be around.
South of Grom'gol Basecame - Just across the river, here we see solid ground, a few hills, and a troll hut! After the Cataclysm though, I wouldn't be standing here. I'd be falling into a big giant maelstrom and dying.
Swamp of Sorrows
The Harborage - This Draenei encampment will get an upgrade in the wake of the Cataclysm.
Pool of Tears - The Cataclysm will tear a path from the ocean to the Pool of Tears, the lake that surrounds Sunken Temple.
Tirisfal Glades
Brill - The creepy Lordaeron town that offers a home to members of the undead Forsaken is only becoming more creepy. Sylvanas learned much on being creepy during her time in Northrend, and with the upgrades this town is getting, it will show.
The Bulwark - This camp that acts as an initial contact point between members of the Horde and the Argent Dawn will be receiving more Forsaken style construction after the Cataclysm.
Gates of Lordaeron City - Not too much change here from this edition, just more access to some of the surrounding parts of the city and more detail. Technically it's stuff that's already there, but Blizzard just wanted to make it look more pretty.
Western Plaguelands
Dalson's Tears - Before the coming of the Scourge, this was one of the family farms in the kingdom of Lordaeron, but it became a staging ground for Kel'thuzad's insidious agents to spread their vile plague. Since the return of the Argent Crusade, this has been cleansed of undeath and remade into a farm again.
Hearthglen - The home town of Highlord Tirion Fordring, it would later become one of the primary nodes of power for the zealous and fanatical Scarlet Crusade. With the return of the Argent Crusade from Northrend, it now serves as one of their new homes, as well as the returned Tirion Fordring.
Ruins of Andorhal - One of the first cities to fall victim to the horror of the Scourge. Now, with the death of the Lich King, the remaining agents of the undead await their inevitable end, as the forces of the Forsaken and the Alliance close in with the city itself as the prize.
Uther's Tomb - Last resting place of the first paladin after his betrayal at the hands of Prince Arthas. The Argent Crusade have added more greenery and hedges in honor of the legendary hero.
Wetlands
Menethil Harbor - This coastal Alliance town still provides transport by sea between the Eastern Kingdoms and the Alliance. It has been heavily flooded from the Cataclysm, but it still stands vigilant against the enemies of the Alliance.
Near Thelgen Rock - Before the Cataclysm, the Wetlands were indeed wet. After the Cataclysm and the breaking of the Stonewrought Dam, the waters rise greatly.
Things I missed and wish I would have got.
Stormwind Throneroom - Not that I give a care about Chynn, but I do like Anduin. I guess his child version won't be too missed since it's the same as any other human child model.
Zul'Gurub - Instance portal is now gone.
Westfall - Sentinal Hill and the spot that gets torn up by a big tornado.
Other areas I didn't get for lack of changes or care: Hinterlands, Arathi Highlands, Undercity, Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes, Darkshire, Deadwind Pass, Dun Morogh, Elwynn Forest
It's certainly no secret that Azeroth as we know it has been changed forever, and what we once knew is now gone. Realizing this before the application of Patch 4.0.3a, I took that day and evening to do a long run through of both Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor gathering screenshots as the world once was, mostly as a rememberance and nostalgia. Mostly done on Dakore, my orc shaman, but a few also on my dwarf warrior.
This post is all Eastern Kingdoms. Kalimdor will follow tomorrow.
So, here they are....
Eastern Kingdoms, as they once were before The Shattering.
The Badlands
Loch Modan/Badlands Border - Up until now, the dwarves had free access to the ruins of Ulduman to study Titan relics and mysteries of their ancestors. Hopefully they got all they needed, because a nasty chasm created by the Cataclysm has cut off this path completely.
Badlands - See these two mountains? Get a good luck at them, because they received a bit of trimming recently. Namely sliced at the center so they have black volcanic glass flattops now. Also, a scar of melted rock in between them. All courtesy of Deathwing.
Kargath - The Horde town in the Badlands was destroyed by a landslide. A new town, bigger and meaner, has been constructed though.
Blasted Lands
Dreadmaul Hold - This fortress has been held by ogres for a long time. Recently though it became an outpost for the Horde to rival the Alliance town of Nethergarde Keep.
The Tainted Scar - Here we see a dark canyon overrun by demons, once the place where Legion commander Doomlord Kazzak awaited the opening of the Dark Portal. Since then it has gone through one of the strangest of changes. What was once a barren, demon infested canyon has become a dark forest where a group of worgen make their home.
Eastern Plaguelands
Light's Hope Chappel - Once the measly center of hope ran by the Argent Dawn, who opposed the Scourge. With the return of the heroes of the Argent Crusade from Northrend, this bastion of light is getting a large upgrade, including walls and more buildings and greenery.
The Infectis Scar - One of many deep canyons of the Eastern Plaguelands, giving home to vile slimes. Now flooded with water brought on by the Cataclysm.
Crown Guard Tower - One of four previously haunted towers that Horde and Alliance battled for control of. Now controlled by the Argent Crusade.
Hillsbrad Foothills
Hillsbrad Fields - Once a bastion for humans attempting to rebuild after the undead sacking of Lordaeron, they themselves have now been sacked by the Forsaken. What were once fields for growing vegetables, they have now been perverted into fields growing something far more horrible.
Southshore - What was once a town of the Alliance in Hillsbrad, after the Cataclysm, it became a victim of Sylvanas's war machine. All that remains of this once proud coastal town are desolate buildings and puddles of plagued sludge.
Tarren Mill - The center of Forsaken dominance in Hillsbrad, this town is also getting a dark upgrade in its structures.
Ironforge
The High Seat - Say goodbye to Magni. He's getting turned into a diamond in his efforts to protect Ironforge and the world. After this, he'll be replaced by the Council of Three Hammers.
Loch Modan
The Loch - With the destruction of the Stonwrought Dam, the waters of this dwarven made lake will drop significantly.
Stonewrought Dam - This marvel of dwarven engineering met with a shattering end at the hands of Deathwing after he returned to Azeroth. Now with nothing to hold them, the waters of the Loch server to make the Wetlands more wet.
Redridge Mountains
Lakeshire Bridge - Here we see it under construction, but in Cataclysm, the Alliance finally finished it. Hurray!
Silverpine Forest
The Greymane Wall - Soon after the end of the Second War, Genn Greymane, King of Gilneas, broke away from the original Alliance and built this behemoth structure, isolating his nation from the rest of the world. With the coming of the Cataclysm, the gates of the wall have been shattered, giving the Forsaken a route to assault this nation of those who were once human.
The Sepulcher - After the Third War, the Forsaken turned this graveyard into a base of operations in Silverpine. After the return from Northrend and the expansion of their power, buildings were added to this place to help focus the Forsaken assault on the gates of Gilneas.
Stormwind
City Gates - Here we get a good view of the city gates before Deathwing made his big visit. Take a moment to absorb it as it was, when the battlements didn't have fiery red clawmarks and the Danath Trollbane statue was still standing. Deathwing, why couldn't you have also taken a lava dump on Turalyon's head?
The Park - For those of you who are going to miss this place like I am, get a look. Deathwing certainly does a number on this area. Fwoosh!
Stormwind Keep - When there was no arrogant Chynn statue or fountain.
Stranglethorn Vale
Janeiro's Point - A sad moment indeed....well, maybe not. The goblin statue just outside of Booty Bay's harbor got slammed by a large tidal wave during the cataclysm. The statue was broken, but it still stands. Inside the statue is....something interesting.
Nesingwary Camp - It was just a small hunting camp in the jungle where Hemet's famous hunts began. Now it received an expansion. I wonder if the members of D.E.H.T.A. will be around.
South of Grom'gol Basecame - Just across the river, here we see solid ground, a few hills, and a troll hut! After the Cataclysm though, I wouldn't be standing here. I'd be falling into a big giant maelstrom and dying.
Swamp of Sorrows
The Harborage - This Draenei encampment will get an upgrade in the wake of the Cataclysm.
Pool of Tears - The Cataclysm will tear a path from the ocean to the Pool of Tears, the lake that surrounds Sunken Temple.
Tirisfal Glades
Brill - The creepy Lordaeron town that offers a home to members of the undead Forsaken is only becoming more creepy. Sylvanas learned much on being creepy during her time in Northrend, and with the upgrades this town is getting, it will show.
The Bulwark - This camp that acts as an initial contact point between members of the Horde and the Argent Dawn will be receiving more Forsaken style construction after the Cataclysm.
Gates of Lordaeron City - Not too much change here from this edition, just more access to some of the surrounding parts of the city and more detail. Technically it's stuff that's already there, but Blizzard just wanted to make it look more pretty.
Western Plaguelands
Dalson's Tears - Before the coming of the Scourge, this was one of the family farms in the kingdom of Lordaeron, but it became a staging ground for Kel'thuzad's insidious agents to spread their vile plague. Since the return of the Argent Crusade, this has been cleansed of undeath and remade into a farm again.
Hearthglen - The home town of Highlord Tirion Fordring, it would later become one of the primary nodes of power for the zealous and fanatical Scarlet Crusade. With the return of the Argent Crusade from Northrend, it now serves as one of their new homes, as well as the returned Tirion Fordring.
Ruins of Andorhal - One of the first cities to fall victim to the horror of the Scourge. Now, with the death of the Lich King, the remaining agents of the undead await their inevitable end, as the forces of the Forsaken and the Alliance close in with the city itself as the prize.
Uther's Tomb - Last resting place of the first paladin after his betrayal at the hands of Prince Arthas. The Argent Crusade have added more greenery and hedges in honor of the legendary hero.
Wetlands
Menethil Harbor - This coastal Alliance town still provides transport by sea between the Eastern Kingdoms and the Alliance. It has been heavily flooded from the Cataclysm, but it still stands vigilant against the enemies of the Alliance.
Near Thelgen Rock - Before the Cataclysm, the Wetlands were indeed wet. After the Cataclysm and the breaking of the Stonewrought Dam, the waters rise greatly.
Things I missed and wish I would have got.
Stormwind Throneroom - Not that I give a care about Chynn, but I do like Anduin. I guess his child version won't be too missed since it's the same as any other human child model.
Zul'Gurub - Instance portal is now gone.
Westfall - Sentinal Hill and the spot that gets torn up by a big tornado.
Other areas I didn't get for lack of changes or care: Hinterlands, Arathi Highlands, Undercity, Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes, Darkshire, Deadwind Pass, Dun Morogh, Elwynn Forest