The World of Warcraft MMO is so massive and detailed that the journeys any two characters take are almost completely different. Different starting cities, different quests, and different class abilities make each trip unique. This incredible depth allows players to play character after character and have a new experience each time.
 

There are, however, several things that almost every single World of Warcraft MMO player experiences at one time or another. Almost every player has known the sting of buying something from the auction house and seeing it for far cheaper immediately after. Almost all players have known the internal conflict created by upgrading an item of equipment and realizing it horribly clashes with the rest of your outfit. And basically, everyone has been in a group with a healer who is the worst healer ever.

With the release of The Burning Crusade, there came about another nearly ubiquitous experience for those who ventured into the Outland: getting stepped on by a fel reaver. These building-sized juggernauts roam Hellfire Peninsula in seemingly random patterns, their approach foretold only by a shaking of your screen and an evil utterance of sound known as the ¡°Demon Train Whistle.¡± When one is seen approaching from a distance, it can be easily avoided or, better yet, trained on some unsuspecting PvPers. But when they approach from behind¡ªSPLUT!

The fel reavers and the random stompings they provide have become a hallmark of The Burning Crusade. It¡¯s not unlike killing a random boar and having it drop an item better than something you spent a month working for, and then not knowing exactly how to feel about it. But despite all their well-deserved fame, the fel reavers were not a part of the WoW TCG¡ªuntil now.

This weekend is the worldwide Sneak Preview for the latest WoW TCG expansion, March of the Legion. These Sealed Pack tournaments allow players at select locations to play with cards from the new set before they are released to the public. And unlike previous Sneak Previews, cards from other expansions are not used in the tournaments. That¡¯s right, we¡¯re talking six packs of 100% March of the Legion goodness per player. And let¡¯s not forget the fabulous prizes! There are deck boxes and the latest in the series of gorgeous WoW TCG playmats!

And of course, all players in attendance receive an exclusive Extended Art Thundering Footsteps!

Now some of you might be wondering why the art on Thundering Footsteps doesn¡¯t actually show the fel reaver. The truth is that it was kept off because it was giving children nightmares. Some WoW TCG players are quite young, and we have a responsibility to all of our players.

Okay, that¡¯s a lie. We don¡¯t worry too much about scaring children, otherwise how could we put Ryan O¡¯Connor¡¯s picture on his articles every week? Zing!

No, truthfully, the picture isn¡¯t of the fel reaver itself because the card isn¡¯t about an actual fel reaver. Rather, it¡¯s foretelling its arrival. When you play Thundering Footsteps you can use just about anything to represent your steam-powered war machine¡ªa quarter, a shoe, or even an empty Red Bull can. Of course, you could always muscle up and get one of these bad boys:

Now that¡¯s what I¡¯m talkin¡¯ about! He¡¯s so frickin¡¯ huge that he¡¯s got his own weather system!

The only way to acquire this ally token is to attend the March of the Legion Release Celebration on December 1¨C2, 2007. Much like the Sneak Preview tournament, this is a six-pack Sealed Pack extravaganza using only March of the Legion packs. And again, just for showing up, you get a special card. This time, it¡¯s an oversize Fel Reaver token to accompany your Thundering Footsteps from the Sneak Preview!

Release Celebrations are part of the WoW TCG Battlegrounds program, which supports tournaments run by stores at a local level. Each month there are new exclusive prizes, including different Extended Art cards. This month features Extended Art Leader of the Bloodscale and Rak Skyfury cards.

If you have been waiting to try out Organized Play events, now is a great time to jump in and give it a try. Just remember¡ªwatch out behind you for fel reavers!