The Cataclysm has destroyed much of the face of Azeroth, but for us roleplayers, it’s seen as more of a blessing in disguise. The old lands and many of the ways we can roleplay in them have been renewed. Beyond that, the Cataclysm also brought us a new area to explore; Vashj’ir, a region almost entirely underwater. Let’s dive in and ponder the roleplaying that can be found and made here!

An underwater locale presents a unique challenge, not only for roleplayers, but for MMORPG players of all types. To my gaming knowledge, no other MMORPG has an underwater zone. In my gaming history, I have to go as far back as The Elder Scrolls Oblivion and Morrowind to find a playable race (Argonians) fit for an underwater zone. So, the test presented to us roleplayers is how to mesh our current WoW characters into an underwater zone as best we can.

Before embarking on any new RP adventure, learning the lore and background is necessary. Wowpedia’s Vashj’ir section is a good place for a brief and concise reading start. I was especially glad to find the Cataclysm – Vashj’ir Overview video shared here. It’s a very nicely narrated intro into the story of the naga and their role in the Cataclysm.

Since the naga are the primary adversaries here, a bit more lore is needed, and the WoW Insider website has this covered with the articles Know Your Lore: The naga, part 1 and Know Your Lore: The naga, part 2. Read thoroughly, and take notes when you see some info that could fit into your character’s RP story.

Aside from fighting the naga, what else is there to do in Vashj’ir? Exploration, for sure. In Vashj’ir, the Blizzard wizards have made a very beautiful gaming environment, and it would be a darn shame if you didn’t spend the time to see all of it. If it’s only combat you seek, then Vashj’ir certainly provides that with it’s 3D approach, where you may be attacked from any direction.

Herbalists may warily swim the depths in search of Azshara’s Veil, stormvine, Lifegiving Seeds, and Volatile Life. Perhaps you have a character in love with the sea, or a scientist character curious to study the creatures of the deep, especially Naspirah and L,ghorek. Hunters can find and train new pets. Of course, there’s fishing, and plenty of it.

I’ve only yet experienced Vashj’ir from the Horde side, and it may be awhile before I have an Alliance character of proper level for the area. That’s all the ideas I have for roleplaying in Vashj’ir at the moment. So, the RoleCraft floor is now open to your tips on underwater roleplaying. How are your characters making Vashj’ir a part of their RP sessions? Share your advice here as a comment, and I’ll post them to the RoleCraft on Twitter feed or on the official RoleCraft Facebook group page. Until next week, role on!