Merchant's Guide to Orgrimmar

Orgrimmar is the orc capital city and the capital city of the Horde territories. Also the current political capital, the incumbent Warchief Garrosh Hellscream is based here. It is the hub of the Horde's extensive zeppelin network and sees the bulk of adventurer traffic among all Horde capitals.

This combination of factors give Orgrimmar a high potential for lucrative business. It is large enough to boast five trade districts, each characterised by the architecture of the races that dominate their populations.

Goblin Slums

The Goblin Slums consist the goblin district in Orgrimmar. Dwellings are cloth tarpaulins supported by either branches or metal beams. Rudimentary waste disposal and a crude oil extraction operation has left the pond slicked with run-off seeping into downstream Valley of Spirits. Fishers are advised not to consume fish, especially endemic Toxic Puddlefish, caught from these waters.

How to Catch Crawfish

As part of the Cooking daily quest (daily) Crawfish Creole, the player is required to "catch [sic]" Muddy Crawfish. Due to the likelihood of a player's doing it with the day's Fishing daily, they may interpret the instruction incorrectly.

When a person obtains a fish using a fishing rod, they are said to 'catch' it. In the circumstances, the player may apply that same definition to the word as used in the quest text. Of course, doing so is erroneous.

To interpret the instructions correctly, the player must read it somewhat more literally. The literal meaning of 'catch' does not imply the use of a fishing rod, in which case, the player is encouraged to use their hands (as they would for a slow-moving ball in flight).

A baseball can (literally) be caught using a special mitt.

Technically, the Muddy Crawfish NPC is to be looted in order to obtain the namesake item for the quest. Mousing over the NPC model reveals that it can be looted. To catch it ingame, the player must enter looting range and right-click.

EDIT 14Nov11: Appended hard copy version.

Azeroth Mass Transit Network Map [Map]

With the portals in Dalaran and Shattrath removed as part of patch 4.0.3a, there will be much greater use of Azeroth's slower transportation network. The following map serves as a reference for mass transit services provided to citizens of the Alliance and Horde.

The style used in the map departs from traditional methods of accurately charting landmasses and routes; instead, it aims for simplicity. It has been inspired by the highly stylised representations of real-life transportation networks, characterised by straight lines, highly simplified geographic features and regularly spaced nodes.

Notices

• Auberdine: The recent Shattering has decimated Auberdine. All nautical activities have been moved to Rut'theran Village in Teldrassil. Darkshore can be reached by private taxi to Lor'danel.

The Faction with Deeve Spairs [Interview Transcript]

The world of Azeroth faces great upheaval, much of which political. Join me, Deeve Spairs, as we talk to representatives from both the Alliance and Horde, to shed some light on the pressing issues facing both factions and, most importantly, how our leaders will tackle the uncertain future ahead. Watch The Faction, only on Critically Analyse.

22nd day of 11(1) ES 33, hard embargo – immediate release
N.B. Spoilers for World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm after the jump

Participants

• Deeve Spairs [Deeve]
• Lady Jaina Proudmoore [Jaina]

STATE OF CATACLYSM [News Article]

Fire engulfs Orgrimmar, rebuilding costly due to scarce supplies
Political tensions mount after Thrall appoints Garrosh as acting Warchief prior to vision quest

[Pguinto-Frostmourne-US], 16th day of 11(1) ES 33, hard embargo - immediate release

N.B. Spoilers for Golden, C (2010) (World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm) and strategy guide for the Elemental Invasion after the jump

ORGRIMMAR - A devastating fire tore through Orgrimmar today after the recent dry spell throughout Durotar had escalated the [fire hazard] to alarming [levels]. People throughout the Horde territories worry about political, economic and ecological difficulties stemming from it.

Orgrimmar had suffered an invasion of fire elementals, which caused an inferno that reached calamitous proportions and burned down most of the predominantly wooden architecture. Shaman are still baffled as to the reason for the elements’ disgruntlement.

The fire may be related to the recently foiled [arson] attempts by the Doomsday Cult. They had attempted to use special devices and rituals to mass summon fire elementals to the city.

As part of the fire fighting effort, which literally required monsoonal amounts of water, able shaman arrived at the scene to commune with the fire elementals responsible for the blaze. Thrall, shaman and Warchief of the Horde, personally assisted in the effort.

Repairing the unprecedented damage sustained is challenging given the strain the city's coffers are under from drought and restricted trade with the Alliance.

Prior to the fire, citizens of all major cities had complained of minor ground tremors. It is widely believed that action by the earth elementals, or some other related phenomena, would cause a more major earthquake.

Pictures with Leaders

30th day of 10(1) ES 33

With the Shattering looming ever closer, I figured that now would be a good time to catch up with the Horde's leaders before their worlds are turned upside down. Here I record my travels and the conversations I had with them.

N.B. Spoilers for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and Christie Golden's World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm after the jump

Garrosh Hellscream

• Well known for: Leading the Warsong Offensive in Northrend as Overlord; challenging Thrall's leadership via Mak'gora; losing his composure near Varian Wrynn; being the son of Grommash Hellscream, damner to the original Blood Curse
• Where I found him: (32.81,38.02) Grommash Hold of Orgrimmar, Durotar, Kalimdor, Azeroth.
• What he was doing: Being appointed temporary Warchief by Thrall in a rather plain ceremony