WoW Petopia Community

Personally, I don't think we have anything to worry about in Cataclysm as far as pets go, aside from possibly new skins/families. BUT, seeing as their seem to be a good few people worrying about the zone changes/their favorite pets, I'm doing a Zone by Zone Analysis of any possible rare/unique pets we could lose.

Kalimdor

Ashenvale: Heavier deforestation around the Warsong Lumber Camp causes the orcs to encroach on Silverwind Refuge. Zoram'gar Outpost is reinforced with black iron, similar to the Horde outposts in Northrend. Astranaar becomes the victim of air assaults launched by the Horde.
There should not be any skins that are affected by this change, although Rares that might be missing are:
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mob_ursollok.html
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... owler.html

Azshara: Azshara has been claimed by the goblins (likely as their second zone after the Lost Isles), where they have established a quarry to cut stone for the construction of their towns. The zone is also now directly linked with Orgrimmar.
Rares possibly affected:
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... beard.html
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... charr.html

The Barrens: The Barrens is split in two by great fissures in the land, spouting fiery rivers of lava. The Northern Barrens is a level 10-20 zone, while the Southern Barrens is intended for higher level players. Portions of the Barrens have grown lush thanks to the work of the druid Naralex. The passage into Mulgore has been reinforced by the tauren, with high walls and a gate. This is because the Alliance will be moving into the southern Barrens, constructing several towers and burning down Camp Taurajo.
Rares: http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... elord.html The only black lion until 75ish. He seems to be north enough to be safe from the molten river and high level players.
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mob_echeyakee.html Same as Humar
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mob_dishu.html Again
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... ckler.html Again
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... eaper.html Again
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... uhale.html Again
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... blade.html He is the only rare mob I'm concerned about, he seems to be in southern Barrens, which is getting redesigned. But there are plenty of the skin around, so not a major concern.
Unique Skins: http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/skins/s ... nblue.html Only found in Barrens, also in South Barrens, very concerned for this skin.

Darkshore: Auberdine is destroyed, and the very land torn asunder. The Alliance relocates to a new camp in the Northern end of the zone, while the Horde sets up camp to the South. Shatterspear Village, previously a closed zone, becomes an accessible subzone.
Rares: http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... saber.html Of no real concern to me because most of the damage I've seen is to Auberdine and the Middle of Darkshore, while he remains in the North. Might be more difficult to obtain for Horde with the Alliance moving north, but easier to actually get to, b/c of the new horde camp.
http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... other.html About the same, only in the South, and harder for Alliance to obtain.

Thousand Needles: Will be flooded, with the eastern coastline accessible and the Shimmering Flats becoming a lake; it will be retuned as a level 40-45 zone[18] and will host a dungeon.
Rare: http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... vager.html Not too concerned, because there is another tan Silithid Tamable.

Eastern Kingdom

Western Plaguelands: In the wake of the Lich King's downfall, becomes free of the Plague of Undeath and will likely be renamed to reflect this; will be re-tuned as a level 30-40 zone.
Rares: http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mo ... kbear.html Might get moved, or made into a rare skin. Not sure what to expect, slightly worried about this model (not a huge fan of undead bears though, so might be why only slightly)

Wetlands: Heavily affected by Deathwing's destructive exit from Deepholm, with the Twilight Highlands now opened to the East.
Rares: None that I can find that aren't elsewhere.

+1

Atleast now I can be at ease about some of the pets I don't have room for on my main, but do on my lower level characters.

I've seen Ursollok enough times just outside the graveyard across from Forest Song (Alliance Hub). Seems to be the favourite spawnzone these days. I've not seen the bear anywhere else but there. Last I saw him was I think about a week back on Cleyandra (Saurfang). But with the Warsong Lumber Camp extending outwards, the old fellow might be moved along with it.

Mist Howler's a different story.
On Ysera, on Veejay, I found him occupying one particular spot just off the road to Maestra's Post. On Lazona, I've seen him pathing about near the lake of murlocs (I forget the name, forgive me, it's 6am here). Whereas on Kas, second I walked past the alliance NPC camped there, Mist Howler was heading around that way on his daily stroll. It appears to be that Mist has very different paths and spawnzones depending on the server you're on. That may have something to do with the leadup to Cata.

In my experience on Saurfang, Dishu's usually proper (and single) spawnzone has been moved to just outside the Crossroads. Whilst she still spawns at her old original point, I've been seeing her at this new one more times than I can count now. It may be that they've permanently moved her in that direction from where the river of molten lava comes crashing through her old one.

The Ghost Saber has me a touch worried, given the Cataclysm Trailer. With all that widespread devastation, what has me concerned is the state of those Ruins where the figurines appear. The Naga occupy there already...post-Cata, not sure, but if the risen ruins elsewhere in the zone are either restored to some degree or destroyed further, the cat figurines may or may not cease to exist altogether. Knowing Blizzard, they may find a way to incorporate this loss into perhaps a quest chain or a quest that ends with a tameable pet for both factions, much like what they changed the Sian/Shy-Rotam quest into.

Early days yet, but server to server, things are changing. Some spawn zones aren't yielding the results they did anymore, and new ones seem to be cropping up a lot. May be part of Blizzard's plan for Cata, or it may just be me.

As much as I am slightly eager for Cataclysm to come, I am concerned of how much the lands we have been so used to traveling through for ever since WoW began are going to change dramatically. I've always enjoyed traveling through the Barrens, 1K Needles, even Tanaris, and those places will not be the same once Cataclysm hits the streets. Imagining the Barrens (which I always thought looks like Africa) completely devastated by an active volcano actually hurts.

Despite the infamous Barrens chat, I've always loved the Barrens. It reminds me of the African Savannah too. I love the lion prides and wandering giraffes. So, I am sad that it will be altered so much. Another zone I'm fond of that's getting "overhauled" is Darkshore. It's so peaceful there, and Auberine is such a cool little town. Granted, the "run back and forth ad infinitum ad nauseum" questing is grating, but, as a higher level, it's nice to go wander around and relax there. Yep, I'm a WoW tourist. And "landscape photographer." Thousand Needles..such a unique zone. Sad to see it go. It seems like they are trashing my favorite places. At least I've got my "memento" pets and some good screenies, but still...

Teigan wrote:It seems like they are trashing my favorite places.

Hopefully they will also be adding some new favorite places.

Hopefully they will also be adding some new favorite places.

I am really excited about Desolace! It won't be "desolate" anymore, it seems.

I think it will be cool to get new land, but the Barrens was my boredom spot, when I had nothing to do I went there and fought off the occasional attacker of the crossroads, or just go mess around. I will miss it.