Warcraft Less Traveled : A World of Warcraft Podcast

Episode #83: Everyone loves a good ghost story… especially in Azeroth. Our journey brings us to the ancient halls of Blackrock Mountain and into Forgewright’s Tomb subzone @(20.6,28.8). All explorers have the opportunity to visit a hidden NPC ghost, Franclorn Forgewright. This forgotten, level 60 Dark Iron dwarf once played an important role as a […]

Episode #82: Daring adventurers have traveled through the Dark Portal, explored the entirety of Draenor, and constructed a personal garrison… Yet have you pondered the meaning behind the mysterious grave in Shadowmoon Valley? Located in the subzone of Lunarfall at coordinates @(40.3, 69.7), a solitary gray-colored stone can be found. Resting at the base of […]

Episode #81: While exploring the northern coastlines of the Kun-Lai Summit zone, explorers should look skyward to catch sight of a wandering NPC named Lon’li Guju. This level 88, flying giant sea tortoise is friendly to both factions. The angelic-winged Lon’li Guju is a special in-game memorial to Lonesome George, the last of his subspecies […]

Episode #80: Nested high in one of the isolated mountain regions of Pandaria, explorers can discover a noteworthy subzone called The Secret Aerie. Although accessible with a flying mount, game designers created a way for lost adventurers to make the beautiful journey into this hidden area entirely by foot. The Secret Aerie is home to […]

Episode #79: Inside the Shado-Pan Monastery 5-man instance, a mysterious graveyard conceals the location of 2 invisible NPCs, a stone shrine, and a hidden spell buff. Found on a southwestern-central mountain cliff at coordinates (46,65), the instanced Shado-Pan Monastery hides an ornately-decorated Pandaran graveyard. Explorers to this far-removed area can discover two “Shado-Pan Assassin” NPCs, […]

Episode #78: Off the coast of the Dreadwastes zone, an enormous NPC, named Gokk’lok, conceals a secret. This neutral, elite rare clam is found in the subzone titled the Gokk’lok Shallows at coordinates (27, 16). Although Gokk’lok shows no signs of aggression, any adventurer who attempts to attack this creature will need to defend off […]

Episode #77: Tales of wicked seduction exist in the lands of Azeroth. With each expansion in WoW, various Steamy Romance Novels have been introduced for players to find. With a total of 7 different volumes in all, the Steamy Romance Novels are readable, gray-quality books with very… um.. risque topics. For many years, most novels […]

Episode #76: On a small island (coordinates 18,70), off the southwestern coast of Krasarang Wilds, a mighty guardian NPC elite named Cro’akan protects the defenseless critters that live upon the island. Located west of the Cradle of Chi-Ji, this island is empty of quests, NPCs, or known achievements. However, this emerald island is populated by […]

Episode #75: Found off the southern Krasarang Wilds coast, atop a rocky hill on Marista Island, a strange scene awaits every Pandaren explorer. Surrounded by seven small skeletons, a large metal hatch can be discovered (coordinates 52,73). Hidden next to the hatch, a special gray-quality item called Stack of Papers, can be looted from the […]

Episode #74: Over the years, Azeroth fisherman have reeled in a great number of interesting items… mostly trash, yet sometimes treasure. The crowning jewel for any angler is the incredibly elusive, ultra-rare item called The 5 Ring. This ring follows in a line of similar fishing-only discoveries: The 1 Ring and The 2 Ring. The […]

Episode #73: Ezra “Phoenix” Chatterton, at the age of 10, was a heroic boy who fulfilled his dream of becoming a Blizzard game developer through the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2007. During his magical day at Blizzard, Ezra helped design the Merciless Gladiators Crossbow of the Phoenix. Although originally appearing in game with the Season 2 […]

Episode #72: Submerged under the Fizzle and Pozzik Steambarge in Thousand Needles, explorers of Azeroth can discover a very secluded goblin hideout. Complete with table, chairs, bubbling beverages, floating seahorse raft, and pinup calendar – this hidden room may have once been used by relaxing goblin boat-builders. Although this secret location (coordinates 77,74) has no […]

Episode #71: Throughout the history of WoW, many legendary items have existed in game for players to acquire from epic quests and achievements. However, a small number of Blizzard GM (game master) items have been uncovered and prove to be the most elusive of all. Discovered in the WoW Armory, Crafty’s Pole grants the Azeroth […]

Episode #70: Isolated on a small island in the middle of Bittertide Lake, explorers can discover a mysterious glowing hatch. Found at Sholazar Basin coordinates 38,37 – this metallic trap door is not tied to a quest chain or achievements. Closer inspection, using a mouse-over, reveals the numbers “5 9 16 17 24 43″ etched […]

Episode #69 Lost Adventurers Journal: The Citizens of Lordaeron were betrayed by their Crowned Prince, Arthas. Years later, the empty courtyard of the Ruins of Lordaeron still hold their tortured souls. Explorers who venture into this dark courtyard, found above the present day Undercity, have the opportunity to find the hidden NPCs called the Lordaeron […]

Episode #68: Gillijim’s Isle was an original subzone that existed during the alpha-testing of WoW. Along with the Island of Doctor Lapidis, this small tropical island was never officially released into Azeroth. Although the island’s name may have been a playful reference to the popular tv show called Gilligan’s Island, the Blizzard developers may have […]

Episode #67: The Island of Doctor Lapidis and Gillijim’s Isle are two forgotten subzones that never made it past the early alpha-testing of World of Warcraft. Found in the fatigue waters off the southwestern Stranglethorn Vale coast, the Island of Doctor Lapidis may have been an early attempt for Troll-specific leveling (originally marked for levels […]

Episode #66 Lost Adventurers Journal: Found in the Duskwood village of Raven Hill, a number of invisible specters haunt the shadows. The ghostly creatures, called The Unseen, are unknown to most players in Azeroth today. Only explorers who use detect invisibility (or similar) spells will have the opportunity to witness this hidden NPC in game. […]

Episode #65: A handful of very rare Damp Diary Pages (Day 4, Day 87, Day 512) can be found by an avid Azeroth fisherman. Contained inside a mundane Message In A Bottle, each Damp Diary Page strings together a colorful story of a castaway, shipwrecked on an island filled with bananas. Curious explorers may question […]

Episode #64 Lost Adventurers Journal: A number of mysterious things are found throughout the Darkmoon Faire. Yet, explorers of all levels can acquire a pair of souvenirs that share a common theme… ponies! Learn how to earn the I Was Promised a Pony achievement for riding a special faire pony and how to fish up […]

Episode #63 Timecapsule: Above the present-day Undercity, the Ruins of Lordaeron have preserved its tragic history for all to discover. Years earlier, a corrupted Arthas returned home to murder his father, King Terenas. Instead of being their hero, upon his return, the celebration presented by the Lordaeron citizens was turned to sorrow. Explorers of the […]

Episode #62 Timecapsule: A long-forgotten quest, found off the coast of Stanglethorn Vale, offers explorers a chance to rescue a level 42 Tauren Princess. Yet, this won’t be easy. Courageous heroes must first find a Message In A Bottle – buried somewhere along the sandy beach. Once in hand, the message will lead adventurers on […]

Episode #61 Timecapsule: A pair of solitary destinations can be easily overlooked in the beautiful zone of Nagrand. High up on one of its floating islands, a lone apple tree and skeleton are often considered a “Blizzard tribute” to Sir Isaac Newton. Requiring a flying mount (found southwest of the Throne of Elements), the Newton […]

Episode #60 Timecapsule: A bizarre destination is hidden high in the hills of northern Nagrand. Found at coordinates (51,14), the Nagrand Orphanage is home to an NPC troll named Challe. Visitors to this remote vista will discover that Challe is watching over a great number of babies from both factions – orc, night elf, troll, […]

Episode #59 Timecapsule: The journey continues in this second part of Skolnick’s travel to Blizzcon 2011. Companionship is discovered with friends from both factions: Hasteur and Apsana from the Alliance, Cow and OldScratch from the Horde. The quest to find the Grand Archmage Morhaime within the Blizzcon convention center was a difficult one. Inside the […]

Episode #58 Timecapsule: Having the opportunity to visit Blizzcon this year, Skolnick the Lost prepared this whimsical travel summary of his initial findings. The Anaheim “zone” had the perfect weather and gathering of gamers for the event. The initial night of the trip was spent with the wonderful crew at the WoW Insider live party […]

Episode #57 Timecapsule: Lake Dumont is a secret subzone hidden in the mountains of northern Feralas. Appearing only after the Cataclysm, explorers of this area will need a flying mount to get over the high mountain ridge to reach this valley. In the center of Lake Dumont, an unnamed island is found. A few of […]

Episode #56 Timecapsule: Orgrimmar has a handful of secret and obscure features that may not be known to a casual WoW player. Beneath the playable floor of the main bank, an unseen goblin named Mezlik is found organizing the city gold and treasure. In addition, an icon of Disney – a hidden Mickey Mouse symbol […]

Episode #55 Timecapsule: Introduced in the southern mountains of Feralas with patch 4.1, the Gadgetzan Goblins have founded a hidden “vacation” destination called The Steam Pools Resort. Run by gobin Resort Director Lasha Gearwheel, the Steam Pools is a well designed subzone @(70,73) that is formed around a number of warm mountain lakes. The resort […]

Episode #54 Timecapsule: Found in a secluded valley below the snow-capped mountains, explorers can discover the location of the “Dun Morogh Tree”. Situated not far from this unique Dun Morogh Tree, at coordinates (30.7, 25.7), a dwarven campsite has been overrun by a family of black bear. These black bear, a type found only in […]

Episode #53 Timecapsule: Besides the bizarre Faerie Mushroom Circle found in its center, the subzone of Whispering Forest contains a handful of other mysterious things that all Azeroth explorers should make time to investigate. These include a solitary Tirisfal Bear patrolling the southern mountain range, an abandoned fishing camp on the lake’s small island, and […]

Episode #52 Timecapsule: The subzone of Whispering Forest, in the Tirisfal Glades zone, holds a mysterious destination and in-game event. A strange ring of glowing mushrooms can be found on the forest floor at coordinates @(17,68). At this location, seven Fey-Drunk Darters (Faerie Dragons) occasionally appear outside the ring of mushrooms. Patient explorers are given […]

Episode #51 Timecapsule: The Northrend zone of Grizzly Hills is rich in beauty and design. Two hidden, interesting scenes can be found deep in this rustic forest. The first curious thing explorers can discover is the Azeroth version of the popular story of “Bambi”. Near the Alliance Brigade Encampment, a group of forest friends patrols […]

Episode #50 Timecapsule: One of Cataclysm’s rarest flying mounts in game can only be found from Aeonaxx, a rare elite drake that spawns in the zone of Deepholm. When brave adventurers defeat Aeonaxx, their hard work is rewarded with the Reins to the Phosphorescent Stone Drake. So rare is Aeonaxx, players who desire this mount […]

Episode #49 Timecapsule: After the Shattering of Azeroth, an interesting change occurred at the hidden gravesite of Beggar’s Haunt. Found in northeastern Duskwood (at coordinates 90,30), explorers will find an elite NPC spawn called The Unknown Soldier. With no known quest or lore ties in Azeroth, this mysterious creature may be a symbol of all […]

Episode #48 Timecapsule: Introduced in a recent patch, Stendel’s Bane is a very rare catfish found in the zone of Westfall. Swallowed by this giant fish, two possible rewards found inside Stendel’s Bane are the Aquadynamic Fish Lens and Reinforced Fishing Line. This catfish is the only remaining place that these two rewards can be […]

Episode #47 Timecapsule: The large goblin statue at Janeiro’s Point island has been a fixture in the Booty Bay lagoon for years. Created in his own likeness, Baron Revilgaz built the statue to enhance his place as ‘ruler’ over the pirate port city. The recent WoW Shattering of Azeroth has revealed an interesting surprise inside […]

Episode #46 Timecapsule: Named after Hermit Ortell, the secret mountain cave in eastern Dun Morogh was once titled Ortell’s Hideout. Not to be confused with WoW’s original “Ortell’s Hideout” cave found in Silithus, this mysterious Dun Morogh location was seen by very few players before the Cataclysm. Since the Shattering, the cave still exists in […]

Episode #45 Timecapsule: Aside from hosting a single low-level quest and providing an inexpensive way to travel between Ironforge and Stormwind, the Deeprun Tram is also home to a few rarely seen creatures. In the subterranean-lake portion of the tunnel, the water hides a Naga Siren, a Basking Shark, a gnomish Deeprun Diver, and a […]

Episode #44 Timecapsule: Deep under Ironforge, would you believe that the goblins have constructed a carnival and amusement park? Only today, do I feel comfortable enough to share one of these least seen destinations in Azeroth. The only access point down into this goblin amusement park is through a wild waterslide that starts in the […]

Episode #43 Timecapsule: A journey into the original Old Ironforge subzone is an unforgettable experience. The large, circular cavern contains a majestic, purple-jeweled ceiling… its crystals glowing and pulsing from an unknown source. Beautifully carved stone bridges and natural gray pathways span the lava-filled cave floor. A high platform in the center of the Old […]

Episode #42 Timecapsule: Old Ironforge is one of the most mysterious ‘closed’ sub-zones in the world of Azeroth. Although never officially part of the playable game of WoW, Old Ironforge was released in the ‘vanilla’ game world in 2004. Through the years, the hidden cavern of Old Ironforge has been the target for many curious […]

Episode #41 Timecapsule: In the earliest days of WoW, a fiery NPC named Mountaineer Pebblebitty @(18,84) used to start explorers down the road to discovering a prized shortcut through the southern Loch Modan mountains. This long forgotten quest chain allowed explorers the chance to battle an elite thunder lizard named Margol the Rager. Only after […]

Episode #40 Timecapsule: Found in the zone of Westfall, a rare treasure map can lead an eager explorer on a quest to find Captain Sander’s buried treasure chest. For many, the Captain Sander’s Shirt is the ultimate swashbuckling prize found at the end of this entertaining quest chain. [ Direct MP3 Download ] [ iTunes […]

Episode #39 Timecapsule: Alicia’s Poem is another hidden quest that pays tribute to the memory of a real-life player, Dak Krause. Designed in his honor, this poem is based on ‘Do not stand at my grave and weep’, written by Mary Elizabeth Frye. During Valentines week, no time is better for visiting Alicia in Stormwind […]

Episode #38 Timecapsule: Netherstorm hides a secret. Floating off the southern land mass, in the crumbling wastes, a glowing blue shrine beckons investigation. The Shrine of Nova Terra (at coordinates 41, 82) is a final Blizzard tribute to the game that never was – Starcraft:Ghost. Not only is this WoW secret area a reference to […]

Episode #37 Timecapsule: Hidden in a shallow alcove on the southern cliff of Hellfire Peninsula, a solitary skeleton can be found holding a Jar of Ashes. This ornate jar (found at coordinates 45, 87), contains a detailed note etches on its surface. Are these ashes a lonely in-game memorial to a former Blizzard employee, Tseric? […]

Episode #36 Timecapsule: High up in a secluded mountain plateau of northwestern Mulgore, the ordinary critters of Azeroth have gone to war with one another. With a little patience, explorers have the opportunity to witness this very bizarre scene for themselves. Regular critters mutate in size, equip battle gear, and attack each other. When this […]

Episode #35 Timecapsule: Earning the mysterious Reins of the Grey Camel Mount is a monumental feat for all Azeroth explorers. This elusive riding mount can only be obtained by finding one of Uldum’s Mysterious Camel Figurines, teleporting to the secret Steam Pools sub-zone, and defeating a WoW World mini-boss, named Dormus the Camel Hoarder. With […]

Episode #34 Timecapsule: Below the Maw of the Void, the massive whirlpool in the Darkshore zone, an explorer can discover a hidden cave. Within the secret cave, a solitary demon hunter provides players an opportunity to earn a lesser known achievement, “Ghosts in the Dark”. [ Direct MP3 Download ] [ iTunes Feed ] [ […]

Episode #33 Timecapsule: High above the Elwynn Forest Waterfalls, explorers of less traveled Azeroth can find a solitary cabin, a mysterious gnome Agee Tyler, and an ordinary flock of sheep. But all is not as it seems! One sheep – named Tekton - is not only mechanical, but hides an explosive secret if attacked. This […]