Summary
- Release Year: 2014
- Genres: Adventure, Role-playing game (RPG), Strategy
- Platforms: Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Blizzard Entertainment
- Publishers: Activision Blizzard
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor is the fifth expansion to Blizzard Entertainment’s massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft. It was released on November 13, 2014. The expansion is set in the world of Draenor, the homeworld of the orcs and the setting of the original Warcraft strategy games.
Story
Warlords of Draenor tells the story of an alternate timeline in which the orcs of Draenor were not corrupted by the Burning Legion. Instead, they remained a noble and shamanistic people, led by their chieftain, Garrosh Hellscream. However, Garrosh’s lust for power eventually led him to make a pact with the Iron Horde, a powerful army of orcs and other creatures from across Draenor.
The Iron Horde invaded Azeroth through the Dark Portal, and the heroes of the Alliance and Horde were forced to travel to Draenor to stop them. Players create new characters and level them up to 100 as they fight their way through Draenor, completing quests and dungeons and ultimately confronting Garrosh Hellscream himself.
Features
Warlords of Draenor introduced a number of new features to World of Warcraft, including:
- Level cap raised to 100: Players could now level their characters up to level 100, gaining new abilities and talents along the way.
- Boost to level 90: Players who had not yet reached level 90 could purchase a boost to level 90, allowing them to skip the leveling process and jump right into the new content.
- Updated player character models and improved models in general: The player character models were updated to be more detailed and realistic, and the models for many of the game’s creatures and objects were also improved.
- Build and upgrade your own Garrison: Players could now build and upgrade their own Garrison, a personal fortress that served as a hub for their activities in Draenor. Garrisons could be customized with a variety of buildings and decorations, and they provided players with access to a number of benefits, such as crafting stations, vendors, and a bank.
- Account-wide heirlooms: Heirlooms were items that could be passed down from one character to another, providing them with bonuses to experience and other stats. In Warlords of Draenor, heirlooms became account-wide, meaning that they could be used by any character on the player’s account.
- Class-specific perks: Each class in World of Warcraft received a number of class-specific perks in Warlords of Draenor, such as new abilities, talents, and passives. These perks helped to differentiate the classes from one another and provided players with more customization options.
Reception
Warlords of Draenor received generally positive reviews from critics. The expansion was praised for its engaging story, beautiful graphics, and innovative features. However, some critics felt that the endgame content was lacking and that the leveling process was too grindy.
Overall, Warlords of Draenor was a solid expansion that added a lot of new content and features to World of Warcraft. The expansion was well-received by players and critics alike, and it helped to revitalize the game.
Legacy
Warlords of Draenor is considered to be one of the best expansions in World of Warcraft’s history. The expansion introduced a number of new features that have become staples of the game, such as Garrisons and account-wide heirlooms. The story of Warlords of Draenor also had a major impact on the lore of World of Warcraft, and it set the stage for the events of the Legion expansion.
Conclusion
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor is a must-play for fans of the MMORPG genre. The expansion offers a compelling story, beautiful graphics, and innovative features. Whether you’re a new player or a veteran of World of Warcraft, you’re sure to find something to enjoy in Warlords of Draenor.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
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