Blizzard Press Tour 2006 Demo / Q&A - Page 4/4

Jewelcrafting

One previously unannounced aspect of jewelcrafting (more specifically, socketing - since any player, regardless of profession, can place gems in socketed weapons and armor) is the idea of meta gems. As a warrior, you might want all the defense gems, let's call them +3 defense green gems, you can find. But a meta gem might offer +4 defense for every gem of a different color you have socketed. Thus you can possibly get more defense for your warrior by equipping some of what Kaplan called the "guilty pleasure" gems (+ chance to crit, for example) and still get the defense your guild loves you for.

For a more complete intro to Jewelcrafting, you can't do better than the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade official site.

What Won't Be Part of the Expansion

A world event that prevents the Dark Portal from opening on the release date - Some players were asking what kind of world event would accompany The Burning Crusade's release. Details are sketchy, but patch 1.13 will clue everyone in on what's about to happen. But you won't have to gather linen, silk, etc. to get things going as for Ahn'Qiraj. Jeff Kaplan quipped that if the Dark Portal didn't open on BC day one, "Blizzard would have their heads on a platter." Better guild management - Blizzard definitely wants to add "at least a guild bank" in an update following the expansion. But one thing players can look forward to with Burning Crusade, according to Kaplan, is a more robust "Looking for Group" feature. An auctionhouse in the Outland city of Shatrath - In a bid to move players from a more populated to less frequented cities, Shatrath will have portals to all the old-world "starting" cities. But no auctionhouse will be found in the Outlands hub city. Hero Classes - Jeff Kaplan wants you to know that Blizzard hasn't given up on Hero Classes or a "Mountain King" idea. There's active discussion among the Blizzard staff, but designing something that's fun for everyone - not just one person - is tricky. It's the age old dilemma: how to make something cool and fun that doesn't break the game.

And if I don't buy the expansion?

Several players from our Ten Ton Hammer community were wondering what they'd be missing out on if they don't buy the expansion. The answer is that, according to Kaplan, the game will be "very cohesive" and "very close to what the game is today." You won't be able to journey to any of the expansion areas including the starting zones, and your level cap will remain at level 60.

What will change? Anything that's portable will come to you. You'll start seeing Draenei and Blood Elves, you can buy socketed items and place gems in them (though you can't take on the jewelcrafting profession), and best of all, a number of quest givers will appear in the old world areas such as Tarren Mill offering quests and clues as to what's going on in the Outlands.

Our most sincere thanks to Blizzard PR man Shon Damron and Lead Designer Jeff Kaplan for walking us through what promises to be the next big thing in online gaming. If you'd like to discuss what you've read here or have more questions for the Blizzard team (maybe just maybe we can score a follow-up interview if Shon and Jeff have time), please join us in the Ten Ton Hammer forums or, if you're shy, email me!