Cataclysm's New Horde Race: The Goblins

The goblins planned for incorporation into the Horde are, physically, similar to the goblins we've been encountering all along in places like Booty Bay and Ratchet. However, their models have been significantly upgraded, allowing for deeper customization and subtler animations.

It's yet to see exactly where goblins will fit in to the Horde in terms of function. Goblin characters will be able to be death knights, hunters, mages, priests, rogues, shamans, warlocks, and warriors.

Goblin racial abilities are intended to include "Rocket Jump," which will allow the goblin to jump for up to 20 yards using a rocket belt, "Rocket Barrage," which can be used to attack nearby enemies with rockets, "Time Is Money," which upgrades attack and casting speed by 1%, "Best Deals Anywhere," which gives a significant gold discount when buying from any faction, regardless of your reputation, "Pack Hobgoblin," which allows remote bank access every half hour, and "Better Living Through Chemistry," a passive ability which upgrades alchemy skill by 15 points and allows goblin-brewed potions to give more health or mana.

The group of goblins who are slated to join the Horde were once slaves of jungle trolls on the isle of Kezan, used to mine ore from within the volcano Kajaro. The magical ore bestowed greater intelligence upon the goblins and, using their inventiveness and cunning, they overthrew their troll captors and took Kezan for themselves.

The mines where the goblins slaved are expected to serve as their racial capital, Undermine, when Cataclysm releases. They will be fluent in Orcish and Goblin. Their leader is an individual called Trade Prince Maldy, about whom almost nothing is known.

Many things are still unknown about the role the goblins of Kezan will play. What will their mounts be? How will they relate to still-neutral goblin factions such as the Steamwheedle Cartel and Gadgetzan? Presumably, some of these points will be resolved in the months leading up to the expansion pack's release.