Posted by iTZKooPA on Friday, May 29th, 2009 - 42 Comments
Tags: -1, argent tournament, chillmaw, details, devil is in the details, fun quests, murloc, murloc suit, PvE, questing
Some people like to equate details with polish. Either way you take it, as a synonym or as an aspect of polish, the inclusion of them makes video games better. Blizzard has a long-standing reputation for going above and beyond in the company’s titles, which is why they are still played years, hell, possibly decades after their initial release. During my initial run through Wrath of the Lich King’s quests I mainly focused on the designs and stories implemented as I grinded to level 80. Now that I am there, or on my second run through with the priest, I can focus more on the small details instead of worrying about my XP per hour. Yes, I take the game that far.
I’ve written almost a week’s worth of articles on the Argent Tournament. They have spanned the gauntlet of guides to love and boredom. I’ve spent thirty minutes to an hour a day in Icecrown killing scourge, Chillmaw and riding horsies all in the name of the Argent Crusade and the five other factions. Three days, I’ve only missed three days of dailies. Yet, I somehow never realized that the damned Cultists actually ride on Chillmaw’s back and head. I always thought that he summoned them during the fight. Definitely a detail that I just flat out missed.
That was my own stupidity though. One particular that recently caught my attention on Solidsagart was the Murloc costume. Any interaction with murlocs is a welcome one, and the chance to pose as one was something that I couldn’t pass up. After donning the spare suit I took off towards the cavern to complete my mission of deceit and death. Secretly, I have always hoped that the murloc race was bidding its time before the scaled, two-legged race took over Azeroth. I realized during the quest that either they aren’t intelligent at all, or their senses haven’t adapted for above water scenarios. Just look at how awful the suit is. The stiching is obvious, it waggles around my body in an awkward fashion and my seeing sphere is falling out of its socket! How the hell did they let me get to Claximus without being harassed?
There are hundreds of these small gems spread throughout the game, so let’s share as much of them with each other as possible. As noted, even “obvious” things may not be so apparent to other players who A) aren’t very observant, B) too busy with their stabbing, C) pressed for time, or D) too busy leveling. What say you PL fans? What is your favorite small detail from Wrath, or all time?
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By Brian on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
i recently got the elwynn lamb pet and when i had it out for a awhile, an elwynn wolf ran up, killed it, then went to sleep. probably one of the coolest things ive seen in-game
By HerofTime on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Wow. There are so many little things. I never noticed any of that. way to go iTZKoopa
By Daranador on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Probably the bears fishing in Grizzly Hills. Was there fishing for the turtle today and they’re all around me, just minding their own business and fishing up salmon like me.
By Shala on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
One of the quests that I really enjoyed was one in Icecrown right after you get the Crusaded Pinnacle going about the crusader that had been infected with the plague and was dying. You have to go to Moonglade, Wyrmrest, and Shat to try and cure him and each time you arrive he greets you so warmly.
The text really made me feel for him and love him. everytime your cure didn’t work, finally at last A’dal comes to take him into “the light” at that point I really felt sad and happy for him that I was there for another “person.” I have had, and still do, RL dealings of helping people and being there in dark hours of life. I guess it was just nice that a video captured me and brought out true emotions.
By Shala on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
uhg, fragmented sentences, run-ons, and typos
Crusader* sad and happy for him.* RL situations*
nice that a video game*
By Amatera on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 2:04 am
One of my favorites definitely has to be the Hatch from LOST hiding on a tiny islet in Sholazar Basin. It’s in the northern-most lake with all the hydras swimming in it.
And just noticed a mage NPC in Dalaran yesterday named Natalie Tootiblare, a reference to three of the main characters from the TV show Facts of Life.
By Phanttas on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 2:10 am
I was flying round Sholazar Basin, back when I was doing quests there, and I had to go to a Gorlock camp to the north which has a small lake next to it with a little island on it. I then noticed on the Island there is a hatch door which when you mouse over comes up with “5, 9, 16, 17, 24, 43″ which any ‘Lost’ fans will know is all the ‘Lost numbers’ + 1.
I just love the many little details Blizz puts in, but I can remember that one specifically.
By Shnoo on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 6:37 am
The innkeeper of Thrallmar - Floydus Pinkus
That there is an inscription (obviously not in common) on many items including Titansteel Shield wall, that unless zoomed in on you can’t see
Important Humans/Ect. are much larger than taurens (maybe even a troll when standing at their full height) like Rhonin
By Erebus on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 8:18 am
My favorite detail from Wrath is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reference in the sewers of Dalaran, but my all time favorite is the Snakes on a Plane reference in Nagrand by Nesingwary’s Camp. Everytime I see it I chuckle.
By ckiemnstr345 on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 8:24 am
There is one detail that keeps me going back to the Argent Tournament. I play a druid and if you have Moonkin or Tree of Life form you can mount the various steads in those forms. If I wasn’t able to run around as a trent I would have given up on those quests a long time ago.
By Alayea on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 11:11 am
I made that same “failure of observation”, iTZKooPA. I only missed one day of the AT dailies but like you, it wasn’t until recently that I figured out where those cultists were coming from. Up to that point, I’d always been wondering “just where do they come from?”
I think the questline involving the dying Crusader is my favorite because you can see A’dal and the other Naaru at the end. Other than that, I just laugh at the various typos and whatnot that I see in quest texts.
By Eddie T on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Gonna reveal my nerdy side but I’m an English teacher so here’s my fav. Up in the purple parlor in Dalaran there are 2 npc’s named Arcanist Burroughs and Arcanist Ginsberg. They are having a conversation. They’re obviously references to the two beat poets.
By Shoggy on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I like the refrences to Dune (famous book series) sitting in the Terrokar forest quests about the worms….
And the massive zelda hommage quest in un’goro.
By Togarox on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I just noticed the other day that the Herold Lane you kill in Borean Tundra is the same Herold Lane that you helped back in Nagrand.. That was cool.
One of my favorite is if you go do Old Hillsbrad in CoT, you can see Kel’Thuzad (back when he was a human) and all of the SM bosses (as kids) in Southshore.
BTW, for those who don’t know, the murloc outfit in the quest chain that iTZKooPA was referring to was actually a reference to the guy who won the costume contest at the 1st Blizzcon.
By Ada on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Well, I can’t think of anything outstanding. I can’t recall at the moment anything small that I’ve discovered. But after randomly hearing about Cutthroat Alley I visited it.
wowwiki link for Cutthroat Alley info: http://www.wowwiki.com/Cut-Throat_Alley
By Nebyula on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
How about the name of the neutral inn in dalaran?
Legerdemain Lounge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leger_de_Main
By Vashra on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 12:23 am
One of the coolest things I saw in Howling Fjords was the shoveltusks hav fights for leadership of their little groups. It’s am amazing thing to just stand back and watch. Especially as their health goes down as well
By kerth on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 4:02 am
Outside Halls Of lightning Chester Copperpot From the Goonies
By Iiene of Kul Tiras on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 7:10 am
I’m fairly certain that Instructor Razuvious in Naxxramas is a take on the Starship Troopers character, Drill Seargant Zim. Check this video and spot the “Jagged Knife” reference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV3CrqyxJGI
By Noviscosity on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 10:42 am
One of the best (and least well known) details of WoW can be found in the ruins of Lordaeron throne room. It is especially significant for those of us who played WC 3. If you turn your other sound effects down and the ambient sound way up, you can hear the voices of the ghosts of Lordaeron’s past (among them, Arthas’ murdered father). It gave me chills the first time I noticed it.
By Nebyula on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 11:16 am
You can use detect invisibility too, outside the thrown room to see ghosts of lordaeron citizens =)
By Socram on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 11:49 am
One cool quest I did in Grizzly Hills is the Harrison Jones rescue in the ruins around the northeast area. Many fond memories of watching Indiana Jones. Keep it up Blizz! =D
By Thrawll on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
There is an npc in the Venomspite in Dragonblight that you talk to during the Scarlet Onslaught chain. He goes by the name of Agent Mulder and you have to report to his partner Skully. Woohoo go XFILES!!
By Bluntednt on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Harrison Jones was also the man at the beginning of Zul’Amon. You have to hit the gong at the same exact time as “junior”.
By Staffan on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 2:27 pm
The name of the butler in the Purple Parlor is Alfred Copperworth. A copper is the equivalent of a penny, which makes this a reference to Alfred Pennyworth, butler to Bruce “Batman” Wayne.
By Furyrip on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I know this isn’t Wrath, but my favourite ever place would have to be Un’Goro.. or as we like to call it.. Nintendo 64 Heaven!
I mean there’s just so much to admire, Luigon and Marion.. you can guess who that is? And the little gnome dressed in green garments.. Linken! Even the name is a reference, Un’Goro is a mountain/crater or something like that in Legend of Zelda!
Maybe it’s just me, being a NIntendo 64 maniac, but I couldn’t help but admire it
And I also just love all the dialogue in Dragonblight, with the Wrath Gate cutscene, and the quests where you see Arthas and his group of soldiers.. it’s just amazing
Sorry for the rant guys
By Brokenwing on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 3:57 pm
In the Stormwind Harbor there is a giant gate against a mountain and have always wondered why it was positioned there? Most likely nothing but blizzard could most def. expand there.
Secondly, The Westfall chicken pet and how it’s acquired.
By Ebo on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 5:27 pm
One little detail I thought was great in TBC was an npc in Area 52 named Remi Dodoso. The syllables in his name spell out in solfege the notes that the humans and aliens use to communicate at the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Very subtle and clever if you ask me.
By daf on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 6:03 pm
you guys have mentioned two of my favorites which are “snakes on a plane” and the “Lost hatch”
but no one has mentioned any of the star wars ones which there are many just go search them online somewhere and one of my favorites is a shrine dedicated to Michel Koiter who was an artist who died while they were making the game and i found it cool how they put a shrine there for him To see one name you go when you are alive and to see his last name go while in ghost form.this is somewhere in the Barons but i don’t know the coords.
lastly there is a G4 episode on some ester eggs in wow i don’t have that site ether
sry i don’t have sites and such im in a hurry
By jhez on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Mr. Bigglesworth is in naxxarmas. and Kel gets angry when u kill him. and no this is not a joke.
By The_Hamster on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 2:20 am
I am very surprised that no one has mentioned sega cidi in the sewers of dalaran. It is a shark that swims around near the rouge vender in the sewers.
By The_Hamster on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 2:20 am
rogue sorry.
By Zesuan on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 2:26 am
The ninja-turtles in the underbelly, there are 4 turtles, all looking at a rat (which by the way has around 5k hp)
By Quickbeam on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 8:59 am
So after rolling my 5th or so DK (I so love the begining quests) I accidentally clicked on a book and a little eye popped out and scanned me. After that I spent the rest of the time on that DK running around clicking on books in the DK start area and having such a laugh, honeslty leave no book unopened.
The best find I came across was in The Hall of command on the bookshelf right in front of Prince Keleseth (the naughty boy).
Its a book called Touch Of The Banshee, I wont go into detail, but I will tell you its one of the most explicit tounge in cheek things I’ve ever seen in wow.
By lalaa on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 2:24 pm
for you that want to see the book go to http://www.wowwiki.com/Touch_of_the_Banshee and just read the last few lines.
By Laoghaire on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 am
Anyone else notice that in Un’goro the camp is run by Will & Holly? That’s some old school “Land of the Lost” there. And with the area being a throwback to the time of dinosaurs and all too. There’s the lost Mechanical Ape that’s a reference to the sign language Ape in “Congo”. Toshley Station in Blade’s Edge is just classic and the fact that it’s a total take on the Bug attack scene in Starship Troopers is a great combination of references. I think my favorite has to be the 4 lvl 1 Turtles all around a lvl 80 rat. But truthfully there are too many to settle on a favorite and I discover more each day!!
The list is endless, those guys @ Blizzard sure know what they’re doing when it comes to pop culture references!!
By dave on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 5:32 am
Two such that i can recall straight off are,if you play a dk you will see” Siouxsie The Banshee” which is a reference too the band “Siouxsie And The Banshees” and there is a shop in dal next too Ally area that has some witches in it.Their names ref too those from the T.V show “Bewitched”
By Hatell on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Ok, let me think here.
Howling Fjord, over in the Southwest there’s that pirate area that you quest in. There’s a drunkard that you have to get to pass out before you can get his “debt”. His name is Jack Adams. I cracked up laughing ‘cuz of Jack Daniels and Samuel Adams.
There’s also the Children of Goldshire that you can find on YouTube.
Krasus’ Landing also made me perk up once I noticed it. Krasus is also Korialstraz, Alexstraza’s consort/mate. He was also a magi of Dalaran. In fact, before Arthas came, he was on the council of Magi.
Dragon Names. All dragons of the same flight have similar names (Though I’m not 100% positive on the Green Flight.) Malagos/Syndragosa (agos); Alexstraza/Korialstraz (straz); Nefarian/Onyxia (ia); Nozdormu/Soridormi (dorm). I haven’t yet found a male green dragon named to see if it’s the same with the green dragon flight. Of course, they can all take on a humanoid form and some take on a different name while doing so.
I knew about the Lordaeron pieces. The alter behind the throne room is to King Menithil. I’ll have to check out the Old Hillsbrad thing. That would be cool to see.
By Hatell on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I must add another thing. I went into Old Hillsbrad and over to Southshore and if you go into the Inn, well looky who is sitting by the fire! Commander Mograine, Tirion Fordring, Arcanist Doan, Fairbanks, Abbendis, Isillien and they’re talking about the Scourge in Northrend. Oh, what’s in that box they pulled out, a dark crystal? They’re casting light spells at it. Oh my, it’s turned brighter. Ashbringer… the beginning!
By tamc on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 am
The castle of stormwind ( which can be seen from the ‘command center’ in sw) is way bigger than when you can actually go into. why is one of the most influential leaders of the alliance on the openly accessable first floor instead of a well protected tower throne room on like the 5th floor ><
it would make the achievement [for the horde] a lot harder xD
By Blight on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
I like the Fire Marshal Bill Reference in Area 52. There is a goblin named Bill .
At one point there is a dialog involving him, but I can seem to find it anywhere. I’m pretty sure he gets burnt though. I believe the dialog is triggered by a quest.
I liked the NPC Mayor Quimby in the DK quests.
Oh, I did just notice a change to the Totem Relics for Shaman, they apparently count as all 4 totems… I have no idea when this change went in, but then again, I haven’t played my Shaman (until recently) for about 6 months or so. (Further research indicates this was done in 3.0.2 patch)
By Blight on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Huh, okay… HTML tags are recognized… at least some of em are (I hope it’s limited.)
Anyhow that’s supposed to be Bill <B.O.O.M. Fire Marshal>.