We have jumped into the alpha of Battle for Azeroth and are showing first impressions. What WoW now has to do with Witcher 3, we reveal in the article.
Meanwhile, we have also ventured into the alpha version of the latest expansion of World of Warcraft and gathered first impressions of the Alliance.
On Kul Tiras, the continent of the Alliance in Battle for Azeroth, we have taken our first steps and want to give you an impression. But first, a “small” warning – there are of course spoilers about the new addon.
Battle for Azeroth is not a PR-alpha
Alpha and beta tests have long ceased to serve the purpose of an actual test in the gaming industry. In most cases, they are PR actions that grant anyone who wants it a few days of access to the game.
With World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, this is not the case. Entire areas are still impassable. Only a small part of the quests is available. NPCs sell no or only “placeholder” items and are often not in their houses but directly outside, as there is no interior yet. Entire streets are still uninhabited and at every corner, you can fall through textures. Often, textures are even completely missing, leading to such scenes:
Therefore, the warning: Everything you see here is still in a very early stage. It lacks refinement – and sometimes also significantly lacks coarse refinement.
Boralus – A port in the grip of the great houses
In Boralus lies the largest port of Kul Tiras and there begins the journey of the Alliance. The nation under the leadership of Katherine Proudmoore must be convinced to join the Alliance. Because only with the powerful fleet of Kul Tiras would there be a chance against the Horde.
Power in Boralus is divided between two large noble houses. While Proudmoore controls the military, including the navy and the city guards, the wealth lies mainly with House Ashvane. The “Ashvane Trading Company” has many exclusive contracts with the nation of Kul Tiras and virtually controls all trade and production of most goods. Most of the rogue groups and gangs of the cities are also funded by Ashvane.
And exactly the schemes of House Ashvane are also the beginning of the journey…
Child labor for the weapons industry
The first missions in Tiragarde Sound revolve around a mysterious, new gunpowder with devastating effects. A few spies from the Alliance have found out that this gunpowder is produced by the Ashvanes – however, it is not delivered to the nation of Kul Tiras. The suspicion of corruption is close, which is why the player must investigate this matter.
Upon arriving at the mines, the ruthlessness with which House Ashvane operates is revealed. Orphaned children are picked up from the streets and forced to work in the mines. There is virtually no food, and anyone taking a small break is beaten by one of the overseers.
Child labor under compulsion for arms production – a sensitive topic that Warcraft addresses here.
After the children are rescued, we try to find out together with our contact Flynn Fairwind where the gunpowder is being shipped. As audacious as the Ashvanes are, they seem to be shipping the crates simply over a port of the Proudmoores. Together with Flynn, we sneak onto the smuggler’s ship to find out where the powder is being taken.
But it does not come to that. During the crossing, beautiful songs are heard, and the male crew of the ship goes wild. Sirens have attacked the ship and caused it to run aground. Flynn was also seduced by a siren and abducted – here our quest journey ends for today.
A flair like in The Witcher 3
During the first one to two hours in Tiragarde Sound, some comparisons are inevitably striking. The area strongly resembles Skellige from Witcher 3 in terms of “feeling” and in the best way. The cliffs with the roaring sea, sirens falling over sailors, shady relics and strange rituals as well as doom proclaimers from strange sea priests. The atmosphere fits – although in many places the soundtrack is still completely missing.
Small details that already impress
Although many objects in Kul Tiras are still missing and the areas are incomplete, some beautiful details stand out. There are numerous new NPC animations that make the world look livelier and more convincing. Men and women often lean casually against a wall or sit in a relaxed pose on a cart. A woman with a willow basket does not simply clutch it with her hand, but actually carries it tucked under her arm. These small details will pay off.
Blizzard still has about 6 months to transform the alpha into a beta and then into a release-ready version.
What would you like to see from the alpha of Battle for Azeroth, and what would you like to read more about? Would you like to read more about quests and story? Are you interested in the appearance of the areas? Are you craving small details? Let us know in the comments, and maybe we will take a closer look at your desired topic tomorrow!
Don’t want to miss any news about Battle for Azeroth? Then leave a like on our Mein-MMO-WoW Facebook page!
