World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Pt. 1

Storyline

The story starts when Deathwing the destroyer (use to be known as Neltharion, the Earth-Warder) breaks out of Deepholm. When he bursts out of deepholm, he causes all of Azeroth to break apart. Tidal waves and massive volcanoes destroy the lands. Both the alliance and the horde turn there attention to the destruction of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. Deathwing wants the world to be reforged in fire.

Changes

Old world

Azeroth is almost completely changed. Many of the zones you once new and loved have now been changed due to the destruction by Deathwing. Southshore now belongs to the horde. The barrens are now split into two zones, one being for high level characters and the other for low level characters. The druid Naralex has made some parts of the Barrens lush. The entryway into Mulgore is now fortified with walls and a gate. Camp Taurajo has been destroyed by the Alliance. They have now setup a base in the barrens. In the Stonetalon Mountains, part of the mountain range collapsed and now gives access to the sea. Also the flames of the Charred Vale spread farther. Darkshore is completely flooded and Auberdine is destroyed. A new subzone will appear by the name of Shatterspear Village. In Ashenvale, Zoram strand is now a complete outpost. Astranaar might be destroyed due to the air assaults on it by the horde. Desolace has water flooding into it due to the Cataclysm. This has allowed vegetation and life to return, but be wary cause demons have started to invade. They will also be adding a night elf camp here. Other changes are now the plagueland level requirements have been lowered and also Undercity and Stormwind have been redesigned to allow flying mounts.

New Zones

There are a few new zones for characters to go and explore with the coming of the patch as well. Uldum will have two dungeons for people who are between levels 80-84. It is located in the south of Tanaris. There is also a underwater zone (level 78-82) called The Sunken City of Vashj’ir. This is where the location to the abyssal maw is. Deepholm is also a new zone for players level 82-84. Twilight Higlands is a new location for players level 84-85.

Worgen from Cataclysm

Gilneas is the starting point for the new Alliance race: Worgen. According to wowwiki:

“While greymane's efforts to stem the tide of the Scourge kept Gilneas from the grasp of the undead, the Greymane Wall inadvertently subjected the Gilneans to a dark fate all the same. They fell under the Worgen curse as did their neighbors to the north in Silverpine. Somehow, the Gilneans freed themselves of the curse, to some degree. Though not under Arugal's thrall, the people of Gilneas were still transformed into the monstrous Worgen. No one had seen a Gilnean for more than ten years until the Cataclysm, where it was discovered that they have been transformed into worgen, but have somehow retained their will. Driven by their curse and threat from the Forsaken, Gilneas was finally driven into the Alliance's fold.

Gilneas' current state is partly unknown. Genn Greymane appears to still be alive, as he is among the first NPCs encountered by worgen players, administering a treatment for the worgen curse. What is known is that worgen citizenry have escaped their curse's iron grip. However,Brann Bronzebeard 's rumors about the Naga have not been proven untrue. One of the new battlegrounds in Cataclysm will be called "Battle for Gilneas", likely featuring the ongoing siege of Gilneas by the Forsaken.”

Goblin from Cataclysm

The other new race to the game is the Goblins. Goblins will be on the Horde side and will start in the Isle of Kezan. According to wowwiki:

“Goblins are in charge on the Isle of Kezan, making the whole place a swarming cesspool of corruption, chaos, scheming and invention. Several cities exist on Kezan, including the nefarious Undermine, the de facto capital of the goblins’ trade empire. Kezan is a tropical island, and palm trees and other greenery appear in profusion. Kezan’s many ports bustle day and night as merchant ships approach and depart, carrying goods of all sorts to places of all sorts for people of all sorts. Kezan is a valuable way station between the eastern and western lands, and almost all travelers stop here, whether traveling by ship or gryphon or more esoteric means. The island is the heart of the goblins’ mercantile efforts, pumping trade throughout Azeroth.

Kezan is the largest and southernmost of the South Seas islands, and, despite the goblin presence, the safest. Unlike the surrounding islands, Kezan’s inhabitants won’t try to kill you on sight; rather, they first attempt to take your money and all your worldly possessions, then leave you to die on the rain-soaked cobblestone streets. Kezan’s ports are valuable neutral areas for both the Alliance and the Horde, and if not for the goblins trade would grind to a standstill and there wouldn't be adventurer shops in places like Stranglethorn Vale.”

Both of these zones will feature the phasing effect that we saw in WOTLK.