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Changes: Schnottz's Landing

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{{Stub/Location}}
  
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[[File:Schnottz's_Landing.jpg|thumb|250px|Schnottz's Landing]]
  
   
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'''Schnottz's Landing''' is a [[harbor|port]] town in [[Uldum]].
  
   
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==NPCs==
  
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===VIPs===
  
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*{{NPC||Belloc Brightblade}}
  
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*{{NPC||Commander Schnottz}}
  
   
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===Partygoers===
  
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*{{NPC||Ambassador Laurent}}
  
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*{{NPC||Refined Gentleman}}
  
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*{{NPC||Budding Artist}}
  
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*{{NPC||Aspiring Starlet}}
  
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*{{NPC||Privileged Socialite}}
  
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*{{NPC||Prolific Writer}}
  
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*{{NPC||Pretentious Businessman}}
  
   
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This article is now considered a lore page of the Barrens prior to Cataclysm.
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===Merchants===
  
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For the newly updated and altered areas with the vale please edit Northern Barrens or Southern Barrens.
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*{{NPC||Arcane Guest Registry}}
  
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*{{NPC||Evax Oilspark}}
  
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*{{NPC||Rusty Anvil}}
  
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*{{NPC||Salvaged Goods}}
  
   
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===Guards and workers===
  
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*{{NPC||Schnottz's Landing Laborer}}
  
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*{{NPC||Schnottz's Bodyguard}}
  
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*{{NPC||Menacing Emissary}}
  
   
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===Mobs===
  
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*{{Mob|Captain Cork}}
  
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*{{Mob|Captain Kronkh}}
  
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*{{Mob|Captain Margun}}
  
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**{{Mob| Schnottz Sea Trooper}}
  
   
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== Notes ==
  
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The name is a reference to the soap opera ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knots_Landing Knots Landing]''
  
   
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{{Uldum}}
  
   
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-->
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[[Category:Harbors]]
  
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{{Infobox zone
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|faction=Horde
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|name=The Barrens
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|ss=Barrens divided.jpg
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|caption=The Barrens split
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|races={{Race|Orc}} (5,100)<br />{{Race|Tauren}} (3,400-4,250<ref name="Errata">[[The (Un)Official World of Warcraft RPG Errata]]</ref>)<br />{{Race|Goblin}} (4,250-2,550<ref name="Errata"/>)<br />{{Race|Troll}} (2,550)<br />{{Race|Centaur}} (850)<ref name="Errata"/><br />{{Race|Dwarf}} (850)<br />{{Race|Gnome}} (510-340<ref name="Errata"/>)<br />{{Race|Night elf}} (170)<br />{{Race|Human}} (170)<br />{{Race|Harpy }} (170)<ref name="Errata"/>
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|level=7 - 30
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|loc=[[Central Kalimdor]]
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|pop=17,000
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|capital=[[Ratchet]] (7,000)
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|major= [[Crossroads]] (6,000)<br />[[Razorfen Kraul]] (3,500)<br />[[Razorfen Downs]] (2,500)
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|minor= [[Wailing Caverns]] (1,250)<br />[[Bael Modan]] (800)<br />[[Camp Taurajo]] (500)<br />[[Mor'shan Base Camp]] (300)<br />[[Northwatch Hold]] (150)
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|affiliation=[[Horde]]
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|government=Trade princes ([[Ratchet]])<br />Elected council ([[Crossroads]])
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|rulers=[[Gazlowe]], Overseer of Ratchet<br />[[Thork]], Defender of Crossroads<br />[[Jorn Skyseer]], spiritual and military leader of [[Camp Taurajo]]
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|source=<ref>''[[Lands of Mystery]]'', pg. 27-28</ref>
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}}
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:''This article is about the pre-Cataclysm zone "The Barrens". For the post-Cataclysm zones, see [[Northern Barrens]] or [[Southern Barrens]].''
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The '''Barrens''' is a large [[zone]] in [[central Kalimdor]] controlled mostly by the [[Horde]]. It is a massive savanna, with a few oases in the north-central region around the [[Crossroads]]. Before the upheaval, several large [[kaldorei]] cities stood here. Now, those brave few willing to scrape out a life on the arid plains inevitably run afoul of [[centaur]] warbands or [[quilboar]] raiding parties. Despite its often uninviting terrain and hostile inhabitants, the Barrens receive a good deal of interest from [[Alliance]] and [[Horde]] alike, as well as races native to Kalimdor. Trade routes crisscross the landscape leading to and from more inviting regions, and the most notable route is the [[Gold Road]] that runs north-to-south through the Barrens and beyond. Rumours suggest that precious minerals and treasure-filled ruins await those with the courage to investigate.
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== History ==
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The Barrens was once a thriving forest under the protection of the [[night elves]] and their kind. Several [[kaldorei]] settlements dotted the land, and there was no ocean for miles. Then came the [[Burning Legion]] and the [[Great Sundering]], which shook ancient [[Kalimdor]] to the bedrock. This forested landscape transformed into a scorched plain and is battered now each day by the sun's rays. The Barrens is a sprawling and arid savanna that stretches between the Stonetalon Mountains to the west and Durotar to the east. The grasslands and mesas of Mulgore rise to the southwest, while the wetlands of Dustwallow Marsh lie to the southeast.
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The majority of the region consists of vast plains. Mountains to the west hold in heated air, creating the swirling winds that rage across the plains. These windstorms stir up dust devils and tear apart anything larger than the small, tenacious scrub trees. Water is more valuable than gold in the Barrens, and the locations of hidden watering holes are the residents' most closely held secrets. Dry riverbeds and a never-ending spider web of canyons make any journey across the Barrens a dangerous and winding trek. The few brave adventurers willing to scrape out a life on the arid plains inevitably run afoul of centaur warbands or quilboar raiding parties. Despite its often uninviting terrain and hostile inhabitants, the Barrens receive a good deal of interest from Alliance and Horde alike, as well as races native to Kalimdor. Trade routes crisscross the landscape leading to and from more inviting regions, most notably the Gold Road that runs north-to-south through the Barrens and beyond, and rumors suggest that precious minerals and ruins await those with the courage to investigate.
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[[File:Mor'shan Rampart.jpg|thumb|The Mor'shan Rampart]]
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Centaur warbands are most often seen in the Barrens' canyons, though they roam as far as the river that forms its eastern border with Durotar. Fearlessly aggressive, the centaur are known for their savagery, especially against [[tauren]] and [[night elves]]. They are not above attacking trade caravans also, for the goods or just for the sake of violence. Travelers who survive the centaur’s battle lust are used as slave labor in the hardscrabble mines the centaur carve into the hard-baked earth. Displaced from Durotar by Orcs, quilboar have built crude villages along the river that separates the orc nation from the Barrens. From there, they strike out across the river to raid settlements or deeper into the Barrens to attack caravans along the Gold Road. The caravan raids have hurt the goblin trade princes’ profits, so they have started negotiations to pay the quilboar gold and goods to protect caravans against centaur warbands. The quilboar have also erected a fortress called [[Razorfen Downs]] in the southeastern Barrens. Razorfen is a sprawling mass of giant, twisting thorns and crude mud huts. It serves as the center of quilboar society. Other dangers include harpies who watch from perches atop mesas in the northern Barrens and large beasts such as lions and thunder lizards - though these creatures tend to avoid the Gold Road. Native dangers have not stopped the [[Ironforge]] [[dwarves]] from establishing a stronghold near the [[titan]] excavation site of [[Bael Modan]]. The centaur have made forays against it, but are repelled decisively each time. Scouts claim that the centaur are amassing other tribes to launch a major attack, but the dwarves are unconcerned. Each day that passes sees Bael Modan grow stronger as the inhabitants build up its defenses.<ref>''[[Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]'', pg. 188-190</ref>
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When the [[orc]]s under the new Warchief [[Thrall]] had landed on the Barrens, it saw civilization anew. The [[Horde]] built new settlements among the dry grasses and arid hills, and placed the Barrens solidly into the heart of Horde territory. The [[Horde]] has set up numerous outposts in this barren land, the largest being the [[Crossroads]] at the intersection of two major roads, and [[Camp Taurajo]], a [[tauren]] outpost near the border to [[Mulgore]]. The Barrens are also dotted with numerous farms populated by [[orcs]] and their families, and guard towers manned by orcish and tauren guards.
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[[Razorfen Downs]] lies just opposite the road, but this dungeon has been infested by agents of the [[Scourge]], and poses great threat to anyone who is traveling to or from the [[Thousand Needles]].
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== Getting there ==
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[[File:Far Watch Post.jpg|thumb|Far Watch Post]]
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;{{Horde Icon Small}}Horde:
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:From [[Mulgore]], follow the main road east out of the zone, then continue though [[Camp Taurajo]] (there is a Wind Rider Master in [[Camp Taurajo]]) and turn north through the Gold Road to get to the [[Crossroads]]. Get the flight path there too. You can also take the zeppelin to Orgrimmar from [[Spirit Rise]] in [[Thunder Bluff]]. It passes through the Barrens, and you can jump off (and survive!) while over Taurajo or the Crossroads.
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:If you are an [[orc]] or [[troll]], go to [[Razor Hill]] (The small orc town south of [[Orgrimmar]] in [[Durotar]]) and go through the road west, then continue south through the Gold Road.
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:If you are a [[Forsaken]] or [[blood elf]], take the [[goblin]] [[zeppelin]] to [[Orgrimmar]], the [[Zeppelin Tower]] is just north of the [[Undercity]], then go down to [[Razor Hill]] and use the same route as [[orc]]s and [[troll]]s.
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;{{Alliance Icon Small}}Alliance:
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:Catch a boat to [[Ratchet]] from [[Booty Bay]]. Once there, get the flight path.
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:You can also take the boat to [[Theramore]] from [[Menethil Harbor]] and then run through [[Dustwallow Marsh]] into the Barrens. You will need to then run north and east to reach [[Ratchet]].
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:An alternative method is to travel to [[Darkshore]], then to [[Ashenvale]]. Walk all the way to the [[Mor'Shan Rampart]] without getting close to the guards. To the east there is a small entrance, free of Horde guards, that Alliance can go through.
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== Geography ==
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The Barrens are a temperate and warm land.<ref>''[[Monster Guide]]'', pg. 111</ref> It has hot rugged hills, plains (grassland), some rocky desert and rugged mountains.<ref>''[[Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]'', pg. 189</ref>
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The Barrens are huge, one of the largest zones in the game. The land is mostly flat, with a few hills scattered throughout. The climate is harsh and hot, but survivable due to several lush oasis. With a stretch of [[The Merchant Coast|coastline]] to the east, [[Stonetalon Mountains|mountains]] to the northwest, [[Mulgore|plains]] to the west, [[Ashenvale|forest]] to the north, [[Dustwallow Marsh|marsh]] to the southeast, and the desert conditions to the [[Thousand Needles|south]] and [[Durotar|northeast]], the Barrens is surrounded by extremely varied landscapes.
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The Barrens contain three instanced dungeons, the [[Wailing Caverns]], [[Razorfen Kraul]], and [[Razorfen Downs]]. The Horde entrance to [[Warsong Gulch]] is located to the north. There are two Horde aligned travel hubs in this zone: [[the Crossroads]] and [[Camp Taurajo]], in addition to the flight path and boat in [[Ratchet]] available to both factions. There are no raid dungeons in the Barrens.
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=== Maps and subregions===
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[[File:WorldMap-Barrens-old.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The Barrens map]]
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{| class="darktable"
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|-
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||[[Agama'gor]] • [[Bael'dun Keep]] • [[Bael Modan]] • [[Blackthorn Ridge]]
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|-
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||[[Boulder Lode Mine]] • [[Bramblescar]] • [[Camp Taurajo]] • [[The Crossroads]]
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|-
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||[[Dreadmist Den]] • [[Dreadmist Peak]] • [[The Dry Hills]] • [[Far Watch Post]]
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|-
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||[[Field of Giants]] • [[The Forgotten Pools]] • [[Fray Island]] • [[Gold Road]]
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|-
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||[[The Great Sea]] • [[Grol'dom Farm]] • [[Honor's Stand]] • [[Lushwater Oasis]]
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|-
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||[[The Merchant Coast]] • [[Mor'shan Base Camp]] • [[The Mor'shan Rampart]] • [[Northwatch Hold]]
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|-
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||[[Raptor Grounds]] • [[Ratchet]] • [[Razorfen Downs]] • [[Razorfen Kraul]]
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|-
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||[[Shrine of the Fallen Warrior]] • [[The Sludge Fen]] • [[Southern Barrens]] • [[Southern Gold Road]]
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|-
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||[[Southfury River]] • [[The Stagnant Oasis]] • [[Thorn Hill]] • [[The Tidus Stair]]
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|-
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||
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----
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'''[[Warcraft RPG]]'''
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[[Tidus]] • [[Circle of Dust]] • [[The House of the Arcane Contraption]] • [[Pandaren settlement]]
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|}
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{{clrl}}
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=== Dungeons ===
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{| class="darktable"
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! Dungeon Name
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! Level Range
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! Group Size
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! Approximate Run Time
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|-
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| {{portal|Wailing Caverns|group}} || 15-23
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| 5-man
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| 1-3 Hours
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|-
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| {{portal|Razorfen Kraul|group}} || 24-33
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| 5-man
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| 1-3 Hours
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|-
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| {{portal|Razorfen Downs|group}} || 34-41
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| 5-man
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| 2-4 Hours
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|}
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===Battlegrounds===
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*[[Warsong Gulch]] (Horde Entrance)
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=== Travel hubs ===
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[[File:Crossroads.jpg|thumb|The Crossroads]]
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[[File:Barrens at Day.jpg|thumb|The Barrens at Day]]
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[[File:Barrens at Night.jpg|thumb|The Barrens at Night]]
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The [[Crossroads]] is likely the biggest travel hub for Horde characters, with a total of 13 flight paths. [[Camp Taurajo]], a secondary hub in the southern Barrens, is very useful for travel from one end of the zone to the other. [[Ratchet]] has both a Horde and Alliance flight master, and a boat which sails to [[Booty Bay]] in [[Stranglethorn Vale]].
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;{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Flight path]]s from [[the Crossroads]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Bloodvenom Post]], [[Felwood]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Brackenwall Village]], [[Dustwallow Marsh]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Camp Mojache]], [[Feralas]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Camp Taurajo]], The Barrens
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Freewind Post]], [[Thousand Needles]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Orgrimmar]], [[Durotar]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Splintertree Post]], [[Ashenvale]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Sun Rock Retreat]], [[Stonetalon Mountains]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Thunder Bluff]], [[Mulgore]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Valormok]], [[Azshara]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Zoram'gar Outpost]], [[Ashenvale]]
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*{{Neutral Icon Small}}[[Gadgetzan]], [[Tanaris]]
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*{{Neutral Icon Small}}[[Ratchet]], The Barrens
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;{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Flight path]]s from [[Camp Taurajo]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Freewind Post]], [[Thousand Needles]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[The Crossroads]], The Barrens
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Thunder Bluff]], [[Mulgore]]
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;{{Neutral Icon Small}}[[Flight path]]s and [[boat]]s from [[Ratchet]]
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[[File:Ratchet.jpg|thumb|Ratchet]]
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*{{Alliance Icon Small}}[[Astranaar]], [[Ashenvale]]
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*{{Alliance Icon Small}}[[Talrendis Point]], [[Azshara]]
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*{{Alliance Icon Small}}[[Theramore]], [[Dustwallow Marsh]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[Orgrimmar]], [[Durotar]]
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*{{Horde Icon Small}}[[The Crossroads]], The Barrens
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*{{Neutral Icon Small}}[[Booty Bay]], [[Stranglethorn Vale]] (Boat)
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*{{Neutral Icon Small}}[[Gadgetzan]], [[Tanaris]]
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=== Adjacent regions===
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{| class="darktable"
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|-
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! Zone Name || Faction || Level Range || Direction || Access
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|-
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| [[Durotar]] || {{Horde Icon Small}} || 1-12
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| Northeast
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| By foot across the river or by flightpath from Crossroads to Orgrimmar
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|-
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| [[Mulgore]] || {{Horde Icon Small}} || 1-12
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| West
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| By foot or flightpath from Crossroads or Camp Taurajo to Thunder Bluff
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|-
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| [[Stonetalon Mountains]]
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| {{Horde Icon Small}}{{Alliance Icon Small}}
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| 15-27 || Northwest
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| By foot or flightpath from Crossroads to Sun Rock Retreat
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|-
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| [[Ashenvale]]
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| {{Horde Icon Small}}{{Alliance Icon Small}}
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| 18-30 || North
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| By foot or flightpath from Crossroads to Splintertree Post or Zoram'gar Outpost
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|-
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| [[Thousand Needles]]
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| {{Horde Icon Small}}{{Alliance Icon Small}}
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| 25-35 || South
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| By elevator or flightpath from Crossroads or Camp Taurajo to Freewind Post
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|-
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| [[Stranglethorn Vale]]
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| {{Horde Icon Small}}{{Alliance Icon Small}}
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| 32-45 || East across the sea || By boat from Ratchet to Booty Bay
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|-
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| [[Dustwallow Marsh]]
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| {{Horde Icon Small}}{{Alliance Icon Small}}
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| 35-45 || Southeast || By foot or flightpath from Crossroads or Ratchet to Brackenwall Village
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|}
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== Notable characters ==
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[[File:Kolkar Barrens.jpg|thumb|The Kolkar centaur in the Barrens.]]
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{{main|Barrens NPCs}}
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The Barrens are home to several characters of note. At the Crossroads, [[Sergra Darkthorn]] sends promising young adventurers to prove their worth to the Horde by hunting local wild creatures. She is assisted in her efforts by [[Jorn Skyseer]] in Camp Taurajo, who also refers them to continue their quests in Thunder Bluff. And at his fortified camp west of the Crossroads, the beleaguered [[Regthar Deathgate]] fights a one-man battle to keep the savage centaur from breaking through the Horde defenses. The Barrens is also home to [[Mankrik]] who gives out the ever so infamous quest to find his wife.
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== Quests ==
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{{main|The Barrens quests}}
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{{seealso|The Barrens questing guide}}
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Being such a huge zone, the Barrens has a wealth of quests for Horde characters between levels 10 and 20. Of particular note are the hunting quests given by [[Sergra Darkthorn]] at the [[Crossroads]], which lead to similar quests in other zones. Many quests in the Barrens deal with fighting back the centaur and the quilboars. In addition, the [[Venture Company]] has taken a foothold in the northern Barrens and several quests involve investigating and causing trouble for them.
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== Resources ==
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[[File:BaelModan.jpg|thumb|Bael Modan]]
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* [[Cloth]]
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** [[Linen Cloth]]
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** [[Wool Cloth]]
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** [[Silk Cloth]]
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* [[Herb]]s
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** [[Peacebloom]]
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** [[Silverleaf]]
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** [[Earthroot]]
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** [[Mageroyal]]
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** [[Swiftthistle]]
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** [[Briarthorn (Herb)]]
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** [[Stranglekelp]]
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** [[Bruiseweed]]
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** [[Wild Steelbloom]]
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** [[Grave Moss]]
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** [[Kingsblood]]
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* [[Leather]]
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** [[Ruined Leather Scraps]]
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** [[Light Leather]]
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** [[Medium Leather]]
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** [[Thin Kodo Leather]] - Skinning level 10-20 [[kodo]]s
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** [[Deviate Scale]] - Skinning and looting level 15-22 [[beast]]s in and around [[the Wailing Caverns]]
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** [[Perfect Deviate Scale]] - Skinning and looting level 15-22 [[beast]]s in and around [[the Wailing Caverns]].
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* [[Ore]]
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** [[Copper Vein]]
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** [[Tin Vein]] - Usually underwater in the Oases.
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** [[Silver Vein]]
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* [[Other]]
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** [[Deviate Fish]]
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== Wild creatures ==
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[[File:Raptor Grounds.jpg|thumb|Raptor Grounds]]
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*[[Centaur]]
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*[[Cheetah]]
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*[[Crocolisk]]
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*[[Frenzy (Fish)|Frenzy]]
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*[[Giraffe]]
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*[[Goblin]]
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*[[Harpy]]
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*[[Hyena]]
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*[[Lion]]
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*[[Kodo]]
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*[[Quilboar]]
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*[[Raptor]]
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*[[Scorpid]]
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*[[Silithid]]
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*[[Shark]]
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*[[Plainstrider]]
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*[[Thunder lizard]]
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*[[Turtle]]
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*[[Wind Serpent]]
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*[[Zhevra]]
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== Notes and Other Info ==
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* The Barrens is one of the largest zones in ''World of Warcraft'', and running from Mor'shan Rampart near Ashenvale to the Great Lift near Thousand Needles can be daunting even for players with mounts.
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* Currently, the Barrens has the widest level range of any single zone, spanning 15 levels.
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* The Barrens is infamous as a very busy secondary zone shared by tauren, orcs and trolls. Undead players also often come here between levels 10 to 25. With three instances and multiple travel hubs, it is a busy "in-between" area traversed by higher-level characters as well. This is a major contributing factor to the high volume of the chat in this region. The chat in the region has had the infamous tag of [[Barrens Chat]] due to its sometimes frequent trend of players going completely off-topic in discussions and delving into silliness, which annoys some players while amusing others. This, however, has quelled in recent time due to new zones being introduced and the desire to move such chat into more accessible channels, such as the Trade chat which is shared amongst all faction capital cities.
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* There is a band of mounted elite [[Alliance]] to the south near [[Camp Taurajo]]. There is a level 24 human mage and three level 25 night elves. In addition to attacking Horde players on sight, they drop a scroll that starts the Horde quest [[Quest:The Runed Scroll|The Runed Scroll]].
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* The Crossroads is also a popular destination for Alliance raids as it is a good meeting point to raid Orgrimmar.
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=== Avoiding the Barrens ===
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Following the release of ''[[The Burning Crusade]]'' expansion, Horde players now can '''completely bypass''' the Barrens if they wish by questing in [[Ghostlands]] and then moving onto [[Silverpine Forest]] and [[Hillsbrad Foothills]].
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There are a number of reasons that a player might choose to do so:
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* To avoid the overpopulation and competition from other players.
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* It seems to be generally quicker to level, partially due to the decreased distance between key areas.
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* Quests are much easier.
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* For players generally focused on solo play rather than grouping up.
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* Completing quests to get items with [[Tranquillien#Reputation_and_Rewards|Tranquillien Reputation]] and quest rewards.
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==World of Warcraft: Cataclysm==
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{{cata-section}}
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[[Image:WorldMap-Barrens-cata.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Map of the Northern Barrens in ''Cataclysm'']]
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[[Image:WorldMap-SouthernBarrens.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Map of the Southern Barrens in ''Cataclysm'']]
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After the [[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm|third expansion]], the zone will be split in two with a lava river separating the [[Northern Barrens]] and [[Southern Barrens]]. A fortified gate and high wall now separates the southern Barrens from [[Mulgore]]. The zone will be split into Northern (about the same level range as it is now) and Southern Barrens (levels 30-35). Camp Taurajo will be burnt to the ground by the Alliance, who begin to move into Southern Barrens (no doubt from [[Northwatch Hold|Northwatch]], or perhaps [[Bael Modan]]), constructing guard towers throughout. Also portions of the southern part of the zone will become lush, thanks to the efforts of druid [[Naralex]]; however, the [[Emerald Nightmare]] will be pouring out into the zone, causing trouble. Finally, the pirates near Ratchet will be forced out, and Mankrik will find his wife's body.<ref>http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1K4ba774d664cbb012.cde/page/12</ref>
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The lava at the Barrens is, as of the playing of the beta, a non-flyable area, where a player will be dismounted if they try to fly over the lava. There is no indication as to if this is a bug or an intended action, or if this will change for the final release, though it appears to be the former since there is no visible way to escape from the lava other than death and resurrection (and in one YouTube upload, releasing after death makes the player automatically rez in a random spot in Southern Barrens, giving more indication that the no-fly zone is not intended and is rather a bug). There is no reason given as of yet from Blizzard as to why the no-fly zone would be intentional, assuming it is intentional.
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The latest images from World of Warcraft the Magazine, show a section of the Barrens as a battlefield between the Horde and the Alliance, with war machines littered on the battlefield, it also shows the Oasis next to the Wailing Caverns north of the Lava rift that cuts the Barrens in two, confirming the Wailing Caverns to be on the Horde side of the Barrens for Cataclysm.<ref>Pg 46, WoW Magazine Issue 2.</ref>
  +
  +
<gallery widths="120" captionalign="left">
  +
File:The Barrens Split.jpg|Artwork of the split
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File:Barrens-cata.jpg|Lava in the Barrens
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File:Barrens-cata2.jpg|More lava in the Barrens. The Wailing Caverns can be seen in the background.
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File:Cataclysm Gates of Mulgore.jpg|The gates of Mulgore
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File:Barrens 070910 013900 - Razorfen - Kirkburn 12319.jpg|The southern end of the zone
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File:The Barrens1.jpg
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</gallery>
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==Patch changes==
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*{{Patch 4.0.3a|note=Split into [[Northern Barrens]] and [[Southern Barrens]].}}
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*{{Patch 1.6.0|note=The Barrens should now feel more alive.}}
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*{{Patch 1.2.0|note=Kodos in the Barrens will no longer stomp incessantly while in combat.}}
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== References ==
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{{reflist}}
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== External links ==
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<!-- Read http://www.wowpedia.org/Wowpedia:External_links before posting your links here.
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Links that do not conform to the rules will be DELETED.
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Repeat violations may result in a BAN.
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Have a nice day. :) -->
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{{Elinks-zone|17}}
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{{Barrens}}
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{{Kalimdor}}
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[[Category:The Barrens| ]]
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[[Category:Flats]]
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[[Category:Grasslands]]
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[[Category:Lands of Mystery]]
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[[Category:Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]
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[[Category:Monster Guide]]
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[[nl:Barrens]]

Revision as of 13:26, 26 April 2011

HordeThe Barrens
Level: 7 - 30
Barrens divided
The Barrens split
Capital(s) Ratchet (7,000)
Population 17,000
Races OrcOrc Orc (5,100)
TaurenTauren Tauren (3,400-4,250[1])
GoblinGoblin Goblin (4,250-2,550[1])
TrollTroll Troll (2,550)
CentaurCentaur Centaur (850)[1]
DwarfDwarf Dwarf (850)
GnomeGnome Gnome (510-340[1])
Night elfNight elf Night elf (170)
HumanHuman Human (170)
Harpy Harpy (170)[1]
Government Trade princes (Ratchet)
Elected council (Crossroads)
Ruler(s) Gazlowe, Overseer of Ratchet
Thork, Defender of Crossroads
Jorn Skyseer, spiritual and military leader of Camp Taurajo
Major settlements Crossroads (6,000)
Razorfen Kraul (3,500)
Razorfen Downs (2,500)
Minor settlements Wailing Caverns (1,250)
Bael Modan (800)
Camp Taurajo (500)
Mor'shan Base Camp (300)
Northwatch Hold (150)
Affiliation Horde
Location Central Kalimdor
This article is about the pre-Cataclysm zone "The Barrens". For the post-Cataclysm zones, see Northern Barrens or Southern Barrens.

The Barrens is a large zone in central Kalimdor controlled mostly by the Horde. It is a massive savanna, with a few oases in the north-central region around the Crossroads. Before the upheaval, several large kaldorei cities stood here. Now, those brave few willing to scrape out a life on the arid plains inevitably run afoul of centaur warbands or quilboar raiding parties. Despite its often uninviting terrain and hostile inhabitants, the Barrens receive a good deal of interest from Alliance and Horde alike, as well as races native to Kalimdor. Trade routes crisscross the landscape leading to and from more inviting regions, and the most notable route is the Gold Road that runs north-to-south through the Barrens and beyond. Rumours suggest that precious minerals and treasure-filled ruins await those with the courage to investigate.

History

The Barrens was once a thriving forest under the protection of the night elves and their kind. Several kaldorei settlements dotted the land, and there was no ocean for miles. Then came the Burning Legion and the Great Sundering, which shook ancient Kalimdor to the bedrock. This forested landscape transformed into a scorched plain and is battered now each day by the sun's rays. The Barrens is a sprawling and arid savanna that stretches between the Stonetalon Mountains to the west and Durotar to the east. The grasslands and mesas of Mulgore rise to the southwest, while the wetlands of Dustwallow Marsh lie to the southeast.

The majority of the region consists of vast plains. Mountains to the west hold in heated air, creating the swirling winds that rage across the plains. These windstorms stir up dust devils and tear apart anything larger than the small, tenacious scrub trees. Water is more valuable than gold in the Barrens, and the locations of hidden watering holes are the residents' most closely held secrets. Dry riverbeds and a never-ending spider web of canyons make any journey across the Barrens a dangerous and winding trek. The few brave adventurers willing to scrape out a life on the arid plains inevitably run afoul of centaur warbands or quilboar raiding parties. Despite its often uninviting terrain and hostile inhabitants, the Barrens receive a good deal of interest from Alliance and Horde alike, as well as races native to Kalimdor. Trade routes crisscross the landscape leading to and from more inviting regions, most notably the Gold Road that runs north-to-south through the Barrens and beyond, and rumors suggest that precious minerals and ruins await those with the courage to investigate.

Mor'shan Rampart

The Mor'shan Rampart

Centaur warbands are most often seen in the Barrens' canyons, though they roam as far as the river that forms its eastern border with Durotar. Fearlessly aggressive, the centaur are known for their savagery, especially against tauren and night elves. They are not above attacking trade caravans also, for the goods or just for the sake of violence. Travelers who survive the centaur’s battle lust are used as slave labor in the hardscrabble mines the centaur carve into the hard-baked earth. Displaced from Durotar by Orcs, quilboar have built crude villages along the river that separates the orc nation from the Barrens. From there, they strike out across the river to raid settlements or deeper into the Barrens to attack caravans along the Gold Road. The caravan raids have hurt the goblin trade princes’ profits, so they have started negotiations to pay the quilboar gold and goods to protect caravans against centaur warbands. The quilboar have also erected a fortress called Razorfen Downs in the southeastern Barrens. Razorfen is a sprawling mass of giant, twisting thorns and crude mud huts. It serves as the center of quilboar society. Other dangers include harpies who watch from perches atop mesas in the northern Barrens and large beasts such as lions and thunder lizards - though these creatures tend to avoid the Gold Road. Native dangers have not stopped the Ironforge dwarves from establishing a stronghold near the titan excavation site of Bael Modan. The centaur have made forays against it, but are repelled decisively each time. Scouts claim that the centaur are amassing other tribes to launch a major attack, but the dwarves are unconcerned. Each day that passes sees Bael Modan grow stronger as the inhabitants build up its defenses.[2]

When the orcs under the new Warchief Thrall had landed on the Barrens, it saw civilization anew. The Horde built new settlements among the dry grasses and arid hills, and placed the Barrens solidly into the heart of Horde territory. The Horde has set up numerous outposts in this barren land, the largest being the Crossroads at the intersection of two major roads, and Camp Taurajo, a tauren outpost near the border to Mulgore. The Barrens are also dotted with numerous farms populated by orcs and their families, and guard towers manned by orcish and tauren guards.

Razorfen Downs lies just opposite the road, but this dungeon has been infested by agents of the Scourge, and poses great threat to anyone who is traveling to or from the Thousand Needles.

Getting there

Far Watch Post

Far Watch Post

HordeHorde
From Mulgore, follow the main road east out of the zone, then continue though Camp Taurajo (there is a Wind Rider Master in Camp Taurajo) and turn north through the Gold Road to get to the Crossroads. Get the flight path there too. You can also take the zeppelin to Orgrimmar from Spirit Rise in Thunder Bluff. It passes through the Barrens, and you can jump off (and survive!) while over Taurajo or the Crossroads.
If you are an orc or troll, go to Razor Hill (The small orc town south of Orgrimmar in Durotar) and go through the road west, then continue south through the Gold Road.
If you are a Forsaken or blood elf, take the goblin zeppelin to Orgrimmar, the Zeppelin Tower is just north of the Undercity, then go down to Razor Hill and use the same route as orcs and trolls.
AllianceAlliance
Catch a boat to Ratchet from Booty Bay. Once there, get the flight path.
You can also take the boat to Theramore from Menethil Harbor and then run through Dustwallow Marsh into the Barrens. You will need to then run north and east to reach Ratchet.
An alternative method is to travel to Darkshore, then to Ashenvale. Walk all the way to the Mor'Shan Rampart without getting close to the guards. To the east there is a small entrance, free of Horde guards, that Alliance can go through.

Geography

The Barrens are a temperate and warm land.[3] It has hot rugged hills, plains (grassland), some rocky desert and rugged mountains.[4]

The Barrens are huge, one of the largest zones in the game. The land is mostly flat, with a few hills scattered throughout. The climate is harsh and hot, but survivable due to several lush oasis. With a stretch of coastline to the east, mountains to the northwest, plains to the west, forest to the north, marsh to the southeast, and the desert conditions to the south and northeast, the Barrens is surrounded by extremely varied landscapes.

The Barrens contain three instanced dungeons, the Wailing Caverns, Razorfen Kraul, and Razorfen Downs. The Horde entrance to Warsong Gulch is located to the north. There are two Horde aligned travel hubs in this zone: the Crossroads and Camp Taurajo, in addition to the flight path and boat in Ratchet available to both factions. There are no raid dungeons in the Barrens.


Maps and subregions

WorldMap-Barrens-old

The Barrens map

Agama'gor • Bael'dun Keep • Bael Modan • Blackthorn Ridge
Boulder Lode Mine • Bramblescar • Camp Taurajo • The Crossroads
Dreadmist Den • Dreadmist Peak • The Dry Hills • Far Watch Post
Field of Giants • The Forgotten Pools • Fray Island • Gold Road
The Great Sea • Grol'dom Farm • Honor's Stand • Lushwater Oasis
The Merchant Coast • Mor'shan Base Camp • The Mor'shan Rampart • Northwatch Hold
Raptor Grounds • Ratchet • Razorfen Downs • Razorfen Kraul
Shrine of the Fallen Warrior • The Sludge Fen • Southern Barrens • Southern Gold Road
Southfury River • The Stagnant Oasis • Thorn Hill • The Tidus Stair

Warcraft RPG

Tidus • Circle of Dust • The House of the Arcane Contraption • Pandaren settlement

Dungeons

Dungeon Name Level Range Group Size Approximate Run Time
Instance portal Wailing Caverns 15-23 5-man 1-3 Hours
Instance portal Razorfen Kraul 24-33 5-man 1-3 Hours
Instance portal Razorfen Downs 34-41 5-man 2-4 Hours

Battlegrounds

Travel hubs

Crossroads

The Crossroads

Barrens at Day

The Barrens at Day

Barrens at Night

The Barrens at Night

The Crossroads is likely the biggest travel hub for Horde characters, with a total of 13 flight paths. Camp Taurajo, a secondary hub in the southern Barrens, is very useful for travel from one end of the zone to the other. Ratchet has both a Horde and Alliance flight master, and a boat which sails to Booty Bay in Stranglethorn Vale.

HordeFlight paths from the Crossroads
HordeFlight paths from Camp Taurajo
NeutralFlight paths and boats from Ratchet
Ratchet

Ratchet

Adjacent regions

Zone Name Faction Level Range Direction Access
Durotar Horde 1-12 Northeast By foot across the river or by flightpath from Crossroads to Orgrimmar
Mulgore Horde 1-12 West By foot or flightpath from Crossroads or Camp Taurajo to Thunder Bluff
Stonetalon Mountains HordeAlliance 15-27 Northwest By foot or flightpath from Crossroads to Sun Rock Retreat
Ashenvale HordeAlliance 18-30 North By foot or flightpath from Crossroads to Splintertree Post or Zoram'gar Outpost
Thousand Needles HordeAlliance 25-35 South By elevator or flightpath from Crossroads or Camp Taurajo to Freewind Post
Stranglethorn Vale HordeAlliance 32-45 East across the sea By boat from Ratchet to Booty Bay
Dustwallow Marsh HordeAlliance 35-45 Southeast By foot or flightpath from Crossroads or Ratchet to Brackenwall Village

Notable characters

Kolkar Barrens

The Kolkar centaur in the Barrens.

Main article: Barrens NPCs

The Barrens are home to several characters of note. At the Crossroads, Sergra Darkthorn sends promising young adventurers to prove their worth to the Horde by hunting local wild creatures. She is assisted in her efforts by Jorn Skyseer in Camp Taurajo, who also refers them to continue their quests in Thunder Bluff. And at his fortified camp west of the Crossroads, the beleaguered Regthar Deathgate fights a one-man battle to keep the savage centaur from breaking through the Horde defenses. The Barrens is also home to Mankrik who gives out the ever so infamous quest to find his wife.

Quests

Main article: The Barrens quests
See also: The Barrens questing guide

Being such a huge zone, the Barrens has a wealth of quests for Horde characters between levels 10 and 20. Of particular note are the hunting quests given by Sergra Darkthorn at the Crossroads, which lead to similar quests in other zones. Many quests in the Barrens deal with fighting back the centaur and the quilboars. In addition, the Venture Company has taken a foothold in the northern Barrens and several quests involve investigating and causing trouble for them.

Resources

BaelModan

Bael Modan

Wild creatures

Raptor Grounds

Raptor Grounds

Notes and Other Info

  • The Barrens is one of the largest zones in World of Warcraft, and running from Mor'shan Rampart near Ashenvale to the Great Lift near Thousand Needles can be daunting even for players with mounts.
  • Currently, the Barrens has the widest level range of any single zone, spanning 15 levels.
  • The Barrens is infamous as a very busy secondary zone shared by tauren, orcs and trolls. Undead players also often come here between levels 10 to 25. With three instances and multiple travel hubs, it is a busy "in-between" area traversed by higher-level characters as well. This is a major contributing factor to the high volume of the chat in this region. The chat in the region has had the infamous tag of Barrens Chat due to its sometimes frequent trend of players going completely off-topic in discussions and delving into silliness, which annoys some players while amusing others. This, however, has quelled in recent time due to new zones being introduced and the desire to move such chat into more accessible channels, such as the Trade chat which is shared amongst all faction capital cities.
  • There is a band of mounted elite Alliance to the south near Camp Taurajo. There is a level 24 human mage and three level 25 night elves. In addition to attacking Horde players on sight, they drop a scroll that starts the Horde quest The Runed Scroll.
  • The Crossroads is also a popular destination for Alliance raids as it is a good meeting point to raid Orgrimmar.

Avoiding the Barrens

Following the release of The Burning Crusade expansion, Horde players now can completely bypass the Barrens if they wish by questing in Ghostlands and then moving onto Silverpine Forest and Hillsbrad Foothills.

There are a number of reasons that a player might choose to do so:

  • To avoid the overpopulation and competition from other players.
  • It seems to be generally quicker to level, partially due to the decreased distance between key areas.
  • Quests are much easier.
  • For players generally focused on solo play rather than grouping up.
  • Completing quests to get items with Tranquillien Reputation and quest rewards.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.
WorldMap-Barrens-cata

Map of the Northern Barrens in Cataclysm

WorldMap-SouthernBarrens

Map of the Southern Barrens in Cataclysm

After the third expansion, the zone will be split in two with a lava river separating the Northern Barrens and Southern Barrens. A fortified gate and high wall now separates the southern Barrens from Mulgore. The zone will be split into Northern (about the same level range as it is now) and Southern Barrens (levels 30-35). Camp Taurajo will be burnt to the ground by the Alliance, who begin to move into Southern Barrens (no doubt from Northwatch, or perhaps Bael Modan), constructing guard towers throughout. Also portions of the southern part of the zone will become lush, thanks to the efforts of druid Naralex; however, the Emerald Nightmare will be pouring out into the zone, causing trouble. Finally, the pirates near Ratchet will be forced out, and Mankrik will find his wife's body.[5]

The lava at the Barrens is, as of the playing of the beta, a non-flyable area, where a player will be dismounted if they try to fly over the lava. There is no indication as to if this is a bug or an intended action, or if this will change for the final release, though it appears to be the former since there is no visible way to escape from the lava other than death and resurrection (and in one YouTube upload, releasing after death makes the player automatically rez in a random spot in Southern Barrens, giving more indication that the no-fly zone is not intended and is rather a bug). There is no reason given as of yet from Blizzard as to why the no-fly zone would be intentional, assuming it is intentional.

The latest images from World of Warcraft the Magazine, show a section of the Barrens as a battlefield between the Horde and the Alliance, with war machines littered on the battlefield, it also shows the Oasis next to the Wailing Caverns north of the Lava rift that cuts the Barrens in two, confirming the Wailing Caverns to be on the Horde side of the Barrens for Cataclysm.[6]

  • The Barrens Split.jpg

    Artwork of the split

  • Lava in the Barrens

    Lava in the Barrens

  • Barrens-cata2.jpg

    More lava in the Barrens. The Wailing Caverns can be seen in the background.

  • The gates of Mulgore

    The gates of Mulgore

  • Barrens 070910 013900 - Razorfen - Kirkburn 12319.jpg

    The southern end of the zone

  • The Barrens1.jpg

Patch changes

References

 
  1. ^ a b c d e The (Un)Official World of Warcraft RPG Errata
  2. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 188-190
  3. ^ Monster Guide, pg. 111
  4. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 189
  5. ^ http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1K4ba774d664cbb012.cde/page/12
  6. ^ Pg 46, WoW Magazine Issue 2.

External links

The Barrens is a contested territory
Map of the Barrens
Northern Kalimdor
Map of Kalimdor
Central Kalimdor
Southern Kalimdor

nl:Barrens

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