Players who frequent the World of Warcraft website through the home URL are being greeted with the latest news from Blizzard.  The next expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, will be in stores on November 13, coming in a day late on November 14 for Aussie gamers.

In Wrath of the Lich King, the ice continent of Northrend will be added as an explorable region for prospective Death Knights, a new necromatic Hero class, and the Lich King himself is expected to play a more prominent role.  Aside from the many class changes, the game's level cap has been pushed forward another ten levels, from 70 to 80.

Is it wrong that I suddenly want this expansion?  I have a thing for frost wyrms, and the Lich King himself.  Hey, I saw him first -- get your own!

As with most games, there will be a standard and Collector's Edition, priced at $39.99 and $69.99, respectively.  The Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition package will include the following goodies:

• World of Warcraft: The Wrath of the Lich King on DVD-ROM.
• The Art of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, a 208-page book featuring never-before-seen images from the game.
• An exclusive in-game pet: Frosty, the baby frost wyrm.
• A behind-the-scenes DVD containing over an hour of developer interviews, the Wrath of the Lich King intro cinematic with director’s commentary, and more.
• The official soundtrack CD, containing 21 epic tracks from the game, along with exclusive bonus tracks.
• A mouse pad featuring a map of the newly opened continent of Northrend.
• Two World of Warcraft Trading Card Game March of the Legion™ starter decks, along with two exclusive cards available only in the Collector’s Edition.