Azeroth After Cataclysm - All Change Please

Azeroth Flying Skill

It was perhaps the most asked for feature in Warcraft. The ability to fly in Azeroth. Well now were getting it. But what does this actually mean..
Well, firstly, Azeroth isnt the place it was. I dont know about you but when I pictured myself flying through the original Azeroth I thought of the benefits, for example;

Farming low level material on a mount
Doing quest lines I had not done before (perhaps for rep)
Swooping over new players head going whoopee I can fly
Exploring some of those areas that always looked so cool. Like the Dun Moragh airfield.

Well, if any of those things were high on your list as well, you might be in for a little disappointment, because other than farming low level materials (not the most interesting thing to do at the best of times) the rest of my wish list is pretty much not going to happen.

Nothing is fixed yet but

For the 4.0 patch (not Cataclysm itself, but the Cataclysm patch that will be released at the time) We can expect the following to be considered.

Maximum level for Quests.

A bit of a U turn if this happens. Its part of Blizzards drive to make every players experience unique. If you spend your time questing and levelling in one area then certain other routes may be closed to you. The quest givers may simply not be available to you. The thinking being, that once you reach 85, you will have had a quite different experience to others by dint of the choices you make on the way.
Personally Im not a fan of this. Back in 2,4 Blizzard decided to give rep for quests done at any level even adding the Low level quest tracker It would be a shame if this was removed

Swooping for Kudos.

Yes, while you will be able to do this (it probably says more about me and some in built insecurities I have, than about anything else) It WILL cost an arm, and then, probably both legs as well. So horde leveling or dk leveling may never be the same again.

The latest ? Factional air space licences. Potentially 5000g per licence or 25,000g for the lot in one go. 25000g !!
Also, with the riding crop and other flying speed buffs being whacked some time ago, expect either a new level of flying mount OR a very expensive buff to replace the old ones. While ground mounts were given a good boost inWotLK, especially with items such as the Hog and the Travellers Tundra Mammoth (the shop on legs). Expect the same for flying mounts in 4.0

Adoring the explorin

Again, while you can go anywhere, the any where you were looking forward to seeingwont be there. Such is the scale of changes in Azeroth, that most of those curios and landmarks that have always piqued your interest will be wiped away.

I hope there are more areas that are just around the corner You see, while going anywhere and seeing everything is great having that bit of mystery the opportunity to make your own guesses as to the lore behind these hidden or inaccessible places added a great deal of charm for me.

One last point. Every leveling bot you ever heard of will no longer work. Period.

So a mixed blessing for many,
But then Im the guy who wanted to swoop over newbies...