WoW Expansion - Predictions Examined

A while back, I made a few predictions as to what would be in the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, now announced as The Burning Crusade. I suggested: Player housing, hero classes, new classes and races, vehicles and a new profession constructing them, mounted combat, new places, and an extra character dimension.

I didn't do all that well, really. Player housing will likely be along, but not in the expansion - in a patch instead. Hero classes will probably not be in for some time to come; they're causing all kinds of conceptual problems because Blizzard don't want them to be "just more levels", like Master Levels in DAoC. New classes - no, none, because balancing the ones there is hard enough. New races - two, one Horde, one Alliance. The Horde one is the Blood Elves, which fits fairly well with existing lore. The Alliance one is as yet unknown, but rumour holds that they'll either be Pandaren or Draenai. There's strong denial of the Pandaren for "political reasons", but I've no idea what those might be.

Vehicles - no sign at all. My bad. New profession - yes, Jewelcrafting, which sounds so very like the DAoC Enchanting tradeskill that I figured it had to be pure rumour. Apparently I was wrong, and jewels and socketed items will be making an appearance. I can't see what they'll do that enchanting currently doesn't, though. Mounted combat, no go, although there will be flying mounts in some parts. And those parts will be the new continent, or dimension, of the Outlands, which seems to be the remnants of the Orcish homeworld. And no new character dimension in sight.

Weather will apparently be along before the expansion - rain, snow, and sandstorms. That should be interesting. The level cap is going to 70, and that'll be even more interesting; I should have at least one character to 60 by the time the expansion comes out, so I'll be on level pegging with everyone else.

And that's it. Apart from the new races, it doesn't seem to be much that hasn't been in patches, and makes the whole expansion look more like a very big patch. The fact that sweeping changes like weather and housing are to appear in patches rather than the expansion add to that impression. I suspect there may be more to be announced.

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Posted by Drew Shiel at November 3, 2005 5:42 PM

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Hmm - hadn't heard about the housing and weather - where did you find that?

Posted by: at November 4, 2005 12:34 AM

I would like to see a class added but i do not think that will happen.

Posted by: Beazy at November 4, 2005 6:48 PM