Ever since the speculation began to fly at MMO-Champion about the Cataclysm, I’ve been mulling it over.  When the official announcement came, mulling became something more like debating.  My initial reaction was shock that they could destroy Azeroth.  I’ve been playing since Summer 2005, I’ve leveled a heck of a lot of toons (not always to 60, 70, 80… and surely not always to 85), so I’m a bit attached to Azeroth just as it is!

My secondary reaction was sadness that there are people who, if they begin after Cataclysm, will never know my Azeroth. Yes, my Azeroth!!  The Azeroth where Desolace is desolate, where Ashenvale isn’t a ruin, where the Barrens is one big horde zone, where STV isn’t half volcano, where the Alliance still own Southshore and goblins are still the cute little critters that greet you cheerfully with “Keep it real.”  You know, our Azeroth.

Now, after I’ve had enough time to both mull and debate, I’ve come to the realization that 1.) Azeroth doesn’t belong to (just) me, and 2.) I’ve seen this game evolve and change and become more awesome by the year.  Some changes I agreed with, others I didn’t, but  Cataclysm is game evolution, it’s the natural course of the world, and who am I to throw stones at that?

This, of course, led me to recall some of the more memorable changes that’ve occurred since I began playing, changes like:

• Weather – There was no rain, no snow, no sandstorms… nothing.
• Linked FP – You had to land at each stop before pressing on.
• Linked AH – Ironforge (aka Lagforge) sported the only Alliance AH.
• Raid Markers – Guessing at kill order wasn’t as fun as it sounds.
• Tier 1/2 was considered “well geared” back then.
• Realm Transfers – Didn’t like your realm? Re-roll.
• Instant mail between toon on the same account – Awesome!
• Mage tables – need I say more!

It also led me down the darker path, thinking about some of the things that’ve happened in the last 4+ years since I began that’ve been not so good.  Things like:

• Hackers
• Gold sellers/spammers
• 1 hour wait time on AH sells
• Removal of the LFG channel, leading to massive Trade channel spam
• Fail, fail in-game voice chat

Then there are all the changes that’ve occurred in class mechanics and classes doing things they never could/would before, leading to questions like this:

• What do you mean ret pally’s aren’t LOL anymore?
• Druids are viable end-game tanks, now?
• Shadow priests are viable DPS, really?

So much has happened, so much I can’t possibly put down here because there would be no end in sight.  I remember the day weather came to Azeroth, the day I stood in Ashenvale and watched it rain until it stopped.  I remember the first time I made a mad dash (along with everyone else) to the front of Ironforge so I could see snow falling.  I remember the first time I saw a sandstorm in Tanaris.  I remember the first time I used the AH in Stormwind, it was nearly empty.  I remember when I was able to first fly all the way from Light’s Hope Chapel to Booty Bay with no stops.  I remember the joy raid markers brought and the chaos they expelled.  I remember being sad the first time someone told me Mae was only good for buffs and food.  I remember when Loveth rolled a Shadow Priest and out DPS’d everyone in Kara.  I remember being hacked by some asshat.  I remember the first time I had to wait for my gold after selling something on the AH.  I remember it all.

So many changes, so much evolution, and the game is better today than the day I began.  Take my Azeroth, our Azeroth, Blizzard and do what you will to it.  While it won’t stop me from feeling sorrow for those who come after the Cataclysm, I’ll keep playing, keep experiencing, and keep looking forward to all the new-old content.  More than anything, I’ll keep looking forward to the renewed thrill of  hearing “VanCleef pay big for your heads!” on heroic.

…(¨`·.·´¨)
…..`·.¸.·Maeleigh