Mists of Pandaria's plot has "lighter tone" to Cataclysm

Blizzard's said that WoW add-on Mists of Pandaria isn't going to be as bleak as previous expansion Cataclysm.

"The big hook to Pandaria is that as we roll up on the beach, all the hate and violence we bring as Alliance and Horde really kind of begins to make the Sha bubble up," Blizzard VP of creative development Chris Metzen told PC Gamer.

"And the Sha is something that's been contained for ten thousand years. It has been a very serene place, and of course our shenanigans break it, heavily." he says in contrast to Lich King feeling tragic and Cataclysm's bleakness, Pandaria has a lighter tone.

"The pandaren just help facilitate that contrast and that soul-searching. Because Pandaren don't get super hot, they don't get super cold. They'll fight and they'll fight well, they'll fight to win. But it takes a lot to make them angry. I don’t imagine they fight in a state of anger; they fight in a state of need, thoughtfully, and with gusto. But rarely out of anger. It's been an interesting culture to write."

Pandaria is currently in beta. Thanks, Shack.