GAME

World of Warcraft "s new Chains of Domination update for the Shadowlands expansion features an entirely new mount. It"s massive, ancient tree you can ride and tromp around on WoTLK Gold. Finally. It"s the most anticipated part of this update (I have been joking at times).

At BlizzConline I spoke to WoW principal game creator Jeremy Feasel about this mount as well as the story behind it and why it"s unique and how it"s connected to the wider story of WoW.

World of Warcraft : Shadowlands: Chains of Domination

Blizzard launched a player survey a while ago, asking players what they"d like to see from a new mount, and allowing them to decide what the new mount is. The goal was to work closely with players in a unique approach to make players feel more connected to Azeroth and the World of Warcraft universe. The other choices on the list included a giant book you could ride, a kitty composed of jelly, a caterpillar as well as an unsettling spider.

It was the Wandering Ancient was the most popular selection the Feasel team, he said. "By the largest margin everywhere, the giant walking tree took the prize," he said.

The fans of The Lord of the Rings are likely familiar with big walking trees and the Ents But it"s not just the Ents. Ancients are also an important part of the World of Warcraft lore and Night Elves specifically.

"There"s this mythology of being able to ride in the top of a massive forest," The Feasel spokesman said of the representation of giant walking trees in movies like The Lord of the Rings. "But also, Night Elves have this long and extensive lore about ancient protection and ... it extends all the way into buy WoTLK Classic Gold. I think there"s a sect of the player base that"s always been wishing to ride one of these beasts. They finally did it."