Scourge Invasion FAQ:
Q: Where is the Web Site containing all the Blizzard released information?
A:
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/eve .... einvasion/
Q: How long will it last?
A: Unknown for now. The rumors range from a month to until Kel'thuzad is killed to until you defeat ALL of the Necropolises. It will last much, much longer then the 16 hour war with the Ahn'qiraj though.
Q: How is it started?
A: Still unknown. The AQ War Effort doesn't start until the Emissary is killed. This might trigger the first time Baron Rivendare is killed on a new server. That is the best guess anyway. Or perhaps the first time someone completes the 'Above and Beyond' quest which is to kill Rivendare and take his head to the Argent Dawn for a reward.
Q: What happens?
A: During the invasion, multiple events occur.
First, outside of every major city, there are glowing points where low level undead spawn(9-11). These drop Dim Necrotic Runes that can be turned into a quest giver for faction once.
Secondly, in Azshara, Winterspring, Tanaris, Eastern Plague Lands, The Blasted Lands, and the Burning Steppes there are massive invasions of Level 59-60 undead. These invasions occur at specific sights gathered around 'Necrotic Crystals'. Undead spawn continuously from these points and wander around, killing local wildlife in one shot. Also, flying necropolis send bolts of energy two and from each stone, so it is easy to find them if you find the hovering Necropolis and follow the bolt of energy that shoots out every 30 seconds or so.
Killing these undead around the crystals results in a bolt of damaging energy being sent back to the crystal. You have to kill about 100, if not more, of the undead to fully destroy it.... but with dozens of people working at it, this doesn't take to long. Maybe 20 minutes.
When the Necrotic Crystal is 'destroyed', it is replaced by a 'Damaged Necrotic Crystal' that four Cultist Engineers appear around and begin to repair. If you leave the Damaged Crystal being repaired by the Cultists alone for a time, it will be repaired and the event starts all over again.
You can disrupt the Cultists by using the Necrotic Runes that drop from the invading undead. Take 8 of the runes and talk to one of them, and use the command given to turn it into a Shadow of Doom. This fight is similar to a Duke fight in Silithus. You need a full 5 man with a good healer to beat these. They spawn and go straight for the person who disrupted them, flagged to that person's group. It works just like a Duke, Templar, or Prince in that regard.
Major Warning: Only transform ONE AT A TIME. They are monsters when you fight two or more at once. And, like the Dukes, they are unsoloable unless you are either very good or have very good gear. However, most Template characters were and are unable to solo them.
These Shadows drop the rest of the Undead Slaying Set. Killing all four results in the full destruction of the Necrotic Crystal and an interruption of the event for a time.
There are multiple invasion points scattered across each of the above named zones. Destroying all of them, presumably, destroys one of the Necropolises sent to the area. Another will show up until there are 0 Necropolises left(ask the Argent Dawn Recruiter for more information)
Q: Where do I get Necrotic Runes?
A: They drop from the 59-60 undead mobs that spawn continuously at the invasion points across Azshara, Winterspring, Tanaris, Eastern Plague Lands, The Blasted Lands, and the Burning Steppes. They are fairly common.
Additionally, there is a chance for a Rare/'Silver Dragon' undead to spawn in place of the normal ones. These have a chance of dropping one of the Undead Slaying pieces and 4 to 6 Necrotic Runes.
Q: Are there quests involving the Invasion?
A: Yes. One at each major city involves gathering Dull Necrotic Runes from the 9-11 Undead outside. Three of them earns silver and faction with the Dawn. This is repeatable once at each major city, but otherwise is not doable multiple times.
One more is at the Argent Dawn Camp in each major city, that sends you to speak to the Argent Recruiter at LHC. Because of the Level 60 XP involved, this rewards some silver. Do it for the silver and faction.
The last two are obtained at Light's Hope Chapel. They involve killing one Shadow of Doom and gathering 10 Necrotic Runes. Completion of these quests allows you to turn in Necrotic Runes for the other rewards offered.
Q: Where do I get the full Undead Slaying Sets?
A: Three sources: Shadows of Doom, the 'Rare' Undead at the Invasion points, and turning in 30 Necrotic Runes to the Argent Dawn Quartermaster in LHC.
Q: Where do I get the Tabard of the Argent Dawn?
A: Turn in 10 Necrotic Runes to the Argent Dawn Quartermaster in Light's Hope Chapel after completing the two new quests offered at LHC regarding the killing of a Shadow of Doom and the gathering of 10 Necrotic Runes.
Q: Where do I get the Tabard of the Scarlet Crusade?
A: At present, it is presumed it was re-added to the random loot table of SM. There is a new boss added this patch to SM Graveyard, and if there are more new bosses in the other wings, one of them might drop it.
Q: Where are the new Bosses?
A: The new bosses are found in Stratholme, the Scholomance, Dire Maul, the Scarlet Monastery, Shadowfang Keep and the Razorfen Downs.
If there are multiple new bosses in DM and SM for each of the wings, that is unknown. The only known new boss at this time is Scorn in the SM Graveyard. He is a Lich who enters the Graveyard after you kill the Undead Blood Mage in the Crypt.
Leave the crypt after you kill the Blood Mage and you will see Scorn floating towards you down the road. He hits normally for his level(32 Elite), and he has some nasty Frost AE Spells for even level groups trying to tackle him.
The new one in Shadowfang Keep is a Scourge Abomination. His name is Sever, and he is found in the area formerly patrolled only by Ghosts near where the Butcher and the Baron are. There are no prereqs to his appearance. He is level 25.
Q: Are there new Loading Screens shown for the above named instances?
A: SM, RFK, and SFK have brand new loading screens! Checking the rest soon.
Q: Did they improve loot in some of the lower instances like SM?
A: Yes they did. In addition to the new bosses, some items, like the Hypnotic Blade from Doan.... got an upgrade.
The Hypnotic Blade now has +9 Spell Damage and Healing on it.
Any more are as yet unknown.
Q: Are the new Bosses in those instances permenant?
A: Unknown at the present time.
Q: Where do I get the Letters from the Undead?
A: The Letters from the Undead are found on the 59-60 Undead Invasion monsters. Kill them untill they drop. There are at least 6 of them, and each leads you to a quest that involves you returning to Light's Hope Chapel then obtaining the next step of the quest in the mail shortly after.
The rest is up to you.
Further information might be found in this link, however:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/threa .... 466071&P=1
Q: Will there be more Q&A?
A: As soon as I learn more I'll update with new information.
