World of Warcraft Content Galore

The Internet coverage of the ongoing World of Warcraft beta continues, with a new preview at GameSpy:

It also helps that the world is quite small for an MMO. Rather than being a detriment, though, this actually makes the entire experience feel tighter. Running across the entirety of the Night Elf starting area only takes a few minutes. Running from one end of the giant Elvish World Tree that serves as the Night Elf homeland takes less than 20 minutes. In fact, everything about the MMO experience has been tightened up in World of Warcraft. Recharging your health or mana only takes about 45 seconds, not the 5 minutes other MMOs require. The combat system is fast and furious, dying gives you the option to run back to your body as a (very speedy) ghost or take a minor experience point hit to resurrect in a village. It feels almost as responsive and involving as a single player game.

Another preview at GameZone Online:

As players use a weapon, their skill goes up in that category. A rogue, pulling off a particularly nasty combination attack, may see skill levels go up in daggers, dual wield and assassination. Warlocks will have skill advancement is shadow magic, and warriors will improve battle stances, shield as well as melee weapon skills. Warrior is also one race that arrives in Azeroth with the ability to wear chain armor. A paladin has to train that particular attribute. It seems likely that while other races have to wait until level 20 to attain bow skills, the hunter will arrive with that skill.

Additionally, you can find some new screenshots at XPD8 and installment #7 and installment #8 of RPGVault’s World of Warcraft screenshots feature.