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Contents 1 World of Warcraft: Cataclysm 1.1 Aftermath of WOTLK 1.2 Synopsis 1.3 Storyline 1.3.1 The Cataclysm 1.3.2 Bottom Line 1.4 New Zones 1.4.1 New "Continent": The Great Sea 1.5 New Neutral Capital: Undermine 1.6 New Hero Class 1.7 New Profession 1.8 New Instances 1.9 New Battleground:

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

Aftermath of WOTLK

During the Northrend invasion, enemy after enemy was vanquished. The Scourge ends as the Lich King is slain, at last. The Blue Dragonflight, defeated and shattered, left to lick their wounds in their destroyed Nexus after the death of Malygos. Yogg-Saron, destroyed, all those caught within his grasp freed and his off-spring and the Iron Army decimated. The Drakkari Trolls were neutralized, their kingdom shattered. Azeroth returned to relative peace at last, and colonization of Northrend began.

The Alliance and Horde estabilished a colonial system to populate Northrend and promote life in the roof of the world. The rivalaries have led to an increase of military activity across the continent, as daily skirmishes for small pieces of land started. But nothing worse than the fight there has been across the whole world, nothing new. Just like old times.

The Wyrmrest Accord, with the death of Malygos, have accepted the surviving Blues into the Accord. Alexstraza, the last uncorrupted and unmissing Dragon Aspect, coordinates the various dragonflights effors across the globe to investigate what has caused Nozdormu and Ysera to disapper. They become so focused on the task that dragons become more secluded and more disconnected from the world, though they always welcome mortal visitors and help with what they can.

In the Storm Peaks, the keeppers of Ulduar have resumed their function of safeguarding the titan city. With help of the forces of earth, ice and iron (now released from Yogg-Saron's grasp), they are rebuilding the ruins across the peaks, making sure Yogg-Saron doesnt even think. Any mortal visitors are welcomed, but their motives inspected. As a reward for their assisntance, the Kirin Tor, the Explorer's League and the K3 Goblins returned home with priceless artifacts platinum disks and rune tablets with information regarding the deepest past of Azeroth, though the keepers made sure the mortals wouldnt find out too much. During the attack on Ulduar and the aftermath, both Alliance and Horde agents scavanged Titan mechanical parts and blueprints. They ended up on the hands of enginners of both factions, and they began studying the ancient yet advanced technology.

The Argent Crusade returned to Lordaeron, and are helping healing and rebuilding the area now known as Plaguelands. The area controled by the Forsaken was left out of this, since Fordring recognizes the Forsaken as a legimite organization and doesnt want to interfere with the lands they control. They still maintain their fortified positions in Northrend, to help maintain peace.

The Kirin Tor liked the idea of having a floating city in Northrend, and now Dalaran serves as a floating capital of Northrend, providing shelter and commerce oportunities to all. The Silver Convenant and the Sunreavers couldnt solve their conflict, so they dissolved. Some elves returned to their respective factions, others joined the Kirin Tor officially.

The Knights of the Ebon Blade dissolved, each one of the knights returning to the respective faction, as the knights only objective was to destroy the Scourge. They will miss those good old times, though.

Synopsis

It seemed as peace had returned for good. The Alliance-Horde war was the only ongoing conflict between the mortal races, but even that was reduced a half-truce, half-skirmish state. Everything else was solved. But then, things start to happen. Terrorist attacks occur in both factions capitals, with air strikes and suicide bombs. Every sign points to the other faction, but both factions deny ever launching the strikes, and accuses the other one. Thrall thinks it's weird, Varian thinks this is his oportunity to instigate the Alliance.

Every Alliance leader says "yes", and an all-out invasion force is prepared (much to protests from Jaina, though they were unheard). A massive naval fleet, set sail to the Great Sea, to Kalimdor. The fleet, not only backed up with state-of-the-art weaponry and air support, also carried a big army to invade the shores of Kalimdor. The Night Elves began preparations for a second attack from Ashenvale. The Draenei, though they support the Alliance, dont want to risk their already few soldiers, and prefered to stand their ground (directly at least). They are busier regrouping their civilization in both Azeroth and Outland. Legoso is still on the job though.

Thrall never wanted this, but Varian has left him no choice. The Alliance would have to be destroyed. So, he charged High Overlord Saurfang and Garrosh Hellscream to command the counterattack to make sure the Alliance would be stopped, and then defeated. A great fleet, both naval and aerial, and carring all the Horde could muster, left Durotar to meet the Horde. The Forsaken and Blood Elves, both greatly weakened by Varithmas conspiracy and the Scourge Invasion respectevly, are preparing a new offensive from Silverpine Forest.

An all-out war is about of start. Both factions have called upon their heroes to aid them. And aid them they will. The Alliance has slightly greater technological superiority. The Horde has a somewhat greater physical might. Fight will erupt in Ashenvale, Barrens, Alterac and Arathi. And the great colision is about to take place in the Great Sea.

But there's something more behind this conflict. Dark sinister forces seize oportunity to take their plans into actions. The dragons uncover strange events that will lead into a civil war within their dragonflights.

And deep beneath the ocean, in the middle of the Maelstrom, something is happening. The fearsome vortex is stiring even more than usual, with strange sismic activity, and abnormal weather conditions start to appear worldwide with increasing frequency. And Naga begin a coordinated invasion on all islands. As if the ocean was about to start something. Something that could destroy the world as we known it. And the Alliance and Horde are busy fighting each other in the sea, not knowing what's waiting for them, and how dangerously at risk they are for siting in the ocean right now. All we can do, is hope for the best. For the Cataclysm is about to begin.

Storyline

As you can guess, the war between the Alliance and Horde will be a major plot. But it is just a temporary storyline, as the Cataclysm will occur. I was thinking of a Wrathgate-like cinematic event, with the Alliance and Horde clashing near the Maelstrom and suddendly the whole Nazjatar rises from the sea. The rise creates a massive tidal wave that engulfs both the Alliance and the Horde forces, killing thousands of soldiers, and neutralizing the war efforts. The wave also hits several islands and coastlines worldwide. Overall, I can imagine it like the 2004 Tsunami. Using phasing, we could even see coastal areas devastated (although SW harbor, Booty Bay and other ports would still function for gameplay purposes).

The Cataclysm

What the naga did was the following: over the years, they built several machines across the ocean floor, and near their city. These machines, once completed and powered up, elevated Nazjatar and it's surronding regions, much like Dalaran. The Rise of Nazjatar triggered the tidal wave. But that's not the only thing done by the machines: they also severely destabilized the world's ocean currents, and thus the world climate starts to go haywire. Once again thanks to Phasing system, we can see new weather effects, much more intense and devastating than the regular ones. And they would affect players and could occur anywhere in the new regions (lorely speaking, it's worldwide effects, but for phasing and gameplay purposes, only in the areas introduced by the expansion). For instance:

• Flash floods would force players to swim in areas once dry.
• A tornado could damage and throw players when hit for moderate physical damage.
• Hailstorms cause frost damage and slow effect debuffs.

Also, since Azeroth's core is exposed in the Rift, and due to the seismic instability created by the Rise, it was grown very unstable. Due to this, earthquakes happen with increasing frequency, causing minor damage to everyone in the area (the whole region where the epicenter is) and slowing their movement. The ley lines of Azeroth would be affected, triggering electrical storms (causing minor nature damage to those hit by the thunder) and opening rifts.

After the Cataclysm cinematic, a new area is available: the Maelstrom. It's a massive chunk of sea floor that comes to the surface (well, most of it). The Maelstrom ceases it's raging, and the area is engulfed and surronded by the arcane energies released by the non-spinning vortex. The Rift is a massive pool of lava and molten rock that's flowing across the area, killing all surronding life, including the naga's enemies. Nazjatar is encased in a forcefield, much like Dalaran was, thus preventing players from acessing to it, and protecting it from the nearby volcanic activity.

The reason why the naga did this was simple:

• The Rise of Nazjatar triggered a tidal wave that ravaged coastal areas and naval fleets, thus leaving the world more vulnerable to naga attacks.
• The ocean currents system was shattered, and the world's seismic balance destabilized, thus triggering a series of natural disasters and the world is starting to get cold. This will lead to a Global Ice Age unless things are set right. This ice age is accompaigned by massive icestorms and floods, and most of Azeroth will be flooded and encased on ice.
• The tectonic activity at the Maelstrom will only agravate things for us.
• The naga live in wet, cold areas. If the world was engulfed in an Ice Age, then all of it would be a suitable place for the naga to live. And with the natural disasters and tidal wave, Azeroth's defenses would be extremly compromised. This way, Azeroth would belong to the naga.

Bottom Line

We will be confronted by several storylines:

• First of all, Alliance-Horde war.
• The Naga and their acitivites.
• Doctor Lapidis' experiments.
• The dragon civil war between the uncorrupted and the corrupted.
• The Pandaren crysis.
• And the merchant wars taking place in the goblin world.

New Zones

New "Continent": The Great Sea

• Kul Tiras (78-82): Attacked from all sides by Murlocs, Nagas and Pirates, this nation has requested the aid of the Alliance. In exchange, it agrees to help the Alliance against the Horde. This is a region recomended for Alliance players only, as the Horde does not have a presence here.

• Tel'Abim (78-82): This island, mostly jungle but with some Highborne ruins was practicly desert, except for the ocasional explorer, and banana hunter, as bananas from this place are very popular and sell very well. But recently, the Horde was colonized this island and using it as a foward naval outpost. The Alliance has no presence here, so leveling here is not recommended for Alliance players.

• Kezan (81-84, 87-90): With many goblin ports and cities, most notoriously Undermine, this island is where the new neutral capital, Undermine, is found. The island is connected to all islands in the ocean through it's ports. Various pirates and trade organazations fight for economical supremacy in an underground war. Although it's mostly an urban place, I imagine as a very funny and interesting place, where players can have gladiatoral, marine, and undercover adventures, starting at 81-84, but reaching an amazing pinnacle at 87-90 and within it's instances.

• Gilneas (83-85): For years, this kingdom has been completly cut off from the rest of the world. Both the Alliance and the Horde have taken the chance to investigate this by breaking into Gilneas. What they find it's disturbing: nothing, just destroyed villages and cities. But no one to tell the tale, but there might be some survivous left. Your job is too find them while fending off enemy forces. Naga, Murlocs, Worgen, and remnants of Scourge occupy the deserted kingdom.

• Zandalar (84-87): The Zandalarian tribe face a new danger, this time on their own homeland - an army of robots and hybrid humanoid creatures calling themselves the Perfeks invade the ancient troll kingdom, with the single intent of taking all trolls prisioners, and killing those who cause trouble. Unfortunatly, you fit into the second category. The purposes of the Perfeks and their robotic legions are still unknown, but you find shocking relations between them and Gilneas and a scientist called Doctor Lapidis. Of course, nagas and other sea creatures try to invade the island as well.

• Pandaria (85-88): The Pandaren have revealed themselves to the outside world, as two wars break out: a naga invasion, and a civil war. The greater clans of the pandaren declared war upon themselves, after a series of terrorist attacks (much like the Alliance and Horde happenings). Seasoned adventurers from both factions need to choose a clan and help it, much like the Oracles and Frenzyheart, while investigating these "terrorist attacks". In return, the pandaren offers their lands as a safe haven for adventurers and teach them the ways of the pandaren.

• Isle of Doctor Lapidis (87-90): Once a remarkable scientist in the area of breeding and enginnering, he has gone insane, using his skills to create the Perfeks and his robotic legion, using any living creature he could take his hands on. He now is expanding his search, attacking multiple regions at once to capture humanoids and living creatures. The Wyrmrest Scryers have come to this island to defeat the Perfek Army and uncover Lapidis' ultimate goal. You, must help the dragons.

• Maelstrom (87-90): Nazjatar and the surronding seascape have risen to the surface, leaving a huge ravaged landscape in the center of the vortex. The Alliance and Horde fleets are being engulfed by the remants of the vortex, surronding this area in shipwrecks. Mak'aru , who managed to stay underwater, is now under heavy attacks from the naga who want to clear the area from anything not on their side. Survivous of both fleets have set up camp nearby, and have to content with naga, undead sailors and wild sea creatures. Though officially risen, most of the area is not above water, thus much of the local sealife is preserved. You must help the locals to repel the naga, and find a way to set things right, before Azeroth is engulffed by the Ice Age, thus leaving the whole world fitted for the naga. And Azshara would be queen of the world, once more.

• Broken Isles (world PvP): Just like Wintergrasp, this would be an area where periodic battles occur. The Night Elves and Blood Elves set out to these islands to reclaim them as an historical site. But only one of them can have the islands. The battle would revolve around who controls the center of Suramar. Siege veichles would include: Battleships, glaive throwes, arcane robots, captured naga steam tanks and others. The faction who owns the region will be able to find elemental materials much easier, and aceess the Tomb of Sargeras, to uncover it's secrets. Yes, the Avatar of Sargeras will be there.

New Neutral Capital: Undermine

The biggest city in the world, it will not only be a neutral capital, but not a sanctuary. If you start PvPing here, you'll get beat up by bruisers. If you have issues, solve them outside the city area! Auction houses (both Alliance, Horde and Neutral), class and profession trainners, speciality shops, portals to all capitals and ships to all ports, you name it! The emblem quartermasters will be neutral, and selling magical items obtained through various means, both legimite and dirty, a-la goblin. This city will also be practicly a region by itself. You will find yourself involved in mafia-like wars, pirate conflicts, gladiatorial matches, veichle races, and more! I imagine this as the funniest region ever. Read more about the city using the link I placed above to have an idea on what to expect from here.

There could be a faction war in here, like the Silver Covenant/Sunreavers war, or more neutral factions, like two diferent trade empires. Or just helping the Steamwheddle against Venture Co..

New Hero Class

New Profession

New Instances

New Battleground:

You know those isles, next to the Eastern Kingdoms, midway between Tirisfal Glades and Northrend? It's there. The idea: the Venture Co. once had an industrial complex in these isles, but they abandoned them a few years ago. Several supply crates and buildings lie in the isles abandoned. The isles also provide a strategic location to ocean dominance. So, both faction launch a naval assault to the isles, and, a-la Warsong Gulch, you need to pick up the supply crates, and bring them into safe zones, where helicopters will periodicly appear and take the crates to safety. You can lose the crates, just like you lose the flag when you die. But now for the twist: you dont need a number of crates to win, you need the crates to be able to build veichles! You can capture a siege workshop to build tanks, choppers, turrets which you have in your bags and throw them at a spot and they build themselves, and stuff. And you can capture a shipyard and build warships, armed with cannons. ALL at the cost of the same supplies you are scavenging. The main objective is... coming soon.