World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Preview

The editors at 1UP have already put together a two-page preview of Blizzard’s newly announced World of Warcraft: Cataclysm expansion pack. A bit on the new goblin race:

Goblins can play as any class except Druid and Paladin. During my demo I decided to play as a warrior to see how the tiny combatant would fare. The first thing I did was check out the Goblin racial characteristics. “Best Deals Anywhere” allows you to receive the best possible gold discount regardless of faction and “Better Living Through Chemistry” increases your alchemy by 15. You also have two combat racial attributes: Rocket Barrage which launches belt rockets and a Rocket jump which allows you to quickly fly a short distance out of danger. In fitting with your races affinity for commerce you can also use your Pack Hobgoblin ability to cast a personal servant that allows you to access your bank for a minute.

The Goblin starting area begins with your level six character lying motionless on wreckage floating in the shallow waters off the coast of the Lost Isles. Quickly enough a Goblin Doctor named Zapnozzle shows up to bring you back from the brink of death. After shocking you several times you get your first quest. “Don’t Go Into the Light!” has to be one of the simplest quests I’ve ever encountered in WOW. As the title suggests all you have to do is accept the quest and come back to life for a quick 54 XP.

Once you’ve returned to the land of the living you’re given a little background into what happened to you and your people. In a perfect example of “wrong place, wrong time” you are told that your Goblin faction was caught in the crossfire between the Horde and Alliance during a huge battle and suffered massive casualties as a result. You’re first goal is to rescue six of your comrades from nearby floating escape pods. Thanks to a little Goblin engineering, you get a pair of Thermohyrdratic flippers that allow you to swim faster and help avoid prowling sharks in the water.