The upcoming expansion, Cataclysm, will be incorporating greater levels of character customization than ever before. From guild talent trees, a different talent tree system, new races and race/class combinations, to a new profession that will be all about customization. Enter the Path of the Titans, and the new secondary profession, Archaeology.

Pass through the break for all the details, but be warned, spoilers lay ahead!

As you may have already heard, much of Azeroth will be changing, and Blizzard will be making heavy use of phasing. In this new Azeroth, many things that you know now may end up in ruins. This is where Archaeology comes in. A new secondary profession, we will all be eligible to train and level it, without it interfering with our other professions.

As an Archaeologist, you will be able to visit these ruins and study them. In doing so, you will formulate Archaeology Notes, which allows you to research and make new discoveries. This leads to the new character progression, Path of the Titans.

We don’t have all the details yet, but it seems that there will be multiple paths to choose from. These paths will not be limited by race or class. There’s a possibility that we may be able to travel down more than one. By traveling down a Path, you will learn passive bonuses and new abilities, depending on which Path you choose.

This is a new dimension to character customization. Rather than being practically a clone of every other character out there of your class and race combination, you will be able to differentiate yourself in new and unexpected ways.

I mentioned before that our talent trees will be different too. While we will be gaining five levels, and thus five talent points in order to reach the new level cap, 85, there will be no new talents added.

Instead, we will be using the Paths of the Titans and a new Mastery system to customize our characters. The Mastery system is set to simplify the talent trees. Mastery passive talents will then be available based on the talent tree you choose, and offer some of the core talents like “+10 damage” or “+ Heal.” Regular talents will offer a greater variety, and more interesting choices, but will lack some of the functionality of Mastery abilities. The more points you invest in a given talent tree, the more Mastery abilities you will be able to receive.

Reforging is an ability currently being developed in Cataclysm for Jewelcrafters, Engineers, Tailors, Blacksmiths and Leatherworkers that will allow for some customization of stats on Items.

The idea is to allow a Blacksmith to take a Mail or Plate item which contains (for example) 50 Stamina and 50 Agility and remove half of one of these stats for another. Stats already on the piece can not be augmented. A new stat can be created using the “points” available. (Swapping 25 Agility points and creating a 25 Spirit augment using this example.)

Other professions will be able to do the same for their own lines; Tailors will deal with Cloth Augments, Leatherworkers will deal with Leather Augments, Engineers with Trinkets and Ranged, Jewelcrafters with Rings and Necklaces.

Reforging will have no affect for “on use” or passive effects on Trinkets and Ranged, but will be able to change Stats all the same.

Before being the Lich King, Prince Arthas Menethil was a servant ruled by a sword he believed was the key to saving his people – the runeblade Frostmourne. Finding and claiming the blade among the frozen wastes of Northrend was an odyssey unto itself, and the search cost the prince his mentor, his relationship with his subjects, and his humanity. It cost the living of Azeroth far more.

With a tight grip on the blade that he traded his life for, Arthas ravaged the kingdom of Lordaeron and broke free from the control of the Burning Legion. By the time the former prince ascended as the leader of the Scourge, Frostmourne was already glutted with the souls of the numberless dead who dared to oppose him.

Now, Arthas has become so inseparable from his weapon that the sword’s likeness has even found its way into the architecture of his fortress, Icecrown Citadel. Its hilt is never far from his hands; its ghostly whispers constantly ring in his ears. Frostmourne, as much as the Lich King, is the ruler of Northrend.

In a relentless quest to arm the forces of the living against the Scourge, Highlord Darion Mograine has formed the Ashen Verdict, a union between the most skilled craftsmen of the Argent Crusade and the Ebon Blade. Though the peerless paladins of the Crusade wield the power of the Light, and their leader clutches Ashbringer, a few of Mograine’s dark warriors have begun to question their hopes for victory.

These death knights insist that the Ashbringer and the skills of the Argent Crusaders, will not be enough to best Frostmourne alone. They swear that Darion Mograine has long been quietly aware of another legendary blade – one that could be the key to defeating the Lich King and cleansing Northrend… But it doesn’t exist yet, for the moment, the weapon is only a formless idea. It is spoken of quietly, and the Highlord has a habit of silencing those who discuss it in public. Just its name inspires the furnaces to burn late into the night, the bellows to pump air, and the darker half of the Verdict’s smiths to swing their hammers until their fingers fail. While other craftsmen lean over whetstones and gather pitted blades by the hundreds, these few dream of a single weapon to end the war for Northrend.

Legendary Weapon Shadowmourne

Shadowmourne… A great two-handed axe fit for a giant, born of sacred and corrupt powers, host of a thousand dead souls and able to be wielded only by the most stalwart armsmasters of Azeroth. Its creation seems nearly impossible; and yet, the rumors do not cease.

Darion Mograine believes that only the hammer of Arthas himself will provide a worthy model – but such absurd ambition is just the beginning of Shadowmourne’s creation. To contain the energies that dance across its cold edges, Shadowmourne would be hewn from piles of impure Saronite: the hardened blood of the Old God, Yogg-Saron. To fuel its power to kill, it should be drenched in the souls of the most potent servants of the Scourge as they are slain, one by one, with the unfinished blade. To help break through the Lich King’s armor, it is to be adorned with fragments of the Frozen Throne, originally crafted by Kil’Jaeden out of ice from the Twisting Nether.

Only with these mighty components, it is said, can Shadowmourne be finished. And, yet, even if the axe could be completed, questions and fears remain. Is forging the souls of the deceased into a weapon treated with blood and the essence of the Twisting Nether truly any different from the crafting of the Scourge’s runeblades? And who will be bold enough to try to wield such a weapon? Might Shadowmourne bring the same doom and misery to the living as its sister blade did?

Reforging is a method by which people can easily change their gear or the gear of other players by removing skill points from one area and placing them in another. This is an interesting feature for a few reasons. It is going to allow there to be infinitely more gear options in the game. And because the reforging will not allow anyone to shift all the numbers into a single stat, there will be no “uber” gear crafted either.

Second, it will create an entirely different market of individuals in capital cities who can offer their reforging services for fellow players. Instead of just crafting new items, all of the gear crafters – blacksmiths, engineers, tailors, and leatherworkers, will be able to take the gear their fellow players gather from raids and PvP and then start tacking on different stats where needed.

New Levels of Customization

This will allow players who may find certain pieces of gear slightly inferior due to their focus on the wrong stats much more willing to utilize those pieces. It might also create a higher degree of argument in instance parties over who gets what pieces of loot due to their different stats and how those stats can be shifted around now that any piece of gear can easily be changed.

Whatever ends up happening though, the simple truth is that reforging is a major new addition to the game and one that will prove to be incredibly popular when World of Warcraft Cataclysm finally launches in 2010.

Goblin: Starting Area

Here is the video on the Goblin starting area – enjoy!  I love the casting animation for the male Goblin!  As far as male characters go (as you know I’m not a fan of playing them) I think I’d actually play a male Goblin as well as the Worgen male.  Did you see how BIG the turtle was compared to the Goblin?!  I have never played a gnome so for those who have played a ‘tiny’ class it’s nothing new for you but I’m used to playing a Tauren and to see a turtle bigger than your character – wow hehe.  It’s really neat too that your ’so ugly it’s cute’ bank follows you around.  The environment is just amazing too, it’s almost like you can feel the heat!

Worgen: Starting Area/Transformation

Oooohhh my gods at the transformation you can see here!  How cool is that?!  I think I wanted this video a million times and I really like the animations as well.  Granted I’m still a little upset that I can’t see a female Worgen but with all the time they are taking to work on them, they better be awesome.  I am the most excited to play this race, even though I am very much so Horde.

This is the Worgen starting area and what can I say? It has very good atmosphere and setting, not to mention the customization on the Worgen looks nice as well.  The only complaint I have over the Worgen is…..*drum roll*…no tail!  They would have looked so much neater with a tail, then again that could be the fact that I adore tails, but still – a wolf tail?  So cool!  Not entirely sure on the castin animations for the Worgen.  Is it just me or does it seem like they are waving their arms about so much that it looks like they’re flailing every which way?

They have a move that let’s them call a servant to them for 1 minute with a half hour cool down. This is going to be extremely useful when leveling and also in PvP, depending on how powerful the servant is. Even if it’s not powerful, it’s attacks will push back spell casters! haha!

Rocket Jump is a new addition. No gritty details are being released at this time, but we know that this move allows you to jump forward. Sounds kinda lame, but we’ll see. The New World of Warcraft Goblin Race will also be innately good at Alchemy (+15 naturally)

Since anybody who’s played World of Warcraft knows that Goblins are cheap and great salesman, they’ll come equipped with an innate discount when buying or selling items!

Goblins will also have a natural increase in casting and attacking speed…wait for it…1% Pfft. It’s not a lot but I guess it’s something. This DOES seem like a lot of racial abilities though. The old races don’t get this many valuable ones. Rocket Barrage is in the works. This is a talent that allows you to shoot powerful rockets from your belt. The attack deals fire damage and is based upon a 3 minute cool down at this time.

Even though the power of these abilities is yet to be seen, the sheer amount of useful racial bonuses the Goblins get could make them one of the more (if not the most) popular race within the game. I hope you enjoyed this sneak peak of the new World of Warcraft Race of Goblins before Cataclysm is released!

New Cataclysm expansion, recently announced by Blizzard will bring brand new items, abilities, races and the 2 new professions. Each expansion in World of Warcraft introduced new professions- Burning Crusade Jewelcrafting, WotLK Inscription, while Cataclysm will introduce Archaeology and Reforging latest crafting improvement.

Archaeology profession

Archaeology will be the last of the secondary professions, allowing further customizations to be performed on the characters. New Archaeologists will have an option to search through various ruins situated all over the map for the different items of interest, just like Archaeologists in real life.

Through their research of the ruins, Archaeologists will be able to gather various unique artifacts and make notes. These artifacts will enable Archaeologists to further customize their characters, while handing these artifacts in to a Titan cult will bring them all different kinds of rewards, such as Teleportation, Vanity pets and new items of interest. Depending on the path they choose, Archeologists will be able to make new discoveries which will bring new passive skills and new abilities.

How unique is Archaeology?

All World of Warcraft professions are made to follow the progressive pattern, which consists of player’s learning the skill and leveling it up to the certain skill level in order to be able to use it for the specific craft. Archaeology will be different. It will not have the cap skill level after which the progress will no longer be possible. It will allow continuous advancing in profession, which will ensure the constant interest of players for this profession.

Reforging profession

Reforging will be introduced as a crafting addition, a skill which will allow further gear customization. Only the gear statistics will be subject to customization, unfortunately not the appearance as well. It will maybe be possible in the further expansions.

Reforging will be available to Engineers, Blacksmiths, Letherworkers, Tailors and Jewelcrafters. Those players who have one or more of these crafting professions will be able to re-customize the piece of gear originating from it. For example a Jewelcrafter will be able to take one stat from the ring. After altering it to the desired statistics, he will be able to return it back to the ring.

What is so unique about this?

The changeable statistics will not be limited to those that are already given on the item. If you for example have a necklace with stamina and intellect, you will be able to change stamina for the equivalent amount of the spell power instead.

This customization of the statistics will be available for all the items and not only those crafted by you. It will be of particular help to players who do not have the required professions. They will also be able to re-customize wanted statistics by seeking assistance from other players who do have desired Reforging skill.

Expansion Cataclysm will bring new dimension to World of Warcraft. World of Warcraft will certainly not disappoint the players, as it has been the most amazing and popular MMORPGs for quite some time now. The population of the World of Warcraft players is ever-growing despite the new MMORPGs that are constantly emerging. The quality of this amazing game has made sure of it.

While the attention of the Horde and Alliance remained fixed upon Northrend, an ancient evil has been lying dormant within Deepholm, the domain of earth in the Elemental Plane. Hidden away in a secluded sanctuary, the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing has waited, recovering from the wounds of his last battle against Azeroth, nursing his hatred for the inferior creatures that infest the surface realm…and biding his time until he can reforge the world in molten fire.

Soon, Deathwing the Destroyer will return to Azeroth, and his eruption from Deepholm will sunder the world, leaving a festering wound across the continents. As the Horde and Alliance race to the epicenter of the cataclysm, the kingdoms of Azeroth will witness seismic shifts in power, the kindling of a war of the elements, and the emergence of unlikely heroes who will rise up to protect their scarred and broken world from utter devastation.

The massive monstrosity before you rises up like a black, crag-covered mountain of scales and hide. The head is a spade-like terror spiked with cruel red eyes that shine with a frightening malevolence. Rivulets of lava and magma are visible beneath the great wyrm’s scorched scales.

The face of Azeroth is altered forever as the destruction left in Deathwing’s wake reshapes the land and reveals secrets long sealed away. Players will be able to re-experience familiar zones across Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, rewrought by the cataclysm and filled with new opportunities for adventure.

Deathwing, the Destroyer, originally Neltharion, the Earth-Warder, is one of five Dragon Aspects and leader of the black dragonflight. Thousands of years ago, Neltharion was empowered by the Titan Khaz’goroth with dominion over the earth and the deep places of Azeroth. However, driven mad by the Old Gods, he turned against the other Aspects during the War of the Ancients, capturing a portion of their power in the Demon Soul. Among both humans and dragons his name has become one whispered with a feeling of fear and contempt.

Yogg Neltharion

Few have fallen as far from grace as ancient Neltharion has. As one of the five Dragon Aspects chosen by the titans, he was given dominion over the earth and the deep places of the world. He embodied the strength of Azeroth and served as the greatest supporter of the Dragonqueen, Alexstrasza. But mighty, kind-hearted, and wise as he was, even Neltharion was not beyond the reach of dark forces sleeping beneath the surface of Azeroth. Over time, sinister whispers sank their claws into the dragon’s thoughts, seeding Neltharion’s mind with madness. He betrayed the other Aspects, and when he turned against his brethren and let corruption take complete control, he ceased being Neltharion the Earth-Warder and became Deathwing the Destroyer. Eventually, he was defeated by the combined might of the other Aspects—defeated, but not destroyed. Hidden from the world, he has been licking his wounds and nourishing his burning hatred. His return will change the face of Azeroth… forever.

This is a chain of quests that is only available in the 25-player version of the raid instance. It awards Shadowmourne, the legendary two-handed axe Blizzard revealed at BlizzCon 2009.

The quests below indicate that earning the axe is going to be a long and perilous journey, that only the most powerful of heroes will be able to undertake.

Legendary Weapon Shadowmourne

1. The Sacred and the Corrupt
2. Shadow’s Edge
3. A Feast of Souls
4. Unholy Infusion
5. Blood Infusion
6. Frost Infusion
7. The Splintered Throne
8. Shadowmourne!
9. The Lich King’s Last Stand

Legendary Weapon Shadowmourne