Blizzard has sent us this interview that collects the reasons for the redesign of the Southern Barrens and that, the truth, they are really interesting. They are interviews with Dave Kosak and Roman Marotte and they bring us a preview of why this area changes so drastically that is in battle between the Horde and the Alliance.
Some of the most important advances:
- The zone is designed for both Alliance and Horde characters in the level 30-35 range.
- The Horde will see the fate of Camp Taurajo and the Highlands of Honor while the Alliance is attempting to maintain its acquisitions.
- The conflict between the horde and the alliance make an area give a unique aspect to the area.
Are you looking forward to reading the interview? Look behind the jump!
Cataclysm: Southern Wastes Preview On the occasion of our coverage of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, we recently had the opportunity to chat with game designers Dave Kosak and Roman Marotte to ask them about what they have done in the Southern Wastes, a relative a place that has been drastically altered by the return of Deathwing and the ongoing battle between the Horde and the Alliance.
P. What was the original concept of the area?
R. The Barrens is one of the areas of Kalimdor most affected by the cataclysm. It has literally split in two! Northern Wastes retains much of the look and feel of the original area and serves a similar purpose in the gameplay experience: it is primarily a training ground for low-level Horde characters. That allowed us enormous freedom to create a completely new gameplay experience for the Southern Wastes. Following the cataclysm, the Alliance has aggressively expanded into the heart of the continent from the east coast. As players enter the area, they will see that the Horde is on the ropes. The conflict between the two factions is escalating and here becomes a central theme, providing a background for many of the missions in the area.
P. Who will use this zone (what levels / factions)?
R. Southern Wastes is designed for Horde and Alliance characters between levels 30 and 35.
P. Without getting into spoilers, what is the general history of this area? How has it changed since the original design?
R. "An eye for an eye" is the theme, with each side taking and losing ground, plunging deeper and deeper into violent conflict. From the perspective of the Horde, players will discover the ugly fate of Camp Taurajo and El Alto del Honor. From there it is up to the players to rally the disorganized forces of their faction, initiate a change in local leadership, and avenge the sack of Taurajo. The Alliance, meanwhile, suffers trying to preserve its recent acquisitions, repelling attacks on all fronts. Players will also fight to save the North Fort from near capture and to keep changes from Theramore open. In addition, both factions will have to face the explosive growth of a strange new jungle that spreads throughout the Wastes. This is completely new content for the expansion.
P. What do you think is the most interesting novelty or feature of the area?
R. Definitely the Alliance-Horde conflict, which truly comes to life in the Southern Wastes. We have tried to give players the feeling of participating in huge PvP-style conflicts, even when playing alone. Both Alliance and Horde members will suffer to capture and defend key points on the battlefield against waves of enemy troops. The new technology will allow players to experience the story in ways that could not have happened before Cataclysm. For example, the Horde's assault on the Bael Modan fortress, and its effects, should propel players into action by displaying dramatic changes in the world.
Oh, and also a word: Mankrik.
P. What goes into redesigning an area like this?
R. Southern Barrens was a complete redesign, so we actually started from scratch, identifying the key containment areas and then creating a little story around each one. To accentuate the conflict, battles are constantly breaking out in areas around the hot spots. Finally, we have created a mission structure that throws players into the heart of those matches. We have put a lot of effort into infusing the area with the appropriate emotions. If, for example, you are a Horde player, we want you to be completely angry about what happened at Camp Taurajo!
P. So what happened at Camp Taurajo? It seems to be in ruins.
R. It depends on who you ask! Alliance players can speak to General Hawthorne in Vanguard Command and discover his rationale for removing Taurajo from the Horde arsenal. On the other hand, if you talk to the various leaders at Hunter's Hill, Camp Una'fe, or Punta Vendetta, you will hear a very different version of events. We suspect that the debate on the ethics of what happened will last a while.
P. What has been the most challenging aspect of implementing so many changes to an existing zone?
R. It has been a real challenge to make the story flow naturally from the beginning of the area to the climax. There are key NPCs that move around and are killed during fights; that is always difficult to do.
P. What should players do or see first?
R. Alliance players will definitely want to go to North Fort as soon as possible - it's about to fall into the hands of the Horde! Likewise, Horde players should see the utter destruction of Taurajo. Someone… has… to pay.
P. Why does the Great Gate prevent access between the Barrens and Mulgore?
R. The Horde built the Great Gate in reaction to the Alliance's aggression from Dustwallow Marsh, including the construction of a road leading from Theramore to the Barrens. The gate was finished just in time: the Alliance forces had pushed into Mulgore's entrance, and the gate delayed them long enough to allow the Horde to reorganize and launch a counterattack (with the help of the players, for course!).
P. Can you explain a bit about the appearance of The Litter and the new Horde Camp Una'fe?
R. Players may be familiar with the history of Naralex, the ambitious druid who attempted to reinvigorate the currents of the Wailing Cave to return the Barrens to the vast green esplanade it once was. His story continues in the Southern Barrens as he attempts to contain and control the unforeseen consequences of his near-lethal exposure to the Emerald Nightmare. Uncontrolled growth in this part of the Barrens threatens the Alliance and the Horde alike. Teegan's expedition to the east fails to achieve its goal of bringing in Alliance reinforcements, while at Camp Una'fe to the west, the survivors of Taurajo are also overwhelmed.
P. What do the Alliance forces at Vanguard Command and Fort Triumph and the Horde forces at Desolation Hold in the Southern Wastes hope to achieve as they compete for control of the Warmark?
R. Here geography defines conflict. The Warmark is in the middle of a narrow passage, a natural bottleneck. The Alliance needs to break through to maintain a land connection between Theramore and North Fort, not to mention a path to Stonetalon Mountains, where the Alliance can give aid to its allies. If the Horde can seal this passage, then Theramore will be essentially isolated. The conflict looms large in the Warmark ... and the future of Kalimdor may depend on its outcome.
Thank you gentlemen for taking the time to chat about the work you have done to inject new life and adventure into the Southern Wastes for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm!