DUROTAR: Durotar is one of the more famous zones for the fact that Orgrimmar is in it. The horde capitol itself has got a nice facelift, since Garrosh didn't deem it scarey enough. Most of the buildings are now decked out in very Warsong Hold-esque steel. The zeppelin towers have been moved into the city, so alliance may find it a little more difficult to hitch a ride on them. As for the rest of Durotar, Bladefist Bay now has a dock which can transport you to Vashj'ir, Southfury River is overflowing, Thunder Ridge is now flooded, with the Thunder Lizards drowned, and the Alliance have invaded, securing Northwatch Hold once more, and taking the Kolkar Crag. And as you know, the Darkspear Trolls have reclaimed the Echo Isles. One last thing: Razor Hill now has a flightpath.
Alliance Ships off the Coast of Durotar
The Echo Isles
Bladefish Bay Port
THE BARRENS: The cataclysm has rent The Barrens in half, separating the now Northern Barrens and Southern Barrens by a large, volcanic, fissure. The Northern Barrens hasn't changed much, except for the huge crack in the ground. But the Southern Barrens has changed DRASTICALLY. The work of Naralex in The Wailing Caverns has not gone forgotten, as now a large portion of the Southern Barrens is covered by lush forests. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING as large tentacle-like vines have sprung out of the ground and are choking innocent Tauren, who "liked the Barrens when they were... Barren!". Fighting between the Horde and Alliance has broken out in the center of the zone, with a large battlescarred crater with planes circling above is now prominent between the two factions' fortresses. Camp Taurajo has been raided and levelled, leaving few survivors, and the Tauren have barricaded the entrance to Mulgore with a huge gate.
The Great Split
More of The Great Split
The Gates of Mulgore
AZSHARA: Azshara is one of the two zones you can enter after Durotar, the other being the Northern Barrens. Azshara has been taken over by the Horde, but mostly the Goblins of Kezan. There is an ongoing battle between the Nightelves and the Horde at the entrance to the zone, which is at a quarry near a new third entrance to Orgrimmar, which leads into Azshara. One of the main forms of transportation around the zone is a Goblin-made highway, on which you travel with ROCKETS. It kicks ass. You may also note that the zone is now strangely shaped like the Horde insignia...
Horde Insignia-Shaped Azshara
Large Goblin Bomb
Gallywix Pleasure Palace
The Rocketway
Riding a Rocket on The Rocketway
MULGORE: The Brambleblade Quillboars from the Brambleblade Ravine have amassed and attacked the Tauren Camp Narache, killing many Tauren. A new zone, Farseer Rise has been placed to the west of Camp Narache. The Dwarves of the Bael'Dun Digsite are all dead, replaced by earth elementals. There aren't many changes to this zone.
Farseer Rise
STONETALON MOUNTAINS: A volcano has erupted in the Charred Vale, spilling lava into the sea. Malaka'Jin has become an expanded quest hub with it's own flightmaster. Battle between the Alliance and the Horde has broken out in the Windshear Crag, driving the Venter Co. out of most of the area. The horde questline for this area involves dropping an atomic bomb on a peacful, druidic, tree, showing just how corrupted the horde has become in the absence of Thrall.
Lava Spilling Out of the Charred Vale
ASHENVALE: The Horde has a stronger hold in Ashenvale, having taken and deforested Silverwing Refuge, upgraded their defenses in Zoram'Gar Post, and is currently sieging Astranaar, Raynewood Retreat, and Maestra's Post. Not to say that the Alliance hasn't been busy here either, taking half of the Warson Lumber Camp and attacking Splintertree Post. A large volcano has erupted in the northern region of the zone, causing devastation to the forests around it.
Deforestation
DARKSHORE: Shortly after the cataclysm, and massive tsunami hit the coast. Despite being warned, many Nightelves stayed put in Auberdine, most of which are now dead and the city is now in ruins (*Cough*Cough*Katrina*Cough*). Most of the zone is now flooded. Malfurion Stormrage has entered into the eye of a massive cylcone in the center of the region, trying to commune with the spirits to calm it. The Darkspear Trolls have emerged from their secret dancing troll party to do battle with the Nightelves and the Worgen.
The Ruins of Auberdine
Large Cyclone
THOUSAND NEEDLES: The cataclysm caused the sea to pour into Thousand Needles, drowning the Centaurs and most of the wildlife. The Great Lift was destroyed by the incoming tide. The Grimtotem Tauren have taken over Freewind Post, and the Horde Tauren and Alliance Nightelves are working in conjunction to drive them away. A giant seabarge now navigates the waters where the Salt Flats once were, piloted by Goblins AND Gnomes. The Twilight Cultists can be found in their camps on the new southern "coast" of the zone. And don't worry, The Mirage Raceway may be flooded, but you can still get your Ancona Chicken. Magus Tirth is dead, but his assistant is still alive and willing to sell you the chicken to the north of the Salt Flats. Amusingly, he blames the Cataclysm on his master.
The Great Lift
Twilight Cultist Camps
Fizzle & Pozzik's Speedbarge
DESOLACE: A large lush area named the Cenarion Wetlands has appeared in the centre of the zone, near the Kodo Graveyard. The new vegetation stretches to Ghostwalker Post and Scrabblescrew's Camp, along with some fresh water making an appearance in the zone. The Bloodelves have made their way to Desolace, setting up a small camp near Ethel Rethor. The Magram Centaur have taken over and fortified the Kolkar Village, and the faction quest line between the Magram and Gelkis Centaur is no longer available. The northern hills of the Valley of Spears have collapsed into the ocean, and the Naga are being attacked by a large elite elemental named Lord Hydronis.
Ghostwalker Post
Scrabblescrew's Camp
A Dragon's Eye View
TANARIS: The northeastern coast has been flooded, submerging Steamwheedle Port and the entire northeastern area, making Gadgetzan a port town. Many of the mountains east of Uldum have collapsed, allowing easier access to Land's End Beach. The Gates to Uldum have now opened, and a second entrance into the zone as available near Thistleshrub Valley. You wanna know about Uldum? You just wait.
Gadgetzan Port
Uldum Gates - Inside and Outside
Uldum Entrance Near Thistleshrub Valley
Now, of course all of the other Kalimdor zones (with the exception of Azuremyst and Bloodmyst Isle) have had terrain updates, and EVERY zone has had a complete overhaul on their questlines, making for a much more enjoyable questing experience. Yes, even the level 1-5 areas are fresh and new. Blizzard makes use of the phasing feature for most if not all the zones in one way or another, and the vehicles too! (But not TOO much on the vehicles. They learned from their mistakes in WotLK as WotLK learned from it's mistakes in BC, and so on.) Stay tuned for Eastern Kingdoms (+Kezan and Lost Isles) coming either Friday or later next week! Afterward, I'll showcase the level 78-85 zones.
-Jas.
