Kharins Quest

The giant two-headed white wolf paces impatiently beside the moonlit lake – no milling crowds, no one to challenge him as he roars, the sound of fireworks long since silenced – just a lonely skeleton lying forlornly on the grass, the remains of some poor soul who in desperation attempted to defeat this raid level boss single-handedly.  Moonglade is deserted. Admittedly it’s the early hours of the morning Server Time but this is still a far cry from two years ago – or even last year when friend & foe congregated in large numbers to take down this seasonal monster.  Perhaps, with no improved loot or valor points Omen no longer commands the respect he once held.

However, the Elders have not been entirely forsaken.  And there have been a few minor changes to the Lunar Festival in 2012.

• The new achievement Elders of the Cataclysm is now necessary for the title Elder and meta-achievement To Honor One’s Elders.
• Now, when you speak to the Elder you will receive a coin of ancestry and the lucky red envelope at once (in the past the red envelop arrived in the mail).
• The elders will now show up as a golden quest mark on your mini-map as you approach their positions, making them easier to locate.
• Companion pets Lunar Lantern (Alliance) or Festival Lantern (Horde) can be purchased off Valadar Starsong in Moonglade for 50 coins of ancestry (which obviously mean speaking to a minimum on 50 elders.  There are elders at some of the smaller towns (not just the ones required for the achievements – see below).  As the pet is BOE, it can be bought or sold at auction houses, including the neutral auction houses at Everlook, Gadgetzhan and Booty Bay.

Check out for other tips on the quests and achievements of this seasonal event in Honoring our Elders.

For the whereabouts of the various Elders check out:

Where are the Elders? For the positions of the Elders of Kalimdor, the Elders of the Eastern Kingdoms, Elders of Alliance and Elders of the Horde.

Elders in Danger gives the positions of the Elders of the Dungeons & Elders in Northrend.

For the position of the Elders of the Cataclysm see below.

In Kalimdor:

Mount Hyjal

Mount Hyjal, in northern Kalimdor, is accessible either by flying or by portal from Stormwind or Orgrimmar following the lead-in quests available at level 80.  Portals to Stormwind and Orgrimmar are on either side to the entrance at the inn at Nordrassil.

• Elder Evershade (62.5 22.8) at Nordrassil is standing outside on the south side of the Inn (near the Stormwind portal).
• Elder Windsong (26, 62) is at the Sanctuary of Malorne in southwest Mount Hyjal.

Uldum

The elders are situated in two of the ruins in the south and north of Uldum.  The portal to Uldum is accessible after completing the lead-in quests available at level 83 (& starting with the caravan waiting outside the entrance to Uldum).  Otherwise, it is accessible at ground level through the gate at Thistlescrub Valley in the southwest corner of Tanaris, by swimming southwest of Land’s End Beach or by flying mount.

• Elder Menkhaf (65.5, 18.7) stands at the northeast corner of Khartut’ Tomb in the small sunken area east of the very large Sphinx-like statue. Khartut’s Tomb is just inside the entrance to Uldum from Tanaris.
• Elder Sekhemi (32.6, 63) is in the northern half of Ruins of Ammon on the central south coast of Uldum. He stands at the bottom of the stairs and to one side, in front of the western jackal-headed statue.

In Eastern Kingdoms:

Twilight Highlands

The Highlands lead-in quests are accessible at 84.  After completing a series of quests a portal is established between Stormwind and Highbank in the south (Alliance) or Orgrimmar and Dragonmaw Port in the north(Horde).  Otherwise, you can fly to the Highlands.  Ground access is possible from the northeast of the Wetlands through the Dragonmaw Gate & the Dragonmaw Pass.  Watch out for hostile level 84 mobs when speaking to both Elders.

• Elder Darkfeather (51, 33) at the Thundermar Ruins in the north of Twilight Highlands.  He stands next to a well, down the hill from the main square of Thundermar and just north of the Verall River.
• Elder Firebeard (50, 70) is at the Dunward Ruins just south of the Crucible of Carnage & west of the Obsidian Forest in southern part of the Twilight Highlands.

In Vashj’ir:

If you haven’t yet done the lead in quests (available at 80) you could complete to catch the boat (& the cut scene).  Alternatively, it is possible (and probably quicker) to fly to Vashj’ir from the Dun Morogh coastline – just take the shortest route and fly through the fatigue.

• Elder Moonlance at the Biel’aran Ridge (57, 86) in the ruins in furthest southeast corner of the Shimmering Expanse, just south of factional ships Voldrin’s Hold (Alliance) or Legion’s Rest (Horde).

In Deepholm:

To get to the Temple of the Earth and Deepholm you need to have completed the lead-in quests available at 82+.  The only other way is by summons (either ‘lock or Stonecore meeting stone).

• Elder Stonebrand (49.7 54.9 ) inside the Temple of the Earth stands a short distance in from the entrance of the Temple (on the west side).
• Elder Deepforge (27.7 69.2) is at Stonehearth in the southwest of Deepholm west of the Master’s Gate and south of the Quaking Fields.

The world of Azeroth is littered with forgotten places, abandoned by the crowds in the inexorable tide of progression towards uber gear and the most up-to-the-minute raids.  Dalaran, Wintergrasp, the Argent Tournament, even Tol Barad and poor old Omen are only the latest in a long line of deserted arenas of past glory.  Who haunts the halls of Karazhan or Naxxaramus these days except for nostalgia’s sake or in pursuit of a lonely achievement? Who saunters through Shattrath or sets their hearth stone to Silvermoon City or Exodar except the occasional quester leveling as fast as possible on their way to 85? It does seem a little ironic that Moonglade, the home of festival that celebrates the heroes of the past, is itself passé.

Yet such is not only the mechanics of the game but the zeitgeist of the age.  Science schools and business studies get funding and accolades while history, philosophy and theology departments shrivel up in our universities and colleges.  And, while it is indeed good advice to not confuse the rear view mirror with the windshield (or windscreen), rear view mirrors are still essential for safe driving.  A wise person occasionally looks over his/her shoulder and remembers where they came from and how they got there.  David McCullough has said, “A nation that forgets its past can function no better than an individual with amnesia.”  Memory not only links us to our past actions and experiences, it connects us with our family and community, it is vital for our self-identity and it helps us navigate the uncertain future.  As the great Hebrew leader, Moses enjoined, “Is this the way you repay the LORD, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past.  Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.” Deut 32:5-6

Let’s not make the blunder of too readily dismissing the glories and wisdom of the past elders/fathers and mothers of our nation even while we learn from their mistakes.

Kharin

Other posts you may be interested in:

Lunar Festival

Honoring Our Elders

Lunar Firework Frenzy

Where Are the Elders?

Elders in Danger

Other related posts:

Dangerous Love and Love is in the Air - Guides on Love is in the Air Festival - coming up in a few weeks!

Come One! Come All! Be Amazed at the Wonders of the Darkmoon Faire – the Darkmoon Faire starts the first Sunday of every month.

Kharin’s  Seasonsonl Guides

Explorer revisted

The Darkmoon Faire is now welcoming visitors to Darkmoon Island for fun and mayhem.  While still under the management of Silas Darkmoon, the Faire is no longer the washed out carnival of the past. It has been radically revamped – including a lead in quest, teleport to the staging post, a whole new area, more games, mounts, companion pets, achievements, quests & dailies. During the weeklong celebration of the Faire at the start of each month, Darkmoon Faire Mystic Mages in the factional capitals offer the lead-in quest (The Darkmoon Faire).  They will also – for a small fee – teleport you to the staging area of the Faire in Goldshire, Elywyn Forest (Alliance) or near the base of Thunderbuff, Mulgore (Horde).  A portal at the staging area transports you the Darkmoon Faire Isle shrouded in mist and mystery somewhere in the Great Sea.

On arrival, take the path (marked by arrow) down through the dark woods (watched by the flashing eyes in the bushes reminiscent of Duskwood), until you come to the carnival area.  Like Shattrath, Dalaran and the Argent Tournament, the path through the woods and Faire are Sanctuary areas with fighting between factions forbidden.  This, however, is not true of other parts of the Island.  At the south end of the carnival area on the Boardwalk are two portals back to Alliance and Horde staging areas.

The Faire now offers new attractions, monthly quests, dailies, achievements, reputation and vendors of rare and mysterious objects.  Moreover, the Tauren Chieftains currently play at the Faire regularly.  The Exposition, South, West and East Pavilions are still under construction – no doubt  new experiences and rewards await us once they are completed.

Vendors

From their different booths or carts, Darkmoon vendors offer (in exchange for Darkmoon Faire Prize Tickets though sometimes for gold) diverse wares such as special food, drink, epic and heirloom gear,  Darkmoon game tokens, balloons, novelty items, speciality fireworks, companion pets and mounts (including a Dancing Bear).    The Darkmoon tickets (placed in your currency page) are earned by doing the monthly quests or the dailies and replace the now old tattered and useless tickets earned before 2012.

Attractions

The games and attractions have been expanded from the old faire and have a midway or sideshow alley feel about them.

The Games

Each of the games requires a Game Token. They can be purchased in a pouch (5 tokens) or sack (20 tokens) from Zina Sharpworth at the north entrance of the Faire grounds, Sazz Coincatcher next to the Shooting Gallery or Trixi Sharpworth closer to the Boardwalk in the south. Dismount (if mounted) and speak to the appropriate vendor when ready to play.  A special tool bar will appear for one minute.  Additional tokens will give additional minutes of play. Each game is associated with a daily which awards a prize ticket and reputation (see below).

• Tonk Battle Blast targets with your steam tonk while avoiding damage by enemy zeppelins and tonks.  Use the nitrous boost if you are marked by the enemy tonk to shake them off. (In the separate arena you can battle against tonks of other players though this does not award a ticket.)
• Cannon Launch yourself from the 5000 Blastenheimer Ultra Cannon operated by Maxima Blastenheimer.  Once launched you can float with your wings, or shed the wings to land on or near one of the targets in the sea.  Landing nearby gets you 1 point, within the ring gives you 3 points and a bulls eye gets 5 points.  You can speak to Fozlebub, who is fishing on the shore, to port you back to the canon for a small fee.
• Whack-a-Gnoll While Sayge doesn’t really approve, this is a fun filled game in which the aim is to whack gnolls.  Speak to Mola to play the game. Three types of gnolls pop out of the barrels – aim to hit the regular (give 1 point), Hogger (give 3 points) and avoid the babies which will stun if you hit them. After one minute players are stunned and transported out of the ring.
• Ring Toss – the aim of this game is to toss rings on to a pole on the back of a slow moving turtle.  Make sure you are standing close to the counter and then place the targeting circle on the turtle and click.  This is by far the easiest game and should only need one game token to complete the corresponding daily.
• Shooting Gallery – shoot targets at Rinling’s booth.  Make sure you are standing against the counter (not on it or back from it) and shoot at the target with the green arrow over it.  Hitting the target within a second of the arrow appearing awards quick shot.

Other Attractions

• Fortune Teller- the Gnoll Sayge will give you an hour buff (e.g. Damage, Intelligence, Armor) once you have answered a series of questions.  He will also supply written fortune cookie style sayings on request.
• Zoo & Petting Zoo – a large display of exotic animals plus a small area where you can ride a Darkmoon pony (for I Was Promised a Pony achievement) or ram.
• Darkmoon Deathmatch – Korgal Crushskull places a chest full of goodies at the centre of the fighting pit to be claimed by the quick, the strong and the brave every 3 hours from midnight.  Winning the bout awards a trinket and Darkmoon Duelist achievement.
• The Tauren Chieftains – the Chieftains are currently playing hourly on the stage at the south end of the Carnival.  If you haven’t experienced this show, it’s well worth experiencing the show.

Monthly Quests

There a couple of general quests (available from level 5).

• The Darkmoon Faire – Lead in quest obtained from Darkmoon Faire Mystic Mages in the factional cities – often near either auction houses (eg Ironforge, Stormwind City) or the gryphon or windrider handlers (eg Orgrimmar, Darnasuss  & in a way at Thunderbluff,).  On handing the free voucher to Gelvas Grimgate, he will give you Darkmoon Adventure Journal & 5 prize tickets.
• Test Your Strength – the Strong woman Kerri wants you to collect 250 grisly trophies to show you strength.  These drop from creatures that award honour or experience as long as you have the Adventure Guide.  Awards 10 Prize Tokens.

The majority of the monthly quests linked to professions become available at Level 10 (& are not available to lower level toons even if they have trained in one or several professions.)

Quests connected to secondary professions

• Fun for the Little Ones – Collect 15 fossil fragments from Archaeology for Professor Thaddeus Paleo to bury in the sandpit for the children.  Handing in the quest gives +5 in Archaeology skill, a Game Token, 3 Prize Tokens and Darkmoon Faire Rep.  The fossil fragments will be used up.
• Spoiling for the Salty Sea Dogs - Stamp Thunderhorn asks you to catch 5 Herring in the ocean around Darkmoon Island.  Awards +5 fishing skill, 1 game token, 3 prize tokens, experience and reputation.
• Putting the Crunch in the Frog – Stamp Thunderhorn asks you to flour and cook 5 plump frogs, using the cauldron at the back of his stall.  You will need simple flour from a trade goods vendor (for Alliance – Tharynn Bouden stands near the staging area at Goldshire).  Awards +5 cooking skill, 1 game token, 3 prize tokens, experience and reputation.
• Putting the Carnies Back Together Again – Heal 4 injured Carnies with the bandages supplied by Chronos. Awards 5 points in First Aid, 1 game token, 3 prize tokens, experience and reputation.

Primary professional skills

Most of the professional quests can be completed without leaving the faire grounds, except perhaps when common trade goods like coarse thread, blue dye or simple flour are needed.   There are either collecting or crafting quests, for instance:

• Tan My Hide – Scrap 4 skins staked out around the carnival Grounds.  Awards +5 Skinning Skill, 1 game token, 4 prize tokens, experience and reputation.
• Rearm, Reuse, Recycle – Ringling asks you to collect 6 Tonk metal scraps around the Faire grounds.  Awards +5 Mining Skill, 1 game token, 4 prize tokens, experience and reputation.
• Eyes on the Prize – Ringling (at the Shooter’s Gallery) asks you to use the Darkmoon construction kit and some common vendor items (shiny baubles available from the Fishing Vendor in a booth on the Board Walk, blue dye, coarse thread) to construct 5 Darkmoon Prizes.  Awards +5 Leatherworking Skill, 1 game token, 4 prize tokens, experience and reputation.
• Keep the Faire Sparkling – cut 5 sparkling gemstones from bits of glass found about the Faire grounds.  Awards +5 Jewell crafting Skill, 1 game token, 4 prize tokens, experience and reputation

There are also specific quests for inscription, blacksmithing, enchanting and tailoring.

Dailies

Dailies require a specified number of points or hits within the different games of the Faire.  The scores can be accumulated over a number of game sessions (not just within the minute). It’s Hammer Time (Whack-a-Gnoll) requires 30 points; Tonk Commander requires hitting 30 targets, He Shoots , He scores! (Shooting Gallery) requires 25 of hits, Target: Turtle! requires landing 3 rings while  A Human Cannonball needs 5 points (a bulls eye or some combination of points).  Each daily rewards one Darkmoon Prize Ticket.

Achievements

There are a range of new achievements (look under World Events: Darkmoon Faire) from the dead easy (e.g. Come One! Come All! – attend a Darkmoon Faire), to the relatively easy (e.g. Step Right Up – play all 5 of the Faire games or Faire Favours – complete at least 6 profession-based DM Monthly quests) to the more difficult (Darkmoon Duelist – win the Darkmoon Deathmatch and receive the pit fighter trinket)!  At this stage at least, there is no meta-achievement or title for completing a number of these achievements.

Reputation

Monthly quests and dailies all award Darkmoon Faire reputation. Darkmoon Cards can still be collected and can be handed in to Professor Thaddeus Paleo in exchange for a trinket and reputation with the Faire.

All in all, the Darkmoon Faire now offers many more incentives to visit.  Now visitors will surely include – not only those who wish to build Darkmoon Rep for the Insane in the Membrane Achievement or to hand in the Darkmoon cards for quickly surpassed Trinket– but anyone who would like to level their professions, get some cool new companion pets or mounts, or some classic armor to use as a model on which to transmogrify their current set or just for a change of scenery or some pvp fun in the pit.

With a name like Darkmoon, it is little wonder that the Faire has a dark and mysterious atmosphere accentuated by the perpetual misty twilight of Darkmoon Island – from stormy sky, to the twisting path hemmed in by dark twisted trees leading downwards with its enticing verse*, the bodiless red eyes winking in the dark bushes, the almost deserted woods surrounding the faire grounds and, over the entrance, the large staring fiery eye – so reminiscent of Tolkien’s Eye of Sauron –gazing at all who approach and enter in the Faire grounds.  So far the amusements of the faire seem mostly innocuous.  As the official promo says,

“Mist-shrouded Darkmoon Island is a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. It’s a place of mystery and wonder, and you wouldn’t believe the deals we made to get it… or who we made ‘em with. But never mind that, just follow me right through here and I’ll show you what the Darkmoon Faire is all about.”

Do I detect just a hint of intrigue here? What deals have been made and with whom?  Sometimes, a path that seems enticing and innocuous can  lead one into darkness, distress, danger and despair.  What harm can seeking one’s future fortune do? Caveat emptor Let the buyer beware!

Kharin

-The signs on the Darkmoon Path leading to the Faire

Winter’s Veil is here again with presents under the tree, including a Sweater to go carolling in, while the Abominable Greench – bigger, meaner and more ambitious than before – is doing his best to spoil the season’s fun.  Even as the dwarves and taurens lament that Azerothians have forgotten the true meaning of Winters Veil; a huge green raid-style elite yeti, the Abominable Greench has stolen Metzen the Reindeer and the Winter Veil treats, impounding them in or near his cave in the Hillsbrad Foothills. Here he fiercely guards his spoils from all comers.

In 2011 Winter Veil remains substantially the same – though there are two main changes:

Firstly, the new ???  Boss Level Greench has stolen the Winter Treats AND kidnapped Metzen – so there is no longer the need to traipse over to Tanaris or Searing Gorge this year.  On the other hand, the quest is now restricted to toons 80+.  After accepting You’re a Mean One from Wulmort Jinglepocket (Alliance) or  Kaymard Copperpinch (Horde), head to Growless Cave in the Hillsbrad Foothills.  The Greench has 3.44M health and have some powerful indirect  attacks (Abominable Crush & Throw Winter Veil Trees) as well as crowd control spell Throw Strange Snowman– all of which can be avoided by running out of range – and a stacking debuff Shrink Heart (removed by movement).  The good news is that you don’t need to be in a party to get credit – even horde and alliance can combine to take him down.  Once the Greench is defeated the evil gnomes guarding Metzen will run away, the reindeer is automatically freed and you will also be able to approach the cave and loot one of the sacks of stolen goodies.  Even if you die during the fight or arrive after it, you can still get credit by speaking to Metzen and looting one of the sacks before the Gre (more…)

The unusual sound of whip cracks echoing across the frosty air around Kharanos aroused my dwarf hunter’s curiosity.  As she ventured towards the road to Ironforge, rams ridden at breakneck speed by characters of different races and all levels flashed past.  In what now seems eons ago, I stumbled on my very first seasonal event – Brewfest.  Being introduced to the joys of riding and the riotous defence of the festival from the dastardly iron dwarves soon had me hooked on seasonal events.

Modelled on Oktoberfest, this festival revolves around the pleasures of ale, food and mayhem without the normal drawbacks of hangovers the next day.  Each year, towards the end of September and beginning of October, the rival dwarvish families of Thunderbrews and Barleybrews and the Gordok Ogres set up pavilions at the foot of the ramp up to Ironforge while the the Orges with the Troll T’chali’s Voodoo Brewery and the Orc Drohn’s Distillery set up outside Orgrimmar.  Festival foods and brews as well as souvenirs, borrowed mounts and job opportunities are all on offer.

This guide looks at the quests, dailies and achievements of Brewfest. (more…)

In the first level of dailies at the Sanctuary of Malorne, Malfurion’s Breach and Ashen fields once again the heroes will be called to put their might and skills to the test in the never ending struggle to keep Azeroth safe.  And while some may suffer death such failure is never final and all will be rewarded with gold and reputation.  It often seems in a world of warcraft that it the strong and well geared that survive and thrive and there is no doubt that the Molten Front is for the highest level of hero (level 85).  Yet these new dailies highlight that the ties of friendship, loyalty, working together for a common cause and assisting the weak are ideals that are as important as the possession of strength and skill.  In the Protectors of Hyjal daily, a team of Hyjal Protectors plus one of the any characters encountered in your past heroic endeavours will assist you (though usefulness of the pacifist Lunk’s “no violence” policy seems a little doubtful). In the whimsical achievement The Meek Shall Inherit Kalimdor – the small critters with a little help from you – wreck revenge on the big fiery bullies.  And, as with a number of the quests, all participants in the fight get credit for downing the elite &, in some cases, all are able to loot a quest item – it is common to find alliance & horde players joining together to defeat a common enemy!

This guide will review the dailies and achievements that become available once the Ancients are assisted, the Sanctuary of Malorne restored and a portal into the Molten Front established (See Opening the Portal).  The dailies enable you to earn Marks of the World Tree necessary for opening up further areas and dailies in the Molten Front which is necessary to gain access to further epic items, pet, mount and reputation gains. It also allows the completion of a number of achievements required for the meta-achievement Veteran of the Molten Front. (more…)

When Cataclysm was launched, it was a toss up whether to start in Mount Hyjal or Vash’jir.  My hunter took the boat to Vash’jir and was literally thrown in the deep end and immersed in that underwater world until the final epic showdown between the Naga and the other servants of the Old Gods and the Elemental Neptulon.  By then it seemed natural to skip Mount Hyjal and go on to Deepholm, then Uldum and finally the Twilight Highlands.  Now that decision has come back to bite me, as with Patch 4.2 new quest lines and series of dailies have opened up to both factions in the Mount Hyjal area with much coveted epic (365) rewards.

To be eligible to start on the quest line you need to be level 85 (and to have completed 81 of 115 Hyjal quests, up to and including Aessina’s Miracle, but not including the 6 Flamegate quests culminating in the Eggwave).   The quests and dailies award generous amounts of gold, guild and Hyjal reputation, a swag of new achievements and (some quests and most dailies) Marks of the World Tree. The Marks can purchase epic 365 items, the satchel of Zen’Vorka (gives chance of companion pet) or be saved to open more advance dailies in other areas within the Molten Front.  Completing the initial quest line will open up dailies at the Sanctuary of Malorne (in the central western edge of Mount Hyjal).  A further quest line that ends with the challenging Through the Gates of Hell (see below) establishes the breach in the Molten Front (a discrete area accessed by a portal close to the Sanctuary) and opens up dailies in the Ashen Fields (Molten Front).  Further dailies and epic items become available once the help of the Druids of the Talon and the Shadow Wardens are enlisted and three more quests have been completed.  For the moment at least the Molten Front is a no-fly zone.

The following guide details the eligibility requirements and introductory quests that unlocks the dailies available at the Sanctuary of Malorne and the dailies available at Malfurion’s Breach within the Molten Front and the requirements for further progression into the Molten Front with additional epic items. For more detail on the dailies see The Meek Shall Inherit Kalimdor (more coming soon).

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New fishing dailies are now available in Darnassus, Ironforge (Alliance), Thunderbluff and Undercity (Horde).  These dailies give the same rewards as the Stormwind and Orgrimmar dailies with a bag of shiny things, fishing skill (1-2 points), money, experience and factional reputation towards the city in which the daily is done.  It is only possible to do one Cataclysm fishing daily a day (e.g. if you do a daily in Thunderbluff you can no longer do the one in Orgrimmar or Undercity though you can still do the Shattrath and Dalaran dailies).  As with the cooking dailies, if you can’t see the quest giver it maybe that your level is too low (minimum level 10), you haven’t yet started fishing training or you have either completed – or have in your quest logbook another city fishing daily.

The introduction of these new dailies will help lower level players (who can now do the daily in the city closest to where they are questing), is a way of working towards specific factional city reputation and adds variety to the dailies.  Completing each of the five dailies for each city will complete the appropriate achievement (eg: Fish or Cut Bait: Darnassus) and completing all three Fish or Cut Bait city achievements awards Gone Fishing.  This adds three more fishing achievements for each faction. The fishing dailies for each of the four cities are as follows:

Darnassus

Fishing dailies in Darnassus are now available from the Fishing Trainer Astaia – standing on the pier off the causeway between the Bank Tree and the Auction House in the Tradesman Terrace):

• The Sister’s Pendant –  Astaia’s friend Sister Aquiene has lost her moon pendant in a boating accident in Darnassus and Astaia thinks it has been swallowed by the local catfish.  Fish in any of the lakes or ponds in Darnassus until you catch a Giant Catfish.  Right click on Catfish icon in your bag to fillet the fish and retrieve the pendant and give it back to Astaia.  There is really no need to leave the pier to catch the fish.
• A Slippery Snack– Collect 6 baby octopuses swimming in the shallow waters (not the rock pools) near the main pier south of Ruth’theran Village (use the portal on the small island west of the Bank Tree – it’s a lot faster than flying).  Rather than using your fishing rod, you will need to swim to catch these small octopus.  They will be more visible if you activate nameplates for friendly units (either through the computer icon,  interface, nameplates or by toggling with CTR v) .  Alternatively you can use a target marco (see below).  This quest gives two skill points.
• Happy As a Clam Digger – Astaia hates collecting clams but wants to make clam stew for her brother.  She asks you to go to the shallow waters south of Ruth’theran Village (through the red portal west of the bank tree) to collect 10 clams.  The clams are easily visible and in the same underwater area as the Baby Octopus (see above).   Once again you need to swim to collect the clams (don’t forget to breath or use a water breathing potion or skill).
• Stocking Up – to help replenish the food stocks for Darnassus, Astaia wants you to catch 5 Lake Whitefish from any of the lakes or ponds in Darnassus.  No real need to move, just cast a line and fish and you should get a Lake Whitefish every 1-3 casts.
• An Old Favorite – Astaia asks you to bring her 8 Kaldorei Herring (a hot favorite of the inhabitants of Darnassus) from the waters around Ruth’theran Village.  Take the portal to the village (next to the flight point, west of the Bank Tree) and head for the water.  Every 1-3 casts should bring up a herring.

Ironforge

Grimnur Stonebrand is the fishing trainer standing on the porch of the Travelling Fisherman in the Forlorn Caverns.  He offers five dailies:

• One for the Ages – Grimur wants you to catch one of Old Ironjaw’s many offspring, a Young Ironjaw for display on a plaque in the library.  The Young Ironjaw can be fished up from the pool opposite Grimur in the Forlorn Caverns after two or three casts.  Once you catch the fish mount it on the prepared plaque on the wall of the Hall of Explorers (just before reaching the library with all the NPCs) and then return to Grimnur.  (Note: Old Ironjaw or one of his offspring has already been mounted on the west wall of the Travelling Fishman.)
• Fish for Squirky -  Fish up 3 Blind Minnows from the pool in the Forlorn Caverns to feed to Grimnur’s pet murloc, Squirky.  It takes about 2-5 casts per minnow.  Once you have caught 3, feed them to Squirky and than talk to Grimnur.  Simple.
• Cold Water Fishing – Grimnur wants you to catch 5 Arctic Char in Helm’s Bed Lake in eastern Dun Morogh (just before the South Gate Pass).  Fly (if you can) or use the Gol’Bolar Quarry flight point if you have it.  (Arctic Char can be caught in other lakes and ponds throughout Dun Morogh.)
• The Gnomish Bait-o-matic – Grimnur wants you to get three components necessary to build a new improved fishing lure invented by one of the gnomes, namely – 3 Shiny Baubles (purchased from the Tansy Puddlefizz Fishing Supplier just inside the Travelling Fisherman), a Hair Trigger purchased from Gearcutter Cogspinner the Engineering Supplier in Tinkertown (for 89 silver 50 copper when friendly with Ironforge) and 3 Rat Traps scattered about the Deeprun Tram station (entrance in Tinkertown).  Once you have all the components, click on the Bait-o-Matic blueprints to build the contraption and give it to a skeptical Grimnur.  For lower level toons, this particular daily will cost more coin than you will receive for it.
• Live Bait – travel to Helm’s Bed Lake (eastern Dun Morogh) and apply the bait that Grimnur gives you to yourself, then jump into the lake.  Once the crayfish have attached themselves you have 10 minutes walk or run to the Cooking Trainer Ghilm in Gol’Bolar Quarry (just to the west).  Mounting or shape shifting  (Druids) will dislodge the Crayfish Catch.

Thunderbluff

Fishing Trainer Kah Mistrunner on the third level of the central rise or mesa (where Bain Bloodhoof and the weapon traders are and just one level down from the Wind Rider Master) also offers 5 dailies:

• Craving Crayfish – Kah asks you to get 10 Stonebull Crayfish from Stonebull Lake.  Unlike with the cooking crayfish dailies in Stormwind & Orgrimmar, you will need to use your fishing rod to catch these crayfish (with about 1 in 3 casts being successful).  The quickest way to Stonebull Lake is to fly whether by your own mount or by taking the Winder Rider (in the top level of the large column to the east of Kah) to Bloodhoof Village.
• Shiny Baubles – Kah wants you to collect 20 shiny pebbles from the base of the central rise of Thunderbluff and deliver them to Nahari Cloudchaser (the Jewellcrafting trainer) so that she can make more fishing lures (ie shiny baubles).  The stones show up with “find minerals”, they respawn very quickly and can be found just above the grass line around the base of the central rise.  Hand in the stones to Nahari standing in Cloudchaser Jewell Crafting, immediately south of the bridge hut to the Spirit Rise and three huts to the north after you take the main lift (western side of central rise) up again. This quest gives 2 fishing skill points.
• The Ring is the Thing – one of the Forsaken has lost a ring in the Pools of Vision (Spirit Rise).  Kah wants you to catch and fillet Blind Cavefish in the Pools (inside the cave on the east side of the bridge from the central rise) and then fillet them in an attempt to find the ring.  It may take several casts and a few blind cavefish before you find Poshken’s Ring.  Then give the ring to Poshken Hardbinder , the undead Inscription Trainer standing on the east side of the pool.
• The Race to Restock – Kah wants you to restock Thunderbluff’s Fishing Pond with 2 Randy Small Fish and 2 Amorous Mudsnappers.  These fish can be caught with your fishing rod with a small number of casts (2-6) in Stonebull Lake (next to Bloodhoof Village).  The quickest way to the Lake is to fly to Bloodhoof Village  (whether by your own mount or the Wind Rider).  Once you have caught the fish, fly back and hand them to Kah Mistrunner.
• Pond Predators – Kah wants you to fish up 8 predatory Aszhara Snakehead fish from Thunderbluff Pond (innocently introduced by a well-meaning goblin) before the fish eat up all the other fish in the pond. You will probably catch the snakehead fish ever 1-3 casts.

Undercity

And for those with a taste for the macabre Fishing Trainer Armand Cromwell (standing on a small pier in from of the Magic Sector in Undercity) offers five fishing dailies.

• Tadpole Terror – Armand wants you to bring him 8 Giant-fleshing eating tadpoles (mutated due to pollution) from Stillwater Pond.   Approximately every other cast should score a tadpole (14-16 casts in all).
• Like Pike – To catch the prized massive corpse-fed pike, loot a corpse worm from the graves in the ruined upper city of Lordaeron and apply to your fishing rod before casting in Brightwater Lake (southeast of Undercity).  You will only be able to loot one worm applying the worm to your rod will give a 10 minute buff.  This should be plenty of time as the pike generally takes the bait after only a few casts.  This quest gives 2 fishing skill points.
• Fish Head – apparently an irate orc has chopped off the head of an abomination and thrown it into the sewers.  Armand wants you to fish up the head and return it to the Master Apothecary to be reattached.  It is a simple matter to fish up the head (after a cast or two).   Once you have the abomination head return it to Master Apothecary Faranell in the Apothecarium.  (There are two entrances to the Apothecarium in the alcoves either side of the Royal Quarter – in the northwest alcove a boardwalk leads to the entrance while in the southeast there is a tunnel like passageway.)
• Moat Monster - Armand wants you to attract the attention of the Moat Monster with an alliance decoy kit and then to feed it 10 bloated frogs (which have been fed bloated spiders which in turn were fed bloated flies.  (In the cooking daily Would You Like Some Flies With That you are given the job of collecting the flies.)  He gives you a Moat Monster feeding kit which includes the decoy and frogs.  The Moat is on the north side of the open courtyard of the upper city (Ruins of Lordaeron) just before entering the covered entrance leading to the old throne room, tomb and the lifts down to Undercity.  You will probably need to deploy the decoy 3-4 times to feed all 10 frogs to the monster (a large tentacle) as it will submerge after 20 seconds or so.
• Time for Slime – Armand asks you to collect 10 Squirming Slime Moulds from the slime in the canals in Undercity.  Armand suggests that it would be difficult to fish the wily moulds up and that you “would be better off just diving into the ooze and grabbing these”.   You can either collect the Slime Moulds from under the ooze or cast a line and catch the Slime Moulds about every 2-3 casts.

The fishing dailies will help increase your fishing skills while giving money, reputation, experience and the chance of useful potions, fishing lures, recipes (for Captain Rumsy’s Lager), companion pets (e.g. Strand Crawler) or skills (i.e. tracking fishing pools from Weather Beaten Journal) and achievements (Fish or Cut Bait, Gone Fishing, Fish Don’t Leave Footprints ).   The fish you catch are useful for low level cooks.  Remember to attach a lure (easily purchased from the Fishing supplier, auction house or an engineer) if your skill level is too low (i.e. you are catching lots of grey items or junk), to breath while collecting snail, clams or octopus underwater and most of all to relax and have fun.

Kharin

Other posts on cooking and fishing dailies:

Fishing dailies

Gone Fishing – a guide to the new Cataclysm Fishing Dailies in Stormwind and Orgrimmar – including where to find the quest giver, tips on completing each daily, rewards, achievements and a brief guide on how to fish for those starting out in this profession.

Cooking Dailies

A Bunch of Lunch – a guide to the new Cataclysm cooking dailies in Darnassus, Ironforge, Thunderbluff and Undercity – including where to find the quest givers, tips on completing each daily, which quests give 2 cooking awards or 2 cooking skills, rewards and achievments.

Doing Lunch – a guide to the new Cataclysm Cooking Dailies in Stormwind and Orgrimmar- including where to find the quest givers, tips on completing each daily, rewards and achievments.

Other Cataclysm Dailies

Molten Front Dailies

Opening the Portal – a guide on qualiying for and progressing in the new Mount Hyjal dailies (gives gold, Mount Hyjal & guild reputation, Marks of the World Tree, epic 365 gear, companion pets, a mount, achievments).

The Meek Shall Inherit Kalimdor – Regrowth & Ashen Field Dailies & Achievements

Example of a targeting Marcos (can be created with either the computer icon or Escape Key & the Macros).  Once created, place the macro on a toolbar.

/clear target

/tar baby octopus

/script SetRaidTargetIcon(”target”,1)

New cooking dailies are now available in Darnassus, Ironforge (Alliance), Thunderbluff and Undercity (Horde).  These dailies give the same rewards as the Stormwind and Orgrimmar dailies with 1-2 cooking awards, cooking skills (1-2 points), money, experience and factional reputation towards the city in which the daily is done.  It is only possible to do one Cataclysm fishing daily a day (eg if you do a daily in Darnassus you can no longer do the one in Stormwind or Ironforge though you can still do the Shattrath and Dalaran dailies).

If you can’t see the quest giver it maybe that you haven’t picked up cooking training, your level is too low (minimum level 10) or, most likely,  you have either completed or have in your log book another city cooking daily.

While it would be neat if we could do all 3 main city dailies of our toon’s faction a day, the introduction of these new dailies is still helpful for lower level players (who can now do the daily in the city closest to where they are questing), may be a way of gaining a specific factional city reputation and add variety to the dailies (to those becoming a little jaded with the Stormwind or Orgrimmar dailies). Completing each of the five dailies for each city will complete the appropriate achievement (eg Let’s Do Lunch: Thunderbluff) and completing all three Let’s Do Lunch city acheivments awards A Bunch of Lunch.  This adds three more cooking achievements for each faction.

The cooking dailies for each of the four cities is as follows:

Darnassus

Cooking dailies in Darnassus are now available from the Cooking Trainer Alegorn (Craftsmen Terrace):

• Ribs for the Sentinels – Alegorn asks you to cook the uncooked ribs he supplies and then to distribute them to 5 Sentinels.  Use the stove next to the cooking trainer to cook the ribs. Sentinels (the Darnassan guards) are easily found scattered throughout the environs of the city.  Once fed the Sentinels gain a 2 minute well fed buff  which makes them uninterested in eating.  This daily gives 2 Chef’s Awards.
• Back to Basics – Alegron wants you to pound rice in the townsfolk’s rice baskets into rice flour.   The baskets can be readily found scattered in buildings through Darnassus.
• Remembering the Ancestors – Alegorn’s apprentice is out of town, so he asks you to collect blessed rice cakes from the Temple of the Moon which you must then present to the ancestors at the Shrine of the Ancestors (a large pyramid shaped tower at the graveyard just before the main entrance gate of Darnassus and to the north of the large courtyard area in front of the Warrior Terrace).
• Spice Bread Aplenty – make or get your hands on 10 pieces of spice bread (a basic recipe that requires flour and mild spices easily purchased from the cooking supplier).
• The Secret to the Perfect Kimchi -  Alegorn wants you to find 8 buried Kimchi jars (the secret to perfect Kimchi) scattered beside the bases of the buildings, bushes and trees throughout the Craftsman Terrace as well as on the islands and the Tradesman Terrace in Darnassus.  This daily gives 2 cooking skill points.

Ironforge

Daryl Rikknussun, the cooking trainer in the Bronze Kettle (in the Great Forge near the entrance to the Hall of Explorers) offers five dailies:

• Keepin’ the Haggis Flowin’- Daryl sends you to find 3 essential ingredients of Haggis: Bag of sheep innards (purchased from the meat vendor Songar Cliffbeard), 5 packets of mild spices (from any cooking supplier) and 4 sacks of oatmeal (in or outside any of the inns or suppliers in the city).  Mild spices can be bought from Emrul Rikknussun in the lower floor of the Bronze Kettle. Unlike the sugar sacks in Stormwind, the oat sacks are easily found scattered outside and inside of shops in the Great Forge, the Military Hall, the Commons, the Mystic Ward and the other areas of Ironforge.  The meat vendor Songar paths around the Military Ward.  This daily gives 2 Chef’s Awards.
• Can’t Get Enough Spice Bread – Daryl wants you to cook 10 spice bread which is a basic recipe available at level 1 Cooking Skill.  The required sacks of wheat and packets of spice can be purchased from Daryl’s brother Emrul just downstairs.
• A Fowl Shortage – Daryl wants to make Cock-a-leekie soup but doesn’t have enough chickens.  Catch 6 Dun Morogh chickens running around on the flat area just outside the gates of Ironforge as well as on the road down the mountain.  The chickens don’t run fast and are very easy to catch.
• A Round for the Guards – Daryl asks you to distribute Ironforge rations (haggis and Ironforge pale ale) to 6 Ironforge Guards.  The Guards are easy enough to find though feeding them gives a brief 2 minute well fed buff that makes them unavailable for the quest while the buff lasts.
• I Need to Cask a Favor – Daryl wants you to go to  Kharanos and bring back a cask of Drugan’s Ironforge Pale Ale (IPA) from outside the brewery.  The cask is beside Ragnar Thunderbrew standing next to the entrance stairs of the Thunderbrew Distillery (the inn).  Picking it up will give you a 3min Brewery Delivery buff (similar to the Goblin Parcel Runner disguise in the Dangerous Love quest line) which gives you extra speed and now brakes.  Run back and hand in to Daryl.  This daily gives 2 cooking skill points.

Thunderbluff

Cooking Trainer Aska Mistrunner on the third level of the main mesa (where Bain Bloodhoof and the weapon traders are and just one level down from the Wind Rider Master) also offers 5 dailies:

• Pining for nuts – Tauran cooking uses pine nuts in many dishes.  Aska wants you to collect 30 pine nuts by roasting pine cones over a fire.  The cones (which show on the minimap with herb finding skills) are at the base of the pine trees around the edges of the different levels on the mesas.  Each cone produces 5 nuts.
• Corn Mash – Aska wants you to grind 5 bowls of corn kernels into cornmeal.  The small woven grass bowls inside the buildings scattered throughout Thunderbluff.  This daily gives 2 Chef’s Awards.
• Magic Mushrooms –  Aska sends you to gather 6 “magic” mushrooms http://www.wowhead.com/item=69994  – very small delicious mushroom caps underneath the bigger mushrooms in the Pools of Vision in the cave at the Spirit Rise.
• Mulgore Spice Bread – make 5 mulgore spice bread by adding Aska’s special spices to 5 regular spice bread you have already cooked (need flour & mild spices).
• Perfectly Pickled Portions – Aska asks you to obtain four ingredients to make a perfect dish from4  huts around Thunderbluff. The first two are on the main rise one level down from Aska: Succulent Sweet Potato (in the Nan Mistrunner’s Fruit and Vegetable stand, 2 huts south of the hut with the bridge to the Elder Rise) and Savoury Spices (in Komin Winterhoof the Herbalism Trainer’s hut which is on the south side of the bridge hut to the Elder Rise).  The last two are on the main rise on the same level as Aska: Fresh Caught Fish (hanging from the ceiling in the back of Kah Mistrunner the Fishing Trainer’s hut on the west side of the bridge hut to the Elder Rise) and Freshly Hunted Fowl (hanging on the west side of Kaga Mistrunner the meat vendor’s hut directly opposite from Aska). This daily gives 2 cooking skill points.

Undercity

And if you have a cast iron stomach you can do the five different dailies offered by Cooking Trainer Eunice Burch (in the Trade Sector) in Undercity.

• Roach Coach – Eunice asks you to collect 20 plump cockroaches from traps around Undercity for her sister Audrey’s Thrice-Spiced Crunchy Stew.  Both the traps (small wooden boxes hidden in, around or behind objects) and Audrey are in the inner ring of the canals. This daily gives 2 Chef’s Awards.
• Would You Like Some Flies with That – Eunice wants you to gather for her 25 bloated flies from the meat wagons.  The 5-6 wagons are distributed around Undercity (eg in the Apothecarium, the Rogues Quarter, the Magic Quarter etc).  Each wagon has 4-6 pieces of rotting meat scattered on the ground beneath it and each piece of meat yields 2-5 bloated flies.  Eunice plans to fatten up spiders with the flies, which will fatten up the frogs which will … well, lets just say its reminiscent of the song “There was an old woman who swallowed a fly”
• Escargot A Go-Go – Eunice wants you to find 8 Brightwater snails in Brightwater Lake, the large lake northeast of Undercity.  To make it easier to find the snails use a targeting macro (see below). This daily gives 2 cooking skill points.
• Fungus Among Us –  Eunice asks you to collect 12 sewer cap mushrooms – small orange mushrooms that grow in the Undercity sewer.  The sewer entrance (47:39) is the double high stairs against the wall of the outer ring, halfway between the apothecarium and the war quarter.
• Lily, Oh Lily - Pick ten Stillwater lilies for Eunice from the edges of Stillwater Pond northwest of Undercity, past Coldheath Manor.  The lilies are the flat, bronzy yellow water lily pads on the surface of the water just in from the water’s edge.

The cooking dailies are easily completed with worthwhile rewards.  Incidentally, they give a little bit more insight into the dietary preferences of the different factional groups (from pale ale and haggis for sturdy Dwarves; to rice, kimchi and octopus for the Night Elf; cider, pumpkin & cookies in Stormwind; prickly pear, swine bellies and rice for the Orc; pine nuts, corn meal and savoury spices for the Tauran; and cockroaches, flies and snails for the Undead) as well as some cultural, philanthropic and religious practices.  Perhaps a gentle reminder that people “do not live by bread alone” and that a reflective person is not only enriched by the cooking customs of their own and others traditions but also acknowledges the Provider of all good things.

Kharin

Example of a targeting Marcos (create through computer icon, macros or Esc key, macros).  Once created place the macro on a toolbar.

/clear target

/tar brightwater snails

/script SetRaidTargetIcon(”target”,1)

Cooking Dailies

Doing Lunch – a guide to the new Cataclysm Cooking Dailies in Stormwind and Orgrimmar- including where to find the quest givers, tips on completing each daily, rewards and achievments.

Fishing dailies

Other Fish in the Sea - a guide to the new Cataclysm Fishing Dailies in Darnassus, Ironforge, Thunderbluff and Undercity – including where to find the quest givers, tips on completing each daily, rewards and achievments and which quests give 2 fishing skill.

Gone Fishing – a guide to the new Cataclysm Fishing Dailies in Stormwind and Orgrimmar – including where to find the quest giver, tips on completing each daily, rewards, achievements and a brief guide on how to fish for those starting out in this profession.

Molten Front Dailies

Opening the Portal – a guide on qualiying for and progressing in the new Mount Hyjal dailies (gives gold, Mount Hyjal & guild reputation, Marks of the World Tree, epic 365 gear, companion pets, a mount, achievments).

The Meek Shall Inherit Kalimdor – Regrowth & Ashen Field Dailies & Achievements

The summer fires are burning again as the people of Azeroth and Outlands celebrate the warm and life of the sun, the Twilight Cult plots the total destruction of Azeroth and the Ice Lord Ahune stirs in the Slave Pens intent on ending summer for ever in eternal winter.  The cataclysmic shattering of Azeroth and the continuing assault of the Twilight Cult, Deathwing and the Old Gods to bring about total cataclysmic destruction has changed the summer festival only slightly.

-          Ice Lord Ahune is now a level 87 elite available to 84+ (queued through either the dungeon finder or an Earthern Ring Elder) with an appropriate increase in the loot drops.  This year (2011) the companion pet Ice Chip is a possible drop in the Satchel of Chilled Goods.

-          The location of some of the fires has changed with some new ones added and others removed following the dramatic changes to the landscape and changes of factional dominance in different areas.  (See below for locations of the bonfires.)

-          There are a number of fires that are not necessary for the achievements but can still award experience, reputation, gold, and burning blossoms.  As in previous years there are both alliance and horde fires outside major factional settlements in Northrend.  In addition there are new fires outside factional cities in the new Azeroth as well as fires in Earthern Ring centres in the new 85+ areas of Mount Hyjal, Vash’jir and Deepholm and factional ones in Uldum and the Twilight Highlands.

-          With the exception of Orgrimmar and Darnassus, the fires of the major factional cities (needed for King of the Fire Festival) have not changed (see guide).  The Darnassus fire is now inside Darnassus in the courtyard east of the Warrior’s Terrace while the Orgrimmar Fire is now on the roof on the northern edge of the Valley of Wisdom next to the Western Earthshrine (with the 80+ portals).

See below for the position of both Alliance and Horde fires necessary for the achievements The Fires of Azeroth and Desecration of the Alliance/Horde. (more…)

The recent ravages of the maddened dragon aspect Deathwing have changed the face of Azeroth forever – and with it the requirements a number of meta-achievements like World Explorer and Loremaster.  While the changes to Loremaster have been much more radical, Cataclysm has made achievment of the World Explorer title both easier and at a couple of crucial  points significantly harder.

Cataclysm introduced flight in all areas of Azeroth for level 60+ except the Draeni and Blood Elf starting areas, the reduction of the level requirement for Cold Weather Flying in Northrend to 68 for all players and the introduction of a number of level 80+ areas in Azeroth.  Unless you toon has been awarded this achievement prior to Cataclysm, you will now need to complete Explorer Cataclysm as well as the Explorer achievements for Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, Outlands and Northrend to get the World Explorer achievement and Explorer title. You can still get the Explorer Tabard for exploring Northrend.  Areas explored pre-cataclysm will still count toward Explorer despite the significant changes in terrain (unlike Loremaster where very few of the quests completed in the past count towards Loremaster of Kalimdor or Eastern Kingdoms.)

In this post I will look at the challenges of exploring Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Outlands, Northrend and the new Cataclysm areas as well as give some pointers to help make the journey easier.

In the days following the launch of Cataclysm and the Sundering (a few weeks earlier), one of the first things I did on various toons was to a) obtain flight in the old world as soon as it was available (the Flight Masters Licence allows level 60+ to fly in Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms and Deepholm) and b) fly over both Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms to survey the changes.  As I mentioned in my original post, I love travel to distant and exotic places in real life – to explore different landscapes, languages, places and cultures.  With WOW it is possible to enjoy the variety and beauty of its diverse landscapes without the expense, risk and time demands of real life travel.  Okay, not quite the same thing but it is still enjoyable.

And the changes were significant.  Northrend and Outlands remained unchanged.  However, in Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor the only regions untouched were the Draeni and Blood Elf areas.   Large areas were permanently inundated or emptied (e.g. Ten Thousand Needles or parts of Durotur under water while Loch Modan emptied with the breeching of the Ironwall Dam), coastlines radically eroded (eg Tanaris, Darkshore, Feralis, Blasted Lands), regions split in two (eg the Barrens divided by a rift into north and south, Stranglethorn divided by a maelstrom into North and Cape, a canyon dividing Loch Modan and the Badlands), factional balances altered and conflict intensified (e.g. major Horde incursions in Ashenvale and Hillsbrand), significant level changes (e.g. Western and Eastern Plaguelands at least 10 levels lower, Southern Barrens higher in level etc), large geographical areas added to the map (e.g. southern part of Blasted Lands as well as a new coastal area) including whole new regions appearing (e.g. the Vashj’ir region, Uldum, The Twilight Highlands), and/or becoming accessible (Mount Hyjal, Tol Barad, Deepholm at the heart of the Maelstrom) and brand new or redeveloped starting areas (for Goblin, Worgen or for Trolls and Gnomes).  Incidentally, in my early explorations a number of my toons got the Cataclysm achievement Surveying the Damage for passing by and observing 13 landmark changes across the two continents.

Explorer of Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms

There are three main challenges in old world areas of Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms particularly for those who are confined to ground travel:

• The Isle of Quel’Danas can only be reached by flight path (automatically acquired on reaching level 65) from Ironforge (Alliance) or Silvermoon City (Horde) or by portal from Shattrath City (available once reaching 70) – unless you can arrange a summons by a friendly ‘lock. (For a time, this flight path was available to lower level toons but once again seems restricted to level 65+.)  While in theory it should be possible to swim to the Isle if one can heal through the fatigue, in practice there is an invisible wall surrounding Quel’Danos preventing entry.

• Areas defended by aggressive elites remain a challenge especially in major factional cities and towns. In such instances you can either attempt to enter by stealth or mount up, charge in & then use all the protection/heals/crowd control skills you have available (i.e. in major cities such as Silvermoon City or Ironforge).  In some cases a lateral rather than a direct approach can save on the repair bill – for instance, it is much safer for Alliance to approach Shadowprey in Desolace from the water and for Horde to approach Stormwind from the Harbour area. Alliance can get credit for Thunderbluff and Undercity on the outskirts of these cities without going up or down the lifts respectively.

Of course, once your toon can fly, hostile high-level or elite NPCs are no longer a problem – even in major factional capitals as long as one flies high enough or in the case of Undercity and Ironforge, fly high and then descend quickly for a quick entrance and get away.  Both the Exodar and Silvermoon City have to be entered the old fashioned way.

NOTE: A number of areas that presented a challenge due to the presence of high level aggressive elites (such as the dragon portals in Ashenvale, Duskwood, Feralas and Hinterlands or other areas with elites such as Zul’ Grub or Tyr’s Hand) are now populated by non-elites or, in the case of Zul’Grub, are empty.

• There are still a few hidden hard to find places such as the Hidden Grove accessed through a cave in far north-west of Winterspring or Farstrider Lodge east of Ironband’s Excavation Site in Loch Modan.  The change in topography has eliminated some of these (eg Zalashji’s Den in northern Tanaris ).  Matching uncovered grey spots on your map with a reference map can help here while flight makes searching for elusive spots less tedious.  The Goblin starting area is inaccessible to all but Goblins doing the initial starting quests.  However, it is not required for any of the Explorer achievements.

Explorer of Outlands

The main challenge with Outlands was always reaching the four areas impossible to get to without flight:

• Throne of Kil’jaeden in Hellfire Peninsula (a quest in the Isle of Quel’Danas does port you there for toons 70+ but now flight is now available at level 60);
• Skettis in south-west Terrokar Forrest;
• Twilight Ridge in north-west Nagrand;
• Netherwing Ledge in Shadowmoon Valley

While Netherstorm looks like it might be inaccessible there is a bridge from Blades Edge and bridges between the different “islands”.

However, now flight in Outlands (the Masters Licence) is available at level 60 (?58 for druids)  which is around the same time that Outlands is accessible (by the Dark Portal at level 58).  It is only necessary to fly over an area to receive credit and the only dangers are flying guards at factional towns and a few other flying mobs.  Hard core explorers who want to explore Outlands before 58-60 while need to get a lock summons to somewhere in Outlands or a mage port to Shattrath city and a lock summons to the four inaccessible areas detailed above. Needless to say, you need the Burning Legion expansion pack to access Outlands.

Northrend Explorer

Northrend is accessible by boat (Alliance) or zeppelin (Horde) for toons of all levels who have the WOTLK expansion pack.  A boat from Stormwind Harbour goes to Valliance Keep in Borean Tundra while another boat goes from the pier in the half-drowned Menithil Harbour, Wetlands to Valgarde in Howling Fjord.  The zeppelin in Orgrimmar will take you to Warsong Hold in Borean Tundra while the Zeppelin from Undercity takes you to New Agamand in Howling Fjord.

Obviously the main challenge for low-level toons is the level of the mobs.  Aggressive creatures and NPCs are 10 levels above your toon can seem to appear out of nowhere (the aggro circle is very wide at that level difference) and kill you with one hit.

The other challenge for those not yet 68 (when Cold Weather Flying becomes available for training) is reaching a number of areas that are either difficult to get to or appear to require flight to reach or at least get credit for. However, unlike the Outlands, all these areas can be explored by ground mount with a bit of ingenuity (see Flightless in Northrend) or by a mage portal to Dalaran and ‘lock summons to the other spots.

• In Scholazar Basin, credit for Stormwright Shelf can be achieved by running/swimming up the west coast and for The Makers Overlook by jumping down on the roof from Icecrown just north of Winterspring.
• Storm Peaks – the K3 area can be accessed by a pass from Crystalsong Forest.  Apart from flying, the only way to access the rest of Stormpeaks is by running east from the Argent tournament, up the mountain to the Snowdrift Plains.  For a more detailed explanation of how to get credit for Ulduar, Frost Hold, Temple of Storms, and Engine of the Maker see Flightless in Northrend,
• Icecrown can be accessed from Crystalsong, past the Argent Vanguard and through the breech or by jumping down from Storm Peaks. Onslaught Harbor can be reached by running up the west coast from Borean Tundra.
• The City of Dalaran can be accessed by the portal in the Wintergrasp Keep while your faction holds the Keep (jump down from Icecrown directly behind the Keep).

Cataclysm Explorer

Exploring the new Cataclysm areas can be surprisingly easy – once flight is achieved at level 60. Transport to each of these areas becomes available on reaching the required level and portals between the new areas and the Earthen shrines in Stormwind or Orgrimmar are opened after completing a few quests.

• Mount Hyjal in northern Kalimdor is inaccessible by ground except perhaps Darkwhisper Gorge.  At 80 a quest become available which takes you first by portal to Moonglade and then by dragon back to Nordrassil, the starting area in Mount Hyjal.
• Vashj’ir is a large submerged area with a few small islands off the coast of Dun Morogh and Stormwind.  It is dominated by Naga and hotly disputed between Horde and Alliance  At 80 a quest becomes available that will take you by boat from Stormwind or Orgimmar  to this area (a few vials of water breathing elixir is very useful until this ability is granted by the questline).

However, it is possible at level 60 to fly to this area (through the fatigue) from Dun Morogh.  Most of the area can be explored by flying over it with the exception of the area to the north-west where you will be dismounted.  From there you can explore this by swimming (though of course you are more vulnerable to high level aggressive mobs).  Don’t forget to pick up the one flight point above water (the one specific to your faction)  on Sandy Beach near the Shimmering Expansebefore leaving.

• Deepholm is a subterranean area beneath the Maelstrom in the middle of the map of Azeroth.  A quest available at 82 will take you to Thrall at the Maelstrom and then send you into it.  After the completion of a few quests, a portal back to Stormwind or Orgimmar becomes available in the Temple of the Earth.

As far as I can discover, there is no other way to enter Deepholm.  It is not possible to fly to it from Vashj’ir as there is an invisible barrier preventing one from flying closer too it.  Dying by fatigue next the barrier transports your toon to a grave yard in Westfall (Alliance).  It may be possible to be summoned to the area.

• Uldum is south of Tanaris.  The entry quest (and the quests that set up the portal to it) only becomes available at 83.  However, it is accessible by the Gate into the area in the southwest of Tanaris.  A couple of areas in Uldum are only accessible by flight but the area is very easy to explore once flight is available.

• Twilight Highlands are to the east of Wetland and the north of Loch Modan.  The entry quest become available at 84 with a plane flight from Stormwind Harbour (Alliance) or from Orgrimmar (Horde).  Only once the base is secured and necessary parts are obtained from the Twilight Cult that the portal to Stormwind or Orgrimmar is established.  Apart from a couple of areas with elite hostile dragons flying about, Twilight Highlands is easy to explore by flight at 60.
• Tol Barad is a PvP area – a couple of islands west of Wetlands and south of Silverpine Forest and Gilneas – which is accessible by portal in Stormwind or Orgrimmar at level 85.  Like Deepholm it has an invisible barrier around it preventing entry by flight.  However, this area is not necessary to obtain Cataclysm Explorer or the Explorer title.

In summary, it is possible to explore Kalimdor, most of Eastern Kingdoms and Northrend without assistance and, with a lot of time, tedium and determination, at even low levels.  All the needed Cataclsym areas except Deepholm can be explored at level 60 with a flying mount.  However, without assistance Outlands (due to four areas inaccessible apart from flight) can completed at minimum level 60 and a flying mount, while Eastern Kingdoms (due to the Isle of Quel’Danos) needs level 65, and Deepholm requires level 82.   It is a long wait from 65 to 82 as as one of my toons knows, though at least she has the Northrend Explorer Tabard to console her.

Nevetheless, you don’t have to wait until 82 to to explore. Along the lines of my original post, I would suggest:

1. Start early – explore as you level.  It often doesn’t take a lot of extra time to uncover all the areas of a map when you have been questing in an area – and it saves you time later.
2. Remember to grab flight points as you go.
3. You don’t need to cover every point in the map.  In some areas you may only need to cover 5-6 points of each area to get full credit though lower level areas and the new Cataclsym areas require more like 8-10.  Of course, exploring additional areas gives you additional experience points (for toons below 85).
4. Track the achievement for exploring that area to see what points remain to be uncovered. Use resources such as maps provided by sites such as www.gamepressure.com (still accurate in Northrend and Outlands) or reference sites like www.wowhead.com  if you are having problems finding a spot.
5. Remember to think laterally – sometimes the points to uncover are on the edges of the map, through caves or round promontories.
6. Don’t forget that flying, once you can, is a much easier, faster and less dangerous way to explore. And in some cases, it’s the only way you can get there.
7. You may wish to methodically explore or you can combine exploring with other activities such as gathering herbs or ores, fishing schools, digging archaeological sites, waiting in dungeon or pvp queques, even getting achievements for low level dungeons etc.  Do what works for you.
8. You can get this achievement largely on your own or you may wish to enlist the help of a friend or pay gold to friendly mages, ‘locks or, indeed, someone with a two-seater flying mount to help you.

So there you have it – a tabard in the mail after exploring Northrend and new title after uncovering all those spots on the map across Outlands and the shattered and reshaped Azeroth.

Along the way don’t forget to enjoy the views.  For me at least, two of the joys of the Azerothian World are the vast variety of its landscapes and peoples –  from picture postcards winter landscapes of Winterspring; the sylvan Old England woods of Elwyn Forest; the  golden Tolkienesque arcadian glories of Eversong Woods;  the desolate desert landscapes of Burning Steppes; the Africaneque dry savannah of the Barrens; the jaggered spears of Blades Edge Mountains; the giant Mushroom forests of Zangermarsh and the surreal beauties of Nagrand’s floating islands and steams to name just a few – and the sheer joy of flying through them all.  The recent cataclsymic events have not dented that those pleasures at all.  Buen Vijae.

Kharin