Blizzard poster Bashiok has just posted an in-depth explanation of the PvE/PvP currency system changes that are coming in Cataclysm, and it's an informative read. The lengthy post can be found in its entirety after the jump, but I'll attempt to summarize the important parts.

The upcoming 4.0 patch will convert Emblems of Triumph and Frost into Justice Points (PvE), and Arena Points, Honor Points, Battleground Marks of Honor, Stone Keeper's Shards, Venture Coins, and Spirit Shards into Honor Points (PvP). Simple, right? All PvE badges below Frost and Triumph will be converted into gold.

There will be a limit to the amount of new currencies you can hold, but Blizzard's providing a grace period in the form of a soft cap. This means your conversion can go over the hard cap, but you can't earn more until you go below the hard cap. Here's an example: the conversion gives you 4,200 Justice Points, but the hard cap is 4,000. You'll have to spend some points to dip under 4,000 before you can earn more. Another patch before Cataclysm will actually enforce the hard cap, and your excess points will be turned into gold.

Keep reading below for more details. Bashiok said that all conversion math should be posted tomorrow afternoon if you're curious how many Justice and Honor Points you're going to earn in patch 4.0.

ZAM user CrimsonNeko has pointed us toward a short, but sweet, blue post on the official Cataclysm beta forum: "Tradeskill nodes are intended to give you experience when you loot them." Pick an herb, earn some exp. Mine a node, earn some exp. Seems like a nice little bonus for characters with these tradeskills.

According to Blizzard poster Daeleht, the exp values that are currently being seen on the PTR may not be final. Regardless, don't expect to level your character solely through gathering materials (although I'm sure a roleplaying pacifist will give it a shot). Players who skin and collect cloth earn experience for killing enemies, so this will seemingly just give a boost to those who chose mining and herbalism.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming change? Let us know in the comments below or in CrimsonNeko's thread in our general forum.

When Cataclysm changes the face of Azeroth as we know it, Ashenvale will become a warzone. A volcano will erupt in the center of the map, disrupting the Night Elves and giving the Horde the opportunity to take control of several Alliance strongholds. Intrigued? Then you should definitely check out the Q&A that Blizzard recently posted with quest designers Eric Maloof and Steve Burke that focuses on how the zone will change in the exapansion. We've posted the entire interview after the jump for your reading pleasure.

Ashenvale will be a major questing hub for both Horde and Alliance players from levels 20-25. According to the Q&A, "Horde players will have much more to do" in the zone, including a variety of new quests. There are no significant changes planned for Blackfathom Deeps at this time, but the changes to the storyline and terrain should be more than enough to keep players occupied. More details can be found in the Q&A below.

Blizzard recently posted a sneak peak of the new cat and bear forms that will be available for troll and worgen Druids in the upcoming Cataclym expansion, and you can check out the screenshots after the jump. The infamous troll tusks and hair play a prominent role in that race's animal forms, while the worgen forms are distinguished by their teeth and claws.

What do you think of the new designs? Which race are you more likely to pick if you plan on rolling a new druid in the expansion? Let us know in the comments section, or head over to our WoW general forum for more discussion surrounding Cataclysm.

Have you always wanted to go to BlizzCon, but never managed to snag your tickets in time? Or perhaps you've got some kind of crazy story to tell as to why you desperately want to go to BlizzCon, but have been thwarted, year after year? If so, then this is the contest for you! From now until September 30th, 2010, the World of Warcraft Official Magazine will be running a contest, open to the public, for your chance to win a trip for two (that's roundtrip airfare, two nights at a hotel, and passes to the event!) to this year's BlizzCon. All you need to do is submit an essay of one hundred (100) or fewer (no books here, people) words describing why you would like to attend BlizzCon 2010. You can enter at the official World of Warcraft Magazine website here, and if you want to enter without subscribing to the magazine (it won't help your chances!), then just fill out the entry form here.

Entries will be judged by the editorial staff at the World of Warcraft Official Magazine, and the criteria used to judge the entries will be based on equal parts originality, creativity and consistency with theme. The judging will be completed by October 4th, 2010, and there is a limit of one entry per household. Good luck, everyone!

Shapes and shadows dance around me, spirits of the dead taunting me, mocking my own clumsy movements. Behind them, the sea crashes and foams, dark against a pale sky, and smoke rises as bat riders circle. I smell blood on the wind that lashes at my face, tangling coarse hair about my tusks. He's out there.

"ZALAZANE!"

I bellow like a raging elekk, tossing my head to clear my eyes. I draw my sword, grip firm and familiar in my hand after so many years of use. I'm ready, I'm coming for him, I--

During the latest maintenance blizzard has introduced the beginning of the pre-Cataclysm events with Operation Gnomeregan and Zalazane's Fall for the alliance and the horde respectively.

Rather then try to explain the events to you I will simply let you experience them yourself.  The first part of the quest is available to low level characters, but to finish the quest series you need to be level 75 or above.  These adventures give us an opportunity to finally take the fight to the enemy, and crush them.  So go, brave adventurers and take part in this epic quest.

User Criminy has made a thread about the event on the forums so after you lay down the hurt, drop by and share your experiences.  Feel free to share screenshots as well.

Blizzard links and user screenshots after the jump

Have you ever come across a blog that was a great read and you wondered why it didn’t have more followers? How about one you started, that you think the members here would find interesting; or one written by a friend or guild mate perhaps?

Well here’s your chance to get it more publicity. We’re looking to highlight blogs that have caught our reader’s attention. Not just any blog will do; there are a few criteria that it should meet after the jump:

Recently Blizzard gave us more information on changes in the upcoming Cataclysm expansion; Game designers Craig Amai and Dave Kosak give us some inside views on the overall design and  revamping  of Azshara.

It's great to see that no zone is safe. In other interviews we saw that quests and pieces of a zone change, a typhoon or vortex here, new quests sprinkled about, or new story lines.  But here, we see Blizzard isn't afraid to completely wipe the zone and start fresh. They've choosen to keep a few things familiar so it still feels like the old zone, using the same color palette and a few choice landmarks. The familiarity is comforting amidst the massive amount of new content.

Ok, Blizzard fans, now we're getting somewhere. If you attend BlizzCon or buy a BlizzCon virtual ticket you will unlock a couple murloc themed prizes to use in World of Warcraft and StarCraft II. World of Warcraft players will unlock Deathy, a debatably cute murloc companion dressed up like the dragon Deathwing.

StarCraft II players will unlock a Murloc marine portrait as well as a pair of "deep sea decals" to put on your units, each with a different design from the 3 playable races: terran, protoss and zerg.

So what do you think about all this Murloc madness? Go here to see a picture of Deathy.