Tanaris
is a desert zone located in Southern Kalimdor, and one of my
personal favorite zones. Primarly inhabited by Goblins this zone is
well known for the Goblin city of Gadgetzan and the many sandstorms
that rage across the landscape. Not to mention
the used-to-be-elite trolls that enjoy pwning the unexpected
traveler’s face for fun. Join me now as we discover together
how this land has fared against the ravages of Cataclysm.
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Flying into Gadgetzan, the epicenter of Tanaris, players will be glad
to note that this Goblin city is still standing and looks untouched by
events in the world around it. Mounts of every type stand waiting
outside the entrance, and the giant wrench still holds it’s
honored spot above the doorway. Which is probably a good thing because
one can only imagine how many Goblins a wrench of that size could
squish.
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If you flew into the zone you probably noticed that the flight masters
are no longer outside the city. In what I would assume is a move to
provide better security in these uncertain times after Cataclysm both
flight masters have been moved inside the city proper.
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Walking inside, players will find a city that is basically unchanged.
The only difference is that Gadgetzan has greatly increased in size and
population. To accommodate the new residents several new houses have
been erected in the typical clay hut style of the zone.
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The reason for Gadgetzan’s growth is clear as soon as you
take a look on the eastern side of the city. The waters that once stood
far outside the city have come in completely obliterating Steamwheedle
Port and anything else in the water’s path. Survivors can
still be seen clinging to the tops of buildings where Steamwheedle Port
once stood. Because of the destruction of their port and the close
proximity of the water Gadgetzan has become a thriving port city almost
overnight.
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A boat is in operation, however, it currently only takes players on a
rather scenic route around the harbor. There was some interest in this
seemingly pointless journey however, as those who take the boat will
discover first hand that Southsea Pirates have formed a sort of
blockade where the harbor meets the sea. Southsea Pirate ships dot the
waters and Southsea Pirates can be found on many of the small pieces of
land still above water.
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At Sandsorrow Watch players will notice an influx in the
number of Scorpids in the area as well as the fact that all other
animals besides the Scorpids have vanished. The reason behind this
becomes crystal clear when players stumble across the newly formed cave
in the mountains along the edge of the zone here. Deep in the back of
the cave waiting for it’s next meal is a giant Scorpid named
Gargantapid which judging by it’s size gives us a good
indicator what happened to all other animals in general area.
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Moving further to the west to a set of ramshackle Troll buildings
players will find that the Trolls that once roamed the area have all
gone. At first I thought they were simply victims of
Gargantapid’s incredible appetite but on closer inspection it
appears the Trolls were run out by another source. Four new NPCs have
taken up residence here (one of which appears to be injured). A Troll
in a cage is a possible sign that these four are responsible for the
vanishing Trolls.
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While the Trolls may have been run out of Sandsorrow Watch the Trolls
have yet to abandon their stronghold in Tanaris, Zul’Farrak.
The instance still stands as it was pre-Cataclysm with Trolls milling
about the entrance. Moving away from the entrance, however, a more
sinister view meets the eyes. Here the dead bodies of Trolls have been
laid to rest, but only for a short time, Troll zombies will be made of
the bodies and if not then the bodies will become meals for the
zombies.
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The Noxious Lair is still an unbelievably creepy place to be and has
remained unchanged. Huge bug legs still rise above the surface here,
twitching and moving, giving players the feeling at any moment they
could reach out and grab them. Other smaller bugs can also be found in
abundance, creeping and flying both above and below ground.
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East of the Noxious Lair the Dunemaul Compound. Here Ogres of all kinds
make their home. While the Compound itself looks much as it did before
Cataclysm there is a small new addition. To the Northwest of the
Compound lies the newly formed Dunmaul Recruitment Camp. Megs
Dreadshredder has set up camp with the intention of coercing the nearby
Ogres into joining the Horde. Whether inducing Ogres into the Horde is
a good idea or not is a subject for debate.
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Moving towards the southern portion of Tanaris and the entrance to
Un’goro Crater players will get a good glimpse of one of the
newest (and coolest) mob additions to the zone; Desert Blooms and Sand
Lashers. These desert flowers will not aggro you and pop in and out of
the ground.
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The Thistleshrub mobs have taken leave of Thistleshrub Valley and three
Goblin females have set up tents just outside the Valley. A new NPC
quest giver by the name of Adarrah and her fellow travelers, their
camels (one of which is named Lady Humps…Black Eyed Peas
anyone?), and pack kodo can be found near the center of the
Valley.
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The most exciting find in Thistleshrub Valley is probably the stone
pathway that will serve as the secondary entrance to the new Egypt-like
zone of Uldum.
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The Valley of the Watchers is as desolate a place as Tanaris has to
offer, however, with the new expansion it appears that a few brave
Blood Elves have decided to venture into this barren landscape and set
up camp. Named Dawnrise Expedition the encampment is rather
small although it does include a brand new flight path for
the zone.
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To the east of the Dawnrise Expedition you will find the gates
to Uldum. The elite giants here are gone and the gates have been blown
open by a powerful force leaving them smoking and barely managing to
remain on their hinges.
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While the inside of Uldum is interesting to look at, there really
isn’t much here. A long hallway bordered by Sanstone Earthens
leads to a large room and then ends unexpectedly. A strange spinning
device can be seen spinning off to the side of the large room. What
purpose this place has remains to be seen.
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Just east of Uldum players will find that the mountains have for lack
of a better word,; collapsed. This has provided easy access to
Land’s End Beach from the rest of Tanaris. As such this
beach, once only home to turtles, has some new visitors. A small
Alliance camp called Steelspark Station has popped up. Further down the
beach Blidgewater Survivors can be found running along the edge of the
water. These Survivors are beyond rescuing though, as they have all
gone mad. A very nasty looking Ogre named Meatface has also made his
home here in a small alcove in the very center of the mountains lining
the beach.
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The Southmoon Ruins, once inhabited by Ogres, is now the scene of a
battle for land between Horde and Alliance diggers. NPC’s do
battle with their shovels all over the ruins leading us to believe that
perhaps there is an amazing discovery to be had here.
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The Alliance perhaps has the advantage in the Ruins as a small base has
been set up in the south close by called Gunstan’s Dig. Here
the brand new Alliance flight point in the zone can be found.
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The Gaping Chasm, much like the Noxious Lair has seen little change.
Nasty bugs and the disturbing appendages protruding from the ground can
still be found here. This place is just as creepy as the Noxious Lair,
and normal sane people would never want to visit, so what is a neutral
quest hub complete with Flight Master doing on the northern ridge of
the Chasm? Good old Goblin greed is the answer, these Goblins that make
up Bootlegger Outpost have been sent here with the explicit orders to
make a profit from the silithids in the Gaping Chasm or wipe them out.
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The once peaceful and calm Southbreak Shore has been invaded by
Southsea Pirates. The Pirates have built fences, watch towers, docks
for their boats, and even a few buildings along the way giving them a
firm foothold on the shore. Also a grim and rather interesting monument
to the dead (complete with drowned sailors) has been erected near the
middle of the encampment.
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Not all hope is lost though, as displayed by the fighting going on at
Lost Rigger Cove. Once the Southsea Pirates only stronghold in Tanaris,
this place has been infiltrated by both Horde and Alliance and the
battle for control rages on.
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Further up the beach the proof of the savage advance of Horde and
Alliance forces is evident. Pirate bodies lay scattered about the
beach, cut down where they last stood and left to rot. Some of the
bodies have even been set on fire.
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Thanks to the advancing waters Wavestrider Beach, still deserted, has
grown significantly smaller with most the land here under crystal clear
waters.
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Waterspring Field once filled with water towers and assassins has also
been flooded.
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Despite the flooding the Caverns of Time still remains intact thanks to
the protective mountains surrounding the instance. The imposing boss
dragon Anachronos as well as the smaller Occulus are no longer standing
outside the zone. However, Tick and his new companion Chronalis have
taken flight and now remain airborne, doing protective circles near the
entrance. Both dragons are now yellow instead of red.
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While Tanaris still remains a desert zone and has seen little
destruction compared to the rest of the world at large it certainly has
seen it’s share of exciting changes. We here at Ten Ton
Hammer hope you have enjoyed this preview of Tanaris and hope you will
join us on the forums to share your thoughts and opinions on the
changes you have seen here. Now if you’ll excuse me
I’m off to enjoy my new beachfront property in Gadgetzan.
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