Cataclysm: story issues for lowbies

So far we’re doing pretty good on the story telling in the game. I mean we have the story of the original game then the developments to that story in The Burning Crusade expansion and then the Wrath of the Lich King story we’re currently seeing unfold. Going back to Azeroth in the upcoming Cataclysm expansion creates quite a problem with this story telling, most especially for someone who will be leveling a new character when the expansion hits.

Dark Portal

This was the concern for Borex from the Steamwheedle Cartel – US realm, who posted a thread on the official forums. He pointed out that with Deathwing being the current big threat for the Catacylsm expansion, it does seem odd story wise for a character leveling up to see an Azeroth devastated by the Cataclysm to make steps in fighting against the big threat only to take a detour to the Outlands and then Northrend and then go back to Azeroth.

While that does seem strange in terms of the story, there are other problems that I see this Cataclysm will bring. While Azeroth is going to get a revamp, it’s not going to be a total revamp. This means that we’ll see some of the original conflicts. That in itself is going to seem funny for players who care about lore. This means that while players are dealing with the changed Barrens zone or the fact that Azshara will be a changed low level area, you’ll probably still be dealing with the Scarlet Crusade, the undead menace in the Plaguelands and other such old enemies mixed in with the new story affecting the new Azeroth.

It’s going to seem especially odd for the Goblins and the Worgen to suddenly have to deal with an old issue when their entry into their respective factions happened much later unlike the Blood Elves and the Draenei where you could actually say they entered the picture at the same time line as the original game and just continue their story into the Burning Crusade.

CM Bornakk’s explains that for new characters the content from the Outlands and Northrend are things they still have to beat so it’s not just a case of having to go there just to level up. Also it’s too much work to change the Outlands and Northrend to fit the events of the Cataclysm and honestly you really don’t need to since the Cataclysm story doesn’t take us there anyway. So while he has a point, new characters still have to answer the call of defeating the menace that he still hasn’t had a taste of beating, it still feels strange to have to go through a pretty confusing mix of old and new.