Alright, folks, today I wanna talk about finding that place, stsm, you know, Stratholme. Lots of people ask, and honestly, the first time I went looking, I kinda wandered around a bit myself. So here’s how I usually get there, plain and simple.
Getting Started: Off to the Plaguelands
First thing's first, you gotta get yourself to the Eastern Plaguelands. Remember that place? Yeah, not exactly a holiday spot. It’s over in the Eastern Kingdoms continent. How you get there kinda depends on whether you're Horde or Alliance, and where you're starting from.
Me, playing Horde mostly back then, I’d usually take a portal or zeppelin to Undercity. From there, it’s hoofing it (or flying, if you got it) east through Tirisfal Glades, then through the Western Plaguelands, and finally into the Eastern Plaguelands. Takes a bit, especially if you’re dodging mobs on the ground.
If you’re Alliance, maybe flying from Ironforge or Stormwind towards the northern part of the Eastern Kingdoms is your best bet. There used to be a flight point kinda close, like Light's Hope Chapel, or maybe one further south you gotta ride up from. Point is, you need to physically get your boots (or mount's hooves) into the Eastern Plaguelands zone.
Finding the Darn Place on the Map
Okay, so you're in the Eastern Plaguelands. Now what? Pull up your map. Seriously, the map is your best friend here. You’re looking for the northwestern corner of the zone. It's pretty distinct, looks like a big ruined city area up there. If your map is all fogged up 'cause you haven't explored, well, time for some exploring! Head northwest.
You'll eventually see the name "Stratholme" printed right on the map once you uncover that area. It’s hard to miss once you’re generally in the right direction. Keep an eye out for landmarks like the Plaguewood or Corin's Crossing, you'll be going past those.
The Two Doors: Front or Back?
Now, here’s where it got me the first time. There isn’t just one way in. There are basically two main entrances people use:
- The Main Gate (Front Door): This is usually the first one you bump into if you approach from the south or east. Big, obvious gate, looks like the main entrance to a city. Lots of nasty undead usually hanging around outside, so be ready for a fight even before you get in.
- The Service Entrance (Back Door): This one’s a bit sneakier. It’s usually further west, kinda around the side or back of the city layout on the map. Sometimes people call it the 'living side' entrance or something. Back in the day, you absolutely needed a key for this one – the Key to the City. Getting that key was a whole adventure in itself! If you didn't have it, you were stuck using the front door. Sometimes the key requirement isn't there, depending on game updates or whatever, but it's good to know about. This entrance leads to a different part of the instance initially.
So, when I got there, I first saw the main gate. Looked imposing. Then I remembered someone mentioning a back way that might be easier or needed for certain runs, so I skirted around the western edge of the city walls on my mount. Took a few minutes, but sure enough, tucked away, I found the other gate, the service entrance. I had the key back then, thankfully, so I could choose.
Going In
Once you've picked your door, front or back, just walk up to it and... well, walk in. You’ll get a loading screen, and boom, you're inside Stratholme. Finding the entrance is really just about getting to the zone and knowing which corner to aim for, plus remembering the two-door situation.
So that's my little journey finding stsm. It's in Eastern Plaguelands, northwest corner, got two doors. Easy once you know how. Now, actually clearing the place… that’s a whole different story for another day!