In 2003 a blue post on the World of Warcraft Forums revealed a breakdown of the progression of future game regions, but was later removed from the site.  Before the post was taken down, its content was recorded and has been circulating the internet creating all sorts of new rumors.  I’m not going to take a position as to whether I believe this information is true or not, but a lot of the information does line up with what has happened with the progression of World of Warcraft and it’s subsequent Expansions:

Draenor Set

Azuremyst Isle – 1 to 10
Bloodmyrk Isle – 10 to 20

Eversong Forest – 1 to 10
Quel’thalas – 10 to 20

Hellfire Peninsula – 58 to 62
Zangarmarsh – 60 to 64
Terokkar Forest – 61 to 65
The Deadlands – 63 to 67
Nagrand – 64 to 68
Blade’s Edge Mountains – 66 to 70
Netherstorm – 67 to 70
Shadowmoon Valley – 69 to 70

Northrend Set

Borean Tundra – 67 to 70
Howling Fjord – 67 to 70
Dragonblight – 69 to 72
Grizzly Hills – 70 to 73
Crystalsong Forest – 72 to 75
Zul’drak – 73 to 76
Sholazar Basin – 75 to 79
Storm Peaks – 76 to 80
Icecrown Glacier – 78 to 80

Maelstrom Set

Gilneas – 77 to 80
Grim Batol – 78 to 81
Kul Tiras – 79 to 82
Kezan – 81 to 86
Tel Abim – 83 to 85
Zandalar – 84 to 87
Plunder Isle – 86 to 88
The Broken Isles – 87 to 90
The Maelstrom – 89 to 90

Plane Set

Pandaria – 1 to 10
Hiji – 10 to 20

Wolfenhold – 1 to 10
Xorothian Plains – 10 to 20

The Green Lands – 88 to 91
The Dying Paradise – 91 to 94
The Emerald Nightmare – 94 to 97
The Eye of Ysera – 97 to 100

Legion Set

K’aresh – 96 to 99
Argus Meadowlands – 97 to 100
Mac’Aree – 99 to 100+
Maw of Oblivion – 100++
The Burning Citadel – 100+++

There are two different camps of followers for the next WoW Expansion, the first group believes that the Maelstrom will be the next expansion (possibly with Azshara as the final boss), and the other group believes that the Emerald Dream will be the next expression (possibly with the Emerald Nightmare as the final boss).

The Maelstrom

Pros:

• Azshara is a perfectly reasonable boss inline with Sargeras as the end game boss
• The Maelstrom ties into the WoW lore of the Well of Eternity

Cons:

• Another World outside of Azeroth
• Maelstrom opens up the one and only portal to Sargeras’ homeworld (which doesn’t leave room for additional expansions, and leaves loose ends)

The Emerald Dream

Pros:

• Brings everyone back to good ‘ole Azeroth
• Backed by the new WoW lore book involving Malfurion Stormrage and further completes the entire World of Warcraft story

Cons:

• May not be enough content for a full expansion pack (possibly a new content patch instead?)
• Doesn’t tie in with unofficial reports and previously revealed WoW storyboard

So Maelstrom or Emerald Dream, which side are you on?

In a recent lore interview of Chris Metzen and Micky Nielson at New York Comic Con, a new World of Warcraft Lore novel has been confirmed, by Richard A. Knaak, Worlf of Warcraft: Stormrage, due in 2010.  The novel details the story of Malfurion Stormrage in his journey outside of Azeroth, and will also explain the Nightmare, and what’s going on within the Emerald Dream.

So Wrath of the Lich King had its novel, “Night of the Dragon,” and now it appears that the Emerald Dream with have its novel, “Stormrage,” coming 2010.

In the meantime, here is an interesting video of a possible “Emerald Dream” zone that players have been able to find in a hidden area of the live World of Warcraft Servers:

It appears to those who travel within it as Azeroth would have appeared without the development of the sapient races, which means that it is what Azeroth would have been if not for humans, elves, and other intelligent creatures.

In essence, this plane shows travelers what their world would be if intelligent races had not cut forests, farmed prairies, diverted rivers and built cities (and had Kalimdor not been shattered by the Sundering). It is a vision of the world as a verdant natural paradise. Tranquil forests stretch away in every direction, and rolling hills and majestic mountains mimic Azeroth’s landscape.

In other words, The Emerald Dream is parallel reality of Azeroth as it would stand today had it been unaltered.  This can make the Emerald Dream a dangerous place, as many unique creatures roam the Dream that do not exist in the current realmof Azeroth (whether they were hunted to extinction, or prevented from evolving to their current state).

Creatures spirits in Azeroth can visit the Emerald Dream  via dreams by leaving their body behind and entering the realm in a dreamform.  Most creatures inside the Emerald Dream move through the realm in normal fashion, although skilled Druids are able to see beyond the physical reality and move quite freely (moving quickly, flying, and even passing through objects).